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3rd out of 18 books
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April Lady
Despite the scandalous blemish on the family name of his lovely young bride, Lord Giles Cardross is convinced she cares for him. But as the bills and extravagant debts begin to mount up, Giles begins to suspect that perhaps his adored wife isn't as innocent as he supposed. Especially since, as of late, she's been unable to look him in the eye....
Nell has found herself ensn
...morePaperback, 268 pages
Published
July 1st 2009
by Harlequin Books
(first published 1957)
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Abigail
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Recommends it for:
Georgett Heyer Fans / Regency Romance Readers
Shelves:
georgette-heyer,
romance
Desperately in love with her husband, but convinced that he only married her to provide himself with a "convenient" wife, Lady Cardross finds herself in deeper and deeper waters when one white lie escalates into a series of deceptions. How can Nell, so in need of money, convince her husband that she is not motivated by mercenary concerns...?
Although pleasant enough to read, I am forced to agree with other reviewers, who see in April Lady an inferior copy of the wonderful Th...more
Although pleasant enough to read, I am forced to agree with other reviewers, who see in April Lady an inferior copy of the wonderful Th...more
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As a number of other reviewers have pointed out, this amusing but unsatisfactory confection is a less well-done reworking of the theme of Heyer's earlier The Convenient Marriage; that is, the love-match in which neither spouse realizes that the other loves him or her. This time we unfortunately have no grounds for the love itself which, given the unattractive traits they exhibit during the course of the story, leaves the reader with little sense of romance. The secondary romance of the hero's un...more
Snowballing problems due to stupidity, fear, and dishonesty didn’t entertain me, but I enjoyed the dialogue and the narrator.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
I did not enjoy reading about the heroine Nell. She did too many stupid things. She was not honest with Giles her husband which resulted in inaccurate assumptions by both of them. They each thought the other didn’t care, so they acted in stand-offish ways, which reinforced the beliefs that the other didn’t care. How did this start? ...more
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
I did not enjoy reading about the heroine Nell. She did too many stupid things. She was not honest with Giles her husband which resulted in inaccurate assumptions by both of them. They each thought the other didn’t care, so they acted in stand-offish ways, which reinforced the beliefs that the other didn’t care. How did this start? ...more
The one where Nell lies to her husband about a dressmaker's bill, with a chain of ever more disastrous results.
If I'd never read any other Heyer books, I'd probably be very impressed by this -- particularly the way the things that happen slot together so neatly that everything comes to a head all at once. Compared to her other books, though, it's just so-so.
This is one of those books where the heroine seems so very young that it seems a little creepy that she should be ...more
If I'd never read any other Heyer books, I'd probably be very impressed by this -- particularly the way the things that happen slot together so neatly that everything comes to a head all at once. Compared to her other books, though, it's just so-so.
This is one of those books where the heroine seems so very young that it seems a little creepy that she should be ...more
My first Georgette Heyer and most likely, my last. This was a book club author suggestion and many of the members had read Heyer in their youth.
Initially found this very tiresome, had no sympathy with Nell, the main character and the burden of debt, 300 guineas for a dress, she was too afraid to tell Giles, her husband, about.
Gradually I was reeled into the plot and Regency setting. There seemed to be a lot of empty-headed pranks and pointless social occasions that the upper class...more
Initially found this very tiresome, had no sympathy with Nell, the main character and the burden of debt, 300 guineas for a dress, she was too afraid to tell Giles, her husband, about.
Gradually I was reeled into the plot and Regency setting. There seemed to be a lot of empty-headed pranks and pointless social occasions that the upper class...more
What can you say about a Georgette Heyer romance? She's the originator and forever-the-best practitioner of the regency romance. I was struck as I read this--easily the fifth or sixth time I've done so--by the depth of detail of Heyer's stories. She knows her characters and her time frame better than any historical author I've ever read, from the tooth powder they would have packed to go away on a trip to the trimmings a hostess would have decorated her ballroom with for a grand party. This part...more
Genre: Regency Romance
This is an odd romance, as (a) the hero, Lord Cardross, and heroine, Nell, already love each other at the start of the novel and (b) they’re already married. The story is a series of misunderstandings and conflict until eventually they discover that the other is in love with them.
