Thanks so much for having me back to talk about Mistress by Marriage, the last Mistress book in the Courtesan Court series! I am especially fond of this book, since the heroine is a romance writer. She writes the naughty “Courtesan Court” books—just like me, LOL. Here’s the back cover blurb:
Too late for cold feet
Baron Edward Christie prided himself on his reputation for even temperament and reserve. That was before he met Caroline Parker. Wedding a scandalous beauty by special license days after they met did not inspire respect for his sangfroid. Moving her to a notorious lovebirds’ nest as punishment for her flighty nature was perhaps also a blow. And of course talk has gotten out of his irresistible clandestine visits. Christie must put his wife aside—if only he can get her out of his blood first.
Too hot to refuse
Caroline Parker was prepared to hear the worst: that her husband had determined to divorce her, spare them both the torture of passion they can neither tame nor escape. But his plan is wickeder than any she’s ever heard. Life as his wife is suffocating. But she cannot resist becoming her own husband’s mistress…
***
Sound interesting? Mistress by Marriage doesn’t have the usual romance timeline. (boy meets girl, boy and girl fight, boy and girl make up and marry) Here Edward (the very proper boy) and Caroline (the very improper girl) have already met, married, fought and separated. They’re on their way to a divorce (which was practically impossible to get in Regency times), but I couldn’t let that happen, or there would be no book, LOL. It was pure pleasure melting Edward’s icy-cold heart to make him realize that fiery Caroline is just what he needs.
Opposites can attract, but repel as well. In real life it’s probably more comfortable to marry someone you have something in common with, but in fiction it’s fun to throw two totally opposite personalities together and watch the sparks fly. Think of Dain and Jessica in Loretta Chase’s wonderful Lord of Scoundrels. Who are your favorite “opposite” couples in fact or fiction? (My husband is a huge jock, former coach and avid sports enthusiast. I have trouble walking a straight line and don’t know the difference between a line drive and a linebacker.) One commenter gets a signed copy of Mistress by Marriage!
For excerpts and more info, please visit www.maggierobinson.net
Honorary Mention of Book Sluts 'R' Us Blogger Awards by 
RR@H Novel Thoughts & Book Talk 
Lovely post Maggie, and I would love to win an autographed copy. The most famous opposites couple in my opinion are Eve Dalles and Roarke. The dedicated cop, and the biljonair who has a very shady cop. For her he got rid of his shady side of business and went legit. And for him, she melts, and let him help with her investigations. Written by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts), and a great ongoing series of over 30 books. I am still looking forward to the next installment, not only because of the great murder mysteries, but especially the relationship between Eve and Roarke, and their friends, and the social demands that places on Eve. Which baffles her.
I love Nora R, but have never read that series. Shame on me.
I just wanted to thank the ladies at Novel Thoughts for hosting me again. I’m returning from my vacation today, and have a long day of travel ahead. I’ll try to check in later—I just want to get home before the hurricane hits!
Thanks for sharing. Love the idea of this story. Although, the courtesan storyline is an historical setting, this story is very “now”. Sounds exciting. Would love to read it. Oh…would love to win it, as well. 🙂
Cheers & Good Luck!!!
Thanks, Robyn. While divorce is so common now, back then it was really a scandal.
I can’t think of any opposite couples that would be my favorite. Would really love to read Mistress by Marriage… sounds really good and the cover is fantastic!
Thanks, Yadira. My covers from Kensington Brava have been unbelievably fabulous. Wait til you see Master of Sin!
I have not read any books by Maggie, but have always wanted to. I have seen this book for review and thought it looked great and would love to win and read it. Thanks for the giveaway and the chance to win. I would have to say Cat & Bones from Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series. He is a vampire and she is a vampire hunter. She kills vampires. Isn’t ironic that they fall in love. That someone wants to kill you is definately not good. What I would say to be an opposite couple.
Thanks for the giveaway and the chance to win the autographed copy.
christinebails@yahoo.com
LOL. Love is fraught with danger, is it not? But killing is a bit much. 😉
I can’t think of any opposite couples right now. I have heard a lot of good things about this book and would love to read it. Count me in on this one.
Thanks, Quilt Lady! I hope you find it and enjoy it.
I love opposites attracting theme in romance books! I can’t pick a fav. There are so many but I do love the naughty rake types falling for the bookish prude types! (They usually have a naughty side too) I would love a chance to win one of Maggie’s books! Thanks for sharing with us today!
I love the rake and the snippy spinster too—one of my favorite tropes.
Eve Dallas & Roarke definitely pop into my mind right off the bat… especially since I have been reading a bunch of the In Death books for the last 2 weeks! Love the interaction between characters that are opposites… makes great reading!
Colleen, I guess I really have to give this series a try. I’m a mystery fan, so I wonder why I haven’t read them before. Don’t tell Nora.
