HIS SECRET MISTRESS – Cathy Maxwell
A Logical Man's Guide to Dangerous Women Novel
ISBN: 978-0-06-289726-8
March 2020
Historical Romance

Maidenshop, Cambridgeshire, England – 1814

Mr. Brandon Balfour is in a foul mood. After months of negotiating to build a new bridge over the Thames, the project has been pulled out from under his feet. His anger carries him home to Maidenshop, and to his friends in the Logical Men's Club, a club for confirmed bachelors. After fifteen years of success as an engineer, in a self-imposed exile to India, he is determined to succeed now in England. As the appointed Guardian to his nephew Christopher, the Duke of Winderton, Brandon decided Maidenshop and the Ducal seat was a good place to figure out what went wrong with the engineering project, and begin to teach the young Duke what was required to maintain the Ducal holdings.

Miss Kate Addison is determined to take her troupe of actors to London and regain the fame she had before the betrayal of the man she loved crushed her and her dreams. Having the wagon break-down on the way to London was not in her plans. However, when the Duke of Winderton stops to aid the traveling troupe and offers his land for them to stay on while the wagon is repaired, Kate is grateful. However, his insistence that it was love at first sight gives her pause. He's too young, and she is not at all interested in any liaison. Kate has one goal, to succeed on the London stage.

Brandon receives a note from his sister Lucy regarding her son the Duke of Winderton and requests that he come to her immediately. Reluctantly, as everything concerning the Duke is a disaster according to Lucy, Brandon goes to see what the latest “disaster” is. Lucy informs Brandon that Christopher has met an actress and swears it was love at first sight and he's going to marry her. Brandon tries to calm Lucy and explain it's just a young mans' fancy, until Lucy reveals the name of the actress, Kate Addison. Brandon is shocked and enraged, because he has no doubt there is only one actress with that name, the woman who betrayed him years ago.

The sparks fly when Brandon confronts Kate, both still feel the pain and bitterness of betrayal. Neither knows the truth, but will they ever be able to trust enough to share the truth?

Initially, the people of Maidenshop are not inclined to be kind and gracious to Kate, but over the weeks she is there, they learn that perhaps they were too harsh on her when she first arrived. To be fair, Kate went out of her way to shock Brandon… not really considering the consequences.

Will Kate succeed if she ever makes it to London, and what about Brandon? Will he and Kate reconcile or part ways forever.

HIS SECRET MISTRESS is a delightful read. Filled with a cast of fascinating characters, including the inhabitants of Maidenshop. Brandon is a likeable man, kind in his own way but still carries scars from Kate's perceived betrayal. Kate is a strong resilient woman who has overcome horrors that she has buried. What she perceives as Brandon's betrayal has encased her heart in ice. Will these two shattered hearts find the courage to trust and believe in love again? Read HIS SECRET MISTRESS for the answer to that question, and for a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Terrie Figueroa