The Corset Diaries

Rating:
Summary: Not one of her best...
Review: I thought the story line in the Corset Diaries was really great, very original. And to be fair, the comedy was there. I laughed out-loud several times. But I've found with Katie Macalister's books that some sizzle and some fizzle. I thought this one was more of a fizzle. The journal-style of writing was unnecessarily confusing. She kept skipping through time, which made the crescendo of the relationship muddled for me.
I'll admit I'm not a big fan of first person romances - I like to get in both main character's heads. Only hearing Tessa's side of the story, I didn't find the romance believable. We were never given a good reason for Max to fall in love. Tessa just didn't do it for me...sorry Katie. I'm a big fan!

Rating:
Summary: A Treat For The Funny Bone!
Review: What would you do if you had the opportunity to make ten-thousand dollars by being on a reality television show? Would you accept? Our heroine Tessa Riordan does. Still trying to pay off the immense medical bills after the death of her husband, Tessa could use the money. All she has to do is pretend to be a Duchess for a month while being filmed. Easy, right? Wrong.

As soon as Tessa gets to England to film A Month In The Life Of A Victorian Duke she starts off on the wrong foot. Throwing up on the shoes of the man picked to play your husband is not the best first impression. The next day when filming starts, in front of the whole cast and crew, Tessa has another embarrassing moment, and boy is it a doozy! However, Tessa doesn't let these matters get her down, she quickly makes a joke and everyone is put at ease.

We see all of the characters through Tessa's eyes. Max Edgerton, hunky Duke, is the perfect complement to Tessa's often wacky personality. He is immediately attracted to her, and it doesn't take long before these two are scorching the pages. He is a man with almost no faults, save one, he is extremely overprotective of his young daughter Melody. Melody is a twelve year old who is most unhappy to be stuck in period garb, doing what girls her age did in 1879. She is very lonely and takes her unhappiness out on anyone she can. I must admit, she was an annoying brat through some of the book, but she eventually comes around, with Tessa's help.

Corset Diaries was filled with an ensemble of quirky characters; Palmer, the hypochondriac butler, Chrighton the ill tempered ladies maid, and Mrs. Peters the ghost hunter, to name a few.

How can I put into words how much I truly enjoyed this book. It will be difficult, but I'll give it a shot. Tessa is a terrific heroine, I can't imagine going through some of the things she goes through in this novel, and still be as cheerful as she was! That is one of the things I most admired about her, no matter what crisis came her way, she always had a ready quip, and never lost her sunny disposition. She is filled with insecurities about her size eighteen frame, but Max never makes that an issue, in fact, he loves her curvaceous figure.

This novel was a hoot from start to finish. There wasn't a dull moment. Katie MacAlister has a great way with words, I haven't read another author who can do what she does with the English language. The situations that her characters find themselves in are very believable and most often times hilarious. There is this one scene involving asparagus... well I won't get into it here, but I will never be able to eat asparagus again without it reminding me of this book.

If you are looking for a novel, that if you have any sense of humor, will make you laugh out loud, and keep a smile on your face, Corset Diaries is the one for you.

Rating:
Summary: You've got to be kidding!
Review: After reading reviews that said "this is the best book I've ever read" I thought I'd give this romance a try. However, I've come to the conclusion that either my espectations are drastically different or these people who have reviewed the book are very young and have not read many books.

While the basic premise of this book was ok, the execution was definitely lacking. I naturally have difficulties with books written in the first person. The heroine is supposedly 39. For heaven sakes, couldn't she act her age instead of behaving like she was a teenager! The whole book lacked any level of maturity. I found the ending extremely haphazard. It felt like she had to bring resolution to the story lines of 50 different people all at the same time so it became some sort of hodge-podge of situations...sort of literary slap-stick. I actually skipped over most of the ending because I found it extremely annoying because of its circus atmosphere.

I bought Men in Kilts at the same time. I suspect I've made a mistake.

Rating:
Summary: Loved it, waiting for the movie (hopefully!!)
Review: I bought this book because I love Katie Mac books. I kept reading it because it appealed to me, as a big boned girl myself, and because it had me busting a gut. Tessa is the perfect character for this book and Max is to die for. If you go to Katie Mac's website you will see that this wonderful book is getting optioned for a movie and they, the movie people and Katie, agree with the rest of us when we say that Colin Firth woud make a wonderful Max. This book might not appeal to some people but for the most part it keeps you laughing until you cry. Keep up the wonderful work Katie Mac.

Rating:
Summary: Big Girls Can Find Love Too
Review: I really liked this novel.

Why can't a woman who is a size 16 find love just like everyone else? Well, she can if she's anything like Tessa See Riordan. Once people stop judging a person on their appearance by what's on the outside and would just try to get to know the person on the inside they may find someone who is truly worth knowing. Tessa may be a big girl but she has a heart of gold and is constantly trying to find to a way to make others happy. Tessa has been carrying around a lot of emotional baggage since the death of her husband but when Tessa has been offered the opportunity of a lifetime to star in movie based upon the past and to make a lot of money to boot, she just jumps at the chance.

