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April Lady
When the new Lady Nell Cardross begins to fill her days with fashion and frivolity, the Earl has begun to wonder whether she really did marry him for his money. And now Nell doesn't dare tell him the truth...
246 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1957
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About the author
Georgette Heyer
245 books5,500 followersGeorgette Heyer was a prolific historical romance and detective fiction novelist. Her writing career began in 1921, when she turned a story for her younger brother into the novel The Black Moth.
In 1925 she married George Ronald Rougier, a mining engineer. Rougier later became a barrister and he often provided basic plot outlines for her thrillers. Beginning in 1932, Heyer released one romance novel and one thriller each year.
Heyer was an intensely private person who remained a best selling author all her life without the aid of publicity. She made no appearances, never gave an interview and only answered fan letters herself if they made an interesting historical point. She wrote one novel using the pseudonym Stella Martin.
Her Georgian and Regencies romances were inspired by Jane Austen. While some critics thought her novels were too detailed, others considered the level of detail to be Heyer's greatest asset.
Heyer remains a popular and much-loved author, known for essentially establishing the historical romance genre and its subgenre Regency romance.
In 1925 she married George Ronald Rougier, a mining engineer. Rougier later became a barrister and he often provided basic plot outlines for her thrillers. Beginning in 1932, Heyer released one romance novel and one thriller each year.
Heyer was an intensely private person who remained a best selling author all her life without the aid of publicity. She made no appearances, never gave an interview and only answered fan letters herself if they made an interesting historical point. She wrote one novel using the pseudonym Stella Martin.
Her Georgian and Regencies romances were inspired by Jane Austen. While some critics thought her novels were too detailed, others considered the level of detail to be Heyer's greatest asset.
Heyer remains a popular and much-loved author, known for essentially establishing the historical romance genre and its subgenre Regency romance.
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dnf
April 9, 2019Final comments and a DNF: So after a helpful discussion in the comment thread below, I read the first chapter, in which the heroine Nell, who's been married for a year to a nice (and wealthy, handsome and titled) guy, acts like an idiot and annoys me in more ways than I want to count. Okay, actually I will count: She's been wildly extravagant in her spending. She's giving money to her gambling addict brother to get him out of debt after her husband, Cardross, expressly forbade her from giving her brother more of his money. She flat-out lies about it when he asks her if she's done that again. She quivers like a rabbit. And she's decided, based on rumors and innuendos, that her husband doesn't love her, so she doesn't show him any love either. I wanted to smack her upside the head. (It's also clear that they both actually love each other but somehow this is getting lost in translation and their relationship is rocky.)
Anyway, it's clear that things are going to get a lot worse before they get better, so I skipped to the end just to get the HEA. Hah!
NO REGRETS.
Original post: Maybe I want to read this? I’m a Heyer fan, after all. But I checked this out from the library a couple of weeks ago so I could join this month’s group read of this book in the Georgette Heyer group, and I still haven’t been able to motivate myself to start reading it. Because I detest Big Misunderstandings in romance novels, especially when they’re between a married couple. USE YOUR WORDS PEOPLE.
Can anyone convince me this is worth my time? Because otherwise I think this book is heading back to the library unread ...
Anyway, it's clear that things are going to get a lot worse before they get better, so I skipped to the end just to get the HEA. Hah!
NO REGRETS.
Original post: Maybe I want to read this? I’m a Heyer fan, after all. But I checked this out from the library a couple of weeks ago so I could join this month’s group read of this book in the Georgette Heyer group, and I still haven’t been able to motivate myself to start reading it. Because I detest Big Misunderstandings in romance novels, especially when they’re between a married couple. USE YOUR WORDS PEOPLE.
Can anyone convince me this is worth my time? Because otherwise I think this book is heading back to the library unread ...
October 14, 2024
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! :)
Reread 13 Oct 2024
This book was always a hard sell when I was moderating Georgette Heyer Fans Group - & on this reading I can see why!
It isn't just that the main plot point is pretty weak - on this read I can see why Nell was so reluctant to own up - it is the amount of time given to filler to get up to a reasonable page count for this book. GH is showing off her research -a lot - here, with Nell's charming but volatile brother Dysart heading down the path of vice. This (& Giles's spoilt sister, Letty) do push Nell & Giles's troubled marriage off the main stage quite a bit, & near the end I was getting impatient for the resolution.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
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! :)
Reread 13 Oct 2024
This book was always a hard sell when I was moderating Georgette Heyer Fans Group - & on this reading I can see why!
It isn't just that the main plot point is pretty weak - on this read I can see why Nell was so reluctant to own up - it is the amount of time given to filler to get up to a reasonable page count for this book. GH is showing off her research -a lot - here, with Nell's charming but volatile brother Dysart heading down the path of vice. This (& Giles's spoilt sister, Letty) do push Nell & Giles's troubled marriage off the main stage quite a bit, & near the end I was getting impatient for the resolution.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
May 26, 2015
I know I was supposed to love this. But.....
The characters were enough to drive a saint batty.
Cardross was an idiot. How can he except his wife to know he loves her if he never tells her and when anything comes up he immediately assumes the worst about her? And let me not leave his wife out of the blame, Nell was a goose for not telling Cardross the whole truth from the beginning, I really don't know how she planned to explain herself the deeper she went. But she was sweet, and so I did like her.
Then we have the abominable Letty, oh she was awful. Almost, but not quite, a Tiffany Wield. Spoiled rotten. Couldn't abide her. Dysart was Nell's reckless brother, he was probably the most amusing character, if a trifle daft. But even he didn't live up to my expectations.
Sadly, these characters just were not Rule, Horry, Pelham and Rupert. This was no new and improved The Convenient Marriage, but a rehashing with duller characters. I missed Horry's witty remarks and Rule's dry humor and Pelham's helpful monkeying. While reading that I couldn't stop laughing, while reading this I didn't laugh once. I did smile at the end, but I guess I'm just disappointed I didn't find this more humorous. And that this Was supposedly about Nell and Cardross , but they never felt like a true couple to me. Did they even go anywhere together in this book? I don't recall. He never seemed to do anything with her, she was just like a pet, feed her, clothe her and pamper her. But heaven forbid you let her know you love her! She has to guess by your kind acts towards her family. Bah! Heyer has done better couples in my humble opinion.
Now to admit it: I never intended to like this more than The Convenient Marriage, and I didn't.
G a few swears, a past mistress and nothing else.
The characters were enough to drive a saint batty.
Cardross was an idiot. How can he except his wife to know he loves her if he never tells her and when anything comes up he immediately assumes the worst about her? And let me not leave his wife out of the blame, Nell was a goose for not telling Cardross the whole truth from the beginning, I really don't know how she planned to explain herself the deeper she went. But she was sweet, and so I did like her.
Then we have the abominable Letty, oh she was awful. Almost, but not quite, a Tiffany Wield. Spoiled rotten. Couldn't abide her. Dysart was Nell's reckless brother, he was probably the most amusing character, if a trifle daft. But even he didn't live up to my expectations.
Sadly, these characters just were not Rule, Horry, Pelham and Rupert. This was no new and improved The Convenient Marriage, but a rehashing with duller characters. I missed Horry's witty remarks and Rule's dry humor and Pelham's helpful monkeying. While reading that I couldn't stop laughing, while reading this I didn't laugh once. I did smile at the end, but I guess I'm just disappointed I didn't find this more humorous. And that this Was supposedly about Nell and Cardross , but they never felt like a true couple to me. Did they even go anywhere together in this book? I don't recall. He never seemed to do anything with her, she was just like a pet, feed her, clothe her and pamper her. But heaven forbid you let her know you love her! She has to guess by your kind acts towards her family. Bah! Heyer has done better couples in my humble opinion.
Now to admit it: I never intended to like this more than The Convenient Marriage, and I didn't.
G a few swears, a past mistress and nothing else.
