Customer Reviews

The Bachelor List

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Set at the beginning of the 1900s, "Bachelor List" is the first installment in a trilogy that focuses on the exploits of the unconventional Duncan sisters who own (secretly) a women's newspaper the "Mayfair Lady." The sisters are all members of Society so that their reputations would be ruined if anyone were to ever learn about their involvement with a newspaper that is slightly radical in tone and that discusses politics and campaigns actively for women's suffrage. Busy with putting out the newspaper, running their newly formed matchmaking enterprise, and trying desperately to keep their family finances afloat, the sisters have no time for romance. But all this is about to change. First up is eldest sister, Constance Duncan's story. Constance's heart was broken when her fiance was killed in battle at Mafeking, and she thinks that she's put all thoughts of romance behind her. That is until she decides to cross verbal swords with politician Max Ensor. He, of course, views all suffragettes as troublemakers, and suspecting that Constance is a member of the Suffrage Movement, has decided to use her in order to discover what these rabble rousers are up to; while Constance has decided to see if she can manipulate Max into seeing things her way. What neither of them counted on was the instant and compelling attraction that each would feel for the other, or on how this attraction would impact on their differing political agendas...

Unfortunately for me, "Bachelor List" failed to live up to it's promise. The book was actually structured around a rather novel and interesting premises: a trio of intelligent and resourceful sisters who are passionately devoted to furthering the cause of women's suffrage and how they try to achieve their goals using cloak and dagger methods because of all the hostility that much of Society has for the suffrage movement. But the authour failed to develop this theme adequately enough for me. (Perhaps I expect too much?) Max behaved in a condescending manner towards Constance from start to finish, which really put me off him; and while Constance did flash her eyes at him everytime he said something stupid, she also let him get away with far too much in my book. Max didn't believe in women's suffrage at the beginning of the book, and doesn't really change his mind or stand about this issue by the time the book ends. And while this was a daring approach for a romance novel, what I had banked on was for him to realise how wrong he was and change. As it stood, I was left wondering as to whether or not Max and Constance would be able to work through their political differences. And truth to tell it wouldn't at all be difficult to forsee a not so happily ever-after ending in the future if one character doesn't have a change of heart soon.

But my main disappointment with the book was that I really wanted to read a ROMANTIC novel -- not one about fervent sexual and sensual need -- but one about the meeting of minds and souls. I didn't really think that this was achieved in this novel at all. But that's just my take on things.

I really loved this book. The first page hooked me and I was a goner from there. Constance, Prudence, and Chastity are very well-developed characters that make you feel as if you know them personally. The story is very good with secret newspapers, self-indulgent papas, and a rather explosive relationship with a parliment member. I rather good read. I enjoyed every minute.

i had an overkill of romances and stopped reading them for a while in favour of biographies when i picked up The Bachelor List- it was fantastic after all that serious reading it was fun and fabulous.. quite a few people didn't seem to like, but to me, it was the perfect thing on a lazy afternoon or a stressful day at work- perfect!

I like the writer's style of prose, and have enjoyed other stories by her. There were some things about this book that bothered me, however.

From the start, the heroine and her sisters are at what I thought was a tea room - drinking tea and eating pastries. Then one of the women is asked to DANCE. That seemed odd.

The heroine dates - as in going on dates to restaurants and parties with a man.

Maybe that was done during this time period, but I don't think it was done by members of the England upper class.

The story is written in what I've come to think of as a Regency style - but it takes place in the late 19th century.

I did like the characters, but did feel that they jumped into bed too quickly and too casually.

That sounds like I didn't like the book - but I did! The writer has a very smooth style of writing. I did enjoy the feminist viewpoint - it was refreshing.

Do I pick up books like these? I know they will be less-than-snappily written and very predictable. And yet...I did read this in virtually one sitting. And yet...I did go out immediately and buy the second book in the series. And yet...I will go out and buy the third! So, I guess Feather can say, "mission accomplished"! I do like the fact that someone can write a historical romance about other periods than the Regency,medieval times, or (shudder) the Old West. And the sufferagette angle is wonderful as well. But holy cow, are we really expected to believe these three went out and just got rid of their virginity? And that Max (and the other men they are likely to run up against) would be OK with that? I like a bit of fantasy, but it really needs to be grounded in reality! The dialog comes and goes, sometimes sharp and well-done, often sloppy. And enough about the food already!

I know it's the first of three books, and maybe that's why things seem either resolved far too quickly and easily, or not resolved at all. And as far as Max and Constance go, I just didn't like their chcaracters, individually or as a couple. There is nothing romantic about this book. The characters go from "let's use each other" to "happily ever after" for no apparent reason. They are both more calculating than anything else.

On the positive side, the relationship among the sisters is similar to that of the sisters in "Valentine," and is quite pleasant. That's the only thing that makes me look forward to the next two books, as the other two sisters seem much more likeable than Constance. Also, anyone who's been complaining that Feather's last few books were too violent, too deep, may enjoy this book. There's no backstory of dangerous intrigue or life-threatening situations going on here (although, the possibility for one in future books is offered through one of the loose threads that isn't tied up at the end).

