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The Intrepid Miss Haydon
A Regency adventure set during the Napoleonic Wars! For fans of Georgette Heyer, Mary Balogh, Jane Aiken Hodge and Jane Austen. An impetuous heroine uncovers a shocking secret… England and France, 1803 Corinna Haydon, suspected of having developed a tendre for the notorious Fabian Grenville, is taken by her family to Paris, where it is hoped she will meet an eligible suitor. With them is Sir Richard Beresford, her sister’s brother-in-law, who has known Corinna for years – and loved her in secret for most of that time. When war breaks out with Napoleon, the group find themselves in great danger, and it is only Richard’s skill that enables them to escape with their lives. Suddenly Corinna begins to look at Richard with different eyes. But the reappearance of Grenville throws a spanner in the works… As tensions heighten between England and France, Corinna finds herself bound up in a web of intrigue, but which suitor will manage to capture her heart? THE INTREPID MISS HAYDON is a classic historical saga by Alice Chetwynd a traditional British Regency romance, set in nineteenth-century England. ‘These vintage Regency romances hover somewhere between Jane Austen and the genre as we know it today. I really enjoy them.’ – Sonya’s Stuff
267 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 1983
65 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Alice Chetwynd Ley
23 books54 followersBorn Alice Mary Chetwynd Humphrey on 12 October 1913 in Halifax, Yorkshire, England, UK, she studied at King Edward VI Grammar School in Birmingham. On 3 February 1945, she married Kenneth James Ley. They had two sons; Richard James Humphrey Ley and Graham Kenneth Hugh Ley.
She was a teacher at Harrow College of Higher Education. In 1962, she obtained a diploma in Sociology at London University, and was awarded the Gilchrist Award of 1962. She was a lecturer in Sociology and Social History, from 1968 to 1971.
Under her married name, Alice Chetwynd Ley, she published romance novels from 1959 to 1986. She was also tutor in Creative Writing, from 1962 to 1984. She was elected the sixth Chairman (1971-1973) of the Romantic Novelists' Association and was named an honoured Life Member.
Alice Chetwynd passed away in 2004.
She was a teacher at Harrow College of Higher Education. In 1962, she obtained a diploma in Sociology at London University, and was awarded the Gilchrist Award of 1962. She was a lecturer in Sociology and Social History, from 1968 to 1971.
Under her married name, Alice Chetwynd Ley, she published romance novels from 1959 to 1986. She was also tutor in Creative Writing, from 1962 to 1984. She was elected the sixth Chairman (1971-1973) of the Romantic Novelists' Association and was named an honoured Life Member.
Alice Chetwynd passed away in 2004.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
not-going-to-finish
December 6, 2024Maybe someday I will come back to this one, but nearly 20% through and it feels like a chore every time I pick it up.
March 28, 2023
3.5 stars.
The beginning was a little rocky, and I sometimes grew bored with Madeleine and her French wanna-be lover, but it's a fun historical Regency romp. I am liking Ley's penchant for throwing in some historical plots (spies! smuggling! escaping foreign countries under cover of darkness! traitors! intrigue!), but I can see how they might all blur together at some point. I'm only on my second of her books, but I am enjoying them and eagerly anticipating the next one.
Darn Ley and Heyer's abrupt romantic endings!! They are always so unsatisfying! This one had some more satisfaction than most, simply because our characters are so obviously in love with one another (Ley does better than this than Heyer, I think) but still, it's so rushed and fast and then over.
Romance-wise, this is actually similar to Emma.
The beginning was a little rocky, and I sometimes grew bored with Madeleine and her French wanna-be lover, but it's a fun historical Regency romp. I am liking Ley's penchant for throwing in some historical plots (spies! smuggling! escaping foreign countries under cover of darkness! traitors! intrigue!), but I can see how they might all blur together at some point. I'm only on my second of her books, but I am enjoying them and eagerly anticipating the next one.
Darn Ley and Heyer's abrupt romantic endings!! They are always so unsatisfying! This one had some more satisfaction than most, simply because our characters are so obviously in love with one another (Ley does better than this than Heyer, I think) but still, it's so rushed and fast and then over.
Romance-wise, this is actually similar to Emma.
May 30, 2023
A bit of Georgette Heyer and a bit of Patricia Veryan, and a romance reminded me of "Emma" by Jane Austen.
The two main protagonists were one of the classical couples for the genre. I loved this kind of love story, where are many places for humour, and for sighing.
The novel was written properly and I had a nice time. Yet, for a while, I was confused with so many new characters who I met in such a short time. It would have been better if they had appeared slower.
It wasn't perfect, but after reading a few of Alice Chetwynd Ley's novels I know I can count on her. Sometimes it will be just a nice time, sometimes a wonderful reading, but always improving my mood.
[3.5 stars]
The two main protagonists were one of the classical couples for the genre. I loved this kind of love story, where are many places for humour, and for sighing.
The novel was written properly and I had a nice time. Yet, for a while, I was confused with so many new characters who I met in such a short time. It would have been better if they had appeared slower.
It wasn't perfect, but after reading a few of Alice Chetwynd Ley's novels I know I can count on her. Sometimes it will be just a nice time, sometimes a wonderful reading, but always improving my mood.
[3.5 stars]
August 23, 2021
Heroine argued till the last page.
I hate you and I never want to see you again. Really. I'll give the author some slack with the plot as it was written years ago. I'm always happy to read a story where the characters develop some kind of awareness; not so in this case.
I hate you and I never want to see you again. Really. I'll give the author some slack with the plot as it was written years ago. I'm always happy to read a story where the characters develop some kind of awareness; not so in this case.