February 23, 2014
What a good story! April Lady resembled The Convenient Marriage a lot, but the heroine in this one was far more enjoyable! Lady Nell is young, inexperienced, innocent, and repeatedly called a goose, but for all that I loved her and didn't think she was silly at all. She was the sort of girl I would love to have as a friend. I could relate to her in many ways, and I felt very bad for her when things escalated so dramatically after she chose to hid from her husband that she had a debt of three hundred pounds. Her reasons for hiding that debt were, in my opinion, very understandable. The story opens with Nell and her husband, the Earl of Cardross, who are very deeply in love with each other, but are both under the impression that the other doesn't return their regard. This love story had much potential, but it was unfortunately often put in the shade by Cardross's half-sister Letty's love affair with a certain Mr. Allandale.
Personally I didn't care much for Letty, as she was a very spoilt, annoying chit (not as bad as Tiffany Wield, in The Nonesuch, but bad enough to wish her out of the spotlight where I found she too often was put!), nor did I feel much for her betrothal to Mr. Allandale. I think that too much of the book was focused on them, and there weren't enough interactions between Nell and Giles.
Cardross is a rather unmemorable hero, as he is for the better part of the book in ignorance of what is going on under his roof, since all the characters seem to deem it best he shouldn't know of the dreadful happenings, lest he fly into a rage with his wife and/or half-sister. He did get mad, and no wonder, since no one will bother to set matters to rights with him! I felt bad for him, poor husband, desperately in love with his wife, thinking she married him for the money, and now bothered by a vexatious half-sister who has taken it into her head to marry a penniless man! Everyone was playing in his back, it seemed, as though he were the very worst of men! I liked him every time he put on an appearance, but that was sadly very seldom.
Nevertheless, I couldn’t but give April Lady a high rating for all that, because I still enjoyed it a lot! Nell was an excellent protagonist, her brother Dysart was over-the-top hilarious and awesome, the plot was engaging and there was so much humour and fun Regency slang as to have me chuckle to myself repeatedly (which resulted in my brothers’ demanding not very civilly that I shut up). Georgette Heyer is such a wonderful author, I simply cannot wait for my next read by her!
Personally I didn't care much for Letty, as she was a very spoilt, annoying chit (not as bad as Tiffany Wield, in The Nonesuch, but bad enough to wish her out of the spotlight where I found she too often was put!), nor did I feel much for her betrothal to Mr. Allandale. I think that too much of the book was focused on them, and there weren't enough interactions between Nell and Giles.
Cardross is a rather unmemorable hero, as he is for the better part of the book in ignorance of what is going on under his roof, since all the characters seem to deem it best he shouldn't know of the dreadful happenings, lest he fly into a rage with his wife and/or half-sister. He did get mad, and no wonder, since no one will bother to set matters to rights with him! I felt bad for him, poor husband, desperately in love with his wife, thinking she married him for the money, and now bothered by a vexatious half-sister who has taken it into her head to marry a penniless man! Everyone was playing in his back, it seemed, as though he were the very worst of men! I liked him every time he put on an appearance, but that was sadly very seldom.
Nevertheless, I couldn’t but give April Lady a high rating for all that, because I still enjoyed it a lot! Nell was an excellent protagonist, her brother Dysart was over-the-top hilarious and awesome, the plot was engaging and there was so much humour and fun Regency slang as to have me chuckle to myself repeatedly (which resulted in my brothers’ demanding not very civilly that I shut up). Georgette Heyer is such a wonderful author, I simply cannot wait for my next read by her!
April 5, 2015
Love love love Georgette Heyer. No one can do it quite like her although many try. Her characters are so charming, her take on the period so appealing and her plots so melodramatic and entertaining. I love every moment of each of her books. This particular book is not one of my most favourites but it is still delightful. I have to admit to a few almost tears at the end - happy ones of course as Heyer always writes the best happy endings. For me she is the ultimate in light reading and I always reach for her books when I need something sweet and fluffy yet still well written.
July 28, 2014
I worship at the alter of Heyer; I love every single one of her books - but April Lady (along with some of her other regencies) has a special place in my heart. I love this book with an unholy love, I can't count the number of times I've reread it.
Yes - I get the many, many similarities between this and Heyer's Convenient Marriage, but for all its critics I still can't see how this book hasn't gotten the same rep as Sophy. (Which I love dearly, but probably with less unholiness.) I have to admit, though, that I prefer Nell to Horry (from the Convenient Marriage), and Giles to Rule. I much preferred Nell and Giles' reserved, tender, development to Horry's disjointed, 'he-doesn't-love-me-like-I-love-him-time-to-disguise-my-love-through-partying' brashness and Rule's controlling tendencies. But I digress, and of course, people are entitled to their own opinions. (Only I wish that someone liked AL as much as I did.)
Heyer's heroines, of course, always get into scrapes, but none of that oddly contemporary regency seduction stuff that appears to be the norm nowadays - and April Lady is one big massive heroine scrape, unraveled through Heyer's bubbling, charming, storytelling. Heyer is probably the only writer with such a high! usage! of! exclamation! points! that I can stand. But then, Heyer's books are always delightful. Why, then, did April Lady stand out, and grab at me so much?
April Lady is the good thing that hurts. This is angsty, delicious misunderstanding written in the best possible way. Really, no kidding. As Nell - Helen - descended from one level of deception to another, my heart hurt alongside hers - especially when Giles - Cardross snipped at her, or looked at her in that terrible, lovely angsty way that people in misunderstandings (misunderstandment? Can you be struck by it?) are wont to do.
And there is no doubt that these two people love each other dearly, and could be absolutely happy together, but really, everything must go wrong before it starts going right, I guess. Because hey, that's fiction! Beyond that, however, it is misunderstanding with a solid foundation and it rolls at a proper pace. Oh, it snowballs, of course, but never descends into a crazy screwball mix, but rather a series of unfortunate events, timings, and circumstances.
When it all came to a crescendo at that fantastic scene in his office, I was hooked along with Nell - white-faced, tongue-tied, possibly even heartbroken (I think it was amazing that she didn't really cry at all; I would have sobbed like a baby) and I was amazed at how much feeling Heyer can put in a simple sentence, without telling us explicitly what is happening. She does this in all her writing, of course, but my heart stuttered quite seriously at some of her zinger, feeling sentences in this book - Did you feel that zing? No? READ the book. Context makes these lines hurt so good.
And you can't help but love Heyer's characters - hero or heroine, second leads, brothers, sisters, friends. Each one has character, and even if its not a likable one, Heyer's light touch defines the humorous side to their characterization, if not giving them depth and perspective. I was as much in love with Cardross as Nell was, because really, he's such a dear - and Nell is no less darling. She is sincere, and sweet, and Heyer knows how to balance character flaws well - Nell's flaws make her human, not Sue-y, as well as endear her all the more. Nell reads like a balance of naive and knowing, young but old - utterly charming as the story unfolds.
Yes, I loved April Lady.
Yes - I get the many, many similarities between this and Heyer's Convenient Marriage, but for all its critics I still can't see how this book hasn't gotten the same rep as Sophy. (Which I love dearly, but probably with less unholiness.) I have to admit, though, that I prefer Nell to Horry (from the Convenient Marriage), and Giles to Rule. I much preferred Nell and Giles' reserved, tender, development to Horry's disjointed, 'he-doesn't-love-me-like-I-love-him-time-to-disguise-my-love-through-partying' brashness and Rule's controlling tendencies. But I digress, and of course, people are entitled to their own opinions. (Only I wish that someone liked AL as much as I did.)
Heyer's heroines, of course, always get into scrapes, but none of that oddly contemporary regency seduction stuff that appears to be the norm nowadays - and April Lady is one big massive heroine scrape, unraveled through Heyer's bubbling, charming, storytelling. Heyer is probably the only writer with such a high! usage! of! exclamation! points! that I can stand. But then, Heyer's books are always delightful. Why, then, did April Lady stand out, and grab at me so much?
April Lady is the good thing that hurts. This is angsty, delicious misunderstanding written in the best possible way. Really, no kidding. As Nell - Helen - descended from one level of deception to another, my heart hurt alongside hers - especially when Giles - Cardross snipped at her, or looked at her in that terrible, lovely angsty way that people in misunderstandings (misunderstandment? Can you be struck by it?) are wont to do.
And there is no doubt that these two people love each other dearly, and could be absolutely happy together, but really, everything must go wrong before it starts going right, I guess. Because hey, that's fiction! Beyond that, however, it is misunderstanding with a solid foundation and it rolls at a proper pace. Oh, it snowballs, of course, but never descends into a crazy screwball mix, but rather a series of unfortunate events, timings, and circumstances.
