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The Carsington Brothers #2
Mr. Impossible
Rupert Carsington, fourth son of the Earl of Hargate, is his aristocratic family's favourite disaster. He is irresistibly handsome and irretrievably irresponsible. Wherever he goes, trouble follows. Still, Rupert's never met an entanglement - emotional or other - he couldn't escape.
Only now he's a prisoner in Cairo's most infamous prison, and his only way out is accepting a beautiful widow's dangerous proposal. Scholar Daphne Pembroke wants him to rescue her brother, who's been kidnapped by a rival seeking a fabled treasure. Their partnership is strictly business: she'll provide the brains; he, the brawn. Simple enough in theory.
But as tensions flare and inhibitions melt in the blazing desert heat, the most disciplined of women and the most reckless of men are about to clash in the most impossibly irresistible way.
Only now he's a prisoner in Cairo's most infamous prison, and his only way out is accepting a beautiful widow's dangerous proposal. Scholar Daphne Pembroke wants him to rescue her brother, who's been kidnapped by a rival seeking a fabled treasure. Their partnership is strictly business: she'll provide the brains; he, the brawn. Simple enough in theory.
But as tensions flare and inhibitions melt in the blazing desert heat, the most disciplined of women and the most reckless of men are about to clash in the most impossibly irresistible way.
313 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2005
365 people are currently reading
6050 people want to read
About the author
Loretta Chase
52 books3,662 followersLoretta Lynda Chekani was born in 1949, of Albanian ancestry. For her, the trouble started when she learned to write in first grade. Before then, she had been making up her own stories but now she knew how to write them down to share. In her teenage years, she continue to write letters, keep a journal, write poetry and even attempt the Great American Novel (still unfinished). She attended New England public schools, before she went off to college and earned an English degree from Clark University.
After graduation, she worked a variety of jobs at Clark including a part-time teaching post. She was also moonlighting as a video scriptwriter. It was there that she met a video producer who inspired her to write novels and marry him. Under her married name, Loretta Chase, has been publishing historical romance novels since 1987. Her books have won many awards, including the Romance Writers of America RITA.
After graduation, she worked a variety of jobs at Clark including a part-time teaching post. She was also moonlighting as a video scriptwriter. It was there that she met a video producer who inspired her to write novels and marry him. Under her married name, Loretta Chase, has been publishing historical romance novels since 1987. Her books have won many awards, including the Romance Writers of America RITA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 864 reviews
December 13, 2021
This was such a fun historical romance and just like the Mummy, which is how it was pitched to me! The heroine's brother gets kidnapped, and the only person who can help her is currently in prison in a Cairo jail. She bargains for his release and he's infuriating from the moment they meet. The two are quickly thrown into a whirlwind of bad guys trying to kill them and getting lost in ancient tombs. I loved their banter and the hate to love romance this book had. There was always danger lurking and not a slow moment in the story. I will say, this really doesn't represent Egyptian people well and portrays them as unintelligent and "not normal." At one point they literally have to rely on the white Europeans to save their children from illness because their "weird" beliefs are hopeless. They were also there to serve the white people and eager to please. I really did not like this portrayal and thought it was unnecessary for the overall plot, so that's why I dropped my rating down to a four star. The romance itself, though, was a five star and I really loved these characters!
December 12, 2022
THIS WAS SO FUN!!!!!
Hi. Hello. Are you in the mood for an Adventure Romance (e.g. The Lost City, with Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum running through a jungle for two hours) with beautiful, lyrical writing, a heroine who is ten times smarter than the hero and a quest through the pyramids of Egypt?
Boy, do I have a book for you!!!
Mr. Impossible feels so much like a movie, with plot twists thrown at every turn, delicious tension, all kinds of bad guys pursuing the main couple, crazy hijinks and maybe a little mysticism. Plus, the most badass heroine of all time.
Daphne Pembroke is a 29-year-old academic with a real passion for ancient languages, especially hieroglyphs. Her late husband was an old, arrogant, mansplaining dick who diminished all her accomplishments and had a lot of disdain for all of her linguistic pursuits, which put a real chip on her shoulder.
Five years after his death, she’s been publishing under her brother’s name and dedicating all her time to deciphering old texts and such. We meet her three months into a stint in Cairo, where she’s working hard on a brand new (well, very old, but brand new to her) papyrus and getting to know the culture in person.
Daphne’s world is thrown upside down when her brother is kidnapped and the English embassy just can't be bothered to help her find him. Her only option? To hire Rupert, the son of an English nobleman who's been imprisoned in Cairo and is kind of hanging out in his cell waiting for someone to remember he's there.
Lucky for him, Daphne buys his freedom in exchange for his services as a bodyguard, basically, while she travels through Egypt in order to find her brother. Unlucky for her, he’s a smartass, gorgeous rake who's kind of distracting her from her very important goal.
The amount of bad guys in this book is incredible, and they’re all chasing Daphne and Rupert and the little gang they put together for their journey. This leads to:
– Moments of sexual tension in the closed quarters of pyramids;
– Moments of sexual tension in the closed quarters of tombs;
– Moments of sexual tension in the closed quarters of tunnels; and
– Moments of sexual tension in the closed quarters of boats.
Great stuff.
I can’t say enough about how fun and romantic this book was. Plus, seeing Daphne face so many of her fears and Rupert realize his feelings for her was just beyond.
I had the best time reading this and you should run and get it!!!
Hi. Hello. Are you in the mood for an Adventure Romance (e.g. The Lost City, with Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum running through a jungle for two hours) with beautiful, lyrical writing, a heroine who is ten times smarter than the hero and a quest through the pyramids of Egypt?
Boy, do I have a book for you!!!
Mr. Impossible feels so much like a movie, with plot twists thrown at every turn, delicious tension, all kinds of bad guys pursuing the main couple, crazy hijinks and maybe a little mysticism. Plus, the most badass heroine of all time.
Daphne Pembroke is a 29-year-old academic with a real passion for ancient languages, especially hieroglyphs. Her late husband was an old, arrogant, mansplaining dick who diminished all her accomplishments and had a lot of disdain for all of her linguistic pursuits, which put a real chip on her shoulder.
Five years after his death, she’s been publishing under her brother’s name and dedicating all her time to deciphering old texts and such. We meet her three months into a stint in Cairo, where she’s working hard on a brand new (well, very old, but brand new to her) papyrus and getting to know the culture in person.
Daphne’s world is thrown upside down when her brother is kidnapped and the English embassy just can't be bothered to help her find him. Her only option? To hire Rupert, the son of an English nobleman who's been imprisoned in Cairo and is kind of hanging out in his cell waiting for someone to remember he's there.
Lucky for him, Daphne buys his freedom in exchange for his services as a bodyguard, basically, while she travels through Egypt in order to find her brother. Unlucky for her, he’s a smartass, gorgeous rake who's kind of distracting her from her very important goal.
The amount of bad guys in this book is incredible, and they’re all chasing Daphne and Rupert and the little gang they put together for their journey. This leads to:
– Moments of sexual tension in the closed quarters of pyramids;
– Moments of sexual tension in the closed quarters of tombs;
– Moments of sexual tension in the closed quarters of tunnels; and
– Moments of sexual tension in the closed quarters of boats.
Great stuff.
I can’t say enough about how fun and romantic this book was. Plus, seeing Daphne face so many of her fears and Rupert realize his feelings for her was just beyond.
I had the best time reading this and you should run and get it!!!
April 12, 2022
3.5 stars
Pretty good! You can rarely go wrong with Loretta Chase! She always writes witty, interesting books. That said, this wasn't my favorite. I don't know if it was my mood or the book but I couldn't get into this book completely.
Story: Daphne's brother is kidnapped by a deranged Frenchman who believes the brilliant scholar has discovered a royal burial site. Problem is his sister is the actual brilliant scholar. Thinking something has happened to her brother , Daphne goes to the British Counsel, who doesn't believe her story. But they give her newly arrived Rupert. Rupert is very laid back but enjoys a good fistfight when necessary. Together their search takes them up and down the Nile. They have to deal with sandstorms, mummy tombs, and two crazy villians and their henchmen.
I loved the opposite attraction between the MC. While different they balanced each other very well. I still wish his name wasn't Rupert! Sorry, but it's just not a romantic name for a dashing H.
Problems: I wasn't completely happy with the way the Egyptian culture was portrayed. They were either highly superstitious, thrives, murderers, cowards, or overly cruel. It was grossly wrong to portray them as unintelligent barbians!! Rupert even renames a boy Tom. At first, I thought it was cute but then it started to bother me as the book continued. Usually, I believe PC is the death of creativity but in this case , I think the author could have taken the time to learn the cultural.
All in all, it was still a nice romantic adventure! I hope to continue the series.
Pretty good! You can rarely go wrong with Loretta Chase! She always writes witty, interesting books. That said, this wasn't my favorite. I don't know if it was my mood or the book but I couldn't get into this book completely.
Story: Daphne's brother is kidnapped by a deranged Frenchman who believes the brilliant scholar has discovered a royal burial site. Problem is his sister is the actual brilliant scholar. Thinking something has happened to her brother , Daphne goes to the British Counsel, who doesn't believe her story. But they give her newly arrived Rupert. Rupert is very laid back but enjoys a good fistfight when necessary. Together their search takes them up and down the Nile. They have to deal with sandstorms, mummy tombs, and two crazy villians and their henchmen.
