#Wonton Wastrels 2

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

The Marauder’s Mistress by Tabetha Waite

Wanton Wastrels #2

 Riveting read that drew me in and kept my interest from beginning to end!

 What I liked:

* Constance: survivor, spent years as a courtesan, business savvy, trust issues, wants more, self-reliant, drawn to Devin

* Devin: survivor, lived on the streets, ex-convict returned from penal colony in Australia, smitten by Constance

* Luke: good friend, difficult backstory, pseudo-father to Devin

* That it was believable

* That the characters were not upper class but classier than many in the upper echelons

* The friends Constance had

* Drennan: owner of gaming hell that Constance once co-owned, in debt, intriguing and would like to see him in a book of his own…perhaps Brutus and even Luke, too

* The way the story ended…put a smile on my face

* That I cared about the outcome and was happy that the bad guys received their comeuppance

* All of it really except…

 What I didn’t like:

* Who and what I was meant not to like: Granville and Isaacson and their cohorts

* Thinking about life in this era and the big discrepancy between the haves and have-nots

 Did I enjoy this book? Yes

Would I read more in this series/by this author? Definitely

 Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the Book – This is my honest review.

 5 Stars

    BLURB

 Constance Freewater has lived almost two decades of her life as a celebrated courtesan known as Madame Corressa—a woman always living on the edge. As she approaches her fortieth birthday, she realizes that what used to be a fulfilling existence no longer holds any excitement for her. She’s tired of the empty sort of temporary passion that used to be enough. When she crosses paths with a mysterious gentleman who becomes intent on pursuing her, she is inexplicably drawn to him. But when circumstances alter their fate, she has to decide if she is prepared to be his mistress—or nothing at all. Devin Blackmore had a hard life. Growing up with drunkards, scoundrels, and pickpockets on London’s city streets was a normal way of life. But one mistake was all it took for him to learn a harsh lesson. After spending five years in a penal colony, he returns to England determined not to succumb to his old ways. However, he never intended to meet such an enchanting woman as Constance, nor believe that she could make him a better man. But when a late-night attack leaves him fighting for his life, he realizes that he can’t escape his past. He doesn’t want to drag Constance into mire with him, but he finds out she’s not easily intimidated. As hearts become entangled, they have to decide if what they feel for each other runs deeper than the demons of their past. Or is love even possible for these two, broken souls?

Kindle Edition

Published February 14, 2022