Sylvester, the Duke of Salford, is a polished bachelor who has stringent requirements for his future wife—she must be wellborn, intelligent... read full description
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Oct 12, 2010
Abigail
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Sylvester Rayne, Duke of Salford, had all the advantages of wealth, title and charm, and was considered the greatest matrimonial catch in England. By everyone, that is, except the Hon. Miss Phoebe Marlow, who detected an unconscious arrogance in him, and cast him as the villain of her sensational novel. Unexpectedly finding herself on the Duke's list of suitable brides, Phoebe takes to her heels - an improper course of action that involves Sylvester in a number of hilarious scrapes. But will his
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May 29, 2011
Lennongirl
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Sylvester and Phoebe are a most unlikely match. He's as arrogant as it gets, she's wild and quite adventurous. Even though they don't have any interest in one another, fate brings them together again and again - with the most hilarious results. I enjoyed this story lots and lots, much more than I'd expected. I laughed out loud a couple of times, and I found myself intrigued by the plot. There are many lively characters in this one, not only Sylvester and Phoebe, but their family and friends - th
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Dec 02, 2008
Ria
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I'm not good at writing reviews. But I'll give it a try.
I thought that Sylvester had some really good parts to it that when taken in with the whole book are the ones that would make read this book again. But I may get bored with it till the parts I like are reached. That was the only bad part for me with reading this book.
To be fair, some of the books that I really like start that way, but I will read them again, when I get my hands on them.
I thought that Sylvester had some really good parts to it that when taken in with the whole book are the ones that would make read this book again. But I may get bored with it till the parts I like are reached. That was the only bad part for me with reading this book.
To be fair, some of the books that I really like start that way, but I will read them again, when I get my hands on them.
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Mar 22, 2009
Nicole
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I still have not yet exhausted my desire to read the most popular of Georgette Heyer’s novels…this time reading Sylvester which has become my new favourite. Sylvester is the Duke of Salford and at the age of 28 has decided it is time to marry, but of course only to a suitable girl who meets all his particular requirements. His mother concerned for his happiness secretly prefers him to marry for love to keep in check his sense of consequence and deep reserve, and suggests he consider the grandd
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Mar 12, 2009
_inbetween_
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This is why I will never be able to discuss Heyer's works with people reading her these days; the elegance and clarity of vision just cannot be compared to other writers, and if it's done, all discussion is pointless.
The first novel in my OV/re- reading where no long-standing acquaintance between the couple exists. They had met in the past, so once again Heyer makes use of time to have room for more change and development, but even more so than Bath Tangle, which was the first focused- More...
The first novel in my OV/re- reading where no long-standing acquaintance between the couple exists. They had met in the past, so once again Heyer makes use of time to have room for more change and development, but even more so than Bath Tangle, which was the first focused- More...
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Jan 24, 2009
Parul
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Oct 07, 2011
Kathryn
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Sylvester has been compared to Pride and Prejudice, and with good reason; the hero, like Mr. Darcy, is a wealthy landowner who takes his duties seriously and discharges them with honor and charity. Again like Mr. Darcy, however, Sylvester is sadly arrogant and has little concern for others’ feelings. While he never behaves as if he is above his company, he clearly cannot forget his consequence. He’s also blessed with a pair of sharply slanting eyebrows that give his face a rather saturnine as
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Oct 06, 2011
Linda
rated it:
A duke who needs to be taken down a notch or fifteen and a battered down young miss who fights back the only way she can. Did I say SYLVESTER, or THE WICKED UNCLE by Georgette Heyer?
Sylvester, the Duke of Salford has decided to marry. And he has his list of requirements and five prospective candidates. Why shouldn't he? He deserves nothing less.
And then he meets Phoebe, a young girl without money, connections or looks. A more unsuitable lady cannot be found. Her straightf More...
Sylvester, the Duke of Salford has decided to marry. And he has his list of requirements and five prospective candidates. Why shouldn't he? He deserves nothing less.
And then he meets Phoebe, a young girl without money, connections or looks. A more unsuitable lady cannot be found. Her straightf More...
