Day: June 11, 2012

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Heyerathon continues! Yes, this is what I am calling my incessant reading of Heyer’s books. I requested a bunch from my library and they all came at once. I am trying to read them more or less in chronological order of when they were published, but I admit that I skipped Royal Escape. I don’t know when I will get around to reading that since I am busy with the Victorian Reading Challenge and the Classics Club.

This has a similar plot to A Civil Contract as they both marriages which begin of convenience. TCM is classic Heyer with misunderstandings, romance, and over the top characters.

I liked the female lead Horatia right away, but then she spent most of the novel acting ridiculous. She was at least true to her age of seventeen, but I had hoped she would have more in her head. At least she recovered some of her wits by the end.

I adored the male lead, Lord Rule. There wasn’t enough him. Honestly, I like him better than the Alistairs of These Old Shades and Devil’s Cub. There was one scene where I remarked, “Now this is a man!” I enjoyed his sense of humor. I liked that he could be tough when necessarily, but did not have a reputation as a rake to go with it because he was much more clever than that.

Lastly, I’m sick of reading how every female in the 17th century gets kidnapped. I think it’s unavoidable in most of Heyer’s novels. It does irk me every time because it’s a horrible reminder of how women were treated as chattel even when they were rich or married. It rankles.

This was a quick read, not one of my favourites, but I think with Lord Rule, I’ve found one my favourite Heyer leads.

Read June 7th 2012.