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Sanguinet Saga #9
Logic of the Heart: A Novel of Regency England
Patricia Veryan's delightful Regency novels have inspired Library Journal to call her "the superstar of the period romance" and The Chattanooga Times to hail her as "a worthy successor to Georgette Heyer at her very best." In Logic of the Heart, once again she brings us an irresistible blend of love and danger when she matches the enchanting Susan Henley with dashing Valentine Montclair...
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1990
3 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Veryan
75 books99 followersPatricia Valeria Bannister was born in London. After World War II, she married Allan Louis Berg and moved to the United States; she lived on the West Coast and was the author of many historical novels from 1978 until 2002, using the pen names Patricia Veryan and Gwyneth Moore.
At the time of her death, she was living in Bellevue, Washington, USA.
At the time of her death, she was living in Bellevue, Washington, USA.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 21, 2022
A lovely example of Patricia Veyran's book. A charming love story, with twists, action, mystery, humour, a dog, a cat, and a child. I think it would be also a lovely read as a standalone novel.
Yet, I can't say I valued it very highly, compared to her other books (I think it would have been better if it had had a page or two less in a few places).
In other words, definitely above the average of the genre, but below the average of the author. And don't skip this one, when you are reading the series.
[3.5 stars]
Yet, I can't say I valued it very highly, compared to her other books (I think it would have been better if it had had a page or two less in a few places).
In other words, definitely above the average of the genre, but below the average of the author. And don't skip this one, when you are reading the series.
[3.5 stars]
August 1, 2017
3 1/2
Funny as always! I really enjoyed this, don't let my rating fool you. its just not as amazing as Sanguienet's Crown. But way better than most regency tales.
Like other reviewers say, way too many misunderstandings, and at the end when you're starting your head wanting explanations for Adobe of the misunderstandings, the Hero and heroine laugh them off and everything is better. I was left still going, "wait, what? why did she do that?? why did he got over it so quikly?" I probably will get it on a future reread
Anyway, good continuation of the saga, I'm now rereading Lanterns as reading it out of order made me miss a lot.
PG some swears, fighting, mention of mistresses and talk of furies.
Funny as always! I really enjoyed this, don't let my rating fool you. its just not as amazing as Sanguienet's Crown. But way better than most regency tales.
Like other reviewers say, way too many misunderstandings, and at the end when you're starting your head wanting explanations for Adobe of the misunderstandings, the Hero and heroine laugh them off and everything is better. I was left still going, "wait, what? why did she do that?? why did he got over it so quikly?" I probably will get it on a future reread
Anyway, good continuation of the saga, I'm now rereading Lanterns as reading it out of order made me miss a lot.
PG some swears, fighting, mention of mistresses and talk of furies.
July 27, 2013
Although I enjoy Patricia Veryan's books, I often wish she would edit them down a bit. In this one, for instance, the hero and the heroine have misunderstandings about at least 10 different items. Laboriously, they straighten these out ONE AT A TIME. Come on, when they first realize that they misjudged circumstances, they couldn't correct more than one mistake at a time? 378 pages should have been 300. Enough said.
February 4, 2019
Not my favorite Veryan, but still good. 3.5/5 stars
January 16, 2019
3.75 stars.
After a run of lacklustre historical romances by Clare Darcy, I was so pleased to find Patricia Veryan. I forget who recommended her to me, but I'm really grateful to them!
Historically well researched, the characters all have distinctive voices and personalities, and some of their antics had me giggling to myself as I read. The hero and heroine spend a large portion of the story disliking each other, but unlike with Clare Darcy's stories, this doesn't make one or other of them unlikeable, but rather the sparks fly and their confrontations are enjoyable, often funny, and definitely help you to understand why they become so intrigued with one another.
I will definitely read more of Patricia Veryan's stories.
After a run of lacklustre historical romances by Clare Darcy, I was so pleased to find Patricia Veryan. I forget who recommended her to me, but I'm really grateful to them!
Historically well researched, the characters all have distinctive voices and personalities, and some of their antics had me giggling to myself as I read. The hero and heroine spend a large portion of the story disliking each other, but unlike with Clare Darcy's stories, this doesn't make one or other of them unlikeable, but rather the sparks fly and their confrontations are enjoyable, often funny, and definitely help you to understand why they become so intrigued with one another.
I will definitely read more of Patricia Veryan's stories.
September 20, 2020
4.5/5
Finally, a good regency romance after a string of disappointing ones. I'm glad to have discovered the writer. Had a good Georgette Heyer vibe, though a bit long-winded and over dramatic. I enjoyed characters, especially the villains.
Finally, a good regency romance after a string of disappointing ones. I'm glad to have discovered the writer. Had a good Georgette Heyer vibe, though a bit long-winded and over dramatic. I enjoyed characters, especially the villains.
January 12, 2023
More than a little disappointed in the hero in the last chapter, but it was a very good book and I read it straight through.
