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Sourcebooks Casablanca (2009), ebook edition, 320 pages
Description
Fiction. Romance. Historical Fiction. HTML: "A writer of great wit and style... I've read her books to ragged shreds." -Kate Fenton, Daily Telegraph Horatia Winwood is simply helping her family When the Earl of Rule proposes marriage to her sister Lizzie, Horatia offers herself instead. Her sister is already in love with someone else, and Horatia is willing to sacrifice herself for her family's happiness. Everyone knows she's no beauty, but she'll do her best to keep out of the Earl's way and make him a good wife. And then the Earl's archenemy, Sir Robert, sets out to ruin her reputation... The Earl of Rule has found just the wife he wants Unbeknownst to Horatia, the Earl is enchanted by her. There's simply no way he's going to let her get into trouble. Overcoming some misguided help from Horatia's harebrained brother and a hired highwayman, the Earl routs his old enemy, and wins over his young wife, gifting her with a love that she never thought she could expect. "Reading Georgette Heyer is the next best thing to reading Jane Austen."-PUBLISHERS WEEKLY.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member kinfae
While I generally enjoy Georgette Heyer's books, this one I simply could not get behind. One of the main characters possesses a stammer-all well and good, but Heyer g-g-gets it ou-ou-out on every p-p-p-page. I nearly thought I would rip the pages out, and heartily wished the character would die so
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that she would shut up. Sadly, no such fortune. Show Less
LibraryThing member mullgirl
Hmmm. I’m supposed to like this. I’ve been told by countless Austen fans that Heyer is too fab for words. Lovely, lovely regency romances. This was my first Heyer book, and I have to say that The Convenient Marriage was not in fact too fab for words.
I was mildly entertained, but ultimately
Both characters are fairly likable, especially the rake. He has an interesting manner of seeming relaxed and laissez-faire and flippant while really being in complete control at all times. Sadly, there are likely less than 20 pages of the book where the rake and the sister interact. So you can’t see why they like each other for themselves either.
It was too long for what it was, too many plot turns that didn’t add to the pleasure of the read, too little discussing “the convenient marriage.”
All that said, there were a few passages that were very well-done and made me want to keep reading. .
I was mildly entertained, but ultimately
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disappointed with the lack of character development and relationship development between the main characters. The 35 year old rake decides it’s time to get hitched. The would-be bride has someone else in mind, but of course, her noble family while still enjoying the benefits of a good name has a ne’er do well heir spending the family money, necessitating her marrying the rake. Her much younger sister decides to sacrifice herself instead and offers her to the rake–who for some reason takes her on. Through the wrong character’s eyes (in other words, people who could not possibly know what they know about other people’s thinking) we find out that he “needed” to marry into their family–but we never relaly understand why, and that he fell for the youngest sister–who knows when or why. She evidently takes a shine to him, again, why–who knows–we’re never told.Both characters are fairly likable, especially the rake. He has an interesting manner of seeming relaxed and laissez-faire and flippant while really being in complete control at all times. Sadly, there are likely less than 20 pages of the book where the rake and the sister interact. So you can’t see why they like each other for themselves either.
It was too long for what it was, too many plot turns that didn’t add to the pleasure of the read, too little discussing “the convenient marriage.”
All that said, there were a few passages that were very well-done and made me want to keep reading. .