July 20, 2022
I liked everything in this book except the heroine and the romance. LOL. The adventures were 'fun', Laurie - the heroine's brother is endearing, and the second romance, romantic. I just don't really like the heroine. Well, I'm not partial to contrary females so there.
May 4, 2014
i think my definition of intrepid is very different. but it was nice to see the characters to grow and realize their own feelings. cute practical ending
June 22, 2025
When an author who specialises in romance tries to add to her USP a parallel main plot, and a couple of subplots, the result is plain confusion and a disaster in terms of her characters, plot, and sustained interest. That unfortunately is what happens in this Chetwynd Ley novel.
Chetwynd Ley’s novels are Regency romances with a little dash of derring-do that are usually very entertaining. The books are well researched, and a wealth of detail of the social and economic life of the time is smoothly added to the narrative in tolerable doses.
This book, however, simply overflows with the historical, political and economic lives of not one country, but two, at a time when both are locked in war. As a result, the French Revolution, which starts it all a generation previously, is followed by the present day economic and social distress of some of the principal characters in France. Since England and France are at war, espionage and smuggling form the main pillars of the novel.
As a historical novel, this would have been sufficient, except that it had to have a principal romantic thread. And alas, the hero seems to be a wimp, and the heroine a spoilt girl with neither sense nor discretion nor discrimination in her character. That of course goes to show that she is a girl of spirit. As a consequence, she ends by putting the lives of her family and friends in real danger.
There is plenty of suspense and action, and that is certainly a positive. However it could have been shortened from between ten to twelve chapters without losing any part of the novel.
Chetwynd Ley’s novels are Regency romances with a little dash of derring-do that are usually very entertaining. The books are well researched, and a wealth of detail of the social and economic life of the time is smoothly added to the narrative in tolerable doses.
This book, however, simply overflows with the historical, political and economic lives of not one country, but two, at a time when both are locked in war. As a result, the French Revolution, which starts it all a generation previously, is followed by the present day economic and social distress of some of the principal characters in France. Since England and France are at war, espionage and smuggling form the main pillars of the novel.
As a historical novel, this would have been sufficient, except that it had to have a principal romantic thread. And alas, the hero seems to be a wimp, and the heroine a spoilt girl with neither sense nor discretion nor discrimination in her character. That of course goes to show that she is a girl of spirit. As a consequence, she ends by putting the lives of her family and friends in real danger.
There is plenty of suspense and action, and that is certainly a positive. However it could have been shortened from between ten to twelve chapters without losing any part of the novel.
December 27, 2022
**3.5 stars**
Smugglers and spies, adventures at night and romance mixed with danger. You know, the typical ACL plot.
I didn't have any problem with the heroine being obstinate. I liked it except when it was about her 1st crush. On the other hand, while the hero was a respectable and reliable member of her family (his younger brother was married to Corinna's older sister) I wish he was more of a "do'er" when it was about trying to woo her.
All secondary characters were entertaining to read; I do love when there is an impulsive younger brother who gets into trouble unwillingly. Like in most GH books 😊 And there is another secondary couple (French, one a friend of Sir Richard, and an abigail with a mysterious past) that make you root for them and kind of lament the no ending (for us, not them).
Smugglers and spies, adventures at night and romance mixed with danger. You know, the typical ACL plot.
I didn't have any problem with the heroine being obstinate. I liked it except when it was about her 1st crush. On the other hand, while the hero was a respectable and reliable member of her family (his younger brother was married to Corinna's older sister) I wish he was more of a "do'er" when it was about trying to woo her.
All secondary characters were entertaining to read; I do love when there is an impulsive younger brother who gets into trouble unwillingly. Like in most GH books 😊 And there is another secondary couple (French, one a friend of Sir Richard, and an abigail with a mysterious past) that make you root for them and kind of lament the no ending (for us, not them).
April 30, 2023
Clean Regency Romance
Ms. Chetwynd Ley writes beautifully and evocatively, giving us readers a satisfying sense of time, place and people. In Corinna we have a romantically inclined and headstrong heroine who slowly learns her own heart. Richard is a wise, resourceful, decisive, kind and gentle hero who knows his own mind and heart; and in addition to those virtues, is also accomodating and courageous. The secondary characters are well sketched and I'm loath to part with these people I've got to know and enjoy.
Ms. Chetwynd Ley writes beautifully and evocatively, giving us readers a satisfying sense of time, place and people. In Corinna we have a romantically inclined and headstrong heroine who slowly learns her own heart. Richard is a wise, resourceful, decisive, kind and gentle hero who knows his own mind and heart; and in addition to those virtues, is also accomodating and courageous. The secondary characters are well sketched and I'm loath to part with these people I've got to know and enjoy.
March 30, 2023
A story with a lovely mix of romance and mystery. Richard and Corinna have known each other for a long time but it takes a series of joint adventures to bring them closer together. A lot of story is compressed between relatively few pages. It is neatly woven together as the various layers of the story overlap. Good strong characters with an interesting plot.
December 22, 2020
Charming
I so enjoy Alice Chetwynd Ley's books. The stories are well-written, the characters are charming, the plots are good, everything you need for a good read.
I so enjoy Alice Chetwynd Ley's books. The stories are well-written, the characters are charming, the plots are good, everything you need for a good read.
November 17, 2021
Nice plot keeps you wondering
Good characters with
Nice historical facts
Well written and easy to read and follow the plot with
Intriguing situations also
Good characters with
Nice historical facts
Well written and easy to read and follow the plot with
Intriguing situations also
February 21, 2018
A interesting take on events during the temporary peace between the Napoleonic wars.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews