The Pursuit of Marriage [Mass Market Paperback]

Victoria Alexander (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 25, 2004

What lengths would a young lady go to in her pursuit of the perfect match?

And how far would a gentleman go to stop her?

Cassandra Effington is one of the most delicious debutantes to ever waltz across a London ballroom. But while her identical twin sister Delia is now wed, Cassandra is still unclaimed, and everyone agrees her standards are entirely too high. So how could she possibly lose a most unseemly wager with the handsome, scandalous Viscount Berkley? The proposition: She will find him an ideal bride well before he finds her the perfect match.

But Lord Berkley intends to be very hard to please. He's already chosen the right woman, and no lady Cassandra puts forward to him will be perfect enough save the luscious Cassandra herself. And he'll do whatever it takes to make certain no gentleman he introduces her to is enticing enough, until she realizes that the perfect object in her pursuit of marriage is none other than the viscount himself.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Still unwed at 24, outspoken Cassie Effington has strict standards for her suitors, and she's well aware that the polished charm of handsome rakes like Lord Berkley often disguises a lack of substance. But when Cassie undertakes the refurbishment of Berkley's townhouse, sparks fly between the two, and Berkley realizes he'll have to prove to her that there's more to him than just his good looks and glib manner. Alexander's newest Regency-era romance (after The Lady in Question) is pleasantly written and brimming with fun screwball elements such as a wager between Berkley and Cassie to find the other's perfect spouse, but it falls short on tension and depth of character. Cassie's fear that a charming rake could lure her into scandal holds her back from trusting Berkley, but why she's bent her life around this fear is never explained persuasively, making her resistance seem more stubborn than sensible. After Cassie dismisses this fear, inevitability descends, leading to a sluggish second half. Rigid in her opinions and unhappy when proven wrong, Cassie can be unsympathetic. Although Berkley declares he wants a bride with spirit, readers will wonder why he's chosen one who is so headstrong and mistrustful.
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Review

“Delightful...a charmingly told tale that illustrates that perfection isn’t all good manners and a beautiful face.” (Oakland Press )

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Avon; First Thus edition (May 25, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006051762X
• ISBN-13: 978-0060517625
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #692,603 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander was an award winning television reporter until she discovered fiction was much more fun than real life. She turned to writing full time and is still shocked it worked out.

Since the publication of her first book in 1995, she has written twenty-four full length novels and six novellas. The Perfect Wife--originally published in 1996 and reissued in March 2008--hit #1 on the New York Times list. Sixteen of her books are bestsellers hitting the New York Times, USA Today and/or Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. With books translated into a dozen different languages she has readers around the world and has twice been nominated for Romance's Writers of America prestigious RITA award. In 2009 she was given a Career Achievement Award from RT Bookclub and was named Historical Storyteller of the year in 2003. In 2008 she was the keynote speaker for the Romance Writers of American annual conference in San Francisco. Victoria credits much of her writing success to her experiences as a reporter.

Her years as a broadcast journalist were spent in two radically different areas of the country: Nebraska and West Virginia. In West Virginia, she covered both natural and manmade disasters. She was on the scene when a power plant construction accident in a small town left 52 men dead. She once spent the night on a mountain waiting to learn of the fate of coal miners trapped in a mine collapse. Victoria was producing a newscast when her husband (who worked at the same television station) and several other journalists were held hostage by a disturbed Vietnam veteran. In Nebraska, she reported on the farm crisis and watched people lose land that had been in their families for generations. She covered the story that was the basis of the movie BOYS DON'T CRY and once acted as the link between police and a gunman who had barricaded himself in his home. Her investigative work exposed the trucking of New York City garbage to a small town dump in rural Nebraska.

During her journalism career, Victoria covered every president from Ford to Clinton. She knows firsthand what it feels like to be surrounded by rising floodwaters and inside a burning building. She's interviewed movie stars including Kevin Costner, ridden an elephant and flown in a governor's helicopter. She's covered a national political convention and Pope John Paul II's historic visit to Denver as well as small town festivals celebrating everything from walnuts to Glen Miller. Her work was honored by numerous organizations including the Associated Press who called a feature about a firefighter's school "story telling genius". It was the encouragement she needed to turn from news to fiction. She's never looked back.

Victoria is a former president of the Omaha Press Club and in 2009 was named an OPC Face on the Barroom Floor. A caricature portrait of her joined previous faces including presidents, sports figures and politicians in a tradition that began in 1971.

Victoria claims her love of romance and journalism is to due to the influence of her favorite comic book character: Lois Lane, a terrific reporter and a great heroine who pursued Superman with an unwavering determination. And why not? He was extremely well drawn.

Victoria grew up traveling the world as an Air Force brat. Today, she lives in Omaha, Nebraska with her husband, a son in college and a daughter working in film.

Victoria had two bearded collies, Sam and Louie (named from characters in one of her books). Sam, the best dog in the world for 13 ½ years, passed away in September 2010. Louie has now taken on the position of loyal companion and is doing a fine job even though he doesn't understand that kitchen counter surfing is not allowed!

They live in a house under constant renovation and the accompanying parade of men in tool belts. And never ending chaos. Victoria laughs a great deal--she has to.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's Hard Not To Smile While Reading This Book..., January 2, 2006

By 

Bridget "B.A.D.T." (Grand Rapids, Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pursuit of Marriage (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read a few books by Ms. Alexander this past year, including "When We Meet Again"(good), "The Marriage Bargain" (excellent), "The Husband List" (not bad) and "The Lady in Question" (pretty good).

