Entries Tagged 'Georgette Heyer' ↓
March 17th, 2010 — 4.5 Stars, ARC, Book Review, Bride Stealing, Captain, Comedy of Manners, Gentry, Georgette Heyer, Great Britain, Kidnapping, Mistaken Identity, Pirate, Pirate, Sailing, Seas, Secret Agent, Spain, Travel, Tudor, Virgin Heroine
Beauvallet is one of my top favorite Georgette Heyer romances. It’s one I would recommend for a guy to read because of how daredevil the hero is and how much action and high jinks take place.
Sir Nicholas Beauvallet is a dashing pirate with a rakish charm. He’s the bane of the Spanish empire and good friends with other famous privateers such as Sir Francis Drake. He’s gallant, courageous to the point of foolhardiness, and full of confidence. His ego is adorable because it’s so over-inflated and lighthearted.
Dona Dominica de Rada y Sylva is a gutsy heroine. When captured she steals Beauvallet’s dagger and waves it at his nose. When forced aboard Beauvallet’s ship she snubs him, flirts outrageously with another officer, and ignores him. Obviously she’s just hiding her true feelings—the instantaneous crush, the deepening attraction, the utter fascination. The more she pushes him the more under his spell she falls.
When he promises to win her hand in marriage, she scoffs. Not likely! When he says he’ll pursue her right to her doorstep in the heart of Spain, she laughs. Impossible! When he says, “Risk not!” she begins to hope. But can it be done?
Some of the funniest scenes are Beauvallet flaunting his presence under the Spanish aristocracy and nobody being the wiser. I’m so happy that Heyer kept it in mostly Beauvallet’s point of view because we got to his side of the story and laugh at the supposedly mystical and magical escapes he managed to execute under Spanish noses.
It’s also an unusual historical I feel because of the monarchs and events happening.
Relative Time Period – Tudor:
- Spanish Inquisition – 1478 to 1834
- Henri III – 1551 to 1589
- Elizabeth I – 1533 to 1603
- Phillip II - 1527 to 1598
- Sir Francis Drake – 1577 to 1580 – around world trip
The references to the Spanish Inquisition are just cloying and realistic enough to make you shudder with all the “infinite kindness of the church” and whatnot. I’m not an expert of anything, but the way the dialogue happened almost made one think that King Phillip had no idea what truly happened during the churches inquisition sessions. Does anybody know if he did or not?
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Buy: Beauvallet
 |
|
US $5.95 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $14.17 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $3.77 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $21.97 |
Sale |
Online Stores
February 8th, 2010 — 3.5 Stars, Book Review, Comedy of Manners, Counts, Marquis, Viscounts, Friends, Georgette Heyer, Great Britain, Regency, Runaway, Spinster, Virgin Heroine
Charity Girl by Georgette Heyer is one scrumptious romp of trouble after the next. It all begins when Miss Charity Steane was found wandering the hillside, luggage in one hand and very sore feet. She is picked up by Viscount Ashley Desford and whisked away in his curricle as blasé as anything you please. He knows he can’t convince her to return to her miserably wretched aunt and so must take it upon himself to see that she is taken care of.
Cherry (Charity) is of course pleased beyond measure that he is not putting her through a lecture and more than willing enough to carry her the rest of the way to London. She has high hopes of running down her grandfather and begging him to take her up. Even if she has to resort to another menial position like the one she held at her aunt’s inside his home.
But the pickle of it becomes when Cherry and Desford find out that her grandfather is not in town. The neighbors do not know his direction, and the sole man inside the home refuses to speak about his master. Desford immediately sets about getting Cherry off his hands and into some more respectable ones. He doesn’t want to damage her reputation and as a single bachelor he can’t feasible continue to keep her in his care. So he settles her at Lady and Miss Silverdale’s home.
Miss Henrietta Silverdale and Desford were once a long time ago thought by their fathers to be an excellent match. They of course both knew better. Now Henrietta is entertaining new suitors and Desford seems to have his eye on Cherry. He is certainly gong well above and beyond the call of duty to locate her grandfather and find her a respectable situation.