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LibraryThing member AMQS
I really enjoyed this audio -- with a wonderful narrator in Caroline Hunt. This is a Georgian romance told -- and narrated -- with humor. The Earl of Rule offers for the hand of the beautiful Elizabeth Winwood, who is heartbroken, because she loves another, but is prepared to accept Rule's offer in
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order to solve her family's financial difficulties incurred by her brother's excessive gambling. Her younger sister Horatia boldly confronts Rule to offer herself in place of her sister, and much to my surprise, he accepts. I wasn't sure how I felt about Rule at first, but I came to admire him as he gradually falls for his own wife. For Horry's part, she also succumbs to the temptations of gambling and ostentation, from which her husband (and occasionally, in a bumbling and hilarious manner, her brother and his cohorts) must rescue her, and she learns painful lessons about love and loyalty, forgiveness and growing up. Show Less
LibraryThing member cbl_tn
News of the Earl of Rule's intention to propose to the eldest Winwood daughter comes just in time to save the family from financial ruin. However, the eldest Miss Winwood is in love with her childhood sweetheart, a military man who had the misfortune to be born a younger son. Seventeen-year-old
Horry proves to be a spendthrift after her marriage, with the family propensity for gambling. She's also a social hit, and she soon catches the eye of Lord Lethbridge, the Earl of Rule's bitter rival. Lord Lethbridge would like nothing better than to separate the newlyweds, and he finds willing assistants in the Earl's mistress and his cousin and heir. While the plot is predictable, there are some very funny scenes as Horry's friends try to help her out of one scrape after another without the Earl's knowledge. It felt like Pride and Prejudice meets The Scarlet Pimpernel, since the Earl reminded me very much of the Scarlet Pimpernel, while Horry seemed more than a little like Kitty Bennet.
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Horatia Winwood, affectionately known as “Horry”, rightly deduces that the Earl of Rule wants to marry her sister, not for love, but to produce an heir. Horry offers herself as a bride in her sister's place, and the Earl accepts her offer. It's a marriage of convenience, but the Earl and his bride soon begin to develop genuine feelings for each other. They try to hide their feelings because, after all, this is a marriage of convenience. This inevitably leads to misunderstandings.Horry proves to be a spendthrift after her marriage, with the family propensity for gambling. She's also a social hit, and she soon catches the eye of Lord Lethbridge, the Earl of Rule's bitter rival. Lord Lethbridge would like nothing better than to separate the newlyweds, and he finds willing assistants in the Earl's mistress and his cousin and heir. While the plot is predictable, there are some very funny scenes as Horry's friends try to help her out of one scrape after another without the Earl's knowledge. It felt like Pride and Prejudice meets The Scarlet Pimpernel, since the Earl reminded me very much of the Scarlet Pimpernel, while Horry seemed more than a little like Kitty Bennet.
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LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
I'm sorry to rate this so low, but that's what it's got to be. There is a story there - it's even an interesting one, with well-developed characters and lots of twists and turns. However, I think this book was written as a joke on...um, Gothic romances? Something. They tend to Express their
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Opinions with Capital Letters and lots of exclamation points and concomitant gestures. The style fades toward the end, but the irritation takes longer. Also - I would really like to like Rule - he reminds me a lot of Tony in The Masqueraders, who I love - but unfortunately he also reminds me of the old man in the same. He's not only extremely smart and perceptive, while maintaining a sleepy manner to cover that fact; he consistently acts as though no one else could possibly understand the implications he sees, and explanations would therefore be a waste of time. Which means he spends a lot of time dealing with what others have come up with for solutions...sheesh. And his trick at the end was just plain nasty. Horry is an idiot in the aforementioned Style - 'Oh, I must Conceal my Errors from my husband...'. Bleah. There's almost a very good story here, but I just can't stand the way it's presented. Ah well, I'll console myself with other Heyers - there are plenty that don't suffer the handicaps of this one. Show Less
LibraryThing member mmyoung
Recently tried to reread....didn't have fond memories and think it is one of Heyer's weaker regencies.
LibraryThing member murderbydeath
Love or license? Fidelity or freedom? Hard choices for a willful young beauty in an age of romantic extravagance.
THE KNOWING BRIDE — When dazzling Horatia Winwood married the powerful Earl of Rule, she was saving her sister from a loveless match, rescuing her family fortune, and providing
Not until Horatia was deep in dangerous intrigue with her husband's vengeful rival, the dashing and arrogant Lord Lethbridge, did she suddenly find -- to her own tumultuous surprise -- she had fallen in love with the man she had married for money. But was it too late, now that she was but a heartbeat away from betraying both him and herself?
THE KNOWING BRIDE — When dazzling Horatia Winwood married the powerful Earl of Rule, she was saving her sister from a loveless match, rescuing her family fortune, and providing
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herself with a life of ease. Hers was a marriage not made in heaven but in the coolly logical mind of a very self-possessed young beauty.Not until Horatia was deep in dangerous intrigue with her husband's vengeful rival, the dashing and arrogant Lord Lethbridge, did she suddenly find -- to her own tumultuous surprise -- she had fallen in love with the man she had married for money. But was it too late, now that she was but a heartbeat away from betraying both him and herself?