Sep 29, 2011
Kathy
rated it:
The Story
Horse-intrepid, but people-shy Phoebe Marlow is terrified of her stepmama and the threat of receiving an offer from the Duke of Salford has her fleeing in the dawn into an oncoming blizzard with childhood friend, Tom Orde. In an unfortunate turn of events, their curricle suffers an accident leaving Tom with a broken leg and both of them prey to recapture.
Fortunately for them, the duke has made his escape from Austerby, Phoebe's home, in time to find and aid them. In a wea More...
Horse-intrepid, but people-shy Phoebe Marlow is terrified of her stepmama and the threat of receiving an offer from the Duke of Salford has her fleeing in the dawn into an oncoming blizzard with childhood friend, Tom Orde. In an unfortunate turn of events, their curricle suffers an accident leaving Tom with a broken leg and both of them prey to recapture.
Fortunately for them, the duke has made his escape from Austerby, Phoebe's home, in time to find and aid them. In a wea More...
Sep 05, 2011
Vic
rated it:
Sylvester, Duke of Salford thinks quite highly of himself and is pleased by his impeccable manners and easy smile, which easily influences servants to do his bidding. But Phoebe Marlow, whose mousy manner hides her bright mind and talents as an equestrienne and a writer, was not so impressed when she first met him during her coming out season. She is even less enthralled with the Duke when he arrives for a visit at her father's estate to look her over as a possible bride.
Sylvester's fo More...
Sylvester's fo More...
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Aug 22, 2011
Sharanya
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This is my second Georgette Heyer book, and it was awesome! There were a few moments where the feminist in me raised her eyebrows, but I was able to quieten her for the most part. Sylvester, I think, was my favorite - he was the first in my experience to be a regency hero who made jokes, teased the heroine mercilessly and showed good humor to those he liked. He was very reserved, yes, but once you got past the "thin sheen of ice," as Heyer puts it, he was kind and humorous. The portray
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Mar 28, 2010
Laurel
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Today, August 16th is author Georgette Heyer’s birthday. In celebration of the uncontested Queen of Regency Romance, I thought it quite fitting to read one of her novels this week and review it. However, what I ultimately selected was not based on a plot, or characters, or a recommendation by other Heyer aficionados such as Vic (Ms Place) at Jane Austen’s World, but by pure fangirl fervor. Yes, gentle readers, I do freely admit to succumbing to the charms of a handsome face and sexy voice as qui
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Dec 06, 2009
Maria Grazia
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It is my first Georgette Heyer ’s novel and I admit that I approached it partly prejudiced (romances!), partly curious, but completely unaware of what expected me. I didn’t want to read much about the writer nor the about the plot before starting. I carefully avoided any review or comment on the book. Then I did something I had already tried with “Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen addict”: I put aside my academic way of reading and went back to when I read just for pleasure. It is not that simple
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Jan 26, 2011
Treasa
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Sylvester, Duke of Salford, has decided it is time to get married. He doesn't much care whom he marries, but when his mother mentions that she once hoped he would marry the daughter of her dear friend, he thinks it might be worth meeting the girl. Little does he realize that he once did meet Phoebe and did not make a favorable impression on her. In fact, Phoebe, a budding authoress, based the villain in her soon-to-be-published novel on Sylvester. When Phoebe and Sylvester, along with Phoebe's l
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May 15, 2009
Jenny
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I should preface this by admitting two things: 1) I'm not really a romance reader. Really at all. and 2) I hate it when people compare an author to Jane Austen because NO ONE can do what she did as well as she did it.
So I came to this book expecting to hate it because it was a romance, and people kept telling me it was like Jane Austen's novels. But I enjoyed it. I really did. Even though you knew how it was going to end just a couple pages in. It was the journey that was fun. (And, More...
So I came to this book expecting to hate it because it was a romance, and people kept telling me it was like Jane Austen's novels. But I enjoyed it. I really did. Even though you knew how it was going to end just a couple pages in. It was the journey that was fun. (And, More...