I loved the opposite attraction between the MC. While different they balanced each other very well. I still wish his name wasn't Rupert! Sorry, but it's just not a romantic name for a dashing H.
Problems: I wasn't completely happy with the way the Egyptian culture was portrayed. They were either highly superstitious, thrives, murderers, cowards, or overly cruel. It was grossly wrong to portray them as unintelligent barbians!! Rupert even renames a boy Tom. At first, I thought it was cute but then it started to bother me as the book continued. Usually, I believe PC is the death of creativity but in this case , I think the author could have taken the time to learn the cultural.
All in all, it was still a nice romantic adventure! I hope to continue the series.
August 21, 2016
Review written August 20, 2016
4.4 Stars - Yay, this was a very amusing audiobook listening. I just adored these lovely witty (and sassy?) lovebirds. My very favorite kind of lighthearted (but still lovely romantic) suspenseful historical.
Once again time for me to get my greedy hands on a Loretta Chase historical. This time the 11:48 hours Mr. Impossible, the second audiobook edition in the Carsington Brothers series narrated by Kate Reading.
Book #2 Mr. Impossible was a absolutely perfect car driving listening this (Olympic week). A historical set in Egypt nearly two hundreds years (1821) ago. Full speed from start to finish (a beautiful sweet HEA 'course) and not a boring or slow minute.
**********************************************
Mr. Impossible is the story about Rupert Carsington, fourth son of the Earl of Hargate, a irresistibly handsome and unapologetically irresponsible young noble man who is his big aristocratic family's favorite disaster. Sent to Egypt he soon "stumbles over" the bookish scholar and interesting Daphne Pembroke. Our heroine is a British young widow who needs Mr Carsington's immediately help to rescue her brother Miles. She fears her beloved brother (and best friend) has been kidnapped by a rival seeking a legendary old Egypt treasure.
A bit traditional HR fluffy, romantic lightly hot and steamy, a gorgeous dream-hero and much much laughter. Add some nice second characters and a adventurous journey along the river Nile's fascinating ancient pyramids, Pharaoh tombs and old smelling mummies. Terrific!!
Maybe I will write a proper review some day ...I will anyway without doubt continue this Carsington Family series.
**********************************************
Audiobook and narrator...
There are some fabulous great "author & narrator" combos to explore in the romance genre. Chase & Reading is one of those simply fantastic. It just can't be much better. You know you will get a high standard performance every time.
**********************************************
I LIKE - to smile, giggles and chuckle early nice summer mornings when doing my 45 minutes drive to work
*****
A year ago I also very much enjoyed the next installment, #3-Lord Perfect (4.3 stars). A lovetale about another (much more stiff and proper) brother but as entertaining. Recommended as well.
4.4 Stars - Yay, this was a very amusing audiobook listening. I just adored these lovely witty (and sassy?) lovebirds. My very favorite kind of lighthearted (but still lovely romantic) suspenseful historical.
Once again time for me to get my greedy hands on a Loretta Chase historical. This time the 11:48 hours Mr. Impossible, the second audiobook edition in the Carsington Brothers series narrated by Kate Reading.
Book #2 Mr. Impossible was a absolutely perfect car driving listening this (Olympic week). A historical set in Egypt nearly two hundreds years (1821) ago. Full speed from start to finish (a beautiful sweet HEA 'course) and not a boring or slow minute.
**********************************************
Mr. Impossible is the story about Rupert Carsington, fourth son of the Earl of Hargate, a irresistibly handsome and unapologetically irresponsible young noble man who is his big aristocratic family's favorite disaster. Sent to Egypt he soon "stumbles over" the bookish scholar and interesting Daphne Pembroke. Our heroine is a British young widow who needs Mr Carsington's immediately help to rescue her brother Miles. She fears her beloved brother (and best friend) has been kidnapped by a rival seeking a legendary old Egypt treasure.
« The partnership will be strictly business: she'll be the brains; he, the brawn. »
A bit traditional HR fluffy, romantic lightly hot and steamy, a gorgeous dream-hero and much much laughter. Add some nice second characters and a adventurous journey along the river Nile's fascinating ancient pyramids, Pharaoh tombs and old smelling mummies. Terrific!!
Maybe I will write a proper review some day ...I will anyway without doubt continue this Carsington Family series.
**********************************************
Audiobook and narrator...
There are some fabulous great "author & narrator" combos to explore in the romance genre. Chase & Reading is one of those simply fantastic. It just can't be much better. You know you will get a high standard performance every time.
**********************************************
I LIKE - to smile, giggles and chuckle early nice summer mornings when doing my 45 minutes drive to work
*****
A year ago I also very much enjoyed the next installment, #3-Lord Perfect (4.3 stars). A lovetale about another (much more stiff and proper) brother but as entertaining. Recommended as well.
January 30, 2014
This was a very fun historical romance set in an "exotic" location (Egypt), with charming and adventurous characters. The second book in the Carsington Brothers series, Mr. Impossible is about Rupert Carsington, the reckless fourth son of the powerful Earl of Hargate.
Here's what we learn about Rupert in the first pages of the book:
In the month and a half since the Earl of Hargate’s fourth son had arrived in Egypt, he had broken twenty-three separate laws and been jailed nine times. For what Mr. Carsington had cost the (England) consulate in fines and bribes, Mr. Salt (His Majesty's consul general) might have dismantled and shipped to England one of the smaller temples on the island of Philae.
He now knew exactly why Lord Hargate had sent his twenty-nine-year-old offspring to Egypt. It was not, as his lordship had written, “to assist the consul general in his services on behalf of the nation.”
It was to saddle someone else with the responsibility and expense.
LOL! Yes, Rupert Carsington is the ultimate "Mr. Impossible".
When Mrs. Daphne Pembroke, a 28-year-old widow who's (secretly) a linguistic genius and has been trying to solve the mystery of Egyptian writing for years, seeks Mr. Salt's assistance to rescue her kidnapped brother Miles, the "helpful" consul general finds the perfect opportunity to get himself rid of the troublemaker Mr. Carsington and offers the gentleman's services to her. Daphne isn't sure about Rupert when she meets him because he seems to be, well, dim-witted, but she takes him anyway - after all, she's intelligent enough for both and all she needs from him is his brawny body. No, not for that! At least, not right away. ;)
That's how Rupert and Daphne get together and start their adventurous quest for her brother Miles - and what a bumpy and fun ride that turns out to be!
Cliché, but I have to say it: Rupert and Daphne were perfect for each other. He was tall, dark, handsome and, yay!, not as stupid as he pretended to be. She was a bookish, no-nonsense, beautiful woman "trained" by her deceased husband to hide her figure and her passions. He made her laugh and set her free of her misconceptions about herself, and she helped him find a purpose in life: to love her and make her happy. Yup, that was it - and that was my "problem" with this book. I loved Rupert's antics and his sense of humor was contagious, but I'm not sure I got him. I didn't understand why he acted the way he did, pretending to be an idiot when he was clearly an intelligent man. What good came out of it? His family thought he was a helpless hellion. They loved him, but I don't think they respected him much. Luckily for him, Daphne saw through his façade and fell in love with him. :)
Besides Rupert and Daphne, this book also has a charming set of secondary characters. Daphne's crazy servants were hillarious and the villains - yes, there was more than one - were conniving and ruthless. I was surprised at the body count in this book, but Ms. Chase didn't dwell on that so I decided to let it go. I wasn't going to let that pesky, gory "detail" ruin my fun, LOL.
As for the plot, this story had it all. Action, intrigue, suspense, humor, romance, mayhem, you name it. All events were aptly connected in the end, even the ones that were mentioned for no obvious reason at first. I love it when an author keeps all the facts in line and doesn't get lost somewhere in the middle of the road. (Yes, Lora Leigh, I'm talking to you! LOL) The ending was a little vague to suit me. The HEA was there, but I didn't get enough of it to see what kind of life Rupert and Daphne will have. I can't say more, you'll have to read the book to understand (or not) how I feel about it.
Overall, I had a great, fun time reading this book. It didn't make my keepers shelf, but I highly recommend it for everyone who loves funny historical romances.
Here's what we learn about Rupert in the first pages of the book:
In the month and a half since the Earl of Hargate’s fourth son had arrived in Egypt, he had broken twenty-three separate laws and been jailed nine times. For what Mr. Carsington had cost the (England) consulate in fines and bribes, Mr. Salt (His Majesty's consul general) might have dismantled and shipped to England one of the smaller temples on the island of Philae.
He now knew exactly why Lord Hargate had sent his twenty-nine-year-old offspring to Egypt. It was not, as his lordship had written, “to assist the consul general in his services on behalf of the nation.”
It was to saddle someone else with the responsibility and expense.
LOL! Yes, Rupert Carsington is the ultimate "Mr. Impossible".