What will happen when Desford confronts her grandfather with the charge of his granddaughter? Will Cherry remain in the good graces of Lady Silverdale? Will Henrietta’s brother, Charles, whisk Cherry off to call his own? What will Henrietta’s suitor think of the whole affair? Full of messes as well as larks, Charity Girl will have you alternately tutting like an old hen and giggling like a schoolgirl over all the crazy shenanigans.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Buy: Charity Girl
Find and buy more Georgette Heyer novels.
 |
|
US $7.77 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $9.10 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $12.99 |
Sale |
Originally posted 2008-12-05 09:04:24. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Online Stores
February 6th, 2010 — 3.5 Stars, Book Review, Comedy of Manners, Counts, Marquis, Viscounts, France, Georgette Heyer, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Kidnapping, Mistaken Identity, Regency, Virgin Heroine
Devil’s Cub by Georgette Heyer is enchanting and will assuredly transport you to another world. Georgette Heyer, praised to be the new Jane Austen, was born in 1902 and her tales are quite old but hold the same classic feel as any one of Austen’s novels. I can picture the whole novel as a movie and am surprised that I’ve not seen it made into one. Of course I haven’t checked in at IMDB so I could be quite wrong about its silver screen status.
This is my first time reading Heyer and such I found it tough to start (as such it's affected my rating). The writing while at first difficult to read and to get into because of the level of vocabulary and particular word phrasing which is unusual for today’s standard’s. However it gets easier the more you read. By the end of the book you’re practically flying through the pages trying to get to the end of the story and see the leads get their happily ever after.
In the true spirit of a Regency novel, this novel includes a secondary romance to entertain us. Neither romance goes to the bedroom, in fact the first and only kiss mentioned is at the very end of the tale. My one fault with the story was there was much too much time spent on ditherings going on around the leads and not nearly enough time focused on them. They were more thrown together in the beginning when Dominic kidnapped poor Mary than later.
Mary Challoner is determined to save her sister from scandal and intercepts a letter from Marquis of Vidal to her sister Sophie arranging an illicit tryst. A daring scheme to take her sister’s place and fool Vidal comes to her and Mary rushes through with it, barely thinking out the consequences.
When Vidal finds out he’s most upset and assuming her to be like her untoward and loose sister, Vidal forcibly takes her the rest of the way to France. Once there, Mary is able to make her true nature known and flummoxed Vidal is forced to do the one thing he never thought to do – propose marriage. Imagine his surprise when Mary refuses! What’s a Marquis to do?
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Buy: Devil's Cub
Find and buy more Georgette Heyer novels.
 |
|
US $6.95 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $9.48 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $79.95 |
Sale |
Originally posted 2008-09-02 05:43:56. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Online Stores
January 31st, 2010 — 4 Stars, Book Review, Cinderella, Comedy of Manners, Counts, Marquis, Viscounts, Estranged, Gambling, Georgette Heyer, Great Britain, Heiress, Regency, Virgin Heroine
The second Georgette Heyer novel that I read was a lot easier to get through. It helped that there was few if any references to my lord or my lady in the narrative. The diction used is as exacting and up there as Devil’s Cub. This novel was longer but I read it in less time devouring it with enthusiasm. I do have one question, when did the term Tom, Dick, and Harry first get used? Heyer used it in the novel and I thought it was a modern term not one that dated back to the Regency period.
In a single sentence Friday’s Child is a fantastic tale of a poor besotted girl and a rich spoiled Viscount. Lord Anthony Sherington, Sherry to his friends, is in a pickle. He has a few years left on his trust until he can access his money in full. Worse, both of the two uncles managing his estate are not doing so in his best interest; one is negligent and the other is pulling money aside to feather his cap. Sherry has gambling debts to pay and refuses to get another loan from loan sharks. His idea is to marry.
Of course Sherry goes after the Incomparable Beauty of the season, a girl from his past that he has known all his life who also happens to be an heiress. Sherry is just one of the men that float around the Incomparable, others vying for her affections include a Duke, a nasty man who disguises his true face underneath a mask of charm, and a volatile soul who also happens to be Sherry’s friend George. (George for his part loves Isabella, the Incomparable Beauty and tries his hardest to gain her affections throughout the book.)
When the Incomparable turns him down flat, Sherry in a fit of pique vows to marry the first girl he sees. That girl is the penniless Miss Hero Wantage. Hero has also known Sherry all her life and when she was younger she used to follow Sherry around and be his fetch and go girl. They marry in London through a special license with Sherry’s friends as witnesses. Sherry nicknames Hero and everyone starts to call her Kitten by this point.
