Mistress

By: Amanda Quick

Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat

Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's Summary

When a blackmailer threatens her Aunt Zoe, Iphiginia knows she can ferret out the villain. A 26-year-old vixen with the intellect to match her beauty, Iphiginia descends on London society as the dazzling mistress of the missing Earl of Masters—another supposed victim of the blackmailer. But when the missing earl suddenly reappears at a ball, Iphiginia is caught in her own clever lie.

©1994 Jayne A. Krentz (P)1994 Recorded Books, LLC

Great narration

If you could sum up Mistress in three words, what would they be?

If you're a Ragency fan, Amanda Quick is a great bet. Mischief is one of her best. Humor, spooky thrills, feisty heroine, strong hero. Barbara Rosenblatt provides an engaging narration with exceptionally good male voices that enhance the fun.

14 of 15 people found this review helpful

Friends kept liberating paper copies

The best laid plans of nieces and earls.....
Another Quick worth rereading, another good fun.
Publisher's blurb gives plot clues, but cannot convey the situational and/or conversational humor.
Moves along quickly (I know, horrible pun), twists along quite nicely, and with truly enjoyable characters.
Barbara Rosenblatt's performance really does add to the enjoyment!

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Entertaining story with historical accuracies

Iphiginia is such an entertaining and intelligent person, I couldn't help but love her. Her ability to react smartly in an unexpected turn of event and her boldness get her in very laughable perdicaments which she navigates with daring and confidence. Her personality shines in the midst of this historical setting. This is a mystery to determine who the blackmailer is with just the right amount of romance (I am NOT a fan of long, trashy sex scenes). The narration is top notch, as well.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Likable characters - a good read.

Someone said Quick's stories were too much alike. I disagree. I think maybe it is the narrator that leads one to that impression. Although this narrator is not my favorite for women's voices, she does the male parts quite well. The story kept my attention, and I liked the characters. This may be one of my favorites by Quick.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Rules

Another great one by Ms. Quick. when I'm feeling romantic, she always satisfies.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Love Amanda Quick's chicks

I truly liked this listen. The lead female is strong, the hero intriguing, and the story is amusing. Definitely a good use of time. This is the only AQ I have listened to, having the rest of my exposure to her in print. But this was so enjoyable, I may listen to the books I borrowed from my sister.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Steady Amanda Quick, Never goes wrong

I love the charming historical novels of Amanda Quick. Her female leads are always strong and self sufficient yet not afraid to get a little cuddly with a man. They are intelligent and it's fun to how they go about solving a problem. I first listened to her "Paid Companion" and haven't been disappointed yet. Talent like Amanda Quick's is a rare find!

10 of 13 people found this review helpful

VT. FAN

Would you consider the audio edition of Mistress to be better than the print version?

THERE WILL PROBABLY NEVER BE A TIME WHEN I FEEL THE AUDIO VERSION OF A BOOK IS BETTER THAN THE PRINT VERSION. IN PRINT MY IMAGINATION RULES FROM THE LOOK OF THE CHARACTERS, TO IMAGINING THE SCENES DESCRIBED, TO THE VOICES, ALL COMES FROM MY IMAGINATION WHEN I READ.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Mistress?

THAT IS WHAT IS SO GOOD WITH AMANDA QUICK BOOKS THE ENTIRE BOOK IS MEMORABLE THAT IS WHAT MAKES AND AUTHOR A BESTSELLER WETHER IT BE JUST ONE BOOK (TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD) OR NUMEROUS NOVELS.

Which character – as performed by Barbara Rosenblat – was your favorite?

BARBARA ROSENBLAT DID SUCH AN GREAT JOB THAT EACH CHARACTER WAS SEPARTELY AND DISTINCTIVELY BROUGHT TO LIFE. FABULOUS.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

ITS AMANDA QUICK! YOU LAUGH, YOU CRY AND YOU SIGH. YOU HATE TO HAVE IT END. THATS WHY I OWN BOTH PRINT AND MOST AUDIOS. I HOPE SHE STICKS WITH ROSENBLAT WHO IS 100% BETTER THAT FLOSNCK. I WISH THE JULIE GARWOOD WOULD USE ROSENBLAT FOR HER AUDIO BOOKS SHE WOULD BE GREAT.

9 of 14 people found this review helpful

Good, fun book made better by the narration.

I’m re-listening to “Mistress” again after having purchased an Audible copy. I read the book not long after it came out and have reread it several times as well as listening to the library’s recorded copy more than once. I enjoy this genre and Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick/Jayne Castle is one of the few authors whose books I will preorder or reread. This is in my opinion one of the better early Amanda Quick books. It seems surprisingly fresh. I’m laughing at some of the dialogue even though I’ve read/heard it before; both the story and dialogue seemed quite original when the book was new and somehow still do. Barbara Rosenblat’s reading takes the book up a notch. I’ve always appreciated how she can speak like a man without trying to sound like one. Many female narrators will pitch their voices lower for male characters but will continue to speak like the women they are and it’s not nearly so effective. Ms Rosenblat also gives even minor characters such as Dinks the coachman and Mrs Shaw the housekeeper their very own distinctive modes of expression and personalities. Their characters are well developed in the book but she brings them to life off the page. Iphigenia the heroine speaks through Ms Rosenblat just as do women I know who are determined and intelligent but gracious as well. I enjoy that Marcus the hero has what must be a North Country accent just as someone would who came from and loved Yorkshire and really didn’t have the least concern for whether people judged him by the presence or absence of a refined accent. He speaks as would an intelligent, honorable, rather stubborn and exasperating man. I’ve known a few men who were rather exasperating but good hearted and this comes through in the way Ms Rosenblat has him express himself. I enjoy Ms Rosenblat’s pacing. She does use the dramatic pause but stops short of overdramatizing. Through her the characters speak quickly or slowly as they would in life according to what’s happening. She excels at reading the funny parts, pacing no doubt being vital to comedy too. In short, a good, fun read, superior narration.

Formulaic but Fun!

Amanda Quick may be formulaic, but the combination of her intelligent heroines, and heroes who prefer intelligence in women, make for witty banter, and steamy romance. The mysteries aren’t exactly nail-biters, but neither are they obvious. Barbara Rosenbladt is a narrative genius. She gives voice and interest to even marginal characters who might easily fall flat. Worth the credit if you’re in the mood for something lighthearted, sexy but above all romantic.