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A review by whosevita
April Lady by Georgette Heyer
3.0
I enjoyed this book, but that isn't to say I enjoyed it as much as Heyer's other books. The premise sounded so endearing to me. Two married people madly in love, who don't know it of eachtother. Both think they married eachtoher out of convience and money.
The romance was a little superficial. Heyer novels are never as explicit in declaration as modern romance seems to me. No: "I love you because of this and this and this." The characters are so likeable we can't help but already know what they like about eachother. With this book it was less so. A large part is that it was love at first sight. Not a favourite trope of mine. It was interesting enough that the book was about after that mairrage and the problems that arise after marrying do quickly without truly knowing eachtoher.
Cardross married Nel for her beauty and was afraid that he had been deceived. That beneath her youthfull frivolity she hid her deceit. She of course, is not wilfully deceiving him. He is wrong in his suspicion there, but it stands that he married her for her appearance. It isnt notably rebuked in the book. They don't really have any meaningful interaction where you can see how they care a out eachother.
I normally hate a misunderstanding, especially if the way to resolve all the problems is just to talk. However in this book the cards were so stacked against her that is was believable she felt she simply could not tell him. I didn't like the side stories of the usual devilish rake of a brother and a vapid excuse for a sister -found in every Heyer novel- but I understand they were necessary for the narritive.
The angst was good, the dialogue- like usual- perfect and I love how Georgette writes her male heroes. The cold civility used by Cardross to guard his heart was so well done.
The romance was a little superficial. Heyer novels are never as explicit in declaration as modern romance seems to me. No: "I love you because of this and this and this." The characters are so likeable we can't help but already know what they like about eachother. With this book it was less so. A large part is that it was love at first sight. Not a favourite trope of mine. It was interesting enough that the book was about after that mairrage and the problems that arise after marrying do quickly without truly knowing eachtoher.
Cardross married Nel for her beauty and was afraid that he had been deceived. That beneath her youthfull frivolity she hid her deceit. She of course, is not wilfully deceiving him. He is wrong in his suspicion there, but it stands that he married her for her appearance. It isnt notably rebuked in the book. They don't really have any meaningful interaction where you can see how they care a out eachother.
I normally hate a misunderstanding, especially if the way to resolve all the problems is just to talk. However in this book the cards were so stacked against her that is was believable she felt she simply could not tell him. I didn't like the side stories of the usual devilish rake of a brother and a vapid excuse for a sister -found in every Heyer novel- but I understand they were necessary for the narritive.
The angst was good, the dialogue- like usual- perfect and I love how Georgette writes her male heroes. The cold civility used by Cardross to guard his heart was so well done.