Miss Wonderful

by Loretta Chase

Paperback, 2004

Status

Available

Call number

813.54

Publication

Berkley (2004), Paperback, 352 pages

Description

Fiction. Romance. Historical Fiction. HTML:The first book in the Carsington Family series from award-winning romance author Loretta Chase! Alistair Carsington really, really wishes he didn�??t love women quite so much. To escape his worst impulses, he sets out for a place far from civilization: Derbyshire�??in winter!�??where he hopes to kill two birds with one stone: avoid all temptation, and repay the friend who saved his life on the fields of Waterloo. But this noble aim drops him straight into opposition with Miss Mirabel Oldridge, a woman every bit as intelligent, obstinate, and devious as he�??and maddeningly irresistible. Mirabel Oldridge already has her hands full keeping her brilliant and aggravatingly eccentric father out of trouble. The last thing she needs is a stunningly attractive, oversensitive and over-bright aristocrat reminding her she has a heart�??not to mention a body he claims is so unstylishly clothed that undressing her is practically a civic duty. Could the situation be any worse? And why does something that seems so wrong feel so… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member theshadowknows

I really enjoyed Miss Wonderful. The characters are engaging and original. The dialogue sparkles. The prose is fluid and pure fun to read – with a bit of an Austen feel to it for me. Alistair Carsington, the younger son of an earl, is not your typical regency rake. He manages to pull off the

incongruous mix of being both a dandy and scarred war hero. He’s very uncomfortable with his fame as a hero and the wounds he earned at Waterloo. The former he thinks is undeserved and the latter is a noticeable limp of which he is ashamed. The thing I liked best about Alistair was how self-effacing he was. He doesn't use his war wounds as an opportunity to brood and rage all over the place. He's charming, chivalrous, and flawed. Even better, he isn’t famous for millions of affairs as part of a marriage hating complex. (Love doesn’t exist, my parents didn’t marry for love, all women are conniving mercenaries, bla bla bla.) He’s more of a head ache for his parents, who have had to bail him out of numerous disasters, financial and amorous. I loved the list of Episodes of Stupidity with which his father confronts him, prior to delivering the ultimatum that Alistair must find a way to cease draining his parents financially or his younger brothers will suffer for it. Alistair’s solution is to join his best friend Lord Gordmor in a business venture, the building of a canal in Derbyshire. To this end, Alistair travels to Derbyshire to plead their case with the largest landowner in the area, Mr. Oldridge. Unfortunately, since the death of his wife, Mr. Oldridge has cared for nothing but botanical pursuits, so Alistair has to deal with his daughter, Mirabel, who has run the estate for the past ten years or so. And she is vehemently opposed to Alistair and Gordmor’s project.

From the start it’s clear that Mirabel is an intelligent, capable woman. All the work she does, all the responsibilities she shoulders are very evident in the book, so she’s not one of those “bluestocking” heroines who make vague references to doing math-type things, but never really do anything. She’s genuine and practical, has given up a lot to run the estate, but she doesn’t whine about it. She made her choice years ago to commit herself to this certain path, and though she’s not above missing the fun of her youth, she doesn’t turn her actions into a huge, dramatic sacrifice. Despite (or perhaps because of) being antagonists with regards to the canal, she and Alistair have great chemistry as they disagree, resist each other, and eventually work towards a solution to the obstacles that stand between them. Alistair’s reactions to Mirabel’s sartorial offenses are particularly funny and endearing.

Other reviews of Miss Wonderful are kind of mixed and I can understand how the sedate pacing of the book and its premise might be considered drawbacks. The circumstances under which the hero and heroine meet don’t particularly scream "romantic." Alistair is in Derbyshire for business, and that business is a big part of the book. It’s the plot, what brings the characters together, what everyone talks about a lot of the time. The building of the canal is tied up with the industrial revolution transforming the landscape of rural England at the time, so Miss Wonderful is not your typical balls and tea parties romance. Some might find it tedious, but I thought the author integrated these issues very well with the development of Alistair and Mirabel’s relationship. Alistair is invested in the canal venture because it’s his first chance to stand on his own and make something of himself, let alone save his brothers from ruin. Mirabel is emotionally tied to the land and has made great sacrifices for it. Loretta Chase writes so well that I was never bored with the canal business.

