Customer Reviews

The Corset Diaries

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I am half-way through reading "The Corset Diaries" by Katie Macalister and had to write a review. This book is hilarious, sexy and touching all at the same time. I couldn't stop laughing in some places. I'm not talking about a few chuckles here and there, but full-on, can't stop, out loud laughter! I woke up my husband, who wanted to know what was so funny, of course. Ah, but how to fully explain the mad-cap adventures of Tessa Riordan, our heroine? The "barking spider" episode, for example, is classic.
"The Corset Diaries" is about a 39 year old woman (Tessa) who has the opportunity to make $10K for "acting" as a Duchess in "The Month in the Life of a Victorian Duke" - a reality TV program being shot in England. Although she could definitely use the money, Tessa initially hesitates to accept the offer for reality TV stardom. She feels that her size 18 figure does not make her suitable to play the part of an American heiress and newly married wife to Maximillian Edgerton. Max is an architect from Bristol, England who portrays the Duke of Bridgewater (the very hunky and sexy Duke as we soon find out).
Tessa quickly decides to throw caution to the wind, shake up her life a bit (she is a widow), and fly to England to try out for the role of the Duchess. The premise of the "Victorian Duke" reality show is that all the participants (or actors) in the show must truly assume and embrace their roles as members of a noble's house in 1879 Victorian England. Modern conveniences such as cell phones, electricity, and cars are not permitted - it is a jump back in time of 125 years, sort of like the PBS shows 1900 House and Manor House.
Tessa, whose only knowledge of Victorian England comes from her work as a genealogist, quickly finds herself in over her head. As befits her place in society as a "Duchess," she becomes responsible for overseeing the daily operation of Worston Old Hall - home of the Duke of Bridgewater and his real-life 12 year old daughter, sister and brother-in-law and their household staff. And as they say, high jinks ensue!!
Max Edgerton and Tessa find themselves attracted to eachother, after an embarassing initial introduction. Despite her misgivings about her size and her age (she is 5 years older than Max) the two become involved while on the show. But are the feelings they have for eachother reality or "showmance?" Both you and I will have to read the whole book and find out!
Author, Katie Macalister, does a wonderful job taking us through the day-to-day events that Tessa experiences via a daily journal that Tessa writes. Ms. Macalister's writing style is wickedly funny, and the smart, sexy dialog between Tessa and Max makes you feel like a voyeur at times. Tessa is a likeable heroine that everyone, regardless of age (or size), can relate to. This is the first book by Katie Macalister that I've read, and I can only hope that the others are just as fun to read!

From the first page, through Tessa's trip over the Atlantic and throughout the month she played the Duchess for the British television show, I laughed.

Katie MacAlister's comtemporary characters never fail to entertain me. Tessa, perhaps most of all. She is older, she is "curvaceous," and has suffered a great loss in her life--she seems more "real" than the heroines in other books in contemporary romance. While things start off rough for all the characters in the book (if you think life in 1879 England was all fun and games, think again), it is Tessa that seems to smooth everything out. Sure she has her terribly embarrasing moments, but then again, doesn't everyone?

In the end, everyone wins, especially Tessa and her Duke, Max. I feel like I won, too. Thanks to Ms. MacAlister for another fun romp!

Tessa is not your average heroine. She's above average in every way. From her curvy body which is just much more to love, to laughing through every embarassing moment possible. You laugh along with Tessa as she strives to convince Max she loves him.

I laughed out loud for 4 pages after reading her breakfast was beans on toast and then having to be stuffed into a corset. I knew it was coming but couldn't look away!

Very few books ever have me laughing out loud. Maybe a chuckle here and there or a smile. But Katie's books are always so funny I can barely continue reading for the tears pouring down my face.

If you want a laugh, a good story, and are tired of insipid virgin heroines, Katie's contemporary characters are for you.

Another great book by Katie! Humor, realism and yet still allowing the escape we all read these for. I've bought every book Katie's written - adult and YA - and look forward to each new one.

