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New Release Review: THE MISTAKE by Lily Maxton (Sisters of Scandal #4)

In case you missed it, check out Lily’s top ten post of romantic couples here.

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The Mistake
by Lily Maxton
Sisters of Scandal #4
historical romance

About the book:

Childhood love never disappears…

Infamous courtesan Julia Forsythe is the former mistress of a ruthless marquess. She’s also expecting his child. But while she longs to flee from his cold clutches, the welfare of her unborn babe prevents it. Now she must find a way to remain a “mistress” in name, if not in deed. And her plans are only complicated by a growing affection for the estate’s head gardener…

Fifteen years ago, Adam Radcliff once shared a close friendship with Julia. Now they stand worlds apart in both lives and statuses, sharing only the memory of that old friendship. But even as Julia slips out of the marquess’s lascivious clutches, she finds herself seeking the pleasure of Adam’s company. Now Adam is falling more deeply for Julia, even knowing that wanting another man’s mistress will only bring ruin upon them both…

Review:

Although I’d loved the other books in this series ( The WagerThe Affair, and The Love Match), I just wasn’t sure about this one. The heroine was an infamous mistress? Pregnant with another man’s child? But hey, it was by Lily Maxton, so…

I should have known better than to be worried. It was better than a good read–it was absolutely lovely.

Julia and Adam have a past–they grew up together in a not-so-nice part of London, where Adam gave himself the role of her protector. Julia escaped that existence by becoming a courtesan, the only life path she saw as open to her after the death of her cold and distant drunken father. Realizing that Julia was lost to him forever, Adam eventually pulled himself up by becoming head gardener to Lord Riverton–the man who just happens to be Julia’s latest paramour.

They haven’t seen each other for fifteen years–Julia left right after they had shared their first kiss, and asked Adam not to come looking for her–when their paths cross again. Julia, pregnant and desperate to help her baby although she despises the father, has managed a month’s reprieve from him at Riverton’s country estate. Seeing Adam again shakes her to her core, and though she tries to keep a distance between them–after all, nothing can happen, can it?–she cannot deny to herself what he makes her feel. Surely he wouldn’t still want her if he knew the truth, though.

Would he?

Adam is a completely swoon-worthy hero. He had me captivated from the beginning, and I was desperate for him to somehow have his HEA with Julia despite how hopeless a goal it seemed at times. Even when Julia was putting barriers up between them, believing she had to for the sake of her baby, she was drawn to the quiet strength of his presence.

And just when I was completely emotionally invested in them as a couple, frantically keeping the pages turning to get them to that impossible happy ending, Ms. Maxton has Adam’s younger sister come for a visit and Julia lets his young nieces “do” her hair. I swear I could feel the pain of her poor abused scalp and see the questionable job they did, and in the middle of such an emotional read she had me laughing out loud.

Once I got to the 2/3 mark, I was incapable of putting the book down until I’d finished. Such. A. Good. Read!

The Mistake, even though it is the fourth in the series, can be read as a standalone. I warn you now, though–it will definitely have you craving more from this author!

I am anxiously awaiting Lily’s next book…

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A-

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

About the author:

Lily Maxton grew up in the Midwest, reading, writing, and daydreaming amidst cornfields. After graduating with a degree in English, she decided to put her natural inclinations to good use and embark on a career as a writer.

When she’s not working on a new story, she likes to tour old houses, add to her tea stash, and think of reasons to avoid housework.

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