Monday, January 24, 2011

Va-Va-Voom Venetia!

by Anna Campbell

As most of you know, we had a very WET Christmas and New Year here in Queensland where I live. By the way, if anyone would like to contribute to the flood appeal, here's the link:

http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html

A lot of people have had a very tragic start to 2011. My new year was in complete contrast. I had a lovely opportunity to curl up with the TBR pile and really make some inroads. What fun!

I'm gradually re-reading all the Georgette Heyers. In Australia (is it the same in North America?), if you're a woman of a certain age, reading Georgette is a rite of passage. It's highly likely your older sister or your mother passed the books on to you as a sacred trust when you were a girl. Georgette was also a staple of libraries, especially school libraries in girls' schools - yes, I'm speaking from experience here. Georgette helped brighten a few miserable days at boarding school!

My mother gave me my first Georgette Heyer when I was nine or ten. It was POWDER AND PATCH which is an odd choice - it's fun but I don't think it's her best work. But the next book was one I fell in love with - the classic THESE OLD SHADES featuring the enchanting Leonie (who actually deserves to be called a minx!) and the jaded, compelling, rather nasty Duke of Avon. After that, I was hooked and read everything I could get my hands on.

Fast forward to my late 20s when a friend had collected every GH and lent them to me for a reading binge. Lovely to rediscover how enchanting those books are! A few years after that, I got hold of all her mystery novels which are also fun. They feature the wit and elegance of her Regencies although without the frocks!

Anyway, I'm slowly starting to re-read the Georgette Heyers once more - I'm always shocked at how little detail I remember from the original stories. The blame for this current Heyer craze lies firmly with the Romance Dishes who asked me to review a new edition of DEVIL'S CUB a year ago. Here's the link to the review:

http://www.theromancedish.com/search/label/Devil%27s%20Cub


First up over the Christmas break, I read THE GRAND SOPHY, a sparkling romance that had me laughing out loud. Sophy is a really gutsy heroine who knows her own mind and is used to getting her own way. I think would appeal strongly to a reader who hadn't read GH before.

But the book I'm actually reviewing (if I ever get to the end of this long intro - hope you're still with me!) is the story I decided was my favorite back when my friend lent me her complete collection. Which made it extremely odd when I read it a week or so ago and realized just how much of the story I'd forgotten.

Something I hadn't mistaken, though, is that Venetia is definitely one of the most romantic of the Heyers. In THE GRAND SOPHY, much of the focus is on the comedy of manners surrounding the outrageous Sophy and her staider cousins. In VENETIA, while of course, you still get that delicious comedy, the attention is much more on the emotional lives of the central characters.

Beautiful Venetia Lanyon has led an isolated life in Yorkshire. Her father was a hermit and now she's left to run the estate in the absence of her elder brother who's off having a good time on the Continent. Her younger brother, bookish and self-centered (VENETIA is replete with self-centered males - the only male who pays attention to anyone's needs but his own is the notorious rake Damerel which is just one of many ironies in the story) and afflicted with a limp, is her only company apart from two unappealing suitors from neighboring estates.

Into this quiet, self-contained world bursts Lord Damerel who owns the estate next door. He's a man with an appalling reputation sparked when he eloped at the age of 22 with a married woman. His wild behavior in the 16 years since has become the scandal of the nation. Venetia, who is spirited and intelligent and bored, immediately falls head over heels for this glamorous wastrel. And of course, the glamorous wastrel falls head over heels for her. Nobody except Venetia is pleased with this state of affairs and the plot revolves around various well-meaning attempts to separate Venetia from the man to whom she's given her heart.

The characterization in this story is exquisite. Venetia is a darling. She may be unworldly but she's smart and brave and knows exactly what she's doing. Damerel is such a sexy hero! And it's wonderful watching this self-indulgent rake lose his heart to an innocent then try in his hamfisted way to protect her from himself. An effort hampered by the fact that the last thing Venetia wants is to be protected from the man she loves!

I was talking to my friend Christine Wells and she pointed out something that struck me as well. How this book is over 50 years old yet seems as fresh and modern as something written yesterday.

If you haven't read VENETIA, grab a copy. You'll love it - and you'll fall in love with the rakish Damerel, I bet! This book is a treat from beginning to end.

