Faro's Daughter by Georgette Heyer

amyb · Post by **amyb** » Sat November 22nd, 2008, 3:08 pm

When young Lord Adrian Maplethorpe proclaims to his mother that he wishes to marry a young lady from a gaming house, she is both floored and horrified. It's obvious to her that the girl must only want him for his money and title. And so Lady Maplethorpe immediately sends for her nephew, Max Ravenscar, to talk some sense into Adrian. He too is surprised at the news and decides to take a look at this girl himself.

Max marches himself on down to St. James Square to the home-turned-gaming house of Eliza Bellingham in the hopes of meeting Ms. Deborah Grantham, Ms. Bellingham's niece and object of Adrian's affection.

However, the girl he encounters is not the girl he had imagined. Beautiful, funny, smart and not in the least the loose, vulgar thing he was expecting - she quite takes him by surprise. Their first meeting leaves him unsatisfied and eager to find out more about her. They meet up again and Max unveils his proposal to pay her off to stay away from his cousin and that is when things get good!

Deb is utterly offended and beyond rage at Max's offer and vows revenge. In a nutshell she tells him to take his money and shove it! She'd even go as far as taking Adrian up on his offer (even though shew had no intention before), even if it meant his ruin, just to spite the "most hateful, odious man I have ever met in my life". Max is flabbergasted at her rejection! What is this woman up to? She must be holding out for more money, of that he is certain. Thus begins a tug-of-war of wills between Max and Deb.

What follows is an endearing and humorous story of two people who drive each other absolutely crazy and end up falling in love.

Faro's Daughter is the first novel I have read by Georgette Heyer, the Mother of Regency romance and I can tell you with a certainty that it will not be the last! I'm not usually a romancy kind of gal, but I have to admit that I really enjoyed this novel. It was a light, funny read with memorable characters and some kidnapping thrown in for good measure.

I recommend this book to any reader, of any age that likes a nice, sweet story of the heart.

Amy says: 5/5

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Sat November 22nd, 2008, 11:52 pm

This sounds good. So far I've only tried one Heyer, and that was a miss for me. I forget the name, but it was about William The Conquerer. Very very dry.

amyb · Post by **amyb** » Sun November 23rd, 2008, 12:19 am

Oh don't say that...that's what I'm reading now!! Haha! I received 4 Heyers from Sourcebooks, so I'll be getting real familiar with her then.

You should definitely check this one out though, very good.

boswellbaxter · Post by **boswellbaxter** » Sun November 23rd, 2008, 12:21 am

That sounds interesting! I've got The Conqueror and another Heyer on my bookpile also.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Sun November 23rd, 2008, 1:27 am

[quote=""boswellbaxter""]That sounds interesting! I've got The Conqueror and another Heyer on my bookpile also.[/quote]

I'll be interested to see what both of you think of it. I will give GH another whirl, but I'll stick with a regency. This one sounds good.

diamondlil · Post by **diamondlil** » Sun November 23rd, 2008, 8:07 am

I've read a couple of Heyer's and have three more here to read soon, including The Conqueror!

EC2 · Post by **EC2** » Sun November 23rd, 2008, 11:49 am

I've read Simon the Coldheart out of her non-Regency stable. I enjoyed it, although it was full of 'How-now thou craven varlet' type of language.
I don't enjoy her Regencies at all, but that's my problem not Heyer's who I know is well respected and much loved.
I can't stand her voice. To me she twitters. The thing is that I dislike Jane Austen for the very same reason. She twitters too and it's like having an annoying little bird prattling away in your mental ear all the time. So I guess it's a back-handed compliment to say of Heyer that she reminds me very much of Jane Austen!!!