Customer Reviews

The Bride Hunt (Duncan Sisters Trilogy)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I truly enjoyed the first in this series - "The Bachelor Hunt", the story of the Duncan sisters and their practical approach to love, romance and marriage. But this one was even better.

The sisters are trying to hold their family out of poverty by running a matchmaking service in 19th London, while producing a strongly suffragist scandal sheet called "The Mayfair Lady". Sister Prudence must retain Sir Gideon Malvern when the paper is sued for libel. Of course Gideon and Prudence immediately set sparks off each other, but he feels his romantic suit will come to cropper because the civil suit is hopeless. Prudence cannot pay his solicitor's fees, so she talked Gideon in to accept the matchmaking services instead. Of course, romance will ensue!

It's amusing, witty and utterly delightful. Refreshing period for hitorical romance going against the long (and ridiculous) thought that this more "modern" historical turns off readers.

While their oldest sister Lady Constance is on her honeymoon, Siblings Prudence and Chastity Duncan continue to publish The Mayfair Lady. They do so to honor their deceased mother, founder of the paper, and to bring in money to cover their father's wastrel ways.

However, Falstaff, Harley and Greenwold law firm sues the anonymous owners of the Mayfair for defamation of character having slandered their client Earl of Barclay. Needing a barrister to defend them, Pru as the paper's business person, dresses to hide her beauty, visits attorney Gideon Malvern. He informs her she deserves the libel suit. Angry at his dismissal, Pru lashes out at Malvern, who sees the beauty and brains hidden behind the spinster garb. As the lawyer and the client fall in love, he tries to get the case tossed out without the court seeing any of the Duncan sisters, who cannot afford the scandal of being the authors of the Mayfair.

Like the first novel (see Con's tale, THE BACHELOR'S LIST) the second Mayfair sibling romance is a fun tale starring delightful assertive females walking a thin line. Malvern is a wonderful protagonist and the trio of females ganging up on aristocratic England is pleasure to follow. As their father becomes aware of the fiscal mess he caused, readers will gain immense pleasure from this charmer (in spite of the back stabbing abhorrent Barclay) and look forward to Chastity closing out the so far terrific trilogy.

Harriet Klausner

Has Ms. Feather become lazy? Is she trying to test her loyal fans to see if we will buy her books even if she makes no effort to write a good book? I have read every one of Ms. Feather's books and this trilogy is terrible. Where is the author who wrote Beloved Enemy one of the best romances I have ever read? I read The Bachelor List and started the Bride Hunt but couldn't get past the first few pages. The Duncan sisters are too unlikeable and the heros are 1 dimensional. How could Constance and Max from Bachelor List even like each other let alone fall in love. I can't overlook the dishonesty of the sisters who in today's world would be in jail for misrepresenting themselves as a charity! In the future I will be more wary of Ms. Feather's books.

I've read a good number of Jane Feather's books and this is not my favorite, though it is worth reading; if I had to do it over, I would have gotten it from the library and not bought it, since I don't think it will be on my reread shelf. It is the second in the Duncan Sisters Trilogy, but was actually the last one that I read; I don't remember what I thought about the first book, The Bachelor List, (I have ready a lot historical romances) but I greatly enjoyed the third, The Wedding Game.

Setting: England, 1906
Sensuality rating: 5 (a couple kissing scenes, one love scene, all were well-paced within the story and authentic)

PROS:
(1) The chemistry between the hero (Sir Gideon Malvern) and the heroine (Honorable Prudence Duncan) was good; their personalities clashed immediately, but it is fun to watch their relationship develop and I think they were a good pairing
(2) Constance, Prudence, and Chastity (the three Duncan sisters) are endearing and their affection for each other is always evident; they care for one another and for their father, and they really come across as three sisters whom you would enjoy being friends with
(3) Of course, the hero is important and I have to say I liked Gideon, despite his somewhat-authoritarian know-it-all attitude; he has a good heart, his relationship with his daughter is endearing, and seeing him vulnerable at times is irresistible!
(4) As mentioned above, Gideon has a daughter (9-year-old Sarah) who lives with him and not his ex-wife (remember, early 1900s so although divorce is not at all common, it's not completely unheard of); he comes off as a good father, he cares for Sarah greatly and doesn't have an oppressive view of women's roles (Sarah attends a very good school, her governess talks to her about women's suffrage, etc.).
(5) The Bride Hunt is a quick read and doesn't bog you down or grow tedious; the story is fast-paced, entertaining, and I became attached to the characters.

