Georgette Heyer’s CHARITY GIRL – A Rather Odd Heyer Regency

I like Georgette Heyer’s Regency romances but this was the strangest of all her books. Until the last ten pages there was no romance at all. No sparks anywhere.

 

Set in the Regency era, this is the story of Viscount Desford, who befriends a poor girl, Miss Charity Steane, who runs away from her aunt's household where she is treated like a servant. (Think Cinderella.) Charity wants to find her grandfather but, alas, he is a curmudgeon and not likely to take her in. Meanwhile, she meets Desford takes pity on her when he discovers her along the road to London. He takes her to London and to the home of his childhood friend, Henrietta.

 

While Charity (who likes to be called Cherry) is endearing herself into Henrietta’s mother’s good graces, Desford is jaunting about the countryside looking for Charity’s grandfather. 

Yes, it was true Desmond’s parents were enamored with Henrietta, but I sensed no love match between her and Desford. In fact, they even told us so. Charity was far more interesting until Henrietta started finding fault with her, describing her as not being bookish (which I took to mean she was not very intelligent). Except for Charity, they were all snobs from what I could see.

 

When Desmond declares his love for Henrietta, saying he’s always loved her, it came across as unbelievable. We never saw it.

 

Georgette Heyer’s BLACK SHEEP - A Classic Heyer Regency to enjoy!

 

This is Classics month on the blog and I’m sharing my reviews of my favorite Georgette Heyer Regencies.

 

Set in Bath in 1816, Black Sheep is the story of Abigail Wendover, 28, who, along with her sister Sabrina, has raised her young niece, Fanny, an orphan. It seems Fanny has fallen in love with a handsome fortune hunter and Abbie must enlist the aid of his uncle, Miles Caverleigh, who has returned from India where his family sent him for sins undisclosed, the black sheep. Miles is charming but often improper in his bantering speech. (Heyer did a splendid job bringing him to life on the page!) Abby is intrigued.

 

I give Heyer credit for creating a hero who has no respect for society’s rules. He’s just what Abby needs to pry her from what has become a too comfortable single life. He may not be terribly handsome but he is unique and will never bore her. And he appears to love Abby, who he calls by pet names like “pretty pea goose”.

 

Meanwhile, Miles doesn’t want to get involved in the affairs of a nephew he has never even met but as he loves Abby, he has little choice. And such a clever man he is!

 

A delightful Heyer Regency tale that will warm your heart and keep you entertained.

Georgette Heyer’s ARABELLA – Wonderfully Intricate Tale of an Unlikely Match

Heyer brings great detail to her stories and I love that. That’s why they are classics. This is a Regency about, Arabella Tallant, the daughter of a Yorkshire vicar who goes to London at her godmother’s invitation, hopefully to find a worthy husband. On the way, her carriage breaks down outside the hunting lodge of the wealthy Mr. Robert Beaumaris. Her pride is stung when she overhears him besmirching her purpose, so she pretends to be an heiress, a pretense that deeply amuses the jaded Beaumaris who decides it would be amusing to make sure she is thought by all of London to be just what she claims to be.

When compassionate Arabella rescues an abused chimney sweep and a mixed-breed mongrel, she foists them upon Beaumaris, who finds he rather enjoys being her partner in the role of rescuer. When Arabella’s younger brother, posing as someone else, gets into deep gambling trouble, Beaumaris comes to his rescue.

 

Arabella turns down her many marriage proposals knowing they only want the money they think she has and finds herself in a quandary knowing she can never marry a man unless he knows the truth, which she can never divulge.

 

A wonderful story. Arabella is a delightful heroine and Beaumaris is a great hero, a man who, in the end, does exactly the right thing for the women he has come to love.

 

It’s that time of year when I share my favorite heroes and heroines and I catch up with my reading in all genres.