When Mrs. Daphne Pembroke, a 28-year-old widow who's (secretly) a linguistic genius and has been trying to solve the mystery of Egyptian writing for years, seeks Mr. Salt's assistance to rescue her kidnapped brother Miles, the "helpful" consul general finds the perfect opportunity to get himself rid of the troublemaker Mr. Carsington and offers the gentleman's services to her. Daphne isn't sure about Rupert when she meets him because he seems to be, well, dim-witted, but she takes him anyway - after all, she's intelligent enough for both and all she needs from him is his brawny body. No, not for that! At least, not right away. ;)
That's how Rupert and Daphne get together and start their adventurous quest for her brother Miles - and what a bumpy and fun ride that turns out to be!
Cliché, but I have to say it: Rupert and Daphne were perfect for each other. He was tall, dark, handsome and, yay!, not as stupid as he pretended to be. She was a bookish, no-nonsense, beautiful woman "trained" by her deceased husband to hide her figure and her passions. He made her laugh and set her free of her misconceptions about herself, and she helped him find a purpose in life: to love her and make her happy. Yup, that was it - and that was my "problem" with this book. I loved Rupert's antics and his sense of humor was contagious, but I'm not sure I got him. I didn't understand why he acted the way he did, pretending to be an idiot when he was clearly an intelligent man. What good came out of it? His family thought he was a helpless hellion. They loved him, but I don't think they respected him much. Luckily for him, Daphne saw through his façade and fell in love with him. :)
Besides Rupert and Daphne, this book also has a charming set of secondary characters. Daphne's crazy servants were hillarious and the villains - yes, there was more than one - were conniving and ruthless. I was surprised at the body count in this book, but Ms. Chase didn't dwell on that so I decided to let it go. I wasn't going to let that pesky, gory "detail" ruin my fun, LOL.
As for the plot, this story had it all. Action, intrigue, suspense, humor, romance, mayhem, you name it. All events were aptly connected in the end, even the ones that were mentioned for no obvious reason at first. I love it when an author keeps all the facts in line and doesn't get lost somewhere in the middle of the road. (Yes, Lora Leigh, I'm talking to you! LOL) The ending was a little vague to suit me. The HEA was there, but I didn't get enough of it to see what kind of life Rupert and Daphne will have. I can't say more, you'll have to read the book to understand (or not) how I feel about it.
Overall, I had a great, fun time reading this book. It didn't make my keepers shelf, but I highly recommend it for everyone who loves funny historical romances.
May 2, 2020
When it comes to romantic adventures, Mr. Impossible is an extremely fun romp showing what happens when you move some typical Regency-fare into an "archaeological" Egypt setting and you do it right. In the same niche up on par with Connie Brockway's As You Desire and its sequel The Other Guy's Bride (my favourite of the two), it features two intelligent and charming leads and Loretta Chase's trademark wit and flawless prose. Rupert and Daphne, the brawn and the brain though there's a lot more to them, and their sizzling chemistry paired with their sparkling banter beautifully complements the evocative atmosphere and the exhilarating storyline.
And there's a mischievous mongoose!
June 23, 2016
Sometimes after a lot of time spent in fantasy I need something just full of cotton candy fluff and usually Historical Romance is that for me. Mr. Impossible definitely fit the bill and was exactly what I needed.
It was a fun blend of funny and clever mixed with far away places in a far away time. It was like The Mummy meets a Jane Austin Novel. Rupert as a hero was so much fun and his teasing with Daphne is adorable.
Daphne is brilliant when it comes languages but she is a woman and so no one takes her seriously. She has filtered all of her work through her brother for years. So when someone kidnaps him thinking he will be able to translate a papyrus rumored to lead to a treasure in Egypt Daphne needs some help to find him before the kidnappers discover he can’t do it.
Rupert might not have been her first choice. The man has been in more trouble in Egypt than any other Englishman alive, but she is desperate and he is intrigued by the clever woman hiding behind the veil with the fantastically entertaining temper. He pushes her buttons just to see it flair.
The adventure to find Daphne’s brother was fun and I loved the setting of Egypt as the backdrop for the story, I just pretended it was like the settings in The Mummy movies. Rupert and Daphne have quite a few close calls and excitement along the way as well as some heated kisses and more *wink, wink*.
The resolution to the plot and the love affair was also well done.
They are adorably perfect together.
This was my very first Loretta Chase book but I like the premise of the Carsington Brothers and so I will most likely continue on with the series.
It was a fun blend of funny and clever mixed with far away places in a far away time. It was like The Mummy meets a Jane Austin Novel. Rupert as a hero was so much fun and his teasing with Daphne is adorable.
“That man," she said in low but still audible tones, "is an idiot."
"Yes, madam, but he's all we've got."
"I may be stupid," Rupert said, "but I'm irresistibly attractive."
"Good grief, conceited too," she muttered.
"And being a great, dumb ox," he went on, "I'm wonderfully easy to manage."
She paused and turned to Beechey. "Are you sure there's no one else?”
Daphne is brilliant when it comes languages but she is a woman and so no one takes her seriously. She has filtered all of her work through her brother for years. So when someone kidnaps him thinking he will be able to translate a papyrus rumored to lead to a treasure in Egypt Daphne needs some help to find him before the kidnappers discover he can’t do it.
Rupert might not have been her first choice. The man has been in more trouble in Egypt than any other Englishman alive, but she is desperate and he is intrigued by the clever woman hiding behind the veil with the fantastically entertaining temper. He pushes her buttons just to see it flair.
The adventure to find Daphne’s brother was fun and I loved the setting of Egypt as the backdrop for the story, I just pretended it was like the settings in The Mummy movies. Rupert and Daphne have quite a few close calls and excitement along the way as well as some heated kisses and more *wink, wink*.
The resolution to the plot and the love affair was also well done.
They are adorably perfect together.
This was my very first Loretta Chase book but I like the premise of the Carsington Brothers and so I will most likely continue on with the series.
October 12, 2025
This book is a very different Regency HR because it's set almost entirely in Egypt. The setting was interesting, and it reads a little like an Indiana Jones adventure, but with more romance.
Rupert is one of the famous Carsington brothers that this whole series is based around. He is considered 'impossible' by his family - slightly wild and pretty much unmanageable. His father has sent him to Egypt where he quickly gets himself into trouble, ending up in jail after defending a local man who had been beaten up.
Daphne Pembroke, a lovely young widow, is in Egypt with her brother Miles to study (the then misunderstood) hieroglyphics. She is a gifted linguist and a devoted scholar. After Miles' sudden disappearance, she goes looking for him, with the help of Rupert. At first she thinks Rupert is a useful but dumb blockhead, but over a period of time and in the course of some mad adventures, she comes to realise he is far from stupid. And they fall in love.
As well as the strong element of romance running through the book, it's full of incident and adventure. There is kidnapping, theft, valuable artefacts including ancient papyri, an encounter with a viper, a mongoose, musty ancient tombs full of smelly mummies, a journey down the Nile, a slew of competing bad guys, guns, knives, and general murder and mayhem, including a beheading! Whew!
So, it's not my usual HR fare. I was hoping for a sedate return to England where the story might continue, but this doesn't happen till virtually the end of the book. But the romance and the sex scenes are done well, and the book is lightened with moments of Ms Chase's trademark humour.
Overall, an enjoyable read.
April 2022 BOTM for HRBC; also April 2022 Challenge read for Romance Across The Ages, 'Around The World' theme.
Rupert is one of the famous Carsington brothers that this whole series is based around. He is considered 'impossible' by his family - slightly wild and pretty much unmanageable. His father has sent him to Egypt where he quickly gets himself into trouble, ending up in jail after defending a local man who had been beaten up.
Daphne Pembroke, a lovely young widow, is in Egypt with her brother Miles to study (the then misunderstood) hieroglyphics. She is a gifted linguist and a devoted scholar. After Miles' sudden disappearance, she goes looking for him, with the help of Rupert. At first she thinks Rupert is a useful but dumb blockhead, but over a period of time and in the course of some mad adventures, she comes to realise he is far from stupid. And they fall in love.
As well as the strong element of romance running through the book, it's full of incident and adventure. There is kidnapping, theft, valuable artefacts including ancient papyri, an encounter with a viper, a mongoose, musty ancient tombs full of smelly mummies, a journey down the Nile, a slew of competing bad guys, guns, knives, and general murder and mayhem, including a beheading! Whew!
So, it's not my usual HR fare. I was hoping for a sedate return to England where the story might continue, but this doesn't happen till virtually the end of the book. But the romance and the sex scenes are done well, and the book is lightened with moments of Ms Chase's trademark humour.
Overall, an enjoyable read.
April 2022 BOTM for HRBC; also April 2022 Challenge read for Romance Across The Ages, 'Around The World' theme.
April 2, 2018
This is the best romance novel I have ever read.
So this is a review I wrote elsewhere and I think it's amusing so I'm cutting & pasting it here.
