Title: The Mistress (Chicago Fire #2)

Author: Susan Wiggs

Publisher: Mira 2010

Genre: Historical romance

Pages: 395

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Genre - Romance; Mount TBR; Seriously Series; 52 Books - W23

How I Got It: I own it!

Most days Kathleen O'Leary is a penniless maid. But tonight she takes a risk and masquerades as a glamorous heiress, thanks to a borrowed gown and her friends' sense of adventure. To her surprise, the ruse succeeds—even Dylan Kennedy, Chicago's most eligible bachelor, seems enraptured.

But like Kathleen, Dylan isn't who he says he is. And before their true identities can be revealed to one another, fire erupts, sending rich and poor alike running for their lives. Now, though virtually strangers, Kathleen and Dylan must rely on each other for survival. And when the embers cool, they'll find that the greatest risk has been to their hearts….

I thought I would enjoy this book.  But it seems that I just couldn't get behind the characters at all.  Dylan was just so abrasive up until the very last page.  And Kathleen was just way too naive especially for someone who was around the upper crust all the time.  I didn't like how quickly she stooped to his level of honesty or her complete disregard for honor (even though she yelled about it the entire book).  I'm sad to say it just wasn't my cup of tea.  I'm going to finish the series hoping that the last book about Lucy has some better characters.

Chicago Fire:

1. The Hostage
2. The Mistress
3. The Firebrand