Full Description

Faro’s Daughter

A sparkling Regency romance from the queen of the genre

Beautiful Deborah Grantham, mistress of her aunt’s elegant gaming house, must find a way to restore herself and her aunt to respectability, preferably without accepting either of two repugnant offers. One is from an older, very rich and rather corpulent lord whose reputation for licentious behavior disgusts her; the other from the young, puppyish scion of a noble family whose relatives are convinced she is a fortune hunter.

Max Ravenscar, uncle to her young suitor, comes to buy her off, an insult so scathing that it leads to a volley of passionate reprisals, escalating between them to a level of flair and fury that can only have one conclusion…


"My favourite historical novelist--stylish, romantic, sharp, and witty. Her sense of period is superb, her heroines are enterprising, and her heroes dashing. I owe her many happy hours." --Margaret Drabble
"Georgette Heyer is unbeatable." Sunday Telegraph
"Sparkling." Independent on Sunday
“A writer of great wit and style...I’ve read her books to ragged shreds.” --Kate Fenton, Daily Telegraph

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Excerpt

Excerpt

Excerpt from Chapter 1

Upon her butler’s announcing the arrival of Mr Ravenscar, Lady Mablethorpe, who had been dozing over a novel from the Circulating Library, sat up with a jerk, and raised a hand to her dishevelled cap. ‘What’s that you say? Mr Ravenscar? Desire him to come upstairs at once.’

While the butler went to convey this message to the morningcaller, her ladyship tidied her ruffled person, fortified herself with a sniff at her vinaigrette, and disposed herself on the sofa to receive her guest.

The gentleman who was presently ushered into the room was some twenty years her junior, and looked singularly out of place in a lady’s boudoir. He was very tall, with a good pair of legs, encased in buckskins and topboots, fine broad shoulders under a coat of superfine cloth, and a lean, harsh-featured countenance with an uncompromising mouth and extremely hard grey eyes. His hair, which was black, and slightly curling, was cut into something perilously near a Bedford crop. Lady Mablethorpe, who belonged to an older generation, and herself continued to make free use of the pounce-box, in spite of Mr Pitt’s iniquitous tax on hair-powder, could never look upon the new heads without a shudder. She shuddered now, as her affronted gaze took in not only her nephew’s abominable crop but also the careless set of his coat, his topboots, the single spur he wore, and the negligent way he had tied his cravat, and thrust its ends through a gold-edged buttonhole. She raised the vinaigrette to her nostrils again, and said in a fading voice: ‘Upon my word, Max! Whenever I clap eyes on you I fancy I can smell the stables!’

Mr Ravenscar strolled across the room, and took up a position with his back to the fire. ‘And can you?’ he enquired amiably. Lady Mablethorpe chose to ignore this exasperating question. ‘Why, in the name of heaven, only one spur?’ she demanded.
‘That’s the high kick of fashion,’ said Ravenscar.
‘It makes you look for all the world like a postilion.’
‘It’s meant to.’
‘And you know very well that you do not care a snap for the fashion! I beg you will not teach Adrian to make such a vulgar spectacle of himself !’

Mr Ravenscar raised his brows. ‘I’m not likely to put myself to so much trouble,’ he said.

This assurance did nothing to mollify his aunt. She said severely that the fashion of waiting upon ladies in garments fit only for Newmarket was not one which she had until this day encountered.

