Miss Wonderful (Carsington Brothers #1) by Loretta Chase

This was unexpectedly wonderful!

It can be difficult finding good historical romance, the older ones in particular can be a little problematic, and this one had it’s moments, but overall it was super well written and VERY funny.

I laughed out loud a lot, the banter between Mirabel and Alistair was honestly top tier.

“Alistair did his best to soothe her while he imagined himself leaping across the table, scooping Miss Oldridge out of her chair, and tossing her out of the nearest window.”

One of the things I enjoyed the most is the fact that Mirabel wasn’t a young ‘miss’ but an unmarried woman of one and thirty which is positively ancient for historical romances. She was still a virgin (which, yawn, shouldn’t be a thing to mention but it is) but she was very worldly and wasn’t taken in by a the handsome Alistair just because he took an interest in her. I mean she fell for his charms, but they were totally falling together and it very much felt like they were meant to be and found each other when it was time.

The villain of the story was a bit of an idiot and I can’t for the life of me work out how he thought he’d get a way with things, but he did serve his purpose of moving Mirabel and Alistair’s relationship along, so I can’t be too mad!

The other villain of the story was the stupid canal! Look, I totally got why Mirabel didn’t want it in her back yard, and it of course makes sense that it would be a constant worry to her but it took them way too long to come up with a solution, and I was getting annoyed. Of course it’s easy for me to see the solution sitting here in 2025 but come on. These are both exceedingly clever people! 😀

I did love that Alistair refused to give up until he found a proper solution to building the canal, even after Mirabel told him that she would take the moving it further away solution. He didn’t want to ruin the land she loved and that there is the real sign that these two were meant to be.

Oh, I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention Alistair and his love affairs prior to Waterloo, honestly made me adore him more, and I think made Mirabel love him a little more. When Alistair commits to someone or something he goes ALL in. Hopeless romantic, war hero and a business partner so intent on closing the deal that he doesn’t realise he has been manipulated into falling in love. Luckily that manipulation also forces him to heal from the traumatic experience that was Waterloo and get a lovely HEA

Can’t wait to read more of the Carsington Brothers, and more Lortetta Chase in general!

Synopsis:

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 very wonderful?