All of her books are entertaining, lively and contain great dialogue and banter. I never purchase her books for sexy love scenes or wildly adventurous hero's and heroines. Rather...I buy them as I know I'll always get a novel that contains a solid plot line, interesting and charismatic lead characters and a worthy ending. I really like the way this author writes and I can always count on a fun read. The Effington family seems to be her main scenario as I think all the books I have read so far have revolved around someone in this family line. Fortunately, all the females in this family are spunky, bright and intelligent and the men equally appealing.

Although I would not consider this one of my favorite books of all time, it was interesting reading about Cassie since I had just finished The Lady in Question - which was about Delia - the other twin.

I got a kick out of this story and how Cassie and Reggie meet - tell one another boldly that they are not right for the other - yet...cannot get away for the irresistible attraction they feel for one another. The story develops as Reggie and Cassie bet that they can find the correct mate for the other - Lord Perfect for Cassie and Miss Wonderful for Reggie. The story takes twists and turns as they seek out the right mate for each other, yet secretly believe they have found that in each other. I liked that all the side characters - Reggie's best friend Marcus, Cassie's sister and brothers and both of their mothers are all involved on the side in bringing these two together yet...they don't know it. I liked the twist in that Reggie was always falling in love with the gals (instead of being the usual sexy and moody male lead who loves and leaves them all) yet...they never returned his feelings as he declared himself too soon. He was the Casanova of his time. He reformed himself for Cassie and it was a delight to see him develop as a person and realize that real love is deeper and more true than he has ever experienced before. Cassie in turn gets off her lofty perch looking for the perfect man and realizes the ones with some slight flaws and odd quirks can simply be the most interesting and appealing in the end. Perfection is not all it's cut out to be. Reggie is perfection without being perfect she finds out.

IIt's hard not to smile at the Ladies Society for The Betterment of The Future of Great Britian - a batch of mothers and grandmothers desperate for their young sons and daughters to get hitched instead of staying single too long. They want children and they will make sure it happens!!! So far...they made three love matches happen and hope Cassie and Reggie will be number four! Stand by to see if it works!

Oh..the fun never ends when it involves an Effington gal. Pick this one up...you are bound to enjoy the beginning, middle and ending of this story. Happy reading!!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing, July 25, 2004

By 

Pinky "if_only_and_forever" (Tazewell, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pursuit of Marriage (Mass Market Paperback)

Victoria Alexander has another seller with this charming tale between Miss Cassandra Effington and Lord Reginald Berkley. (Cassie was first introduced in THE LADY IN QUESTION and Reggie was introduced in LOVE WITH THE PROPER HUSBAND). The Ladies for the Betterment of the Future of Britain have made it their mission to find their sons and daughters the perfect match since they seem to be sadly lacking any interest in doing so themselves. On the agenda: Cassandra Effington, the daughter of a powerful family and, who at the age of 24, is still unwed. In addition, she is also in (gasp) business! Cassie has a found a passion redecorating other people's homes for outstanding fees. Clearly, something must be done and Lady William is ready to receive any help that she can get to see her daughter wed. Up steps Lady Berkley who has a house in need of refurbishment and, more importantly, an unwed son.
From the beginning Cassie and Reggie are drawn to each other and sparks fly. However, Cassie has high standards and refuses to settle for anyone less than Lord Perfect and Reggie has had his heart broken to many times to risk being hurt again. Their journey to ultimately finding each other is full of laughs. These two are a delightful pair, although I did have some trouble liking Cassie in the beginning with her prim and proper attitude. As the book went on and seeing dealing with being in love for the first time she became quite more endearing. In addition, Cassie's very overprotective brothers, Leo and Chris, are charming as is Reggie's younger sister Lucy. I hope they receive their own story somtime in the near future.
Although not as great as THE LADY IN QUESTION, this book does have its merits and I would recommend it for anyone looking for a light read sure to make you laugh.
***(I have to correct another reviewer in saying that The Ladies for the Betterment of the Future of Britain first showed up in LOVE WITH THE PROPER HUSBAND and were never in THE LADY IN QUESTION. Delia and Tony met through different circumstances in which the ladies had no part of and in which you'll have to read to find out.)***

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In the end they were the perfect couple!, October 27, 2005

By 

J. Brennan (Pittsburgh) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Pursuit of Marriage (Mass Market Paperback)

Truly for the most part I loved their story - I found Cassie ammusing and truly she did not come off nearly as stubborn as she could have about Reggie and his infamous past - he truly won her over in bits and pieces by being his ever charming self. I like Reggie - I am still a bit confused as to why he seemed to have a little bit of an inferior complex about his ability to find a quality woman of the ton. Too bad both Cassie and Reggie muddied the waters with their stupid bargain because neither of them needed ole Miss Wonderful and Mr Perfect - indeed Miss Wonderful almost caused the whole love affair between Cassie and Reggie to come crashing down. This was a delightful read, lots of fun dialog and a good mix of some of the other characters we came to enjoy in the previous books. The only downer to the book I felt was the ending - too much pariferal stuff with Bellingham and Drummand and not enough focus on Reggie and Cassie - we could have at least had one more truly romantic scene between them in the newly remodled harem room. all in all a good story for Cassie!