Okay, my favoritest favorite favorite romance novel right now is Loretta Chase’s Mr. Impossible. It is GEEEEEENIUS. Daphne is a brilliant hieroglyphics scholar and she married an old dude b/c he totes promised her that she could continue to be a brilliant person. EXCEPT HE LIED AND WAS A JACKASS AND TRIED TO SQUISH HER SPIRIT. BOOOOOOOOOOOO. Then he died (YAY) but she is totally skittish and sorta traumatized (AS YOU DO) and then her brother disappears--because everyone thinks he’s the brilliant scholar because it is 1820 and everyone knows that girls can’t be Egyptologists and there is hidden treasure (OF COURSE) and he has to help find it or else. And then there’s Rupert, who is kind of a big doofus (and an English aristrocrat, natch) and honorable and kind and the first time he sees Daphne she’s in full mourning complete with veil so he totally cannot see what she looks like apart from "female" and HE THINKS SHE IS TOTALLY HOT. The entire book is about HOW HOT HE THINKS HER BRAINS ARE. And they go off looking for her brother, they have hot sexytimes in a pyramid in the middle of a sandstorm (WHAT YOU HAVE NEVER DONE THIS?), an Evil White Imperialist Pig gets what’s coming to him, brother gets saved, Daphne gets recognized for being BRILLIANT, they live HAPPILY EVER AFTER AMEN.
So this is a review I wrote elsewhere and I think it's amusing so I'm cutting & pasting it here.
Okay, my favoritest favorite favorite romance novel right now is Loretta Chase’s Mr. Impossible. It is GEEEEEENIUS. Daphne is a brilliant hieroglyphics scholar and she married an old dude b/c he totes promised her that she could continue to be a brilliant person. EXCEPT HE LIED AND WAS A JACKASS AND TRIED TO SQUISH HER SPIRIT. BOOOOOOOOOOOO. Then he died (YAY) but she is totally skittish and sorta traumatized (AS YOU DO) and then her brother disappears--because everyone thinks he’s the brilliant scholar because it is 1820 and everyone knows that girls can’t be Egyptologists and there is hidden treasure (OF COURSE) and he has to help find it or else. And then there’s Rupert, who is kind of a big doofus (and an English aristrocrat, natch) and honorable and kind and the first time he sees Daphne she’s in full mourning complete with veil so he totally cannot see what she looks like apart from "female" and HE THINKS SHE IS TOTALLY HOT. The entire book is about HOW HOT HE THINKS HER BRAINS ARE. And they go off looking for her brother, they have hot sexytimes in a pyramid in the middle of a sandstorm (WHAT YOU HAVE NEVER DONE THIS?), an Evil White Imperialist Pig gets what’s coming to him, brother gets saved, Daphne gets recognized for being BRILLIANT, they live HAPPILY EVER AFTER AMEN.
June 19, 2009
My faith in Loretta Chase was firmly restored with this book. It was a grand adventure with an unforgettable hero and a strong, independent, intelligent heroine, and it was set in Egypt. I do love adventure romances with exotic settings. The dialogue sparkles, as Rupert always knows the most outrageous things to say to shock Daphne. He comes off as being a loser, but he's a very sharp, resourceful guy, and he comes to Daphne's aid multiple times. In fact, he is just what Daphne needs as she is suffering from "Premature Aging Syndrome." Her deceased husband was older than her and very stodgy, and so she's a bit stiff. Yes, she's a bit on the stuffy side, but she's spunky and sharp-tongued, more than able to keep up with Rupert. Her one and only passion (prior to Rupert, of course) is her love of deciphering hieroglyphics, a talent she had to keep hidden because of her husbands beliefs against educated, passionate women. If you like movies like "The Mummy" and "Indiana Jones," you'll like this. I think Daphne and Evie from "The Mummy" have some things in common. There are not many love scenes in this book, but Chase makes them count, and you never doubt the emotions between Rupert and Daphne. Although Lord of Scoundrels, The Last Hellion, and The Mad Earl's Bride are still my favorites by her, this book is an excellent addition to my keeper shelf.
July 27, 2021
It was Agatha Christie’s couple of books that had given a glimpse of this magnificent country called Egypt and since then it has remained an interesting subject to return to. Of course, unlike the heroine Daphne Pembroke I am not passionate about mummies and hieroglyphics. Loretta Chase creates a fascinating character in Daphne, someone who is too bookish and uninterested in anything remotely connected to joy, stiff and unadventurous, who is happy to hide her intelligent brain behind the shadow of her loving brother Miles.
Rupert Carsington is the fourth son of the Earl of Hargate, sent to Egypt coz he’s the family black sheep. He’s essentially the big oaf who is good for nothing but his chiseled abs. Rupert however has a heart of gold as his introduction scene indicates that he will always favor the underdog and will fight for them irrespective of his personal losses.
When Daphne hires him to escort her in the search of her kidnapped brother, little did she expect the adventure in store for her. It is just not the sandstorms, mummies and the tombs playing havoc in their journey but she begins to unfurl in the presence of the bumbling and carless Rupert who finds Daphne’s brain the most captivating thing he has ever come across in his life. The banter is super cute and the romance is slow and sensuous. The chemistry between them is intense and sizzling but the icing on the cake is the humor in the story that lights up the atmosphere even inside a tomb.
I loved the secondary characters like Tom and Marigold, ha, the name of the mongoose who happens to become one among the many strays Rupert attaches to himself.
I haven’t read many books by this author but her Lord Of Scoundrels is one of my favorites that I wouldn’t mind re-reading simply for the smile it brings forth and Mr. Impossible is exactly another one that can be read with a smile.
Endearing⛈️⛈️⛈️⛈️⛈️
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, and Twitter.
Rupert Carsington is the fourth son of the Earl of Hargate, sent to Egypt coz he’s the family black sheep. He’s essentially the big oaf who is good for nothing but his chiseled abs. Rupert however has a heart of gold as his introduction scene indicates that he will always favor the underdog and will fight for them irrespective of his personal losses.
When Daphne hires him to escort her in the search of her kidnapped brother, little did she expect the adventure in store for her. It is just not the sandstorms, mummies and the tombs playing havoc in their journey but she begins to unfurl in the presence of the bumbling and carless Rupert who finds Daphne’s brain the most captivating thing he has ever come across in his life. The banter is super cute and the romance is slow and sensuous. The chemistry between them is intense and sizzling but the icing on the cake is the humor in the story that lights up the atmosphere even inside a tomb.
I loved the secondary characters like Tom and Marigold, ha, the name of the mongoose who happens to become one among the many strays Rupert attaches to himself.
I haven’t read many books by this author but her Lord Of Scoundrels is one of my favorites that I wouldn’t mind re-reading simply for the smile it brings forth and Mr. Impossible is exactly another one that can be read with a smile.
Endearing⛈️⛈️⛈️⛈️⛈️
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, and Twitter.
June 5, 2021
The gold standard of romance novels. Minimal angst and maximum sexiness. Rupert is the best hero ever, please don't argue with us. Daphne is also great.
Laine: Widowed lady genius meets cute with a angst-free fourth son of the aristocracy who can't leave damsels in distress. The mummy with more sexy times. If you are into tomb sex with donkey voyeurs, this book is for you.
Meg: Dorothea from Middlemarch falls for a lovable ox of a young man (or in other words, the total opposite of Casaubon).
www.linktr.ee/plottrysts
Laine: Widowed lady genius meets cute with a angst-free fourth son of the aristocracy who can't leave damsels in distress. The mummy with more sexy times. If you are into tomb sex with donkey voyeurs, this book is for you.
Meg: Dorothea from Middlemarch falls for a lovable ox of a young man (or in other words, the total opposite of Casaubon).
www.linktr.ee/plottrysts
April 2, 2022
Fun from start to finish. I really enjoyed this fun story and the smart (and very witty) banter between the couple. It was especially enjoyable to pick up something a bit different than the usual storylines for this genre. The location and couple dynamics made for an entertaining ride. Though I appreciate why authors so often romanticize “the first time”, there are (refreshingly) no virgins here folks!
Highly recommend for some “lol to yourself” moments, well-written dialog and steamy scenes. On to the next!
Highly recommend for some “lol to yourself” moments, well-written dialog and steamy scenes. On to the next!
January 19, 2016
I'm not 100% sure how to rate this one. I was sick with the flu through the first 3/4 and to be perfectly honest, I hated everything and everyone. Literally the only thing I liked were my cats and that's because they were very snuggly and warm while I lay heaped in blankets. I like to think they love me desperately, but I think they mostly liked that I was inanimate and very warm to lay on.
I really enjoyed that last 1/4 and I think that's probably a better reflection of my feelings on this, so I'll rate based on that impression. It wasn't that I hated the first part, I was just 'meh' about it. I was, however, 'meh' about everything.
The hero is a sweetheart. He really is the type of guy you'd want in real life. However, I do admit to enjoying reading about over-the-top alpha's that I'd probably have to murder in reality. Rupert is more of a beta hero. Chase does likable beta heroes well. Another good one was the hero in The Lion's Daughter. These aren't wimpy guys by any means. This hero loves to get in a good fight and is quite brave and heroic. However, he's very easy going and he has no deep-seated issues or torments. He's the type of guy that kids and animals are drawn to. He doesn't let much get under his skin and he takes the h bossing him around with a grain of salt instead of a chip on his shoulder. He's also very proud of her and not threatened by her intelligence, which was exactly what this heroine needed. Like I said, there was great real-world potential in this guy.
Aside from some baggage the widowed heroine was carrying over her bad first marriage, there isn't a lot of relationship drama. This is more centered on outside drama to carry the story. There's lots of adventure to be found in the competition to get the best Egyptian artifacts and decipher ancient Egyptian. The villain is very Heart of Darkness crazy too. This would make for a good film since it is so action driven. I was actually reminded of 'The Mummy' even though there were no supernatural elements. There were lots of witty lines that made me smile, so this was definitely something to read if you're looking for adventure and romance that is light on angst.