November 24, 2023
May actually be better. Been awhile. No clear memory. But kept my copy.
March 17, 2025
3.5
Could’ve done without the mild goofy racism.
Could’ve done without the mild goofy racism.
May 6, 2016
This really was quite a fun one to read. It was a fun adventure of pride, intrigue, murder and love. There was too many times to count that the characters had me laughing out loud (not to mention all the sighing over Priscilla's cuteness).
Summary:
The book starts out relatively slowly introducing you to Mr. Montclair and the little world in which he lives. You learn of his despicable relatives that have made living at Longhill Manor hell and that Montclair is suffering from a nameless illness of fainting spells.
In enters Susan Henley, a twenty something widow of a suicide, with her five year-old daughter, brother, a ragtag group of servants and one cheeky Spaniard. She is claiming that Highperch Cottage belongs to her. Mr. Valentine Montclair thinks otherwise.
Of course, a huge war for the cottage starts between the two. There is plenty of misunderstandings and their pride gets in the way. Upon their every meeting the complaints against the other become worse and worse. Susan thinks Montclair is a greedy, hardhearted ass while Valentine finds Mrs. Henley to be a graceless, rude temptress.
Montclair, in mysterious events, is found on the verge of death by Susan and her daughter. Valentine's family ends up sticking her with the responsibility of taking care of him. He recovers... slowly. During his recovery both of them start to realize that the opinions they formed of each other were wrong.
Characters:
Oh god, how great were the characters. I loved that both Susan and Valentine had glaring flaws. They seemed very much like real people. There was even times during my reading that I wanted to reach inside the pages and slap both of them and make them realize how utterly silly they were being.
I must say, though, that more so than the main characters I LOVED some of the side characters. Priscilla is by far one of the cutest children I have ever encountered in a book.
Just read this:
(Sorry for the long quote. I made it a spoiler just in case...and, by the way, when she says sac'fice she is talking about marrying him...)
But can't you see how it's so easy to fall in love with her...
Also, Angelo! Oh god Angelo. He is so darn cute and funny. I loved him as a character and thought he was so original and...well... odd. (In a good way. LOL)
Conclusion
The end for me was kind of rushed, but the mystery came together nicely and was explained perfectly so... I can't complain to much. I just felt that how the main characters finally came together was just a little disappointing. All in all, I loved this book though. The slow paced beginning and rushed ending were so small of complaints.
The characters for sure did it for me with this book. I can't express enough how much love I have for Priscilla.
I would definitely recommend this book, but especially to people that like a good mystery, like tension fraught romances, and the occasional laugh.
Summary:
The book starts out relatively slowly introducing you to Mr. Montclair and the little world in which he lives. You learn of his despicable relatives that have made living at Longhill Manor hell and that Montclair is suffering from a nameless illness of fainting spells.
In enters Susan Henley, a twenty something widow of a suicide, with her five year-old daughter, brother, a ragtag group of servants and one cheeky Spaniard. She is claiming that Highperch Cottage belongs to her. Mr. Valentine Montclair thinks otherwise.
Of course, a huge war for the cottage starts between the two. There is plenty of misunderstandings and their pride gets in the way. Upon their every meeting the complaints against the other become worse and worse. Susan thinks Montclair is a greedy, hardhearted ass while Valentine finds Mrs. Henley to be a graceless, rude temptress.
Montclair, in mysterious events, is found on the verge of death by Susan and her daughter. Valentine's family ends up sticking her with the responsibility of taking care of him. He recovers... slowly. During his recovery both of them start to realize that the opinions they formed of each other were wrong.
Characters:
Oh god, how great were the characters. I loved that both Susan and Valentine had glaring flaws. They seemed very much like real people. There was even times during my reading that I wanted to reach inside the pages and slap both of them and make them realize how utterly silly they were being.
I must say, though, that more so than the main characters I LOVED some of the side characters. Priscilla is by far one of the cutest children I have ever encountered in a book.
Just read this:
(Sorry for the long quote. I made it a spoiler just in case...and, by the way, when she says sac'fice she is talking about marrying him...)
But can't you see how it's so easy to fall in love with her...
Also, Angelo! Oh god Angelo. He is so darn cute and funny. I loved him as a character and thought he was so original and...well... odd. (In a good way. LOL)
Conclusion
The end for me was kind of rushed, but the mystery came together nicely and was explained perfectly so... I can't complain to much. I just felt that how the main characters finally came together was just a little disappointing. All in all, I loved this book though. The slow paced beginning and rushed ending were so small of complaints.
The characters for sure did it for me with this book. I can't express enough how much love I have for Priscilla.
I would definitely recommend this book, but especially to people that like a good mystery, like tension fraught romances, and the occasional laugh.
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April 2, 2010Logic of the Heart by Patricia Veryan (1991)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews