The Husband List

By: Janet Evanovich, Dorien Kelly

Narrated by: Lorelei King

Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Based on the family from the best-selling Love in a Nutshell, the story of an heiress longing to marry for love or not at all. From the New York Times best-selling 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.

©2012 The Gus Group (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

It was ok... probably won’t go back to

It was only ok. I think that this is not that type of book that should have been narrated by Lorelei King, who is awesome in Evanovich’s other books. Her brassiness and voices really took me out of the story- it didn’t even fit the outgoing nature of the main character. I guess I just really didn’t feel like I was in the late 19th century. A different narrator could have made a difference on this one.

miserable attempt at a Gothic Romance

Any additional comments?

I'm a huge fan of Janet Evanovich, but this one was really disappointing. I know she will never win a Nobel Price for great literature, but her books are generally fun fluff that provide entertainment and great (rather mindless) escapism. However, The Husband List was just wrong. Wrong historical accuracy, wrong dialog and wrong story line. Lorelei King's reading is great for the Stephanie Plumb series, but didn't sound right for this one. I'll continue to read and enjoy Janet Evanovich, but will read the summary more carefully from now on before I buy the next one.

Who wrote this book???

What was Janet Evanovich thinking when she co-wrote this book... Do not waste a credit. What a disappointment.

Wasn't a fan.

This book sounded very interesting, but it wasn't. It was a formulaic romance book. Bummer.

Boring Novel of Manners

Would you try another book from Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly and/or Lorelei King?

I love Janet Evanovich's quirky characters and Lorelei King's spot-on narrations, but even these trusted names cannot overcome this novel's lackings.

What was most disappointing about Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly ’s story?

Most disappointing was the lack of these quirky characters and the predictable, lifeless plot.

Have you listened to any of Lorelei King’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

King's narration attempted to breathe life into the work, but even a ventilator and defibrillator couldn't have successfully revived this text.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I was disappointed in the story. I tried to recast my expectations for Evanovich's usual genre and pretend I was listening to a bad Jane Austin, but even that didn't make this a good listen.

Any additional comments?

For listeners who enjoy the novel of manners, with it's overemphasis on adhering to the constraints of society, this might be enjoyable. But if you expect the quick wit, colorful characters, zany plot, and quick pace of other Evanovich novels in contemporary settings, give this one a pass.

So disappointed

I am speechless. I have always enjoyed Janet's books, even the somewhat bizarre "Wicked" series. But this one seems to be so contrived. The plot is unoriginal, the narration is poor, Lorelei King even makes a mistake, says "what--oh" and then reads it right. I have never heard that in an audio book before. I just didn't like anything about this book. But in order to be fair, I listened to the whole thing. It took me two tries to get it done.

Slow, tedious, uninvolving, juvenille

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

HS and JR HS girls...

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The performance wasn't the core issue

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment, Boredom

Any additional comments?

Slow, tedious, uninvolving, juvenille. Pre-Ordered. Didn't know it was going to be intended as a "period piece"... found it unlistenable!

Boring

I love Janet Evanovich, but this was the longest, most boring book ever written by her.

I Hated this book!!!!

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

An interesting plot

What was most disappointing about Janet Evanovich and Dorien Kelly ’s story?

The whole book was disappointing, not at all like Janet Evanovich's usual books.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Lorelei King?

Love her as a narrator

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

No

As subtle as a battleship in dry dock

I only finished it to see if the uninspiring storyline could be redeemed at the very end. Didn't happen.