‘I’ve this instant ridden into town,’ said Mr Ravenscar, with an indifference which robbed his explanation of all semblance of apology. ‘I thought you wanted to see me.’
‘I have been wanting to see you these five days and more.
Where in the world have you been, tiresome creature? I drove round Grosvenor Square, only to find the house shut up, and the knocker off the door.’
‘I’ve been down at Chamfreys.’
‘Oh, indeed! Well, I’m sure I hope you found your Mama in good health – not but what it’s the height of absurdity to call Mrs Ravenscar your mother, for she’s no such thing, and of all the foolish –’
‘I don’t,’ said Ravenscar briefly.
‘Well, I hope you found her in good health,’ repeated Lady Mablethorpe, a trifle disconcerted.
‘I didn’t find her at all. She is at Tunbridge Wells, with Arabella.’
At the mention of her niece, Lady Mablethorpe’s eyes brightened.
‘The dear child!’ she said. ‘And how is she, Max?’
The thought of his young half-sister appeared to afford Mr Ravenscar no gratification. ‘She’s a devilish nuisance,’ he replied.
A shade of uneasiness crossed her ladyship’s plump countenance.
‘Oh, indeed? Of course, she is very young, and I daresay Mrs Ravenscar indulges her more than she should. But –’
‘Olivia is as big a fool as Arabella,’ responded Ravenscar shortly. ‘They are both coming up to town next week. The 14th Foot are stationed near the Wells.’

This grim pronouncement apparently conveyed a world of information to Lady Mablethorpe. After a somewhat pensive pause, she said: ‘It is time dear Arabella was thinking of marriage. After all, I was married when I was scarce –’
‘She never thinks of anything else,’ said Ravenscar. ‘The latest is some nameless whelp in a scarlet coat.’
‘You ought to keep her more under your eye,’ said his aunt.
‘You are as much her guardian as Mrs Ravenscar.’
‘I’m going to,’ said Ravenscar.
‘Perhaps if we could marry her suitably –’
‘My dear ma’am,’ said Mr Ravenscar impatiently, ‘Arabella is no more fit to be married than if she were still in long coats! I have it from Olivia that she has been head over ears in love with no fewer than five aspiring gentlemen in as many months.’
‘Good God, Max! If you don’t take care, we shall have some dreadful fortune-hunter running off with her!’
‘It wouldn’t surprise me at all.’
Lady Mablethorpe showed slight signs of agitation. ‘You are the most provoking creature! How can you talk in that cool way about such a disastrous possibility?’

Reviews

Reviews

Literarily Shana Schmadke

Deborah Grantham is a heroine delightfully reminiscent of Jane Austen’s Elizabeth Bennet. Orphaned and left in the care of her aunt since childhood, she works in the family gambling establishment. (By the way, faro of the title is a card game that was popular in England and France during the 18th century.) Despite her family’s less-than-respectable business, Deb is beautiful, smart, independent, loyal and kind.

Max Ravenscar is Deb’s Mr. Darcy. Enormously wealthy, gruff, completely lacking in social graces, yet full of integrity, and perhaps even a little kindness beneath that prickly exterior. The dialogue between Deb and Max felt very authentic to the time period in which the book was set, and at the same time was absolutely delicious, fast-paced and clever.

I loved the fact that this novel reminded me so much of Pride and Prejudice. Besides time and place similarities, the writing style and dialogue between characters are pleasantly Austen-esque. There were enough differences, however, to make Faro’s Daughter fresh and surprising.

Sourcebooks Casablanca has recently re-released a number of Heyer’s Regency romances. (Regency romance is a sub-genre of romance set in England between the years 1795-1837.) Though it took a few chapters to get into the groove of this book’s style, it was well worth it and I look forward to reading more from this prolific and talented writer.

BookLoons Hilary Williamson
Faro’s Daughter has long been one of my favorite of Regency queen Georgette Heyer’s romances, as its lovely heroine, Deborah Grantham, is a rather unusual one, living on the fringes of society and helping her feckless aunt, Lady Eliza Bellingham, run an elegant gambling establishment (hence the title).

Proud Max Ravenscar, ’quite the richest man in town’, is summoned by his aunt, Lady Mablethorpe, to rescue her son Adrian from marriage to a hussy ’out of a gaming house.’ Of course, he goes to see the wench for himself, planning to buy her off. Deborah has not chosen this life. Rather, she was forced into it by her aunt’s poor management and indebtedness. Now, she’s being pressured to become the mistress of the unpleasant Lord Ormskirk, who holds their mortgage - it might well be a choice between that and debtor’s prison.

