The Husband List

The first historical romance by Evanovich and Kelly (Love in a Nutshell) shines with the glitter of New York City in “the advanced year of 1894.” American heiress Caroline Maxwell doesn’t want much in life, just independence and passion in a marriage. But that’s too much to ask of high society, especially as her mother is set on marrying her off to a mysterious English duke. Caroline prefers her brother’s close friend Jack Culhane, who’s in no hurry to wed and doesn’t fit her mother’s idea of a husband. The authors paint a clear picture of the luxurious lives of the ultra-wealthy: cycling in Central Park, scampering around Newport’s Cliff Walk, and taking tea in London’s finest drawing rooms. Whether running away from her governess or from the duke, captivating Caroline maintains her feisty streak, and her straightforward character is fully fleshed out with intelligence and humor. Caroline’s romantic kisses with Jack produce more sexual tension than most bodice-rippers, and an older couple’s rekindled romance adds a sweet touch. (Jan.)