Comfort Reads discussion

One of the guilty pleasures that I don't indulge in too often are Regency Romances. I haven't read to many but I have enjoyed some of Georgette Heyer's works including Frederica and The Grand Sophy.

When I was in high school, I used to love Victoria Holt.

My stepmother has a ton of VH books, and when I was younger I used to sneak them to read, as I wasn't allowed to read them at that time.

Over the summer holidays when I was about 9, I read about 50 of my grandmother's romances. I'm sure they were terrible but it was so exciting at the time!

I should try some of these, especially Georgette Heyer. And, Victoria Holt is one author that I really do not enjoy reading anymore. She was a favourite when I was a teenager, but when I tried to reread some of a novels a few years ago, they did not do much for me at all (and were very predictable).

Gundula, I think you would really enjoy Georgette Heyer. I've only read a few but she's written many. I like that there is a bit of humour in the dialogue.

Maybe the next batch of books to read (if I ever finish the college and school stories). Not enough time!!

I've been reacquainting myself with Georgette Heyer over the last few months, most recently The Nonesuch, which had the most delightful cast of characters including a spoilt young miss who I found myself itching to slap! I'm very grateful for any other regency romance recommendations; sadly my library has none of the 6 you posted above, Abigail!

Darkpool, maybe you can request them on inter-library loan or Bookmooch?

Thanks for the link - that looks super! I've only ever read one ebook - don't have anything to read them on apart from the laptop at this point. I'm certainly not averse to the idea!

It looks great Abigail! I've added it!

Hi, ladies.

When my sister and I were on our teenage Regency kick, we especially loved Diana Brown's COME BE MY LOVE and THE EMERALD NECKLACE. Unfortunately, my library doesn't carry her books, and they seem out of print. If your library has them, they're wonderful.

Also loved Marion Chesney's MINERVA and DIERDRE AND DESIRE. Both funny and romantic. Chesney could be uneven, but her good was very, very good.

Ooooh, some action in Regency Romance! Yay, thanks Christina! I'll have a look round for those titles. I think I'm due to read one of these, I've been on a mystery kick lately and need a change.

Christina wrote: "Also loved Marion Chesney's MINERVA and DIERDRE AND DESIRE. Both funny and romantic. Chesney could be uneven, but her good was very, very good...."

Yes! I loved (and own) Chesney's "Six Sister" series. Let's see, there's:
Minerva
Annabelle
Dierdra
Diana
Daphne
Fredericka

Those were so much fun, especially with the aunt who always spoke in malapropisms!

I just looked up Marion Chesney and it turns out she also writes as M.C. Beaton. Cool! She's quite prolific.

I just finished Venetia by Georgette Heyer and it was very good. I liked the heroine very much because she had a lot of spirit and courage.

I've found a great alternative to Heyer. I've never become a fan of Georgette Heyer's work. Blame myself for that not the author! But my penpal who is a big Regency fan has a favorite: Joan Smith. She is no longer writing-who is writing Regencies? But Joan Smith is very readable for me. The author uses humor to a high degree and I like her work very much.

Lori, Are there any particular books by Joan Smith that are favorites of yours?

I finished but the earlier book that I read is called The Infamous Proposal. Very good and funny. is supposed to be very good but I haven't been able to get hold of it.

Georgette Heyer has definitely been my go-to comfort read recently. Her Regency books are so much fun (the dialogue cracks me up) and I love how much detail she put towards bringing the Regency period to life. I think my favourite Heyer book is Frederica but there are a ton of books that I love by her!

Lianne wrote: "Georgette Heyer has definitely been my go-to comfort read recently. ..."

Heyer is also one of my favourite comfort read authors, Lianne. I really like Frederica, although I'd probably nominate either Venetia or Sylvester as my favourite. Or maybe The Unknown Ajax. Or possibly Friday's Child. Or ..... I don't know really, there are so many to choose from!

I read a lot of Heyer when I was nursing my grandparents through their last illnesses. They lived in a small town, and their library had plenty of them! Helped take my mind off things.

I can understand that, Susanna. My mother started reading Heyer when she was a teenager in the 1940s and was confined to a sanatorium suffering from tuberculosis. She says that it was great to have something to distract her and make her laugh.

Kim wrote: "I don't know really, there are so many to choose from!"

lol, that's true! Venetia, Cotillion, The Reluctant Widow and Arabella were also some of my favourites! It's hard to choose just one xP

Georgete Heyer's romances are great, but her detective fiction isn't so good. In 'The Talisman Ring' she combines the two genres and really outdoes herself! This is my favourite GH book of all time. The characters are classic GH -- the older, sensible heroine with an over developed sense of the ridiculous, the older, slightly cynical hero with a sense of humour, a younger, very romantic pair and a host of eccentric minor characters. Plus there's an intelligent villain, a mystery and lots of action. If you haven't read it before, you're in for a treat!

I agree, Harini. I've just finished re-reading The Talisman Ring. It's a very entertaining romp.

Kim wrote: "I agree, Harini. I've just finished re-reading The Talisman Ring. It's a very entertaining romp."

Isn't it! I wish she'd written more like it. Someone should make the best authors immortal so they can keep churning 'em out!