Overall, I love Feather's intelligent writing, but these characters put me off.

Having read a few of Jane Feather's earlier books, I know that she can write a moving, fun and thoughtful book.
The last two that I bought,'Venus' and The 'Bachelor List' I was disappointed and really wanted my money back, because I didn't finished either one. It seemed that the book was written for the porn crowd. I like a spicy book, but don't care for the female protagonist as a slut, and her gentleman 'friend' thinking that it is acceptable. The plot is transparent even for the genre, and the situations are not plot or charater driven, they are contrived and not in historical context. As I was reading the first couple of chapters I was thinking that Feather was more concerned to 'hook' you into her next two books than set the stage for this one. I will not waste my money on another Feather book.

I am a huge fan of Jane Feather and have read every single book she's written. I know she is capable of writing fabulous intricate love stories. Her Kiss series and Beloved Enemy are on my favorites list. This book is terrible. The sisters are silly and selfish and not believable for this time period. The romance between Max and Constance was too rushed and seemed more a sexual affair than a love story. It seemed an afterthought that all of sudden at the end they suddenly declare they are love. Max seemed more a secondary character than the lead. We had too much of the sisters eating and the book seemed more focused on their relationship than the budding romance between Constance and Max.
We never got to know Max at all. Where did he come from? What was
he doing after the war and before he became an MP?

I started reading the second book in the series but gave up after the first few pages as it seems identical to the first book.

Please Ms. Feather give us another of your wonderful historical romances.

(Contains Spoilers) The plot has already been outlined here so I won't repeat it. I usually love Jane Feather's writing but I had a difficult time finishing this repulsive novel. Mainly I wanted to see if Ms. Feather could redeem her distasteful characters. She did not.

I had so many problems with this book. The biggest one centered on the three sisters relationship with their father. They are supposed to be enlightened women, avid supporters of women voting and equal rights, yet they treat their father like a five year old, misbehaving child. He has sunk them in debt due to a foolish investment and instead of confronting him about it they scheme, lie, and hide their lack of money for simple household expenditures. They serve leftovers to themselves so their father can feast on his favorite meals. When he wants to order an expensive wine they lie and tell him the dealer is out of it. When he mentions the shabbiness of the sitting room they tell him they like it that way instead of telling him there is no money to refurbish. When he buys a car he can't afford they sabotage the car so he'll take it back by his own choice. They are actually willing to sell their mother's diamonds rather than confront their father with the truth. All these acts were disgusting to me. These were supposed to be educated women? The whole point of their risking their reputations writing their political paper was to support the family and keep their father out of debtor's prison. Why are they responsible for his debt? Why is he allowed to remain ignorant of their difficulties? If they believe in their cause--the equality of men and women--why would they allow their father to behave like this? Every time they did something deceitful to protect him from reality I was disgusted. But supposedly this was what their mother wanted. After all, she had pulled the wool over his eyes for years, manipulating and deceiving her husband to "protect his peace." Again, I can't believe this is how women with their forward thinking beliefs would behave. And that is just the beginning of these women's manipulative schemes and deceptions. Their behavior constantly left me repulsed.

Besides their political paper, The Mayfair Lady, they also decide to begin a matchmaking business. Instead of simply charging the clients a fee for their service they decide to tell them they can give a donation to a charity for indigent spinsters. The "charity" the donation goes to will be them. How they conclude that this deception is moral I really don't know. They look down their nose with mockery at just about everyone in the book yet think themselves superior despite constant manipulation and deceit. They never see a disconnect between their beliefs and their behavior but the reader certainly will.

Equally disgusting, these imminently "superior" women jointly decided to discard their virginity after their mother's death and picked out some "decent men for whom they felt liking and attraction" for the deflowering. These men are never mentioned again. I guess those relationships didn't go anywhere. Constance allows Max to walk in on her bath (with no invitation whatsoever) a week after she meets him and they jump in bed without any thought or discussion or more important, any romantic buildup, to the matter. I couldn't help but feel like she was behaving like some kind of light skirt and lost all respect for her. I just don't believe that men and women behaved this way in that era.

Both Max and Constance have in mind to use each other to further their own goals. Their inconvenient lust gets in the way of their dislike for each other's agendas but they manage to jump in bed regularly despite rarely having a conversation where they didn't insult or snipe at each other, or end up furious. You certainly won't see a believable progression from their initial dislike to marriage in this novel. They jump in bed every chance they get but there is little development of either character and what little you do see is not likable. Predictably, Max finally betrays her to serve his own agenda, she overreacts with typical female emotionalism and tries to ruin his career and on the next page they marry. I doubt they live happily ever after.

This is a great book! Per some of the other comments, the three books really do flow together and this one does not end with a resolution. That is the entire point of a trilogy to keep the story going. I Loved Constance and Max. Constance is a stronge willed woman who was nothing like women of her time. Max is pretty realistic to the traditional man of his era. Both have to compromise to make their relationship work.