My only objection was the book’s descent into stereotype with the awkward introduction of a devious villain near the end, a kidnapping, the doddering old father, and the heroine’s initial determination to have one night of passion with the hero (because they can never be together) which she will hoard away for the rest of her dreary life. Even though it isn’t the best of books, Miss Wonderful was still a fun, sexy read.

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LibraryThing member dukedukegoose

Look, I know it's a romance novel. I get that. But it was a SUPER ENJOYABLE romance novel. Not too much bodice ripping, adorable side characters (the plant obsessed dad!), a hero that was not remotely rapey, a 31 year old heroine that knew what she was about, and a satisfactory ending.

LibraryThing member wolffe

I found this novel well written, but featuring an unfortunate hero. Although he's described as a "dandy" in the book I couldn't help associating another less flattering description: flop. I found Mirabel's stubbornness to preserve her land without a good reason and it became rather annoying. I also

didn't particularly care for her being older than her hero. (Petty and picky, I know.)

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LibraryThing member cathymoore

Not bad at all for a frothy, historic romance. This has its fair share of heaving bosoms and tight breaches - and, I have to say was much more racy than I had anticipated! The plot itself is rather incidental to all the sex scenes and descriptions of what everyone looks like and is wearing. There

were a couple of occasions when I found myself really questioning the main characters motivations. Then I remembered this is a harmless romance novel and their only real motivation is to make it to the last chapter and the happy ever after. Good fun.

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LibraryThing member Samchan

Miss Wonderful was an okay read to while away some free time. I had been reading this Carsington series out of order, and this book focusing on Alistair Carsington came at the tail-end of my Loretta Chase reading binge, paling in comparison to the other installments. What I love most about Chase's

books are the witty dialogues and character chemistry, two qualities that were rather scarce in Miss Wonderful. The story just felt a bit rote to me. There wasn't anything wrong with it, but there wasn't anything memorable about it either. In fact, a few weeks after I had finished the book, I couldn't remember a single thing about it and needed to read the back cover summary just to jog my memory. Despite my lukewarm feelings though, I have to say that even Chase's weaker novels are much better than so many romances out there, so I'll continue to gulp down all of her books.

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LibraryThing member Capnrandm

This was a sweet romance. Loretta Chase did a wonderful job of crafting an interesting story without unnecessary melodrama, and the characters were both interesting and well-drawn.

LibraryThing member sharrow

I loved this book. Finished re reading it last night and remembered why I adore her writing so much. Clever, witty prose and a simply fabulous hero.

LibraryThing member LadyWesley

Classic Loretta Chase humor, a flawed but honorable hero, and a proud, lively heroine. My favorite running joke: the hero cares a lot about what he wears, and even though he's attracted to the heroine, he's constantly appalled by her clothes. Cute role reversal.

LibraryThing member zannerina

Very amusing dialogue and great characters!

LibraryThing member SaraAnn05

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

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LibraryThing member thatotter

My goodness--I actually enjoyed this! The protagonists were relatively interesting, likable people, which never hurts. Of course it was sort of silly, but there are really far worse characteristics in a book.

LibraryThing member sammii507

"Miss Wonderful" is the story of Mirabel Oldridge, the only daughter of a slightly crazy but amiable man, and Alistair Carsington, a younger son of an Earl. At the beginning of the story, the reader discovers that Alistair, an injured Waterloo veteran, because of a long list of follies from his

past, is being forced to either wed an heiress or find himself employment. Not particularly wanting to marry at the present time, he goes together with his friend, Lord Gordmor, in a venture to build a canal to Gordmor's coal mines in Derbyshire. When Alistair arrives and attempts to persuade the residents to his side, he discovers that his strongest opposition is from Mirabel, a feisty and intelligent girl who runs her father's estate. The two butt heads frequently and an attraction starts to grow between them...