Deborah knows that Max’s cousin Adrian is infatuated with her, but plans to let him down gently. That is, she does until Max offers to pay her to drop all pretensions to Adrian’s ’hand and heart.’ Deb has quite a temper and is so enraged that she plays along with Max, demanding a higher fee. He rescinds his offer and threatens her, calling her a harpy - infuriating her so much that she takes drastic action. The misunderstandings - and resulting anger on both sides - escalate to the very end of the book.

How do they get from there to a happily ever after? You’ll have to read the book yourself to find out. As always, Heyer gives us well-developed characters, witty dialogue, rivalry between gentlemen, and plenty of (restrained given the era) passion between her leads. There’s also an amusings sub-plot involving Max’s flirtatious young half-sister Arabella and Deb’s shady Irish protector, Lucius Kennet. Faro’s Daughter is an engrossing read and one of Heyer’s best, which is a strong recommendation.

A Book Blogger’s Diary Rashmi Srinavas
I have long been a fan of Regencies. Georgette Heyer in particular, excels in this genre and is always a delight to read. Faro’s Daughter reminded me of yet another fave of mine, Jane Austen’s "Pride and Prejudice". The story of a strong-willed rich man and a spirited young woman of unsuitable antecedents is the point in common between these two lovely stories. But that’s where the similarity ends.

Faro’s Daughter is a lot more passionate and filled with raging, conflicting emotions that are expressed in the form of energetic, witty and no-holds-barred form of dialogue exchange between the leads that leaves the readers exhilarated and craving more. Deb is far more peppery than Regency heroines in general and this is a very refreshing change. Even Max, the not-so-perfect hero, is energetic, infuriating and yet comes out very likable despite it all. Other characters are also well-conceived. I particularly liked poor Lady Bellingham, Deb’s beleaguered aunt, who barely avoids a heart-attack from some of Deb’s more adventurous antics.

All in all, there’s a reason why the well-plotted, character-driven, energetic Faro’s Daughter is considered one of Heyer’s best.

Thanks to Sourcebooks, who is reprinting a number of Heyer’s classic historical and Regency romances in trade format and plans to have 21 of her 40-plus novels in print by mid-2009, we’ll be getting to read a lot of more of this beloved author’s irresistible novels.

Passages to the Past Amy Bruno
When young Lord Adrian Maplethorpe proclaims to his mother that he wishes to marry a young lady from a gaming house, she is both floored and horrified. It’s obvious to her that the girl must only want him for his money and title. And so Lady Maplethorpe immediately sends for her nephew, Max Ravenscar, to talk some sense into Adrian. He too is surprised at the news and decides to take a look at this girl himself.

Max marches himself on down to St. James Square to the home-turned-gaming house of Eliza Bellingham in the hopes of meeting Ms. Deborah Grantham, Ms. Bellingham’s niece and object of Adrian’s affection.

However, the girl he encounters is not the girl he had imagined. Beautiful, funny, smart and not in the least the loose, vulgar thing he was expecting - she quite takes him by surprise. Their first meeting leaves him unsatisfied and eager to find out more about her. They meet up again and Max unveils his proposal to pay her off to stay away from his cousin and that is when things get good!

Deb is utterly offended and beyond rage at Max’s offer and vows revenge. In a nutshell she tells him to take his money and shove it! She’d even go as far as taking Adrian up on his offer (even though shew had no intention before), even if it meant his ruin, just to spite the "most hateful, odious man I have ever met in my life". Max is flabbergasted at her rejection! What is this woman up to? She must be holding out for more money, of that he is certain. Thus begins a tug-of-war of wills between Max and Deb.

What follows is an endearing and humorous story of two people who drive each other absolutely crazy and end up falling in love.

