I normally love Valerie Keoghs books but I wasn’t sure about this one, it was quite a slow burn and none of the characters were very likeable which is a shame as the plot itself was quite promising.
It was well written as per usual for this Author but unfortunately the characters just weren’t for me and put a damper on what could’ve been a good story.

Author Valerie Keogh returns with THE MISTRESS (unlike the typical love triangle tales)—a femme fatale gets more than she bargained for when things turn toxic and deadly in this provocative and riveting thriller of sex, obsession, revenge, and murder from the "master of domestic suspense."

Hannah Parker came from a poor upbringing and loved her dad but left them when she was ten. She and her mom did not have a good relationship. What happened to him? Often, she wonders if her mom killed her dad. Why else would he just up and leave? From there, she led a life of self-destruction. Maybe all men were not like her father.

She is beautiful and exotic and a brilliant actress (manipulative plus clever) and has always looked for a father figure. She quickly learned she could get all the perks with a sugar daddy—old, powerful, and wealthy.

"Love wasn't a concept I was familiar with. I had a more than passing acquaintance with lust." —Hannah Parker, THE MISTRESS.

Until she married a sugar daddy, Ivan was seventy and ill. He wanted children, and he finally discovered she was taking the pill behind his back. He then turned violent and abused her. She winds up in the hospital. He was not fit to be a father. He thought she would give him beautiful babies. He was wrong.

She married Ivan after she graduated from university. She did not consider herself a prostitute, although she would accept accommodations, credit cards, jewelry, travel, spending money, and whatever she needed. She was using her natural talents, after all.

Now she was 39, and he was 70 and overweight, plus he was dying. He had thought she was younger than she was. She had work done and dressed to the finest. Money had been good for her. He was handsome and rich. Weekends in five-star hotels, jewelry, and shopping trips—but she was stuck in this remote family home after they married. It was no longer fun.

She finds a college photo in a book when she comes home from the hospital to recover. She remembered all those years earlier in college.

She thinks back to those days. If she had stayed with Mark Shepherd, who loved her, she may have had a different life. She left him to keep dating older men with money. She mistreated him. She was not interested in a nice guy and settling down back then. Mark had made her feel loved. Does she want that back?

She looks up Mark on Facebook, now a successful attorney married to Susan with a son, Drew, who recently went to university. Hannah is devious, conniving, evil, beautiful, manipulative, and wicked. She gets what she wants. She does not care if he is married or if she will break up a family. She is selfish.

She decides she will get Mark back. She knows he will not be able to resist. She plans to return home to her mom's and play the poor female who needs rescuing. She soon has him under her spell, but does she want him?

She does not consider his wife; Susan may be harder to shake since she appears to be more of a challenge than she bargained for. Susan has a few tricks up her sleeve. Susan, Mark's wife, might be ordinary and dull in Hannah's eyes, but she would do whatever it took to save her marriage and keep the man she loved.

In a wicked, devious, dangerous game of cat and mouse, who will win out in the end? The wife or the mistress? Is Susan up to the challenge faced by Hannah, who is conniving, lying, and selfish? Does Susan even want Mark back?

Was Hannah a fleeting fixation for Mark— a sexual siren with prominent attractions, or would she be something more dangerous, an attractive, intelligent woman who gave him everything he thought he needed?

"To be a successful liar, you need to have three skills:
Keeping the lie simple
Remember which ones you've told and to whom.
Consistency is key."

Will Hannah lose her edge? Susan is an empty nester who would not let anyone take her husband; however, she and Hannah may have more in common than they know.

Things do not go as planned when Susan hires Ethan, the PI. What a scoundrel! Told from alternating POVs: Hannah and Susan, will karma win in the end? Or will it take MURDER?

THE MISTRESS is a clever and highly entertaining domestic suspense with a plot that escalates to a twisty, chilling conclusion. Valerie Keogh is a favorite author, and I enjoy her writing style —I read in one sitting! An exploration into childhood abandonment and nature vs. nurture. Does our past shape our future?

Although the characters are not likable, you ultimately feel for both women. Drama, suspense, and dark humor keep the pages turning in this twisty psychological thriller with complex female characters. I loved the ending! For fans of authors— Miranda Rijks, Emily Shiner, Keri Beevis, Freida McFadden, Robyn Harding, and Michele Campbell.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early reading copy.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pub Date: 25 March 2024
March 2024 Must-Read Books
March Newsletter

This is a great psychological thriller.
The book begins with Hannah being attacked by her husband Ivan.
Recovering from her injuries in hospital Hannah is determined to find happiness. Looking through an old book a photo flutters to the floor of Hannah and her boyfriend when she was younger.
With her husband immobile from the stroke he had after attacking her, Hannah sets out to find Mark.
We then have chapters from Susan who is Mark’s wife. With their son leaving them to go to university, their relationship is suffering as Susan misses her son so much.
I won’t say how the story unfolds from here but it’s a great read.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for the book #TheMistress by #ValerieKeogh. A book about a woman who starts up an affair with a long ago boyfriend. Along the way she finds out more about herself and the pain that from her father leaving her as a child. This story makes you realize what you need in your life and when it’s time to live for yourself.

