Courting Trouble

This was the funniest book! I laughed and giggled my way through. A great love story told through Ms. St. George's unique comedienne's eye. You've got to love her books, I do!

Holy moly. . .I like it even more than the Ideal Book also known as Ms. St. George's first book. Why? The characters, the dialogue, the fact that the sparks were even hotter. I don't mean the sexual sparks, though they weren't bad either. I mean the interactions between the St. Fell and Arabella seemed like Astaire and Rogers dancing (or more likely Grant and Russell exchanging lines in His Girl Friday, or Grant and Hepburn in anything) Together they are flawless fun. Everything - the situation, the primary and secondary characters, the writing, the one-liners -- it's all perfect for the genre. St George is more than an autobuy. She's won a permanent spot on my Shelf of Humor Gods and Goddesses.

Arabella and Diana Swann are the daughters of a wealthy merchant... very wealthy. Wealthy enough to snare them just about any title they could want. But Arabella doesn't give a fig about titles, she just wants someone who can love her for herself and not her hefty dowry. When her father practically shoves Duke St. Fell, a fortune-hunting rogue, into Arabella's lap, she is furious. All she wants is the freedom to choose her own husband...and she'll do it, no matter what her father says. The only problem is, even though Arabella has found a romantic war hero who is a published poet and is willing to marry her dowry or no, aka her ideal, all she can think about is the infuriating, deceitful rake, St. Fell. I found this book to be laugh out loud funny. The dialogue is witty and sarcastic... a nice change from some of the dull as dishwater romances I've had the misfortune to read. I loved the tipsy maiden aunt, the foul mouthed Duchess, the crying Baron, the sexy hero, the father who carries a big stick, and the heroine who is not afraid to say what she means... no matter how shocking. Also, Diana and her earl, who appeared so painfully shy and backwards in company, slipping off to have make out sessions...LOL.What can I say, this is a slightly naughty Regency that is not afraid to laugh at itself or its genre. Regency fans that are able to understand some of the double meanings and inside jokes about the Regency period and romance novels in general will find the book to be a delicious treat.You'll love or hate it... just like sugared almonds and apricot nougets...read it and you'll know what I mean.

I absolutely loved this book. Other reviewers seem disturbed by how unrealistic it is, but that's the whole point. This is a book for people who have read lots of Regencies, know all the conventions, and can appreciate their being affectionately made fun of. This book is delightful parody from start to finish--the dead giveaway being when the hero's rival is introduced as Blade Masterson. The hero is appalled and says, "You can't be serious." The heroine later tries to remember his name and can only come up with Blake Masterful. Anyone who's read enough romances knows how funny that is.

Nonnie St. George's second book gives proof to the fact that Ms. St. George is not a 'one horse wonder'.Ms. George takes a simple regency plot, commoner father wants title for daughter, and makes it sparkle! Her attention to detail is great, bringing the regency period to life. Not just the settings and trappings of the times but the whole aspect of living in those times. The mores and morals come through and Ms. George makes them part of her characters giving them life and breath.Her attention doesn't wane when it comes to secondary characters either. In a similar(but all her own)fashion to Patricia Veryan Ms. George makes these characters an interesting and integral part of the story. The Duchess of St. Fell and Aunt Ophelia separately are great characters. Together, they are priceless!But what draws me most to Ms. George's books is her use of dialogue. Down right laugh out loud! And the misunderstandings of those characters who are listening to the main characters conversations is too funny to tell!Courting Trouble is a great read as is The Ideal Bride, Ms. George's first novel. Don't miss these!