When it all came to a crescendo at that fantastic scene in his office, I was hooked along with Nell - white-faced, tongue-tied, possibly even heartbroken (I think it was amazing that she didn't really cry at all; I would have sobbed like a baby) and I was amazed at how much feeling Heyer can put in a simple sentence, without telling us explicitly what is happening. She does this in all her writing, of course, but my heart stuttered quite seriously at some of her zinger, feeling sentences in this book - Did you feel that zing? No? READ the book. Context makes these lines hurt so good.
And you can't help but love Heyer's characters - hero or heroine, second leads, brothers, sisters, friends. Each one has character, and even if its not a likable one, Heyer's light touch defines the humorous side to their characterization, if not giving them depth and perspective. I was as much in love with Cardross as Nell was, because really, he's such a dear - and Nell is no less darling. She is sincere, and sweet, and Heyer knows how to balance character flaws well - Nell's flaws make her human, not Sue-y, as well as endear her all the more. Nell reads like a balance of naive and knowing, young but old - utterly charming as the story unfolds.
Yes, I loved April Lady.
April 1, 2019
Romance writers take their reputation in their hands when they spin a tale about an already married couple. The misunderstandings of married life have a very different flavor from those of courtship--and where is the thrill of the chase? Georgette Heyer surely understood this, but perhaps she liked setting herself a challenge for she wrote several novels about married couples and their tortuous path to true love.
April Lady introduces us to Lord Cardross and his recent bride, Nell. Nell is fourteen years her husband's junior, a damsel scarcely out of the schoolroom when she caught his eye. She is innocent and naive, we are told, while Cardross is a man of the world, hardened to the wiles of ladies of ton until he finds himself bowled over by Nell's charms. But Nell's mother has told her not to expect love from her husband and trained her to meet his predicted infidelities with complaisance. Cardross, meanwhile, tries not to frighten his young bride with passion, so each winds up believing that the other doesn't really care. Nell's extravagance also feeds their misunderstanding, and she becomes panicked and unable to confide in her husband. Her rackety brother is at hand to turn to instead, and of course he manages to make things worse.
Cardross also has a young and headstrong sister who is in love with an unsuitable man; and a few of Heyer's stock characters--the high-stickler cousin, the inarticulate friend, the censorious aunt--round out the cast.
It's hard to care about the hero and heroine: Nell is a pretty wigeon who nevertheless assumes an air of dignity and wisdom when it is convenient to the plot, and the plot also forces Cardross to act a bit more the tyrant (or at least the prosy schoolmaster) than is pleasing. We are told a lot of the setup in narrative instead of learning it for ourselves in fully realized scenes. The story is a bit thin, revolving almost entirely around efforts to pay a debt, and altogether this book feels as if Heyer wrote it in her sleep. Of course, Heyer could write romance in her sleep far more handily than most authors can do on their best days, so this book is pleasing enough. But once one has savored the pleasures of her best work it is hard not to be disappointed by this half-hearted effort.
April Lady introduces us to Lord Cardross and his recent bride, Nell. Nell is fourteen years her husband's junior, a damsel scarcely out of the schoolroom when she caught his eye. She is innocent and naive, we are told, while Cardross is a man of the world, hardened to the wiles of ladies of ton until he finds himself bowled over by Nell's charms. But Nell's mother has told her not to expect love from her husband and trained her to meet his predicted infidelities with complaisance. Cardross, meanwhile, tries not to frighten his young bride with passion, so each winds up believing that the other doesn't really care. Nell's extravagance also feeds their misunderstanding, and she becomes panicked and unable to confide in her husband. Her rackety brother is at hand to turn to instead, and of course he manages to make things worse.
Cardross also has a young and headstrong sister who is in love with an unsuitable man; and a few of Heyer's stock characters--the high-stickler cousin, the inarticulate friend, the censorious aunt--round out the cast.
It's hard to care about the hero and heroine: Nell is a pretty wigeon who nevertheless assumes an air of dignity and wisdom when it is convenient to the plot, and the plot also forces Cardross to act a bit more the tyrant (or at least the prosy schoolmaster) than is pleasing. We are told a lot of the setup in narrative instead of learning it for ourselves in fully realized scenes. The story is a bit thin, revolving almost entirely around efforts to pay a debt, and altogether this book feels as if Heyer wrote it in her sleep. Of course, Heyer could write romance in her sleep far more handily than most authors can do on their best days, so this book is pleasing enough. But once one has savored the pleasures of her best work it is hard not to be disappointed by this half-hearted effort.
April 6, 2011
As a number of other reviewers have pointed out, this amusing but unsatisfactory confection is a less well-done reworking of the theme of Heyer's earlier The Convenient Marriage; that is, the love-match in which neither spouse realizes that the other loves him or her. This time we unfortunately have no grounds for the love itself which, given the unattractive traits they exhibit during the course of the story, leaves the reader with little sense of romance. The secondary romance of the hero's unbearably spoilt and self-centered little sister was even less supported, as Letty behaved in ways that clearly distressed her better-mannered beau and no explanation for their mutual adoration is ever evinced. Heyer has written other romantic pairings with equal lack of sense, but usually they possess more charming personalities. Still, I was not unsympathetic to Cardoss and especially Nell, who was very young and behaving as her mother had raised her to do. And it was nice that her brother, although a wastrel, did his best to find a way to help her. All in all, a decent read but not an exceptional one; not recommended for those who aren't already Heyen enthusiasts.
February 4, 2016
This was a very good historical romance novel. This is the second book I have read by this author. Both books were replete with simpering women and gamblers. It is a story of unrequited love. The man and wife love each other but do not know how to let the other one know.
I enjoyed the naritor. She did the voices and accents very well.
I highly recommend this book to all.
Enjoy and Be Blessed.
Diamond
I enjoyed the naritor. She did the voices and accents very well.
I highly recommend this book to all.
Enjoy and Be Blessed.
Diamond
February 8, 2020
No. Just no. I tried, but I just couldn’t with this book.
FULL REVIEW IN MY BLOG: http://abookandateacup.blogspot.com/2...
FULL REVIEW IN MY BLOG: http://abookandateacup.blogspot.com/2...
August 25, 2022
2022 Review--4 stars
I think I've changed my mind again. I might like The Convenient Marriage more. But in fairness to this book, despite having an almost identical plot and character types, they are very different books. This is a funnier story, clearly written later and reflecting a different focus. There is no clear villain and instead over-the-top personalities drive the plot.
But oh what fun those over-the-top personalities are! I would love to see some of these scenes performed in a play.
The middle part is this book's greatest weakness as it continually circles back to Nell's fear over her debt/Nell's brother missing her urgent summons/Letty throwing a fit that she can't marry her boring lover.
The ending almost makes up for it, though, when everything ties together.
2019 Review--4 stars
I did this book a great disservice by taking it in such strong dislike the first time I read it. April Lady is a gem!
I think I like it more than The Convenient Marriage, though the two are very similar and the youthful bride trope will never be my favorite. But where The Convenient Marriage relies on madcap misunderstandings with a proper villain to make things worse, April Lady is comedic.
There is a scene where a very inebriated gentleman enters another person's house and thinks it is his own. He thanks everyone for coming and then is appalled to discover he only set out two wine glasses for his party. I quite literally laughed out loud. The last bit of the book kept me continually chuckling thanks to the inebriated brother and his friend.
And then there is Felix. I love Felix. He is Freddy Stanton from Cotillion in another form. And did I mention I love Freddy? Felix is going on my favorite characters shelf.
Lady Cardross is a bit silly and frivolous but she has a great deal of dignity and I liked her immensely.
And finally, there is Lord Cardross himself. He is, I suppose, a typical Heyer hero in some regards. But he is a hero driven to the point of distraction because he cannot get his wife to love him. The reader thus sees a different side of the Heyer hero. He has feet of clay, so to speak. He reminded me of Max Ravenscar from Faro's Daughter.
Anyway, all this rambling to say, my old review was wrong, as usual. I enjoyed April Lady much more than I expected to when I began it.
