The Mistress by Martine McCutcheon | Book Review

 "He took one last long look at her before walking away and disappearing into the night. At that moment, Mandy knew her life would change forever . . .

Mandy Sanderson is turning thirty and has everything going for her – dark ebony hair, flashing black eyes, flawless skin and a job she loves – yet, so far, true love has eluded her. Then, on the night of her birthday party, surrounded by friends she adores, Cupid strikes as Mandy and the gorgeous Jake Chaplin lock eyes across the restaurant and fall for one another in an instant.

Jake is confident, successful, oozing with sex appeal and utterly irresistible. He is also married, with two children, and Mandy has always sworn not to break her own golden rule: never encourage a man to play away. Jake is used to getting what he wants, and this time it is Mandy he’s determined to win, and with Jake, seduction comes in more ways than one."

Blurb Taken from: Amazon

What a saucy read!

I couldn't believe how much criticism this book received. Generally, celebs create their own sickly sweet perfume or release some deafening pop song to gain more exposure. Martine McCutcheon, the much loved actress from Love Actually, decided to write a book.

The book follows Mandy Sanderson as she enters her thirties. She goes out for a glamorous birthday meal in London with her closest friends where she meets Jake Chaplin, a successful and gorgeous business man with one slight complication... he has a ring on his finger - and two children.

The two know how wrong it is to be entering into this sinful relationship but the love and lust they share for one another is too difficult to ignore.

This is their love story - steamy, heart-wrenching and simply delectable. 

You couldn't imagine the ending that Martine McCutcheon gave this story - it is completely unexpected and knocks you off balance a little. I wasn't sure whether to be happy, disappointed or just completely and utterly confused. Perhaps I was all three at once.  The ending felt rushed and cut short - I wished that she had elaborated on the path and life that the key character (Mandy,) decided to choose.

It is an easy book to get lost in - enjoyed best while on holiday or killing time at the airport, which lets face it, I seem to be doing a lot of these days.

It was really hard for me to pick this book up - let alone finish it. Being in love and involved with a married man (unknowingly) is (unfortunately) something very close to home for me. I chose to read this book because of the book that I am busy writing with a similar storyline, minus the children and glam London lifestyle. Although my book is fiction - it is built on the bones of my experience with a man I deeply loved and who I shared some absolutely beautiful moments with - but whom I lost... whom I never really had to begin with.... and that, my friends, was the hard part to accept. Cue that beautiful and sad melodic song posted in my previous post to best define just how I feel:

 http://bohemianmuses.blogspot.com/2014/04/christina-aguilera-say-something.html

Both Martine McCutcheon's story and my own just goes to show that sometimes the people (call them what you like: mistresses, seducers, home-wreckers..) that you are led to judge and hate are often the ones that were not in the wrong. Many times, our stories need to be belted out to the world.

Empowerment of those who have been burned and rubbed the wrong way.
This is by all means a fabulous read for anyone who has ever felt that way.

It has taken me a long time to be able to finally start writing my new book again but now I am finally ready and I am absolutely loving it. I'm sure you'll all hear about it soon - but for now it is still being created and my first book, Walk With Me, is selling like crazy.

All of that is my explanation as to why I have been quieter than usual lately. I have been reading and writing my absolute bloody heart out (pardon the pun) - as well as cramming in the odd airplane ride and spontaneous trip around South Africa to keep my travel junkie soul entertained. 

Loving life in the bubble of words, pages, ink and literature that I have wrapped myself in!

Peace and love until a later date...

Jade