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The Mistress (Mira)
509 pages
A fiery historical romance where a desperate fight for survival gives way to a delightful battle of wits between two charming frauds.
What it feels like
This brisk historical romance plunges readers into the chaotic, ash-choked atmosphere of a legendary disaster, only to pivot into a sparkling comedy of errors. The mood shifts dramatically from the breathless, urgent terror of a city in flames to the playful, ironic tension of a mutual deception laid bare. It feels both sweeping and intimate, balancing visceral scenes of survival with the witty, combative energy of two charming frauds realizing they have met their match. The prose leans into the theatricality of the era, capturing the glittering allure of high society and the gritty reality of its destruction. It is a perfect read for those who delight in passionate battles of wit, mistaken identities, and love forged in the crucible of absolute catastrophe.
- Mood
- urgent
- chaotic
- sparkling
- passionate
- Tone
- dramatic
- ironic
- romantic
- playful
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- mistaken identity · survival and desperation · class deception · unexpected love
- The writing
- Sweeping and dramatic, balancing the visceral danger of a historical disaster with the witty banter of a romantic comedy of errors.
- The arc
- Moves from the breathless terror of a life-or-death disaster to the humorous, high-stakes tension of a mutual deception revealed.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love high-stakes historical romance where mutual deception and survival forge an unlikely, fiery bond.
Content notes
- fire/disaster
- peril
About the book
October 8, 1871—One small spark ignites the entire city of Chicago, sending its residents into panic. But amid the chaos, a case of mistaken identity leads to an unexpected new love.As the historic fire ignites across town, Kathleen O'Leary finds herself dressed in borrowed diamonds and silk, enjoying a lavish masquerade. The penniless maid has caught the eye of Dylan Francis Kennedy, the rich, handsome gentleman all of high society has been speculating about. The night feels alive with magic...and ripe with promise.Then fire sweeps through the city, cornering the young lovers with no hope of rescue. Desperate to share their last moments together, Kathleen and Dylan impulsively marry. Incredibly, they survive. Now, as the fire burns down to cold ash, Kathleen must tell Chicago's most eligible bachelor that he has married a fraud. But the joke's on her. For this gentleman is no gentleman. While Kathleen had hoped to win Dylan's love, he had planned only to capture her heart and steal her fortune. Dylan Kennedy—con artist, gambler, and ne'er-do-well—has been unwittingly caught in his own game. Now the real sparks are about to fly.
Description from Open Library.
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