I need to preface my review by saying that this is the first book I have read By Ella Quinn. The reason this is important is because this did not serve as a standalone story. This is book nine in the “Worthington” series. There is reference to many of the characters that were introduced in previous books. I got flooded in names and relationships of many of the secondary characters. I also had the feeling that I was reading only a part of a much larger theme. This made it difficult to hold my attention.

The writing style did not work for me. It seems to that the writing was too precise and proper for the time period, as though nothing could be inaccurate for the time period. I felt this caused the main characters to be porcelain dolls. They lacked depth.

The story is very low angst and lacking in steam. The main theme is whether Madeline decides to adhere to her mother’s wishes, or does she follow her heart. There’s not much meat here.

This would probably appeal to readers that have been following the series. This is not a good point to jump in and test the waters. There are too many back stories needed to understand family relations. I suggest you start at the beginning.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Husband List is the 2nd book in the Worthington Brides series, but it takes place concurrently with the previous one, so features all the same characters plus more from other series. Focusing on Madeline and Harry, it is an easy and entertaining love story without much drama and suspense but with lots of family interactions, noble deeds and a HEA.

This is the ninth in the Worthington series or second in the spinoff Worthing Brides series which ever way you count. I read the previous book, The Marriage List (Dec 2022), and this continues on with the same idea as that one. Marriage minded young women looking for the attributes they want in a husband. Lady Madeline Vivers wants a traditional life that someone of her status merits. Her mother would like her to marry a high title. Mr. Harry Stern is a recently elect MP and will inherit a Baronetcy.

Madeline is receiving the correct attention at balls and events from hirer titled gentleman. Harry pushes his courting forward during morning rides and discussing current politics concerning women being able to own and keep property. Will she choose the title or the man she likes? There isn’t much new here story wise. In fact it reads similarly to the previous book. Lot of details of rides, calling at houses, sending flowers, writing invitations or accepting them. It is very traditional and at times tedious. It isn’t a bad story but it is interchangeable with the last one I read. I did like the ease of the MCs talking together. There does get some passion but not till they are properly betrothed.

This is my fourth or more book by the author and they always get an average rating. They never inspire me to go back and read her catalog of previous books. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books, Zebra for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.

2 Stars! This is the second book in ‘The Worthington Brides’ series and can be read as a standalone. I did find this book confusing since I never read the previous book and haven’t read any books from ‘The Worthington’s’ series. So many secondary characters that just confused me while trying to read Madeline and Harry’s story. If you’ve read ‘The Worthington’s’ series, you’ll love this ‘Worthington Brides’ series as it continues with the same characters. I never read either series and couldn’t really get into this book. Some things are mentioned in this book that happened in the first book of this series and I was lost as to why it was happening since I never read that book. Basically, if you haven’t gotten invested in either of these series, you’ll be lost like I was. If you’ve read most or all of these series’, you’ll know who the people are, what is going on, and why it is all happening.
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*

Another wonderful read from Ms. Quinn. Harry and Madeline had not seen each other since they were children. He is now a Member of Parliament and moving to London. There is an immediate attraction between them. Madeline's mother wants her to marry into the nobility and not Harry. It is a fabulously entertaining story with low angst and one steamy scene.
This is part of a series and can be read as a stand-alone, however, most of the characters from the other books appear in this one, so I would recommend reading the others first.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. These are my opinions.

The Husband List by Ella Quinn is the ninth book in The Worthingtons. The series focuses on a widespread family made by marriages and family ties. Lady Madeline Vivers has drawn up a marriage list with her sisters for their adventure on the marriage mart. She is very conventional and wants a conventional marriage with two seasons in town and two on an estate, children and a husband. She wants a husband who loves her and sees her as an individual who can be successful.
Harry Sterns is conventional, except he is a politician and as such is always going to be meeting with people or other political needs. The problem is how much she enjoys being with him and how much he makes her pulse sing. Her family wants her to be happy and loved. Her mother wants her to marry a titled person no matter whether there is love. Madeline is determined to choose who is right for her. Harry might be the one person who understands her. Especially after her helping a youngster from the streets.
I love Ella Quinn’s characters. This family is a tight knit group of strong individuals with all sorts of solutions to bring people up to snuff. The Husband List by Ella Quinn is a great read.