This story was a bit of a dissapointment. At the beginning, it was set up well and was very entertaining, but it fizzles out towards the end. She gives away her character's "secrets" (such as they are) too early, and there is no real climax to the book. It just kind of drifts in the direction it's going without any real purpose. And this was a great dissapointment, because it had a good deal of potential. Mirabel, also, was riding the line of an "Amazon" woman - one of my greatest pet peeves when it comes to women in Regency novels. She was not ~quite improper, but she certainly did not seem the least bit concerned about her reputation, which I felt to be a bit unrealistic. Alistair was a good character, but I think that he should have had some major revelation, or actually let us know what happened to him at Waterloo, rather than his major revelation being something as pitiful as admitting he was afraid. Well, duh. Also, I didn't like the sex scene right before the wedding, with them coming to their wedding all rumpled. I found it rather unrealistic that people wouldn't be absolutely horrified at that. And think that Mirabel was quite a slut.

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LibraryThing member skirret

The first volume of the Carsington Brothers series and my first book by Ms Chase. I'm not sure why I've put off reading any of her prolific output until now, but it may have something to do with her name reminding me of well-known chanteuse, and imagining that Ms Chase's books were cozy mainstream

romances.

It was a huge surprise to discover a decidedly non-cozy and complex story in which the romance between Waterloo veteran Alistair and Derbyshire heiress Mirabel almost takes second place to meticulously researched local and historical colour. Not that the romance between two such apparently mismatched protagonists isn't fascinating in itself. It is, but it never overwhelms the background story of the planning and building of a canal, in the course of which we meet a host of intriguing and eccentric characters, and a few token villains.

Ms Chase clearly did her homework in researching Matlock Spa and the Peak District, as well as the procedure for obtaining funding, approval and permission for the building of a canal or a more modern tramway or railway.

I love books that leave you not just happy and satisfied, but also a little wiser about something you didn't know too much about. This was definitely one of those books.

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LibraryThing member Marcella1717

What a wonderful book, cleverly written. The relationship between Alistair and Mirabel is so believable. Part of the plot (about the steward) could have been left out, but the entire book is so good and rich - great characters, humor, witty conversations - that I simply don't care. As a whole, the

Carsingtons are one of my favorite series and I reread them almost every year.
Grade A

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LibraryThing member lydiasbooks

Really liked the detail - characters, backgrounds, interests. I'd read more. I liked how most of the book was about what happens first - not into after-marriage detail really. Yay for lots of fascinating supporting characters too. Now I want to know what happens to them!

LibraryThing member phyllis2779

Charming installment in the Carsington saga. So far I would rank it fourth in the four I've read but still excellent. There were a lot of thing hard to believe, such as the sexual aggressiveness of a 31 year old virgin spinster but the author worked hard to make it authentic feeling. The hero and

heroine were interesting and likeable characters.

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LibraryThing member WhiskeyintheJar

Not sure about this Alistair character; he is described as a wastrel, loves clothes, and is considered a hero for something he has no recollection for. Qualities usually not given to lead male characters in books. And to boot our heroine is thirty-one, gasp! What have we here Watson? I'm

intrigued.

Wow never read someone described so poetically "Her eyes were blue, twilight blue, and for a moment she seemed to be the beginning and end of everything, from the sunrise halo of hair to the dusky blue of her eyes." Uh, sigh. Sign me up to be waxed poetically over.

No idea how to take this book. Alistair is constantly distracted by how atrociously Mirabel is dressed, hard for me to connect with a male character so incredibly into fashion. I think it was suppose to be funny, but it just weirded me out.The author does an incredible job with her secondary characters, reminds me of Carla Kelly. Captain Hughes was awesome, I absolutely loved how he could turn anything into nautical terms.

Alistair's PTSD from the battle of Waterloo and the memories is very heartbreaking to read but the author somehow manages to keep things light and write Alistair's comments and feelings to keep the story from being weighed down in the ugliness of war. Alistair is not the typical scarred war hero, he has a calmness, lightheartedness, and unflappability to keep him from being dark.

Ok the canal business started to become tedious halfway through and I was grudgingly trying to understand its importance to the story.

Oh man the scene where Mirabel is stripping and Alistair tries to keep looking at his boots starts off funny and then shifts into "make your heart clench in your chest" when Alistair realizes Mirabel has felt ignored for so long and he final gives in and then says "I see you".

The last five or so chapters of the book were kind of boring for me. I was annoyed at how stubborn Mirabel was about the canal, which I again want to say took up way too much of the story and the Caleb Finch villain who kidnapped Mirabel's dad seemed like an unnecessary part to add. Mirabel and Alistair's relationship lost some of its spark and I just think the story could have wrapped up sooner. There are some great funny and heart clenching moments throughout but because of the canal and ending not a keeper.

B-

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LibraryThing member elenaj

I think one character gets off way too easily at the end, but otherwise this was a very satisfying read.

LibraryThing member spinsterrevival

I loved every bit of this which had both Mirabel and Alistair on the page, although I do feel that there was too much of the canal plot that took me away from some of the romance.

LibraryThing member N.W.Moors

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.

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LibraryThing member JorgeousJotts

This was fun. High drama but low angst. It's so nice when the characters are fairly reasonable human beings. =D They were both smart and capable as well, with interesting pasts and flaws. I enjoyed watching them work through their hurdles, and they seem well suited.

LibraryThing member Anniik

past, is being forced to either wed an heiress or find himself employment. Not particularly wanting to marry at the present time, he goes together with his friend, Lord Gordmor, in a venture to build a canal to Gordmor's coal mines in Derbyshire. When Alistair arrives and attempts to persuade the residents to his side, he discovers that his strongest opposition is from Mirabel, a feisty and intelligent girl who runs her father's estate. The two butt heads frequently and an attraction starts to grow between them... This story was a bit of a dissapointment. At the beginning, it was set up well and was very entertaining, but it fizzles out towards the end. She gives away her character's "secrets" (such as they are) too early, and there is no real climax to the book. It just kind of drifts in the direction it's going without any real purpose. And this was a great dissapointment, because it had a good deal of potential. Mirabel, also, was riding the line of an "Amazon" woman - one of my greatest pet peeves when it comes to women in Regency novels. She was not ~quite improper, but she certainly did not seem the least bit concerned about her reputation, which I felt to be a bit unrealistic. Alistair was a good character, but I think that he should have had some major revelation, or actually let us know what happened to him at Waterloo, rather than his major revelation being something as pitiful as admitting he was afraid. Well, duh. Also, I didn't like the sex scene right before the wedding, with them coming to their wedding all rumpled. I found it rather unrealistic that people wouldn't be absolutely horrified at that.

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LibraryThing member Anniik

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LibraryThing member funstm

I've loved the other two Loretta Chase books I've read but this one just missed the mark. It wasn't bad - just kind of boring and it seemed endlessly long because of it. The biggest problem beyond plot was that I just didn't like the characters. Alistair was kind of ridiculous and Mirabel was just

drab. She had no real distinguishing marks, nothing to set her apart from the million other female characters I've encountered. There was very little witty banter and she didn't seem to have hobbies beyond liking nature and I just didn't care. Alistair was somewhat set apart as a clothes fiend and his insistent on his clothes and her clothes looking pristine and fashionable but it wasn't enough to keep my interest.

So apart they were bland and together even more so. I didn't really see why either of them liked the other and the chemistry between them was non-existent. And there was very little plot to occupy 300 pages. I did like Alistair's solution to the canal problem (he suggests a railway instead) but it just wasn't enough to redeem the rest of it. 2 stars, edging closer to the 1.5.

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