The Trouble With Harry

Harry, the Marquis Rosse is a 45 year old widower with five precocious and lively children who are rapidly driving him insane. When his 13 year old daughter, Lady India, comes to him demanding an explanation on the reasons behind her bleeding, he knows he is in way over his head and must make the ultimate sacrifice -- find himself a woman to be both wife and mother to his brood of hellions. Having his fill of society females, he placed an ad in the "Rams Bottom Gazette" so that no one would really know that he was a marquis. This way, he would sort out the women looking for rich man and find a woman who liked children (not that he wanted any more) but would also be a bedmate for Harry. Twenty years ago, Frederica Pelham (Plum) had been married for 6 weeks to a man who neglected to tell her he already had a wife. Upon discovering his deception, his family sent him to the continent, Plum's family disowned her over the `scandal' she caused! Plum's life was ruined, she was disowned with barely enough to live on. With few options left to her, and more than enough unsavory offers of protection, she retired to the country where she penned the highly popular but controversial "Guide to Connubial Calisthenics" under the pen name of Vyvyan La Bleu. The book was so controversial (yet ordered by most of the ton) that it was even banned by the government. Really needing some security, not only for herself but for her orphaned niece, and wanting a child of her own, Plum rationaled that she was not really lying about her past, but just an omitting some of the truths. This was a hilariously funny tale of two middle-aged people who take their bedsport to a new level. Harry's accident-prone children are a trip whose non-stop antics enliven and grace the pages with joy and laughter! Along with a superb secondary cast of unforgettable characters from the entertaining and irreverent Spanish butler Juan, to Harry's rapscallion brood of hellions - India, Digger, McTavis and twins Andrew and Anne -- who do their best to drive Plum crazy the reader should find themselves howling on the floor with straight from the gut belly laughs. Bottom Line - For outrageous fun in a can't put it down rapid page-turner delight from start to finish - look no further than this gem by Katie Macalister! (...)

Katie Macalister is one of the most delightful (and prolific) writers in Romance today. She is not Shakespeare, but then I, for one, thank goodness for that! We already have old Will. When I want the Scottish Play, I blow the dust of my very ancient copies and read it. When I want sheer fun, I look to Lynsay Sands and Katie Macalister. I love British humour (works out nice since I am Scot!), but that dry wit is often missing in the works of a lot of American writers. I am not talking about highbrow humour, but that you-can't-help-but-howl-aloud Benny Hill wacko laughs! The kind that has your erupting with buffos, has people looking at you as if you have gone around the bend one too many times, the kind that has your husband exiling you from the living room while he is trying to watch CASI because you are making too much noise. Many writers can provoke a giggle. Few make me laugh so hard I hurt. There is nothing more special a writer can do for you. They leave you feeling good all over. And Trouble With Harry is a sheer delight from page one! One of my favourite Hitchcock movies carries this name. It was deadpan humour that was just so on target, so it's not surprising to find this book is the same. It's a delightful Regency - and from the opening scene where beleaguered Harry is trying to explain the facts of "womanhood" to his eldest daughter - you are already laughing out loud!The Trouble with Harry, 45-years-old- is a father, coming to parenthood late in life. There in little India - no longer the little angel sent to grace her life since she is in urgent need to know about the birds and the bees, the twins trying to "fly" from the barn roof again, Marston - Harry's heir - who thinks he would rather be a blacksmith than the next Marquis Rosse, and MacTavish who presents his father dear with his latest "finds". Harry, left to raise his five hellions...um, precocious darlings on his own, faces the decision he has to remarry, find a good stable woman who can bring some semblance to his chaotic life. Being a smart man, he immediately instructs Templeton, his man of affairs to find him a suitable wife by advertising for one.He would like a companion suited to him, and one who could bring peace to his herd, so he wants Templeton to move quickly before word gets out Lord Harry needs a wife. He dictates he wants a woman between 35-50, who must like children and be possesses a "certain charm to her appearance", though it's not absolutely necessary. While she might not have to be toothsome, he would like to look at her and not think of a bulldog!Enters Plum. She desperately wants a family, would love children, but no man in all of Dorset would accept her "after the scandal" - well, no man except Harry. She was married once, well almost married. Charles her husband, forgot to mention one little thing before their marriage - that he already had a wife! But Plum is understanding and does not judge all men by Charles. Also, she is a

This book is wonderful! It dares to stray from the typical romance heroine with Plum, a 40 year old woman with a heart of gold. She marries Harry, a widower with five rambunctious children, and becomes the glue that holds the family together. The story includes the wit and hilarity that is typically found in a Katie MacAlister book. I loved it and have been encouraging friends to read it too!

A wonderful, funny and touching story by Katie MacAlister. Besides getting to know Harry and Plum, there is the pleasure of revisiting Noble and his son Nick. Also Plum's niece Thom is a delight. Harry's staff including his overenthusiastic butler is also a well rounded cast. After finishing The Trouble With Harry you will be left with a smile on your face and a yearning to have Nick's and Thom's story.

Here's yet another wonderful submission from Katie Macalister. If you enjoyed 'Nobel Intentions' you will love 'The Trouble With Harry'. This book has the same quick wit and sexy interludes. Plum and Harry strike sparks off of each other right from the start. The secondary characters are hilarious (I love Thom and the children). We get a brief glimpse of Nick from 'Noble Intentions' which I hope means a book about him will soon follow! Have no fear and go ahead and purchase this one!