Meh... unremarkable

Audible lists this book under the title, "The Mistress" and doesn't tag it as belonging to any series. The original title of the book is " The Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress" and it is Book 1 of "The Anetakis Tycoons" series. 2 stars. The narrator was good though.

Marley is the live-in girlfriend to Crysander Anetakis. Banks sort of shoves us into the demise of their relationship by opening the book with Marley trying to break the news that she's unexpectedly pregnant while Crysander finds out that Marley supposedly used their relationship for corporate espionage. Crysander callously gives her a "you weren't anything more than a mistress" speech and then gives her 30 minutes to get out. She leaves the apartment in tears whereupon she's abducted and held for several months. (Yup, all this OTT drama is packed into a single chapter).

Marley is eventually rescued from her captivity but has amnesia and doesn't remember any of her relationship with Crysander. After seeing her story on the news he arrives at the hospital claiming to be her fiance. He brings her home and then takes her to his private Greek island to recuperate.

Side note: Can we acknowledge for one moment here the ridiculousness that is police & hospital staff releasing an emotionally traumatized pregnant woman into the custody of a man she has no memory of and letting him whisk her out. of. the. country. Seriously?

<SPOILER>
Anyyywaaayyyy... meanwhile in Greece... Crysander slowly woos (uh, basically has sex with despite still believing her a thief and liar) and "cares" for Marley. Marley continues to find clue after clue that she was never a real part of Crysander's life. None of the clothes in her closet are maternity clothes. She's never been to his home in Greece before. She's never met his brothers before. She doesn't have an engagement ring. It's a LONG list.

**insert evil cackle here** Add in that this entire time Crysander's personal assistant keeps popping in at inopportune times, flirting, and generally disrupting life. She might as well be walking around with a "I'm the villian" t-shirt.

Crysander has some vague business that requires he return to NY. He decides to bring Marley with him and then insists they get married while there. This is a plot point that is never really explained or justified. He keeps pushing to get married before her memory returns and she realizes what a jerk he is. Yet, he doesn't love her and HE STILL THINKS SHE'S A THIEF AND A LIAR. Why? Why? Why?

They go to a fancy party, everyone treats Marley like crap, she overhears them all talking nasty about her and BOOM, memory returns. She loses it and flees. At this point she not only remembers all the nasty stuff he did at the break-up, but also that he refused to pay her ransom, and that he has a *real* residence in NYC he never took her to.
<END SPOILER>

If there's one thing I dislike more than "insta-love" it's "insta-forgiveness". Banks spent a considerable amount of time presenting the case that Crysander was unfeeling, ruthless, and inconsiderate that when she tried to redeem him with Marley, it fell flat. He explains all the misunderstandings and apologizes for the ways in which he was a jerk. It takes Marley two days to decide not only to forgive him, but to re-accept his marriage proposal. I found myself rooting for Marley to kick him to the curb. However, I did finish the book. Banks does little to invest readers in the lives/personalities of the remaining Anetakis brothers that I don't really find myself wanting to continue the series. This definitely isn't something I'd listen to again and wouldn't spend a credit on.

8 people found this helpful

Mistress

Sounds a bit like K Blomberg's Driven series.
Assistant to CEO gets pregnant to destroy current relationship.
In this book it was stealing plans for hotels.
I'm sticking to M Banks I Team books.

2 people found this helpful

Hard to believe this is Maya Banks

Would you try another book from Maya Banks and/or Lily Bask?

Yes, and I have. Her KGI series and Montgomerys and Armstrongs series both are great! But this is not on par with those. I stopped about a 1/4 of the way in and checked to see if this was one of those cheesy old Harlequin romance novels. But it is a 2009 copyright so maybe that's it....she was still learning her craft.

Any additional comments?

The hero is very unlikeable and he treats his mistress like crap before he finds out she's pregnant. He never gives her the benefit of the doubt on anything. He just assumes she's a thief without confronting her. Not only is that unrealistic but it shows his true character. Really the 2 had no chemistry and the character development is so thin I find I just couldn't image anything in my mind.

2 people found this helpful

MB and LB a match made in heaven

I’m so obsessed with the unplanned pregnancy stories, it’s mildly embarrassing. As a woman of almost 50, who was married for 5 years before the first baby, it’s obviously not how I conducted my life. I think that’s point, a harmless little fantasy. Maya Banks is one of my favorites for this particular guilty pleasure. I get so wrapped up in the story that sometimes I tear up at the sad parts. I really can’t think of a MB book I haven’t liked, unplanned pregnancy or not. I enjoyed the heck out of this story, I listened to the whole thing without a break. Now, Lily Bask, when I first start books narrated by her I always think I don’t like her voice. Within a couple of chapters I start to enjoy her ability to convincingly speak like a woman or a man. By the end of the book, I know that nobody could do it better. So ladies, please keep writing and narrating, I’ll keep listening.

1 person found this helpful

The Mistress

I have this ebook in my 'fav to hate' file. Here is the typical Greek alpha who is having an affair with a woman who used to work for him. She finds out that she is pregnant. He believes she is the company thief. The night she leaves the love nest she is abducted and held for ransom. He leaves New York. Several months later he is in town just long enough to do some work and to fly out the next day. He absentmindedly watching TV when he hears her name mentioned. She had been found after a botched kidnapping. And now she is five months pregnant. What happens next is the story line. Even listening to it here. Narrator was good. I still will put it back in my fav to hate file.

1 person found this helpful

This was such a let down!

This book has no redeeming qualities. To say I detested is an understatement. Not even worth a sale. So not worthy of Maya Banks!

1 person found this helpful

Predictably Wonderful!

A good clean read written by Maya...... I prefer my booms more hot n steamy but for those who dont , this one still has a great storyline and interesting characters....

I’ll have to read it. Couldn’t handle the narration

Couldn’t get through the first chapter on audible. The narrator sounded much older and like she smoked a pack a day. Don’t even get me started on how she read the male parts. It was one of the worst I have ever heard and I listen to a lot. Immediately deleted it and maybe I’ll get to it on my tbr list.

Heart catching

I loved reading this book and found it more enjoyable listening to it. Very entertaining.

Greek Tycoon Romance

I enjoyed this quick, easy to listen to Audiobook. Even though the plot was pretty basic and predictable, the author still did a nice job of portraying passion, lies and deceit. I liked the ending and the reader did a good job.