A captivating domestic thriller at it's finest! If you love to see the truth come out as secrets are exposed, this is the story for you.

I quite enjoyed this one it's told from Susan and Hannah's perspectives the wife and the mistress I'm not too sure about the ending to be honest it was surprising but I expected something different for some reason

Well this certainly is a tangled tale. Hannah Parker and Mark Shepherd knew each other at university. For a time they were an item, but it was no secret that Hannah enjoyed the company of older wealthy men and the financial benefits that they brought her. Many years later Hannah has married Ivan, a wealthy man in his sixties who has a temper and can be free with his fists. After a particularly nasty beating which sees her in hospital for 48 hours, she returns home to find that in her absence, Ivan has had a massive stroke. Left unattended, his condition deteriorated to a point where he is now semi-conscious, bedridden and has twenty four hour nursing care.
Quite by chance, Hannah discovers an old photo of Mark and herself and is convinced he was the only man who really loved her. She decides to track him down, and rekindle the romance. The fact he might be married isn’t an issue. She wants him and that's that.

Mark, now a partner in a firm of solicitors, is married to Susan and has a son, Drew, about to leave for university in Scotland. Throughout her marriage, Susan has dedicated herself to her family, especially Drew and that means his leaving is something she has difficulty dealing with. Immersed in her own despair at losing her son, and with a husband who finds it difficult in understanding her, makes the situation wide open to Hannah’s devious plans.

I found it difficult to like any of the main characters. Hannah was hard, selfish and focussed totally on her own needs. Part of her attraction to older men (besides their money) stemmed from the fact her father had walked out on them when she was a child. Clearly she was trying to find a substitute. Susan has all but smothered Drew and cannot cope with his departure As a consequence, she has become depressed, and unable to cope. Mark’s change in behaviour is a wake-up call and alerts her to the fact he might be having an affair. It immediately pulls her out of her misery. She is determined to discover what is going on and to fight for her marriage.

Mark was a spineless individual, weak enough to fall for another woman’s charms and not really care about the consequences. Secrets, lies, infidelity and manipulation, it’s all there. During this journey both Hannah and Susan will make discoveries which change the course of both their lives. All in all, it's a real melting pot of emotions and human behaviour.

My thanks to Boldwood, the author and Netgalley for an ARC of The Mistress in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately this book was just not for me. I struggled to finish it, I found all the characters boring and I wasn't just into it.
The premise was good but it didn't deliver.

I do often wonder how such lovely authors can write dark and disturbing tales and this is a prime example! Valerie delves into the world of being a mistress and the story is told from dual perspectives of Hannah - the mistress and Susan - the wife. For me it also raised the question of how to define what a victim is, along with the fallibility of man. I disliked and pitied the main characters at times but I never expected THAT ending!!

Thanks to Netgalley/Boldwood Books for the ARC to review.

Thank you Net Galley for the copy of the book!

This book follows Hannah and Sarah. Sarah facing empty nester syndrome when she starts suspecting her husband having an affair. The twist at the end of the book was not what I was expecting at all and left my jaw on the floor! I had to reread the last page a couple times to make sure I read it right!! This was a great book and I can’t wait to read more from this Author!

I love Valerie Keo’s books and I have read a lot of them but sadly this one was not only disappointing it made me think someone else must’ve written this book. Hannah has no redeeming qualities whatsoever and Susie was exciting as a dish towel not to mention Mark was a complete idiot! When I read a book either they have villains I love to hate or characters I just love, this Book had neither. I don’t know why but when Susie wrapped up college information as a Christmas present I wanted to DNF the book right then and there… I mean who does that? When Hannah found a picture of her and Mark in the book I thought it was going to be the grand sweeping lost love story, but they were only together six months and throughout her telling about them being together I couldn’t get a grasp on whether she truly loved him or that was just what she was doing at the moment.
I know we’re supposed to be non-judge mental when it comes to women who sleep with lots of men but I will be honest that is something I find hard to do for someone to get naked and rub the most sensitive parts on almost a complete stranger is something I find hard not to judge. I get it she got $200 for the pleasure but $200 is not enough for me to live with PTSD the rest of my life and I know that’s what would happen. Also Mark is an idiot… That’s all I’m going to say about Mark is he is a complete idiot and a buffoon and he is the character I was most disappointed in. This will not stop me from reading Valerie Keo’s because they are usually among my years favorite books but sadly this one will probably be a monks my worst. I want to thank boldwood books and net galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