CONS:
First, there were NO major issues, but there's always something you can say, so ...
(1) The fact that the sisters keep Lord Duncan in the dark about the family finances annoys me: he's a grown man, so I really think they should tell him the truth, have him face facts, and not just try to stay one step ahead. We hear many times that this is what Lady Duncan would have done (their mother passed away) and would want them to do, but I was bothered.
(2) Also regarding Lord Duncan, I was annoyed he is shown to consistently support Lord Barclay. The story is that Lord Barclay has raped women working in his household and when they get pregnant he throws them out with nothing - if this were true, I doubt he is pleasant in all other ways, so how does Lord Duncan not see his "friend" is a horrible person? Also, how do the sisters not get annoyed that their father is friends with a rapist? This was inconsistent, and the only reason they were made to continue being friends was because it was necessary for the plot later on (can't say more).

Part two of a three-part series, the Bride Hunt brings together two very unlikely characters. Common enough plot device - but in this case you really just wonder if they'll end up hating each other in a year or so. This book was definitely written with more care and consideration of the plot than The Bachelor List (part one of the series), so kudos for that. I think that with about 50 more pages I might have been made to believe that these two belong together - but ultimately, there just wasn't enough. I do have to admit that I'll be out in April to buy the third installment - the male character (briefly revealed in this book) looks a bit different, and interesting. Let's hope third time is a charm.

Jane Feather's second book of the Matchmaker's trilogy revolves around middle sister Prudence. The Mayfair Lady, the magazine published by the sisters, faces a lawsuit brought on by their father's friend the Earl of Barclay. Constance, Prudence and Chastity loose no time finding a barrister to defend them in court, they set their sights on Sir Gideon Malvern, who is supposed to be one of the best lawyers in London. Gideon finds himself intrigued by middle sister Pru, and when she offers to find him a bride as part of his fees, he decides to take the case.
While the book was well written, Feather never managed to give Gideon any depth as a character. Little was said about his past, and while reading about his clashes with Prudence was fun, there was little romance involved. Feather manages to wonderfuly recreate the period, yet the novel reads more like a Grisham book than an historical romance. If you are looking for a warm romantic story, "The Bride Hunt" is not for you. I can't say I did not like the book, but it surely wasn't what I expect from a romance.

There were three story lines in this book, and none of them were very interesting. The story of the three sisters' relationship to each other and their matchmaking service had the potential to be amusing (as a similar story was done so well in Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice), but instead was lifeless and plodding. The second story about the civil suit and trial was trite and unrealistic. And the third story, the romance between Gideon and Prudence, suffered from a lack of development. They didn't spend much time together as a couple because Prudence was always with her sisters or working on the newspaper or trial.

Altogether, this book put me off Jane Feather. I doubt that I'll try another one of Feather's books anytime soon, if at all.

The 2nd installment of the Duncan sisters was enjoyable and Prudence seems to be the "Middle" child in the first book but showed herself to be very likeable in this book. However the author plays up Prudence to be the smart, thoughtful and "leader" so to speak, but she totally misses obvious things right in front of her. Maybe love blinded her from reality.. Either way the 2nd book is actually my 2nd fav. the 1st book was the best in my opinion. I really enjoy this set and keep it on hand to reread.

One of the most boring book I've read this year. The story revolves around 3 sisters, who all seemed just uninteresting. People you wouldnt care to know and there was way too much interaction between these gossipy sisters.....This book was a bit like regency chic lit, except it was really boring and without a hint of humor.

Meet a heroine who is a book-wormy type, who wears glasses and who prefers dull, serious clothing. How very dull. The hero seemed interesting enough, and yet again unexciting because I didn't believe in their chemistry.

If you enjoy what Stephanie Laurens is writing these days, you might actually like this book. I grab her books to read when I am trying to fall asleep. Yes, its that engaging.

Good romance novel, but read all of the other books and kind of got tired of it. Space it out and you have a good series of novels.