Unwrapping: Review of THE HUSBAND HUNT by Lynsay Sands

Having read the first two books in Lynsay Sands' Madison Sister series, THE COUNTESS and THE HEIRESS, I eagerly awaited the last book, Lisa's story, THE HUSBAND HUNT.  I was not disappointed.  After nearly a year of waiting, release day came on February 28, 2012 but I still had to wait for my copy to arrive even though I had pre-ordered it. When it did, I inhaled the book.  Have you ever noticed that reading a book or seeing a movie is like Christmas? The anticipation is so great and then [snapping fingers] it's over. The book is read, the movie watched or the presents opened.  Well, reading The HUSBAND HUNT was worth waiting for.

Blurb for THE HUSBAND HUNT by Lynsay Sands:

Let the hunt begin…
Lisa Madison wants a husband, and she has just the candidate in mind: Robert Langley. Trouble is, the infuriating man insists on seeing her as the impish girl she once was—even as every other gentleman in London has taken notice of her womanly…charms. When her beauty lands her in danger, it’s Robert who comes to the rescue…only to announce his affections are not of the romantic variety!

Robert saw enough sorrow in his parents’ union to know he wants nothing to do with marriage, which is exactly what he’ll be trapped into if he acts on his desire for the irksome siren. And then Lisa does what Robert least expects: gives up on him! As feigned indifference gives way, blistering passion burns at last. But just before the pair can give in to hard-won bliss, an enemy with unfinished business lurks threatening to destroy them both.

                        *                         *                          *                         *                          *

If you read the first two books in the series then you already know about Lisa Madison, her precocious nature and her infatuation for her neighbor, if you haven't then let me fill you in. Lisa is the youngest of the Madison sisters. Both her older sisters, Christiana and Suzette are happily married with their own stories behind them (read the first two books to learn their stories).  Lisa is, and always has been, in love with their neighbor and good friend, Robert Langley. He, on the other hand, still looks upon her as a little girl and treats her as such, even worse, he treats her like a little sister. Kiss of death for any girl in love. Having learned all that she believes she needs to know about love and lovemaking from the books she reads, Lisa is determined to get Robert to notice her.

After rescuing Lisa from the clutches of Mrs. Morgan, a woman that Lisa believed was her friend but who instead planned to sell her off to an anonymous suitor, Robert becomes brutally aware that Lisa is all grown up. With Lisa dressed in little more than nothing and wiggling seductively on his lap in the carriage, it's difficult for Robert to think of her as anything but a grown woman. When she drunkenly tells him that she loves him, he tells her he loves her, too, like a sister and will always protect her. His declaration is like a splash of ice water to Lisa. Unaware of Robert's fears of marriage stemming back to his family, Lisa believes he has no interest in her. He thinks of her like a sister, she reminds herself later. Lisa decides she has wasted entirely too much time on Robert Langley and, at twenty-one, she's not getting any younger. With the Season upon London, it is now or never for Lisa to find a husband or forever stay on the shelf.

As innocent Lisa presents herself to the eligible young men of London, Robert knows she's still in danger. He informs Richard and Daniel, Lisa's brothers-in-law, of the events at Mrs. Morgan's establishment and they agree to help - of course, their course of action is to form their own plan to bring Robert and Lisa together. They both know of Lisa's love for Robert and have figured out that Robert is very much in love with Lisa only he doesn't realize it - yet.

So goes the adventure. Lisa hasn't given up completely on Robert. She even sets out to seduce him, even as she considers the advances of Charles Findlay, a suitor who isn't about to give up on winning her hand in marriage or allow Robert Langley to interfere.

So who is this mysterious anonymous suitor who attempts over and over to steal away Lisa for his own? Even though Robert is there each time to save her from danger, can he succeed in the end in keeping dear, sweet Lisa safe? I guess you'll have to read THE HUSBAND HUNT by Lynsay Sands to find out.

Delightful, humorous, and wrought with danger from the start, THE HUSBAND HUNT by Lynsay Sands is a must read especially if you've read either of the other two books in the series or both. To fully understand the plot, the characters, and the villians in this story, I do believe you need to, at least, read THE COUNTESS, the first in the series. Without the backstory, THE HUSBAND HUNT is not a good stand alone book.  If you haven't read THE COUNTESS, please do (it will have you crying tears of laughter) and then read THE HUSBAND HUNT even if you don't read THE HEIRESS in between.

Happy Reading!

THE HUSBAND HUNT as well as the others in the series are available in both print and ebook form.  To learn more about Lynsay Sands and her books click here. 

Don't forget the Giveaway of a copy of PASSION UNTAMED by Pamela Palmer is still going on, click here to visit the Giveaway post.