Rating: 
Summary: Delightful!
Review: First and foremost, THANK YOU, Ms. D'Alessandro for your quirky characters in this book! I loved them! I loved that Meridith and Philip were a bit "odd" (in a good way), I loved that they were not the typical "beautiful people" of the ton. I loved that they tried desperately to ignore their attraction to each other. Ms. D'Alessandro did an excellent job of weaving a story, creating a great romance and keeping the characters down to earth (making them very lovable)! "Who Will Take This Man" has all the great aspects of a terrific read! It has amazing sexual tension, touching and tender love scenes (yep, they're hot!) and enough humor to keep you laughing. Well done, Jacquie D'Alessandro. Next, please!
Rating:
Summary: Delightful!
Review: First and foremost, THANK YOU, Ms. D'Alessandro for your quirky characters in this book! I loved them! I loved that Meridith and Philip were a bit "odd" (in a good way), I loved that they were not the typical "beautiful people" of the ton. I loved that they tried desperately to ignore their attraction to each other. Ms. D'Alessandro did an excellent job of weaving a story, creating a great romance and keeping the characters down to earth (making them very lovable)! "Who Will Take This Man" has all the great aspects of a terrific read! It has amazing sexual tension, touching and tender love scenes (yep, they're hot!) and enough humor to keep you laughing. Well done, Jacquie D'Alessandro. Next, please!
Rating: 
Summary: Fairly ordinary
Review: For me, there was nothing really special about this book. The lead characters were pleasant and enjoyable, but nothing out of the ordinary. Some of the secondary characters were quite interesting, especially the secondary romance, but they were not developed enough. Sadly, if they had been more developed, they would have overshadowed the romantic leads. The mystery was often interesting, and often provided some of the best-paced sections of the book. At the same time, however, the mystery was exceptional either. The red herring was too obvious, and the villain needed more time and "screen time." Too often, the author's unfortunate tendencies to massacre pronoun usage, to endlessly repeat a phrase in the dialogue (something that was obviously intended to be amusing, but quickly grew old and flat), and to reuse the same phrases in description and dialogue from novel to novel grated on my nerves. The book's uneven pacing had me checking repeatedly to see how much I had left to read. If I hadn't wanted to see how the curse was broken, I probably would have given up. As it was, I was glad when I'd finished.
Rating: 
Summary: Dont Bother
Review: I loved Jacquie D'Alessandro's previous books, and thinking this one would be funny, heartwarming, and just plain GOOD, I bought it. BIG MISTAKE!!! The heroine is nothing of the sort. I found myself disliking her more and more as I read on. Selfish, nagging, and just plain stupid. As for the hero, he was nothing to write home about. The book is too long, with too many twists that make no sense. Please, save your money and pass on "Who Will Take This Man."
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining
Review: It should have been the wedding of the year, but Philip Whitmore, Viscount Greybourne, discovers that it's not so easy, when it comes to something as ordinary as getting married. First of all, on the way home he translates an ancient stone tablet that curses him and dooms any woman foolish enough to marry him. Feeling honor bound to inform Lady Sarah, his handpicked beautiful society bride, of the curse, she left him at the altar. To top it all off, the matchmaker arranging this 'wedding of the year' just happens to be so very beautiful that he finds it quite difficult to even think of marrying anyone else! Unfortunately, Meredith Chilton-Grizedale's entire future depended on this brilliant match she had personally arranged coming to fruition! She needed this to solidify her reputation as the most brilliant of matchmakers! Following the fiasco of the 'marriage that didn't happen', coupled with the rumors running rampant of the Viscount's 'curse' she had her work cut out for her! She now had to find someone to marry the 'most unmarriageable man' in England! But nothing prepared her for she herself falling in love with him. Allowing themselves to admit to their attraction and love for one another would find them racing against time and a mysterious madman out to destroy them. As a rule I've found D'Alessandro's work to be fast paced, sensual and very amusing. I certainly enjoyed the secondary characters and the romance that sprung between Albert and Charlotte. However, I was disappointed that there was not another romance that I felt was hinted at but never capitalized on between Andrew and Lady Catherine. While this was an interesting plot, I was not overwhelmed with a race to turn the pages, nor did I find it as amusing as some of her previous novels ---- which is not to say it wasn't a good read because it was entertaining - it was just not what I would categorize as great!
