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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
4.5 stars. I've been having a crappy couple of days, but this book pretty much instantly picked up my mood. It was just so wonderful!!!! It's been a couple years since the last time I read a Georgette Heyer novel, but this was probably my favorite of hers that I've read so far, and it also reminded me that I really need to read more of her works. I loved both Sylvester and Phoebe so much, and how Sylvester wanted to be super nice to Phoebe so she would like him and regret saying she would never marry him, and then quickly completely forgot what he had intended because he just liked her so much. And I especially enjoyed both Sylvester's mother and Phoebe's grandmother, and the scene at the end with Phoebe and Sylvester's mother was one of my absolute favorites. But my real favorite part was The chemistry between Sylvester and Phoebe was so great, and I adored every single one of their scenes. Also Tom!!! He was so great, and I loved his friendship with Phoebe and also how his friendship with Sylvester developed.
Spoiler
Sylvester's awful proposals and him complaining to his mother about how he had screwed everything up. So ridiculous and delightful!!!
Over and over again, I find myself reaching for historical fiction whenever I encounter a reading slump and this was just the book to help me. Pheobe, our protagonist, somehow manages to get up to all sorts of mischief that really, only makes sense in this book. Then there's our arrogant duke with slanted eyebrows; Sylvester who a good way into the book won my heart with his sharp tongue. And who could forget, poor Tom who's dragged along for all of Pheobe's mischief and Sylvester's nephew who never failed to make me laugh.
I've always had a soft spot for regency era stories and this one was a very welcome addition
I've always had a soft spot for regency era stories and this one was a very welcome addition
I did read this once before, but I found on reread that I only had the haziest memory of the particulars. It left a deeper impression the second time around! Phoebe is a great heroine, and Sylvester - once he's had a bit of the starch taken out of him - will suit her nicely. :)
Things that I especially like:
* Phoebe and Tom's dynamic reminded me very powerfully of Lucilla and Ninian's in Lady of Quality. I always like that "raised as siblings" affectionate squabbling, haha.
* It's nice to see a couple that's not quite as widely mismatched in their ages as some of Heyer's couples are. 28 and 20 is still a gap, but nothing like some of Heyer's.
* Writing a child character can be hard to pull off, but Edmund is a delight.
* Sylvester's mother is lovely. I like that she's a writer as well (a poet) - she and Phoebe will be able to bond about writing.
The ending was a bit too prolonged for my tastes - the escapades in France got tiring - but on the whole I enjoyed this book a lot.
Things that I especially like:
* Phoebe and Tom's dynamic reminded me very powerfully of Lucilla and Ninian's in Lady of Quality. I always like that "raised as siblings" affectionate squabbling, haha.
* It's nice to see a couple that's not quite as widely mismatched in their ages as some of Heyer's couples are. 28 and 20 is still a gap, but nothing like some of Heyer's.
* Writing a child character can be hard to pull off, but Edmund is a delight.
* Sylvester's mother is lovely. I like that she's a writer as well (a poet) - she and Phoebe will be able to bond about writing.
The ending was a bit too prolonged for my tastes - the escapades in France got tiring - but on the whole I enjoyed this book a lot.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Liked the first half but it lost me in the second
Oh this was most entertaining! I was unable to put this book down and finished it in one sitting. I feel this is the first Georgette Heyer book where I truly liked both the male and female leads. Sylvester was endearing and had some very comical lines. I must confess that I wasn’t very fond of his calling Phoebe, sparrow (I thought this pet name completely ruined all romantic moments). I found the plot riveting from start to finish (the most plot driven Regency Romance book I’ve read so far). I loved Phoebe’s frankness and her resolve , and I could not have asked for a better “brother” than Tom. This is by far my favorite Georgette Heyer book (strangely they continue to improve in my ranks), and I thank Richard Almatage for a terrific narration of Sylvester (of note, near the end of the book I couldn’t recognize Sylvester and although I enjoyed his portrayal of embarrassment and vulnerability, I would’ve preferred being able to feel it was Sylvester to the very end):
I have never read any Georgette Heyer, though people call her the master of regency romance. I now see why. I was sucked into this by the very fact that it was read by Richard Armitage, but was pleasantly surprised to discover a very Darcy-esque hero. One can't stop listening in hopes that Sylvester, like Darcy, will come to his senses. Good fun!
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I’m such a fan of this author in general, that I hate to say this, but she tried to re-create pride and prejudice, and it just didn’t work. There wasn’t any true character growth from either one of them, and the actual romance was pretty baseless. We didn’t really get to see inside their heads like we have previous main characters.
Eh.
TASTEFUL REGENCY ROMANCES.
That is what I shall call these books. True, they're not Jane Austen but they're something like Jane Austen and that's good enough for me!
I liked the characters, however the story was pretty simple and happened to exist within the course of less than a couple weeks. :/ I also found the character development miniscule.
YET. I COULD NOT TURN AWAY? I am a sucker for stories that have to people at odds. It's my guilty book pleasure. This one had it in spades.
I'm curious to try another one of her books to see if it was just this one. My mother liked her stuff when she was my age; my friend likes her stuff now.
TASTEFUL REGENCY ROMANCES.
That is what I shall call these books. True, they're not Jane Austen but they're something like Jane Austen and that's good enough for me!
I liked the characters, however the story was pretty simple and happened to exist within the course of less than a couple weeks. :/ I also found the character development miniscule.
YET. I COULD NOT TURN AWAY? I am a sucker for stories that have to people at odds. It's my guilty book pleasure. This one had it in spades.
I'm curious to try another one of her books to see if it was just this one. My mother liked her stuff when she was my age; my friend likes her stuff now.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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:
Yes