Well Kitten gets into scrape after scrape not meaning to do so but unable to stop herself. She doesn’t know the rules of society having been bred as the poor relation in her cousin’s home with the idea she would become a governess. All of Sherry’s friends are sympathetic and watch out for her the best they can – Sherry too when he pays attention. Unfortunately for Kitten one scrape gets to be one too many and Sherry explodes causing her to run away. Will spoiled Sherry realize his mistake? Will he realize he loves having her in his life? Will he find her? Will his friends help him or Kitten, whom they adore?
In short I find Heyer’s Regency set tales quite unique – we should start a Heyer Book Club! She after all has written over fifty novels, it could be fun!
Rating: 4 Stars
Buy: Friday's Child
Find and buy more Georgette Heyer novels.
No items matching your keywords were found.
Originally posted 2008-09-08 05:07:11. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Online Stores
January 23rd, 2010 — 3 Stars, Book Review, Children, Comedy of Manners, Dukes and Earls, France, Georgette Heyer, Great Britain, Kidnapping, Regency, Runaway, Snowed-in, Virgin Heroine, Writer
Sylvester was recommended to me by Laura Kinsale because he botches his proposal to Phoebe and his character is like that of Mr. Darcy.
Now, I have read Pride and Prejudice by Austen (and find the movies easier to follow and love) and as a whole the novel of Sylvester was easier to read and twice as engaging. However, like Pride and Prejudice, I think a movie/film version of the novel would make it more endearing.
I sympathized from the beginning with Sylvester. I really saw nothing overtly wrong with him despite him being repeatedly labeled extremely arrogant and was only polite because of inborn pride in his dukedom and that is what he expected of himself and others of similar wealth. Sylvester hands down makes the novel. He's truly the character you fall a little bit in love with and root for even if his choice of a heroine is terrible.
Honestly, I had a hard time liking Phoebe let alone accepting her as Sylvester's heroine. She is grossly irritating and ill mannered. Repeatedly she declares that whatever incorrect and presumptuous thing she says or does must have done Sylvester some good. Her best friend, Thomas Orde is clearly horrified by some of what she does and it’s no wonder! Phoebe is clearly in need of a set down and deserves one. When getting it she breaks into tears and runs away leaving Sylvester clearly rebuffed and humiliated in public.
Ianthe is hilarious in how vapid, insipid, and vain she is. She's a terrible mother, obviously doesn't want to be a mother, and continuously tries to push how wonderful a mother she is. Ianthe latches onto the Lost Heir, a novel Phoebe secretly publishes because it so clearly puts Sylvester in a bad light and herself in a good one. While the ton gossips over this novel and try to decide how much is accurate, Ianthe marries on the sly and kidnaps her son (he’s officially left in Sylvester’s care) following the plans Phoebe laid out in the story.
Rating: 3 Stars
Buy: Sylvester
, Sylvester (audio book with Richard Armitage narrating)
Find and buy more Georgette Heyer novels.
 |
|
US $4.52 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $3.25 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $4.50 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $3.77 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $5.99 |
Sale |
December 2nd, 2009 — 5 Stars, ARC, Book Review, Comedy of Manners, Cross-Dressing Female, Dukes and Earls, Eliza Doolittle, France, Gentry, Georgette Heyer, Great Britain, Guardian/Ward, Kidnapping, Regency, Revenge, Rogues and Rakehells, Travel, Virgin Heroine
For a truly exceptional read, Regency or otherwise, that makes you giddy with glee you need to pick up These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer. It’s a delightful story about a cross-dressing female who goes from rags to riches and from unloved to abundantly loved. It’s even a guardian/ward romance! Not to mention the kidnapping sequence and the revenge plot! It’s positively action packed.
The hero is a cross between a dandy-like Corinthian, with his scented handkerchief, heeled shoes, and fan -- and -- the veriest devil of a man with fierce eyes, keen intelligence, and a merciless thirst for revenge. The heroine is a Nonpareil who can sword fight, capture princes with a flutter of eyelashes, and shock matrons with her language!