Oh, and speaking of treats, if you like to listen to audiobooks, VENETIA is available with the gorgeous Richard Armitage reading. Here's a link to the Amazon page:

http://www.amazon.com/Venetia/dp/B003MSCSFM/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1295222655&sr=8-7

Goodness, that's almost too much of a good thing! Be still, my beating heart!

So have you read VENETIA? Do you have a favorite Georgette Heyer? And why do rakes make the most delicious heroes?

77 comments:

  1. I know i've read this one many times over the years. perhaps it is time i began a reread of GH's lovely books. I do believe Georgette Heyer had a wonderful understanding of men. Especially their frustrations and impatience and arrogance which she uses so perfectly to set up her story's conflicts. Her stories unfold so effortlessly and yes the are so romantic, wise, witty and gracious. You're right - they are still fresh today.

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  2. Thea, thanks for swinging by! Lovely to meet another Heyer fan and honestly, you put that just right! Couldn't have said it better myself! I love her humor too - with both books, I found myself giggling aloud in several places. As you say, she understands so clearly how the masculine ego can be a source of conflict!

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  3. Hi, Anna! The first Georgette Heyer book I read was "Devil's Cub" which I didn't particularly like. The second one, "Powder and Patch", was better or maybe I got used to the language by then. I haven't read another but I'll put "Venetia" on my list.

    ironss[at]gmail.com

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  4. Sheree, Devil's Cub has quite a hard edge (which I rather liked - oh, dear, what does that say about me?). The heroine shoots the hero? Fab! LOL! Give VENETIA a go or THE GRAND SOPHY is great fun. The other really interesting thing about Georgette Heyer is that she's where so many of the popular events and themes of today's Regency romances come from. It's interesting to go back to the source!

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  5. These Old Shades was my first loved Georgette Heyer book too, and I adored Devil's Cub! Mary is a wonderful heroine and Vidal is so deliciouly dark.

    Anastasia has never read GH so I sent her a copy of These Old Shades - which I think she still has yet to read! I'll continue to nag her until she does.

    I have all of the Georgette Heyer romances on my keeper shelf and some of them have been there for more than 30 years now (wow, that really dates me, doesn't it?!).

    I remember Venetia now that you have described the book but I haven't read it in years. I'm going to go pull it out tomorrow, dust it off, and give it another read.

    Thea did describe GH's writing perfectly. I love the war of wits between the characters, her elegant writing style, and her research was remarkable. When I read one of her books, I feel like I'm there.

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  7. Oh, I just visited the Amazon link. It's too bad the audio is an abridgement. Has anyone here listened to it? Was it any good?

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  8. Oh, Laurie, good on you, spreading the GH word! How interesting that Ana had never read her - I think GH would appeal to her mightily. There's an elegance in Ana's writing that chimes really nicely with that Heyer tone. You really do feel that you've been put in a time machine to the Regency when you read her, don't you? Although I suspect I'd NEVER have a neighbor as sexy as Damerel!

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  9. Laurie, Christine has listened to it (that's what prompted the Venetia conversation). She says it's great. And honestly - you might miss a few pages but you gain the gorgeous Richard!!!! What? Me? Shallow?

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  10. By the way, I haven't re-read These Old Shades again. I'm worried that the BIG age gap between Avon and Leonie is going to worry me.

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  11. Okay, then, I'll give the audio a try. I usually don't do abridgements but I've never heard one narrated by Richard Armitage either!

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  12. Hi Anna, I saw this subject go by my feed on FB and could not miss a chance to say this is my absolute favourite Georgette H. novel!

    Such a poignant story! Venetia's understanding attitude towards her brother was such a wonderful window to the character in Venetia, I loved her!I won't put a spoiler here in case other's haven't read this lovely book...
    I first read GH back in the 60's my Nana's whole whole collection! However I didn't read Venetia until recently and
    I'm really glad...I think I have appreciated this book and the writer even more.
    Cheers Carol

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  13. I've reread These Old Shades many times and in this book, the age difference doesn't bother me. The first time I read it I was a teen and I loved the thought of an older man. ;) Now it's just that the characters are so delightful and it is an historical. Also, Avon is so conflicted about the age difference and sends Leonie away. True love wins out thankfully. :)

    But you have a point - maybe Ana doesn't like the age difference either and I think she'd really appreciate GH's stories. Maybe I should send her Regency Buck or The Grand Sophy. Or The Reluctant Widow. Hmmmm... Which one do you think would be best to start with?

