Rating: 
Summary: If you can get past the premise...
Review: Ten years ago, Viscount Philip Whitmore struck a bargain with his father, trading in the strict society rules of Regency England for a life as a scholar, enabling him to travel the Mediterranean & Middle East studying antiquities. The price for his freedom? At the end of the ten years he must marry a woman chosen by his father and settle down. It seems that his marriage is is not to be, however, when on the voyage home he is cursed after reading an ancient stone tablet that dooms his bride to a certain death. Matchmaker Meredith Chilton-Grizedale has chosen a woman who should be the perfect bride for the
viscount, but when the curse takes hold days before the wedding, the groom is left jilted at the alter. Meredith must find another bride for Whitmore before her professional reputation is ruined, but it is easier said than done, especially when the attraction between the matchmaker and prospective groom is unmistakable.The hero and heroine are very likable characters, particularly Philip Whitmore. He is not your typical Regency romance novel rake in need of reform by a good woman, but instead more the scholarly type, yet doesn't seem to take himself too seriously. Also, there is a fascinating love story involving two secondary characters; I only wish it could have been developed a bit more, but that plot line played a clear second fiddle to the Philip/Meredith story. Bottom line: if you can accept the premise, which seems a bit ridiculous at first, this is a very enjoyable read.
Rating: 
Summary: M'kaaaay
Review: Wow... I'm am left speechless. How on earth these other reviewers read the same book as I did and thought, "awesome job," I'm not sure. In fact, I question whether or not they actually DID read it, because if they had, they would have been startled as I was by Mrs D'Alessandero's deviation from her usual formula (quirky heroine, reluctant beau, outrageous circumstances, fun, laughter). Instead, I got an incredibly irritating novel about some a dried up old spinster so self absorbed she doesn't care whose life she ruins, or whose feelings she hurts, just as long as her reputation as the ton matchmaker isn't tarnished, because, god forbid. I tried to read this book three times and on all three occasions I had to put it back down. Frankly, I'd rather not waste my time listening to some twit complain about how tough it is to be her. Now I won't kid you. I have no idea how this book ends. Could be that from page 105 on "Who Will Take This Man" is a brilliant story worthy of the next Lions or Pulitzer, but I'll never know. Why? Because I threw my copy in the trash. Sorry, I just couldn't bring myself to care about all the many sacrifices the female lead was forced to endure in order to retain the exalted position as head-busybody of London's elite. In my opinion, we could have avoided the whiney monologs all together had D'Alessandero simply nailed her heroine's butt to the nearest cross from the very beginning. If this sounds harsh... well, that's because it is. I had no business reading this book, and to be honest, this is exactly the sort of romance story (Ice Queen vs the World scenario) I loath. Then again, Mrs D'Alessandero's previous novels were exceptional, so I had no reason to doubt her this time. My recommendation? If you are a Julia Quinn fan or like Amanda Quick, try D'Alessandero's earlier works: "The Bride Thief", "Whirlwind Wedding", and my personal favorite "Whirlwind Affair". All three are great and will put a smile on your face. "Who Will Take This Man" on the other hand...makes a great tea-cozy. Or an extremely silly hat. It's up to you.
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