These Old Shades (Alastair-Audley, #1) in Clean Reads

Feb 11, 2014 Amy S rated it really liked it · review of another edition

While I am not a tremendous Heyer fan, I do enjoy knocking them back like m&ms. That probably doesn't make sense to anyone but me. So by that I mean, like m&ms they don't have a lot of substance or weight, and it really annoys me that I keep eating them, and yet I can't seem to stop.

My understanding is that this is one of her first novels. It concerns Justin, the Duke of Avon, and Leone who -- whoopsie -- turns out to be Leonie. The Duke of Avon is supposed to be a first class rake of low reputa ...more

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Aug 07, 2010 Tara rated it really liked it

Ahh, where would I be w/out my Heyer updates? Good thing she wrote over 60 books, I believe it is. Anyway, this one is actually the prequel to Devil's Cub (which I'd already read), so it was interesting seeing the generation before. I don't know if any other of Heyer's books are actual sequels? Although I still have an issue w/ girls falling in love with and marrying guys twice their age, especially guys that have already had plenty of mistresses (even if the girl reforms the guy), I really enjo ...more

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Aug 08, 2012 Marcy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Originally written in 1926 this is a clean almost romance novel, although there are subtle innuendos of a promiscuous life by the Duke. This was recommended to me because I enjoy Jane Austin but I don't enjoy a harlequin romance type of novel. I enjoyed the book enough and I will probably give Heyer another try, someday, but she is no Jane Austin. ...more

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Mar 25, 2018 Marilee rated it liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 17, 2013 Malinda rated it it was ok

I am sure the book was great, but I had a hard time getting into the characters. As soon as I read that the main guy was wearing a particularly high pair of heeled shoes I kinda checked out....and that was in the first chapter.

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Jul 16, 2013 Andi rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I loved this book. I wish I read this book first instead of Sylvester. Sylvester was a bit boring. This had a story that was so fast paced and hardly bogged down by exposition.

The only reason I knock it down a star is how annoying the heroine, Leonie, was. She was so clingy to 'Monsieur' or Avon that she couldn't do anything without him. I get that he saved her, but still...

The cast of characters were perfect.

My favorite scene was the end with Avon and his 'story'. You will know it when you co ...more

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Sep 22, 2015 Jennifer rated it really liked it

Another great Heyer book! I'd say it's a more complicated and suspenseful plot than some of her others that I've read. ...more

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May 14, 2020 Michele rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020

Starts out so creepy then all is explained. This one had a spirit of meanness that I didn’t care for.
But, I did get into it eventually.
I am really going to start saying things like “ pon rep” and “ devil a bit” she does dialogue so well!

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Jul 31, 2012 Anna rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, historical-fiction, regency-era

I really struggled getting into this book. I think it was the French setting- for some reason I struggle with the French. Once I got further in and understood things it got better.

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Jan 19, 2017 Janna rated it it was amazing

Charming & funny!

Perhaps my favorite Heyer novel! ! So funny! I wish it were a movie. I loved the dialog, richly drawn main characters and fantastic supporting cast.

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