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  14. Laurie, Christine recommended it highly (mind you, she's rather partial to RA too!). Let me know what you think! And if you want every glorious word, you can always re-read the book!

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  15. Hey, Carol, lovely to see you! Did you suffer any problems in the recent flooding? My house is nice and high but they were evacuating people from the areas around me in Pelican Waters and Golden Beach. Scary stuff. And the news reports were just heartbreaking, weren't they?

    Hey, you're another Venetia fan? How wonderful! Venetia has been a slow grower for me - I hardly remember it from my girlhood reading. But when I read the books in my 20s, I remember absolutely falling in love with Damerel. And I loved how Venetia doesn't let herself become a victim of her circumstances but rises above them so beautifully. It's a gorgeous, gorgeous book!

    Hey, your story about your Nana's collection just confirms my theory of the sacred trust of the Georgette Heyers handed on from generation to generation!

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  16. Oh, I had to laugh. There's a couple of Heyers I NEVER took to. One was Regency Buck (someone should kill that heroine!). The Reluctant Widow isn't one of my faves either although I think my all-time, I really didn't like this book much was The Convenient Marriage. So my vote goes to Sophy (hmm, strange that, isn't it?). Maybe you should ignore me!

    Actually I remember loving The Unknown Ajax. I've ordered Cotillion and Frederica from the Book Depository. If ever our mail gets back to normal, they should be here soon.

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  17. Anna!! To be mentioned in the same post as the immortal Georgette (and not to mention Richard Armitage, too!) has really made my day. Thank you for a wonderful review. As you know, I'm a huge Heyer fan and Venetia has to be one of my favourites. The characterization is just magnificent, isn't it?

    And the Richard Armitage recordings are just swoon-worthy. There are worse ways of passing the time while doing laundry than having Richard murmur in one's ear:)

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  18. I remember reading These Old Shades when aged 10 or so and being revolted at Leonie and the duke getting together at the end! I'd been thinking of him as a grandfather figure. But in all other respects it's such a fabulous romance that I have to forgive the age difference.

    The Unknown Ajax is a favourite of many but never really did it for me. I didn't like Sprig Muslin much and I don't think I made it all the way through The Foundling but I loved Frederica with the Baluchistan hound and Devil's Cub, Sylvester, The Black Moth etc etc. Too many to name!

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  19. Laurie, I found the abridgement to be fine with Venetia but some of my favourite parts of Sylvester were left out. It was worth it to hear Richard read though!

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  20. LOL. I haven't read Regency Buck in awhile. Wasn't Judith the name of the heroine? I remember her as being headstrong, more mature in age, and independent. Another one I'll have to reread to see if I agree with you.

    I liked The Quiet Gentleman and The Unknown Ajax. Okay, now you've got me digging in my pile of GH's. Instead of getting anything done tomorrow, I'll be reading.

    Sounds like heaven. :)

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  21. Thanks, Christine, I'll give the audio a try. I can listen to certain readers do almost any book. I loved listening to Frank McCourt read his own work. That accent!

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  22. How strange that Georgette Heyer is the subject today. I have never to my knowledger read one of her works and was just browsing today thinking I really need to order some. I can find her books at a reasonable price but the shipping is killer. Just cancelled an order due to the shipping and moving on to look somewhere else.

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  23. Christine, great to see you here. I thought the whisper of the immortal Georgette would lure you out of your writing cave. Actually I'm not a great fan of the ones with the really SWEET heroines so from memory, the Foundling isn't one of my faves either. After reading Devil's Cub, though, I had HUGE fun with Sylvester. That's definitely one I'd recommend for someone who hasn't read her before.

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  24. Ooh, Laurie, I don't remember her being any of those things except perhaps headstrong. I remember it's a book that includes a lot of real people. Doesn't the Prince Regent try and seduce her on a sofa at Brighton Pavilion? Bleuch! She appears as a secondary character in An Infamous Army, the book about Waterloo, and the heroine of that fits your description. She's GREAT! Actually the These Old Shades crowd turn up in that too. Did you guys know that GH's recreation of Waterloo was so accurate in that book, Sandhurst Military Academy in England used it as their textbook? An amazing compliment to her research!

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  25. Laurie, I've missed out on the whole audiobook thing. I don't drive and that seems to be when a lot of people listen to recorded books.