Just a note on something I wasn't quite comfortable with. I know that the British were in the prime of their empire and colonization during the time this novel was set. They were infamous for their racism against indigenous cultures. The hero and heroine did not, by any means, mistreat the Egyptians, but they did have what was probably a very period-accurate attitude that these were superstitious 'savages' and they were the 'enlightened' ones. I can handle that. I like to be able to believe historical characters have a reasonably accurate mindset. However, nothing happened to prove them wrong or at least convey to the reader that the protagonists' POV wasn't the only one.
I'm not saying that all the locals were portrayed as villains, because they definitely weren't, but they were often played for comedy with all their superstitions. It's just.... I don't know what I'm saying. I realize this is romance and not a social commentary and perhaps I shouldn't expect a great deal of dimension from the supporting characters, especially in a book that is not meant to be heavy. The situation in which the Europeans felt they discovered this part of the world and were now fine with ransacking it was addressed, but there were few moral judgements made. Ironically, the few that were were made by the supposed 'big dumb ox' hero who seemed most sensitive to the issues and people. Perhaps Chase expected us to see the wrong for ourselves and took it for granted that we all realize that situation was messed up and deliberately chose to keep things like and fun. I guess I'm just saying the cultural aspects made me wonder at times. That's all I know to say. I guess you could say I was confused on how I felt about that aspect and therefore feel I'm writing a confusing ramble on it. So, shutting up now....
I really enjoyed that last 1/4 and I think that's probably a better reflection of my feelings on this, so I'll rate based on that impression. It wasn't that I hated the first part, I was just 'meh' about it. I was, however, 'meh' about everything.
The hero is a sweetheart. He really is the type of guy you'd want in real life. However, I do admit to enjoying reading about over-the-top alpha's that I'd probably have to murder in reality. Rupert is more of a beta hero. Chase does likable beta heroes well. Another good one was the hero in The Lion's Daughter. These aren't wimpy guys by any means. This hero loves to get in a good fight and is quite brave and heroic. However, he's very easy going and he has no deep-seated issues or torments. He's the type of guy that kids and animals are drawn to. He doesn't let much get under his skin and he takes the h bossing him around with a grain of salt instead of a chip on his shoulder. He's also very proud of her and not threatened by her intelligence, which was exactly what this heroine needed. Like I said, there was great real-world potential in this guy.
Aside from some baggage the widowed heroine was carrying over her bad first marriage, there isn't a lot of relationship drama. This is more centered on outside drama to carry the story. There's lots of adventure to be found in the competition to get the best Egyptian artifacts and decipher ancient Egyptian. The villain is very Heart of Darkness crazy too. This would make for a good film since it is so action driven. I was actually reminded of 'The Mummy' even though there were no supernatural elements. There were lots of witty lines that made me smile, so this was definitely something to read if you're looking for adventure and romance that is light on angst.
Just a note on something I wasn't quite comfortable with. I know that the British were in the prime of their empire and colonization during the time this novel was set. They were infamous for their racism against indigenous cultures. The hero and heroine did not, by any means, mistreat the Egyptians, but they did have what was probably a very period-accurate attitude that these were superstitious 'savages' and they were the 'enlightened' ones. I can handle that. I like to be able to believe historical characters have a reasonably accurate mindset. However, nothing happened to prove them wrong or at least convey to the reader that the protagonists' POV wasn't the only one.
I'm not saying that all the locals were portrayed as villains, because they definitely weren't, but they were often played for comedy with all their superstitions. It's just.... I don't know what I'm saying. I realize this is romance and not a social commentary and perhaps I shouldn't expect a great deal of dimension from the supporting characters, especially in a book that is not meant to be heavy. The situation in which the Europeans felt they discovered this part of the world and were now fine with ransacking it was addressed, but there were few moral judgements made. Ironically, the few that were were made by the supposed 'big dumb ox' hero who seemed most sensitive to the issues and people. Perhaps Chase expected us to see the wrong for ourselves and took it for granted that we all realize that situation was messed up and deliberately chose to keep things like and fun. I guess I'm just saying the cultural aspects made me wonder at times. That's all I know to say. I guess you could say I was confused on how I felt about that aspect and therefore feel I'm writing a confusing ramble on it. So, shutting up now....
July 26, 2015
1.5
I don't even know where to start. The terrible knockoff wannabe version of The Mummy, now with extra racism. I don't know what I was expecting from a book about old-timey English people in Egypt? But like wow, for real, it was bad.
A handful of examples off the top of my head:
- Egyptians speaking language represented as 'bad'/'broken' EVEN WHEN THEY'RE SPEAKING ARABIC
- worshipful, fawning servants who want nothing more than to serve their beloved masters
- the main dude gives an Egyptian servant boy the name 'Tom' because he can't be fucked to learn the kid's real name (Udail) and then Udail forswears his old name because see above bullet point
- literally it's just the Europeans running around and being way smarter than the Egyptians (and other 'othered' peoples, like the one dude who they're like 'lol he's Syrian or Armenian or some shit we don't know!! can't tell em all apart am I right')
- superstitious backwards natives~~ who have absolutely no brains or advancement!!! this one woman's baby is sick and she's like 'idk what medicine is, please, English lady, give the babe your MAGIC!!!' (other than 'idk what medicine is' those are real things she says)
- a lot of talk about 'these people' and how BACKWARDS and STUNTED and STUPID they are, including from the leads. especially from the leads
- also, the male lead is gigantic and tall and buff (they're all like :ooo A GENIE!!! bc he's always running around being strong and powerful and doing Magical things--lmao what???????????????) and all the Egyptian men are short and tiny for weird masculinity reasons
And then you've got all your usual shit like the ol' standard 'she's mad, he pulls her to his chest aggressively, she struggles and continues to be angry with him, he forcefully kisses her against her will, she struggles a bit before melting' sitch. But then, it's a trashrom, so like, I am resigned to that stuff a bit. As tragic as that is.
ANYWAY, this was a mess. And not even the fun kind of mess. Just a bad mess. If you really want a straight romance with two white* leads gallivanting about Egypt and adventure and stuff and there's a brawny trouble-makin dude and a bluestocking bookish brilliant secretly hot ('secretly' lol) lady who has to bust him out of prison and there's also a largely useless brother, watch The Mummy instead and save yourself the time and heartache.
*I know Rachel Weisz's char is supposed to be half Egyptian, but like, Rachel Weisz is not. But anyway. Also, I actually really thought for a hot second that they were gonna go down the half-Egyptian route with the male lead in this one, since in the literal first sentence of the book it says his "hair and eyes [are] dark as any Egyptian's." I was like, maybe he's being sent to Egypt since it's the homeland of his mom who was Egyptian and somehow married an English earl?? But, no.
Oh, also, there was some halfhearted commentary (or like, quarter-hearted single sentences maybe three times over the course of three hundred pages) about how it's kind of rude of the Europeans to come in and take Egypt's shit, but then like, they kept running around rummaging through and/or taking and breaking Egyptian shit, so.....like...........
I don't even know where to start. The terrible knockoff wannabe version of The Mummy, now with extra racism. I don't know what I was expecting from a book about old-timey English people in Egypt? But like wow, for real, it was bad.
A handful of examples off the top of my head:
- Egyptians speaking language represented as 'bad'/'broken' EVEN WHEN THEY'RE SPEAKING ARABIC
- worshipful, fawning servants who want nothing more than to serve their beloved masters
- the main dude gives an Egyptian servant boy the name 'Tom' because he can't be fucked to learn the kid's real name (Udail) and then Udail forswears his old name because see above bullet point
- literally it's just the Europeans running around and being way smarter than the Egyptians (and other 'othered' peoples, like the one dude who they're like 'lol he's Syrian or Armenian or some shit we don't know!! can't tell em all apart am I right')
- superstitious backwards natives~~ who have absolutely no brains or advancement!!! this one woman's baby is sick and she's like 'idk what medicine is, please, English lady, give the babe your MAGIC!!!' (other than 'idk what medicine is' those are real things she says)
- a lot of talk about 'these people' and how BACKWARDS and STUNTED and STUPID they are, including from the leads. especially from the leads
- also, the male lead is gigantic and tall and buff (they're all like :ooo A GENIE!!! bc he's always running around being strong and powerful and doing Magical things--lmao what???????????????) and all the Egyptian men are short and tiny for weird masculinity reasons
And then you've got all your usual shit like the ol' standard 'she's mad, he pulls her to his chest aggressively, she struggles and continues to be angry with him, he forcefully kisses her against her will, she struggles a bit before melting' sitch. But then, it's a trashrom, so like, I am resigned to that stuff a bit. As tragic as that is.
ANYWAY, this was a mess. And not even the fun kind of mess. Just a bad mess. If you really want a straight romance with two white* leads gallivanting about Egypt and adventure and stuff and there's a brawny trouble-makin dude and a bluestocking bookish brilliant secretly hot ('secretly' lol) lady who has to bust him out of prison and there's also a largely useless brother, watch The Mummy instead and save yourself the time and heartache.