What really pleased me is the slightly different formatting. There seemed to be much more dialogue in this novel than in others also by Heyer. In addition, every chapter has a little summary-like heading telling you what you’ll find in the upcoming section. It was very nice and a source of amusement with titles such as 'Lady Fanny's Virtue is Outraged' and 'Mr. Marling Allows Himself to be Persuaded.'
One of my absolute favorite parts is a reflection of what’s going on between some side characters:
'I don’t trust him.'
'Why, I think I do for once.' Hugh laughed a little. 'When last I saw Léonie – Léon she was then – it was "Yes, Monseigneur" and "No, Monseigneur." Now it is "Monseigneur, you must do this," and "Monseigneur, I want that!" She twists him round her little finger, and, by Gad, he likes it!'
'Oh, but there’s naught of the lover in his manner, Hugh! You have heard him with her, scolding, correcting.'
'Ay, and I have heard the note in his voice of – faith, of tenderness! This wooing will be no ordinary one, methinks, but there is a bridal in the air.'
'She is twenty years behind him!'
'Do you think it signifies? I would not give Justin a bride his own age. I’d give him a babe who must be cherished and guarded. And I’ll swear he’d guard her well!'
'It must be. I do not know. She looks up to him, Davenant! She worships him!'
'Therein I see his salvation,' Hugh said.
These Old Shades, pg 274
I hardly have the words to describe how awesome that last line is and indeed this whole section. The only thing that could make this story better is more of it! I did not want it to end!
These Old Shades is a must read for Heyer fans and one I would very much recommend for new comers to try first. You will not be disappointed.
Rating: 5 Stars
Buy: These Old Shades
Find and buy more Georgette Heyer novels.
 |
|
US $3.50 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $4.99 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $12.82 |
Sale |
Online Stores
November 23rd, 2009 — 3 Stars, Book Review, Comedy of Manners, Counts, Marquis, Viscounts, Dukes and Earls, Georgette Heyer, Great Britain, Guardian/Ward, Heiress, Regency
Regency Buck by Georgette Heyer is loosely based on the premise of Pride and Prejudice. I would not go so far as to say it's a retelling of the classic tale, but there are elements of this Regency romance that bring to mind the farce that Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet went through before getting out of their own way to declare love for one another.
For instance, Lord Worth is the Mr. Darcy character of this little drama. While not despised to the extent of Mr. Darcy by his heroine, Lord Worth is on the brunt end of a lot of negative criticism from his ward Miss Judith Taverner. He can do nothing right and is as cold an aloof in presence as Mr. Darcy appeared to be. His manners and arrogance nettle Judith beyond the telling many times throughout the novel.
So how did Judith and Peregrine get to become Lord Worth's wards?
Their father wrote in his will that they would be placed under the fifth earl of Worth until coming of age. Of course he meant to direct them into the hands of Julian Audley's father, the fourth earl of Worth but confused the matter and bungled it entirely. Julian finds the matter tiresome and can't wait to be rid of them fast enough though maybe not for the first reasons that come to mind. He tells them to stay in the country.
Of course Judith and Peregrine disregard this and the novel starts with them en route to London. They stop overnight in the village of Grantham, where a fight is about to occur. Peregrine is ecstatic and decides they must stay longer in order to see it. Of course the room they wrote ahead to let has been given away because of the crowd swarming the village. Distressed, Judith presses on the innkeeper to make amends. However it is not the innkeeper but a charming stranger that gives up his room for them.
Similarly later that day before the day of the match, Judith and Peregrine are wheeling about the country in search of ruins when they happen upon another carriage speedily racing down the lane in the opposite direction. A near accident occurs, nobody is hurt, but the horses are startled and the stranger driving is unaccountably rude. Both Judith and Peregrine take exception to the man's behavior and write him off as a bad sort indeed.
Shortly thereafter, Judith and Peregrine recognize their estranged cousin as the kind stranger at the inn and formally establish the acquaintance.
Once in London, the siblings look up their guardian and are dismayed to find the nasty aristocrat from Grantham is their keeper.
Add a dash of mystery - who wants Peregrine dead?
Peregrine as heir to the Viscountcy is being attacked left and right. The attacks are not always obvious; they come in many forms upon his person. Sanguine and completely obtuse, Peregrine does not notice them for what they are. Even Judith, usually kept in the dark on some of her brothers less savory ongoings, sees a pattern and admits her qualms to Worth who prevails upon her to keep her suspicions to herself.
