COTILLION

Author: Georgette Heyer ISBN: 9781402210082 10/2007 HISTORICAL Publisher: SOURCBOOKS
Time Period: Regency

Great-uncle Matthew Penicuik sends for his four great-nephews--he is nearing death and will bequeath his entire fortune to his young ward, Kitty, provided she marries one of them. The obsequious Reverend Hugh, the somewhat addled Lord Dolphinton, and the hapless Lord Freddy Standen dutifully arrive, but the one great-nephew who Kitty loves, the wild and unpredictable Jack, refuses to be summoned. Kitty, desperate to get to London and see if she can turn the tide of her fate, arranges a sham betrothal with Freddy, who is by no means a typical Romance hero. He's immensely rich, of course, and not bad-looking, especially with his ultra-starched shirt points and elegant quizzing glass, but hardly a ladies' man. The two head for London, where a series of hilarious mishaps threaten their charade. But Freddy discovers hitherto unplumbed depths of cleverness and practicality beneath his dandyish exterior, and Kitty discovers that the rake she was in love with can't hold a candle to her Freddy. He sets every mishap and adventure to rights in the end, surprising all (especially himself).

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

I am a huge Regency romance fan, so it goes without saying that Georgette Heyer is high on my list of favorite authors. She had a talent for telling a story with flair, for taking the hum-drum and making it extraordinary. COTILLION is no exception to this rule. It is, I think, one of her best stories, showcasing her talent as well as her razor-sharp sense of humor.

The story is a fairly typical one for the era. Kitty must satisfy her strong-willed guardian's wish that she marry one of his nephews in order to inherit his wealth. The enforced marriage might be more palatable if the nephews weren't all so. lacking. They are each intriguing, endearing and interesting in their own right, but none of them fits the bill for Kitty's idea of a suitable husband. She wishes to spend time enjoying the season, and to do so without restriction she must choose a man to marry. A deal, then, is struck with one of the eligible men. They intend for her to beg off in the end, but sometimes even the best-laid plans go awry.

I loved this book from start to finish. All of the characters are quirky and loveable, even the rascally ones, and the plot moves so swiftly the story fairly sails along. The dialogue is wonderfully witty and made me laugh more than once.

All in all, I'd say Georgette Heyer's COTILLION has taken a spot on my "Favorite Books List"-and that's saying a lot because I read a lot of books!

Kay James