Annis Wychwood is an old maid, and is determined not to become one of those women whose life is lived solely to help her brother and sister-in-law out. And so, she moves to her own home in Bath. But while she is on her way to Bath, she comes across an orphan runaway. Deciding that it would be a whole lot of fun to be the temporary chaperone for this girl and introduce her to Bath society, while the girl’s uncle finds her a more suitable chaperone, Annis takes her in. She soon finds, however, that chaperoning a seventeen year old girl is a lot more work than she had expected. And while everyone had warned Annis about this girl’s uncle, Annis quickly finds herself looking forward to their meetings where they spend more of their time arguing than trying to figure out what to do with his niece.
This is one of the Heyer books that Sourcebooks rereleased. Yay what fun! And oh! Loved! Loved so much! Devoured within twenty-four hours! Ah! Sexy regency hero! Witty banter! A lead female who isn’t a spineless twit! Eep! Fun!
Okay, done raving.
Maybe.
It was wonderful! The characters were wonderful. And it was laugh out loud funny. Especially relating to the younger characters, who were so silly. And the dialogue between Mr. Carleton and Annis was rather snarky and amusing. So much fun, really. Yay so much fun.
I think what I like about Heyer’s books compared to Austen’s is that the men (or at least in the books that I’ve read of Heyer’s) are slightly wicked… or rather that they could be wicked. I mean, you get Darcy who is very proud and a little rude at times…. but none of them are the proverbial “black sheep” that everyone warns the heroine to stay away from, none of them are the bad guy with the good heart. The closest we get with Austen is Henry Crawford, but he wasn’t even the hero in Mansfield Park.
Goodness!
Seriously loved this book.
The Bottom Line: I don’t think I need to reiterate the fact that I loved this book. I’m definitely going to need to read more of her regency books. I say that every single time, but it’s totally completely one hundred percent true. This one has quickly become one of my favourite regency books, period. I know I’m going to be going back to Lady of Quality again and again.
Aarti July 22nd, 2009 at 11:11 pm
I LOVE Heyer! However, I did not love Lady of Quality. I think I read it while on a Heyer binge and possibly very soon after I read Black Sheep, which has a very similar plotline but which I loved, loved, LOVED. Hmm. Maybe I should pick this one back up…
Court July 23rd, 2009 at 7:28 am
Aarti – I loved Black Sheep too, and I can totally see the similarities in the books. It’s entirely possible that had I read this one immediately after Black Sheep, I wouldn’t have enjoyed it quite as much. Which Heyer books are your favourites?
Aarti July 25th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Every time I try to list a favorite, I come up with about five ;-) I really like Black Sheep, Cotillion and Talisman Ring. Those are the ones I always want to re-read. But then I re-read some of the others randomly and really like them, too! I liked The Founding a lot, and Reluctant Widow. And I recently read one of her mysteries (of which I have many but never really read because I like the Regencies so much), Footsteps in the Dark, and it is HILARIOUS. So, er, I pretty much like them all. Though I haven’t read them all.