The Husband List by Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly

Title: The Husband List
Author: Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly
Blurb:
Based on the family from the bestselling Love In A Nutshell, the story of an heiress longing to marry for love or not at all

From The New York Times bestselling writing duo Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly, comes the story of a young woman’s search for true love. Caroline Maxwell would like nothing more than to join her brother, Eddie, and his friend, Jack Culhane, on their adventures. While Jack and Eddie are off seeing the world, buying up businesses and building wildly successful careers, Caroline's stuck at home frightening off the men her mother hopes will ask for her hand in marriage.  When her mother sets her sights on the questionable Lord Bremerton as a possible suitor, Caroline struggles with her instincts and the true nature of her heart.  She longs for adventure, passion, love, and most of all . . . Jack Culhane, an unconventional Irish-American bachelor with new money and no title. A completely unacceptable suitor in the eyes of Caroline's mother. But Caroline's dark hair, brilliant eyes and quick wit have Jack understanding just why it is people fall in love and get married.

Set in New York City in 1894, The Husband List is an American gilded age romantic mystery. It evokes memories of the lavish lifestyles and social expectations of the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers—a time when new money from the Americas married Old World social prestige and privilege. Dresses by Worth, transcontinental ocean voyages, lavish parties, a little intrigue, and a lot of romance await in, The Husband List.

The Husband List releases on January 8, 2013!  Available now for pre-order on Amazon!
 
Links:
The Husband List on Goodreads

The Husband List on Amazon

 Kala's Review:

I received a free copy of this book via the "Goodreads First Reads" program. When I signed up for it, I didn't realize it was set in the late 1800's (my mistake for not reading the blurb!). Generally I'm not a big fan of the genre, but I have enjoyed some of Janet Evanovich's work in the past and I got the book for free so I decided to give it a go.

I'm so glad I did!

One of the reasons I don't read a lot of historical romances is that I just find the language to be too flowery for my taste, but The Husband List did not suffer from that fate at all. It was a quick and easy read with likable fun characters and witty dialogue.

I adored the main female lead, Caroline. She was one of those debutantes who is being forced into it by her parents and she wants nothing more than to be young and experience life. Her brother's best friend Jack is a traveled Irishman, rich, but without a title and completely unacceptable according to her mother. Her mother has picked out an "almost" Duke for her that Caroline hates.

Caroline is hilarious throughout the novel, and I loved her dialogue in nearly every scene she's in. She's funny and smart and has rapier wit. Her directness surprised Jack, and me, but I loved seeing his reaction to it. He was intrigued by her at first, and he couldn't help but fall for her.

The plot line wasn't original by any means, but these two authors managed to make it fresh and fun still. I enjoyed this book so much that I may take a peek into a few other historical romances to see if perhaps I'm missing out on others like this. Highly recommend!

4 out of 5 stars.


Link to Kala's review on Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/436559399