• The Secret Mistress

  • Mistress Series, Book 3
  • By: Mary Balogh
  • Narrated by: Anne Flosnik
  • Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (593 ratings)

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The Secret Mistress  By  cover art

The Secret Mistress

By: Mary Balogh
Narrated by: Anne Flosnik
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Publisher's summary

While Lady Angeline Dudley’s pedigree dictates that she must land a titled gentleman, the irrepressible beauty secretly longs for a simple, ordinary suitor. No wild rakes like the men of her family, just a kind heart and good nature. So when Edward Ailsbury, the new Earl of Heyward, rescues her with unmatched civility from the advances of a scoundrel, Angeline thinks that she has found her true love. Persuading the earl is another matter entirely.

Edward has his future neatly mapped out. He hopes to wed his steadfast companion, a woman who shares his values of loyalty, respect, and decorum. But arriving in London to take his seat in the House of Lords, he is derailed by Angeline, an exquisite bird of paradise seemingly devoted to sending his predictable life into chaos.

From the brilliant hues of her fashion to her hoydenish antics, Angeline is the last woman on earth for Edward. And yet a stolen kiss in the moonlight awakens something deep and primal within him. Naturally, being a gentleman, he does the right thing after compromising a lady: He offers marriage.

Angeline knows that Edward’s proposal is born of duty, not love. But denying something so provocative and passionate is easier said than done. Deep down, Angeline believes that Edward’s dedication to convention will melt behind closed doors, where sensuality and seduction play wicked games. For a proper wife by day can become a husband’s secret mistress by night, when delicious desire rules.

Listen to more in the Mistress Series.
©2011 Mary Balogh (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about The Secret Mistress

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
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Performance
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Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • N.
  • 07-22-11

Extremely Disappointing Balogh

While its title might lead you to believe this book is a sequel or at least in the same vein as Balogh's previous "Mistress" books, the truth is it is a boring and disappointing volume. Balogh has to stretch the truth to even incorporate the "Secret Mistress" moniker. Don't bother with it. Anne Flosnik's narration is, as always, excellent but she has little to work with. This is by far the worst Mary Balogh book I've read or listened to and I count myself a real fan.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Pleasantly Surprised....

After reading the other review, I was sceptical about getting this one, even though I have enjoyed other Balogh novels. Although not high literature, this recording was a pleasant enough surprise. I enjoyed the slightly flightly main character, who is somewhat more lighthearted than Balogh's other more serious heroines. It was worth using a credit.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Disappointing!

The love story was created too fast and the characters were not developed as well as expected. Angeline was a simple minded chatter box the hero would have never liked prior to meeting her. A forced love and a far below par story I have ever read written by Mary Balogh. Don't purchase. Move on to a better book.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Book 3

I was a little disappointed that this was book 3 felt that it should be book one. I thought narrator of the 1st 2 books was better.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful story

Where does The Secret Mistress rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's hard to rank. I really enjoyed the story but I wish it had a different narrator. I admit it's probably just my personal preference but I wish someone like Roslyn Landor or Phyllida Nash had narrated it.

What other book might you compare The Secret Mistress to and why?

I honestly cannot think of a book to compare to this one. I think that's why I enjoyed it so much. Edward and Angeline are unique. He is so determined not to be like his older brother, who died while curricle racing, that he is thought to be a "dry old stick". Angeline's youthful spontaneity brings out his passionate side when they are alone. She has two older brothers who are similar to Edward's older brother. She sensibly chooses not marry someone like them. But, because she is playful and loving, she teases Edward by saying that though they will marry she will pretend to be his Secret Mistress.

Did Anne Flosnik do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

She did make an effort to differentiate the characters by changing the pitch and accents. I can't help wishing that Roslyn Landor, who narrated book one in the Mistress series had also done this book.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

An sweetly romantic love story.

Any additional comments?

This story is simply based on the advice not to judge a book by its cover. Seriously, ignore the cover art. Angeline and Edward's story is very touching, romantic and rewarding.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

This is actually the FIRST of the trilogy!!!!!

What did you love best about The Secret Mistress?

The term "secret mistress"! I wondered how it could be named such other then to just fit in with the other two in the mistress series. But once it was revealed I smiled.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Definitely Angeline. Having listened to the other two first (they are definitely titled out of order for the story line even if they were physically written in that order) I already knew her, all of them! But I totally enjoyed the story of how she came to be who she was... all of the quirkiness made perfect sense. I just wish I had know that this was the beginning of their stories.....

What does Anne Flosnik bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I believe that her exquisite delivery of distinct voices and situations makes the tale! She always delivers a perfect performance. However she, like all narrators has some limits and is perfect within each book. But to listen back to back it gets just a tad confusing as no one can deliver, with such perfection, all those voices without repeating some in different books.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not so much... it wasnt a cliff hanger-! By far not my favorite of ms baloghs books. I enjoyed it but it doesn't go on my repeat listen list.

Any additional comments?

I can't stress enough that this is the beginning of the stories not the end. But I doubt I would have listened to the other two if this one had been my first. It was less inspired and felt a little like a afterthought. .. don't get me wrong, I totally enjoyed it!

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

IRRITATING NARRATION

This audiobook is an "ok" story but the narrator's voice is irritating. I also like to be drawn in by the characters but this book didn't achieve that.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Was this REALLY written by Mary Balogh?

I am an optimist, so when a book appears to be a total whiny waste of my time, I will usually give it atleast a couple more chapters. Because this was Mary Balogh, one of my all-time favorites, I kept listening up to half way through the second part. I finally had to give up. This IS NOT a typical MB book, I should know, my library is full of her books. I kept thinking some one at Audible must have made a mistake. The story line is really stupid, and OMG the 2 main proagonist are hurtful to even listen to! Don't wast your credit!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I love Heyward

It was really fun after reading the first two books in the series and just hearing brief descriptions of Angeline's husband to finally get to know him. He isn't a weak guy. He is terrific. Great finish to the series.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

needs a different narrator

Narrator rushes through skipping over punctuation in most places, returned by third chapter. hard listen

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3 people found this helpful