Sep 04, 2011
Heather
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Sylvester, Duke of Salford, has decided that at the age of 28, it is time for him to marry. During the past season he survey the eligible ladies of quality and has presented to his mother a list of the five most suitable. While not surprised, she dismisses them all from consideration and suggests for consideration the daughter of her long deceased best friend.
Phoebe Marlow has been raised since an early age by her stepmother. While a very efficient and strict mother, she is not nu More...
Phoebe Marlow has been raised since an early age by her stepmother. While a very efficient and strict mother, she is not nu More...
Jul 27, 2010
Maria
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Sylvester, Duke of Salford has made up his mind to get married. He has drawn up a list of women he thinks suits his needs. But when he speaks to his mother she sets him up to look over Miss Phoebe Marlow, a daughter of one of her best friends, Sylvester is lured in a scheme got be obliged to go to her house and meet her.
When Phoebe hears of her parents scheme she engages her old friend Tom to help her escape. They run away but meet with an unfortunate accident that strands them a an Inn. S More...
When Phoebe hears of her parents scheme she engages her old friend Tom to help her escape. They run away but meet with an unfortunate accident that strands them a an Inn. S More...
Feb 11, 2010
Ana T.
rated it:
After finishing Chadwick's The Scarlet Lion I thought I needed something completely different and so picked up Heyer's Sylvester. And what a delightful book this one was, I laughed out loud at Sylvester and Phoebe's confrontations; they were truly a matching of wits...
Sylvester, the duke of Salford is very much aware of his rank and consequence. When he decides to get married he makes a list of suitable young ladies and goes to his mother for advice on which one to choose. His godmot More...
Sylvester, the duke of Salford is very much aware of his rank and consequence. When he decides to get married he makes a list of suitable young ladies and goes to his mother for advice on which one to choose. His godmot More...
Jul 31, 2011
Meredith (Austenesque Reviews)
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Sylvester Rayne, Duke of Salford, eligible bachelor, and guardian has recently determined, at the age of twenty-eight, that it is time for him to marry. Stuffed with pride and consequence, Sylvester expects for his addresses to be readily accepted by any lucky woman he deigns to select. However, when both his mother and godmother mention the same young lady as a suitable bride, Sylvester's interest is piqued and decides to seek out the highly acclaimed Miss Phoebe Marlow and assess her merits
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Dec 03, 2009
Lightreads
rated it:
Heyer does Pride and Prejudice. She is the outspoken country girl, he is the prideful but goodhearted duke. They rub each other completely the wrong way, but are then thrown together by hilarious circumstance.
Picture my silly grin right now. I have figured out what my deal is with Heyer: the more like The Grand Sophy it is, the happier I am. By which I mean if our leading couple spend most of the novel being witheringly sarcastic at each other, when they aren't cracking each other ri More...
Picture my silly grin right now. I have figured out what my deal is with Heyer: the more like The Grand Sophy it is, the happier I am. By which I mean if our leading couple spend most of the novel being witheringly sarcastic at each other, when they aren't cracking each other ri More...
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Dec 01, 2009
Res
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The one where Sylvester, a duke, comes courting Phoebe, a country girl, with every expectation that all will arrange itself in the manner most pleasing to him, since that's what the world does. But even if Phoebe liked him (which she doesn't), she's secretly published a novel with him as her villain.
I was probably fifty pages into this before I was certain I had read it before. Having said that, it's not a bad book, just not one of the best.
The character of Phoebe doesn' More...
I was probably fifty pages into this before I was certain I had read it before. Having said that, it's not a bad book, just not one of the best.
The character of Phoebe doesn' More...
Apr 05, 2011
Marija
rated it:
If, like myself, you’ve never read a Georgette Heyer novel, this novel is a good place on which to start. Her writing is so much fun. It’s pure entertainment. She takes some of the best aspects of 18th Century literature, writing in the style of Henry Fielding and Frances Burney, also throwing in a bit of Jane Austen for good measure.
This is a book purely written for the enjoyment of plot…no heavy themes, just good fun amusement. I absolutely love the description of Sylvester with his More...
This is a book purely written for the enjoyment of plot…no heavy themes, just good fun amusement. I absolutely love the description of Sylvester with his More...