2012 Review--2 stars
I have to admit, I was rather disappointed in this one. The plot is so typically Heyer that it is not really original. In my opinion, its a weaker version of The Convenient Marriage. Beautiful, enchanting young lady marries a man several years her senior, falls in love with him but thinks he has a mistress, and turns cold. Man really adores bride and can't figure out why he can't seem to win her heart.
That plot plays a rather ramshackle seniority to the also very Heyer-ish side plot of the husband's younger sister, who is madly in love and determined to run off with her respectable beau.
Also very typical is the wife's brother, who is a poster boy Heyer brother. In fact, he was the only thing that made this plot particularly interesting.
Perhaps I have read to many Georgette Heyer books, but they get almost redundant. Her characters, so clever the first time, even the second and third, are simply predictable by the fourth. This particular book had mistaken love, a masquerade, and hold-up! All very, very Heyer.
Anyway, not my favorite from the Queen of the Regency, but not terrible.
I think I've changed my mind again. I might like The Convenient Marriage more. But in fairness to this book, despite having an almost identical plot and character types, they are very different books. This is a funnier story, clearly written later and reflecting a different focus. There is no clear villain and instead over-the-top personalities drive the plot.
But oh what fun those over-the-top personalities are! I would love to see some of these scenes performed in a play.
The middle part is this book's greatest weakness as it continually circles back to Nell's fear over her debt/Nell's brother missing her urgent summons/Letty throwing a fit that she can't marry her boring lover.
The ending almost makes up for it, though, when everything ties together.
2019 Review--4 stars
I did this book a great disservice by taking it in such strong dislike the first time I read it. April Lady is a gem!
I think I like it more than The Convenient Marriage, though the two are very similar and the youthful bride trope will never be my favorite. But where The Convenient Marriage relies on madcap misunderstandings with a proper villain to make things worse, April Lady is comedic.
There is a scene where a very inebriated gentleman enters another person's house and thinks it is his own. He thanks everyone for coming and then is appalled to discover he only set out two wine glasses for his party. I quite literally laughed out loud. The last bit of the book kept me continually chuckling thanks to the inebriated brother and his friend.
And then there is Felix. I love Felix. He is Freddy Stanton from Cotillion in another form. And did I mention I love Freddy? Felix is going on my favorite characters shelf.
Lady Cardross is a bit silly and frivolous but she has a great deal of dignity and I liked her immensely.
And finally, there is Lord Cardross himself. He is, I suppose, a typical Heyer hero in some regards. But he is a hero driven to the point of distraction because he cannot get his wife to love him. The reader thus sees a different side of the Heyer hero. He has feet of clay, so to speak. He reminded me of Max Ravenscar from Faro's Daughter.
Anyway, all this rambling to say, my old review was wrong, as usual. I enjoyed April Lady much more than I expected to when I began it.
2012 Review--2 stars
I have to admit, I was rather disappointed in this one. The plot is so typically Heyer that it is not really original. In my opinion, its a weaker version of The Convenient Marriage. Beautiful, enchanting young lady marries a man several years her senior, falls in love with him but thinks he has a mistress, and turns cold. Man really adores bride and can't figure out why he can't seem to win her heart.
That plot plays a rather ramshackle seniority to the also very Heyer-ish side plot of the husband's younger sister, who is madly in love and determined to run off with her respectable beau.
Also very typical is the wife's brother, who is a poster boy Heyer brother. In fact, he was the only thing that made this plot particularly interesting.
Perhaps I have read to many Georgette Heyer books, but they get almost redundant. Her characters, so clever the first time, even the second and third, are simply predictable by the fourth. This particular book had mistaken love, a masquerade, and hold-up! All very, very Heyer.
Anyway, not my favorite from the Queen of the Regency, but not terrible.
October 29, 2015
reread 28/10 to 29/10
Gawd why do I stay up and read? I always get such massive headaches in the morning.
I thoroughly enjoyed rereading this! missed Heyer alot and I guess I've been in the mood for a good, pure, light romance (lol initially wrote 'rance', and this is why I should never try and review at 2am in the morning! lol).
Nell is a bit of an airhead but her heart is in he right place. Unlike some Heyer books there isn't much interaction between the heroine and the hero but all the feels are there. Specially when it comes to the scenes with Giles in it! (Love the name Giles!) Giles is quite a bit older than Nell but had fallen in love with her on sight hence why he made her an offer (prior to the beginning of this book). While this story is more focussed on the drama of Nell's little money dilemma, there's still just enough relationship conflict to really get a good feel of their love for each other.
One of Heyer's novels that feature a newlywed married couple who are still figuring out their rhythm and why they married each other (since the both think that the other married them for either convenience or money).
Loved Nell's brother! Dysart is absolutely hilarious, both a terrible and great brother too!
Once again, this is another of Heyer's famous Regency romances (historical).
U P D A T E
Since I'm wayyyy more awake and my head a lot clearer right now, I want to add:
- Nell, is quite a bit younger than Giles (No surprise, usually Heyer heros and Heroines are like that)
- Nell thinks a lot of stupid things, but it's not like an irritating kind of stupid. She has actually carefully thought about it (well as carefully as some as shattered-brained as Nell can think of based on her knowledge of the world) and she doesn't act unless she feels like she's completely at the ends of her ropes.
- The trouble between Nell and Giles only happens (as previously mentioned) because of the gossip around their marriage. Since Giles is much older (not excessively like papa aged older, but at least a decade) and has been practically a confirmed bachelor until he met Nell, and fell in love at first sight. Giles is of course very rich, and didn't need to marry a rich woman, but also, didn't need to have saddled himself with a family like Nell's. Nell's family is of course, a whole bunch of gamblers, though respectable, have a bad reputation for it, and they would have become bankrupt if Nell hadn't married Giles. Hence why, they were so lucky when Giles did. Which of course makes him doubt her feelings for him.
- Nell's feelings are restricted and compounded by her mama's not-so-wise words and her sister-in-law's artless declaration when she first met Nell. And since Nell frets a lot, it of course, got to her, and wanting to prove that she isn't like her father or her brother or any of her other relatives, she well...hides her debts (which incurred not because it was her doing, but because she was too good and worried about Dysart too much, and too ready to lend him money when he asked)
- Which brings me to Dysart. Again, hilarious guy, specially at the end of the book! So bloody funny, he really...he really does love his sister!! Would do anything to help her and also had no shame about borrowing from her either! In the end, he really isn't such a bad guy!
- This book is indeed a little different to some of Heyer's other regency romances in the sense that it focusses on Nell more so than the actual development of the relationship between the main characters.
- OH! Also, Nell's actions at the end really show her pluck. Because mostly throughout the book you think she doesn't have much courage, but actually she does. She's a bit of a mild character, happy to be the good, convenient wife who won't shame her husband, but at the same time, if she knows Giles really does love her, then she would do anything for him.
O V E R A L L
I recommend as a suggestive read to anyone who wants a light romance between two newlyweds. Classic Heyer style, lots of tension between the characters which breaks into the relieving final kiss of the story, and that happy couple moment. There's also some drama without being too overly dramatic, and it's quite humourous too!
Gawd why do I stay up and read? I always get such massive headaches in the morning.
I thoroughly enjoyed rereading this! missed Heyer alot and I guess I've been in the mood for a good, pure, light romance (lol initially wrote 'rance', and this is why I should never try and review at 2am in the morning! lol).
Nell is a bit of an airhead but her heart is in he right place. Unlike some Heyer books there isn't much interaction between the heroine and the hero but all the feels are there. Specially when it comes to the scenes with Giles in it! (Love the name Giles!) Giles is quite a bit older than Nell but had fallen in love with her on sight hence why he made her an offer (prior to the beginning of this book). While this story is more focussed on the drama of Nell's little money dilemma, there's still just enough relationship conflict to really get a good feel of their love for each other.
One of Heyer's novels that feature a newlywed married couple who are still figuring out their rhythm and why they married each other (since the both think that the other married them for either convenience or money).
Loved Nell's brother! Dysart is absolutely hilarious, both a terrible and great brother too!
Once again, this is another of Heyer's famous Regency romances (historical).