I DNFed this at 30% because I'm just not invested at all and mostly bored reading it. I just prefer more plot happening when I read historical romances. The writing style also comes off as very prim and proper and detached and that just wasn't working for me, but I thought it was a well done version of that if that's the kind of writing that you enjoy in a historical romance.

Ella Quinn is one of my favorite authors! I will always recommend her books! The Husband List tells the story of two characters previously introduced by Quinn, Lady Madeline Vivers and Mr. Harry Stern. While this story stands alone, it will be easier to follow if you read The Worthington series.

If you are familiar with the works of Quinn, you know that Lady Madeline Vivers come from a large and boisterous family. However, Lady Madeline is unlike her family in that she wishes for a quiet, nonpolitical life. Enter Mr. Harry Stern who is a barrister and a newly minted MP. He is determined to make his success in parliament and with Lady Madeline.

This is an easy romance that everyone will enjoy!

This was a good book, but one that I wish I had read some more of the Worthington books beforehand! There were a lot of names, and it got kind of confusing throughout the read. I really enjoyed the book, but did feel a little lost at times.

I like the tropes in this book, and am definitely going to read the rest of the series, and then come back to this one!

Thanks to the publisher for a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The list will pave the way!

I must be frank. I was a bit surprised at the fairly ordinary plot of a young woman, Lady Madeline Vivers, in her first season, looking for a man with the required qualities of a husband from a list that she and her sisters had composed. Once I fell in with the pace, I became pleasantly aware of the tension in the story around the quest for the right suitor to become apparent.
A friend, Lady Merton (Dottie), visits the sisters with her brother, Mr Harry Stern, Member of Parliament for Bittleborough. Madeline wonders what a wife’s role would be in a MP’s life. Harry wonders about how someone like Madeline could fit into his life.
Of course by the time the plots Harry had my vote but would Madeline be of the same opinion. After all he wasn’t a Duke, something Madeline’s mother was angling for for her daughters. (That obsession is a story by itself.)
Then there’s Harry himself who is looking for a suitable wife but would Madeline be the one to assist him in his role as an MP?
As each privately wondered about what love looked like I was drawn into their personal deliberations.
Almost pedestrian in the way their relationship develops, yet a little gem which I greatly enjoyed.

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

This is the 9th book of The Worthingtons series, it can be read as stand alone. My first in this series and this book is good. Previous character appear a lot in this book with their backstory, it is give portrayal about previous book in this series. Madeline Season lead her to journey to find a husband, here I can see different between suitors. I enjoy the etique in this reading, how to ask for dance, how to do introduction and many more.

Thank you to NetGalley for provide this book, it is pleasure to review this book.

#TheHusbandList #TheWorthingtons #EllaQuinn #Kensington #ZebraBooks #NetGalley #ARC

Margaret and Harry are sick wonderful characters. Ella Quinn does a wonderful job of bringing the reader into her stories and her characters come alive. This book is no different. Readers will not want to put this book down.

This was disappointing one for me. I wanted to like this one because so many people have recommended the author to me. Unfortunately, I couldn't connect with the story, and I did not like the characters. I kept putting it down and forcing myself to finish, which is never a good sign. I am happy I did though because I wanted to be able to ascertain why I didn't vibe with the book, and I think it's because the style of writing isn't something I generally go for. However, that does not mean I do not see the appeal! I can tell why the author has been recommended to me. Just a shame that I did not enjoy it as much as they thought I would.

ARC provided by Kensington Books via NetGalley, and I have given my honest and voluntary review.

Madeline is looking for a husband who has all the requirements on her and her sister’s list. She also is feeling pressured by her mother to marry as high as she can. Try as she might, she cannot ignore the feelings she has for Harry. While Harry is not unrespectable, he certainly is not a duke. Harry feels she is perfect for him and does all he can to make her see that. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington Books for my honest review.