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable historical romance
Review: It wasn't easy, but marriage broker Meredith Chilton-Grizedale has found the perfect bride for Lord Philip Whitmore, Viscount Greybourne. But when his story about a curse breaks the engagement, Meredith sees her business prospects fading quickly. As she works with Philip to break the curse, she finds that her own heart is breaking because there's nothing she'd like so much as to be his bride--and that will forever be an impossible dream. Philip has spent the previous decade on the continent, exploring Egypt, Syria, and Italy and sending home crates of treasure to add to the wealth of the British Museum. When he learns that his father is dying, he hurries home to live up to his promise to marry, but it doesn't take long for him to decide he wants the pretty marriage broker rather than any of the rich aristocrats she parades in front of her. But Philip doesn't dare risk Meredith until he can break the curse--and then there's the matter of someone who seems bent on destroying Philip and everyone he loves. Author Jacquie D'Alessandro adds a bit of Egyptian magic to the familiar romance device of the matchmaker falling in love with her subject. In general, her writing is strong and sensual, with the sexual tension running strong between the characters and a convincing motivation (the curse) for why they could never get together. I found the secondary romance between two of Meredith's strays to be a bit of a distraction but many romance fans will find that this adds to the romantic texture.
Rating:
Summary: Amusing, Fast-Paced Book
Review: Jacquie D'Alessandro is quickly becoming a "must have" author. Her stories are always amusing, loving, and fast paced. In "WHO WILL TAKE THIS MAN?" we encounter a matchmaker, Meredith, who has been hired by the father of our hero, Philip, to find him a wife. After finding him the "perfect" match, Meredith discovers that there is a mysterious curse shadowing our hero. This curse will kill his intended bride two days after they wed. After informing his fiance of the pending doom, the wedding is called off. Meredith, afraid that this scandal will end her career, sets off to find Philip another bride. However, she soon discovers that she falls in love with him herself. Philip, a historian who would rather travel the world than run his estates, also finds himself drawn to Meredith. However, he will not marry her until he has discovered how to end the curse. Filled with humor, this book reads quickly. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Amusing, Fast-Paced Book
Review: Jacquie D'Alessandro is quickly becoming a "must have" author. Her stories are always amusing, loving, and fast paced. In "WHO WILL TAKE THIS MAN?" we encounter a matchmaker, Meredith, who has been hired by the father of our hero, Philip, to find him a wife. After finding him the "perfect" match, Meredith discovers that there is a mysterious curse shadowing our hero. This curse will kill his intended bride two days after they wed. After informing his fiance of the pending doom, the wedding is called off. Meredith, afraid that this scandal will end her career, sets off to find Philip another bride. However, she soon discovers that she falls in love with him herself. Philip, a historian who would rather travel the world than run his estates, also finds himself drawn to Meredith. However, he will not marry her until he has discovered how to end the curse. Filled with humor, this book reads quickly. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A break from the usual formula
Review: Novels can start out in various ways, but for a romance writer, the story's concept usually springs from a romantic relationship, and the background and themes are created as support. The protagonists of _Who Will Take This Man? _ do not have the same degree of romantic chemistry as the couples from D'Alessandro's earlier works-there really aren't any of those romantic scenes that can be read over and over again. But if one does not read this novel with expectations, anticipating the same formula as that employed in this author's previous novels, one can still find a great deal to enjoy in this fun, interesting, lighthearted story.
It's obvious that D'Alessandro wanted to try something new-and that characterization and the development of Meredith and Philip's relationship were not so much the primary focus as her fans would expect. Emphasized is the theme of not believing oneself worthy of love, and also the fascinating study of mythology and artifacts. The latter won my heart immediately, as I am fascinated by the Classics and ancient history. I enjoyed the secondary-character romance, which did not at all detract from the main plot, and I found the main characters quite refreshing. The author at times teetered close to _bathos_ with slight redundancies and a melodramatic word choice here and there, but I never became disinterested in the novel because it was quite original; for a romance, that is. The hero is a bespectacled scholar who grew up ugly and, for lack of a better term, geeky. He was not as endearing and attractive as Amanda Quick's Baxter St. Ives, the scientific hero of _Affair_, but he was sweet and knew what he wanted; and it was nice to have the hero chasing after the heroine instead of denying his feelings. Meredith wasn't quite as interesting, but her past was intriguing-again, not quite the norm for this genre. Some reviewers found her propriety and preoccupation with her matchmaking enterprise annoying, but her background, the three people dependent upon her, and the fifteen years during which she worked to create her own business adequately justify her actions-and really, most of her comments about Philip's unconventional attire were portrayed more as a natural attempt to distance herself from him than as actual irritation. D'Alessandro made use of Meredith's penchant for euphemistically rephrasing Philip's remarks by bringing a circular feel to the conclusion, and their mutual tendency to place people into categories was also well strewn throughout the narrative.
