Mr. Malcolm's List feels so under-hyped! (In spite of it becoming a film.) But, believe me when I say this book should be on your radar. (Oops, I just realized the L in Malcolm was left out. My keyboard is sticking in places and I didn't notice it. I will edit this when I have the time.)


Mr. Malcolm's List 
by Suzanne Allain 

It is a truth universally acknowledged that an arrogant bachelor insistent on a wife who meets the strictest of requirements--deserves his comeuppance.

The Honorable Jeremy Malcolm is searching for a wife, but not just any wife. He's determined to elude the fortune hunters and find a near-perfect woman, one who will meet the qualifications on his well-crafted list. But after years of searching, he's beginning to despair of finding this paragon. And then Selina Dalton arrives in town…

Selina, a vicar's daughter of limited means and a stranger to high society, is thrilled when her friend Julia invites her to London.  Until she learns it's part of a plot to exact revenge on Mr. Malcolm. Selina is reluctant to participate in Julia's scheme, especially after meeting the irresistible Mr. Malcolm, who seems very different from the arrogant scoundrel of Julia's description.

But when Mr. Malcolm begins judging Selina against his unattainable standards, Selina decides that she has qualifications of her own. And if he is to meet them he must reveal the real man behind...Mr. Malcolm's List.

  As always, a copy of this book was provided by the author or publisher in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.    

Regency novels can be hit or miss for me. There's a lot about novels set in this timeline that can turn me off. From the general sexism of the time, to other issues in the era that just frustrate me, the possibilities of a disconnect are high. That was not the case with Suzanne Allain's latest, Mr. Malcolm's List. This book was pure fun.

Mr. Malcolm's List sparked my attention fairly instantly because of its lighter tone and my desire for something simply romantic, but what made it work so well was the prose possessed by Allain. Not only did it feel perfectly toned for the era, it was lyrical and charming. While it wasn't always wholly accurate in terms of historical setting and its dialogue, it was still a highly entertaining read.

This novel feels like the perfect stepping stone for readers who are looking to dive into and read more historical romance. The genre can be quite daunting and, for me, I always feel like the novels that aren't fully accurate are the best place to start and really get a feel on whether or not the genre will work for you.

They're often lighter and Mr. Malcolm's List is nothing if not light, enjoyable, regency romance. The romance is solid enough (though, not my favourite) and Allain takes her time in setting the scene and developing her characters. You won't like everyone. Namely, the ever present Mr. Malcolm. The character's you do like make it all the more worthwhile.

Ultimately, I had a lot of fun with Mr. Malcolm's List and think reader's looking for a little romance will swoon over this one.