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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
It was time for Georgette Heyer again ... and it didn't disappoint, although this one is a bit different than her others. For one thing, there's not a whole lot of romance, although the small parts that were there were really cute. It's more like a mystery. There's a lot of walking in caves and even some deaths. Still, it was a nice and breezy read.
I really liked Captain John Staple, the hero of the story. He was refreshing because he's charming and polite but very straightforward and confident. He also doesn't let anyone tell him what to do. Also, Nell was nice and different than most heroines as well - she's hugely tall, loves to ride horses, and is not afraid to speak her mind to unwanted suitors. I wish we saw more of her in the book.
I really liked Captain John Staple, the hero of the story. He was refreshing because he's charming and polite but very straightforward and confident. He also doesn't let anyone tell him what to do. Also, Nell was nice and different than most heroines as well - she's hugely tall, loves to ride horses, and is not afraid to speak her mind to unwanted suitors. I wish we saw more of her in the book.
Amusing with an extra dollop of adventure. Lots of period slang.
Light gothic romance fiction, among my Mom's favorites. Considerably better than the average gothic romance. Some of them are more like historical fiction, such as Simon the Coldheart. I read them from time to time when I was growing up.
2021 Review
Checked this one out from the library and forgot to return it so now I owe $2. But joke is on me because I actually already own a copy so I could have just read that one.
2019 Review
Third times the charm. I understood maybe 80% of what was said. Before you know I'll be jabbering about prigging cheats and telling my brother to hush his mummer!
2018 Review
So. Much. Regency. Slang.
At first I felt triumphant because I was able to piece my way through the confusion but then I just felt exasperated. It is enough to make your head spin!
2014 Review
Another lovely Georgette Heyer novel...with a bit of a twist! A male main character! A mystery combined with likable characters and that twist of romance, this book brimmed with everything that makes Heyer so delightful. My main complaints are that every other word is slightly unreadable due to "cant phrases" and that all the characters introduced at the beginning play no role at the end. What happened to mother, uncle, and cousin? That would have been good to know.
Otherwise, very good.
Checked this one out from the library and forgot to return it so now I owe $2. But joke is on me because I actually already own a copy so I could have just read that one.
2019 Review
Third times the charm. I understood maybe 80% of what was said. Before you know I'll be jabbering about prigging cheats and telling my brother to hush his mummer!
2018 Review
So. Much. Regency. Slang.
At first I felt triumphant because I was able to piece my way through the confusion but then I just felt exasperated. It is enough to make your head spin!
2014 Review
Another lovely Georgette Heyer novel...with a bit of a twist! A male main character! A mystery combined with likable characters and that twist of romance, this book brimmed with everything that makes Heyer so delightful. My main complaints are that every other word is slightly unreadable due to "cant phrases" and that all the characters introduced at the beginning play no role at the end. What happened to mother, uncle, and cousin? That would have been good to know.
Otherwise, very good.
One of my favorites! And one of the few books where insta-love actually works, especially in light of the fact that many marriages in this time period were made by arrangement.
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I listened to this on audible books this June. I've read it at least once prior to that point, but I loved hearing the narration unfold. Not only is it a great mind distraction while driving long distances, the story is another grand Heyer story. John is an unlikely hero, and Nell is a delight. Both honest, brave and not afraid of hard work. And the mystery was a fun ride as well. You won't regret listening to this or reading it!
Adventure & romance blended perfectly in one book. Many thanks to Georgette Heyer!!
Like all Georgette Heyer books, this was a perfect little glimpse of life in early 19th-century England. I love the stories, like this one, that mix characters of different social classes. Heyer only writes the manners and mores of the time, does not disrupt her narrative with any modern perspectives, and withholds judgment of the attitudes of a very different time. Sometimes I feel like her novels are almost like primary sources (which isn't far from the truth, since she accumulated an enormous library of primary sources herself, on which all of her novels are based). And she writes so well, with such a light touch, rather than the heavy-handed approach I see in so many historical fiction and fantasy novels (world building is essential in either case), that it's easy to forget you are reading 20th century prose.
None of her skill in the historical fiction area would matter though, if her novels weren't also just funny, lighthearted, and the exact right balance of sweet-but-not-syrupy. Of course, the plot itself is a bit farcical, but I don't mind that I a comedy of manners. It's the manners I enjoy most, rather than the events of the book. I'm feeling very sad that I'm almost out of new Heyer books to read :(
None of her skill in the historical fiction area would matter though, if her novels weren't also just funny, lighthearted, and the exact right balance of sweet-but-not-syrupy. Of course, the plot itself is a bit farcical, but I don't mind that I a comedy of manners. It's the manners I enjoy most, rather than the events of the book. I'm feeling very sad that I'm almost out of new Heyer books to read :(
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Murder
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Sexual harassment