The farce reminds me a lot of The Convenient Marriage especially as Dysart (Nell’s brother) is very much the same as Pelham, and Lord Cardross is as knowing a fellow as the ...more
This is an odd romance, as (a) the hero, Lord Cardross, and heroine, Nell, already love each other at the start of the novel and (b) they’re already married. The story is a series of misunderstandings and conflict until eventually they discover that the other is in love with them.
The farce reminds me a lot of The Convenient Marriage especially as Dysart (Nell’s brother) is very much the same as Pelham, and Lord Cardross is as knowing a fellow as the ...more
I was disappointed in this one. Heyer's writing is always charming, but this was neither funny nor particularly romantic.
We have a newly married couple who are in love with each other (so we're told, not shown) but neither realizes that the other returns the sentiment. They discover the truth following a series of shenanigans instigated by the wife's attempts to address a distressingly large dressmaker's bill using her own resources, which are few. There is the usual ne'er-do-well br...more
We have a newly married couple who are in love with each other (so we're told, not shown) but neither realizes that the other returns the sentiment. They discover the truth following a series of shenanigans instigated by the wife's attempts to address a distressingly large dressmaker's bill using her own resources, which are few. There is the usual ne'er-do-well br...more
So memorable was this book that, three weeks after I read it, I can't think of what the plot was.
Oh yes. A marriage of convenience (which I'd encountered Heyer's treatment of in The Convenient Marriage) turns out, of course, truly to be a marriage of love, but the heroine must deal with her scapegrace brother and his gaming debts (whose literary twin I'd encountered in Heyer's Arabella) before she can convince her husband of her genuine affection. Hijinks ensue, secondary character...more
Oh yes. A marriage of convenience (which I'd encountered Heyer's treatment of in The Convenient Marriage) turns out, of course, truly to be a marriage of love, but the heroine must deal with her scapegrace brother and his gaming debts (whose literary twin I'd encountered in Heyer's Arabella) before she can convince her husband of her genuine affection. Hijinks ensue, secondary character...more
The younger heroine and older hero are my favorite story lines of Heyer. The plots are always the most hilarious. The Convenient marriage is one of my very favorite Heyer's. This one follows that formula closely but definitely has differences within the plot. I love the period slang. I know some get frustrated with it, but I think it adds to the richness of the story. Dysart's character wouldn't be the same without his boxing chants and silly 'chip cherry...chow?' song.
I do think its f...more
I do think its f...more
A re-read for me. An enjoyable Heyer, similar in plot to The Convenient Marriage although the heroines are very different. April Lady's Nell is shy, well-mannered, and desperately in love with her husband from the start, which leads to lots of misunderstandings, one of my favorite things. I actually really liked Nell, and felt a lot of sympathy for her. Some fun supporting characters as well in her brother and his friend. As in The Convenient Marriage, the hero did have a slightly disturbingly p...more
Leggermente sottotono. Carina l'idea dei due protagonisti già sposati all'inizio della storia, è un punto di vista diverso dal solito. L'ho però trovato poco brillante, la sorella di Cardross è una bambina viziata e insopportabile, già più divertente Dysart. I due protagonisti si perdono in continui malintesi e fraintendimenti, ovviamente fino allo scioglimento finale, con spiegazioni di rito e riappacificazione. Devo dire, però, che gli ultimi capitoli riscattano tutto il romanzo: dall'incontro...more
This book was classic Georgette Heyer. Her dialog has always seemed to me to be more authentic to the period than more recent. Although at times you know she is educating you about the period, but it isn't obvious. I read G.H. when I need a break from the latest book that is designed to sell to the more modern "Romance" reader. I like anything she writes, but can't read her books one after the other. They are intense reading. Sometimes I just like a simple story in which to escape...more
