Lord Perfect (Carsington Family Series)

Delightful characters, delightful story, funny, and Ms Chase's wit - Book Perfect.

I won't recap the plot. I'll just tell you why I enjoyed this book so much. First of all, I LOVED the characters, especially Bathsheba. I appreciated the fact that she wasn't a schoolroom virgin (that stereotype gets old after a while). She was an experienced woman of "two and thirty", and I felt her feelings and insecurities were believable for someone in her situation. Chase could have easily made her too proud and, in my opinion irritating. Instead Bathsheba was human and endearing. You just can't help but love her and cheer her on. Benedict and Bathsheba's relationship was exciting to watch unfold. There wasn't too much conflict, but I never felt cheated. Their interaction and banter was wonderfully written with lots of wit, humor and chemistry. I LOVE the part when he accidentally walks in on her (it was so hot). I found myself laughing and smiling and re-reading pages because I wasn't ready too move on (which is RARE for me). I hate it when writers include "filler" dialogue or scenes. I never felt that while reading Lord Perfect. The story was quick and to the point, but well-told. This was my first Loretta Chase book and I am anxious to start another. Definitely a keeper.

"Lord Perfect" is a wonderful example of why Loretta Chase is considered to be one of the top writers of historical romance today. Set in England during the Regency period, the story has a plot that is not particularly ground-breaking--a seemingly mismatched couple go on a road trip together and end up falling in love, yet Chase's characters are so well-drawn and her dialogue so fresh and witty that her material never feels tired or cliched. The *characters* are the real story in this book, and I found them all to be *very* engaging. The hero of the story is Benedict Carsington, Lord Rathbourne, the eldest of the Earl of Hargate's many sons and an acknowledged paragon in terms of looks, manners and behavior. A widower for several years, Benedict is considered by society to be *perfect*--a consummate aristocrat who never shows his emotions, never makes a scene and lives by his own set of "rules" of socially correct behavior. Into Benedict's well-ordered but emotionally barren life bursts Bathsheba DeLucey Wingate, a stunningly beautiful widow who has the misfortune of being born into the disreputable branch of the DeLucey family that reportedly descended from a pirate. Every one of the so-called "Dreadful DeLuceys" has been a swindler, cheat or gamester and their infamous exploits and status as social pariahs led Bathsheba's late husband's noble family to disinherit him upon his marriage to her. Now a widow with a *very* high-spirited young daughter to manage, Bathsheba has come to London in an attempt to secure her daughter's education and future. Although sparks fly when Bathsheba and Benedict first meet, both realize that a relationship between the two of them would be a potential scandal that could ruin Benedict and shred the scant remains of Bathsheba's reputation. The couple's good intentions to avoid one another are sabotaged by fate when Olivia, Bathsheba's head-strong daughter (who has more that a touch of the devious DeLucey blood in her), and Benedict's young nephew, Peregrine, set off on a quest to discover the fabled DeLucey pirate treasure. Benedict and Bathsheba are thrown together during their pursuit of the children and find their mutual admiration and attraction growing even stronger. Benedict and Bathsheba are wonderful characters--intelligent, attractive and sympathetic. Their attraction and developing love for each other seems very believable. The secondary characters in this story are also wonderfully well-rounded and entertaining, particularly the children but also Bathsheba and Benedict's other relatives. The prose is bright and clean, the dialogue sparkling with wit and the plot moves along well. In summary, this is a very entertaining Regency period romance with a charming hero and heroine and extraordinarily witty dialogue. Highly recommended, particularly for those readers who enjoy well-written, character-driven romance.

If you like droll, dry humor, you will love this book, as I did. If you laugh at "While he tied her petticoat, she swallowed and said, 'I daresay proper ladies do not unbutton gentlemen's trousers.' 'They do not do that,' he said as he tugged her frock straight, 'nearly so often as one could wish,'" then this is the book for you. Bathsheba and Bendict both know that they cannot marry, and she, especially, does everything in her power to break off with him, but he realizes her motives, so we don't have any cringe-inducting scenes of misunderstanding, jealousy, or accusation. "Lord Perfect"'s heroine matches the hero's intelligence, dedication to family, self-sacrifice, and most of all, love. I normally dislike the presence of children in romances; they are either obnoxiously mature and sexually aware or they are just impediment; the two kids in this book did make me laugh out loud. I did not expect the resolution to Benedict and Bathsheba's problem, a solution that made me laugh--again! If you love a romance that makes you laugh, fall in love with the hero, admire the heroine, and sigh over the romance, "Lord Perfect" is a perfect book.

Okay I have to write a review because unlike most of you I think this book deserves 5 stars. It helps to have read the first two books in this series dealing with the sons of Lord Hargate and his attempts to get them wed, especially the predecessor Mr. Impossible. In that book you get to know Hargate's eldest son and heir, Benedict, who is so in control of his emotions that a blink conveys great emotion. And you begin to suspect that mother and dad are orchestrating the choices. Granted the book uses some often written plot elements but it is how the writer uses those themes that matter, and Loretta Chase does it beautifully. The most used themes are turned upside down in this one. The hero is no rake, lovable or not, and the heroine, while notorious, was `ruined' by a many times great-grandfather who turned pirate back in the 16th century. Widowed and with a daughter, `the most notorious woman in England' returns to London to salvage not her own reputation but that of her young daughter, who as it happens is more like that long ago pirate than her own mother. I beg to differ with one reviewer who said Lord Hargate made too abrupt a change from opposing to supporting the marriage of his son to the widow. For Benedict and all who paid attention know exactly when and why he changed his mind. Benedict and Bathsheba - love that name by the way - are both honorable people who try to do what's best for their family members, falling in love in spite of themselves. And the plot ending - oh the ending - is clever and satisfying. Add to that wonderful dialog, gentle humor and likeable supporting characters and you have a delightful read.

After reading the only four reviews that were up before I bought the book I was worried that I was going to have a disappointing read. (Recently I have read a couple of bombs from writers whose new books I had eagerly anticipated. I think authors are being pushed to write too fast.) Anyway, while it might not be my favorite Chase book it still contains the droll humor that have been more and more making her books a treat to read. If you like Chase's unique style and characterizations you will like this book from the first few pages. The eldest Carsington son's story might not be as madcap and exotic as his brother Rupert's Egyptian saga but it is still an adventure not to be missed! Chase writes with a witty style and wry intelligence lacking in so many other romances. I only wish there were several more brothers in this family.