Rating: 
Summary: A quietly spectacular book
Review: A writing instructor suggested I read Heyer because I like mysteries and good characters. I picked up The Nonesuch and I must say that it is hard to find more immediately engaging characters that Heyer's. I don't want to give the story away at all -- but if you like good characters, so romance, and mystery - -this book wraps them all together neatly.
Rating:
Summary: Even if you can't abide romances...
Review: Even if you can't abide romances, read The Nonesuch anyway! I have only recently discovered the Heyer novels, and The Nonesuch is definitely my favorite. Ms. Heyer has created a memorable cast of characters with depths of personality not always seen in lighter romance novels. Tiffany Wield is one of the funniest and most realistic brats I've ever read about. It's worth reading just to laugh (or cry) at her. Though heaven help anyone who would tell her so, Tiffany isn't the heroine of this story. That honor belongs to Miss Ancilla Trent, practical, "old-cattish" (as she describes herself), and not in any way a victim of circumstance. But Miss Trent's self-designation as an old maid does not fool anyone, least of all the Nonesuch himself, Sir Waldo Hawkridge. As I said before, this isn't just a romance. In fact, as in most of Ms. Heyer's novels, the plot itself and the interactions among characters are the attractions of the book. The middle-aged Mrs. Underhill is just as entertaining as the handsome Sir Waldo or Lord Lindeth. I pick up the Nonesuch whenever I'm bored. It never becomes boring. Step into this magical summer of balls and parties in this quaint English village, and you'll be glad you did.
Rating:
Summary: A Delightful Romp
Review: I discovered Georgette Heyer in Junior High (that should date me) and have been a huge fan of hers ever since. This is one of her more delightful romps, combining her humorous comedy of manners with a mystery. A rollicking good read!!
Rating:
Summary: A Delightful Romp
Review: I discovered Georgette Heyer in Junior High (that should date me) and have been a huge fan of hers ever since. This is one of her more delightful romps, combining her humorous comedy of manners with a mystery. A rollicking good read!!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent! My favorite Heyer book
Review: I love this book! This is my favorite Heyer novel by far. The dialogue is very funny and witty and the hero and heroine are both "good" people. (No rakes or schemers here). The dialogue between the hero and heroine reminds me a little of Darcy and Elizabeth in "Pride and Prejudice". The heroine, Ancilla, is a very intelligent, competent, nice woman- one you really can root for. Her counterpart Waldo is everything you would want him to be. I once read that Georgette Heyer actually didn't like this book. I'm not sure if that is true, but if it is I can't understand why. Perhaps some people prefer a more stormy heroine like Sophy in Heyer's "The Grand Sophy", but that kind of obnoxiously outgoing character gets old. And the scene where Sophy is nursing her young relative in the presence of the hero and it dawns on him that he is in love with her is so cheesy. The Nonesuch has no chessy, contrived scenes because the attraction is totally natural and believable.By the way, this is a great book for younger readers as well. It isn't very heavy and totally clean. Perfect for a mother-daughter read!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent! My favorite Heyer book
Review: I love this book! This is my favorite Heyer novel by far. The dialogue is very funny and witty and the hero and heroine are both "good" people. (No rakes or schemers here). The dialogue between the hero and heroine reminds me a little of Darcy and Elizabeth in "Pride and Prejudice". The heroine, Ancilla, is a very intelligent, competent, nice woman- one you really can root for. Her counterpart Waldo is everything you would want him to be. I once read that Georgette Heyer actually didn't like this book. I'm not sure if that is true, but if it is I can't understand why. Perhaps some people prefer a more stormy heroine like Sophy in Heyer's "The Grand Sophy", but that kind of obnoxiously outgoing character gets old. And the scene where Sophy is nursing her young relative in the presence of the hero and it dawns on him that he is in love with her is so cheesy. The Nonesuch has no chessy, contrived scenes because the attraction is totally natural and believable. By the way, this is a great book for younger readers as well. It isn't very heavy and totally clean. Perfect for a mother-daughter read!
Rating: 
Summary: Not her usual
Review: I've read her books before and have enjoyed them, but this one just wasn't as good. The verbage was too stilted. Some of the dialogue was funny but for the most part I got a headache from reading it and couldn't wait to finish the book.
Rating:
Summary: Heyer moves into Austen territory, delightfully!
Review: Instead of her more usual London or Bath settings, in this delightful novel - which is a comedy of manners every bit as much as a romance - Heyer takes her characters to the village of Oversett, in Yorkshire, close to Harrogate and Leeds. Sir Waldo Hawkridge has just inherited the run-down and ramshackle estate of Joseph Calver, purely on the basis that Sir Waldo was the only relative 'who paid as little notice of me as I did of him'. Naturally, there are relatives who are unhappy about this bequest, and these add a further element of humour to the tale, especially when one - Laurence Calver - follows Waldo to Oversett. Society in Oversett may not be what Sir Waldo is accustomed to, but the local residents are very quick to include him in their activities: balls, routs, simple country dinners, the ridotto that no-one came to, and quiet evening entertainments. It helps that Sir Waldo is known in London circles as 'The Nonesuch', a great Corinthian admired by many. And his nephew, Lord Lindeth, a charming and handsome young man, is of course the delight of the young unmarried girls. However, Sir Waldo appears to be most intrigued by Ancilla Trent, who is, she informs him, a most superior governess/companion. Her charge is the Beautiful Miss Tiffany Wield, quite the most lovely girl Sir Waldo has ever seen... but whose personality by no means matches her looks. This is where Heyer's talent for humour comes to the fore. Tiffany is an incredibly selfish and self-centred young woman, and Waldo and Ancilla frequently join forces in a hilarious manner in order to make her see the error of her ways - not to criticise her, for she would refuse to listen, but to persuade her that such behaviour would cause her to lose her looks, or to make the mythical Marquis she wishes to marry to have a disgust of her. Ancilla certainly finds Waldo's company congenial - and more than that, he makes her laugh. But it never occurs to her that his interest in her is any greater than the fact that she is intelligent and can actually make conversation - after all, one of these days he will return to London and forget all about the governess he knew briefly. However, she doesn't know Waldo... This is a lovely, entertaining read, full of deliciously entertaining character studies (Tiffany, Mrs Underhill, the Squire, Mrs Chartley, Laurie Calver and many more), witty dialogue, a gentle secondary romance and, of course, the main love story, between Ancilla and Waldo. This is another of Heyer's 'older heroine' novels, subtle, romantic and very enjoyable. Highly recommended!
Rating: 
Summary: A London Blade visits the Country
Review: Moving out of her usual London Ton settings, Georgette Heyer takes us to the Country, and the social setting is that of the upper middle classes. This books moves quite well, and the characters are rather unique amongst the denizens of Heyer's books. You will enjoy your sojourn with the inhabitants of the town, and this book will rapidly become a favorite.
Rating: 
Summary: Satisfactory but not stellar
Review: The Nonesuch is a pleasant tale about a country neighborhood enlivened by the visit of a celebrity. This is much the same territory that Jane Austen covers, only with a more modern sense of comedy. Our heroine is well-bred, sensible and clever; our hero is affable and wealthy. The supporting characters in general are well drawn, but the standout is Tiffany Wield, the headstrong and completely spoiled heiress whose conniving ploys for attention and adulation frequently drive the plot. She's not in the least likeable, but oh boy, is she memorable. I would have enjoyed this more if the obstacle to romantic bliss for our Hero and Heroine was less contrived. Still, it's a pleasant visit with country society.
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