This one was mostly a comedy of manners, and a bit of a romance, and--well, the heroine is in love with her hubby, but doesn't believe he loves her. He's quite a bit older, and they married while barely acquainted, as often happened back then, apparently. So when he scolds her for spending too much and asks for ALL her bills (she loaned money to her gambler brother & can't pay them), she's too afraid to tell him when another big one comes due. A series of crazy scrapes begins whereby the heroine...more
I was very surprised to find that this was a later (mid-career) book - this seemed like the product of a new/inexperienced writer. As always, the characters were delightful, full fledged, and sprang off the page. But the plot just seemed to get started when the book abruptly ended. As is typical, we get the standard misunderstanding/reversal between the hero and heroine, and is typical, the man totally over-reacts. But completely atypically, the man then immediately realizes he's been a jerk an...more
Quoted from my review @ http://misscz.wordpress.com
I liked Nell. A sweet person, who over-spent her quarterly allowance when she loaned her roguish brother money. She then over looks a bill for a very expensive dress and is afraid to tell her husband about it. Her behavior has made Giles question whether she married him for love or for his money. Poor Giles. Here’s a man who’s truly in love, and is confronted with the possibility that the naysayers were right after all. And when he t...more
I liked Nell. A sweet person, who over-spent her quarterly allowance when she loaned her roguish brother money. She then over looks a bill for a very expensive dress and is afraid to tell her husband about it. Her behavior has made Giles question whether she married him for love or for his money. Poor Giles. Here’s a man who’s truly in love, and is confronted with the possibility that the naysayers were right after all. And when he t...more
Georgette Heyer is unquestionably my favourite historical novelist. I own almost all of her books, and re-read them all periodically. They're not full of realism and gory details like so many other historical novels; instead they're character-driven with light romances, a great deal of incidental social history, and some humour. Oh, and they generally have a significant amount of plot too.
The interactions between the characters are what drive this story forward: seeing their differing ...more
The interactions between the characters are what drive this story forward: seeing their differing ...more
I have no idea why this book is called "April Lady". What a stupid title.
The story itself is pretty good, though it never fails to irk me when characters feel like they can't speak the truth to other characters. So I spent much of the book feeling irked at Lady Cardross, for getting into such a taking over a mere three hundred pound debt, and thinking that it would be the end of all her husband's affection. He never seemed particularly affectionate, anyway - too busy being...more
The story itself is pretty good, though it never fails to irk me when characters feel like they can't speak the truth to other characters. So I spent much of the book feeling irked at Lady Cardross, for getting into such a taking over a mere three hundred pound debt, and thinking that it would be the end of all her husband's affection. He never seemed particularly affectionate, anyway - too busy being...more
When Lord Cardross marries the young Lady Helen he also finds himself coping with her father's financial disasters and the pressing gambling debts of her scapegrace brother. Many escapades must be resolved before the much-tried Earl can smooth the course of true love in his own marriage.
April Lady is, like several Heyer novel, a comedy of errors.
Lady Cardross, recently married, is very much in love with her husband but tries to hide it as her mother told her on the eve ...more
April Lady is, like several Heyer novel, a comedy of errors.
Lady Cardross, recently married, is very much in love with her husband but tries to hide it as her mother told her on the eve ...more
FlibBityFLooB
rated it
3.5/5 stars. I loved the heroine's brother in this book, Dysart. He amused me to not end, especially with his silly schemes to get money for his sister to aid with her debts. I still can't believe what lengths he was going to go to in the carriage scene!
