Miss Wonderful (Carsington Family Series Book 1)

I've read other reviewers say this book ought to be called "Mr. Wonderful." I disagree-- Mirabel Oldridge is truly Miss Wonderful. Her love for her family, her land, and her community (and the fact that she's absentmindedly beautiful) makes her the star. Alistair Carsington is your classic nice-guy (but handsome) war hero with his good looks, charm and sense of honor. He would be boring except he manages his PTSD, and cares about his family with a stoic commitment that makes him compelling.Aside from the main plot (she doesn't want him to build a canal near her house, he needs to, to make enough money to avoid penury), the secondary characters, and the humor makes the book worth reading.This has to be one of Loretta Chase's best books - good pacing, laugh-out-loud humor... I'd put this on par with Lord of Scoundrels (YES, I said it!)

Loretta Chase has written some wonderful books, but I think this is one of her best. As much as I like a dark, brooding hero, there is something about one with quirks and foibles that draws me in every time. Alistair Carsington is the third son of an Earl. He nearly lost his leg in the battle at Waterloo and is accounted a hero for his actions on that day. But, since coming home to heal from his injuries, his only interest seems to be in fashion. His bills for his "interest" has caused his father to give him an ultimatum...marry an heiress or else! Not wanting to marry, he joins a friend in a canal scheme and meets the oddly untidy and unfashionable Mirabel Oldridge who drives him mad. Their battle over the proposed canal sets in motion a hilarious non-courtship for the ages. The secondary characters shine as well. The heroine's eccentric father made me want to hug him! The Captain's use of Navy terms made me chuckle. The dialogue was crisp and witty and carried the plot along well. Along with the humor, the PTSD of the hero was addressed well. Not understood at the time, many men returned from battle suffering mental disorders that caused lifelong trauma. Our hero was a fortunate one who was able to overcome his with the help of others. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romance, humor, and a little reality in their reading.Sexual situations may offend some readers.

Oh, the wit! The charm! I’ve loved this author since Lord of Scoundrels, but of course not all her books equally. This one rates high, but not exceptional. Here, both leads are complicated people living complicated lives. And that which brings them together (the canal) also keeps them apart. I appreciated the small twist of Mirabel being two years older than Alistair. She’s intelligent and confident, a woman not a girl. Though the couple takes their time getting together and there’s a nice buildup to it, nothing fizzles once they do. The last bit of the book had enough suspense to keep me up late reading. Some opportunities for angst I was suspecting didn’t occur, which I was surprised to find was okay with me. Oddly, the hero is actually all the more heroic for it.

Alistair is a war hero. He was severely wounded at Waterloo and the entire country has made him a famous man. He does not feel heroic. His leg is very painful and he no longer is able to think about things and deal with life the way he once did.Mirabel is the daughter of a very forgetful botanist. Because her father has no interest in anything in the world except his plants, Mirabel has become the person in charge of the estate and all the business attached to that estate. She is a very competent woman.Alistair has come to Derbyshire to convince people to allow a canal to be built through the countryside and specifically through the biggest estate - the one belonging to Mirabel and her father.Mirabel does not want to have a canal anywhere near her, the estate or the county in which she lives. She is a very bright woman who uses her wit to try to defeat Alistair and the canal plans. Her wit is very powerful.There is a strong attraction between Mirabel and Alistair and the conversations between the two are very entertaining. Each of them feel very strongly about their point of view. But, in spite of the different points of view, the attraction is not to be ignored.This is the first book I have read by Ms Chase and I am now a fan. She writes a very intricate plot and her characters are well developed and have depth. I like the fact that not everyone is exactly who the reader will expect.I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a romantic story which does not follow any kind of formula. The basics are what one would expect from a Regency Romance, but the way the story proceeds to completion is new and interesting.Ms Chase is definitely an author who understands how to create a story and characters for readers what want entertainment.

This is actually a re-read, but the book held up very well. Alastair Carsington is a war hero who dresses like a fop to make up for the limp from an injury. His father has given him six months to make some money or find a rich heiress. He decides to invest in his friend's canal and travels to Derbyshire to smooth the bumps in getting it started. The biggest bump is Miss Mirabel Oldridge, the intelligent and pretty but badly dressed daughter of one of the men Alastair needs to convince. Her appearance sends him reeling but she's smart enough to use it to convince him the canal is a bad idea.Their banter is one of the best parts of this book. They really are a wonderful pairing in a very smart story. I also liked seeing the setting in Derbyshire, a lovely area of England neglected by a lot of historical writers. I was happy to read this book again and will continue to reread the entire series.

I love this book, especially that our two leads are evenly matched in age, status and intelligence. They have a sparkling repartee. Alistair initially comes across as a bit of a Dandy, but you soon learn that there is so much more to him. And Mirabel has had to put her own desires aside to hold her family estate together.There's a lot of humour and moments that really made me smile. Especially as even though they had indulged in some intimacy, they still addressed each other as Miss O and Mr C. The ancillary characters were also used very well and given full personalities.The villain of the piece was the tiniest bit pantomimey, but that's a minor point and doesn't really detract

A great read. In fact the whole series is highly entertaining with some lovable characters. I just adore Olivia and Lisle's story from childhood (Bathsheba/Benedict - Lord Perfect) through to adulthood and marriage (Last Night's Scandal). Would give 6 stars to those two particular books. Very highly recommended.

I really enjoy Loretta Chase' s books and this was no exception, the characters are complicated which makes for an interesting story.

I pass this to my wife to review:A good storyline and lots of characters to get to grips with. The tale is interesting and most importantly to me, believable and in the time period that I enjoy reading about. The characters are well set and I could imagine the events unfolding as they did. Lightweight and interesting, exactly as I like my stories like this to be.

Good