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  26. Dianna, do you know about the Book Depository? They seem to have all the GHs and they don't charge shipping.

    http://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=georgette+heyer&search=search

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  27. Anna Campbell said...
    Dianna, do you know about the Book Depository? They seem to have all the GHs and they don't charge shipping.


    Uh no, I didn't but I do now! How have I missed this? Dianna now going to spend her hard earned money BG

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  28. I didn't know GH wrote murder mysteries. Or medieval, what didn't she write?

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  29. *holds up hand* Anna, you had me at "Richard Armitage". Sigh. Love that man.

    Okay, back to my comment. I've never read a GH book. *ducks* I know! I seriously need to rectify that. Which of her books would you suggest for someone who has never read one? I mean, besides the audio version of VENETIA...heh...

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  30. Andrea, we can duck our heads together...I read a GH a long time ago, but can't remember it or the story. Gulp.

    Anna, I know you're a big GH fan and I do look for her books whenever I go to the bookstore, but don't have much luck with the ones you mention frequently. I can see why you like some of them if they are funny and quirky because you have such a great sense of humor. (This is why I look for her books!) I will have to check into the Book Depository again since they seem to have her books.

    I'm not sure why rakes make such delicious heroes because I certainly wouldn't want my DH to have been too much of one. Maybe I like rakes in romances because they tend to fall head-over-heels in love with the heroine and that makes them real and approachable. I get to see their tender side and I see them as real men with feelings.

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  31. Welcome back, Anna!

    I'll be joining Andrea and Deb in the head-hanging corner. Count me among those who have never read Georgette Heyer. In all honesty, I had never even heard of her until about a year ago which is amazing when you consider the fact that I've been reading romance for more than 40 years. One of these days, I'm going to find time to sit down with one of her books!

    They say reformed rakes make the best husbands. I don't know if that's so true in real life (though it was in my life) but it sure warms my heart in books when the womanizing rake falls head-over-marshmallow fluff-heels in love with the heroine. Makes me sigh with happiness.

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  32. Hi Anna,
    I hate to say I have never heard of
    Georgette Heyers. Thank you so much for opening my eyes to her. Now I will have to seek out her books. But have read most of Jane Austin's works.

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  33. I, too, respectfully hang my head in shame as I have not read anything by Georgette Heyer. I will have to check the books out. Thanks for introducing a new to me author who sounds timely and amazing.
    Love & Hugs,
    Pam

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  34. Wonderful review, Annna! Venetia is one of my favorites too. Of course, I love most of GH's books. Frederica is my all-time favorite, but I also have a particular fondness for The Grand Sophy, Sylvester, The Unknown Ajax, Arabella, Cotillion, and Friday's Child. I think The Quiet Gentleman is underrated, and I even like A Civil Contract, much maligned in some quarters. I don't much care for The Reluctant Widow and Cousin Kate, but I find scenes to love even in the books that will never make a list of favorites. I make it a point to reread a few Heyers every year. The Masqueraders, False Colors, and The Talisman Ring are on my list for 2011. I'm also looking forward to reading the Kloester biography of Heyer.

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  35. Venetia is one of my top Heyers along with These Old Shades, Devil's Cub, The Convenient Marriage and April Lady.

    Second tier are Bath Tangle, Black Sheep, Sprig Muslin and Lady of Quality.

    I used to have A Civil Contract on my list but after listening to it on audio, I couldn't get past the truly unheroic thoughts Adam has about his wife. While I originally loved the idea of a 'more realistic' relationship, I've come to the conclusion that Adam is a total ass and doesn't deserve Jenny at all.

    I've found the audios a mixed blessing. I ended up liking almost all of the books less (and not necessarily due to the narrators although the one who does TOS needs to never narrate another book). As many times as I've re-read Heyer, there is just something when you cannot escape listening to all the words. Another one I used to love and now actually dislike after the audio is Regency Buck.

    Weird alchemy! Nevertheless, you got me all excited about the Venetia audio book until I realized it's abridged. I don't do abridged books. :(

    I feel Damerel is *the* prototype for every reformed rake who came after. :) He's right up there with Reggie from my favorite rom ever: The Rake and the Reformer.

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  36. Oh Anna, I love Venetia! I came late to Georgette Heyer but still have some to go. I loved The Unknow Ajax, The Quiet Gentleman, The Toll Gate, and Devil's Cub is one of my favorites. I just pulled out The Talisman Ring from my TBR list to take on vacation. I always need a paperback for take offs and landings when I can't use my Kindle :-) I have also read several of her mysteries. There is a Georgette Heyer Yahoo group but I just didn't have the time/patience to keep up with it. Thanks for all your reviews and blogs and look forward to your next book. When is it?

