Improper English [Mass Market Paperback]

Katie MacAlister (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2003

When a sassy American meets an uptight Englishman, it is far more than a war of wits—and surrender has never been so sweet.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

American Alexandra (Alix) Freemar travels to England to write a romance novel, but she soon discovers romance off the page with her sexy neighbor, Scotland Yard detective Alexander Block. Alix and Alex steam up the pages of this funny yet frustrating tale. Apart from their encounters, readers are also treated to passages from Alix's own work-in-progress, Ravishing Raven. In contrast to the jazzy freshness of Alix and Alex's relationship, purple prose marks Alix's historical romance. While these passages are used to humorous effect at times, it quickly becomes apparent that they reflect not only Alix's poor writing skills, but her skewed perception of love and life. Prone to frequent hysterical crying fits and immature name-calling, Alix is likely to try even the softest heart. Matters come to a head when she receives bad news about her novel and calls Alex to come comfort her. Though sympathetic, he's hot on the trail of a child pornographer and can't rush to her side. She gets mad, he takes it all in stride, and in the end, Alix never really gains any deeper understanding of herself. The novel has its amusing moments--such as when Alex confiscates Alix's pot plant-but readers aren't likely to embrace MacAlister's (Noble Intentions) self-centered heroine.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Alexandra "Alix" Freemar has three months to prove that she is not completely worthless. In return for her mother's paying her rent, Alix must demonstrate that her previous failed marriage, failed careers, and failed relationships are now things of the past by writing a book. Alix intends to spend her time crafting the perfect romance, but when her new landlady offers to set her up with an acquaintance, Alix agrees, thinking a fling with a handsome Englishman might inspire her muse. The only problem is that the perfect man for Alix turns out to be Alexander Black, the exasperatingly stuffy, prim and proper, too handsome for his own good Scotland Yard inspector detective who lives upstairs. Two totally opposite people clash with wonderfully amusing and quite sexy results in MacAlister's sparkling contemporary romance. The snippets of Alix's work in progress, which open many of the book's chapters, are comic gems, and her experiences in writing and trying to get her romance published are priceless. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 369 pages
• Publisher: Love Spell (March 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0505525178
• ISBN-13: 978-0505525178
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,028,222 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

For as long as she can remember, Katie MacAlister has loved reading. Growing up in a family where a weekly visit to the library was a given, Katie spent much of her time with her nose buried in a book. Despite her love for novels, she didn't think of writing them until she was contracted to write a non-fiction book about software. Since her editor refused to allow her to include either witty dialogue or love scenes in the software book, Katie swiftly resolved to switch to fiction, where she could indulge in world building, tormenting characters, and falling madly in love with all her heroes.

Two years after she started writing novels, Katie sold her first romance, Noble Intentions. More than thirty books later, her novels have been translated into numerous languages, been recorded as audiobooks, received several awards, and placed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. She also writes for the young adult audience as Katie Maxwell.

Katie lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and dogs, and can often be found lurking around online. You are welcome to visit her at http://www.katiemacalister.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Noble Effort !!!, March 7, 2003

By 

Dorie Reynolds (Colchester, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Improper English (Mass Market Paperback)

If you read the reviews of Katie Macalister's Noble Intentions, you will see it said time and again that everyone adored her very tall, klutzy, redheaded heroine, that was not at all like all the typical historical heroine. She could not waltz, set the Duchess' curtains on fire and drove her husband to distraction with her unpredictability and slightly self-centred determination to make the world bend to her.

Well, Katie Macalister has done it again. If you can read the dinner scene and not laugh, then you likely need a sense of humour tune-up. I loved the dancing on the landing. And her Book!! Oh, that hurts it's so hilarious!

Alix is a pill at times, but she is a very down to earth, neurotic, klutz that I am certain is patterned on at least one of my sisters!!

I feared they would call for the men in white jackets for me, because I could not shut up making snorting noises or laughing so hard my sides hurt.

Gee, you get a tummy workout while you read!! Hum...neat trick!!

I cannot wait for Noble Destiny! Keep 'em coming, Ms. M!!

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely a gem!, March 5, 2003

By 

J. Marshall (Scotland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Improper English (Mass Market Paperback)

Well, I get books shoved in to my hands and told to read. And I have to admit I rarely dislike what is handed to me. But being it's a female doing the shoving, I a male sometimes see things a shade different. In this book, we are in total agreement.

This is one dynamite book. A celebrating of Brit quirkiness, for wow-pow instantaneous attraction, of interesting well-drawn characters. I fear, however, maybe the Yanks will miss the boat, as they often do on British humour. I am hoping I am wrong on that assumption. MacAlister captures the Brit reserve and all the steaminess beneath, she fleshes out so well the almost proud indulging in off-beat behaviour the Brits adore.

It's wickedly funny, I pulled a stitch in my side laughing. It's fresh and charming. Alix is a pain, but she is a pain I 'know' in real life, adore and love, so it was a howl to see someone else understand a writer crippled with insecurities, someone who jumps at feeble excuses to hide their pain and vulnerability.

I especially loved the purple prose, shame we could not have a WHOLE Alix book. And I KNOW Alex is my brother....he even has green eyes!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun, fun, fun read!, April 22, 2003

By 

Lani Schwalbe (Anchorage, AK United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Improper English (Mass Market Paperback)

Alix is a high-spirited American spending two months in London on her mother's dime with the caveat that she must prove herself as a writer. Alex is a smoldering detective in the flat upstairs, who can't help but notice the cheeky new American in his building.

From the first few moments of this delightful book, MacAlister makes great work of taking an unbelievably flawed heroine and making her utterly lovable. She's self-centered, stubborn, and sometimes just silly, but Alix is the kind of heroine you can cheer for - because haven't we all been there? Alex is as anchored to the ground as any man can be, and the chemistry between him and the flighty Alix is about as intense as I've ever seen on a printed page. Cheers to MacAlister for writing a fantastic, unusual, and highly improper book... and let's just hope that Colin Firth is available to play Alex when they make the movie!