U P D A T E
Since I'm wayyyy more awake and my head a lot clearer right now, I want to add:
- Nell, is quite a bit younger than Giles (No surprise, usually Heyer heros and Heroines are like that)
- Nell thinks a lot of stupid things, but it's not like an irritating kind of stupid. She has actually carefully thought about it (well as carefully as some as shattered-brained as Nell can think of based on her knowledge of the world) and she doesn't act unless she feels like she's completely at the ends of her ropes.
- The trouble between Nell and Giles only happens (as previously mentioned) because of the gossip around their marriage. Since Giles is much older (not excessively like papa aged older, but at least a decade) and has been practically a confirmed bachelor until he met Nell, and fell in love at first sight. Giles is of course very rich, and didn't need to marry a rich woman, but also, didn't need to have saddled himself with a family like Nell's. Nell's family is of course, a whole bunch of gamblers, though respectable, have a bad reputation for it, and they would have become bankrupt if Nell hadn't married Giles. Hence why, they were so lucky when Giles did. Which of course makes him doubt her feelings for him.
- Nell's feelings are restricted and compounded by her mama's not-so-wise words and her sister-in-law's artless declaration when she first met Nell. And since Nell frets a lot, it of course, got to her, and wanting to prove that she isn't like her father or her brother or any of her other relatives, she well...hides her debts (which incurred not because it was her doing, but because she was too good and worried about Dysart too much, and too ready to lend him money when he asked)
- Which brings me to Dysart. Again, hilarious guy, specially at the end of the book! So bloody funny, he really...he really does love his sister!! Would do anything to help her and also had no shame about borrowing from her either! In the end, he really isn't such a bad guy!
- This book is indeed a little different to some of Heyer's other regency romances in the sense that it focusses on Nell more so than the actual development of the relationship between the main characters.
- OH! Also, Nell's actions at the end really show her pluck. Because mostly throughout the book you think she doesn't have much courage, but actually she does. She's a bit of a mild character, happy to be the good, convenient wife who won't shame her husband, but at the same time, if she knows Giles really does love her, then she would do anything for him.
O V E R A L L
I recommend as a suggestive read to anyone who wants a light romance between two newlyweds. Classic Heyer style, lots of tension between the characters which breaks into the relieving final kiss of the story, and that happy couple moment. There's also some drama without being too overly dramatic, and it's quite humourous too!
May 8, 2018
2.5
The plot of April Lady comes down to an unpaid bill that the heroine forgot to tell her husband.
But that and everything else that comes out of it has its root in a 'lovely' advice the young bride got from her mother. She was informed that Giles married her because it was convenient, that he would always have a mistress and that she has to go with it and never show what she feels. The fact that she was welcomed by his younger sister saying that she is 'prettier by far than Giles's mistress'. How's that for a nice warm welcome!
The thing is, they do love each other but all the miscommunication only managed to make more problems.
So Nell tells one lie, then she has to cover it up with another and so on, and her behaviour that is actually embarrassment is seen as coldness and proof that she doesn't love him.
There is a sub-plot with Giles's younger sister Letty which was used to show how naive Nell actually is. Letty is a horrible character.
The character that made it up for me was Nell's brother Dysart. He is a rake and a gambler. He is definitely not flawless, but unlike Letty he is not selfish. He is the one that made this book interesting.
I realized what my issue with Heyer's characters is. It is completely personal and it's not a writing flaw. I need more passionate ones. At least in a romance, I need them to do more than intone a line of text when they think it is necessary. I might try Arabella later or I just might like her crime mysteries more.
The plot of April Lady comes down to an unpaid bill that the heroine forgot to tell her husband.
But that and everything else that comes out of it has its root in a 'lovely' advice the young bride got from her mother. She was informed that Giles married her because it was convenient, that he would always have a mistress and that she has to go with it and never show what she feels. The fact that she was welcomed by his younger sister saying that she is 'prettier by far than Giles's mistress'. How's that for a nice warm welcome!
The thing is, they do love each other but all the miscommunication only managed to make more problems.
So Nell tells one lie, then she has to cover it up with another and so on, and her behaviour that is actually embarrassment is seen as coldness and proof that she doesn't love him.
There is a sub-plot with Giles's younger sister Letty which was used to show how naive Nell actually is. Letty is a horrible character.
The character that made it up for me was Nell's brother Dysart. He is a rake and a gambler. He is definitely not flawless, but unlike Letty he is not selfish. He is the one that made this book interesting.
I realized what my issue with Heyer's characters is. It is completely personal and it's not a writing flaw. I need more passionate ones. At least in a romance, I need them to do more than intone a line of text when they think it is necessary. I might try Arabella later or I just might like her crime mysteries more.
May 4, 2021
This is the only Georgette Heyer novel I've read that I struggled to finish. The characters are all patently stupid and/or absurd and/or spoiled rotten. The only exception, Lord Cardross, is sadly absent through most of the book.
It failed to charm me, but even a below-standard Heyer is well-written and well-plotted enough to earn an "it's okay" rating. It's just not up to the high standards of the two dozen or so other Heyer novels I've read.
It failed to charm me, but even a below-standard Heyer is well-written and well-plotted enough to earn an "it's okay" rating. It's just not up to the high standards of the two dozen or so other Heyer novels I've read.
April 19, 2024
Poor Lady Nell Cardross! Money just seems to slip through her fingers, and she's terrible about paying her bills on time! And then there's her wild sister-in-law Letty, barely two years younger and determined to enjoy every minute of every party, rout, ball, musicale, and masquerade in her first Season, with Nell as her chaperone. But worst part is: Nell is hopelessly in love . . . with her husband! So unfashionable! Whatever is Nell to do?
August 20, 2014
Dear Reader,
By my 3 1/2 star rating, I would not have you take it I did not enjoy this book- I could never NOT enjoy a Heyer- but out of ALL the Heyers I have read, this was one of my lesser favorites. ;) I love regencies full of banter and love-hate relationships between the couple right up til the end when they realize they've been ridiculous to think they didn't like the other, but I get super frustrated when the story is about a married couple who absolutely adore each other but are confused by misunderstandings and misconceptions about each other because they refuse to COMMUNICATE! and it just builds and builds until you think they're going to end up completely hating each other- and then someone sheds light on the situation (in this case through a series of hilarious events that take place over the last 3 chapters) and the leading couple realizes how stupid they were and how if they'd JUST told the other this or that NONE of this would have happened. :P *sigh* I suppose it would have been an extremely short novel if the author had taken my preferences into consideration, so I'll tell you that- since I knew the entire time everything would turn out well (this IS a Heyer!<3)- I was able to relax and enjoy the story. But being frustrated the whole time and wanting to slap some sense into Giles and Nell kind of made me impatient for the end and I was (*gasp*) only too happy for the end of this book to come and everything to be resolved. And, of course, I still recommend this to all my fellow Heyer fanatics! ^_^
Tally-ho!
~Alice
By my 3 1/2 star rating, I would not have you take it I did not enjoy this book- I could never NOT enjoy a Heyer- but out of ALL the Heyers I have read, this was one of my lesser favorites. ;) I love regencies full of banter and love-hate relationships between the couple right up til the end when they realize they've been ridiculous to think they didn't like the other, but I get super frustrated when the story is about a married couple who absolutely adore each other but are confused by misunderstandings and misconceptions about each other because they refuse to COMMUNICATE! and it just builds and builds until you think they're going to end up completely hating each other- and then someone sheds light on the situation (in this case through a series of hilarious events that take place over the last 3 chapters) and the leading couple realizes how stupid they were and how if they'd JUST told the other this or that NONE of this would have happened. :P *sigh* I suppose it would have been an extremely short novel if the author had taken my preferences into consideration, so I'll tell you that- since I knew the entire time everything would turn out well (this IS a Heyer!<3)- I was able to relax and enjoy the story. But being frustrated the whole time and wanting to slap some sense into Giles and Nell kind of made me impatient for the end and I was (*gasp*) only too happy for the end of this book to come and everything to be resolved. And, of course, I still recommend this to all my fellow Heyer fanatics! ^_^
Tally-ho!
~Alice
December 30, 2024
It remains one of the least liked by me Heyer's novels.
The idea of "marriage misunderstanding" was nice as an idea for romance.
The characters, mostly secondary, were very Heyer-ish.
There was wit, and the atmosphere of the Regency upper-class (with it absurdities/ugliness in the background).