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  37. Dianna, I get pretty much ALL my books from there now. They're not as good as Amazon if you want something obscure or something that's pretty old, but for anything current, they're brilliant!

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  38. Dianna, I went on a huge glom of her murders about ten years ago. There's always a really nice romance in the stories too which adds a nice bit extra for a romance fan for me. The only one I wasn't crazy about was Penhallow which is VERY grim, although still worth reading.

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  39. I read a bio of GH, Dianna, where it was pretty clear she thought her medievals were the biz and her other books were basically light entertainments. Which I think is REALLY sad, especially as for me, there's a spark about her Regencies that is lacking in her more 'serious' work. She always wanted critical acclaim from the literary world, which as we know for a romance writer is a bit hard to get. What's funny is that those 'light' books will be read forever. They're wonderful.

    There's a bio by Jane Aiken Hodge that's really interesting (GH was half-Russian, for example, which I didn't know!). Jennifer Kloester, who wrote the wonderful Georgette Heyer's Regency World (it's a great intro to things like the season and the ton and Almack's which can be puzzling for a non-Regency reader and it's all done pretty painlessly through talking about GH's stories), has a more detailed bio coming out, I know. Can't wait to read that!

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  40. Andrea, when Christine told me about the audio versions of GH with RA, I really did think, "Oh, that's just too good to be true! That's like chocolate topped chocolate!"

    Hey, Heyer fans, who would you suggest Andrea starts with?

    I loved Venetia (obviously), The Grand Sophy is a lot of fun, as is Silvester (great hero!). I thought Devil's Cub was really sexy and you don't have to read These Old Shades first.

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  41. Deb, I think you're definitely right about the rake between the pages of a book being considerably nicer to have around than a real-life one! Hey, thanks for saying such nice things about the sense of humor! Mwah! The Book Depository definitely have the GHs - they've released new editions in the last little while. I did have more trouble finding everything I wanted on Amazon so perhaps they are harder to get in the U.S. I'm sure you'd find them in a library, though! Happy hunting!

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  42. Actually, PJ, I think you've hit the nail on the head with one of the reasons rakes make such great heroes. There's the redemption arc in their story, isn't there? Jaded womaniser to faithful lover? Works for me! How odd that you've never read a Heyer, in fact she wasn't even on your horizon! Perhaps she's not quite so much part of the culture in the States as she is here in Oz and in Britain. Mind you, I know a lot of fantatical American readers of GH so clearly she has a following. Anyway, I really think you'd love her stuff!!!!

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  43. Gigi, you've never heard of her either! Thank goodness I did this post!!!! You'll all put me on your Christmas card list once you discover how fab GH is! ;-)

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  44. Anna

    Loved the review

    I have to hang my head in shame I have not read a Georgette Heyer I know I really must and I will as soon as I get caught up on the TBR pile I have LOL

    Have Fun
    Helen

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  45. PAM!!!! You too???!!! I'm shocked, I tell you, shocked. I'm getting out my vinagrette and reclining gracefully on my chaise longue until I recover.

    Guys, really give GH a go. They're slightly different from a modern romance in that often there isn't such a focus on the hero and heroine but I think she's so witty and sparkling, the books are a treat!

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  46. Janga, so glad you're a Venetia fan. My friend who collected the lot liked that one best too. You're right - even a not quite at her best Heyer is still worth reading. The only one I've never been able to finish is The Spanish Bride. Oh, and the Conquerer which is historical fiction about William the Conquerer. Just didn't grab me.

    I agree with you about Cousin Kate - I think she was losing her enthusiasm for the genre by that stage. It's very late for her, isn't it? The subplot in that one creeped me out too.

    I remember the Quiet Gentleman fondly too and while it's not as sparkling and romantic as some of the others, A Civil Contract really touched my heart. She really creates the most wonderful characters, doesn't she? I loved Jenny's (it IS Jenny in ACC, isn't it? It's one I haven't got around to re-reading yet) quiet strength.

