Mistress in the Making

Pestered by a persistent stammer, a Regency lord with a keen interest in orreries and boxing—but not in talking—must find a way to woo his new mistress without words.

For Jane Austen fans who always wished her fun and witty books had more heat.

The Mistress in the Making series is a fun, “sexy Jane Austen styled”, emotionally satisfying tale told in three parts: Seductive Silence, Lusty Letters, and Daring Declarations.

What Readers Are Saying

“Highly recommended reads and definitely keepers!”
“These three books are definitely worth reading again. Loved it.”
“Will be rereading this whole story again and again.”

Though the Mistress in the Making trio originally began as a single novella entitled Mistress by Morning, it soon blossomed into an extended-length, emotional story of true hardship and ultimately finding that special person who makes you a better version of yourself. Of course, it’s also brimming with steamy scenes and trademark humor too (including some marvelous Regency slang).

Thea, raised on the fringes of London society, is left destitute when her unromantic husband dies, and soon it’s a nightly battle to fill her belly—one she often loses to the two mice, George and Charlotte, she shares her hovel of a rented room with. In such a dire situation, who among us wouldn’t at least consider becoming a kept convenient? Especially when Thea’s friend, a long-time courtesan, makes it sound so much better than starving? And has a particular gentleman in mind…

For Daniel—a marquis who struggles to hide his stammering difficulty, taught by his ruthless father he was somehow less of a man because of it—the thought of seeking out a new mistress would leave his tongue tied in knots… if it wasn’t already.

After their first (not-quite) intimate night together, Daniel tries his hand at penning a letter to the lovely Thea, and soon the two embark on a fun, flirty exchange that was a sheer joy to write. Thea especially surprised me with a racy sense of humor she’d kept hidden till then.

The story also incorporates Daniel’s fascination with orreries—something I learned of quite by accident only recently. Solar system miniatures… how wonderful to discover something that’s existed for centuries yet feels entirely new to one’s awareness. 🙂

And while completing their impassioned journey took far longer than I wished, these two have lived on in my heart more than many other characters who’ve found their happily ever after. Like Daniel, I sometimes have trouble speaking—though from a musculature standpoint rather than severe stuttering—and for an author who uses dictation software to write, that can be frustrating on many levels.

I suspect I may relate to him more than other characters… perhaps so much so that I’ve developed a bit of a crush. (We’ll not tell Thea or Mr. Lyons about that, all right?)

The first book of Daniel and Thea’s journey, Seductive Silence, is available FREE at most vendors.