What A Lady Wants (Last Man Standing) [Kindle Edition]

Victoria Alexander (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this delightful, witty Regency tale, the follow-up to Alexander's A Little Bit Wicked, fate and a loaded pistol conspire to grant Lady Felicity her shot at escaping spinsterhood. When Felicity Melville first meets notorious rake Nigel Cavendish, they're both in compromising positions: she's despairing over her five unsuccessful seasons looking for love in London, and he's fleeing the wrath of a cuckolded, gun-happy husband. Intrigued by his recklessness, Felicity decides, after watching him disappear into the night, that Nigel will become her husband. What she doesn't know is that Nigel is determined not to marry, having entered into a wager with four other bachelors to see who among them will remain unwed the longest. The banter between the intelligent, brash, levelheaded Felicity and the roguish, oft-confused Nigel is funny, and they're both charming creations who keep the no-frills plot—a cat-and-mouse tour of a season among the ton and the first, rocky stages of marriage—skipping along. A fine cast of supporting characters, including the elderly but mischievous card sharks Lord and Lady Fernwood, keep the laughs up throughout. (Feb.)
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Product Description

One bachelor down . . . three more to go. Four most desirable gentlemen have wagered one shilling apiece and a bottle of cognac that will go to the last unmarried man standing . . .

Nigel Cavendish knows he'll marry one day, but hopefully that day is many years—and many women—in the future! Until then, the handsome, unrepentant rake intends to enjoy life's pleasures to the fullest!

From the moment Lady Felicity Melville spies the adventurous scoundrel climbing from a neighbor's window—with his comely conquest's husband in hot pursuit—she knows Nigel is the answer to her prayers . . . with a little reformation, of course! Felicity craves excitement and who in all of London is more exciting than the infamous Mr. Cavendish? So what's a girl to do but hatch a scheme to win what she so fervently desires. But her plan works too well when a game of chance and an errant pistol shot abruptly make them husband and wife—but in a way neither wanted.

Now Felicity has to prove to her wayward husband that she's the only woman he could ever want . . . or need!

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Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 261 KB
• Print Length: 397 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0060882638
• Publisher: HarperCollins e-books (October 13, 2009)
• Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers
• Language: English
• ASIN: B000NJL7A0
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #39,396 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars First time I got through one of her books, February 26, 2007

By 

Nicole Wagner (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What a Lady Wants (Last Man Standing, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

I liked it, I couldn't believe how much I did. I think it was the dialogue. Quick witted and fast paced. I didn't give it 5 stars however because the book sorta lost its pacing about 3/4 the way through and I was skipping around a bit.

Defintely a book you'll enjoy if you like Kleypas, or Quinn.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I wish I may, I wish I might......the lady's wish comes true....with a fight!, February 10, 2007

By 

Misuzmama (New York, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What a Lady Wants (Last Man Standing, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

When you wish upon a star......well that's exactly what spinster and ameteur astrologist Lady Felicity Melville does. And for what? For excitement and adventure of course! And if by some magical spell, Nigel Cavendish appears. Mind you he's climbing down from a neighbors window after some...ahem..., but that won't stop our determined heroine. Oh no! She decides then and there that he's the one and they belong together. But he's one of the worst scoundrels and rakes you say? BAH! Reformed rakes make the best husbands didn't you know?! and thats exactly what Felicity is going to do. Now if only Nigel would cooperate and accept the inevitable. Stubborn man!!! She'll just have to *convince* him ;). Maybe with a little help and cleverness on her part.......she'll find out that wishes really do come true.

I really liked this one. The poor hero didn't see it coming! The bigger rake they are, the harder they fall....in love? and what a Lady wants, she gets....well, eventually. And the eventually part was the best! Nigel accepts that there is an attraction between the two and puts up a worthy fight, but ultimately its HIS own foolishness that leads to the marriage (sorry it'll spoil it if I tell you!). And then he realizes that maybe he was wrong, maybe this clever, intelligent and beautiful woman is really the one for him and he's ...gasp!..in love with her??? But is it too late? He's said some nasty things and possibly damaged the relationship beyond repair and lost Felicity's love for good. Whats he to do?! A grand romantic gesture? Now THATS what I wish for in a book!

A witty and whimsical cat and mouse game. It's nice to see the tables turned and have the Lady catch her hero. Some really good romantic fluff!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great book, March 8, 2007

By 

L. Earlington "Reading addict" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: What a Lady Wants (Last Man Standing, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the second book I've read by this author, and technically I bought it on a whim online. Not sure if it was fate but I really enjoyed this book, the pacing was great and the banter between Nigel and Felicity was sharp and witty and laugh out loud in some spots. Ms. Alexander created two very strong and well drawn characters and that is what really makes this book stand out.