*I know Rachel Weisz's char is supposed to be half Egyptian, but like, Rachel Weisz is not. But anyway. Also, I actually really thought for a hot second that they were gonna go down the half-Egyptian route with the male lead in this one, since in the literal first sentence of the book it says his "hair and eyes [are] dark as any Egyptian's." I was like, maybe he's being sent to Egypt since it's the homeland of his mom who was Egyptian and somehow married an English earl?? But, no.
Oh, also, there was some halfhearted commentary (or like, quarter-hearted single sentences maybe three times over the course of three hundred pages) about how it's kind of rude of the Europeans to come in and take Egypt's shit, but then like, they kept running around rummaging through and/or taking and breaking Egyptian shit, so.....like...........
January 7, 2011
3.5 stars
I’m coming to the conclusion that there’s something about Loretta Chase’s writing that just doesn’t quite click with me. Despite all the attractions of this novel, and there are plenty, I found myself at times wondering when I would finish it so I could move on. I never do that with the novels that click with me – I’m too busy enjoying the ride.
Is she too heavy on the narration, or is the style of narration? I’m just not sure. I love her characters, I love the dialogue, so I figure it must be something to do with the narration, right? Or maybe it’s the pacing. Argh – I wish I knew, but every time I picked this book up I found myself checking to see how many pages I had left to go and I was always a little disappointed to see that there were so many.
The only other thing I can think of - and this is going to sound ridiculous - is the printing of the book itself. It was a large format paperback (no probs there) but with tightly spaced writing (so, looong pages) printed on poor quality, rough and slightly coloured pages. It made the book feel really old and slow-going. It was the same with Miss Wonderful, which I also rated 3.5 stars.
Anyway, as I said, there was a lot to like in Mr Impossible. Rupert, fourth son of the Earl of Hargate and brother to Alistair from Miss Wonderful was pretty wonderful himself, and such a change from the usual hero. Rupert is a real character – a goofy, larrikin trouble-maker who takes a perverse pleasure in shocking people. But he also is a man of great strength and courage, capable of sweet tenderness. A truly delightful combination.
Daphne Pembroke, a 28 year old scholar, was made by her late husband to feel unattractive and unwomanly due to her bookishness, intellect and passion. Her confidence shattered, she has dedicated herself to her studies of ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs, and hides her talent and achievements behind her brother, believing them to be inappropriate and unwelcome to others.
When Daphne is forced by circumstances to enlist Rupert’s aid in finding her kidnapped brother, the pair embark on an action-packed and dangerous adventure up the Nile and among the ancient tombs and ruins.
Rupert and Daphne are the embodiment of the saying ‘opposites attract’. They are fascinated by and truly appreciate and respect each others differences. The things that others find unappealing about them are seen as special and wondrous. I really loved them as a couple, and didn’t close the cover with any concerns about their ability to make it work. Their dialogue and banter was great.
The author also did a fantastic job on the setting. She really brought ancient Egypt to life and captured the feel of the land, its people and the utter devastation caused to the tombs and their contents due to the lack of respect and mercenary nature of treasure hunters. I loved the setting and felt that the author did it justice – no mean feat in itself.
The side characters were also a quirky and well-drawn bunch who added some great levity and personality to the mix – even Marigold the Mongoose! The baddies were also nicely characterised for the most part and served to add great contrast to the humour.
And yet…… *sigh*. Even with all these wonderful elements, the final product was just not as good as the sum of its parts for me. I’m still looking forward to the next in the series, and hoping to get it in different format/binding so I can further test my theory!
I’m coming to the conclusion that there’s something about Loretta Chase’s writing that just doesn’t quite click with me. Despite all the attractions of this novel, and there are plenty, I found myself at times wondering when I would finish it so I could move on. I never do that with the novels that click with me – I’m too busy enjoying the ride.
Is she too heavy on the narration, or is the style of narration? I’m just not sure. I love her characters, I love the dialogue, so I figure it must be something to do with the narration, right? Or maybe it’s the pacing. Argh – I wish I knew, but every time I picked this book up I found myself checking to see how many pages I had left to go and I was always a little disappointed to see that there were so many.
The only other thing I can think of - and this is going to sound ridiculous - is the printing of the book itself. It was a large format paperback (no probs there) but with tightly spaced writing (so, looong pages) printed on poor quality, rough and slightly coloured pages. It made the book feel really old and slow-going. It was the same with Miss Wonderful, which I also rated 3.5 stars.
Anyway, as I said, there was a lot to like in Mr Impossible. Rupert, fourth son of the Earl of Hargate and brother to Alistair from Miss Wonderful was pretty wonderful himself, and such a change from the usual hero. Rupert is a real character – a goofy, larrikin trouble-maker who takes a perverse pleasure in shocking people. But he also is a man of great strength and courage, capable of sweet tenderness. A truly delightful combination.
Daphne Pembroke, a 28 year old scholar, was made by her late husband to feel unattractive and unwomanly due to her bookishness, intellect and passion. Her confidence shattered, she has dedicated herself to her studies of ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs, and hides her talent and achievements behind her brother, believing them to be inappropriate and unwelcome to others.
When Daphne is forced by circumstances to enlist Rupert’s aid in finding her kidnapped brother, the pair embark on an action-packed and dangerous adventure up the Nile and among the ancient tombs and ruins.
Rupert and Daphne are the embodiment of the saying ‘opposites attract’. They are fascinated by and truly appreciate and respect each others differences. The things that others find unappealing about them are seen as special and wondrous. I really loved them as a couple, and didn’t close the cover with any concerns about their ability to make it work. Their dialogue and banter was great.
The author also did a fantastic job on the setting. She really brought ancient Egypt to life and captured the feel of the land, its people and the utter devastation caused to the tombs and their contents due to the lack of respect and mercenary nature of treasure hunters. I loved the setting and felt that the author did it justice – no mean feat in itself.
The side characters were also a quirky and well-drawn bunch who added some great levity and personality to the mix – even Marigold the Mongoose! The baddies were also nicely characterised for the most part and served to add great contrast to the humour.
And yet…… *sigh*. Even with all these wonderful elements, the final product was just not as good as the sum of its parts for me. I’m still looking forward to the next in the series, and hoping to get it in different format/binding so I can further test my theory!
January 10, 2018
Oh how much I enjoyed this audio version of Mr Impossible! I can see myself listening to the whole Carsington series, that's for sure.
LC knows just how to create a hero and heroine who are strong and independent, but also vulnerable and tender. I think tenderness is what is so often missing in HR today, with all these alpha man-whores and sexually confident yet spineless heroines.
This was such a different story: a brilliant intellect, Daphne, partnered with a very physical, earthy man. She valued and admired his strength and uncomplicated regard for her, he adored her body AND especially her mind. I loved that. Here was a man who was simply proud of the woman's intelligence and her intellectual achievements. Daphne was the one who had to get over her intellectual snobbery, to stop seeing Rupert as a mindless, dumb ox, only interested in sex and fisticuffs. Oh, he was VERY invested in sex (it was so funny that every time he was trying to come up with a plan for their crusade to find her brother, all he kept thinking was how he wanted to get her naked.) He was intelligent, too, but had never been regarded as such. If you tell someone often enough you are a useless, dumb, irresponsible playboy, then that's all you will think you can be. With Daphne, Rupert finally found someone who appreciated his gifts and talents, especially because they were exactly what was needed during their adventure. She depended on him and he came through for her.
There was plenty of wit- Daphne had a lovely acerbic turn of phrase, Rupert surprisingly clever rejoinders, and the villain was a classic Dr Evil type, (except he looked like an angel.) His joy at receiving someone's head in a basket was hilarious, and Daphne's brother, although having only a small role in the book, made some pithy and very amusing comments about his own situation. I smiled A LOT in this book. I giggled. I was moved. It was bloody adorable.
Most importantly, there was no poorly-contrived, pseudo-angst created by blowing easily resolved conflict out of all proportion, just to drag the story out to the publisher's requisite length. The reservations the MCs had about having a future together were honest and real. They were very different people. It was going to take a while for Rupert to understand that what he felt was love (the first time) and for Daphne to believe that he would actually want to be with her ().
The cherry on top? The exotic locale- Egypt. Lots of great research and the feeling that I was really there in the heat and dust. Man, even I could smell the mummies that made Rupert's stomach turn!
Kate Reading. She is a phenomenal narrator. She managed to individualise all the characters, her accents were fabulous and how she could create a conversation where the characters interrupted each other so that it actually sounded like two people interrupting each other was crazy-good! Her bad guys were really scary, too - the tone made my blood run cold.
Again, props to Caz and the Audiogals for pointing me in this direction. I have read everything LC has written- now I get to hear them all again. So much joy! (Just need Rupert to be voiced by Richard Armitage!!)
I just can't help myself.... :)
LC knows just how to create a hero and heroine who are strong and independent, but also vulnerable and tender. I think tenderness is what is so often missing in HR today, with all these alpha man-whores and sexually confident yet spineless heroines.
