Title: The Talisman Ring
Author: Georgette Heyer
Publication date: 1936
Book's setting: Sussex, Regency Era
Random facts: I am so tired I am not sure whether this review will make any sense...
Plot summary: Old Baron Lavenham dies with one last wish. The marriage of his his great-nephew, Sir Tristram Shield, and his young French granddaughter, Eustacie de Vauban. Eustacie is young, romantic, and has no interest in marrying her much older cousin. So she runs away, and straight into the arms of a smuggler, who turns out to be the estranged son of Baron Lavenham. Ludovic Lavenham is injured and Eustacie brings him to an inn, where she meets sensible Sarah Thane. Ludovic claims he is innocent of his crimes and lays them on his cousin Basil. Miss Thane, Eustacie, Tristram, and Ludovic must find proof of Basil's guilt if Ludovic is to ever take his proper place as Baron Lavenham.
Favorite aspects: It was funny. Georgette Heyer is really good at that. Eustacie's dreams of being a victim in the French Revolution were particularly amusing. I like how ridiculous most of the characters were... but it doesn't really matter and you love them anyway. Ridiculous people are my favorite. Especially ridiculous RICH BRITISH people.
Least favorite aspects: BUT... BUT... BASIL. WHY? I LIKED YOU SO MUCH!!!!! Ludovic was just really hysterically dopey, Basil was better.
Other works it reminded me of: Tall Dark Stranger by Joan Smith.
Sadie's merciless breakdown: I'm planning a trip to Frankfurt and Bacharach all by my lonesome. I'm a bit terrified. So I put down American Gods and I put down Bleak House and I put down all that nonsense and I read this instead. Is it so bad to read Regency era romantic fluff? It's a terribly girly thing to do, very stereotypical.
But fluff exists for a reason! It makes you laugh and forget whatever it is you're worrying about. I really like romantic comedies. (In book form. In movie form they usually annoy me.) This is my fourth regency romantic comedy and I think I like them more and more each time. Georgette Heyer is practically a PG Wodehouse in her ability to keep you smiling the entire book through. That is all I want to say. Respect the regency fluff. Respect it.
Recommendation rate: I don't know if it's your style, but I love them.