Yet, it just didn't give me the pleasure that most of the author's books did.
-------------------------
My review after the first reading:
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It is a good Heyer's book. I had fun a few times during reading some scenes. There is also one or two romantic scenes I like to read in Heyer's books. But...
Maybe because some scenes have remembered me too much scenes from others books of Heyer or maybe they aren't so good like they could be, I don't know, but the fact is I wasn't so taken like I could be by Heyer.
For me it the best part of this book is when Nell met Dy and Mr. Fancot during her searching for Letty (Dysart is I think the best character of this book).
The idea of "marriage misunderstanding" was nice as an idea for romance.
The characters, mostly secondary, were very Heyer-ish.
There was wit, and the atmosphere of the Regency upper-class (with it absurdities/ugliness in the background).
Yet, it just didn't give me the pleasure that most of the author's books did.
-------------------------
My review after the first reading:
-------------------------
It is a good Heyer's book. I had fun a few times during reading some scenes. There is also one or two romantic scenes I like to read in Heyer's books. But...
Maybe because some scenes have remembered me too much scenes from others books of Heyer or maybe they aren't so good like they could be, I don't know, but the fact is I wasn't so taken like I could be by Heyer.
For me it the best part of this book is when Nell met Dy and Mr. Fancot during her searching for Letty (Dysart is I think the best character of this book).
April 30, 2019
Not one of Heyer's best but still quite amusing. The 'big misunderstanding' was too drawn out. Some of the characters were interesting. Dysart I liked and I loved Felix. He made me laugh every time he appeared.
Letty I wanted to slap. What a spoiled, unlikable person she was. She could be cruel when she wasn't getting her own way.
I was expecting Nell to be a feather head with no thought of anything but spending money so I was nicely surprised to discover she had some substance to her. We don't get to see a lot of Cardross or even of Cardross and Nell together so it's hard to sympathise with them. I felt the ending was slightly rushed and abrupt. I don't think Heyer spent much time over this novel. Her other books are far better researched and much more appealing.
Letty I wanted to slap. What a spoiled, unlikable person she was. She could be cruel when she wasn't getting her own way.
I was expecting Nell to be a feather head with no thought of anything but spending money so I was nicely surprised to discover she had some substance to her. We don't get to see a lot of Cardross or even of Cardross and Nell together so it's hard to sympathise with them. I felt the ending was slightly rushed and abrupt. I don't think Heyer spent much time over this novel. Her other books are far better researched and much more appealing.
December 9, 2010
Snowballing problems due to stupidity, fear, and dishonesty didn’t entertain me, but I enjoyed the dialogue and the narrator.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
I did not enjoy reading about the heroine Nell. She did too many stupid things. She was not honest with Giles her husband which resulted in inaccurate assumptions by both of them. They each thought the other didn’t care, so they acted in stand-offish ways, which reinforced the beliefs that the other didn’t care. How did this start? Nell’s mother was ignorant and told a lie. The mother told Nell that Giles only married her for convenience, would never love her, would always have a mistress, and Nell should not show her true feelings or any insecurities. From the stupidity of youth Nell believed her and felt she could not go to Giles with her problems, and she never let him know that she loved him. Nell avoided being with Giles for various reasons. In one scene, Giles wanted Nell to stay home with him, but Nell said she wanted to go to a play with Letty. She really didn’t want to go, but she chose to go because she feared Letty might argue with Giles if they stayed home. This was not following Nell’s feelings, and it was a stupid reason (IMO). Another problem was Nell frequently acting afraid of Giles, and he saw this. Giles loved Nell, but he never told her. He believed she married him only for his money which was not true. The plot starts with Nell telling a lie to Giles. Then she had to keep making up more lies to cover previous lies which snowballed into a mess by the end of the book. At one point Giles was angry at Nell believing she stole something which was not true, but she didn’t deny it which was another lie. This did not work for me. I was more annoyed than enjoyed.
Another example of stupidity: midway in the story Felix offered to loan Nell the money, and she said no. I’m shaking my head – what? She was desperate and that would have solved her problem.
On my profile page, I have a list of pet peeves. This story used three of them: (1) conflicts due to vague communication and inaccurate assumptions (2) lying with does not fit with one’s feelings and motivations and (3) heroine doing stupid things. Sometimes a small amount of these can work, but this story had too much.
I loved the narrator, Eve Matheson. She spoke slowly, was easy to understand, and had such a pleasant, lovely voice. She’s my favorite female narrator so far.
STORY BRIEF:
Nell’s brother Dysart is an irresponsible gambler. He borrows 300 pounds from Nell which means she can’t pay her clothing bills. She doesn’t tell Giles that Dysart borrowed from her. She doesn’t tell Giles she has an unpaid bill of 300 pounds. She goes to Dysart for help, and they consider and attempt various schemes to get the money.
A second story is about Giles’ half-sister Letty who is 17 and wants to marry Jeremy who has no money. Giles is against the marriage at this time due to Letty’s age. But he will support it in a couple of years. This is unacceptable to Letty who is furious and plans her own schemes. Letty is selfish, foolish, and very stupid.
DATA:
Unabridged audiobook length: 9 hours. Narrator: Eve Matheson. Swearing language: none. Sexual content: none. Setting: 1813 England. Book Published: 1957. Genre: regency romance.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
I did not enjoy reading about the heroine Nell. She did too many stupid things. She was not honest with Giles her husband which resulted in inaccurate assumptions by both of them. They each thought the other didn’t care, so they acted in stand-offish ways, which reinforced the beliefs that the other didn’t care. How did this start? Nell’s mother was ignorant and told a lie. The mother told Nell that Giles only married her for convenience, would never love her, would always have a mistress, and Nell should not show her true feelings or any insecurities. From the stupidity of youth Nell believed her and felt she could not go to Giles with her problems, and she never let him know that she loved him. Nell avoided being with Giles for various reasons. In one scene, Giles wanted Nell to stay home with him, but Nell said she wanted to go to a play with Letty. She really didn’t want to go, but she chose to go because she feared Letty might argue with Giles if they stayed home. This was not following Nell’s feelings, and it was a stupid reason (IMO). Another problem was Nell frequently acting afraid of Giles, and he saw this. Giles loved Nell, but he never told her. He believed she married him only for his money which was not true. The plot starts with Nell telling a lie to Giles. Then she had to keep making up more lies to cover previous lies which snowballed into a mess by the end of the book. At one point Giles was angry at Nell believing she stole something which was not true, but she didn’t deny it which was another lie. This did not work for me. I was more annoyed than enjoyed.
Another example of stupidity: midway in the story Felix offered to loan Nell the money, and she said no. I’m shaking my head – what? She was desperate and that would have solved her problem.
On my profile page, I have a list of pet peeves. This story used three of them: (1) conflicts due to vague communication and inaccurate assumptions (2) lying with does not fit with one’s feelings and motivations and (3) heroine doing stupid things. Sometimes a small amount of these can work, but this story had too much.
I loved the narrator, Eve Matheson. She spoke slowly, was easy to understand, and had such a pleasant, lovely voice. She’s my favorite female narrator so far.
STORY BRIEF:
Nell’s brother Dysart is an irresponsible gambler. He borrows 300 pounds from Nell which means she can’t pay her clothing bills. She doesn’t tell Giles that Dysart borrowed from her. She doesn’t tell Giles she has an unpaid bill of 300 pounds. She goes to Dysart for help, and they consider and attempt various schemes to get the money.
A second story is about Giles’ half-sister Letty who is 17 and wants to marry Jeremy who has no money. Giles is against the marriage at this time due to Letty’s age. But he will support it in a couple of years. This is unacceptable to Letty who is furious and plans her own schemes. Letty is selfish, foolish, and very stupid.
DATA:
Unabridged audiobook length: 9 hours. Narrator: Eve Matheson. Swearing language: none. Sexual content: none. Setting: 1813 England. Book Published: 1957. Genre: regency romance.
August 4, 2020
Not a favorite- as several of the Georgette Heyer group pointed out in our discussions, this book does not have the humor and clever, memorable set pieces fans have come to expect in Heyer’s sparkling Regency comedies.