This was such a different story: a brilliant intellect, Daphne, partnered with a very physical, earthy man. She valued and admired his strength and uncomplicated regard for her, he adored her body AND especially her mind. I loved that. Here was a man who was simply proud of the woman's intelligence and her intellectual achievements. Daphne was the one who had to get over her intellectual snobbery, to stop seeing Rupert as a mindless, dumb ox, only interested in sex and fisticuffs. Oh, he was VERY invested in sex (it was so funny that every time he was trying to come up with a plan for their crusade to find her brother, all he kept thinking was how he wanted to get her naked.) He was intelligent, too, but had never been regarded as such. If you tell someone often enough you are a useless, dumb, irresponsible playboy, then that's all you will think you can be. With Daphne, Rupert finally found someone who appreciated his gifts and talents, especially because they were exactly what was needed during their adventure. She depended on him and he came through for her.
There was plenty of wit- Daphne had a lovely acerbic turn of phrase, Rupert surprisingly clever rejoinders, and the villain was a classic Dr Evil type, (except he looked like an angel.) His joy at receiving someone's head in a basket was hilarious, and Daphne's brother, although having only a small role in the book, made some pithy and very amusing comments about his own situation. I smiled A LOT in this book. I giggled. I was moved. It was bloody adorable.
Most importantly, there was no poorly-contrived, pseudo-angst created by blowing easily resolved conflict out of all proportion, just to drag the story out to the publisher's requisite length. The reservations the MCs had about having a future together were honest and real. They were very different people. It was going to take a while for Rupert to understand that what he felt was love (the first time) and for Daphne to believe that he would actually want to be with her ().
The cherry on top? The exotic locale- Egypt. Lots of great research and the feeling that I was really there in the heat and dust. Man, even I could smell the mummies that made Rupert's stomach turn!
Kate Reading. She is a phenomenal narrator. She managed to individualise all the characters, her accents were fabulous and how she could create a conversation where the characters interrupted each other so that it actually sounded like two people interrupting each other was crazy-good! Her bad guys were really scary, too - the tone made my blood run cold.
Again, props to Caz and the Audiogals for pointing me in this direction. I have read everything LC has written- now I get to hear them all again. So much joy! (Just need Rupert to be voiced by Richard Armitage!!)
I just can't help myself.... :)
August 29, 2024
Fast paced and great fun. H's reputation is that he's all muscle and little to no brain. She's a widow supporting her brilliant brother to decipher hieroglyphics. Of course, nothing is as it seems. He's a great hero, and so she's wonderful. A favourite couple.
October 7, 2025
Impulse reread, this is the one I really wanted to read, but somehow I am doing the whole series (as long as I can find an elusive paperback....). And rereading books you loved a decade or two later can be a dangerous thing, and I was feeling that at the start of the book - I was really not liking Daphne outright calling Rupert stupid. Maybe that hits harder in 2025, that telling boys they are stupid or too active might turn out to limit them, but it gets less shrill as the book goes on, Daphne starts to realize exactly how clever (and decent) Rupert is, and that was a joy... (Also the way the servants and other egyptians are portrayed can feel it's at risk of being a bit other-ing at the start, but their choices are portrayed as eminently sensible and it turns out it did not feel that way to me at all).
In all so very very good. The writing, the sense of humor, the plot and how it is worked together (well that is a coincidence but it makes perfect sense because of this and that..). And so much Egypt and egyptology at an earlier time than usual - it might be too much maybe for some readers but not for me, I loved every detail. And above all, Rupert. I like Daphne well enough but Rupert and his one liners, Rupert the fake himbo who out-himboes everybody else, ah, Rupert ...
Actually the reason I wanted to reread it as that I remembered Rupert as kind of the first himbo in modern romance novels (there is Freddy in Cottillion also), and actually he is not. He plays the himbo, all the time and everybody keeps telling him he is a dumb idiot which he truly is not. In other books i would mind that unfairness but he is so unconcerned by it all and just enjoying it, I will just go with the flow and enjoy it as well.
It's peak Loretta Chase and it's also peak golden age historical romance. Nothing like this is getting written and published right now (though I would argue mm romance is more interesting than mf romance right now...)
In all so very very good. The writing, the sense of humor, the plot and how it is worked together (well that is a coincidence but it makes perfect sense because of this and that..). And so much Egypt and egyptology at an earlier time than usual - it might be too much maybe for some readers but not for me, I loved every detail. And above all, Rupert. I like Daphne well enough but Rupert and his one liners, Rupert the fake himbo who out-himboes everybody else, ah, Rupert ...
Actually the reason I wanted to reread it as that I remembered Rupert as kind of the first himbo in modern romance novels (there is Freddy in Cottillion also), and actually he is not. He plays the himbo, all the time and everybody keeps telling him he is a dumb idiot which he truly is not. In other books i would mind that unfairness but he is so unconcerned by it all and just enjoying it, I will just go with the flow and enjoy it as well.
It's peak Loretta Chase and it's also peak golden age historical romance. Nothing like this is getting written and published right now (though I would argue mm romance is more interesting than mf romance right now...)
April 30, 2019
I'm not entirely sure why I ended up picking a book from the historical romance genre for a pick-me-up, as they don't generally earn more than an "I guess, it was fine" score from me, but something in here just worked.
I suppose most of its appeal stems from the uncanny resemblance to the 1999 Mummy movie , which is one of my all time favorite guilty-pleasures. I mean, getting to "see" Brendan Fraser let loose in full regency garb, or have Rachel Weisz prance around in flimsy white linnens is a definite plus. To say nothing of the steamy scenes...
In short: there is a lot of swooning, a truckload of highly unrealistic (not to mention uncomfortable) sex, some hilariously ominous villains, and for bonus points an adorably mischievious mongoose.
Score: 3/5 stars
I loved the aforementioned movie, and this book has also answered my pressing questions regarding the logistics for steamy, romantic sex in the desert: hell'a uncomfortable, but somehow still incredibly hot (aside the obvious reasons).
Recommended for fans of the genre, fans of the 1999 Mummy movie, and also people who're not too bothered by (in)accurate depictions of early XIXth century Egypt.
==================================
Review of book 1: Miss Wonderful
Review of book 3: Lord Perfect
I suppose most of its appeal stems from the uncanny resemblance to the 1999 Mummy movie , which is one of my all time favorite guilty-pleasures. I mean, getting to "see" Brendan Fraser let loose in full regency garb, or have Rachel Weisz prance around in flimsy white linnens is a definite plus. To say nothing of the steamy scenes...
In short: there is a lot of swooning, a truckload of highly unrealistic (not to mention uncomfortable) sex, some hilariously ominous villains, and for bonus points an adorably mischievious mongoose.
Score: 3/5 stars
I loved the aforementioned movie, and this book has also answered my pressing questions regarding the logistics for steamy, romantic sex in the desert: hell'a uncomfortable, but somehow still incredibly hot (aside the obvious reasons).
Recommended for fans of the genre, fans of the 1999 Mummy movie, and also people who're not too bothered by (in)accurate depictions of early XIXth century Egypt.
==================================
Review of book 1: Miss Wonderful
Review of book 3: Lord Perfect
December 11, 2021
Rupert Carsington, mi héroe. Sin complicaciones, dotación básica. En el Egipto de 1821 vive Dafne Pembroke, joven viuda, obsesionada por descifrar la escritura jeroglífica. Cuando tiene que ir al rescate de su hermano, recluta la ayuda de Rupert, un tipo alegre, lo mejor de la novela. Él pondrá el músculo y Dafne, la cabeza. Claro está que al final el no es tan simplón como parece. Y ella descubrirá que no es ninguna rata de biblioteca y que todos sus sentimientos apasionados y sexuales, que tan mal la hicieron sentir en el pasado, no son inadecuados ni poco femeninos. Un crucero por el Nilo aliñado con comentarios ingeniosos y mucho humor. Se la recomendaría a todos los amantes de la novela romántica con un tono desenfadado. Le pongo cuatro estrellas porque la primera vez que la leí puntué 8/10, pero vamos, que lo mismo vale cinco estrellas, porque es un clásico de los que merecen la pena.
Crítica completa, en mi blog.
Crítica completa, en mi blog.
October 21, 2024
IF YOU LIKE THE 1999 CLASSIC THE MUMMY THEN BUCKLE UP BABES THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU
June 24, 2025
read for Rake Appreciation Society book club
dnf
November 9, 2019.
DNF at 50%
I feel bad that I couldn't finish this one. But I was so BOOooooored. Mostly because I just didn't care about either MC. They were just meh and kinda annoying. Rupert was started in become more interesting, in a beta kinda way...
I don't know what to say. The writing was top notch as usual. The setting was exotic but kinda lampoony.
Daphne got on my nerves with her prudishness and low self esteem. I felt bad for her but didn't really care. I liked the way Rupert used patience to wait out her skittishness, but I found it disappointing that he only thought of it as a meaningless fling. Neither character was in touch with their feelings AT ALL. annoying...
I hear it gets better in the last quarter, but I find myself listening to music instead of listening to the rest of the audiobook.
I guess it just wasn't my cup of tea
DNF at 50%
I feel bad that I couldn't finish this one. But I was so BOOooooored. Mostly because I just didn't care about either MC. They were just meh and kinda annoying. Rupert was started in become more interesting, in a beta kinda way...
I don't know what to say. The writing was top notch as usual. The setting was exotic but kinda lampoony.
Daphne got on my nerves with her prudishness and low self esteem. I felt bad for her but didn't really care. I liked the way Rupert used patience to wait out her skittishness, but I found it disappointing that he only thought of it as a meaningless fling. Neither character was in touch with their feelings AT ALL. annoying...
