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thenovelbook's review against another edition
2.0
I found myself not quite believing in the characters, even though I liked them. A very light read, and by no means unpleasant. My first Georgette Heyer book. I'm hoping her other books have more substance or more realistic characters.
dajpop's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
First recorded read was 2 March 2011.
One of my absolute favorites in the Regency romances. Due to the tragic death of his wife, Sir Francis Lanyon becomes a recluse on his Yorkshire estate with his three children growing up with no exposure to the outside world. The middle child, Conway, goes off to school and then into the Army while the youngest, Aubrey, intellectually gifted but suffering from a diseased hip joint, takes the scholarly road. While the lovely and intelligent Venetia, the eldest, continues to mark time: running the estate when their father dies, caring for Aubrey, and holding off two ineligible (in her eyes) suitors.
Into this holding pattern, rides Lord Damerel, or, as the young Lanyons have christened him, the Wicked Baron, who promptly upsets everything in Venetia’s ordered and very dull life. It’s almost a comedy of errors as everyone (but Aubrey) tries to “save” Venetia from her rakish neighbor and finally Venetia discovers the shaming family secret which she shamefully uses to get her way.
A lovely romance which will have you laughing and groaning and envying Damerel and Venetia’s ability to quote literature as they upset everyone’s idea of proper love.
One of my absolute favorites in the Regency romances. Due to the tragic death of his wife, Sir Francis Lanyon becomes a recluse on his Yorkshire estate with his three children growing up with no exposure to the outside world. The middle child, Conway, goes off to school and then into the Army while the youngest, Aubrey, intellectually gifted but suffering from a diseased hip joint, takes the scholarly road. While the lovely and intelligent Venetia, the eldest, continues to mark time: running the estate when their father dies, caring for Aubrey, and holding off two ineligible (in her eyes) suitors.
Into this holding pattern, rides Lord Damerel, or, as the young Lanyons have christened him, the Wicked Baron, who promptly upsets everything in Venetia’s ordered and very dull life. It’s almost a comedy of errors as everyone (but Aubrey) tries to “save” Venetia from her rakish neighbor and finally Venetia discovers the shaming family secret which she shamefully uses to get her way.
A lovely romance which will have you laughing and groaning and envying Damerel and Venetia’s ability to quote literature as they upset everyone’s idea of proper love.
cathiarss's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
booksnug's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
babudarabu's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Infidelity, Alcohol, and Death of parent
hksmith's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A classic Heyer - some plot points have not aged that well but it was an enjoyable read and I loved Venetia as a character
darwinista's review against another edition
5.0
This favorite from my teenage years feels very strange to re-read in the #metoo context. This is primarily because of the meeting between the protagonists: the dissolute hero, mistaking the heroine for a village girl, grabs and kisses her against her will. She resists this firmly and soon frees herself. The fact that she's not very upset about this is one of the clues that she's a winsome heroine. In my first reading of the book, I read this scene exactly as the author intended, but now it makes me wince.