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  47. GrowlyCub, I don't remember April Lady at all. I must check it out. How funny that you guys are all such fans of The Convenient Marriage. I really HATED that heroine - although I must say it's one of the few GHS where there's a reference to sex. The steam level is appropriate for books of the age, not that you particularly miss it, I have to say. And you all know how I like a hot love scene! ;-)

    I'll have to check out the Rake and the Reformer. I haven't read it.

    So sorry to hear the audiobooks have turned you off the Heyer. As I said, I really haven't got into audiobooks. There's something magic about opening the pages of an actual book for me and losing myself in a story with the voices coming purely from my head.

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  48. Connie, I haven't read the Talisman Ring in ages. I've basically forgotten it - need to put it on the list too. Glad you're an Unknown Ajax fan. I remember giggling my way through that last time I did the complete opus. I remember the Toll Gate very fondly. I'm really looking forward to gradually catching up on the books - and this time I'm buying them. First time round, they were mainly borrowed from friends or libraries. Second time round, they were borrowed from my friend who collected them all.

    Thanks for saying you enjoy the reviews. Next one is of Carola Dunn's Daisy Dalrymple mysteries which are SUCH fun.

    Next book is Midnight's Wild Passion, out at the end of April. I'm putting an excerpt and the cover and everything up on the website on 1st Feb when I re-launch the website (that's been fun, doing a total new design!). I hope you'll check it out!

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  49. Helen, give her a go! I think you'll like her! And there's no need to hang your head in shame - we're pretty forgiving here at the Romance Dishes, LOL!

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  50. Anna, I think part of the reason I'd not heard of her is that I grew up in a very small town with a very small public library and a librarian with a somewhat (okay, not somewhat...very) narrow focus. I checked out every book I could get my hands on so, obviously, there were no GH books in the inventory. By the time I was an adult and had moved away from there, the majority of the romance books I was reading were the current releases of the day.

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  51. Anna, say it isn't so! You haven't read Mary Jo Putney's The Rake and the Reformer, not even in its revised and reissued form as The Rake? Please tell me you will remedy this dreadful hole in your romance fiction reading experience ASAP. ;)

    And how great that you're reviewing a Carola Dunn next. I love Daisy!

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  52. PJ, you're probably right. A lot of the people I know who love GH started reading her as a teenager. As I say she's a library staple over here - especially school libraries (or at least back in the Dark Ages when I was growing up). No sex! I still think she'd appeal to you mightily!

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  53. Janga said, Anna, say it isn't so! You haven't read Mary Jo Putney's The Rake and the Reformer, not even in its revised and reissued form as The Rake? Please tell me you will remedy this dreadful hole in your romance fiction reading experience ASAP. ;)

    Ditto! You don't want to miss this one, Anna!

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  54. Janga, no, I haven't read MJP's The Rake and the Reformer. I just went onto Amazon to look for it. If you like it, I'm SURE I will ;-)

    We didn't get a lot of the American romances over here, apart from very obvious selections like Kathleen W and Rosemary R and Johanna L. There was a stage in my life, once the historical romance book of the 70s was over, when I hardly read a historical romance - or at least an American style one. We still got the British stuff which in general is probably closer to historical fiction than what I'd call historical romance. Discovering what I could get over the Internet in the mid-90s started me off on a huge reading catch-up so there's holes in my collection I'm still filling. About that stage, we got a few specialist romance bookstores too and they've done a marvellous job getting so many great books into Aussie hands.

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  55. Janga, I have to admit I've become a bit of a Daisy obsessive since I read the first one a couple of months ago. I've actually bought every book (except the Bloody Tower which currently seems to be out of print). I'm reading them in order - I'm waiting for Rattle His Bones to turn up. A lot of them are still in transit. Since the flooding, our mail has been shocking. Apparently there's piles of mail still awaiting delivery in a warehouse somewhere south of the State border. Grrrr! I'm still getting Christmas mail that was posted a month ago, would you believe?

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  56. Next book is Midnight's Wild Passion, out at the end of April. I'm putting an excerpt and the cover and everything up on the website on 1st Feb when I re-launch the website (that's been fun, doing a total new design!). I hope you'll check it out!

    Anna's website address is:

    http://www.annacampbell.info/

    And, she'll be here at The Romance Dish to blog about Midnight's Wild Passion (Don't you just love that title?) on April 28th!

