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maplessence's review against another edition
3.0
3.5★
Look, even a weaker GH romance is still head & shoulders above romances by other writers, so I have to rate GH's novels against each other & sadly, although I am very fond of Nell & Giles, this isn't one of GH's best works. It was rushed out when GH was in financial difficulty - & I'm afraid it shows. GH has to work hard to sell the plot on this one. One of the many things I love about GH's writing is that it is so effortless - but this one isn't.
While my younger self could understand (& even sympathise) with Giles' spoilt younger sister Letty, the crabby old bat I have become just wanted to shake her - hard.
But, Dysart is one of the better of GH's irresponsible brother characters & he gets many of the best lines. The ending of this book is right up there with some of GH's stronger works - I read it three times chuckling every single time!
It's a good, escapist read.
Enjoy! :)
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshessonovel.wordpress.com
Look, even a weaker GH romance is still head & shoulders above romances by other writers, so I have to rate GH's novels against each other & sadly, although I am very fond of Nell & Giles, this isn't one of GH's best works. It was rushed out when GH was in financial difficulty - & I'm afraid it shows. GH has to work hard to sell the plot on this one. One of the many things I love about GH's writing is that it is so effortless - but this one isn't.
While my younger self could understand (& even sympathise) with Giles' spoilt younger sister Letty, the crabby old bat I have become just wanted to shake her - hard.
But, Dysart is one of the better of GH's irresponsible brother characters & he gets many of the best lines. The ending of this book is right up there with some of GH's stronger works - I read it three times chuckling every single time!
It's a good, escapist read.
Enjoy! :)
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshessonovel.wordpress.com
attytheresa's review against another edition
2.0
Tis the wee hours and I just finished my re-read of this romp from a favorite author, and have to say was severely disappointed. I found it incredibly irritating in so very many ways - especially Giles and Nell. For heaven's sake, how do you expect your extremely young inexperienced wife to behave when suddenly endowed with money and freedom? And since when is it a good idea to dress her down as you do your young sister, whom you have installed in your household and expect your equally young and naive wife to chaperone?
And the whole ridiculous mess of the dress bill... utterly preposturous, even for this genre.
Plus at the end suddenly caving in and agreeing to Letty's immediate marriage..absurd!
Definitely to my mind one of Heyer's weaker entries, saved only by a couple of set pieces (the cockroach business was inspired) and side characters (Corny is a hoot). Even Heyer's usual deft use of cant to bring you into the scene irritated rather than charmed me.
What was also odd for me at least was that this read as if I had never read it before. I know I did because I read all of them 40 or so years ago. Then again, it's very likely I have not read it since I remember absolutely nothing, zip, nada.
I was constantly impatient reading this one, finding it hard to settle into. Or maybe I am still too immersed in the intense drama of the final season of HBO's Game of Thrones to be reading something so frivolous. 😁
And the whole ridiculous mess of the dress bill... utterly preposturous, even for this genre.
Plus at the end suddenly caving in and agreeing to Letty's immediate marriage..absurd!
Definitely to my mind one of Heyer's weaker entries, saved only by a couple of set pieces (the cockroach business was inspired) and side characters (Corny is a hoot). Even Heyer's usual deft use of cant to bring you into the scene irritated rather than charmed me.
What was also odd for me at least was that this read as if I had never read it before. I know I did because I read all of them 40 or so years ago. Then again, it's very likely I have not read it since I remember absolutely nothing, zip, nada.
I was constantly impatient reading this one, finding it hard to settle into. Or maybe I am still too immersed in the intense drama of the final season of HBO's Game of Thrones to be reading something so frivolous. 😁
mimiathereader's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
3.25
As always a lighthearted and funny read. The ending of this one was too short for all the convoluted incidents that happened before.
readingwithopinions's review against another edition
2.0
I'm normally a huge fan of Georgette Heyer, but this book was incredibly disappointing. Though the main conflict of the book should have been between the two main characters, Nell and Cardross, the bulk of the book was focused on the most annoying character I've ever read in a Heyer novel, Cardross' younger sister Letty. Heyer has done the "annoying-yet-charming" trope in many of her other novels (ex: Phoebe in Sylvester, Pen in The Corinthian, etc.), but I have never before read a character that was as annoying as Letty, yet was supposed to be likable. The Earl's complete absence in the middle of the book made it impossible to develop the relationship between him and Nell, which made the reconciliation at the end seem incredibly forced. By far my least favorite from this author. At least the writing style, as always, was extremely witty and charming, which is the only reason this book isn't lower than two stars.
Why in God's name did the Earl allow Letty and Jeremy to get engaged at the end of the book? We'd spent the whole book being told that Letty was too immature for marriage, and then she proves it definitively by stealing a family heirloom and running away to force her "fiance" to marry her. And then Cardross allows them to get married??!?! WHY. Moreover, the book provided absolutely no reason for Nell and Cardross to be in love with each other. We don't get to see them fall in love at ALL, we're just told that they did during the season previous. All we get is Nell acting nervous around Cardross because money, and him being a dick. Ugh I hate it.
tbsims's review against another edition
2.0
This heyer book didn’t have the highly intelligent feisty heroine with super witty repartee
So while sweet, not my fav
So while sweet, not my fav
evieintheshire's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
3.25
sarmardea's review against another edition
2.0
I found myself constantly counting pages, not a good sign. Nell and Cardross could have had a better ending. Her brother and his friend drunk where great. That’s about it.
siria's review against another edition
2.0
An enjoyable enough read, even if it's about as deep as a puddle and possesses another plot which could have been solved within a couple of pages by people actually talking to one another. None of the characters are Heyer's best, and she lays on the cant a bit too thickly (and do I ever wish she didn't have that nasty strain of anti-Semitism showing through in her slang), but they're not her most annoying, either. Diverting for an hour or two.
flick_reads's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jennysjw's review
There are some thoughtful themes here about classism and the vulnerabilities, lack of agency, and the double-standards that women face.
Heyer’s writing is good and this book has its moments. But overall, it’s a B-version mash-up of recycled storylines and characters from Heyer’s other novels. There are too few interactions between the hero/heroine.
Heyer’s writing is good and this book has its moments. But overall, it’s a B-version mash-up of recycled storylines and characters from Heyer’s other novels. There are too few interactions between the hero/heroine.