Candice Hern - Terri Herrington - Georgette Heyer
Hern, Candice - AFFAIR OF HONOR, AN (Signet - 1996) (3)
Setting: Regency England
Six-foot-tall Meg Ashburton was once an awkward and shy wallflower. The only good thing she remembers about her one season in London is that she danced twice with the handsome (and very tall) Colin Herriot, Viscount Sedgewick. A few years after her season, Meg "grew into her body" and the ugly duckling became a beautiful swan.
Several years later, Meg and her brother are out riding when they come upon a carriage accident. Viscount Sedgewick is lying alongside the road with a broken leg and a bloody gash across his forehead. After transporting him home and calling the doctor, Meg nurses him faithfully for several days until he awakens. Meanwhile, Meg's brother discovers that the axle of the carriage had been sawed through to cause the near-fatal accident.
When several more mishaps occur, Sedge dismisses them. Are they more than just mere accidents though? Meg falls in love with Sedge all over again, but a misunderstanding separates the two. When she goes to London for another season, she becomes the belle of the ball and an "incomparable."
AN AFFAIR OF HONOR is a sweet story with a little romance and a little mystery. The first half of the book moves a bit slowly, but the pace picks up in the second half. Despite the use of a familiar plot device that makes it pretty easy to spot the bad guy, Candice Hern has written a good Regency novel with an enjoyable storyline and characters. ~Marilyn H. (mlyn@jps.net)
Hern, Candice - BEST INTENTIONS, THE (Signet - 6/99) (4)
Widower Miles Prescott, Earl of Strickland, is determined to
take a bride because his beloved daughters need a mother. His sister takes matters in hand by inviting her beautiful cousin
and her cousin's stepsister to visit his home.
Lady Charlotte Abingdon, proper and ladylike, is a widow herself, and the aloof Miles is drawn to her calm maturity and seductive charm. His reaction to Charlotte's younger stepsister is quite different though. Hannah Fairbanks, an accident-prone, studious beauty who cares only for old architecture, can't seem to keep her feet out of the mud or avoid staining her dress no matter how hard she tries. The perfectly creased Miles is appalled and certainly doesn't consider Hannah as a possible mother for his children, even if the two of them do share an interest in the old village church and other local buildings.
When the Earl discovers his children adore Miss Fairbanks, however, he begins to look at her in a different light. He learns that Charlotte's modesty and propriety don't mean as much to him as Hannah's genuine enthusiasm and affection for his little girls. And when our heroine decides to set her cap for Miles, he realizes there is a gorgeous woman hidden under all those smudges of dirt.
THE BEST INTENTIONS is another wonderful Regency offering from Candice Hern. The writing is clever, and you will be drawn to the heroine's naive charm just as Miles and his daughters are enchanted by her spirited innocence. Some readers may have difficulty connecting with the aloof hero, however; and for that reason, THE BEST INTENTIONS did not receive a higher rating from me. Although I was sympathetic to the hero's widowed state, Miles lacked any real emotional depth with which I could bond. Hannah is the life of the story, and she is surrounded by secondary characters who seem to live and breathe. Rounding out the plot is a thrilling architectural discovery and a chase that is hysterically funny. Enjoy this breezy, winsome read by one of the best Regency authors writing today. ~Anne Kirby for Bookbug on the Web
Hern, Candice - CHANGE OF HEART, A (Signet - 1995) (5)
Lady Mary laughs at the rumors about her and Jack because she knows she is plain and "on the shelf." But what will she do when he proposes? A delightful Regency that combines sparkling Regency humor, realistic and heartwarming characterization, and emotional depth. ~Karen W. (kwheless@rockland.net)
Herrington, Terri - FLASHBACK (Silh. Shadows 7) (3+)
A romance that goes right for the heart, especially if you're sentimental about the 1950s and you have a penchant for time-travel romances. ~June (bookbug@oocities.com)
Heyer, Georgette - ARABELLA (5)
When pride spurs an impoverished vicar's daughter who is entering London society to lie about her financial situation, the results make for delightful satire in this Regency classic. ~Elena P.
Heyer, Georgette - BLACK SHEEP (5)
Another classic from the pen of a master. This Bath-set Regency-era tale features a somewhat older hero and heroine, whose repartee is pure delight. ~Elena P.
Heyer, Georgette - FREDERICA (5)
This is the granddaddy of all those Regency-era romances featuring the supposedly "on the shelf" heroine, who is more interested in arranging a match for a beautiful younger relative or charge. The heroine, her siblings, and their predicaments are all particularly memorable—including the infamous balloon ascent. ~Elena P.
Heyer, Georgette - GRAND SOPHY, THE (5)
Grand is definitely an apt description of this novel's domineering yet delightful heroine, who returns from Spain to breathe joy and spirit into the lives of her repressed relations. ~Elena P.
Heyer, Georgette - SYLVESTER: OR THE WICKED UNCLE (5)
As the initiator of the Regency romance, Heyer excels in charming characters, witty repartee, graceful romance (with absolutely no sex!), and carefully researched historical detail, including period slang that readers who love language and word games are especially likely to enjoy. It's hard to choose from among my favorite six or seven Heyer opuses, but SYLVESTER is definitely one of them. I chose it over the others mainly because of the wonderful early scene between the hero and his mother, and because the plot device of the heroine's secret novelist career has been much imitated since Heyer first penned it. ~Elena P.
Heyer, Georgette - THESE OLD SHADES (5)
This early Heyer tour de force, set in eighteenth-century France and England, is less satirical than Heyer's Regency-era efforts, but it is also perhaps her most romantic book. The hero is of the diabolical "alpha" mould; the heroine is a pure delight; and, for me, both characters have proven to be unforgettable over the years (though I certainly do reread this book from time to time). ~Elena P.
Heyer, Georgette - VENETIA (5)
Another Heyer favorite. This classic romance of a jaded rake and an innocent young maiden is wittily and movingly told. ~Elena P.
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