The blurb of this really drew me in. The opening chapter was fantastic and I truly thought this was going to be sensational. But unfortunately the pacing really fell short for me. It's under 280 pages, which for a thriller is already fairly short, but the pacing made it so that the entire action of the book ended up in the final 30% which really frustrated me. I felt the first 50% was scene setting and character building, which was great, but after a while it sort of felt very "Ok so she misses her son, now what?". Unfortunately not for me and I wouldn't recommend it. However i'm intrigued to read more of Valerie's work.

This starts out intense with a wave of violence and a stroke. We quickly learn that this 40 year old protagonist is married to a 70 year old man who wants children. Also he thinks she is like 32 because she is hot. There is a lot of detail about how she is hot.
So instantly I felt for her and I hated her.
She is not a girls girl and she is incredibly selfish. She had one normal boyfriend, in college, and she decides she wants to find him and get a piece of that. Her name is Hannah.
Our next perspective is that guy's wife. She is okay but she is about to be an empty nester so she is dealing with that. That si Susan. Susan is a good name for a scorned wife.
I alway wonder why someone, anyone, would want to steal a man from someone else. Men are abundant. Anyway, love the ending.

Hannah Parker has no problem taking what she wants without regard to how it affects others. Susan Shepherd has spent most of her life as a doormat, devoting her time to taking care of those around her and making her own wants and needs a low priority. What do these women have in common? Matt Shepherd AND both had fathers who left their families when these women were young. This is where the craziness starts. Are Hannah and Susan truly happy? If not, will they ever be able to find happiness? What causes them to act like they do? What do they need to be fulfilled? This book is full of drama, poor decisions, questionable thought processes, anger issues, immoral behavior and more. And there is a jaw-dropping, but fitting twist at the end! The Mistress is an entertaining, soap opera of a story, and a quick and easy read. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the digital ARC.

After reading The Housekeeper by this author I was expecting great things from her latest novel and it did not disappoint.
The Mistress is a well-paced, excellently plotted domestic thriller.
Hannah Parker only picks wealthy men to date and eventually marry. After her marriage starts to fall apart Hannah decides it is time to move on and look for a new relationship. One evening she comes across a photograph of an old boyfriend (Mark) and she starts to wonder how things may have turned out differently if she had stayed with him. Being a woman who always gets what she wants, she sets out to win Mark back despite the fact that he is married.
Told in 2 POVs (Hannah and Susan), we get to understand and engage with each of the main characters.
The Mistress is great read, cold, calculating, unlikeable characters full of murderous and devious intentions. A tale of infidelity and desire. Overall a gripping page turner that I devoured in 2 sittings. Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

This was a very enjoyable psychological thriller. It had me hooked from the start, the plot unfolded well and at pace and the characterisation was excellent. I’m looking forward to reading more of this authors books. Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the chance to review

I’m still not sure how I feel about this book.
The author is a great writer and I loved her characters. Which means I would love to read more of her books.
But for me, the ending was a little flat and abrupt. I wanted a little more. I felt like there were loose ends and I didn’t have a content feeling.
Maybe when I think more on the book I’ll change my mind.
Overall, I would recommend.
Thanks

Engaging book about two women sharing the same man. A few twists and turns to keep things interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a smart narrative full of plot twists ! When we have someone we love on our side, we send them away... and then we want them again... that's basically what this book is based on. Hannah is a woman who, from a very early age, has the wrong notions of what a relationship is and what it entails, always taking the easiest way out, Sex. However, after a traumatic event with her current husband, Hannah feels that she needs and wants more and sets out in search of Mark, the man she abandoned at a young age. But Mark, now married, has a nice life and as always his wife doesn't know the bomb that will drop on their relationship... I really liked this book, especially the ending, which I think was more than fair and I loved this author's writing!
@bibliotecamil_insta

Hannah Parker is used to getting what she wants and when her husband and her have problems she sets her sights on old flame Mark. The only issue is Mark is married now to someone else. Will she let that get in the way of what she wants?

I liked the premise of this one and the overall storyline was fairly interesting. I enjoyed that the story was told in the perspectives of both the mistress and the wife. This added a bit of extra intrigue. Overall though, I found the story slightly too repetitive and was never gripped to the storyline. The ending seemed fairly sudden also. Not a bad book but not one that really excited me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.