Book Review and Giveaway: The Trouble With Harry by Katie MacAlister

This is a fun historical romp!
The Trouble With Harry
by Katie MacAlister

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• File Size: 968 KB
• Print Length: 323 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0843951443
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (July 1, 2014)
• ASIN: B00J8QDJHI

Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: July 1, 2014
Enjoy unforgettable characters and irreverent laughs in the Regency series that launched the career of New York Times bestselling author Katie MacAlister
You think you've got troubles?
As a spy for the Crown, Lord Harry Rosse faced clever and dangerous adversaries-but it's his five offspring who seem likely to send him to Bedlam. At his wits' end, he's advertised for a wife and found one, but perhaps he should have been a bit more forthcoming on certain points...
Wait till you meet Harry and Plum...
Frederica Pelham, affectionately known as Plum, spent years avoiding the scandals of her past, and is desperate for quiet security and a chance to make a family. What she finds is a titled husband and five little devils who seem bent on their own destruction, not to mention hers. And while all kinds of secrets are catching up with them, Plum knows the real trouble with Harry... is that he's stolen her heart.

Review:
As a young woman just entering society Frederica Pelham, "Plum", met Charles who charmed her. Plum eloped with him and they were soon enjoying connubial bliss. Six months later a dismayed Plum learned that Charles already had a wife and the marriage was a fraud.  Shunned by family and society Plum is forced to live in the country in seclusion except for the company of her rather tomboyish niece, “Thom”, short for Thomasine.  Plum wrote and published a notorious book to raise money for support. It would be another terrible scandal if anyone learns that she was the author of the shocking book.

Harry is a widowed, retired government spy with five ‘rambunctious’ children. He decides to advertise for a wife and deems himself lucky to discover Plum. They marry a few days later, both hoping their secrets will be accepted easier after the fact.

Plum and Harry are looking forward to consummating their marriage but they are interrupted by first one child, then another...then a third. So Harry’s secret is disclosed pretty quickly and Plum has to decide if she is willing to become an instant mother to five hellions. Since one of Plum’s dreams is to have children she decides that she will be the best mother she can be.

Harry lost his first wife while giving birth. He doesn’t plan on losing Plum who is not only a lovely companion but she is an eager bed-mate and she is coping with the children. Plum believes Harry won’t give her a child because he doesn’t think she is a good enough mother to his active children who keep having dangerous accidents.

Thom runs into a young man she thinks is burglarizing a house during an evening dance. Nick helps protect the children from a runaway carriage but realizes it was a deliberate attack. Now Harry finally accepts that someone is trying to harm his children and his new wife. Meanwhile, Plum’s ‘ex’ fake husband comes back into the picture threatening her with blackmail.

The relationship between Plum and Harry is pure fun. I enjoyed that they are mature characters in their 40s. Plum’s indomitable spirit wins over the children and Harry’s support intimidates snooty society ladies who would question Plum’s background. Harry and Plum work a bit at odds but eventually get all secrets behind them and find a way to escape the dangers. There is some raciness with Plum’s connubial calisthenics, the topic of her book. Thom and the children add to the confusion and excitement as well and there is Harry's amorous butler, Juan, who is enamored of Plum. This is a good romp to enjoy when you want a light historical.

I received this title from Sourcebooks through NetGalley for an honest review. 

Giveaway:

I was glad to select this title as I had the 2004 print book in my TBR box. :-)
ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for my older Print Copy.

ENTRY FORM HERE

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* This contest is open to U.S. address only for print.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) July 2, 2014.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after July 2, 2014.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.