Faro’s Daughter is the first novel I have read by Georgette Heyer, the Mother of Regency romance and I can tell you with a certainty that it will not be the last! I’m not usually a romancy kind of gal, but I have to admit that I really enjoyed this novel. It was a light, funny read with memorable characters and some kidnapping thrown in for good measure.

I recommend this book to any reader, of any age that likes a nice, sweet story of the heart.

Amy says: 5/5

Books N’ Border Collies Lezlie Gits
Social fireworks explode when Max Ravenscar attemps to bribe Miss Deborah Grantham, a gaming house mistress, into spurning his nephew’s marriage proposals. Miss Grantham had no intentions to marry the young Lord Mablethorpe to begin with, but that doesn’t stop her from planning her madcap revenge on Ravenscar for his insults.

Faro’s Daughter took a little more time to get moving than did Cotillion, but once it got its momentum, it was a rollicking good time! I’m learning I that if I want an amusing light romance to pass some time this winter, Georgette Heyer will be one of the first that I reach for. I have now read two of her regencies, and I read both with a smile on my face.

Jane Austen’s World Deborah Barnum
I’ve said it before - I am not an Austen sequel’s reader or a romance reader. I wrote about the Chicago AGM and my delight in the evening on Romance and have since been a regular reader of the “Teach me Tonight” blog. As soon as I returned from Chicago, a quick run to the local used bookstore that stocks romances sent me home with all of the novels of Eloisa James’s “Desperate Duchesses” series. The first was a quick and enjoyable read - the rest await my time!

So with this intro, it is easy to confess that Jane Austen lover that I am, as well as all things English and Regency, I have never read ANY Georgette Heyer (is this perhaps slightly worse than my previous admission that I am a NY Yankees fan?…) and not that I haven’t wanted to…. She has been on my to-be-read list for years, and among some great company, but I’ve never been sure where to start. So I was thrilled to receive a review copy of Faro’s Daughter, originally published in 1941 now reprinted by Sourcebooks, and have finally begun my Heyer journey, and what a delightful beginning!



faros-daughter-cover



Deborah Grantham (called Deb, so perhaps I am taken in immediately!), is an independent, feisty, level-headed, take-no-prisoners, absolutely beautiful heroine - living with her Aunt, Lady Bellingham, who runs a high-society London gaming establishment and is presently in serious financial straits. Here is Deb as we are first introduced:

...a tall young woman with chestnut hair, glowing in the candlelight, and a pair of laughing, dark eyes set under slim, arched brows. Her luxuriant hair was quite simply dressed, without powder, being piled up on top of her head, and allowed to fall back in thick, smooth curls. One of these had slipped forward, as she bent over the table, and lay against her white breast… the lady’s eyes were the most expressive and brilliant…. ever seen. Their effect upon an impressionable youth would…be most destructive.

Several suitors seek her favor, the young Lord Adrian Mablethorpe and the older, odious Mr. Ormskirks. The book begins with a Mr. Ravenscar visiting his Aunt, Lady Mablethorpe, Adrian’s mother, who is in a near apoplectic state over Adrian’s wishes to marry Deb; Lady M wishes her nephew to prevent this at all costs, and from here the plot is in motion and the fun begins - a fast-paced, highly amusing high-jinx comedy of manners - the insults and name-calling and behaviors suiting neither a Regency lady nor a proper gentleman run rampant - and I can tell no more, no spoilers here!

Similarities to Pride & Prejudice abound: Deb is not unlike Lizzie Bennet - she speaks her mind, she reacts strongly to insults to her character and social standing (though she goes to quite unlady-like lengths to exact her revenge!) and she is a caring niece, sister and employer…. and of course those “dark eyes” !…. ; there are moments of Mrs. Bennet in both Lady Bellingham and Lady Mablethorpe (Oh! my nerves!); Miss Ravenscar as an interesting mix of Georgiana Darcy and Lydia Bennet; young Adrian needing advice much like Mr. Bingley; and Ravenscar who makes his entrance on page one:

...very tall, with a good pair of legs, encased in buckskins and topboots, fine broad shoulders under a coat of superfine cloth, and a lean, harsh-featured countenance with an uncompromising mouth, and extremely hard grey eyes. His hair, which was black, and slightly curling, was cut into something perilously near a Bedford crop

... so is Max Ravenscar our Darcy, or a Willoughby ? or even a Wickham?

