MISTRESS

Author: Leda Swann ISBN: 9780061431227 4/2008 HISTORICAL/EROTIC Publisher: AVON RED
Time Period: Early 1900's

She knew she was playing with fire . . . and was eager to burn. The very thought of an innocent young woman—a teacher at a fusty finishing school—modeling for a series of titillating photographs to be sold at London's bookstalls is scandalous. But orphaned Emily Clemens's destitute circumstances have left her little choice. It is all part of her plan to capture the attention of some well-heeled roué who will then make her his pampered mistress. So the untouched beauty sheds her outer garments—and her inhibitions—to strike provocative poses before the lens of handsome photographer Eric Twyford. But each seductive attitude she assumes is stoking a fire within that Emily never knew existed—and the heat is spurring her on to ever-greater heights of sensuous abandon. Still, the devilishly desirable Eric, a consummate professional, remains unmoved by her erotic display. If Emily cannot arouse a man in the flesh, what hope does she have as a black-and-white postcard? She has already gone far beyond the boundaries of propriety. Now Emily's brazenly determined to go even farther—to seduce Eric, letting him take her to intoxicating places she has never been. But once she has reached ecstasy, will she ever be able to leave?

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

The writing team of Cathy and Brent—known as Leda Swann—sets their erotic historical romance, MISTRESS, in turn-of-the-century London, in the midst of the industrial revolution filling the skies with smokestack emissions.

Emily Clemens is a penniless orphan teaching in a finishing school, dreaming of finding a wealthy protector to make her his mistress and rescue her from poverty as her brother-in-law did for her sister Caroline. When Eric, an ambitious photographer, asks the pretty young woman to pose for risqué postcards, she decides this could be the perfect way to advertise herself to the wealthy men of London while building up her bank account. What she didn't count on was falling for dirt poor Eric, or how depraved her audience and thus the pool of potential wealthy protectors could be.

The story is steamy from cover to cover, and while it jarred at first, Leda Swann blends contemporary language and grammar with historical situations to make a very smooth read. It is absolute genius to feel a genuine male voice and thoughts coming from the male characters. As Emily and Eric discover Emily's sensuality and sexuality, their reactions and clashes feel very real in the way men and women often miscommunicate their pleasure, concern, love and fear.

The only bone I'd pick with MISTRESS is that Emily seems very self-aware for an 18-year-old virgin. She fantasizes about sexual pleasures and Eric in very specific ways before she has any experience whatsoever. And while it is, at times, endearing that she sees the best in others first, it comes across as very naïve for a young woman who is as intelligent as she is.

I recommend MISTRESS to any reader looking to scratch "that itch" and get a nice little plot line besides.

Susan Barton