On my blog today, I am delighted to be hosting CATHERINE KULLMANN on her Coffee Pot Book Club book tour to celebrate the very recent publication of The Husband Criteria, the third book in her Regency romance series, The Lorings.
Here you can find out more about the book, and read both an excerpt and my thoughts on it as a reader.
What is the book about?
London 1817
The primary aim of every young lady embarking on the Spring frenzy that is the Season must be to make a good match. Or must it? And what is a good match? For cousins Cynthia, Chloe and Ann, well aware that the society preux chevalier may prove to be a domestic tyrant, these are vital questions. How can they discover their suitors’ true character when all their encounters must be confined to the highly ritualised round of balls, parties and drives in the park?
As they define and refine their Husband Criteria, Cynthia finds herself unwillingly attracted to aloof Rafe Marfield, heir to an earldom, while Chloe is pleased to find that Thomas Musgrave, the vicar’s son from home, is also in London. And Ann must decide what is more important to her, music or marriage.
And what of the gentlemen who consider the marriage mart to be their hunting grounds? How will they react if they realise how rigorously they are being assessed?
A light-hearted, entertaining look behind the scenes of a Season that takes a different course with unexpected consequences for all concerned.
Read an excerpt
Chapter One
Swanmere House, London, February 1817
It is the undisputed ambition of every mother to see her daughters and, to a lesser extent (for a daughter-in-law may well one day supplant her) her sons, suitably married. The eligibility of potential matches is determined by an arcane logarithm setting his station, wealth, and personability against her beauty, fortune, and station. Although there is no Euclidean exposition to assist in the application of this tool, matrons of all classes are expert in evaluating a man’s worth, and the likelihood of their daughter successfully attracting his attention.
There are, of course, exceptions to the rule. Some two years previously, Miss Rosa Fancourt, a governess of modest fortune who laid no claim to beauty, had captured the heart of Sir Julian Loring, heir not only to his father, Sir Edward, but also to his maternal grandfather, Lord Swanmere, and had in due course been presented to her Majesty as Lady Swann-Loring, Sir Julian having marked his marriage by combining his paternal and maternal surnames. Now Lady Swann-Loring was about to launch her sister-in-law, Chloe Loring and her husband’s cousin, Ann Overton, into the ton.
“Although it might as well be the blind leading the lame, for all the knowledge I have of the beau monde,” she said candidly to Sir Julian who lounged in a chair in her dressing-room, enjoying the spectacle of his wife being arrayed in full court dress, hoops, feathers, lappers, and diamonds. “We must be grateful to Chloe’s mother for the FitzCharles connection. I am sure Lord Stephen will be able to advise us, and you must keep your ear to the ground for any hint of unsavoury habits—women or gambling—you know what I mean.”
“Not from personal experience.”
The twinkle in his eye belied this solemn profession and she shook her head at him. “Julian, you must take this seriously.”
“I do, I promise you.” He leaned over to kiss her, careful of her finery. “Good luck, my love. I look forward to hearing all about it.”
Drawing-Room St James 1809. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/744588 public domain
My thoughts on The Husband Criteria
Since reading Jane Austen very many years ago, I don’t think I have read anything set in the Recency era, and certainly no Regency romances. So The Husband Criteria was a first for me in terms of genre. But what a thoroughly enjoyable read it was!
I’ll confess to being slightly daunted by the extensive list of characters at the beginning of the book, and, to some extent, I never clearly distinguished between one or two of the various brothers and cousins. But it didn’t matter, because I was able to focus on the storylines of the principal characters – Cynthia, Chloe and Ann – and their relationships. In fact, the focus was mainly on Cynthia and her developing relationship with Rafe. We saw something of the hopes and disappointments of Ann and Chloe, but not their denouements. I do hope that the author is going to relate more about the two girls’ lives and loves in future books.
I was impressed by how authentic the depiction of the era and environment appeared to be. I don’t know much about this period, but it all simply felt right. I had the impression that the author is thoroughly immersed in the Regency period – well, this is her eighth Regency Romance! – and it showed. I liked very much that she depicted her fictional characters against the background of real settings – some of which I looked into further – and that we saw a good deal of how the upper classes of the day spent their time – visiting, musical evenings, family theatre, drives in the Park, and of course attending balls and soirées. I was rather bemused to learn that – on ball days anyway – they apparently took dinner in the late afternoon, with “supper” served not much before midnight, and after hours of dancing! How very exhausting… I have to suppose they slept late in the morning…
I found the book very well drawn visually, giving me vivid mental pictures of both the settings and the fashionable clothes, and even a little of their food and drink. I also learned quite a lot about the social norms and mores of the time (for the upper classes, anyway). The author included quite a number of period words and terms, particularly in dialogue, some of which I was only vaguely familiar with, though I’m happy to look words up if necessary. There is a note at the end of the book, clarifying a few of the unfamiliar terms, if not all. But the period words themselves lent an air of authenticity to the narrative and the dialogue, and, for that reason, are very well worth including.
Overall, then, a really good read that kept me very engaged. If you enjoy historical fiction, there was more to this story than simply “a romance”: a vivid picture of the times, environment and social mores. Recommended.
Book details
The Husband Criteria was published on August 24th 2023 by Willow Books.
Buy links
Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
About the author
Catherine Kullmann
Catherine Kullmann was born and educated in Dublin. Following a three-year courtship conducted mostly by letter, she moved to Germany where she lived for twenty-five years before returning to Ireland. She has worked in the Irish and New Zealand public services and in the private sector. Widowed, she has three adult sons and two grandchildren.
Catherine has always been interested in the extended Regency period, a time when the foundations of our modern world were laid. She loves writing and is particularly interested in what happens after the first happy end—how life goes on for the protagonists and sometimes catches up with them. Her books are set against a background of the offstage, Napoleonic wars and consider in particular the situation of women trapped in a patriarchal society.
She is the author of The Murmur of Masks, Perception & Illusion, A Suggestion of Scandal, The Duke’s Regret, The Potential for Love, A Comfortable Alliance and Lady Loring’s Dilemma.
Catherine also blogs about historical facts and trivia related to this era. You can find out more about her books and read her blog (My Scrap Album) at her website. You can contact her via her Facebook page or on Twitter.
Book Bub | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads
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Thank you for hosting Catherine Kullmann today, Carolyn, and for your wonderful review. I’m so glad you enjoyed The Husband Criteria.
Cathie xx
The Coffee Pot Book Club
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review, Carolyn. I am so glad you enjoyed The Husband Criteria. And, yes, we will hear more of Chloe and Ann.