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Reviews

Penny Hampson

Action and Adventure in India: My Review of Sharpe’s Triumph

August 30th, 2022

A few days ago I went off-piste with my reading matter; instead of my usual Regency romances I decided to try a different genre set in roughly the same era. I’ve been meaning to read Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe Series for some time, having read and enjoyed Harlequin, an historical adventure set during the Hundred Years […]

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Who is the Black Sheep?

December 28th, 2020

I’ve recently enjoyed re-reading another of Georgette Heyer’s Regency novels, Black Sheep. It tells the story of Abigail (Abby) Wendover, a genteel, single lady of twenty-eight years, who lives with her considerably older sister, the invalidish Selina. Also living with the sisters is their orphan niece Fanny, a wealthy heiress, whose unwise infatuation with a […]

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When is a Romance Not a Romance?

October 12th, 2020

After a stressful week I was looking for some escapism, so I settled on a book I haven’t read in years – Georgette Heyer’s A Civil Contract. Like most of Heyer’s other Regencies, this story is not a typical romance (yes, it’s true, in my opinion she doesn’t write typical romances). A Civil Contract is […]

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A Dark Secret from the Past: My review of The Cry of the Lake by Charlie Tyler

August 1st, 2020

I’ve managed to find some time for reading recently and have been enjoying trying something different. The Cry of the Lake is the debut novel of Charlie Tyler. It is an excellent, psychological thriller full of unexpected plot twists. Told from the perspective of three different characters, Lily, Flo, and Grace, this pacy, suspense-filled story […]

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It’s Never Too Late for a Second Career: Review of Chasing the Case by Joan Livingston

July 12th, 2020

I enjoy crime and mysteries with interesting plots, so when I saw this book on offer, I thought I’d give it a go. The author is someone new to me and the story is set in the American Mid-West, a place I’m not very familiar with. I also chose this book because I was intrigued […]

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Unmasking a Villain: Review of The Talisman Ring

May 20th, 2020

We’re still in lockdown, so I thought I’d review another of Georgette Heyer’s historical novels, in case you’re still seeking some comfort reading. Set in 1793, The Talisman Ring is an enjoyable mix of adventure and comedy. It’s another of Heyer’s stories that doesn’t conform to the typical idea of a romance. It’s also different […]

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The Imposter at the Toll-Gate

May 15th, 2020

Well here we are still in Lockdown, and still in need of comfort reading (well, I am anyway). Another Georgette Heyer book that I haven’t read for some time is The Toll-Gate. Now why did I ever think that all Heyer’s Regency tales were romances? This one, while containing a charming romance at its heart, […]

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When Love is a Game…

May 7th, 2020

Another Heyer book today – this time Faro’s Daughter, the story of tempestuous Deborah Grantham and the man who is out to ruin her plans, Max Ravenscar. If you enjoy sparkling, witty dialogue, you will enjoy this book, the verbal sparring between this pair is some of Heyer’s best work. If you’re puzzled about the […]

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Looking for Madcap Adventures With An Unlikely Hero?

May 2nd, 2020

I’m devouring Georgette Heyer’s books at the moment. They are definitely my go-to reads during stressful times, whisking me away to a world where the worst that can happen is that no-one asks the heroine for a dance at Almack’s Assembly Rooms. One book I’ve recently re-read is The Foundling – not a typical Heyer […]

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