But there are also similarties to Eloisa James’s Desperate Duchesses (perhaps because it is still fresh in my mind, or likely because they all follow a basic formula) - in both books we see gaming strategies, the tensions, sexual and otherwise, the characters of Ravenscar and the Duke of Villiers both made of the same cloth. It is clear that you have been to this place before, but that’s fine ~ it’s a great place to visit!

Filled with Regency terminology and slang, card games and some well-described female and male fashions (and fashion faux-pas!) - have your Regency dictionary close at hand [see this online Regency Lexicon for starters.] Heyer weaves her knowledge of late 18th- early 19th century London: the streets and squares (St. James, Brunswick Square, Grosvenor, Brook St, Vauxhall Gardens), all manner of carriages; card games; horse-racing and betting; the male clubs Brookes’s and White’s; the world of the “good ton” and the not so good; the vulnerability of females - at the mercy of their parents maneuverings, their need to marry for financial security, the risk of social ostracism for not following the “rules.”

Heyer is brilliant at presenting these regency realities with a plot that though predictable, (you don’t need to be a romance reader to know where this is headed from page one!) is so entertaining and the heroine and her sidekicks so engaging, the plot so outrageous within the social confines of the time, that I am not sure when I last read a book I just had to finish RIGHT NOW. Just not sure what to pick up next! Are they all this much fun? … so I seek any suggestions and recommendations from the greater world out there of seasoned Georgette Heyer readers. Can I really have gone through my life thus far without having read a single one of her books? I am shamed!

S. Krishna’s Books Swapna Krishna
This was my second Georgette Heyer novel, and I have to say, I’m becoming a very big fan of hers (my review of The The Reluctant Widow). Her books are intelligent, witty, entertaining, and very easy to read. Her prose reminds me a lot of Jane Austen, but she was a much more prolific writer, so fortunately, she has a wide assortment of novels to choose from.

The main character of Faro’s Daughter, Deb Grantham, reminded me a lot of Lizzie Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. She is very headstrong and quick to judge, but also witty and very intelligent. Max Ravenscar, the male lead, is just as smart, but also equally stubborn, which makes for a very entertaining novel!

Faro’s Daughter is essentially a power play between Deb and Max. They both are extremely principled and underestimate each other from the very beginning. It gets a bit silly at times, but it is fun to read. I definitely recommend this novel to any fans of Austen, as well as any historical fiction - trust me, you won’t be disappointed!

A big thank you to Danielle at Sourcebooks for sending me this book to read!

Jennifer’s Random Musings Jennifer Yates
In this charming Regency romance, Max Ravenscar has been asked by his aunt to intervene when his young cousin falls for Deborah Grantham, whose aunt owns a popular and elegant gambling house. Max heads to the gaming house and finds himself intrigued by the lovely young woman despite his belief that she is a fortunehunter. When he realizes that his cousin’s interest in Deb is serious, he will do all that he can to prevent the match including bribery. His offer enrages Deb who sets out to make Max see that she can’t be bought.

This book features quite a few interesting characters and a fascinating story. I loved the character of Deb who finds herself in quite the predicament as she fends off advances and proposals from two suitors while also dealing with Max. She also has to find a way to help her aunt who has found herself with quite a few debts. There is more to Deb than meets the eye and I enjoyed each new discovery about her.

The book is also a fine example of how well Ms. Heyer illustrates the Regency life in her work. With its charming characters and attention to detail, Faro’s Daughter is a wonderful tale.

