The Mistress (Great Chicago Fire Trilogy Series #2) »

Susan Wiggs has won many awards for her work, including a RITA from Romance Writers of America. She has also published with a number of houses, including Avon, HarperCollins, Warner and MIRA Books.

In addition to being a militant romance writer, a feminist, a guilt-ridden mother and a perfect wife, Susan Wiggs grows mutant tomatoes, speaks French, and plays the cello. Her hobbies are reading, traveling the world and Fair Isle knitting. She lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, her daughter, and the world's most ill-mannered Airedale. Although she has convinced her family that toiling away at a writing career makes her a candidate for martyrdom, she secretly believes it's the second-most fun to be had.

Wiggs, a Harvard graduate, confesses that a book once saved her sanity. Trapped at Barcelona Airport during an airline strike, she vividly remembers savoring every lush, escapist word of a romance novel. Ever since, it has been her quest to write the sort of books people cling to in crowded airports, or whenever life gets too crazy.

October 8, 1871 One small spark ignites the entire city of Chicago, sending its residents into panic. But amid the chaos, a case of mistaken identity leads to an unexpected new love.

As the historic fire ignites across town, Kathleen O Leary finds herself dressed in borrowed diamonds and silk, enjoying a lavish masquerade. The penniless maid has caught the eye of Dylan Francis Kennedy, the rich, handsome gentleman all of high society has been speculating about. The night feels alive with magic...and ripe with promise.

Then fire sweeps through the city, cornering the young lovers with no hope of rescue. Desperate to share their last moments together, Kathleen and Dylan impulsively marry. Incredibly, they survive. Now, as the fire burns down to cold ash, Kathleen must tell Chicago s most eligible bachelor that he has married a fraud. But the joke s on her. For this gentleman is no gentleman. While Kathleen had hoped to win Dylan s love, he had planned only to capture her heart and steal her fortune. Dylan Kennedy con artist, gambler, and ne er-do-well has been unwittingly caught in his own game. Now the real sparks are about to fly.

Romantic Times - Kathe Robin

Susan Wiggs delves deeply into her characters hearts and motivations to touch our own. In the second book of her Chicago Fire Trilogy, she reminds us that no good ever comes of a lie until the truth is told and consequences paid. In this case, the lessons are well learned and readers truly feel for Dylan, Kathleen and the city s plight after the fire.