The Reluctant Widow

A surprisingly intricate mystery with surprising twists and satirical humor. You laugh and gasp at each turn of the plot. Not heavy in romance but definitely the hero's and heroine's attraction are felt.

I have read most of Georgette Heyer's romances more than once. I find them very well written and entertaining as well. She has an amazing command of the English language. Her descriptions paint a picture so that the reader becomes immersed in the story and sympathetic to the heroine at once.

I have been flying through Georgette Heyer's novels in the past few weeks. "The Reluctant Widow" is as stellar as Heyer's other works, with wit, humor, a great setting, and wonderful characters. But...*SPOILER*

...how could Mr. Carlyon have treated Elinor so badly? I would never be able to trust anyone who put my life at risk without informing me of the dangers. Yes, he's a smart, 'masterful' man who is used to managing everyone around him, but really! To leave someone you care about in the house with someone who you know stabbed a friend to death a day or two before?! To just assume the murderer wouldn't resort to worse violence than bashing someone in the head is a little too much! In Elinor's situation, I would have left Highnoons and the Carlyon family ASAP.

After an improbable start, the story does not falter, from secret stairways to Bonapartist agents, the characters have as much fun as the readers do. A very satisfying romance, that can be reread again and again.

I absolutely love Georgette Heyer novels and in particular Reluctant Widow which is a real winner. It has suspense, humor, and enormous character appeal for a reader. I am thrilled to have it in my library for a future reread.

Wonderfully written story by Georgette Heyer, a master storyteller. I first discovered it in junior high school. The weary Elinor of Fendenhall alights from the public travel coach, and steps into a different world, an unwanted marriage, and a creepy house inherited from her late husband. She begins to think she's lost her senses, brought back down to earth by circumstances beyond her control...

I love Georgette Heyer, but I do have certain favorites. This is one that I return to read more often than any others. I love the subtle romance, the mischievous Nicky, the mystery and most of all the delicious heroine. Just a delightful read many times over.

Georgette Heyer combined mystery and romance in this novel. I personally like her straight romances better. I believe the heroine could have been better developed. However, I will always be a devoted Georgette Heyer fan!

As usual, Ms.Heyer gives us a delightful story with a little intrigue and light banter and just the right touch of romance. The period details are always correct, even down to fashion and the slang of the day. Very enjoyable.

What a completely irritating protagonist. How much manufactured outrage can one woman come up with? Apparently this adolescent trait is charming, as is the male lead's presumptuous need for manipulating people and situations. Ick.

The author is aping Jane Austen's style but seems to grasp the letter of her style more than the spirit of it. More words does not make things better. Better words make things better. Jane Austen did not use extra words, though she did use a lot of them.

A handy 'Kindle-ised' return to an old favourite. I love Heyer's historical works - especially the Regency novels. This one takes place away from the glittering London season, but gives insight into the laws and social mores of the time.

I have read one book by Georgette Heyer before and found it a bit silly, but mildly entertaining. This one got good reviews for the most part, and the story line seemed interesting and intriguing, so I thought I'd give her books another try and purchased this one as well as 'Lady of Quality'.
However, I am not very far into it and already I am very tired of all the exclamation marks. Exclamation marks everywhere!!!!!!!!!!!! I am not sure if this was something the author insisted on doing, but I would have hoped that if that was her style, the editor would have trimmed back 95% of them. Paragraph after paragraph of dialog this goes on. The sentences are short and choppy, and more often than not end in an exclamation mark. A paragraph may contain 3 or 4 sentences of dialog, and all of them ending with the exclamation mark. I have been trying to ignore this, since as I read it seems like they are all shouting or talking loudly, and I am having trouble getting around it. It really takes away from the different inflections, mood, emotions, etc. that would actually be fitting for that particular sentence, paragraph, and subject. Instead it feels all the same, which of course is monotonous. I have had the fleeting thought of going through the book quickly and marking out most of the exclamation marks without reading the book. But I know that is not worth the effort, and the editor got paid for what she/he was supposed to do, not me.
So far, this plot seems silly as well, quite a bit unbelievable at this point, but I will carry on and see if the intrigue I have been promised helps to redeem it from this serious flaw.