A Work in Progress Danielle Torres
Georgette Heyer’s Faro’s Daughter is yet another wonderful romp through Regency England. I think that of the Regency romances that I’ve read so far by her this is now my favorite. Although Lady of Quality is another excellent read and most recently held my highest regard, it’s now been (delicately) bumped down a notch.

In some ways Heyer’s Regencies (I’ve only read one of her historical novels, which had a far more serious tone to it) are somewhat predictable. You’ll probably not find many simpering misses, but a feisty and independent heroine. The hero will be a handsome rake and they’ll fall for each other hard, though they might not always realize it at first, as they’ll have a number of obstacles to overcome. In some ways knowing that each story might well have these elements to it is very comforting and they’re nice to turn to in just the right mood. But with each new Heyer novel I read I see that the stories themselves vary and each has its own tone and temper and little twist before the happy ending. Faro’s Daughter is no different.

I’m not sure where Faro’s Daughter comes in Heyer’s oeuvre—an early novel or later? Part of the fun of reading these Regencies is getting a taste of the period and class of people Heyer writes about so well. In this novel there is less of the slang-ish language, which can be fun (did the upper classes really talk like that?), but she can use it quite liberally in some of her books and it has an almost foreign ring to modern ears. This time around there are not really many colloquialisms used—just a sprinkling to give a little flavor, and I found it to be a nice change.

Faro: far-o [fair-o]
—noun

a gambling game in which players place bets on a special board or layout, betting on each series of two cards as they are drawn from a box containing the dealer’s or banker’s pack.
Origin:
1725–35; sp. var. of Pharaoh (cf. It faraone, F pharaon), alleged to be orig. a designation for the king of hearts in the game.

So you see, it all started with a stack of bills. Bills incurred from running a gambling establishment (by invitation only, of course). The bills belonged to Lady Bellingham, aunt to the lovely Deborah Grantham, and were held by a slightly disreputable and entirely odious man. There’s nothing worse than being in debt and being beholden to someone you don’t want to be. Deb is a faro dealer and a bit of a draw at her aunt’s gambling house. Close to becoming a spinster, she doesn’t particularly mind, but her attractive countenance and intelligent demeanor draws the men, young and old. She’d prefer to pass her time quietly in the country, but instead she helps out Lady B., her only remaining family. A gaming house, no matter how elegant, only spells trouble.

The attentions of a young Lord, and those bills, which will pass through several hands will cause no end of problems for Deborah. Her path crosses that of Max Ravenscar who fears Deb is trying to get his young nephew (said Lord) into her clutches. He insults her in the worst way and she vows revenge. What follows? Promise of a betrothal, a kidnapping, fisticuffs, many misunderstandings (which only add to the romantic tension), several attacks of the vapours (Lady B.), and an elopement. It’s a rocky ride to happiness, but you always know with a Heyer novel that you’ll get there.

Wikipedia’s Heyer entry offered this wonderful quote from the author:

"In a letter describing her novel Friday’s Child, Heyer commented, ’I think myself I ought to be shot for writing such nonsense. ... But it’s unquestionably good escapist literature and I think I should rather like it if I were sitting in an air-raid shelter or recovering from flu’."

Heyer’s novels are great escapist literature and I always make sure I have a few on my shelves!

All About Romance Emma Leigh
I have very strong feelings about Georgette Heyer’s books. The writing is always impeccable. I love her style, love her masterful use of the English language. Whenever I read her books, I’m so glad I can read them in the original English so nothing is lost in translation. However, the plot is where it becomes hit or miss for me. Some books focus entirely on the rescue of irritating waifs rather than the main couple, or the heroine is really, really immature. I was annoyed the entire time I read April Lady and I couldn’t really love Sprig Muslin. Luckily, Faro’s Daughter is my favorite sort of Heyer: a lovely, concentrated battle of wits between a man and a woman with sparkling results. This book is laugh-out-loud funny and the hero and heroine are both incredibly magnetic. The pages flew for me, and I was sorry to see it end so soon.