I hear it gets better in the last quarter, but I find myself listening to music instead of listening to the rest of the audiobook.
I guess it just wasn't my cup of tea
March 16, 2022
4.5 stars Daphne and Rupert. Set in Egypt. Super smart heroine who is widowed. Her first husband was something else and she has self esteem issues because of him. Rupert is a fun hero who was willing to throw his body into a fight at a moments notice. I also enjoyed Rupert's father in this one.
My favorite part of this story was Rupert figuring out what that strange emotion he was feeling for most of the book when her brother told Rupert he was in love with Daphne.
My favorite part of this story was Rupert figuring out what that strange emotion he was feeling for most of the book when her brother told Rupert he was in love with Daphne.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2022
I’ll review when the HC strike ends.
June 5, 2025
Rake Appreciation Society Spring 2025 pick
March 23, 2009
I've owned this book for years and never read it. I'm not even certain how I got it! Last night I picked it up in my new love for Ms. Chase's writing. I loved it. I really enjoyed both characters and had a blast going with them on their journey. My favorite part that had me laughing so hard.
Page 163
"Good God!" she cried. She rolled off him, tugging down her clothing. "Are you mad?"
He blinked and dragged in air. "Well, yes," He said thickly. "Lust does that to a man."
"You thought we would--you would-- do...that in public?"
"I wasn't thinking about where we were." He said.
Her eyes widened.
"I'm a man," he said with what he was sure must be, in the circumstances, saintly patience. "I can do one or the other. Lovemaking or thinking. But not both at the same time."
She stared at him for a moment. Then she drew up her knees and folded her arms upon them and buried her face in her folded arms.
She did not pick up the rifle and knock him on the head with it.
Perhaps all was not lost.
"Somewhere else then?" He said hopefully.
Page 163
"Good God!" she cried. She rolled off him, tugging down her clothing. "Are you mad?"
He blinked and dragged in air. "Well, yes," He said thickly. "Lust does that to a man."
"You thought we would--you would-- do...that in public?"
"I wasn't thinking about where we were." He said.
Her eyes widened.
"I'm a man," he said with what he was sure must be, in the circumstances, saintly patience. "I can do one or the other. Lovemaking or thinking. But not both at the same time."
She stared at him for a moment. Then she drew up her knees and folded her arms upon them and buried her face in her folded arms.
She did not pick up the rifle and knock him on the head with it.
Perhaps all was not lost.
"Somewhere else then?" He said hopefully.
April 15, 2022
Funny reading. Lots of smiles reading this book. Love the parents machinations, eheh!
Funny adventure in Egypt with lot's of history, hieroglyphs (there was a time I wanted to be an Egyptologist, so, what's not to like 😍🤩😍🤩). Daphne was a "nice" scholar widow with a huge brain and a strong liking about hieroglyphs. She "purchases" Rupert (love, love this name!!!) Carrington to help her save her brother. Rupert is the 4th son of the Duke of Hargate and he is obviously handsome and strong, also has a boyish smile always in this eyes. He discovers a strong and fiercely woman in Daphne and he's fascinated with her mind, the way she thinks and acts. That's a nice approach and not so usual in this kind of books.
They survive a lot of incidents, some funny, some not so much and... you should read!
If Darius' book it's not the one that's following, whose that?! 😉
Funny adventure in Egypt with lot's of history, hieroglyphs (there was a time I wanted to be an Egyptologist, so, what's not to like 😍🤩😍🤩). Daphne was a "nice" scholar widow with a huge brain and a strong liking about hieroglyphs. She "purchases" Rupert (love, love this name!!!) Carrington to help her save her brother. Rupert is the 4th son of the Duke of Hargate and he is obviously handsome and strong, also has a boyish smile always in this eyes. He discovers a strong and fiercely woman in Daphne and he's fascinated with her mind, the way she thinks and acts. That's a nice approach and not so usual in this kind of books.
They survive a lot of incidents, some funny, some not so much and... you should read!
If Darius' book it's not the one that's following, whose that?! 😉
November 16, 2023
Another older heroine, twenty-nine? Oh Ms. Loretta Chase you crazy adventurous woman!
So the end of chapter one made me think of the movie "The Mummy" ooh I'm excited now.
I'm so excited with the reveal of what the main plot of this book is about: brother who the world thinks is an Egyptian scholar is kidnapped while his sister who is the Egyptian scholar teams with a man who she thinks is dumb but needs to be the brawn, search for both the brother and a treasure map stolen by a Frenchman who is an enemy of the smart, not dumb, brawn man. Whew! I like how the plot is laid out right away so now I can just sit back and enjoy the adventure. Bring on what I think is going to be an "Indiana Jones"/"The Mummy".
Loved the setting, so different then many regency stories out there. The author does a commendable job of describing Egypt and really taking the reader there. The setting stole the show for me a lot of the time and I lost myself to the adventure of it all.Because of all this adventure Daphne and Rupert's relationship took a backseat. Apparently nothing pleases me because here I am complaining about too much action when the previous three or four reviews I've complained of too much relationship and not enough action. Go figure.
When Rupert finally says to Daphne's brother when love is mentioned “Do you know,” Carsington said mildly, “I’ve been wondering what it was.” I couldn't help but grin like a fool. Such a perfect line for his character.And then Rupert's final declaration to Daphne:“But I liked you from the moment I first heard your voice,” he said, “when I had no idea what you looked like. I thought it delicious, the way you bargained for me, as though I were an old rug. Then I loved the way you looked at me. Then I loved the way you ordered me about. I loved your patient and impatient ways of explaining things to me. I love the sound of your voice and the way you move. I love your courage and your kindness and your generosity and your obstinacy and your passion.” He paused. “You’re the genius. What do you think that means?”So freaking adorable!
This book could so easily be made into a romantic/adventure movie (please do so!) and in fact it felt more like I was watching a movie than reading a book. Rupert was such a great character and definitely could be called my favorite beta male character ever. I loved how he dealt with the situations he was thrown into and how he kept humorously assuring Daphne he was ok with the fact she was brilliant. Daphne was drowned out by Rupert for me. She seemed nice with flashes of some real personality when Rupert tries to rile her up (loved that!) but a little cardboard cut-out. This was sooo very close to be a keeper but for some reason Rupert and Daphne didn't have sparking chemistry which drives me to read a story over and over again. I think if I was new to romance books or hadn't read very many this would have been a keeper. It's just because I have read so many books, with a huge to be read list still, and have a fair amount of keepers already that a book has to be pretty spectacular to crack into a top spot. If you're wanting a light hearted read with an adorable beta male character, Egyptian adventure, and liked the movie "The Mummy" this book is one you have to read.
B++
So the end of chapter one made me think of the movie "The Mummy" ooh I'm excited now.
I'm so excited with the reveal of what the main plot of this book is about: brother who the world thinks is an Egyptian scholar is kidnapped while his sister who is the Egyptian scholar teams with a man who she thinks is dumb but needs to be the brawn, search for both the brother and a treasure map stolen by a Frenchman who is an enemy of the smart, not dumb, brawn man. Whew! I like how the plot is laid out right away so now I can just sit back and enjoy the adventure. Bring on what I think is going to be an "Indiana Jones"/"The Mummy".
Loved the setting, so different then many regency stories out there. The author does a commendable job of describing Egypt and really taking the reader there. The setting stole the show for me a lot of the time and I lost myself to the adventure of it all.Because of all this adventure Daphne and Rupert's relationship took a backseat. Apparently nothing pleases me because here I am complaining about too much action when the previous three or four reviews I've complained of too much relationship and not enough action. Go figure.
When Rupert finally says to Daphne's brother when love is mentioned “Do you know,” Carsington said mildly, “I’ve been wondering what it was.” I couldn't help but grin like a fool. Such a perfect line for his character.And then Rupert's final declaration to Daphne:“But I liked you from the moment I first heard your voice,” he said, “when I had no idea what you looked like. I thought it delicious, the way you bargained for me, as though I were an old rug. Then I loved the way you looked at me. Then I loved the way you ordered me about. I loved your patient and impatient ways of explaining things to me. I love the sound of your voice and the way you move. I love your courage and your kindness and your generosity and your obstinacy and your passion.” He paused. “You’re the genius. What do you think that means?”So freaking adorable!
This book could so easily be made into a romantic/adventure movie (please do so!) and in fact it felt more like I was watching a movie than reading a book. Rupert was such a great character and definitely could be called my favorite beta male character ever. I loved how he dealt with the situations he was thrown into and how he kept humorously assuring Daphne he was ok with the fact she was brilliant. Daphne was drowned out by Rupert for me. She seemed nice with flashes of some real personality when Rupert tries to rile her up (loved that!) but a little cardboard cut-out. This was sooo very close to be a keeper but for some reason Rupert and Daphne didn't have sparking chemistry which drives me to read a story over and over again. I think if I was new to romance books or hadn't read very many this would have been a keeper. It's just because I have read so many books, with a huge to be read list still, and have a fair amount of keepers already that a book has to be pretty spectacular to crack into a top spot. If you're wanting a light hearted read with an adorable beta male character, Egyptian adventure, and liked the movie "The Mummy" this book is one you have to read.
B++
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