Unfortunately, I wasn't crazy about Nell's deception in this book. It felt a little too close to the book Confessions of a Shopaholic which I also disliked. I cannot understand why Giles was so forgiving all the time with her sp...more
Unfortunately, I wasn't crazy about Nell's deception in this book. It felt a little too close to the book Confessions of a Shopaholic which I also disliked. I cannot understand why Giles was so forgiving all the time with her sp...more
Why is this book called April Lady? I had to go look at the title of the book because for the life of me I could not remember it because it has nothing whatsoever to do with the book. So, I think I like this author but maybe just didn't love this book? I found myself skimming some of the descriptions and unnecessary ramblings that led me away from the primary plot. It was enjoyable and it all wrapped up in a nice little bow at the end, and this kind of novel should do just that.
This is a ridiculous story line. When I found out that the basic plot was over an unpaid bill that Nell (the heroine) forgot to tell her husband, I just breezed through the rest of the pages.
In fact, Georgette Heyer is the least favorite of my authors. I find all her characters to be very flat or weak.....And why is it that they all seem to laugh or be amused during serious or catastrophic situations?
In fact, Georgette Heyer is the least favorite of my authors. I find all her characters to be very flat or weak.....And why is it that they all seem to laugh or be amused during serious or catastrophic situations?
A sweet but somewhat frustrating novel about a woman who is in financial difficulties ... an appropriate book for the times! However, what is interesting is the reminder that women relied entirely on their husbands for their financial sustenance - dress allowances etc. The heroine was frightened of presenting her new husband with yet another bill ... for the contemporary woman, how could she bear it!
I listened to this book on tape and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters just sparkled and were so likable and entertaining. If this is your first Heyer, all the talk of reticules, curricles, quizzing glasses, and ton might be bewildering, but I think they are the details that make me like these books so much. The more Heyer books I read the harder it becomes to pick my favorites.
This one is a fairly lighthearted romp through Regency England, but what makes Heyer worth reading is her characterizations and the immense amount of period detail that she brings to her novels. Lady Nell Cardross is a bit of a twit, but she's a well-meaning, good, twit. She just can't keep from telling little white lies to protect others -- like her spendthrift brother, Dysart, who hasn't the brains to realize the amount of trouble he's putting his sister through. And while Lord Cardross is aff...more
I found myself skimming about halfway through and this is not my usual reaction to Heyer. I'm sure she's historically acurate, and students of the period might enjoy her use of slang, and references to articles of clothing etc. Her characters are dull as dishwater, however, and I couldn't work up any sympathy for their sundry dilemmas. I'm afraid I can't recommend this one.
I'm not sure what the title of this book refers to, but it is the story of a young girl from a family of gamblers who has married a rich, older man. Intrigue ensues when she fails to divulge all her outstanding bills to her husband and enlists her hapless brother's aid to cover her debts. These are breezy, fun reads. Formulaic, but with rich language and characters.
I'm not sure what the title of this book refers to, but it is the story of a young girl from a family of gamblers who has married a rich, older man. Intrigue ensues when she fails to divulge all her outstanding bills to her husband and enlists her hapless brother's aid to cover her debts. These are breezy, fun reads. Formulaic, but with rich language and characters.
Rereading this book after MANY years, I think I will remove the rest of Heyer's books from my high school library. It was rather boring and I seriously doubt that it would hold the interest of any of my students. I don't think many of them would even understand the vocabulary since much of it is slang from the Victorian period in England.
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Georgette Heyer was an amazingly prolific writer who created the Regency England genre of romance novels.
Georgette Heyer was an intensely private person. A best-seller all her life without the aid of publicity, she made no appearances, never gave an interview, and only answered fan letters herself if they made an interesting historical point. Heyer wrote very well-researched historica...more
More about Georgette Heyer...
Georgette Heyer was an intensely private person. A best-seller all her life without the aid of publicity, she made no appearances, never gave an interview, and only answered fan letters herself if they made an interesting historical point. Heyer wrote very well-researched historica...more
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“It was growing late, and though one might stand on the brink of a deep chasm of disaster, one was still obliged to dress for dinner.”
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