I’m blank also on the “opposite” couples! I would love to win this one, it sounds terrific, and it is set in one of my favorite time periods!
Regency R us, LOL.
One of my favorite opposite couples is Blayne and Bo in Beast Behaving Badly by Shelly Laurenston. Blayne is a hyper, loving wolfdog while Bo is an aggressive, neat freak bearlion.
Oh, I love Shelly’s dragon books. They are so much fun!
Thanks for the lovely post! The first couple that came to my mind is Evie and St.Vincent from Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas. He is such a rake and she is so shy and a wallflower. I so love that book! 🙂
Can’t wait to read your latest Mistress book!
Oh, I LOVE Sebastian. That book is one of my fave Kleypas books.
I can’t wait to read this book. I love these kinds of stories and this one looks so good. There are so many couples that I love because “opposites attracting” is one of my favorite tropes. But the first couple to pop into my head were Lillian Bowman and Marcus Westcliff from Lisa Kleypas’s It Happened One Autumn.
Lisa K does a wonderful job with the opposites attract thing, doesn’t she? Then she does a wonderful job with anything. 🙂
My current favorite “opposites” attract couple is Dragos and Pia from Thea Harrison’s PNR Dragon Bound. He’s your typical growly alpha, practically immortal, dragon shifter, while she is about as opposite as could be (I’m not going to say what type of shifter she is because it’s a huge spoiler for the book). She’s even a vegetarian while he, of course, eats nothing but meat. LOVED that book! Mistress By Marriage sounds great. I love “marriage in trouble” stories.
I’ve heard such good things about Dragon Bound. Must put on list.
Can’t quote any characters specifically, but I think quite often the hero & heroine are opposites. Especially if the hero is brooding, it’s the heroine who has to hav the more positive attitude to put up with him & snap him out of his funk. I to have read most of the Nora Roberts books but haven’t tried the JD Robbs – maybe I’ll try them (long with your Mistress books too of course).
Diane, we must get to those Robb books!
I like opposites couples. Their differences can also help balance a relationship. In Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas, the couple is quite different but go well together 🙂
Another vote for Sebastian. 😉
I love Thea Harrison’s Dragos and Pia, Jeaniene Frost’s Cat and Bones, and Buffy and Angel. They all have different personalities that you would think make them bad matches, but they all found love.
smccar1 at hotmail dot com
I see you’re a paranormal fan! After historicals, they’re my favorite.
I have been waiting for this book!
My favorite opposites couple are my parents even though the opposites proved too much for them….just glad they were together long enough for me!
Amy, I’m glad you’re here too! I’ve been married centuries and sometimes it’s hard to see my husband’s point of view. I KNOW I’m right, LOL.
My favorite opposite couple is Chuck and Sarah from the television series Chuck. He’s a geeky computer guy and she’s a hot CIA spy. He had a crush on her for the longest time, and finally won her over.
I gave up TV when I started to write seriously 5 years ago. Sometimes I feel totally left out of pop culture…but I do know who all the Kardashians are.
Hands down my favorite opposite attract couple are Phedre and Jocelyn from the Kushiel’s series by Jacqueline Carey. She is a trained courtesan who likes pain with her pleasure and he is a priest of a celibate order! Thanks for the giveaway.
jepebATverizonDOTnet
Ooh. I keep wanting to read this series. Thanks for reminding me!
I believe every ‘successful’ couple I know are pretty much opposites for the most part. How boring would life be if you and your partner were so much alike? My husband and I agree on the important types of things. But he loves to sing and play guitar. I can clear your house of rodents if I begin to sing. I have no rhythm or coordination. He loves sports. As well as our sons always have. I am the cheerleader, scorekeeper, snack bringer! haha It has worked out well for 31 years and continues. 🙂
Lisa, you sound a lot like me. My husband and I don’t have much in common, but we do love to travel. We got back from our vacation at 3 AM this morning, so I’m finally catching up with all you lovely commenters! It’s so good to be home…but I want a nap.
My husband and I are opposites im easy going hes tightly wound and takes everything personally lol.We both love to travel its just the destinations and how were getting there we disagree on I want to take the car and go to the beach hed rather take the harley and go to the mountains we do alot of compromising like we take the bike but go to the beach and both end up happy .I love reading about couples who are opposites .
Can’t name any specific couples offhand, but really like couples that are opposites..makes some interesting reading in how they come together and compliment one another.
Your latest sounds great can’t wait to read it 🙂
pams00 @ aol.com
I like Kate and Todd from Shelli Stevens, Flash Point. She is the cupcake queen, and quiet. He is the outspoken rowdy fighter, fit and trim. lisagk(at)yahoo(dot)com
arghh..i don’t have an idea right now who are opposite hero/heroine so can i choice edward and caroline from mistress by marriage 😉