Apr 05, 2010
Camille
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I know that everytime I read a new Georgette Heyer book I say this is my new favorite Georgette Heyer book. This is my new favorite Georgette Heyer book. Her books are such a great discovery. Her romance stories are so clean and refreshing and I love stories based during the Victorian age. I am just so glad that she wrote so many books that I still have so many to read.
This sum up of story line is completely for my reference so that when I look back on books I have read by George More...
This sum up of story line is completely for my reference so that when I look back on books I have read by George More...
Dec 12, 2011
teacup_carousel
rated it:
I loved this book the way a fat kid loves cake.
If you had told me a week prior to reading this that I would pick up a romance and like it I would have scoffed. If you had told me that not only would it be a romance, but a *Regency* I would have spat and walked away (metaphorically that is, who actually spits in public anymore?) But I did and I did.
I loved it. I loved every spun sugar, adventure filled, well researched, laugh till you cry moment of it. From the flight to More...
If you had told me a week prior to reading this that I would pick up a romance and like it I would have scoffed. If you had told me that not only would it be a romance, but a *Regency* I would have spat and walked away (metaphorically that is, who actually spits in public anymore?) But I did and I did.
I loved it. I loved every spun sugar, adventure filled, well researched, laugh till you cry moment of it. From the flight to More...
Dec 18, 2011
Sakura
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What I like about Georgette Heyer´s books is that there is a pattern in all her stories: the rich titled man who is so refined and correct and suddenly, he is in the middle of the main female character´s adventures and problems. Also, you can never miss a little boy who actually behaves like a little boy; the inevitable dog and the naive/loyal/funny brother of the main girl. So this book has all of this lovely ingredients: duke (check); girl in problems (check); instead of a brother, a loyal fri
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May 11, 2010
Kim (magicsandwiches)
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If you've read one Georgette Heyer, well, you've ALMOST read them all. There are differences between books, certainly, but there are very few surprises. Not that it matters! She has a great formula and her books are a delight to read if you enjoy books set in the Regency time period.
Sylvester tells the tale of a young nobleman who must find a wife as long as it's his decision and not a suggestion of someone else's. When a young lady is foisted upon him, he politely pretends to co More...
Sylvester tells the tale of a young nobleman who must find a wife as long as it's his decision and not a suggestion of someone else's. When a young lady is foisted upon him, he politely pretends to co More...
Nov 18, 2009
Susan
rated it:
One of my favorite authors but I didn't remember reading this until I started again. Enjoyed it. Sylvester is the Duke of Salford and well aware of his responsibilities and consequence. He has now decided it is time to marry so goes to his Mother with a list of possibilities. She is horrified that he would go about it so coldly and suggests he not marry until he marries for love. Not in his plans. It is suggested he meet Phoebe, the daughter of one of her old friends. He doesn't remember
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Jan 25, 2008
Emilye
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I'm sort of embarrassed to put this on my bookshelf since its classified as a harlequin. Nonetheless, I love period romances and this one is very "Pride and Prejudice"-esque. Also, its really good for building vocabulary because Georgette Heyer uses all sorts of words I've never heard before. Good GRE prep :)
Feb 22, 2011
Peggy
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I spend a lot of time with Georgette Heyer readers and they begged me to at least read a few paragraphs in order to understand their perpetual delight. So I took along Sylvester on the plane to Switzerland and then read it at 40,000 feet, by Lake Geneva, and into the Alps. I get it now. It's all about the language and the delightful verbal sparring between honorable but stubborn Dukes and those jewels beneath plainer bonnets who reveal their suitability through spunk and great lines. Traveling t
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Nov 05, 2010
Ori
rated it:
Character, character, character. Every single personality in this book WAS a personality, good or bad, and popped right out of the page. This book reminded me a great deal of Pride & Prejudice -- there were similarities everywhere, from the reasons they initially disliked each other to how the heroine had nothing much to recommend her except for a pair of speaking gray eyes. Sylvester is like that most famous book if Jane Austen had penned rollicking moments of crazy daring, and was a little les
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