I did like Nell, our heroine, and her scapegrace brother Dysart, and her cousin by marriage, Felix. The hero, Cardross, is one of Heyer’s alpha heroes, but we really don’t get to know him as well - the ending is fun and funny and all loose ends are tied up, but really doesn’t make up for the dreadfully spoiled Letty. She is Cardross’ younger sister and beloved by Nell, but the young bride is Letty’s chaperone and charged with keeping her temperamental, strong-willed younger sister-in-law in line, including her behavior toward the long-winded but serious Mr. Allendale, a young man of no wealth or standing. For some reason Letty can’t even explain, she is enamoured of the young man despite his lack of prospects and rather stodgy nature. I couldn’t help thinking, especially due to his honorable nature in the ending, that he could be the making of the tempestuous, exhausting Letty!
The conflict of the plot is driven by one of my least favorite devices - the Big Misunderstanding. Nell and Cardross both think the other sees theirs as a marriage of convenience, and he married her because she was appropriately well-bred and not unattractive, and she married him because he was rich! It doesn’t help that Nell is much younger and has seen her parents marital difficulties due to her father’s gambling and womanizing, and was badly advised by her mother that she must look the other way if her husband has an extramarital love interest. I liked Nell and couldn’t help thinking Cardross, as the elder and more worldly partner, could’ve avoided a lot of heartache for both of them if he had simply told his new bride he loved her! Of course, there wouldn’t have been a plot then...
Anyway, Nell spends most of the book keeping an eye on Letty and ducking around her husband, so he doesn’t find out she has a large outstanding debt. She had bailed out her brother with loans, and Cardross doesn’t want her taken advantage of again, so tells her to give him all of her bills (evidence of her extravagance, she feels), he will discharge the debts, and all will be well, but exhorts her not to lie to him about debts and to be sure he has ALL her debts - she forgets one bill and panics, then enlists her brother’s help to get the necessary money.
So, not really much of a premise, and leads to all sorts of misunderstandings. All comes right in the end, in a funny couple of scenes, but it’s a rather dull road getting there. Being a Heyer it’s still better than most of what passes for Regency romance novels today, but not her usual sparkling best.
I did like Nell, our heroine, and her scapegrace brother Dysart, and her cousin by marriage, Felix. The hero, Cardross, is one of Heyer’s alpha heroes, but we really don’t get to know him as well - the ending is fun and funny and all loose ends are tied up, but really doesn’t make up for the dreadfully spoiled Letty. She is Cardross’ younger sister and beloved by Nell, but the young bride is Letty’s chaperone and charged with keeping her temperamental, strong-willed younger sister-in-law in line, including her behavior toward the long-winded but serious Mr. Allendale, a young man of no wealth or standing. For some reason Letty can’t even explain, she is enamoured of the young man despite his lack of prospects and rather stodgy nature. I couldn’t help thinking, especially due to his honorable nature in the ending, that he could be the making of the tempestuous, exhausting Letty!
The conflict of the plot is driven by one of my least favorite devices - the Big Misunderstanding. Nell and Cardross both think the other sees theirs as a marriage of convenience, and he married her because she was appropriately well-bred and not unattractive, and she married him because he was rich! It doesn’t help that Nell is much younger and has seen her parents marital difficulties due to her father’s gambling and womanizing, and was badly advised by her mother that she must look the other way if her husband has an extramarital love interest. I liked Nell and couldn’t help thinking Cardross, as the elder and more worldly partner, could’ve avoided a lot of heartache for both of them if he had simply told his new bride he loved her! Of course, there wouldn’t have been a plot then...
Anyway, Nell spends most of the book keeping an eye on Letty and ducking around her husband, so he doesn’t find out she has a large outstanding debt. She had bailed out her brother with loans, and Cardross doesn’t want her taken advantage of again, so tells her to give him all of her bills (evidence of her extravagance, she feels), he will discharge the debts, and all will be well, but exhorts her not to lie to him about debts and to be sure he has ALL her debts - she forgets one bill and panics, then enlists her brother’s help to get the necessary money.
So, not really much of a premise, and leads to all sorts of misunderstandings. All comes right in the end, in a funny couple of scenes, but it’s a rather dull road getting there. Being a Heyer it’s still better than most of what passes for Regency romance novels today, but not her usual sparkling best.
August 5, 2017
Read for the 2017 POPSUGAR Challenge prompt 'A Book with a Month or Day of the Week in the Title' and the URR 2017 New Year's Reading Challenge prompt 'Classic (Literature) Romance'
5/8 - After complaining about the boringness of this book for almost the entire time I read it (which was for over a month) the last quarter saved it from being a completely disliked book. The scene with Heathersett, Nell, Dysart, Fancot, and the jarvey driver outside Heathersett's house was really funny and actually surprised a laugh out of me. From that point on I found myself actually quite interested in the story and happy to read the last 40 pages while (and after) I ate my breakfast instead of continuing with my Dexter Season 6 marathon.
If I hadn't been reading this for the two challenges I'm pretty sure I would have DNFd it at the point where I stalled for, like, two weeks. Now that I've finished it I'm glad that I had the motivation of those challenges to keep me reading because it turned out better than I had expected. Although this did exceed my expectations I won't be keeping it because I can't see myself ever feeling the need to reread it. I will (at some point in the future) read at least one more Heyer, mostly because I own a second one and can't get rid of it until I've read it (or at least attempted to). This will be my tenth charity shop donation so far this year (I think I may have brought home around double what I've taken out, but don't tell my mum that) and the funny thing is that whenever I go back with another book to donate I see a number of the books that I've dropped off in the past. It seems that my rejects are either unknown to my fellow Brotherhood of St. Laurence shoppers or are no more popular with them than they were with me. If I keep taking them duds, the lovely ladies who volunteer at my local shop might ban me from any more donations until they can move what I've already brought them.
Now that I'm done I can get started on my most anticipated book of the year, Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop. I can't wait to read it, but at the same time I'm trying to put it off because I know it's the last one in the series and it's been the best series I've read in years and I never want the wonderfulness of it to end. I have an unsolvable dilemma. *frowny face and sigh*
5/8 - After complaining about the boringness of this book for almost the entire time I read it (which was for over a month) the last quarter saved it from being a completely disliked book. The scene with Heathersett, Nell, Dysart, Fancot, and the jarvey driver outside Heathersett's house was really funny and actually surprised a laugh out of me. From that point on I found myself actually quite interested in the story and happy to read the last 40 pages while (and after) I ate my breakfast instead of continuing with my Dexter Season 6 marathon.
If I hadn't been reading this for the two challenges I'm pretty sure I would have DNFd it at the point where I stalled for, like, two weeks. Now that I've finished it I'm glad that I had the motivation of those challenges to keep me reading because it turned out better than I had expected. Although this did exceed my expectations I won't be keeping it because I can't see myself ever feeling the need to reread it. I will (at some point in the future) read at least one more Heyer, mostly because I own a second one and can't get rid of it until I've read it (or at least attempted to). This will be my tenth charity shop donation so far this year (I think I may have brought home around double what I've taken out, but don't tell my mum that) and the funny thing is that whenever I go back with another book to donate I see a number of the books that I've dropped off in the past. It seems that my rejects are either unknown to my fellow Brotherhood of St. Laurence shoppers or are no more popular with them than they were with me. If I keep taking them duds, the lovely ladies who volunteer at my local shop might ban me from any more donations until they can move what I've already brought them.
Now that I'm done I can get started on my most anticipated book of the year, Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop. I can't wait to read it, but at the same time I'm trying to put it off because I know it's the last one in the series and it's been the best series I've read in years and I never want the wonderfulness of it to end. I have an unsolvable dilemma. *frowny face and sigh*
May 26, 2015
At seventeen, at her very first ball, Nell caught the eye of the rich and handsome Cardross. A worldly man who'd taken many lovers and ruled his estate for years, Cardross never expected to fall in love--but he did, and despite his misgivings about Nell's impecunious and wild family, he swiftly married her. Each of them loves the other, but is sure that they only married for convenience. This misunderstanding is made worse when Nell realizes she owes a dressmaker an astounding amount of money and tries to raise the money herself rather than go to Cardross. She doesn't want him to think she married for money, but her tense face and odd behavior just raises Cardross's suspicions. Meanwhile, Cardross's flighty little sister Letty (who is a mere year younger than Nell herself, but Nell is nevertheless supposed to control her) causes huge amounts of trouble with her desperate but stupid plans to get Mr.Allandale to marry her.