 

How We Got to Where We Are Today: Modern Historical Romance Over the Last Several Decades, a Recommended Reading List for the Uninitiated

April is Classics month on Historical Romance Review. For those who love the genre, a review of how we got here is in order. Sometimes when I talk to fellow readers of historical romance, or even authors, and I mention a name from the past, an author who helped shape the genre, like Kathleen Woodiwiss or Rosemary Rogers, I get a blank stare in return. It occurred to me that it might be helpful to read some of the classics to see where we’ve come from and to enjoy the greats who have contributed so much to the craft.

 

Except for several novels of note in earlier decades, I’m starting in the 1970s. And while I may not have included your favorite author, by reading the romances on this list, you’ll have a good idea of our beginnings and what so many wonderful authors have done for the genre. Think of it as a Recommended Reading List for the Uninitiated in modern historical romance.

 

So, here’s the list of those I recommend, a sampling meant to give you a picture of how the genre has developed. Some may require you to shop online for a used book though many are available as ebooks. Most are novels I’ve rated 5 stars, so I promise you won’t be bored. 

 

Included because of their significance… and to show you what was out there early

 

·               The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer (1950)

·               Bride of the MacHugh by Jan Cox Speas (1954)

·               Sleep in the Woods by Dorothy Eden (1960)

·               The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett (1961)

·               Bond of Blood by Roberta Gellis (1965)

 

The 1970s: The Pioneering Years

 

·               The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss (1972)

·               The Wicked Marquis by Barbara Cartland (1973)

·               Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers (1974)

·               Love’s Tender Fury by Jennifer Wilde (aka Tom Huff) (1976)

·               Moonstruck Madness by Laurie McBain (1977)

·               Caroline by Cynthia Wright (1977)

·               Love’s Wild Desire by Jennifer Blake (1977)

·               The Kadin by Bertrice Small (1978)

·               A Pirate’s Love by Johanna Lindsey (1978)

·               Bonds of Love by Lisa Gregory (1978)

 

The 1980s: The Explosive Years

 

·               Lady Vixen by Shirlee Busbee (1980)

·               Skye O’Malley by Bertrice Small (1981)

·               Devil’s Embrace by Catherine Coulter (1982)

·               The Silver Devil by Teresa Denys (1984)

·               Rose of Rapture by Rebecca Brandewyne (1984)

·               Stormfire by Christine Monson (1984)

·               The Windflower by Laura London (aka Sharon & Tom Curtis) (1984)

·               Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught (1985)

·               The Wind and the Sea by Marsha Canham (1986)

·               Mountain Mistress by Nadine Crenshaw (1987)

·               The Hawk and the Dove by Virginia Henley (1988)

·               Capture the Sun by Shirl Henke (1988)

·               Nightwylde by Kimberleigh Caitlin (1988) Re-published as Black Falcon’s Lady

·               Sweet Savage Eden by Heather Graham (1989)

·               Heartstorm by Elizabeth Stuart (1989)

 

The 1990s: The Developing Years

 

·               Dark Fires by Brenda Joyce (1991)

·               The Wind Dancer by Iris Johansen (1991)

·               Keeper of the Dream by Penelope Williamson (1992)

·               Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale (1992)

·               Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (1992)

·               Untamed by Elizabeth Lowell (1993)

·               Princess of Fire by Shannon Drake (aka Heather Graham) (1994)

·               Lady of the Glen by Jennifer Roberson (1996)

·               Night in Eden by Candice Proctor (1997)

·               Kilgannon by Kathleen Givens (1999)

 

The 2000s: The “Standing On The Shoulders of Giants” Years

 

·               By Possession by Madeline Hunter (2000)

·               The Captain of All Pleasures by Kresley Cole (2003)

·               On a Highland Shore by Kathleen Givens (2006)

·               Laird of the Mist by Paula Quinn (2007)

·               Broken Wing by Judith James (2008)

·               My Lord and Spymaster by Joanna Bourne (2008)

·               The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran (2008)

·               Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold by Ellen O’Connell (2010)

·               The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

·               Pieces of Sky by Kaki Warner (2011)

How We God To Where We Are Today in Historical Romance, a Recommended Reading List for the Uninitiated

April is Classics month on Historical Romance Review. For those who love the genre, a review of how we got here is in order. Sometimes when I talk to fellow readers of historical romance, or even authors, and I mention a name from the past, an author who helped shape the genre, like Kathleen Woodiwiss or Rosemary Rogers, I get a blank stare in return. It occurred to me that it might be helpful to read some of the classics to see where we’ve come from and to enjoy the greats who have contributed so much to the craft.