Lady Madeline Vivers and her two sisters have drawn up a list of qualities they require in a husband, all of which seem fairly reasonable to the modern reader. The most conventional of the sisters, Madeline just wants a home in the country, children and a dog, also her mother wants her to marry a nobleman. So the way her heart pounds when she is near the ambitious barrister turned MP Mr Harry Stern is rather unfortunate. But as Madeline steps out with a number of eligible suitors it seems that only Harry meets all her criteria.

For his part, Harry is looking for a woman to help him in his career, not a pampered member of the aristocracy, aside from his instant attraction to Madeline, he is also struck by her innate kindness and the way in which she helps those less fortunate than herself - perhaps she would be the ideal wife for a hard-working MP after all.

I think this could have been a fun novel. Unfortunately, not having read each and every one of the previous books in the Worthington series and its spin offs, I was totally adrift in a sea of cousins, second cousins, half-sisters and the like together with their spouses and their spouses' siblings. Actually it turns out that I have only read one previous book in the series, which probably added to my confusion because I expect I was remembering a different series with a similar cast of thousands (possibly Lisa Kleypas?). Added to which, this is clearly a trilogy about Madeline and her two twin sisters (Alice and Eleanor) where their stories run concurrently, hence there was a story about someone attacking Eleanor which was referenced vaguely and glossed over - presumably because it happened in the first book in the trilogy (The Marriage List - which I have just see is indeed Eleanor's story). All of which means there feels like very little actual plot concerning Harry and Madeline, they are just being tugged along by the juggernaut that is the Worthington saga (for reference I believe that Madeline, Alice and Eleanor have two older married sisters, a (possibly) older unmarried brother, and at least three or four younger siblings).

Pleasant enough but doesn't really work as a standalone.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[This review is for the ARC of The Husband List.]
The Worthingtons strike again! And by "strike", I mean they are generally a pleasant family who almost always get along, solve relationship issues with relative ease, and consistently have two-week betrothals. I did not give this book all five stars, but only because it didn't blow me away. Otherwise, it's an enjoyable and reliable read. Fans of previous Worthington novels will enjoy this one. However, unlike the others, neither of the lead characters are put in peril in this one, so it's an even lighter read, comparably. For readers new to the series, the story should be easy to follow since not a lot of plot happens and the main conflict is a simple one. The combined families in the story contain many adults, adult children, young children, and small children, so keeping track of them can get a bit confusing. The trick is to focus only on the leads and their siblings. It's important to note here that the author blurb, as of the writing of this review, is not accurate and is a little misleading, but isn't outright lying.

It's the beginning of the season and Lady Madeline Vivers and her sisters are out for the first time and expecting to wed before the end of the season. To stay on top of things, they make a list of qualities they want in a husband. Harry, Mr. Henry Stern, is a newly elected MP and family friend to Madeline's large family. Harry is planning to wed soon and Madeline is immediately on his radar after meeting her again for the first time as an adult. Madeline very quickly becomes close to Harry and spends a lot of time with him, but she is unsure how he feels about her or if she is attracted to him.

The main conflict of the story is that Madeline's mother, due to her own personal issues, practically demands that she wed someone who is titled. While Harry has every quality Madeline requires in a husband, is enjoyable to be around, has many titled family members, and is a thoroughly progressive and determined MP, he is not titled. Will Madeline marry an "okay" titled gentleman and hope for the best, or will she go with her heart?

As with Ella Quinn's other historical novels, many historical political/social issues are brought up and discussed by the characters, with the Worthingtons being on the right side of history. In this case, the main issues are child labor, debtor's prison, and women's property rights. As for steaminess, the Worthington novels are normally fairly light on steam, and this one is even lighter. There is one short and partially explicit sexual intercourse scene after the characters are betrothed, but other than that, Harry occasionally momentarily fantasizes about respectfully making love to Madeline and makes excuses to touch her casually whenever possible.