This had the makings of a more enjoyable book. If only there had been more between Nell and Cardross and far, far less of Letty. The (slightly) more mature romance gets all of three scenes together, whereas the rest of the book is basically Letty swanning around ruining everything and giggling about it. Making matters worse is the way all the male characters are at least a decade or more older than Nell and Letty, while Nell and Letty are so dumb and innocent that they don't even know what "interest" is, or that stealing valuable jewelry and selling it is a crime. The narrative and love interests often refer to how childlike and adorable this ignorance is, but it just creeped me out.
This had the makings of a more enjoyable book. If only there had been more between Nell and Cardross and far, far less of Letty. The (slightly) more mature romance gets all of three scenes together, whereas the rest of the book is basically Letty swanning around ruining everything and giggling about it. Making matters worse is the way all the male characters are at least a decade or more older than Nell and Letty, while Nell and Letty are so dumb and innocent that they don't even know what "interest" is, or that stealing valuable jewelry and selling it is a crime. The narrative and love interests often refer to how childlike and adorable this ignorance is, but it just creeped me out.
never-reading-andor-finishing
November 29, 2019DNF at 69%, the writing style didn't draw me in and I found myself unable to engage with the plot and main characters. For me this was painfully, painfully dry.
99p on Amazon 8th November 2019
99p on Amazon 8th November 2019
January 12, 2017
My 32nd Georgette Heyer
Given that I found The Convenient Marriage a little disappointing, I was curious to see if the author could improve upon the theme. Nell marries the rich Lord Cardross and both have fallen in love at first sight. However, before the wedding, Nell's mother told her that Cardross wants an heir and wishes to marry into a good family. She also tells her that she must be a conformable wife and not trouble Cardross with her fanciful ideas if romance. So Nell flungs herself into balls and extravagances to avoid her husband.
There are problems of debt in the family and Cardross' sister Letty wants to force him to allow her to marry beneath her station. The couple dance at this misunderstanding for an eternity, which was frustrating to say the least since I didn't care about any of the secondary characters from the start. There are also certain parts of the book that I can't help but feel are unnecessary filler. The writing was good and there were moments of levity, but that didn't save the book for me.
Given that I found The Convenient Marriage a little disappointing, I was curious to see if the author could improve upon the theme. Nell marries the rich Lord Cardross and both have fallen in love at first sight. However, before the wedding, Nell's mother told her that Cardross wants an heir and wishes to marry into a good family. She also tells her that she must be a conformable wife and not trouble Cardross with her fanciful ideas if romance. So Nell flungs herself into balls and extravagances to avoid her husband.
There are problems of debt in the family and Cardross' sister Letty wants to force him to allow her to marry beneath her station. The couple dance at this misunderstanding for an eternity, which was frustrating to say the least since I didn't care about any of the secondary characters from the start. There are also certain parts of the book that I can't help but feel are unnecessary filler. The writing was good and there were moments of levity, but that didn't save the book for me.
April 2, 2020
DNF 20%
Might be desperate in desperate times, but not this desperate.
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Young and stupidly naive heroines are not my favorite. I know they grew up under rocks, but still.
(\_/)
(O.O)
I guess I'm trying to understand the mindset of I'm not capable of being responsible for anything since I'm a delicate female, but I'm totally going to be responsible for pulling my profligate brother out of his debts, time and time again. Wtf?! This book makes me want to hit characters with a stick.
Might be desperate in desperate times, but not this desperate.
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>
Young and stupidly naive heroines are not my favorite. I know they grew up under rocks, but still.
(\_/)
(O.O)
I guess I'm trying to understand the mindset of I'm not capable of being responsible for anything since I'm a delicate female, but I'm totally going to be responsible for pulling my profligate brother out of his debts, time and time again. Wtf?! This book makes me want to hit characters with a stick.
June 19, 2021
Georgette Heyer continues to dazzle and entertain with this wonderful tale of misunderstandings. Her main characters are interesting as they weave through their thoughts and feelings, and the secondary characters are fully formed, sympathetic, and amusing. Highly recommend! You can find full review on my blog: https://poetryofreading.blogspot.com/...
June 30, 2019
Absolutely my all-time favourite Heyer, perhaps barring 'Frederica'. Which probably says much for my luridly sentimental bad taste, given the subtler, more mature works in her oeuvre, but it is what it is. That's what Regency romances are for, and it absolutely does the job it sets out to do.
February 9, 2016
Lady Nell Cardross is the main character that actually has been in love with her husband since she first met him. The Earl her husband likewise had fallen in love with Nell upon first meeting her. His family has decided to tarnish his feelings by putting a bug in his ear that she only married him for his fortune.
Dysart Nell's brother had taken full advantage of the Earl's fortune so that had lent credence to that unpleasant theory. Dysart has few redeeming qualities. He might be charming to women, but he is a bit shiftless and a user. He was very free with his bad advice to his sister.
Lettie the Earl's sister was also willing to pass along her own bad advice. It was a bit annoying that Nell listened to everyone but her own common sense. Lettie has her own drama unfolding throughout the entire book. Again, she makes bad and unexpected decisions.
The story has humor and a sweetness that comes through. Nell has been persuaded by her mother to question the Earl's reasons for marrying her. All this doubt on both Nell and the Earl keeps both parties in a turmoil. It is a very entertaining book that keeps you wondering how all this is going to turn out. It is a very good read. Highly enjoyable!
Dysart Nell's brother had taken full advantage of the Earl's fortune so that had lent credence to that unpleasant theory. Dysart has few redeeming qualities. He might be charming to women, but he is a bit shiftless and a user. He was very free with his bad advice to his sister.
Lettie the Earl's sister was also willing to pass along her own bad advice. It was a bit annoying that Nell listened to everyone but her own common sense. Lettie has her own drama unfolding throughout the entire book. Again, she makes bad and unexpected decisions.
The story has humor and a sweetness that comes through. Nell has been persuaded by her mother to question the Earl's reasons for marrying her. All this doubt on both Nell and the Earl keeps both parties in a turmoil. It is a very entertaining book that keeps you wondering how all this is going to turn out. It is a very good read. Highly enjoyable!
November 14, 2010
I was disappointed in this one. Heyer's writing is always charming, but this was neither funny nor particularly romantic.
We have a newly married couple who are in love with each other (so we're told, not shown) but neither realizes that the other returns the sentiment. They discover the truth following a series of shenanigans instigated by the wife's attempts to address a distressingly large dressmaker's bill using her own resources, which are few. There is the usual ne'er-do-well brother and selfish, thoughtless sister, who mostly serve to make the young heroine seem less flighty by comparison.
This isn't bad, but it lacks the spark that makes most Heyer romances so enjoyable. The Convenient Marriage is a far better book with a similar plot.
We have a newly married couple who are in love with each other (so we're told, not shown) but neither realizes that the other returns the sentiment. They discover the truth following a series of shenanigans instigated by the wife's attempts to address a distressingly large dressmaker's bill using her own resources, which are few. There is the usual ne'er-do-well brother and selfish, thoughtless sister, who mostly serve to make the young heroine seem less flighty by comparison.
This isn't bad, but it lacks the spark that makes most Heyer romances so enjoyable. The Convenient Marriage is a far better book with a similar plot.
April 5, 2019
First read back in the mid 1960s (definitely before 1968) and rarely, if ever, re-read. The major thing keeping Nell and Giles apart is a Big Misunderstanding (never my favorite trope).
One of my fellow GR Heyer fans described it as a "paint by the numbers" effort from Heyer. I have to agree.
Now, about that cover--perhaps that's what turned me off! Isn't it hideous? Nell is barely 19, for pete's sake. Cover model is an overstuffed 29, at least. And what's with the hair? {{{shudder}}}
One of my fellow GR Heyer fans described it as a "paint by the numbers" effort from Heyer. I have to agree.
Now, about that cover--perhaps that's what turned me off! Isn't it hideous? Nell is barely 19, for pete's sake. Cover model is an overstuffed 29, at least. And what's with the hair? {{{shudder}}}
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