Well, what do I have here? A book that hinges on a real live Ancient Egyptian Curse. Normally, I would be rolling my eyes and making derisive noises, but in Who Will Take This Man, the silly plot actually works. Wonderful characters and a good dose of humor made this a very engaging read.

Philip Whitmore, Viscount Greybourne, was a pudgy, awkward, friendless youth, estranged from his father when he left England years before. After roaming around studying antiquities he’s become self-confident and experienced adventure and happiness. As the book begins, Phillip receives a message from his father ordering him to come home and marry; he is ill and dying and he wants an heir to the title. So Philip dutifully comes back laden with crates of antiquities, one of which is the Stone of Tears. The stone has laid a curse on Philip: if he loves a woman, she will fall down, get a headache, and die within two days.

Meredith Chilton-Grizedale (my vote for the the most awkward name of the year) is a matchmaker. When his father hires her to find a wife for Philip, she looks on this as a big boost for her career and finds him a most suitable match. But Philip is very honest, and when he tells the girl about the curse she elopes with someone else. Then Philip meets Meredith and falls for her, but she has a past that would make her the most unsuitable peeress ever. And there’s still the curse to consider.

Philip is a delightful hero. He had a lonely childhood, and as a chubby kid practically wore a “Kick Me” sign on his back. His travels have given him confidence and he has not let his past turn him into a sour hateful man. If anyone deserves to be a tortured, brooding hero, Philip does, but he is sunny and optimistic despite the curse that hangs over him.

Meredith is a delightful heroine. She is quite beautiful but feels her horrid past takes her permanently out of the marriage market. She is kind hearted as well. Her unconventional household consists of a former chimney sweep whom she rescued when his master threw him out in the gutter, and a former prostitute and her little daughter. Meredith yearns for respectability but is no Miss Priss. She is a warm and decent woman whom I would love to have as a friend.

The Ancient Curse that sets this book in motion works because the author doesn’t dwell on it. It’s in the background and periodically comes out to nudge the plot along. It also serves to set the stage for a spectacular climax. Normally, I am not a fan of this kind of thing at all, but in this book it did not bother me, and it worked well in the story.

The one part of the story that did not work at all was the relationship between Philip and his father. The reason behind the earl’s bad feelings for his son was silly and made no sense at all, and his sudden change from ogre to pussycat was too abrupt as well, but this is the only part of the book that was problematic.

Philip has a sister who is trapped in a loveless, abusive marriage. The author drops hints that Philip’s best friend is in love with her. Is this the set-up for a sequel? I certainly hope so. Jacquie D’Alesandro certainly has a knack for writing totally loveable characters, and anyone who can write an Egyptian Curse story and make me like it is a writer I want to read more of.