In conclusion, this book was as I expected it to be and I found it to be a pleasant palate cleanser in between more tension-filled novels. It was nice to visit the Worthingtons again and I look forward to future novels. Ella Quinn tends to publish books that happen concurrently, but featuring different leads, and it looks like this will be the case for future books in this series. Therefore, there are very minor spoilers for what I suspect will be future novels. I look forward to reading them as well.

The Worthington Brides is another great Ella Quinn series. The simultaneous timeline between The Marriage List and The Husband List is quite fun and entertaining! Each book is a stand-alone and can be enjoyed no matter which one is read first. Hopefully, Alice’s romance will be the same timeline as we read each ‘bride’s’ journey to their HEA. Ms. Quinn has a unique way of bringing all of the Worthington family into her books. Love it!

Madeline’s romance with Harry is adorable. Her biggest adversary is her mother. Mom’s do not always know best in this instance. It is enjoyable to see Madeline find her way as she tries to do as her Mom wants, being a dutiful daughter. If you are a Worthington fan, you know her brother Matt is her guardian. Madeline was raised with here ‘sisters’ Eleanor and Alice.

Harry is the perfect man for Madeline. He accepts, encourages and falls in love with her while sheltering a bit of insecurity as he tries to woo her. This is a great beach read for something lighthearted and fun. Looking forward to Alice’s romance!

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this novel and this is my freely given opinion.

I am rather heavily invested in the Worthington series since I have read it from the beginning. So continuing to read about the Carpenter-Worthington family as they grow and expand has become like wearing that warm cozy sweater, sitting by the warm fire, on the comfy couch, during a cold winter evening. It is familiar warm comfort.

This is the story of Madeline Vivers, the half sister of the Earl of Worthington, Matt from book 1. The timeline of this story is concurrent to that of Eleanor Carpenter, from the book prior to this one, the Marriage List. The two of them are making their come out concurrently with Eleanor's twin, Alice. Madeline is popular, as a beautiful, wealthy young lady, who is a member of a prominent Society family with many influential members. She is sought after by many men, but is conflicted when the one man she finds meets all the points on her list is Hugh Stern, the brother of Thea, Marchioness of Merton. But he is a mere mister, a new MP in the House of Commons, and the heir of a baronetcy. But he is far below the stature of what Madeleine's mother, the Lady Wolverton, and former Dowager Countess of Worthington, wishes for her daughter.

Madeline wishes to please her mother and allows other bachelors of note court her during the Season, but finds her heart is won by Hugh who is the only one who meets all her desires of having a man who would respect and listen to her, be and equal to her, share and aid in her concerns, and also be a willing and active member of her large family.

This is a sweet story, and it involves actively many members of the expanded family, from the previous stories and other books in the broader Ella Quinn world. In fact, because it occurs concurrent to the story of Montagu and Eleanor, there are points where, if you have not read The Marriage List, it feels like to skips over large parts of the story (and it does, because it is the story of the Marriage List!). But it was enjoyable for me to read about the growth of the family and their wonderful relationships - except the conflict with Lady Wolverton, the mother, and her ill conceived ideas of who her daughter should marry. That sets up the rather mild drama of this rather gentle and sweet love story.

My interest is quite piqued however by the conflict between Alice and her nemesis/suitor, St. Albans - a strong back story in this and the previous book. So I am definitely willing to dip my toes back into the Worthington-Carpenter world again... and probably over again, since there are several other siblings yet to come of age.

... and always, I adore the Great Danes ...

3.25 stars out of 5

A wonderful Regency-era romance featuring the Worthington family, this time focusing on Madeline, who has always been a little bit quieter and more conservative than her flashier siblings. Readers who follow this author will not be disappointed! Fans of Eloisa James, Lisa Kleypas, and Julia Quinn will love it too.

Regency Romance…This book was a too quick with the love story of Lady Madeline and Harry Stern. They know each other from family. I did like all the family interaction but felt this book was missing something. They fell in love quickly but did not even kiss until near the end of the book. I didn’t feel the connection of the h&h but more as friends who become involved. This surprised me since I always enjoyed this author. I would recommend this to other people because this author is good and worth getting to know.


**I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.