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LibraryThing member kaulsu
Although cover shows this book to be set in the Regency period, it is more a Georgian period piece. Good, but a bit drawn out and somewhat tedious at times.
LibraryThing member Liz1564
The Convenient Marriage was one of my favorite Heyer Georgian novels, that is, until I reread it. There are still some wonderful parts to this book but, unfortunately, the heroine is not one of them. I wonder now why I was charmed by Horry (Horatia, named for Walpole) so many years ago? She is
But there are some really comic and wonderful scenes. Two do concern Horry: her marriage proposition to Lord Rule and the way she rescues herself from a compromising abduction. But, by far, the best scene is between the charming Rule and his rival, the even more charming rascal Lethbridge. Their banter during their deadly duel is classic Heyer and worth the read. There is a truly funny highwayman incident on Hampstead Heath and minor characters who liven up the pages.
This is early Heyer. In future novels she creates heroines who are worthy of the likes of Rule.
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immature, silly, and an irritating spendthrift. Her family uses the "can't help it, it's in the blood" excuse to explain away Horry's and her brother's gambling addictions. I found myself irritated when Horry's husband Lord Rule kept paying off gambling debts for those two. And even more irritated when he paid for Horry's diamond encusted shoes and ridiculous hats.But there are some really comic and wonderful scenes. Two do concern Horry: her marriage proposition to Lord Rule and the way she rescues herself from a compromising abduction. But, by far, the best scene is between the charming Rule and his rival, the even more charming rascal Lethbridge. Their banter during their deadly duel is classic Heyer and worth the read. There is a truly funny highwayman incident on Hampstead Heath and minor characters who liven up the pages.
This is early Heyer. In future novels she creates heroines who are worthy of the likes of Rule.
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LibraryThing member LesaHolstine
Georgette Heyer always carefully researched her books, accurately portraying Regency society. Although many men married younger women, and spoiled them, I wasn't enthusiastic about the arrangement. There were too many other characters gossiping about Horatia and Rule, with not enough interaction
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between the couple. After the fun, charming couple of The Corinthian, I found The Convenient Marriage to be a disappointment. Show Less
LibraryThing member KimMR
Why did it take me so long to re-read this Georgette Heyer novel? I had forgotten what a romp it is. Ok, so it's not her best work and definitely not in my top five Heyer favourites (I much prefer the novels with older heroines!), but it is nevertheless a well-plotted and entertaining read. Horry
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is a somewhat annoying heroine, but Rule is an appropriately attractive hero, Lethbridge is a good villain and Pel, Pom and Edward (in his second and subsequent appearances in the narrative, at any rate) are hilarious. Georgette Heyer novels are my ultimate comfort read. I've read almost all of them and re-read quite a number of them regularly. I'll be adding The Convenient Marriage to the re-read list. Show Less
LibraryThing member Black_samvara
The Earl of Rule offers for the hand of the Beauty of the Winwood Family and after being informed by the youngest Miss Winwood that she is the only option, he takes her hand in marriage. The whole situation escalates alarmingly as Horry does her best to pretend it's a marriage of convenience while
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getting into steadily more bizarre scrapes. For those of you who love this kind of thing, the brooch going missing, the highway robbery scheme and the poker scene will delight. Show Less
LibraryThing member wealhtheowwylfing
Horry Winwood is short, stammers and has very intimidating eyebrows, but she is adamant that the Earl of Rule will not marry her sister. She convinces the earl of this, and in return he marries Horry, instead. Unfortunatly, the earl has enemies and Horry is young enough to be easily manipulated
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into trouble. It's a good thing I liked Horry so much to begin with, because by the end of the book I was heartily sick of her and her husband. Horry's only characteristics seem to be her obstinancy, stammer and tendency to gamble huge sums, while the earl is completely perfect in every way. This read a great deal like Heyer's take on [book: The Scarlet Pimpernel], but without the backdrop of the French Revolution or in fact, much plot at all. Show Less
LibraryThing member JudithProctor
I enjoyed reading this, but not so much as Heyer's other books. I found it hard to believe that two people in love with one another both failed to notice that the other was in love with them. The problem with 'marriage of convenience' plots is that they require a lot of suspension of disbelief and
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a lot of opportunities for characters to misunderstand each other. Though to give Heyer credit, Rule trusts his young bride far more than most protagonists. Show Less
LibraryThing member thatotter
The first Heyer novel that I've thought wasn't very good.
