Blog Tour - Mistress for Hire by Letty James
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Mistress
for Hire
Letty
James
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Date of Publication: October 15,
2014
ISBN: 978-1-61935-565-1
Number of pages: 172
Word Count: 50,000
Book Description:
Stranded in Paris, Nikki Sommers
is desperate for a job, willing to sweep the floors of a local bakery. But
Gérard Beauvais knows where Nikki needs to be – not in the bakery, but in his
bed. Offering her a job as his personal assistant, Gérard introduces Nikki to
the workings of international business, along with the romance and beauty of
Paris.
Nikki falls under Gérard’s
magnetic spell, only to get a nasty surprise when she discovers she is merely a
pawn in an international scandal involving her own sister. Her heart is torn
between family and a love she had only fantasized about.
Will she win Gérard’s heart or
only be his Mistress for Hire?
Available at Amazon
My Review :
Rating - 4 Books
Mistress for hire is a fast and short story. I got confused regarding the relationship between each characters, How Gerard is related to the owner of the bakery. It's not clear also what is the conflict on the story, at first I thought that Nikki's sister is a witch but as the story goes it's not.
As far as Nikki and Gerard's characters, I can easily relate to them. I love Gerard he is so sweet and charming. I like the Paris settings.
Author should give readers at least a little background or an idea regarding other characters. Over all, I enjoyed reading this book.
Excerpt
Chapter One
He entered the
pâtisserie like a conquering warrior, indecisive patrons falling aside in the
wake of his determination to reach the pastry case. His nostrils flared as he
inhaled the essence of the bakery. Nikki shrank back from the power emanating
from him as clearly as the smell of freshly baked bread rippled from the ovens
in back.
Her
grandmother’s letter crumpled in her hand. She thrust it into the pocket of her
jacket.
The proprietress
pushed through the other gray-haired clerks to wait on the man. “Bonjour,
Gérard. What can I get for you today?”
To Nikki, the
air in the bakery stood still as the massive man swept his chestnut mane off
his forehead and his eyes scanned the wide display case full of sweet
delicacies.
“Un petit
macaron de mangue, s’il vous plaît.”
One small mango
macaroon? How could such a large man limit himself to one bite?
“How are we to
stay in business with customers ordering one macaron at a time?” she scolded
him teasingly as one would a child.
He smiled
slowly, his face softening as he looked at her. “Madame, you would make me
fat.” He patted his exceptionally trim middle.
“Hmpf.” Madame
shook her head and began to fill a large white cardboard box with pastries.
Before she could close it, he thrust out his meaty hand, gesturing for the
macaron. Nikki pushed her glasses up her nose, watching as he popped the
red-and-orange-tinted cookie into his mouth. He closed his eyes, his face
tilted toward the heavens, and his hands clenched the lapels of his black wool
coat.
His groans and
sighs filled the small room. Nikki’s body flushed as she imagined him groaning
like that over a woman—over her. She pushed her glasses up again and wiped the
perspiration off her upper lip, watching his tongue move under his lips, over
his teeth. She couldn’t look away. She felt the pleasure as he felt it. The
barely-there crunch of crust, the smooth interior, the silk of mango cream
across his tongue. His tongue that would slide across hers when he kissed her.
Sucking wet kisses that would consume her.
His eyes opened,
a smoky blue-gray, targeting her, his stare pinning her to the wall. Could he
see her lust—exposed as clearly as if she were naked before him? Nikki held his
hot gaze, desire shimmering between them, then broke the contact, staring down
unseeing toward the glass case. Her gut clenched and her heart pounded. By the
time she looked up, his broad back blocked the light from the door. Not
thinking, she stepped after him, only to be caught up short by the swirling
gray fog. He had disappeared, taking her fantasies with him.
***
Gérard Beauvais
adjusted his scarf against the chill wind, rustling dry leaves through the dark
cobblestone alley and cursed his morning flight of fancy. As he strode away, he
ran his hand down his face, blowing out a sigh. His reaction to the blonde had
startled him—an instant attraction that made him forget the sensations in his
mouth and feel other longings. He’d forced himself to turn away and not be
tempted. He had enough aggravation in his life. But something about her niggled
at his brain. Her high cheekbones, the tilt of her head.
Merde!
He stopped
short, the string of the pastry box cutting into his fingers. Of course! She
had to be Jessica’s sister! The younger one supposedly still in the States.
Once he realized it, the family resemblance was obvious, although he had never
reacted to Jessica in such a physical way. Cursing his weakness, he tamped it
down, his mind rolling over other complications.
Had she come to
demand ransom for the files Jessica held hostage? Gérard turned to confront the
conniving bitch, tossing the pastries into the nearest trashcan. He would shake
her until the answers rattled out of her head.
Rounding the
corner, he halted, seeing Tante Emmaline and the blonde in the window. Emmaline
patted the younger woman while she wiped her tears with a tissue. Crocodile
tears. Jessica only had to pull that trick on him once to see he was immune.
Emmaline certainly had a softer heart than he as she pulled the woman further
into the bakery, probably to fill the thief’s belly with sweets while listening
to some preposterous sob story.
Gérard’s eyes
narrowed as he stepped back into the warmth of the bakery.
About
the Author:
Letty James has been devouring
romance novels ever since she hid under the covers reading Sweet Savage Love by
Rosemary Rogers. And, yes, searching for all the sexy parts. She completed her
first novel participating in National Novel Writing Month in 2005 and has been
writing furiously ever since, fueled by chocolate and multiple cups of tea.
Along with writing, she enjoys
reading, painting, watching movies featuring studly men, and listening in on
other people’s conversations.
Michie, thanks for hosting and taking the time to do a review. Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteHi Letty, I enjoyed reading your book. Happy Thanksgiving !
ReplyDelete