What Tessa doesn't expect to ever happen again in her life happens right before her very eyes, she meets a man (Max Edgerton) who makes her feel sexy and powerful. Tessa hasn't felt that way in long, long time and has simply been letting life pass her by. Tessa doesn't believe that Max would ever give her the time of day based on the fact that he is just one downright sexy and devastatingly handsome man.

Max who has his own share of "baggage" is definitely a man who can see that Tessa is someone worth getting to know and once they start the two-step, he can't seem to get enough and doesn't want ever give her up, no matter what problems come up. Although Tessa and Max have their share of ups and downs during their month long location shoot, especially concerning Max's daughter, Penny, their relationship endures and they both learn something of value from each other and boy, oh boy do those two sizzle right off the pages when they are together.

I truly enjoyed this novel and will definitely be keeping my eye on Katie MacAlister.

Rating:
Summary: Warning!! Don't not drink milk when reading this book!
Review: As it will more than likely come out your nose. I laughed so hard at parts of this book that I had to stop reading. Tessa is just an ordinary American woman, by ordinary, I mean she is size 18. She is normal, sweet and funny. That said, she is also insane. This book had some of the nuttiest sex scenes that at the same time were so hot, my glasses steamed up. Max is the featured hunk in this book, he is a divorced father of one evilly snarky (again read normal) girl. She is not all sweetness and light, nor is she the bad seed.
Tessa's relationship with her grows as does her relationship with Max. I liked how at certain points in her *diary* she'd say something happened, then cut to another part and go back, it was a wild ride that may not appeal to all. I enjoyed it, made it seem more real that way. I love one part where she says this or that happened then oooh ooh I have to go, the hot duke is calling me!
So, pick up this book if you just want to laugh, and have a good time. It isn't deep lit, it isn't erotica, but they do worm their way into your heart by way of your funny bone.

Rating:
Summary: A great introduction to Katie!
Review: Katie MacAllister is my new favorite author. This was the first book of her that I read and it is absolutly laugh-out-loud funny! It is everything that everyone else says; sweet, funny, sexy, and all in all thoroughly enjoyable! It is written in a journal format and the style really keeps you interested. This is a book I recommend anyone read!

Rating:
Summary: My ALL TIME favorite!
Review: My best friend gave me this book to read, the first for me by this author, and I cannot be more thankful. I truly think it is my all time favorite, which is not something I expected going in to the book. I laughed and laughed out loud, my husband couldn't figure out what was wrong with me I was laughing so hard. I also could not put the book down. If you truly love a romance novel and enjoy the feeling of really laughing then this book is for you. The book just made me feel SO GOOD, I did not want it to end. My friend and I have had several laughs together over this book as well. I love romance, and this book has plenty of that and heat too, unbelievable heat, and when you throw in the laughter it just makes you feel great. It proves that anyone can be loved and adored by an incredible man no matter what their size.
The journal style entries throughout the book were a little different for me and I had to get used to it when I first started reading the book, but it is definitely worth getting through to the story. A MUST read book! I have since bought most of the rest of the books by this author and am in love with them. Even the paranormal books are great.


Rating:
Summary: Another Laugh Out Loud Read By Talented Ms. Macalister!
Review: This was another laugh out loud read by the talented Ms. Macalister. Ms. Macalister has taken the concept of reality T.V. and has honed it to a fine thing by adding her own little twists and turns, by taking a featherbrained woman (in this case Tessa) and causing her to step back into history 125 years prior during Victorian times for a British reality T.V. show. Is she up for the challenge? She better be! Goodbye comfortable cloths, hello corset! Did someone say corset??? And that's only just the beginning.

Now she along with a cast that is made up of servants, and family members of a Duke she must now make due (at least for a few weeks anyhow) without T.V. and ibuprofen, as well as dealing with her sever reaction to her yummy pretend husband. Did I mention she managed to throw up all over his shoes at their first meeting? Great first impression! Problem is Max (the fake Duke) and Tessa find themselves doing more then pretending. They are starting to fall in love. What does a 39 year old "skinny-challenged" woman and a 35 year old hunk have in common? Surviving in 1879 Victorian England of course! Of course this is easier said then done.

This was a fun story which at time leaned toward the silly. At times I just shook my head at the dim-wited thoughts of our intrepid Tessa. The storyline was fun and the situations that Tessa found herself in were entertaining to say the least. This was a pleasant read and one that I recommend if you like laugh out loud moments as well as romance in your romance read!

Rating:
Summary: Great premise, horrible carry through
Review: I bought this book on a with great trepidation since I had mixed feelings about past Katie Macalister books, loved The Trouble With Harry, hated Men In Kilts. But, I decided to give it a try since the premise sounded so interesting. Well, lets say I truly regretted my decision.

I found the idea of an overweight mature heroin very refreshing, being overweight and mature myself. The first four days were funny and original, the rest were just plain aggravating. I expect a mature woman to have self-respect and pride. Instead she put up with the hero's temper tantrums and groveled for his affection. It seamed like she was willing to put up with everything as long as he slept with her. Come on! He yelled at her one minute, and she welcomed him into her bed the next. Who does that? She snuck around behind his back, disregarding his decisions about his daughter, and was surprised when he got angry with her.

I forced myself to finish the book, hoping that it would get better, but it didn't. I ended up hating the main characters and hoping a fire would come and burn the house down.