Thanks again, Katie, for giving us laughter /and/ love.

Anyone who doesn't find this a great read, eats flies. I loved this book. I think it's great that the main character is an intelligent, thoughtful, self aware woman. A heroine that's plus sized and gets her man in the end. Loved the dishy male lead, a character you can just imagine in your minds eye. The supporting cast is hilarious, even the snot nosed brat!
If you don't laugh at least once, you have no sense of humor! I'm a huge fan of Katie, ever since I picked up Improper English, the dishy Scot from Men in Kilts, and the hunky Vamp Christian. If you want a new fresh author give her a try!
Jenn

I really enjoyed this books, it's is hardly the worst book as some "brave" (not!) soul tries to proclaim. It lightened by spirit and I felt happy after reading it. What more can a book do for you? Why is it, all the "bad" reviews for a book comes from a "reader from..." People hiding behind masks? If someone dislikes a book enough, then they should have to guts to stand up and proclaim it with true conviction. Dismiss "creative writers of readers from"...and read people who actually stand up and say they like a book and why and are proud to put their name to their opinion.

A reader from = nothing to me. I never listen to their poison.

Once again, I find myself loving a Katie Mac book. I get so sick of goddess gorgeous heroines. It's SO nice to have one that is very down to earth and as accident prone as I am.

I laughed so hard. Yes, it's not Shakespeare, but then, silly, I did not buy it expecting that! I want what MacAlister delivers - fun!

Considering it's rare a book can get me to laugh out loud, it's understandable that I LOVED this book - I literally had to put it down a couple of times because I was laughing so hard. Katie Macalister has a terrific sense of humor and can make the absurd seem nearly normal.

After I bought the book I realized it was the same author who had written Men In Kilts. I enjoyed Kilts, but don't think it was as good as this one, although both have the same strong points, including a well handled lighthearted look at the situation and the fun of a female Yank taking on the Empire (in Kilts it was Scotland, in Corset it's England). Best of all is Macalister's dialogue.

This is a wonderful book for an enjoyable read that leaves you feeling good. You'll be glad you read it.

I originally bought this book for my sister's birthday and then ended up reading it while doing guard duty with The Four Heathens (my sis's kids). I laughed, I cried (because I was laughing so hard...) and when my darling sister returned I made her read this wonderful, marvelous, hilarious book. I loved Tessa! A size 18 and over 30 heroine is a refreshing change from the skinny wenches we generally read about. Having worn a corset (with a wench costume) to the Renaissance Faire
on several occassions, I fully appreciated the difficulties Tessa experienced during her month in the life of a Duke. At any rate, my sis found the book to be suitable reference and promptly dragged me off to the nearest bookstore (50 miles away and across the Arkansas border) to purchase every Katie MacAlister book we could find. All of which I have enjoyed. Being the meaner sister, I called first dibs...I learned that when under threat of mutilation one can read and enjoy a Katie Mac book in just under 6 hours...so, to recap, LOVED IT!

Tessa is invited to be on an English reality TV show set in the Victorian Times playing a Duchess. Tessa is a 39 y/o widow who is thinnly challenged. She is very concerned about her weight and being on the show. Everyone assures her she will be fine because she will be wearing a corset. The book is her diary of the events of the day. Of course there are many twists and turns in the book, she falls in love with her leading man, he has a daughter, his sister can't stand her, she is pretty much the laughing stock of the cast because nothing ever happens the way she wants it too.

This was my first Katie Macalister read and I will read more of her works. I was a bit disappointed in some things in the book. Due to the nature of the book we have characters flung at us from all angles and many of them are not well developed and all but one has some type of crazy quirk, which kind of gets annoying. Then there is the "everything must go wrong in an insane type way" in almost every entry.

I did find the sex scenes to be hilarious and no this is not your typical bodice ripper. That in itself makes this a worthwhile read.

Overall I found this to be a very fun read and will look to read more from her in the future!