The Foundling June 2018 Read: Chapters 1 to 12

[Moloch]

I started this book yesterday: so far (chapter 7) it's really a delight. I much prefer these quiet, gentle and a little insecure heroes.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Moloch wrote: "I started this book yesterday: so far (chapter 7) it's really a delight. I much prefer these quiet, gentle and a little insecure heroes."

I love this title more each time I read it!

[Moloch]

Halfway through chapter 12: very, very good.

I have only two tiny worries: that the author is piling up too many plotlines (I particularly didn't like the addition of (view spoiler)[Tom (hide spoiler)] - that's child abduction by the way, but I guess they didn't see it this way back then! -, mainly because I'm not a fan of fakey "cute" children in books) and that (view spoiler)[Belinda (hide spoiler)] turns out to be the long lost relative of someone... but so far I am enjoying it very much (but I'd like more Uncle Lionel).

[Moloch]

End of chapter 12.

For this book I'm finding myself wishing Heyer were a contemporary author and her books weren't 100% clean. For (view spoiler)[Belinda (hide spoiler)] and the reactions she causes in men I would welcome a more explicit and "spicy" language!

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

(view spoiler)[ There are a couple of GH books that contain a hint of passion, but not many! (hide spoiler)]

[Moloch]

Carol ꧁꧂ wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

Which ones? I'd like to check them out. (only historical romances, I'm not interested in the mystery titles).
Thanks!

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

This is about other GH books (view spoiler)[I would say April Lady (our group reading this one next year) & my favourite, Devil's Cub. But when I say hint, I mean hint! ;) (hide spoiler)]

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽]

I’m late for this group read, but I just picked this up at the library the other day and am reading it for the very first time! I’m in Chapter 13 now, and its all pretty amusing. This is one of those GH books where I’ve set my romance expectations to minimum and am just enjoying the ride.

I like Gilly, and Belinda is cracking me up.

[Moloch]

Belinda seems the 19th century version of the "blonde bombshell" type in old movies, sort of a Marylin Monroe or Jayne Mansfield (maybe not physically, but the "role" they used to play). Maybe Heyer wrote her with those movie examples in mind. She's less sexually charged, of course (also because she's a young girl).
I like her too.

[Susan in NC]

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "I’m late for this group read, but I just picked this up at the library the other day and am reading it for the very first time! I’m in Chapter 13 now, and its all pretty amusing. This is one of tho..."

That’s the way I felt on my first read years ago - this time I just wanted to see if it held up for me! It did, I enjoyed the ride.

[Susan in NC]

Moloch wrote: "Belinda seems the 19th century version of the "blonde bombshell" type in old movies, sort of a Marylin Monroe or Jayne Mansfield (maybe not physically, but the "role" they used to play). Maybe Heye..."

I was really struck by how vulnerable she was - I know, duh, beautiful young woman with no connections at risk of being preyed upon, oldest story in the book.

But I’m currently reading “Sapiens”, which, along with being engaging and fascinating, is showing me new ways to look at so much of human history. I just read about how if a young woman lost her family and was stranded outside of her village community in 17th-century Europe, with no strong police or state presence to lean on, she would be as good as dead - the only alternative would be a brothel (or army for a young man). Belinda popped into my mind! With no social safety net, she’s very vulnerable.

[Karlyne]

The one trait Belinda has that I appreciate is her lack of self-pity.

[Critterbee❇]

Yes, and she is honest.

What really steams me is that those vulnerable women are often blamed for being in that situation! No help, and a lot of blame, you're welcome.

[Susan in NC]

❇Critterbee wrote: "Yes, and she is honest.

What really steams me is that those vulnerable women are often blamed for being in that situation! No help, and a lot of blame, you're welcome."

Exactly - she strikes me as innocent and clueless- and honest! Not the femme fatale at all.