Miss Wonderful

February 15, 2004
Alistair Carsington-wounded Waterloo hero, third son of the Earl of Hargate, and a dismal judge of female character-is commanded by his father to find a way to be self-supporting within the next six months (either by finding an occupation or winning an heiress) or risk impoverishing his younger brothers. He then heads for an isolated corner of Derbyshire to see a botanist about a canal and is confronted with the one thing he can't resist: a beautiful, desirable woman. On the other hand, Mirabel Oldridge, intelligent, independent, if rather sartorially challenged, has enough to deal with in managing the estate of her plant-obsessed father and isn't about to let a charming dandy, however heroic and handsome, distract her. Graced with compelling prose, witty dialog, well-researched detail, and engaging, exceptionally well-drawn characters, this beautifully done historical is Chase's first new book in five years-and it was well worth the wait. Chase (The Last Hellion) has written a number of much-loved, award-winning historical romances and lives in Worcester, MA.

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from March 15, 2004
Due to his history of expensive romantic entanglements, Alistair Carsington now has six months to find either a useful occupation or a wealthy heiress to wed. To prove he is not an idle fop only concerned with sartorial pleasures, Alistair agrees to help his old friend, Lord Gordmor, by traveling to the wilds of Derbyshire to convince Gordmor's neighbors to support the nobleman's proposal to build a canal. Upon arriving, Alistair, a famous war hero and eligible bachelor, finds everyone couldn't be nicer, everyone except for respectable, practical, spinsterish Mirabel Oldridge. The last thing Mirabel wants is for her tranquil little corner of England to be destroyed by a noisy, nasty canal, and she is prepared to use every weapon at her disposal--including her disheveled coiffure and unstylish wardrobe--to stop Alistair. RITA Award-winning Chase presents a splendidly written tale of two people trying desperately not to fall in love. Chase's beguiling blend of deliciously complex characters, potent sexual chemistry, and sparkling wit give this superb romance a richness and depth readers will treasure.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)