Some of her other books have a pleasing Scarlet Pimpernel-like quality: swashbuckling, madcap adventures, giddy excess. This book had some of that, but it also featured some of the dumber aspects of the Scarlet Pimpernel, including a couple
I liked Marcus pretty well--like Percy Blakeney, he has a wry intelligence buried beneath a lazy, unconcerned exterior. But his decision to marry Horatia seemed inexplicable on all levels: why was he bent on marrying into the Winwood family in the first place (or marrying at all)? What compels a handsome, wealthy 35-year-old earl to marry a childish 17-year-old?
I guess it's best not to think too hard about it, so I'm done.
Some of her other books have a pleasing Scarlet Pimpernel-like quality: swashbuckling, madcap adventures, giddy excess. This book had some of that, but it also featured some of the dumber aspects of the Scarlet Pimpernel, including a couple
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whose problems could have been resolved by, oh, basic interpersonal communication.I liked Marcus pretty well--like Percy Blakeney, he has a wry intelligence buried beneath a lazy, unconcerned exterior. But his decision to marry Horatia seemed inexplicable on all levels: why was he bent on marrying into the Winwood family in the first place (or marrying at all)? What compels a handsome, wealthy 35-year-old earl to marry a childish 17-year-old?
I guess it's best not to think too hard about it, so I'm done.
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LibraryThing member rmaitzen
The Convenient Marriage is less a romance than a madcap caper novel, full of comic but two-dimensional characters, foolish schemes, people at cross purposes, duels (never fatal!), and highway robberies (never real!). I found it pretty amusing for a while, especially the back-and-forth between
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Horatia and the frequently surprised but always laconic Earl of Rule, but by the end I was skimming along just to see things get resolved -- not if they got resolved, because obviously everything was going to work out in end. I can't imagine rereading it, as it seemed to me a pretty silly novel overall. I chose it kind of randomly from the fairly large Heyer category and perhaps should have scouted more carefully first; my eye was caught by the title and premise, as I have enjoyed the 'marriage of convenience' trope in Mary Balogh novels like The Ideal Wife. I just would have preferred more about the husband-wife relationship and a lot less fooling around. And after an enticingly unconventional start, Horry turned out not to be much of a heroine. Still, no harm done: that I enjoyed it even as much as I did is encouraging for my Heyer prospects! Show Less
LibraryThing member Anniik
This book is the story of Horatia (Horry) Winwood and her "marriage of convenience" to Marcus, the Earl of Rule. The action of the book begins at the Winwood house, when we find out that the Earl of Rule is about to offer marriage to Elizabeth, the oldest of three daughters. Elizabeth is devastated
This is a charming book, a la Jane Austen. While we are not given insight into the minds of the characters, that insight can be easily deduced through dialogue and actions. In addition to the two main characters, I found her eldest brother, Pelham Winwood, a charming character, and the villain was nasty without being one-sided. Her descriptions of fashion and surroundings added a great deal of atmosphere to the book as well. A very good book!
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by this news, as her heart is promised to Lt. Edward Heron, a kind but impoverished officer. Finding it impossible to let her sister suffer, Horry, the youngest, makes a very improper visit to the home of the Earl of Rule and offers herself to him instead. The Earl seems rather charmed by her, and accepts, making his formal offer for Horry and not Elizabeth. The rest of the story concentrates on the disaster that has become their marriage - a disaster not helped by Horry's insistence on taking up with the wrong friends and spending obscene amounts of money on gambling. Nonetheless, the Earl of Rule and Horry do have feelings for each other, and it is charming to see all the misunderstandings and dramatic irony that result from the complications of the plot.This is a charming book, a la Jane Austen. While we are not given insight into the minds of the characters, that insight can be easily deduced through dialogue and actions. In addition to the two main characters, I found her eldest brother, Pelham Winwood, a charming character, and the villain was nasty without being one-sided. Her descriptions of fashion and surroundings added a great deal of atmosphere to the book as well. A very good book!