 

Except for several novels of note in earlier decades, I’m starting in the 1970s. And while I may not have included your favorite author, by reading the romances on this list, you’ll have a good idea of our beginnings and what so many wonderful authors have done for the genre. Think of it as a Recommended Reading List for the Uninitiated in modern historical romance.

 

So, here’s the list of those I recommend, a sampling meant to give you a picture of how the genre has developed. Some may require you to shop online for a used book though many are available as ebooks. Most are novels I’ve rated 5 stars, so I promise you won’t be bored. 

 

Included because of their significance… and to show you what was out there early

 

·               The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer (1950)

·               Bride of the MacHugh by Jan Cox Speas (1954)

·               Sleep in the Woods by Dorothy Eden (1960)

·               The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett (1961)

·               Bond of Blood by Roberta Gellis (1965)

 

The 1970s: The Pioneering Years

 

·               The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss (1972)

·               The Wicked Marquis by Barbara Cartland (1973)

·               Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers (1974)

·               Love’s Tender Fury by Jennifer Wilde (aka Tom Huff) (1976)

·               Moonstruck Madness by Laurie McBain (1977)

·               Caroline by Cynthia Wright (1977)

·               Love’s Wild Desire by Jennifer Blake (1977)

·               The Kadin by Bertrice Small (1978)

·               A Pirate’s Love by Johanna Lindsey (1978)

·               Bonds of Love by Lisa Gregory (1978)

 

The 1980s: The Explosive Years

 

·               Lady Vixen by Shirlee Busbee (1980)

·               Skye O’Malley by Bertrice Small (1981)

·               Devil’s Embrace by Catherine Coulter (1982)

·               The Silver Devil by Teresa Denys (1984)

·               Rose of Rapture by Rebecca Brandewyne (1984)

·               Stormfire by Christine Monson (1984)

·               The Windflower by Laura London (aka Sharon & Tom Curtis) (1984)

·               Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught (1985)

·               The Wind and the Sea by Marsha Canham (1986)

·               Mountain Mistress by Nadine Crenshaw (1987)

·               The Hawk and the Dove by Virginia Henley (1988)

·               Capture the Sun by Shirl Henke (1988)

·               Nightwylde by Kimberleigh Caitlin (1988) Re-published as Black Falcon’s Lady

·               Sweet Savage Eden by Heather Graham (1989)

·               Heartstorm by Elizabeth Stuart (1989)

 

The 1990s: The Developing Years

 

·               Dark Fires by Brenda Joyce (1991)

·               The Wind Dancer by Iris Johansen (1991)

·               Keeper of the Dream by Penelope Williamson (1992)

·               Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale (1992)

·               Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (1992)

·               Untamed by Elizabeth Lowell (1993)

·               Princess of Fire by Shannon Drake (aka Heather Graham) (1994)

·               Lady of the Glen by Jennifer Roberson (1996)

·               Night in Eden by Candice Proctor (1997)

·               Kilgannon by Kathleen Givens (1999)

 

The 2000s: The “Standing On The Shoulders of Giants” Years

 

·               By Possession by Madeline Hunter (2000)

·               The Captain of All Pleasures by Kresley Cole (2003)

·               On a Highland Shore by Kathleen Givens (2006)

·               Laird of the Mist by Paula Quinn (2007)

·               Broken Wing by Judith James (2008)

·               My Lord and Spymaster by Joanna Bourne (2008)

·               The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran (2008)

·               Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold by Ellen O’Connell (2010)

·               The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley (2010)

·               Pieces of Sky by Kaki Warner (2011)