The Mistress by M. Banks was a great read; one of those hidden gems written earlier in her career that was polished for reprint. Although short, Marley's story was thoroughly engrossing. The typical "big" misunderstanding was used here, but the subsequent fallout was written so well with fresh plot twists that I never grew bored with the story. Marley's predicament was heart wrenching and lots of times I felt her pain. I also liked Chrysander and his brothers. Even though they treated Marley badly (due to the misunderstanding, of course), they really were good guys. This was a wonderful tale and deserved 4 stars.

Wanted Mistress and Mother by C. Marinelli wasn't anywhere near as entertaining. I thought the hero, Dante, was a first-class jerk who continuously gave Matilda mixed messages and played on her emotions. I never did warm up to him so his declaration of love felt false. Maltilda, on the other hand, was a lovely woman whose self-confidence nosedived after the breakup of her previous relationship, which was further damaged at Dante's hand. How can anyone connect to a hero who plays emotional games like that? I was much more interested in Maltilda's connection to Dante's daughter, but unfortunately the story really didn't develop that angle. Overall, this story frustrated rather than satisfied me. I give this one only 2 stars.

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