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LibraryThing member Herenya
I enjoyed The Convenient Marriage while I was reading it, but I was ultimately disappointed with how it handles Horry's agency.
And it begins so well! Horry's older sister Elizabeth is devastated by the news that a marriage is being arranged for her with the Earl of Rule - and believes she can't let
So Horry hatches a plan and boldly proposes to Rule that he should ask for her hand, rather than her sister's (since unlike Elizabeth, Horry isn't in love with someone else and will be content with a marriage where both parties are free to pursue their own interests).
Horry's second plan basically comes down to wanting Rule to take her seriously and see her as his equal. This is an important plan, if this marriage is going to become more than one of convenience, since Rule is twice Horry's age.
However, when things begin to go wrong, she enlists the help of her brother and his friend. They're not entertaining enough to warrant the narrative time taken away from other characters (something that can also be said for the villains of this piece) and I felt that their involvement undermined Horry's agency somewhat. Not because it undermined Horry to have them involved at all, but just because of the circumstances and the personalities involved...
And then Rule sweeps in at the end and it's all, It's okay I love you, but I wasn't entirely convinced that he'd made the more important discovery that Horry was an equal to be respected.
Character development isn't Heyer's strength, and it is possible to have a delightful story that doesn't have much of it, but The Convenient Marriage's characters needed to grow and learn more.
And it begins so well! Horry's older sister Elizabeth is devastated by the news that a marriage is being arranged for her with the Earl of Rule - and believes she can't let
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down her family by refusing the connection.So Horry hatches a plan and boldly proposes to Rule that he should ask for her hand, rather than her sister's (since unlike Elizabeth, Horry isn't in love with someone else and will be content with a marriage where both parties are free to pursue their own interests).
Horry's second plan basically comes down to wanting Rule to take her seriously and see her as his equal. This is an important plan, if this marriage is going to become more than one of convenience, since Rule is twice Horry's age.
However, when things begin to go wrong, she enlists the help of her brother and his friend. They're not entertaining enough to warrant the narrative time taken away from other characters (something that can also be said for the villains of this piece) and I felt that their involvement undermined Horry's agency somewhat. Not because it undermined Horry to have them involved at all, but just because of the circumstances and the personalities involved...
And then Rule sweeps in at the end and it's all, It's okay I love you, but I wasn't entirely convinced that he'd made the more important discovery that Horry was an equal to be respected.
Character development isn't Heyer's strength, and it is possible to have a delightful story that doesn't have much of it, but The Convenient Marriage's characters needed to grow and learn more.
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LibraryThing member riverwillow
A sparkling comedy of errors - Horatia Windwood offers herself up to the Earl of Rule as the Winwood he should marry, rather than her elder sister, Lizzie, who is in love with someone else. Rule is clearly enchanted by her,and Rule's sister, Lady Louisa Quain immediately sees that Horry is going to
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lead him a merry merry dance and she does. Horry takes on the marriage on her own terms, leaving Rule to carry on with his mistresses while Horry gets involved in various scrapes with other unsuitable members of the ton. There are a couple of hilarious fights between the ludicrous Crosby Drelincourt and Horry's brother Pel. The dialogue sparkles and, of course, everything falls into place at the end. Wonderful. Show Less
LibraryThing member marieburton2004
I love this author! Georgette Heyer has been around for a very long time, yet with the reissue of her many novels she is attracting a new generation. The Convenient Marriage is my third Heyer, and second romance that I have read of hers. The blurb above really tells the gist of the story, so I am
Here is a fun teaser from the book:
p. 164:
"While the waiting -woman collected her scattered jewels and garments she sipped the chocolate, pondering her problem. What had seemed a mere prank twelve hours earlier had by now assumed gigantic proportions. There was first the episode of the curl."
