REVIEW: Claiming My Untouched Mistress by Heidi Rice

Claiming My Untouched Mistress by Heidi Rice is a sexy and passionate romance for a couple who have an unconventional start to their relationship!

Edie Spencer is desperate to pay off a loan shark for her brother-in-law’s debts and prevent her and her sister from falling into worse straights when she enters Dante Allegri’s casino with a million dollar loan, her math skills, and enough courage to hopefully pull off a win. The one thing she’s hoping for is that the man himself won’t be there. But as luck would have it (or not), Dante is in the house and her big gamble doesn’t pay off.

When Dante discovers that the mysterious woman who captivated him for several hours over a poker table has left him a fraudulent stake and not the million dollars she owes him, he’s determined to find her and claim his winnings. But when he tracks her down and discovers hired muscle threatening her, he steps in. Convincing Edie to confide in him and promising not to turn her over to the authorities, he decides he’s more interested in helping her, and in using her talents to his advantage. He’s looking for some new investors and has invited some potential partners to his estate for some high stakes poker. He wants to hire Edie to be his hostess, to play some friendly card games with his guests all while taking mental notes and tracking who are the biggest risk takers. He also offers Edie the chance for a no strings attached affair. But can it turn into something more?

I really enjoyed this story! It’s told in dual first person point of view so the reader knows Edie and Dante’s motivations and innermost thoughts. Edie is a damsel in distress but valiantly trying to do whatever she can to prevent her and her sister from having to sell their family home to pay the loan shark. She gambled and lost in Dante’s casino, but didn’t know that the money stake she’d brought had actually been a forgery. She’s being roughly manhandled when Dante shows up on the scene to rescue her. He finds a way to help her pay off her debts but also gives her the chance to keep her dignity by coming to work for him, acknowledging her talents in reading people and playing cards.

I appreciated that although he’s attracted to her and he tells her so, he doesn’t make the job contingent on any sexual offer or try to convince her to sleep with him. He just puts the offer on the table and lets her know it’s up to her to take it. Edie is a 21 year old virgin and she decides that Dante is the one she wants to be her first sexual partner. Their love scenes are sexy and consensual and naturally lead to sharing personal stories. Dante has some issues due to his mother’s work as a prostitute and her eventual abandonment of him. It makes him wary of fully committing to any woman who might leave him when he’s at his most vulnerable and when his feelings for Edie start to get too intense he makes the cardinal mistake of backing away. When he realizes that mistake and tries to win Edie back, she makes him work for her forgiveness. They get their happy ending complete with a sweet epilogue. Likable characters and an interesting plot make this an entertaining and worthwhile read!

Book Info:

Publication: Mar 19, 2019 | Harlequin Presents |

I’ve drawn her into my world…

And she’s mine to awaken!

Walking into my casino, Edie Spencer seemed like a spoiled heiress—until she agreed to clear her family’s debts by posing as my temporary mistress. My plan? To use her to expose my business rivals. Yet discovering Edie’s innocence has led to greater temptation than I could have imagined. Our chemistry is spectacular—now I’ll claim Edie for so much more than pleasure!