This is not just a good romance novel. It's a good story. Seriously, I can't remember the last time I giggled out loud so often at any book, and not in a mocking way; this is straight up hilarious. It helps to have readMr. Impossible first, so you can get all the jokes about Rupert (oh, Rupert) but it's just fine on its own. Being a romance novel, you have to put up with a certain amount of "his rod was already at attention" or whatever, and yeah, I rolled my eyes on page 7 when I realized that both main characters were widowed, which meant they could get straight to the sex, later. Oh, and if she could have only tripped into his arms, like, twice, that would have helped. But everything else is wonderful, from her biting sense of humor to his frustration with living up to his parents' expectations, to the AWESOMELY funny letters her daughter mails to his nephew, to everyone else's reaction to how totally mismatched they are. And Rupert gets a cameo! (Hi, Rupert! I still love you!) Chase has even gotten POV under control, so it no longer jumps from character to character in the same scene, which was the only quibble I ever had with her.
More high praise; I started it at 11 or so last night, and it's now 11 am. I read this sucker straight through, pausing only to nap and feed the cat, because it's that good. Loretta Chase isn't just a good romance novel writer; she's a good writer. I might go reread it uh... right now.
Grade: A
originally posted 2007
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