Horatia is stuttering fool, her brother is a drunk gambler, and the older man she married is besotted with her yet she is too immature to realize it. Her new husband, The Earl of Rule, is portrayed as a doting and tolerant man with none of the typical 'rake' or roguish ways so typical of a Heyer romance. This romance is complete with a sword fight, kidnapping, parties and pinching diamond shoes. Since this is actually one of Heyer's earlier romances from 1936 she was still honing her writing skill and perhaps had not perfected the Heyer Genre as this is not one of her most popular books. I admit that it was a teensy bit slow in one or two parts but I really did enjoy the comical aspect of it and I do not hesitate to recommend this to anyone interested in the Jane Austen/Regency Romance genre. To try and explain the scrapes that the characters got into reminds me a lot of the Three Stooges with a leg up on the intelligence factor, and this book is the epitome of a comically charming period romance.
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not going to reiterate it here; with all the the simplistic and predictable events we still get pulled in a fantastic way. It is full of quaint scenes and fun romance set in earlier times, in Jane Austen fashion, but what I enjoy the most is the fact I find myself grinning to myself as I read her books. The Convenient Marriage is no exception to the grinning, sometimes it is laugh out loud funny with the hi-jinks of the heroine and her brother and his bosom buddies. There is a slew of interesting characters with Horry and her sisters and of course the obligatory numbskull character Mr Drelincourt who is upset the Earl of Rule has decided to marry after all these years which puts him further down the line in the inheritance. Here is a fun teaser from the book:
p. 164:
"While the waiting -woman collected her scattered jewels and garments she sipped the chocolate, pondering her problem. What had seemed a mere prank twelve hours earlier had by now assumed gigantic proportions. There was first the episode of the curl."
Horatia is stuttering fool, her brother is a drunk gambler, and the older man she married is besotted with her yet she is too immature to realize it. Her new husband, The Earl of Rule, is portrayed as a doting and tolerant man with none of the typical 'rake' or roguish ways so typical of a Heyer romance. This romance is complete with a sword fight, kidnapping, parties and pinching diamond shoes. Since this is actually one of Heyer's earlier romances from 1936 she was still honing her writing skill and perhaps had not perfected the Heyer Genre as this is not one of her most popular books. I admit that it was a teensy bit slow in one or two parts but I really did enjoy the comical aspect of it and I do not hesitate to recommend this to anyone interested in the Jane Austen/Regency Romance genre. To try and explain the scrapes that the characters got into reminds me a lot of the Three Stooges with a leg up on the intelligence factor, and this book is the epitome of a comically charming period romance.
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LibraryThing member tiff18
One of my favorite Heyers. It has, either to its credit or not, all the cliches of the "genre," although this one has the couple falling in love after they've gotten married. It is an arranged marriage, but arranged by the heroine, in an effort to save her sister from marrying the man. While
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sometimes the hero can get a bit too smug for my liking, the heroine (Honoria--nicknamed "Horry") is vivid enough to make up for it. She stutters! If you like arranged marriage stories, read this one--it's one of the best. Show Less
LibraryThing member exlibrisbitsy
Horatia Winwood is the youngest of three sisters, and when the Earl of Rule offers for her eldest sister the whole family is upset. The eldest daughter is in love with another, the middle daughter refuses to marry anyone and with an elder brother that loves to gamble has the family in desperate
While being just as well researched, well written and interesting in its own way as other Heyer works, the book The Convenient Marriage had a heroine that I did not like nearly as well this time. Horatia was stubborn, obstinate, mulish and very naive. I had a hard time learning to like the character and only started to enjoy her towards the end as she started to finally realize the horrible mess she was making of things. I honestly could not see what the Earl got out of the match at all, unless it was simply that he wanted a child-woman for a bride that he would look after, mess with, and run circles around all the time.
That being said, the novel was absolutely hilarious. The situations were amusing and comically well written, the dialogue was witty in sometimes sly and sometimes exasperating ways, and Horatia's family (not to mention Horatia herself) provided excellent comic relief to some at times very tense situations. I also loved the depictions of the Macaronis, just picturing the clothes, powdered wigs, make-up and mincing stride (not to mention the girly attitude) of these 18th century metrosexuals often got a chuckle out of me throughout the book.
