Tuesday, October 6, 2009

The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer


Read For:
ROR Fall Challenge
RYOB Challenge

Synopsis:

THE RUNAWAY

Behind lovely Penelope Creed was the lavish life of a brilliant London heiress, and a proposed marriage to a man she loathed.

Ahead, tantalizing, was the shimmering dream of a love she had known once--and lost.

And with her in flight across a landscape of excitement was a man like no other she had known--the handsome, cynical, sophisticated Sir Richard Wyndham. They had met by accident, been drawn together by danger. And now only his masked emotions and the shifting impulses of her own wild young heart would tell what their destiny would be...

My Review:

This was my first Georgette Heyer and definitely not my last. I can see why she's considered the "Grand Dame" of Regency Romances. The Corinthian is a comedy/action storyline with the now classic "girl passes herself off as a boy" storyline. But this time the hero knows she is a woman from the start and goes along with the ruse, as the heroine is running from a forced marriage to her cousin, and with the disguise the hero can escort her across country without a abigail in tow.

Heyer's writing is very humorous as well as slyly scathing towards the hypocrisy of the ton. I wish there was more romance between the leads but their comical interaction more than makes up for it. This story was also enjoyable as the vast majority takes place as the couple travels from inn to inn, unlike most Regencies that dwell in the glitz and glamour of routs and balls.

4.5 stars.


2 comments:

  1. I love the old school cover! I enjoyed this book!

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  2. Yep-and that's the actual cover of my copy-it's too funny! From her "mod" hair and LOADS of make up to her large gold earrings- it screams 70's more than Regency:) You have to actually search the picture to see a few small details (the carriage behind them) that show that this photo was actually made for this book-LOL.

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