Repay gratitude by blood and tears is one way of fulfilling your obligation, Minerva’s feelings amounts only to this that she is by far keen on intimidating and constraining the hand of her niece to a halfwit ,a conspiracy nevertheless atrocious. At least Torquil can end the formidable…..

It’s neither one of her mysteries nor is it one of her perfect romances. Sparkling around the apposite of the regency maxims and delicacies, the novel soothes with striking sketches of the picturesque Broome Hall. Kate’s destitution brings her to the Broome family. Not finding a friend in the somewhat opprobrious Philip, she stays in the house with only Torquil and Minerva to bear her company. Happiness takes form of Phillip’s offer for marriage. Soon after this first blossom of love, Minerva insinuates her precarious desire of Kate marrying Torquil. In a normal course, an alliance such as this should proffer enlivenment to any penniless female of commonplace; but it seems the otherwise; the thought of marriage to a halfwit howsoever innocent he claims to be, is a matter requiring the highest deliberation, her position being considered only secondary. And though her profound knowledge of her aunt’s intention receives her sympathies, the fortitude with which she faces the situation is estimable where she is punctilious not to hurt her benevolent aunt. Torquil is equally averse to the plan as the rest of the family is. With the thought of placating the quandaries, he strangles his mother and repenting over which drowns in the river immediately. Amidst the melancholy, the family puts back things, the memories of the departed to haunt them for ever.

Minerva is calculative and is so absorbed in her self conceit that she regards her every atrocity as mere commonplace. Her plan dominating over her scruples, she takes advantage of Kate’s situation despite the knowledge of Phillip’s love. Minerva often stands at loggerheads with her dictatorship and it doesn’t come to a shock at her unpredicted death which is more to her blame than of Torquil’s. The only person who is unaffected by her despotism is Philip. He seems to be the pillar for support to Kate during her stay at the hall and continues to be of help to her. The objects of Minerva’s puppet show are Kate, a victim in the hands of gratitude with extreme tolerance and Torquil, a victim of undue influence and haplessness.

Cousin Kate is I believe one of Heyer’s best written novels as it reflects upon a combination of emotions carved up into equal proportions for regency, despondency, romance and also some sightseeing thus providing an all- encompassing entertainment. On the contrary, people correlate Gothicism to Cousin Kate which has clearly no place in the story and sadly this novel doesn’t enjoy the same preferences which DC, TOS or the Sophe does. But by snubbing 
Kate, they are definitely missing the best of regency romance. 

Kate is a remarkable work by Ms Heyer and it is the best. I would recommend it to all.

His excesses had banished him from the country yet he could not put her away from his mind. What could he do but take her for his companion. It all lay in the hands of the leading lady to devise a plan to preclude an abduction that could ruin the repute of her injudicious sister. But her obligation doesn’t cease with this. She also takes on the mission of taming the male shrew and managing him.

If only he were real and all mine.....

Dominique, the marquis of Vidal accredited for his scandalous reputation as a rake disgraces the family with yet another brawl. Of all the allegations, his new uproar had the effect of producing an ill fate to his name. Accordingly his parents ship him off to France, rather than confronting the ramification if he is anywhere in the vicinity. But his journey would be fragmentary without any distractions, he convinces Sophia to accompany him. Fortunately for Sophia, Mary intercepts his plan and goes instead regardless of what turn would Dominique’s fury take. Desperate as she may be, her fortitude never once fail her, she shoots at him with a pistol.

 

Vidal, who had never expected even a speck of virtue in any of his indulgences , offers for marriage in vain to silence the scandal that would arise therewith. Mary refuses the offer as she is absolutely aware that the intention is purely circumstantial and there being no foundation for love; even though she is in greatly in love with him. The shot having made its effect defers their departure by a few days in the course of which he becomes extremely cordial; as soon as he appreciates her insidiousness he forms an attachment for her. 

A way out this dilemma presents in form of her friend Juliana. She elopes with Comyn, Juliana’s heart broken lover, and a man of undeniable verbal skills. Vidal, by the time so deep in love with Mary, repairs to Dijon at once to conciliate with her. Their wedding receives approbation from everyone except Leonie. Mary leaves in search of a respectable position. But her being unescorted lays her in the open to an excess of disrespect.

At this precise moment, she stumbles upon a gentleman in whom she discerns a familiarity, pours her desolation into him. Vidal who had followed her into the inn is equally shocked to see his father (Avon) beside Mary.

Her tenacity and intrepidity prepares her for all the personal risks involved and only the selfless Mary could commit herself to this task. She remains perspicacious all through the story exhibiting prudence at stopping a duel by pouring water over the combatants and also running a thick cloth through the swords. Her profound knowledge and perceptivity empowers her role in the plot and proves beyond doubt the she is the predilection for Vidal.

Dominique captivates every heart by being a crack shot, a notable whip and a gamester and his performance is at its best even when he is disguised; although his being a little callous casts a shadow on his perfections. He is as nonchalant as his mother before and there is a want of acuity in most of the affairs.

