The Bride Hunt

This was part of a series. As I have read all three books and was pleased and had alot of laughs in the reading. if you have read any I would say read the rest if not read them all.

I loved this book! Prudence has to go to court to protect her father and the family newspaper, while at the same time keeping her identity a secret. The only part I didn't like ***SPOILER*** was when Gideon's ex showed up. I didn't really think that added to the plot at all. I would have been happier if it had been left out all together. Other than that, it was highly satisfactory.

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.

I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. I found the relationship between Prue and Gideon charming. I'm surprised other reviewers seem think the two characters aren't really well-matched, when I felt their spirited interaction was much more like romantic banter than Con and Max's fights in the first book. Prue and Gideon's relationship, while stormy, had a gentler undertone than Con and Max's constant biting. And, the courtroom drama ensured that I didn't put the book down until I finished it! If I have one quibble, it would be that the reader doesn't get enough of Gideon. He's a fascinating character, and I would have liked to have seen more from his point of view, as well as more of his courtroom flair. (I actually give this book 4 1/2 stars.)

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