Review: Reviewed for Cocktails and Books
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 8, 2013
"If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with" could be a mantra for our heroine, Vivien, in this book.  The book begins with a hot, steamy mmf menage to celebrate her birthday.  During the menage she realizes that while her flesh is being pleased her heart is not in it and something is missing from her life.  The author does an excellent job of turning what could have been construed as a harlot into a woman with many dimensions and giving the reader insight to see past her actions to the woman underneath.  Vivien is a mistress and has been known as the mistress matchmaker.  However, two of her matches involving her closest friends developed into marriage.  It makes Vivien wonder if true love really exists and each time her mind conjures up images of her last protector, Benedict.Benedict is a member of an aristocratic family with noble blood lines.  He confessed his love for Vivien 3 years ago only to have her throw it back in his face and break off the relationship.  He hasn't been able to forget Vivien or move on to another relationship even with the impassioned pleas of his brother and mother to get married to a suitable woman.Vivien and Benedict are reunited at an event and Vivien finds herself unable to extend one last invitation to her bedchamber.  Benedict accepts and the two are once again in a tempestuous affair.  This time Vivien is determined to get Benedict out of her system, leave London, and begin her life afresh in another country unbeknownst to Benedict.  But--true love---changes many plans.  Despite Benedict's brother asking her to leave his brother so that he won't be disregarded by society and disowned by his family.  Vivien realizes that she loves him and being with him would be to his detriment.  So she determines to leave town immediately without telling him.  However, our noble hero is one step ahead and manages to save the day and the relationship just in time.This was such a sweet, sweet story of two people that love each other so much but life seems to continue to get in the way.  It is a story of love, acceptance, and hope.  It's one of those stories that makes your heart absolutely melt.  A hero that gives up everything for the one he loves, and a heroine that refuses to be held to the mistakes of her past to experience real love.  The characters were multi-layered and the plot contained numerous twists to keep the story moving along at a steady pace.  This was a quick read that I had to finish because I became so invested in the lives of these characters.  The ultimate gift from the author is an epilogue where we see that true love indeed conquers all.Jess Michaels is a literary goddess and now one of my very favorite authors!!!!  I believe this book is the very first historical romance book where the female lead character doesn't sit at home twiddling her thumbs, celibate, and bemoaning her fate to live without her one true love.  Bravo to Ms Michaels for taking a well executed risk that sets readers up for the read of a lifetime.Reviewed by Michelle for Cocktails and Books