Max Ravenscar, one of the richest men in London and a confirmed bachelor, is called upon to save his young cousin, Lord Mablethorpe, from the clutches of a wench from a gaming house. Lord Mablethorpe has proposed marriage to this hussy, and it’s Ravenscar’s job to buy off this woman and save his cousin from a disastrous marriage. Miss Deborah Grantham, said wench, is actually a well-bred young lady who, along with her aunt, has fallen on hard times and must maintain the gaming house for income. She has absolutely no intention of marrying her foolish admirer until his overbearing relative arrives and flings his offensive money in her face. Completely insulted by Ravenscar’s preconceived ideas about her lifestyle and his nasty slurs on her honor, she throws all caution to the wind. Deborah declares that she will marry Lord Mablethorpe, and, playing the role of the scheming gold digger, tells Ravenscar that she plans to drain his cousin for every cent he has. Infuriated, Ravenscar is now convinced of her mercenary intentions and becomes determined to find out how much money she’s really holding out for. Meanwhile, Deborah gleefully gets into her role and dresses a little tackier, acts a little wilder in public, parading herself in front of Ravenscar on the arm of the unsuspecting Mablethorpe. Thus begins an engrossing and completely amusing battle of wills between two hard-headed people, each trying to call the other’s bluff while frantically ignoring the growing attraction between them.

I wish I could say more about the plot, except it’s such fun that I don’t want to ruin it for anyone. Suffice it to say, only Georgette Heyer could write an abduction scene with such mastery and make it believable and hilarious at the same time, while poking fun at the absurdity of the whole situation.

Writers should get a clue from Heyer when it comes to writing heroines. Deb is fiery and witty without being a harpy, and utterly charming and sweet without being a coquette. She has an unfortunate tendency to get herself into scrapes, often with the help of her two doting friends, and embroils herself into the most embarrassing situations. Yes, Deb Grantham is one beleaguered woman. Not only does she have to deal with a very silly aunt, but also an army of young people confused about love and desiring her guidance. She also is in charge of paying the bills for her aunt’s gaming-house, which leads to no end of stress. Fortunately, Deb has a great sense of humor, tempered with an overly-developed sense of pride. This pride is what gets her into the most trouble. Still, she is always kind and loyal to her friends, and her good nature always wins out in the end. I absolutely loved her.

Ravenscar is a true Heyer hero: wealthy, a little hardened by life, charismatic yet intensely arrogant. He is baffled by Deborah and the mass of contradictions she presents; he is certain that she’s only after his cousin’s title, but as he spends time spying on her, is forced to notice her true goodness and loving disposition. He has a great sense of humor lurking behind his stern exterior, and it is so enjoyable to watch him suppress his amusement in a potentially explosive situation. I think he is a little harsher than the average Heyer hero, especially in the way he bitterly vituperates Deborah after a misunderstanding – but I believe his disappointment is so very deep that he is entitled to those words. Of course, he more than makes up for his bad behavior at the end, and I closed the book with an irrepressible smile on my face. It’s hard not to love a self-assured, rigidly aloof man who becomes a big hothead over the woman of his dreams.

As many others have noted, there are only kisses in Georgette Heyer’s books, but this lack of explicit scenes does not in any way detract from the wonderful chemistry between the two protagonists. I hate using the phrase “sizzling chemistry,” but it fittingly describes Deborah and Ravenscar. They sizzle when they’re together, and it’s impossible not to enjoy every second of it.

If you’ve never read a Heyer, I urge you to go read this one now. Even the worst Heyer is so much better than many romances on the market these days, and this is one of her best. I have secondhand copies of her books, mostly scrounged from used book sales. Luckily for us, Sourcebooks Casablanca is reprinting many of Heyer’s books with gorgeous covers. I’m planning to buy every single one, maybe even duplicates of my favorites. That’s how good she is.

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