The question becomes who will profit most from Peregrine's death. His sister will receive even more money for her dowry, making the current 80,000 pounds seem paltry. But Judith loves her brother enormously, it can't be her. It must be the man who vies for her hand... Julian Audley, Lord Worth, their guardian or Mr. Taverner, their cousin. Each man lays the blame on the others feet, but Judith trusts them both. What's a girl to do?
Locales: primarily London and Brighton.
Real famous people who appeared in the book: Beau Brummell, Prince Regent.
This novel has a sequel in An An Infamous Army
.
Overall I found it focused less on the romance and more on the mystery. I almost wished Brummell was the lead male because he and Judith found teasing and comfortable conversation between themselves on many occasions.
Rating: 3 Stars.
Buy: Regency Buck
Find and buy more Georgette Heyer novels.
 |
|
US $10.03 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $49.95 |
Sale |
Originally posted 2008-11-24 05:43:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Online Stores
November 23rd, 2009 — 4 Stars, 4.5 Stars, ARC, Book Review, Georgette Heyer
I found Arabella to be wickedly entertaining; a superb comedy of manners! It is a little slow getting started. A good fifty pages are devoted to simply getting ready to go to London – the hero isn’t even introduced! When you get past that portion the story really picks up and is very exciting.
Arabella Tallant is very cheeky and clever. She has a temper that gets her into trouble and a mouth that often runs away with her. She and her family are impoverished. Her father’s a parson and it is by the ingenuity of her mother that Arabella is able to go to London to have a season. It is very important she makes an excellent match so she can help her family.
Robert Beaumaris is sick and tired of young ladies and their mothers throwing themselves at his feet in hopes he’ll trip over them and into marriage. He is defined repeatedly as a Nonpareil, which means he has no equal and is peerless. Men imitate him in fashion. Persons, male and female, strive for his approval. A glance or comment from Robert can make or break someone socially.
Reading parts of the story from his point of view opens lots of wonderful insight to what's going on and how's he's thinking of things. This novel seemed very modern to me because of the amount of head switching.
When Arabella overhears a flippant remark by Robert to Charles Fleetwood, she’s angered and in a fit of spontaneity affects superior airs and claims to be an heiress. On a whim Robert chooses to put weight behind her story and instantly Arabella is thrust to the top of society. Mamas want their sons to marry her, gentlemen want to woo her, and several fortune hunters start sniffing around her most eagerly.
In too deep, Arabella doesn’t see a way out. She can’t marry any of her suitors; they think she’s wealthy. She can’t tell the truth; it would socially ruin her. Then her brother, Bertram Tallant, shows up in London and makes matters worse by gambling far and above his means. The love of her life could also become her salvation, but how can one tell a man you just married you’re not an heiress and in fact in desperate need of funds?
Rating: 4-4.5 Stars
Buy: Arabella
Find and buy more Georgette Heyer novels.
 |
|
US $9.12 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $14.17 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $8.39 |
Sale |
Online Stores
October 4th, 2009 — Georgette Heyer, Poll, Regency
This post is a counter post to 10 Reasons Why I Can’t Read Georgette Heyer by Zarabeth. I was surprised but not upset with Zarabeth's reaction to Georgette Heyer's writing style. It does take a little getting used to and in my opinion the hardest Heyer to read is your first. This will probably not be the case if you read a lot of historical fiction. Trust me, the pages will soon begin to fly as you read Heyer. Here are some reasons to love her:
- Georgette Heyer novels have characters that steal into your heart and mind.
- Georgette Heyer novels are stories that are worth rereading over and over.
- Georgette Heyer writes farces that make you laugh out loud and shake your head in gentle amusement.
- Everyone seems to have a favorite or two Georgette Heyers they grew up with.
- Where else can you encounter thief cant and learn words like snabble and snaffle?
- Georgette Heyer provides it all from spinsters to female gamblers, from dandy heroes to brooding alphas, and from enemies to best friends. She has a whole gamut to choose from.
- Jane Austen fix. Need I say more?
- Fairly unusual character names like Lizzie Winwood, Marquis of Alverstoke, Vidal, etc.
- Reading Heyer with those glorious new tradeback covers from Sourcebooks is an experience not to be missed. Aren’t they just gorgeous? Strokes glossy cover… yum. Which are your favorites?
