365 books in 365 days challenge ... Book #254

Kholodov's Last Mistress - Kate Hewitt
Mills & Boon Modern
Harlequin UK, 2011
ISBN: 9780263887051












My rating

From the back cover:

"An Innocent in Moscow... 
When Sergei Kholodov rescued American tourist Hannah Pearl, her wide-eyed approach to the world shocked the man whose life had left him bitterly cynical. Hating how powerfully she affected him, Sergei made a cold-hearted decision to obliterate his dark emotions... 
He would lose himself in sinful pleasure before pushing her away and destroying her dreams. One year later, Sergei returns. Hannah has been seared in his memory - perhaps one more night will allow him to forget her once and for all? Or will he realise her innocence is a Pearl beyond price and that he'll never have enough...?"




This is Kate Hewitt's latest book, I have been looking forward to reading it. I had a feeling it was going to be good...!

The hero Sergei and the heroine Hannah meet when Sergei helps Hannah after she is pick pocketed while sightseeing in Red Square. Hannah is left stranded after realising her passport is missing, and despite his misgivings Sergei can't help but feel bad for the seemingly innocent Hannah so he decides to helps her. Sergei also realises he can't get her out of his head and, desperate for a respite from the stress in his life, he asks her to dinner knowing it will result in them spending the night together. Hannah also wants an escape from the recent disappointments in her life but at the last moment Sergei realises he can't go through with it, leaving Hannah humiliated. A year later and Sergei is still thinking about Hannah, and after many battles with himself he goes to see her. They finally give into the passion that is between the, and begin a very hot and heavy affair. But Hannah soon finds that Sergei refuses to open his heart to anyone, including her.

This is such a wonderful and emotional book, I couldn't put it down. The whole book has a fairy tale feel, but still very modern, which in my opinion is very appealing. Sergei is a great hero; totally alpha and deliciously tortured. Kate Hewitt writes some of the best tortured heroes, and Sergei is no exception, my heart was breaking for him at times. The story has a nice pace, I particularly liked that the relationship developed over time even though the hero and heroine were not actually together.

Some of the charm of this book lies in the fact that a lot of the book is, let's face it, implausible but it is executed so well I couldn't help but enjoy it.

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