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?
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.
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?
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
So how did everyone do on the candy count yesterday? Let's take a look at the last month of activity at LRP! First I would like to thank all the guest bloggers and reviewers, you all rock! Next, all the commenters and readers of LRP because without you the blog would be dead (and that was a terrible zombie joke in reference to yesterday's post.)
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.
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?
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!
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!
Come join me for a fun interview with Amanda Grange, author of Mr. Darcy, Vampyre!
Keira: Mr. Darcy, Vampyre has a very Gothic romance feel to it. What inspired you to write it that way as opposed to straight paranormal? Do you feel that Gothic romance and paranormal are similar beasts?
Amanda: I love Gothic novels and they inspired Vampyre, so it was always going to have that feel to it. I think that Gothic romance and paranormal have a lot in common, but to me, Gothics hint at things that paranormals make plain. Gothics are about seeing the shadow on the wall, paranormals are about the monster appearing in front of you.
Keira: Do you read many in those genres and if you do what do you consider your favorite Gothic and paranormal romances to be?
Amanda: My favourite Gothic romance is probably Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. It’s a very atmospheric book, with lots of subtle hints and mystery. My favourite paranormal is probably You Had Me at Halo by Amanda Ashby, which is actually a very funny book, but the heroine happens to be dead.
Keira: In addition to Mr. Darcy, Vampyre what other work(s) of yours would you recommend to (new) readers to try out to get a feel for you as an author?
Amanda: I think my books fall into different categories. I’ve written five retellings of Jane Austen’s novels from the heroes’ points of view, in the form of diaries, and Mr. Darcy's Diary probably gives a good feel of the books, but if people prefer a different hero I think they should read about their favourite! I’ve also written about a dozen Georgette Heyer-like Regencies, and Lord Deverill's Secret gives a good idea of their flavour.
Keira: Who would be your ideal reader?
Amanda: Someone who loves my books!
Keira: You draw much inspiration from Jane Austen for some of your writings. Which is your favorite Jane Austen hero, heroine, and novel?
Amanda: Oh, that’s hard! I think my favourite hero has to be Darcy, although I’m very fond of Captain Wentworth, too. My favourite heroine is Lizzy and favourite novel is Pride and Prejudice.
Keira: Mr. Darcy changes into a bat in the novel. If you could transform into an animal and pick the animal you would become, what would you be and why?
Amanda: A snow leopard, because it’s beautiful and graceful.
Keira: What do you like best about historical romance novels?
Amanda: I like the fact that they take place in another world. The rules are different. It’s like going on holiday, seeing different sights, meeting different people.
Keira: When it comes to reading, what is your secret guilty plot or character type that you love beyond reason?
Amanda: I love the aloof hero with a heart of gold. That moment when he becomes human is magical.
Keira: Here’s a very tough question. Your book trailer is brilliant and features both of the covers for the US and UK editions of Mr. Darcy, Vampyre. Both are gorgeous; but which is your favorite?
Amanda: I keep trying to answer this question myself. It depends on my mood. But I think I gravitate more towards the UK edition because it has Darcy on it!
Keira: Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Amanda: I have a Darcy short story in an anthology called Loves Me, Loves Me Not, which is available now. I also have another Darcy short story coming out in a Christmas anthology, published by Sourcebooks, so look out for that in December!
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
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!
There are over 50 hand selected links in this edition. That's pretty fan-freaking-tastic if I do say so myself. Due to the crazy amount of awesome content linked to below, I pulled out what I think are the top 10 articles from the batch. If you read nothing else, read these. Have a great Sunday!
That concludes this awesome blow out edition! Submit your blog article to the next edition of romancing the novel using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
Technorati tags: romancing the novel, blog carnival.
Welcome to the fourth edition of romancing the novel. This one is pretty much a link frenzy. We have links on RWA, romance in general, book reviews, author interviews, industry professional interviews, writing tips and more! If you read all of the articles shared below I could conceive that a majority of your day would be taken up, but what a way to spend a day!
Teach Me Tonight pulls together a little something on Gothic Romance.
Romance Cliches we love to hate, and ones we love to love… by Kathleen OReilly. I completely agree with the point on Judy Greer. In a romance as opposed to a romantic comedy, we would have Judy Greer starring her own story instead of always playing the BFF.
That concludes this edition of romancing the novel. It's now time for you to submit your relevant blog articles to the next edition of using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
Technorati tags: romancing the novel, blog carnival.
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has a very Gothic romance feel to it. What inspired you to write it that way as opposed to straight paranormal? Do you feel that Gothic romance and paranormal are similar beasts? 
by Charlotte Bronte. It’s a very atmospheric book, with lots of subtle hints and mystery. My favourite paranormal is probably 
by Amanda Ashby, which is actually a very funny book, but the heroine happens to be dead.
probably gives a good feel of the books, but if people prefer a different hero I think they should read about their favourite! I’ve also written about a dozen Georgette Heyer-like Regencies, and 
gives a good idea of their flavour.
Keira: Who would be your ideal reader?