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  57. OK, toddling off to buy the Rake and the Reformer! ;-)

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  58. PJ, thanks for putting up the link! I adore the new design - it's really Regency and really sexy. I loved the gothic look but I think it had served its time. This is much more appropriate for the books I'm writing now. 1st Feb, everyone! Check it out! Paula, my website designer, has excelled herself!

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  59. Toddling back to the dish rack, crestfallen. It seems The Rake/TRATR is out of print. Prices for secondhand copies are really silly. Sigh. I'm sure that's a sign of a fabulous book. I'll have to see if I can find it at a library.

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  60. If the library doesn't have it, MJP is beginning to make her back titles available as ebooks, and some are being reissued in paper. One way or the other, I hope you can read it.

    RE historical mysteries: have you read Tasha Alexander's Lady Emily books?

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  61. Janga, I haven't read those books. I'll check them out (need something else to replace Daisy once I've read all the backlist!).

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  62. Janga, just looked them up. They're now on the list! Thank you.

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  63. Janga, I didn't think the last two Lady Emily books were as good as the first ones! P.B. Ryan (aka Patricia Ryan) writes Nell Sweeney mysteries taking place in the early 1900's in Boston. They were out of print but are now on Kindle. Should definitely be read in order and they are excellent! Then there is C.S. Harris!

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  64. PJ, I had the same librarian :-)

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  65. Connie, I ADORE C.S. Harris. Devlin has to be one of the most charismatic heroes out there. I reviewed the first couple here on Romance Novel TV:

    http://www.romancenovel.tv/2008/08/29/anna-campbell%E2%80%99s-review-of-what-angels-fear-and-when-gods-die-by-cs-harris-2/

    I used to really enjoy Patricia's historicals. I must check out her mysteries.

    Thanks for all the recommendations, guys. I haven't read mysteries in years!

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  66. Hey there, Anna!! Thanks for including the link to support flood victims. Such devastation. It is just so sad.

    You know, I am one of those girls who has never read a Heyer book. Not quite sure how I missed them, but I did.

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  67. Hey, you Dishies are seriously letting the side down. You'll have to aim HEYER!!!! Ho, ho. Oh, dear, it's so sad when the only people to laugh at my jokes are...um, ME!

    Buffie, the flood damage here has been heartbreaking. I've really escaped easily - got a bit of water inside from strong winds and heavy rain but nothing like a lot of people have had to deal with.

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  68. I do have Devil's Cub on my shelf (thanks to you, Anna), but I haven't read it yet. Must rectify that immediately, so I can add more GH books. ;-)

    My love of romance began with Victoria Holt---I devoured her books as fast as I could get my hands on them.

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  69. Gannon, I read the GHs and the Victoria Holts about the same time. VH was tremendously popular over here - as I've said before, we always got a lot of English books! GH toyed with gothic themes a few times - Cousin Kate is quite gothic and from memory, so is the Reluctant Widow. But never with quite the verve of VH! Loved her "will he kiss her or kill her?" heroes! Yum!

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  70. Hey, thanks, everyone for a great day of Heyer-itis! I've had great fun. I hope you have too!

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  71. Unfortunately, my family were not big readers. In all honesty, I didn't even hear of Georgette Heyer until about 1 1/2 years ago. I do have a Heyer book on my TBR shelf, but don't remember which it is. I know Our library carries them, so I need to check them out and start reading.
    Rakes are like the little boys that can't help but get into trouble, but disarm you with that smile and a half promise to behave next time.

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  72. Ooh, Pat, what a lovely description of a rake! Actually that seems to be part of the emotional journey they undertake, doesn't it? Selfish, immature pleasure seeker to genuine hero. Works for me every time. Have fun with Georgette!

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  73. Dianna, I'm really looking forward to the longer bio too. Aparently Jennifer had access to a lot of new material that JAH never saw.

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  74. Hi, Anna!!! Late for the party, but my ears were ringing. ;) You are so sweet to say that, thank you for those lovely words. <3

    Sounds like I'm really missing something. I'd better go dig out the GH Laurie sent me. Thanks again, Laurie!!

    Great review, I'm also getting Richard...er...VENETIA from Audible. :D Tks for the tip!!!

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  75. Ooh, Ana, you'll have Richard whispering sweet nothings in your ear. How wonderful! I'm jealous! And you're most welcome for the compliment - you know I love your writing! Have fun with Georgette!

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  76. I cannot say that I have a particular favorite, however, her books are solid "early readers," if you will, for romance novels. I do so look forward to reading "Venetia."

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