There is no scrape in which his ire has not publicly landed him in trouble. It is also Avon’s smartness that pulls him out of his recent blunder. His behavior is that of a 4 year old than a 24yr old and the need to tame him becomes apparent inasmuch as the job becomes Mary. Electrified by her charm, Vidal falls in love with her intensely enough to make his existence empty without her.

The appearance of Leonie, Avon and Rupert enliven the picture with old memories. Passing years has reduced Avon’s balefulness by no more than alleviating his rakishness. The relationship between the father and son is again so mysterious, yet a thorough understanding is there between them; every conversation has its irony.

Devil’s cub is an impelling paperback with outstanding blend of persona intermingled with humor and romance in favor of irrefutable magnetism towards its fans.

“Desolation might make a man fiendish” applies to the count when he makes life for both himself and his family all the more miserable and the mere contemplation that his only daughter is in employment with the duke whom he had reviled all his life is beyond forbearance. If death could only placate the public disgrace… 
 

The first in the series of the Alastair trilogy is the taster of romance, comedy, action and adventure encompassed in one course. TOS is a picture perfect comedy set against the backdrop of pre-regency and post-Jacobite rebellion. The entr’acte of the story spectacles with Leonie dissembling as Justin’s (Avon) page, giving an opportunity for Avon to reprise his arch enemy, the comte de saint vire. It is unbeknownst to the world that comte is Leonie’s father and on unearthing this singularly significant information, Justin manipulates a strategy that would result in the acquaintance of the truth with the society and also right Leonie in the eyes of the world.
 

Sinsyne, from a page she ameliorates to a position of a ward where she gets launched into the society with a great deal of success. In the mean while, the Comte taking desperate attempts in shielding the truth, in one situation, intimidates Leonie to a situation accentuating debase and infamy; that in cognizance of which she is driven to the folly of leaving the duke’s shelter. This being rendered fallow, his predicament leaves him with no option but to kidnap her. Nevertheless, Leonie’s intellect should not be underestimated; no sooner than being said she slips out of his hold and returns to her monsignor. The Comte envisages a stiff counter in Avon who has expedited obtaining of the proof than the former had expected. A society gathering is what Avon needs to hyperventilate the already disheveled Comte constraining him to shoot himself at the countess’s outburst of the truth. Leonie is righted, but the only missing piece in the wholesome happiness is her fallacy to have fallen below Avon’s standards; in the belief of their union being unbefitting ,her confusion is only momentary to last long, ends in their nuptials.
 

TOS is a hilarious and a pre-eminent fiction portraying the best of the hero and heroine along with a laudable supporting cast. Justin (aka devil, as Tracy belmonair  from TBM) essays the role of an outlandish hero with a shady past and an evil smirched reputation (satanas); whose thoughts and principles are practically outside the comprehensions and capability of any normal person. From the start till the end he remains to be on dictating terms, unfathomable and versatile and acts a sculpture lacking emotion and expression. He is quite composed until he sets eyes on Leonie, his complete opposite. The counterpart of Avon, she is quick-tempered, pertinacious, and unruly and to top it, tongue lashing, but the way she twists Avon around her little finger, as Rupert puts it, is pretty on her part. She has a childlike reverence for Avon that purges him of all his flagitiousness. She seems to be the one person Justin would die to please, love and laugh with. Thus the notorious rake redeems in the passionate love making of Leonie. Their love is quite subtle while it expels his one time fascination for Jennifer (Diana Beuleigh). 
 

The incorrigible Rupert (Andrew), the fussy Fanny (Lavinia) and the convivial Merrivales ( supposedly to be jack carstares of TBM) who assist in the plan also add to the story though the best is the Comte who is bad enough to swap his daughter for the sake of the title and his death serves the good purpose of restoring what he impounded from her. His mania for title mists up his vision over the honorable where it shatters his whole family for nothing. His conscience suffers no pang over the unjustifiable sin he had committed and he isn’t anxious to reconcile Leonie even during the last few minutes before he chooses death. Sardonically, it is ignominy and not remorse that drives him to such measures. 

TOS is purported to be the resurrection of TBM from the villain's part. The characters of her first novel reappear under different names and enchant us with more humor. Tracy (Justin in TOS), duc of andover falls in love with Diana Beuleigh (jennifer), but is unsuccessful in winning her heart which is already lost to jack. 

In an attempt to force her hand, he kidnaps her from under Jack’s(lover of Diana, merrivale in TOS) nose.This gives a likely explanation for the unspoken understanding between jenny and Avon in TOS. He knows he has lost her to jack/merrivale, but not until he meets the titian hair beauty(leonie) that he realises he is not entirely vanished in fate. I especially like Heyer's concern in setting up Tracy in some way or another so that victory appears on both sides.  By bringing Leonie, she has brought life not only to tracy/avon but also to those who deeply felt for Tracy's ill fortune (like I did).

TOS is one of my evergreen favorites as no one but Heyer could cook up a story as sweet and exciting as this.

