MISTAKEN MISTRESS

Author: Tessa Radley ISBN: 0373769016 10/2008 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: SILHOUETTE

Joshua Saxon, the arrogant millionaire who ran New Zealand's premier winery, believed Alyssa Blake had been his late brother's mistress. But the true connection between Alyssa and the Saxons was even more shocking. From the first moment they met, both Alyssa and Joshua had been shaken by a passion that could not be denied. But what could the future hold for a man and woman with so many secrets and lies between them…?

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

MISTAKEN MISTRESS is a story where courage and the desire to discover the truth takes center stage. It is engaging, entertaining and wonderfully well written. My only regret was that it ended so quickly. I sincerely enjoyed being immersed in the lives of the New Zealanders who people Ms. Radley's story.

Alyssa Blake is feisty and smart, a perfect combination for a woman who is intent on uncovering her past. She shows her daring right from the start, when she crashes a masked ball in order to meet someone she desperately wants to get to know. Instead, she meets the man's brother, who assumes she is one of his brother's mistresses. A tangle ensues, during which a horrible tragedy occurs. Alyssa and Joshua and the whole rest of his family are pulled into a situation that, for a while, looks like it can't possibly have a happy ending.

But skillful storytelling bring this couple full circle, and even though there is sadness in MISTAKEN MISTRESS, there is also joy. Ms. Radley portrays a whole range of emotions in her characters so realistically, a talent that swept this reader right along. I smiled as well as felt this family's pain.

In the end, I was carried away by the way this author filled the pages with what felt like a much longer story than it actually was. She wasted no space and told a compelling tale about finding oneself, even in the midst of turmoil.