Even though the heroine was at times very frustrating to read about, the plot kept me engaged to the last page turn with all of the sword fights, the various back stabbing characters, and the intrigue of London's Ton. Though by the end it was pretty easy to guess how it all was going to end, and I just found it (yet again) frustrating that the characters didn't even guess what was about to happen next, it was that obvious. So, though well written and engaging, it had to lose a star for a frustrating heroine that took away a lot more than she added to the book. I just wish she had been written in a slightly different way, though I guess for her to grow and change as much as I wanted her to, there would have had to have been a much longer book!
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financial straights and so the daughters can’t afford to refuse the match. Horatia steps up and throws herself at the Earl and demands that if he wants so much to marry a Winwood that he should marry her instead. So he does. What follows is a story of at times hilarious and at times exasperating hi-jinks with the seventeen year old taking Society by storm and going from one scrape to the next. When an enemy of the Earl steps up and attempts to stir the pot and ruin his new young bride in the eyes of Society things take a dangerous turn and sword fights, high way robbery and a great deal of intrigue ensues.While being just as well researched, well written and interesting in its own way as other Heyer works, the book The Convenient Marriage had a heroine that I did not like nearly as well this time. Horatia was stubborn, obstinate, mulish and very naive. I had a hard time learning to like the character and only started to enjoy her towards the end as she started to finally realize the horrible mess she was making of things. I honestly could not see what the Earl got out of the match at all, unless it was simply that he wanted a child-woman for a bride that he would look after, mess with, and run circles around all the time.
That being said, the novel was absolutely hilarious. The situations were amusing and comically well written, the dialogue was witty in sometimes sly and sometimes exasperating ways, and Horatia's family (not to mention Horatia herself) provided excellent comic relief to some at times very tense situations. I also loved the depictions of the Macaronis, just picturing the clothes, powdered wigs, make-up and mincing stride (not to mention the girly attitude) of these 18th century metrosexuals often got a chuckle out of me throughout the book.
Even though the heroine was at times very frustrating to read about, the plot kept me engaged to the last page turn with all of the sword fights, the various back stabbing characters, and the intrigue of London's Ton. Though by the end it was pretty easy to guess how it all was going to end, and I just found it (yet again) frustrating that the characters didn't even guess what was about to happen next, it was that obvious. So, though well written and engaging, it had to lose a star for a frustrating heroine that took away a lot more than she added to the book. I just wish she had been written in a slightly different way, though I guess for her to grow and change as much as I wanted her to, there would have had to have been a much longer book!
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LibraryThing member CarriePalmer
A darling romance of a stuttering heroine who wins the heart of the Earl of Rule despite the machinations of his enemies and one petty Macaroni.
LibraryThing member Stacey42
Miss Horatia Winwood offers too marry her sister’s unwanted suitor, the Earl of Rule, so her sister can marry the man she loves. Rule’s enemy decides to cause trouble for Rule by seducing Horatia & leading her into debt. Rule is a nice guy. He has his issues but he is a decent enough fellow &
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it takes Horatia quite a bit longer than I think necessary to appreciate it, she could do with a good shaking. This one is set in Georgian times rather than Regency. Show Less
LibraryThing member poonamsharma
The leading lady is seventeen years old and behaves like 15-year-old. Though husband-wife inteactions in this 'convenient marriage' were far and few - they were entertaining. This book is full of duels, highway men and kidnapping references. Toward the end, the book became a free-for-all playground
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for all the childish characters, exactly like a Priyadarshan movie. Wish Heyer had focused more on the 'chemistry'. Oh, btw, I learnt a lot about hairstyle - even French ones - of the time. Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1934
Physical description
320 p.; 8 inches
Local notes
When the Earl of Rule proposes marriage to her sister Lizzie, Horatia offers herself instead. Her sister is already in love with someone else, and Horatia is willing to sacrifice herself for her family's happiness. Everyone knows she's no beauty, but she'll do her best to keep out of the Earl's way and make him a good wife. And then the Earl's archenemy, Sir Robert, sets out to ruin her reputation.
For some reason, these are wildly popular. But I found it all rather irritating.
For some reason, these are wildly popular. But I found it all rather irritating.