I had no clue about ‘A Civil Contract’ when I took it from the library. I was shocked to find a completely different treat awaiting me. It was not the customary elopements or falling in love matters but the convenient marriage axiom where the relationship follows the fulfillment of a bargain on both the sides. Heyer spins the tale with the parody of Adam on the brink of financial ruin with only a handsome face to recommend be paired opposite the unsightly but moneyed Jennifer. Adam who is head over ears in love with Julia marries jenny in anticipation of straightening out his pitiful circumstances.

The convenience marriage discomfits Adam in the early days where his father-in-law persists on showering them with extravagant gifts. But a few days time suffices to explicate the aptness of his decision and soon learns to enjoy jenny’s company. Jenny is levelheaded and sympathizes with her situation being only too palpable to give her any anticipation for a love match. The way Julia faints at the house party would have unnerved any woman, but she deals the situation with tact. She dons the role of a caring mother, an ideal wife and a pleasing daughter. She doesn’t cringe away from the thought that Adam would never love her the way he does Julia, but she secures his affection and confidence. Adam may hold his heart for Julia, but those little pleasures, he would share only with his wife. She beguiles in proffering happiness around her family as if there is no tomorrow. A Civil Contract is more of a divergence from smooth sailing lifestyles. It brings to our notice some of life’s practicalities and how we should look at it. Contract is a tranquil and matured novel that teaches values like love and sacrifice and every minute of your read benefits you.

I first thought this book was a mistake. But when I began composing this review, I realized the specialty of it and I decided not to resist multiplicity. Heyer continues to give a variety in the story she weaves.

 A marriage of convenience can at times be the best suited during hardships despite the melancholy it could possibly create.

Due to the extravagancies of the mother, one of the rakish twins disappears with an engagement ahead and the other twin has to masquerade for the sake of avoiding any scandal. Their uncle has set a condition that if Evelyn gets married, he can come by his inheritance and manage business. This leaves Christopher fancot, the smart diplomat to impersonate his brother at the party given by Cressida stavely. However happy kit was, the arrival of Cressida’s grandmother flusters him. Kit falls deeply in love with Cressida, that he tells her the truth. One fine night sees Evelyn’s reappearance with a sling and an infatuation. In the meantime, their mother submerged to the neck in debts consents to marry her longtime lover, the rich baron Bonamy. Cressida’s grandmother mortified by the deceit negates the alliance to kit. The insidious kit is left with the duty to contrive a plan to avoid any scandal.

I loved Cressida so much. She is very like jenny chawleigh in the Contract. Cressy is a dependable and a responsible preference for kit. The impersonation was the finest. The only defect in the writing was that of the puzzling climax. I was at loss to understand the climax.

If poetry be the food for love” a passionate love between two contrasting estates of an affluent girl and that of a pauper prince. Amidst the honeyed phrases and the trickling dulcet, one loses oneself in a reverie redolent of happiness and pleasure.

Venetia is a dulcet strewn regency romance taking readers into the world of aria and canto, a gentle love blossoming between a simpleton and a poetical rake. Beautiful Venetia has known to a great extent less of the outer world. Her dress gets caught to the shrubbery only to be rescued by the estate’s handsome owner and when Damarel saves the invalid Aubrey, the acquaintance grows into gentle love growing more with  every day. The improvised appearance of Conway’s wife deprives her of the powers that once she had, concomitantly divert her onto getting launched which her aunt benignly volunteers to proffer. Damarel resolute to comply with Venetia’s idea of marriage persuades her to venture forth into the city pleading on the grounds of his scandalous repute to besmirch her unsullied one.

Venetia finds city life disagreeable though the fashionable circles are a treat, her longing to be at the priory possesses her. Her spirits rises when she meets her mother after a long time and she explains of her predicament that deterred in her marrying Damarel. She leaves for the priory pursued by her uncle reasoning with her in vain the encumbrances of the proposed nuptial. Much to the displeasure of the family as they must unequivocally be, at the matrimonial options with a rake, the estranged lovers reunite in expectation of a protracted bliss ahead. 

Venetia is special in every aspect pervading over an incomparable language. The love is insinuated softly into the theme. Unlike other Heyer leading ladies, Venetia is sensible, sweet and is not a whit hair brained. She is not one of those wide eyed water fountains ever plaguing, but a vivid and smart one.

Damarel and Venetia share their fame equally though Damarel’s part is the best. Conscious of Aurelia’s repute, he buries his love only to have Venetia contract a better marriage. Heyer has composed such an atypical novel. Damarel’s introduction begins with tales of his notoriety as a rake, but all the while he behaves like a scholarly gentleman of colossal wisdom and there could be no point at which he gives the impression of being deplorable. Heyer turns our attention towards liking Damarel where she transforms him into the one person any lady would die to possess for herself in the face of his past repute. Venetia is new-fangled as to its divergence from the usual plots. 

 It was a flow of aria, a trickle of poetry, a soft descend of romance that whispered Venetia is the chimera of a dream.