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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
A thoroughly enjoyable Heyer, perhaps a little darker than her usual Regency novels in that there is criminal activity and the hero does something which is definitely NOT squeaky-clean...
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It has been years since I read this book so I was ready for a re-read. I chose to listen on audio for this time. Daniel Hill was a lively narrator who did a great job with the tone of the book and the characters.
The Toll Gate is another of Heyer's crossover Regency romance- suspenses. Big, tall Captain John Staple is a restless, gutsy sort and peacetime, settling down, and his sister's matchmaking has him rushing off from a family gathering to go to a friend. On the way, at a lonely toll gate in the Peak region of Derbyshire, he stumbles on a mystery. A frightened young boy tells John that his da left a few nights back meaning to be gone an hour or two and never returned. John decides he will help young Ben find his da, help at the toll gate, and then decides to help the family up at the manor when he gets one look at tall, statuesque Nell Stornaway. He's pole-axed and knows he has found the woman for him, but he knows her sense of love and filial duty will keep her tied to her ailing grandfather and opposing her noisome cousin and the cunning bothersome man he brought to stay with him. So, Crazy Jack goes to the rescue.
This is a fun one and light in many ways including the flirting, friendly romance and John's unique friendship with young Ben, a groom, and a highwayman, but there is also a growing tension as John discovers the truth until the suspense is the greater part of the story.
The Toll Gate kept me riveted until in the end it just stops. I don't know how I felt about that abrupt ending before, but I do wish that I could have gotten the Staple family's reaction to all John's adventures and his romance. Other than that, I was well satisfied with another Heyer gem.
The Toll Gate is another of Heyer's crossover Regency romance- suspenses. Big, tall Captain John Staple is a restless, gutsy sort and peacetime, settling down, and his sister's matchmaking has him rushing off from a family gathering to go to a friend. On the way, at a lonely toll gate in the Peak region of Derbyshire, he stumbles on a mystery. A frightened young boy tells John that his da left a few nights back meaning to be gone an hour or two and never returned. John decides he will help young Ben find his da, help at the toll gate, and then decides to help the family up at the manor when he gets one look at tall, statuesque Nell Stornaway. He's pole-axed and knows he has found the woman for him, but he knows her sense of love and filial duty will keep her tied to her ailing grandfather and opposing her noisome cousin and the cunning bothersome man he brought to stay with him. So, Crazy Jack goes to the rescue.
This is a fun one and light in many ways including the flirting, friendly romance and John's unique friendship with young Ben, a groom, and a highwayman, but there is also a growing tension as John discovers the truth until the suspense is the greater part of the story.
The Toll Gate kept me riveted until in the end it just stops. I don't know how I felt about that abrupt ending before, but I do wish that I could have gotten the Staple family's reaction to all John's adventures and his romance. Other than that, I was well satisfied with another Heyer gem.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Less of a romance than a bit of derring-do. Follows a male character as he lives below his station in the titular Toll-Gate and susses out a bit of a mystery to do with local bandits and the heir to the local land. On the way he does happen to fall in love, but the driving force of that relationship seems to be that they're both unusually tall. Still it's a good little read.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What a coincidence! This book was my first read of 2016 & is now my first read of 2019.
I don't think I have much to add to add to my first review other than to add more praise to GH's portrayal of Ben - one of my favourite Heyer boys. But the whole read is very entertaining.
I don't think I have much to add to add to my first review other than to add more praise to GH's portrayal of Ben - one of my favourite Heyer boys. But the whole read is very entertaining.