The mystery could have been more engaging-and its resolution less obvious-but the curse was creative, and the doubts placed in the reader's mind kept the suspense from _completely_ deflating. The end left me curious as to Andrew Stanton's story. Will he and Lady Catherine star in D'Alessandro's next book? (Just a hunch.)
This story is yet another case of an author deviating from her formula and trying something new-showing improvement in theme presentation, story organization, and dialogue, but not quite having her heart in the romance or characters as much as previously. This isn't a book one would reread very often, but I'm not sorry I picked it up. It was interesting, and it was as new and different as lighthearted romance novels usually can get. I would rather _own_ D'Alessandro's earlier offerings (_Red Roses Mean Love_, _Whirlwind Wedding_, _The Bride Thief_, and _Whirlwind Affair_), but this is a good read to check out from your library if they eventually purchase it, to borrow from a friend, or to go ahead and buy if you have a few extra bucks in your pocket, as I did. This isn't great romance; but it's not bad, either. Also recommended (this list will keep you busy for a while): For a witty, lighthearted, humorous romance, try books by Julia Quinn, Amanda Quick, and Sabrina Jeffries, _Educating Caroline_ by Patricia Cabot, and Johanna Lindsey's better efforts (the third and fourth Malory books, _Angel_, _A Heart So Wild_, _Love Me Forever_, and _Fires of Winter_ come to mind). Other good reads include _Flowers from the Storm_, _The Prince of Midnight_, etc. by Laura Kinsale; _Paradise_, _Perfect_, _A Kingdom of Dreams_, _Once and Always_, etc. by Judith McNaught; _Thunder and Roses_, etc. by Mary Jo Putney; _This Time Forever_ and _Sunrise Song_ by Kathleen Eagle; _Shanna_ by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss; and _Sweet Lullaby_, _Always to Remember_, _Texas Destiny_, and _Love with a Scandalous Lord_ by Lorraine Heath (who can be slightly melodramatic, but is adept at making the reader care for the characters).
Rating:
Summary: This author ROCKS!
Review: Ten years ago Philip Whitmore (a.k.a. Viscount Greybourne), and his father made a deal. Philip would go off to exotic locations and indulge himself in antiquarian studies. He was never more happy than when he was holding dusty relics and learning about the people of past civilizations. Upon learning his father's health was failing, Philip kept his end of the bargain and set sail home to marry the lady chosen for him. Just before sailing, Philip located part of the "Stone of Tears". The stone was cursed. Any who read it would lose the one they married within two days. The part with the cure was missing. He could only hope the other piece was among the crates shipped ahead to his warehouse. Lovely Meredith Chilton-Grizedale was known as "the Matchmaker of Mayfair". Philip's father hired Meredith to locate the perfect match for his son. But on the day of the wedding, Lady Sarah did not show. Philip had told Lady Sarah of the curse and gave her the choice as to whether or not to marry. With the wedding canceled, Meredith's business was in ruins! As for Philip, the gossip papers were having a field day with the curse, but claimed that impotence was the real reason for the cancellation. Meredith, Philip, and their close friends were desperate to locate the missing stone. This was made harder by the fact that someone was out to harm anyone Philip cared for, including his friends and family members. As Meredith and Philip searched, their attraction for each other grew and Meredith fell under the curse. If they did not locate and transcribe the missing piece of stone within two days, she would die. ***** This is one of my favorite authors. In fact, she can not write quickly enough to suit me. I was ecstatic to find this latest book! This story is full of romance, danger, intrigue, and betrayal ... and very highly recommended to all. *****
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