Arabella

Rating:
Summary: One of GH's best!
Review: Don't be fooled; these stories are not merely romances. Georgette Heyer is a great writer; she takes what might be construed as hackneyed material and makes it sing. I own a tattered paperback of Arabella and I think it may well be my favorite; I know that when I need a laugh and a cry and to be absorbed by witty sparring that leads to a happy ending, I reach for this book time after time. The draw is not only the charming romance between the main characters, but her fastidious eye for detail and ear for dialogue. I hope that these books never go out of print for long.

Rating:
Summary: Witty and funny
Review: For a bit of light hearted fun, I can't recommend this book highly enough. Arabella, the eldest daughter of a country parson, is given the opportunity, by her godmother, of having a Season in London, in the hope of finding a wealthy husband and thereby being able to gring out her three younger sisters and to advance the careers of her brothers. Society is under the impression that Arabella is a great heiress ( a fact which "slipped" out under the influence of a glass of champagne) and she is given the entree into the highest eschelons after being seen with the highest arbiter of fashion and taste, Mr. Beaumaris.The story is full of the usual quirkiness of Miss Heyers characters and is a sheer delight as a light and funny read.

Rating:
Summary: Watch out! This book will trap you into loving Heyer.
Review: Humor abounds in this light romance about the moral dilemmas of a young upstart in search of a husband. Heyer is a terrific writer who laces humor into every detail of Regency England romances. I delighted in this book as a young girl (just as my mother did before me) and still enjoy it now that I'm older.

Rating:
Summary: One of Heyer's Best!
Review: I must agree with the reviewer who called Arabella the best Cinderella story ever. This was the first Heyer I ever read, the first romance I ever read, many years ago, and it got me hooked. While I normally prefer Heyer's older heroines, Arabella is so completely engaging you cannot help but adore her. She is not only young, she is beautiful, another oddity for Heyer's heroine's, but Arabella has had a steady upbringing and is unconcerned with her looks and well aware that character counts for much more. Be that as it may, she has no trouble enjoying the frivolous wonder of a London season, and does let her pride and temper land her in the uncomfortable position of being thought an heiress when she most assuredly is not. Our hero, Beaumaris, is an absolute dreamboat, but of course slightly jaded, and is delighted with Arabella's lively innocence. He doesn't fall in love, however, until he sees the depth of character beneath her surface beauty and charm, and the lengths to which he will go to win Arabella's love at that point are both amusing and endearing. This is an altogether delightfully satisfying romance that I can guarantee will go on your keeper shelf and be enjoyed over and over for years to come.

Rating:
Summary: One of Heyer's Best!
Review: I must agree with the reviewer who called Arabella the best Cinderella story ever. This was the first Heyer I ever read, the first romance I ever read, many years ago, and it got me hooked. While I normally prefer Heyer's older heroines, Arabella is so completely engaging you cannot help but adore her. She is not only young, she is beautiful, another oddity for Heyer's heroine's, but Arabella has had a steady upbringing and is unconcerned with her looks and well aware that character counts for much more. Be that as it may, she has no trouble enjoying the frivolous wonder of a London season, and does let her pride and temper land her in the uncomfortable position of being thought an heiress when she most assuredly is not. Our hero, Beaumaris, is an absolute dreamboat, but of course slightly jaded, and is delighted with Arabella's lively innocence. He doesn't fall in love, however, until he sees the depth of character beneath her surface beauty and charm, and the lengths to which he will go to win Arabella's love at that point are both amusing and endearing. This is an altogether delightfully satisfying romance that I can guarantee will go on your keeper shelf and be enjoyed over and over for years to come.

Rating:
Summary: Delightful romance from the master
Review: I save 5 stars for the truly great Heyer novels, and this one is only darn good. Arabella Tallant, daughter of a clergyman who is well-endowed with virtue but not substance, travels to London for the season. On the road, she encounters the wealthy, cynical and oh-so bored Robert Beaumaris, who suspects her of conniving their meeting. In her indignation, Arabella pretends to be an heiress. Beaumaris isn't fooled, but it amuses him to encourage his rattle of a friend to repeat the story and launch Arabella into the stratosphere of society. But Arabella is no typical society miss, and Beaumaris finds himself reluctantly intrigued. Heyer's successors in the Regency field have turned much of this material into cliche, but her sharp eye for detail and keen ear for dialog make everything fresh. The introduction of a devoted mutt into Beaumaris' household is the source of the book's best moments.

Rating:
Summary: A charming, effervescent comedy..
Review: This is one of those Heyer novels which come much closer to being termed a "Romance" in the modern sense of the word. Most Heyer books are pure comedy of manners almost akin to a P.G.Wodehouse, some are more romances than comedy. This book belongs to the latter group. This does not however mean that there is no comedy - how can there not be when its a Heyer writing ? The humour is rich and most witty.

Arabella is amongst Heyer's delightful heroines - and the hero amngst her more endearing. We also have Ulysses the dog who is superbly drawn. What I do miss in this book are the wealth of support characters who form the heart of the comic parts of most Heyer novels.

But all in all, its a jolly good novel - a laugh every page.

Rating:
Summary: It does not get better than this
Review: This is the best Cinderella-type regency that I have EVER read. Heyer has a wonderful gift and a unique sense of humor that is unequalled.

Arabella is the eldest daughter of a poor vicar and his wife who has pinned all her hopes on her eldest, most beautiful offspring marrying a rich man in order to help the family. The mother engineers a season in London for Arabella and while she was on the way, Arabella meets the wealthy, handsome Mr. Robert Beaumaris. They clash, he is entranced, she is in love and Arabella's season is unlike any other you'll ever read.

Mongrel dogs, chimney sweeps and limping prostitutes, not to mention gin-drinking babies are but a taste of what you might encounter in this wonderful romantic tale of love winning against all the odds.

Prepare to laugh out loud and long many times throughout the book!

Rating:
Summary: Very impressed with Georgette's work
Review: What do you call a Regency Era-based romance novel about a woman's white lie going too far? Brilliant. At least when Georgette Heyer writes it. Her intelligent writing, tangible descriptions, and witty dialogue all contribute to the success of what most people say makes this "the best Cinderella story yet to date". Occasional flips through a dictionary are needed as this author likes to use difficult words in her sentences that most people don't ever use in their whole lifetime. But don't let a few references to a big red book scare you away from this must-read.

The whole message of this story is great. Loving someone not because of their status but because of their genuine character is truly beautiful. And the surprises towards the end make you smile!

My discovery of the gracefully articulate Georgette Heyer provided me with remarkable reading material and additional insight into the Era that I find so fascinating. To be comparable to Jane Austen is certainly an honor and Heyer has surely achieved that in my opinion. Now that I have taken the journey into the world of Heyer, I am looking forward to reading some of her other books over the summer.

If this book sounds appealing to you, you owe it to yourself to read it. You won't regret it!