The Bachelor List

Duncan Sisters, Book 1

By: Jane Feather

Narrated by: Angele Masters

Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

In this exhilarating new trilogy from New York Times best-selling author Jane Feather, a trio of spirited sisters secretly run a thriving matchmaking service. But these three good catches of impeccable pedigree have little interest in matrimony themselves - until, one by one, they meet their matches.

Constance Duncan may be the eldest of three sisters, but she has more important things on her mind than finding a husband - for herself, at any rate. Through the Personals services of her popular newspaper, The Mayfair Lady, Constance connects lonely hearts. But her own heart lies in her work, and nothing will distract her from it - until she finds herself irresistibly drawn to a man of disastrously different views.

Max Ensor is a politician whose outmoded attitudes outrage her - even as his powerful presence intrigues her. Clearly there is only one thing to do with such an exasperating man: convert him! Little does Constance know that Max has the same plan in mind for her.... What follows is a fiercely passionate duel in which two headstrong people discover that, differences or not, sometimes one gender cannot - will not - do without the other.

©2004 Jane Feather (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

It's official. I'm hooked.

First, let me say that Angele Masters is my favorite reader of all time. Especially her British accent. I first found her when I listened to Deanna Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell series. She just has such great inflection, pacing and tone. I could listen to her all day. Her voice entertains you!

Especially with this book, which has 3 sisters as main characters, relatively close in age. She has distinct voices for each one, and all were very natural. I could tell who was speaking at any given time. She's so good.

Now on to the book. I tend to always like my historical romances to also have a mystery componant, like a murder. Very rarely do I read a straight historical romance such as this book. Because Angele Masters was the reader, I gave it a shot. I was NOT disappointed. The book trots along at a nice pace and, you never get bored. It is the perfect length, and the perfect amount of steamy parts without being "smutty." It also has a hefty dose of humor, which Angele Masters delivers with utter perfection.

I love all of the characters, especially the Sisters, and their interactions, and I simply cannot wait to listen to the next book in the series.

Fun story

Wonderful story. Found the story very humorous. Narrator was enjoyable and did well .

Disappointing

The Bachelor List includes no actual bachelor list which sets the tone for the novel.

It’s a novel about people who claim to be one thing but are not really. The main characters Constance, Prudence, and Chastity are suppose to be feminist working towards women’s suffrage but it seems more like a hobby than an actual life avocation.

I didn’t hate the book, the way I hated or disliked other books I gave 2 stars to, but there was a lack of spark to the book. I kept thinking that there was no sense of urgency throughout the story when towards the end we finally got something but even that went out in a whimper, instead of the bang it should have been.

I won’t spoil the scene but the protagonists come to a head with a conflict but instead of having it out and discussing their differences the author has the heroine act completely childish and immature by dumping a vase of flowers on top of the hero’s head while he’s trying to argue with her. And while the hero is pretty much in the wrong this action might just reinforced to the hero his misogynistic beliefs about women. But this is ignored and after that there’s no resolution to their differences of opinions. And this is suppose to be a huge thing.

The entire thing felt unresolved and glossed over. It’s very frustrating because what could have been an interesting story about women seeking their independence at the turn of the 1900’s was just a newly-mouthed pseudo feminist story that really wasn’t what it was advertised to be.

This is my first book by this author and I’m not sure I would read any more of her work.