- All of Heyer’s novels are filled with sweetness and chastity. Like a fairytale all HEA are sealed with a kiss!
Now if you have read a Heyer and both Zarabeth’s and mine arguments about Georgette Heyer – where do you fall?
Loading ...
Photo Credits: http://weheartit.com/
Online Stores
October 2nd, 2009 — Georgette Heyer, Guest Blogger, Regency
By Zarabeth, guest blogger
I know a lot of people like Georgette Heyer and this post isn’t meant to step on your toes in any way if you do, but I really can’t read her! I am a huge fan of historical romance novels and was excited to try the genuine article. I tried, I really did, but she’s not for me and here’s why:
- The Language. I can’t read Regency speak, it’s not only another time period it reads like another language!
- The Diction. Not only do I need a Regency dictionary, I need an Oxford-English dictionary to get through the book! Talk about over my head. I would read and re-read, get frustrated with myself, the book, and the story. I put it down and vow never to force myself through another novel.
- The Turns of Phrase. Thief Cant, Dandy Cant… I cant, cant, can’t! Can you say yikes?!
- The Dialogue. What on earth are the characters saying? Really?
- The Format. Why is all the dialogue ending in exclamation points!!!!!
- The Descriptions. Down to the tie of the cravat and elegantly style coiffure… honestly who knows what they look like?
- The Historical Accuracy. The difference between Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer is that Austen transcends Regency and becomes universal. Heyer is so wrapped up in Regency she can never leave it.
- The Writing Style. Is it me or does Heyer read like narrator omniscient? A plot twist (and I use that word very lightly) occurs and I know all to well where it's going.
- The Manners. I thought I liked Regency manners, but honestly in a Heyer all I want is for them to shake it up a little. So regimented.
- Wasted space. Side characters get way too much time to talk and dither about. I want more focus on the main characters and their love story!
I think it is simply time to walk away, without the disappointment and state that I am just not smart enough to read her! I will stick with my guilty pleasures, Thank You!
P.S. Stay tuned, in a few days Keira will be posting her differing opinion in 10 Reasons to Love Georgette Heyer.
Online Stores
September 16th, 2009 — 2 Stars, Georgette Heyer, Governess / Companion, Great Britain, Guest Reviews, Regency, Spinster, Virgin Heroine
by Zarabeth, guest reviewer
The Nonesuch is a regency romance between a "top-of-the-tress Corinthian" and a noble-turn-governess. Already I'm upset.
This was my first, and last, Georgette Heyer and I maintain that I simply cannot follow her style. I have intense difficulties understanding the language and keeping pace with the conversation. More than once I was so frustrated with myself and this disconnect that I simply had to put the book down. However, I am giving it a 2 out of 5 because despite my frustration's I always picked it up again, eventually.
So, to the story itself: our older, reformed, very rich, and very handsome male lead has arrived with his noble cousin to a country scene where he has recently inherited a dilapidated estate. They are forced to enjoy what little enjoyment the local social scene has to offer and meet an array of interesting and insipid characters. Among them are 2 main females of interest: the unrivaled beauty, a very very young soon to come out debutante and her cool governess.
Our cousin takes an instant interest in the beauty and the begins to court her. The Nonesuch and the governess are therefore thrown together again and again. Over the course of many mortifying events the courtship dies but something has begun for the governess and the Nonesuch- as unlikely and scandalous a pair they might be! (Exclamation points are found at the end of almost every sentence that's spoken.)
It's a fine enough plot with intriguing characters but I can't get past the style!
Rating: 2 Stars
Buy: The Nonesuch
Find and buy more Georgette Heyer novels.
 |
|
US $2.74 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $2.94 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $16.49 |
Sale |
Online Stores
August 31st, 2009 — Contests, Georgette Heyer
Danielle at Sourcebooks sent me this awesome contest promotion that gives readers of this blog two ways to win awesome prizes. Read on for details:
This September, Sourcebooks is exclusively releasing The Foundling by Georgette Heyer in Barnes & Nobles stores Nationwide!!
Sourcebooks is holding a fabulous receipt promotion! Send us your receipt/proof of purchase of The Foundling from your local Barnes & Noble to our office or a scanned receipt in an email to danielle.jackson@sourcebooks.com and you’ll be entered to win a $200 Barnes & Noble gift card! Receipts must be dated between September 1 – September 30, 2009, and can be from an in-store or online purchase. Any questions please contact danielle.jackson@sourcebooks.com.
But WAIT—you can win a book from Sourcebooks now! As a thank you to Love Romance Passion for helping spread the word about our B&N Heyer Receipt Promotion, Sourcebooks is giving away 2 books from the list of books below! Leave a comment about your favorite Heyer moment and you’ll be entered to win your choice of book! 2 winners—US and Canada addresses only please.
Sourcebooks is so excited about the warm embrace everyone has given the Georgette Heyer reissues! Good luck—we look forward to hearing from you!
Send your Barnes & Noble The Foundling receipts to
Sourcebooks, Inc.
c/o Publicity
PO Box 4410
Naperville, IL 60567
Remember: Leave a comment! Two lucky commenters will be able to choose a book from the following:
- The Spoken Word Revolution edited by Mark Eleveld
- Poetry Speaks Expanded edited by Elise Paschen and Rebekah Presson Mosby
- Letters From Pemberley by Jane Dawkins
- How (Not) to Have a Perfect Wedding by Arliss Ryan
- Hundreds of Years to Reform a Rake by Laurie Brown
- A Chain of Voices by Andre Brink
- First Lady by Michael Malone
- The Ultimate Bartenders Guide by Ray Foley
- Improvisation for the Spirit by Katie Goodman
- The Successful Novelist by David Morrell
Join our Georgette Heyer mailing list!: http://www.sourcebooks.com/spotlight/georgette-heyer.html
How cool is that? Much thanks to Danielle and Sourcebooks for this fantastic contest! I'm going to announce the 2 lucky book winners on September 7th, 2009. So comment early and often! Tell me what book you would get if you won and/or why you love Georgette Heyer!
Buy: The Foundling
Online Stores
August 4th, 2009 — 4 Stars, Book Review, Comedy of Manners, Cross-Dressing Female, Gambling, Gentry, Georgette Heyer, Great Britain, Regency, Runaway, Travel, Virgin Heroine
The Corinthian ranks in my top 5 favorite Georgette Heyers to date.
My favorite things about this novel:
- The hero and heroine spend a majority of the book in each other’s presence.
- The heroine cross-dresses to look like a young lad for most of the novel with the hero helping her in her disguise.
- The heroine is not a fainting female and is intelligent, if a little young.
- The childhood sweetheart of the heroine has his own love match and is no way put out by the romance between the hero and heroine.
- The thief cant: snabble and snaffle are my two new favorite words.
- The kiss scene. How’s that for a tease?
Corinthian: a man about town, esp. one who lives luxuriously or, sometimes, dissolutely.
---dictionary.com
Sir Richard Wyndham reminds me a bit of Lord Worth. [Hopefully I’m recalling the right hero.] With Wyndham however it is easier to tell his amusement and enjoyment around Penelope Creed.
Penelope or Pen as she’s referred to when dressed like a boy, is escaping her aunt’s household. She won’t marry her cousin! She won’t! She will marry instead her childhood sweetheart, Piers Luttrell, with whom she’d made a secret engagement five years ago.
Richard is on the verge of making the worst mistake of his life. He’s planning to give his suit to Melissa Brandon, a cold practical woman, because his family is badgering him to marry. The idea drives him to drink. Imagine his surprise at seeing a young lad escape through a window via knotted bed sheets... and then to find out that the lad is in fact a young chit of a girl barely out of the school room.
I’ve noticed in the novels that I’ve read so far that Heyer likes to pair considerably older gentleman with young ladies still in their early teens, rarely in their twenties. It’s usually about a decade age difference. Why do you think she did this?
Rating: 4 Stars
Buy: The Corinthian
Find and buy more Georgette Heyer novels.
 |
|
US $3.77 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $6.87 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $4.99 |
Sale |
Online Stores
June 10th, 2009 — 4.5 Stars, Children, Counts, Marquis, Viscounts, Georgette Heyer, Great Britain, Guest Reviews, Jane Austen, Regency, Virgin Heroine
By: Sasha Muradali, guest reviewer
Frederica is a stylish and witty Regency novel by Georgette Heyer.
The novel centers around a young girl named Frederica who brings her younger sister and the rest of their siblings to London. She is determined to secure a fabulous marriage for her astoundingly beautiful, cherub-faced sister named Charis.
If you are looking for a Jane Austen fix, and are not interested in reading any 'remakes' or pseudo-Austen novels, you want to read Frederica
.
But be warned, like Austen, Heyer enlists the use of old English to convey the feel of her stories. So prepare yourself with the mindset of Regency dialogue.
Enlisting the help of her cousin, the Marquis of Alverstoke, Frederica embarks on a journey quite distant from the one she initially imagined.
Refreshing, lovely, smart and straight forward, Frederica more than makes a lasting impression on the dashing Marquis.
Quote from chapter 1:
But Alverstoke's besetting sin was a tendency to become rapidly bored. It had vanquished his sisters; for although neither of them could suppose, reviewing the numerous dazzling barques of frailty who had lived under his protection, that he was impervious to feminine charms, neither was so muttonheaded as to indulge optimism very far when he seemed to be developing a tendre for some diamond of birth, beauty, and fortune, thrust under his nose by one or other of his sisters. He was perfectly capable of making the lady the object of his gallantry for a few weeks, and then of veering off at a tangent, forgetting her very existence.
Agreeing to launch Charis and Frederica into London's high society, Lord Alverstoke who is normally cautious of his family, finds himself entertained and entranced.
Some of the best scenes in the novel are the interactions between Lord Alverstoke and his two overbearing sisters: two overbearing, shallow women whose sole purpose in life is to manipulate others, especially him, in order to get what they want.
The novel is humorous, light-hearted and smut-free.
It's really that type of novel, ideally read, on a rainy afternoon with a cup of tea and a scone on the side.
While, Frederica is not Pride and Prejudice
, it is a nice, comfortable way to get your Austen-fix.
This book is highly recommended.
Now go watch Lost in Austen
and smile.
4.5 stars of 5.
Buy: Frederica
Find and buy more Georgette Heyer novels.
 |
|
US $34.99 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $15.00 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $7.35 |
Sale |
Online Stores
May 14th, 2009 — 4 Stars, Book Review, Comedy of Manners, Dukes and Earls, Gambling, Georgette Heyer, Great Britain, Marriage of Convenience, Politician, Regency, Virgin Heroine
This novel is definitely one of my overall favorites of Heyer’s so far. It’s easy to read and follow despite the language and research. I loved all the side characters and Rule most of all. The leads were very well matched for each other.
Lizzie Winwood, the Beauty, is engaged to the Earl of Rule, an older man whom she does not love. Edward Heron holds her heart, but Lizzie is too well bred to ignore the duty she owes her family to accept this great match. Her youngest sister, Horatia—Horry—Winwood, decides this situation will just not do. In a scandalously forward manner Horry approaches Rule and offers herself up in trade to her sister despite her disadvantages in looks and speech. She knows she’s not his first choice, but as Marcus obviously does not know Lizzie well enough to love her, he must agree any Winwood would do. Amused by the young girl, (he’s twice her age), Rule accepts her proposal and marries her right away.
Horry experiences wealth and freedom for the first time and goes a little wild. She learns to gamble, though she does fairly poorly, purchases things without any real thought to cost, and makes friends with unacceptable members of society. Horry comes off immature for the first half of the book because she is, but Rule keeps an eye on her in his usual casual and easy going manner and does not involve himself overmuch. He came to the marriage thinking he was in love with a widow. He did not marry the widow because he knew she could not, or perhaps, would not be faithful in the years to come and has determined Horry is and will be even if she is young and prone to fancy.
Rule’s amusement and fondness easily translate themselves to the reader. From his actions you can tell he’s falling for his young new wife. It’s harder to tell with Horry, as she spends a good portion of the book running around after Lord Lethbridge in pursuit of his friendship and the chance to pit her card skills against his. Lord Lethbridge is after revenge against Rule and uses Horry in an attempt to instigate it. Other characters seek to help him or eagerly wait in the wings watching for a chance to run to Rule with news of her scandalous ways. Luckily Rule, her brother and his friends come time and again to Horry’s rescue. A Convenient Marriage is an amusing romp through Regency England and sure to win your heart.
Rating: 4 Stars
Buy: The Convenient Marriage
Find and buy more Georgette Heyer novels.
 |
|
US $12.43 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $4.99 |
Sale |
Online Stores
