Frederica

A winner through and through! This republish of a classic includes a foreword by Eloisa James, and I thought her take on the story was an interesting perspective. It's true that really, this isn't a book about Frederica, it's about Alverstoke and how he changes. We LOVE the unwilling reformation of a bachelor, especially when it's not really reformation, it's motivation.

Throughout the novel, we see Frederica and two of her siblings grab hold of Alverstoke without artifice and make him care about something other than himself. Despite all his annoyance with it and his irritation that his boring, comfortable life has been interrupted, it's a delight to see him change and (grudgingly at first) lend his support and care. With each misadventure, he's drawn even closer into their orbit, and finds himself unwittingly becoming their hero by simple, kind acts. This can feel like a dense read at times, but even with all the old-fashioned language and long sentences, this is a cozy, smart read.

From the beginning, the picture Heyer presents is light-hearted, witty, and actually laugh-out-loud hilarious. Somehow, a huge cast of characters still has each and every person with unique traits and characteristics, and it's not hard to follow. I haven't yet found a book of hers I didn't like, and I doubt I ever will. Frederica deserves this republishing and for more people to enjoy this warm, comfortable story. Prepare to settle in with this one awhile, and prepare to enjoy every minute of it.

It was lots of fun rereading this classic novel from the queen of Regency romance! No one can match Georgette Heyer for authentic period detail--there are never annoying anachronisms, which are often so rife in the more recent Regency novels. Frederica is the quintessential Heyer heroine: assertive and opinionated but generous and kind,. Heyer’s effervescent tale of Frederica and her family taking London by storm has fabulous characters, an engaging storyline, and Heyer’s trademark wit and humor. It's the best kind of light read!

There is nothing g better than a Georgette Heyer romance! An enthralling period piece that is engaging, endearing and completely romantic. Her romances have stood the test of time and can be reread abd discovered all over again.

Frederica is another of Georgette Heyer’s stellar works! From Charis and the balls of the Ton, Felix and his steam engines, Harry and his slightly dim duty to his family, Jessamy and his bicycle, to the Alverstokes (and Alverstoke) this is a novel and a family to fall in love with over and over.

I enjoyed the forward by Eloisa James giving her thoughts, which was informative. I really enjoy Georgette Heyer, she has a unique and enjoyable writing style. In Fredericka there’s humor, romance, Family situations. Lord Alverstoke is an interesting character. He was cynical and only cared for himself. But since he met Fredericka and her family he started to change shocking everyone. Loved the book and I highly recommend it.

If you're looking for sparkling, witty, chaste historical romance you can't go wrong with Heyer, and Frederica is one of my favorites. The heroine Frederica Merriville considers herself quite on the shelf but she's newly arrived in London with her younger siblings, trying to launch her younger sister Charis into the ton. The Marquis of Alverstoke is a distant relation that she approaches, hoping for some help. He tends to be quickly bored but Frederica is different, and he finds himself inexplicably interested in the fates of her two youngest brothers as well.

There is a foreword by Eloisa James stating that the Marquis has no proper feeling and is never of use to anyone and has to learn how to be a hero. I didn't totally agree as it was largely his most selfish sisters' assessment of him. and I considered them unreliable witnesses. He refused to pander to their wishes so he was an unnatural brother. But servants, friends and family members who are portrayed in a sympathetic manner generally think better of him and expect better things of him from the start than characters who annoy him by trying to benefit from him financially or take advantage of him socially. But Frederica and the two oldest Merriville brothers seem different to him as they do not think that the Marquis would be under any obligation to help them and try to pay him back or refuse his help several times. but he takes on the mantle of helping them quite voluntarily. Except when Felix, the youngest Merriville, who is crazy about all things mechanical, cajoles him into accompanying him to see things that are mostly interesting to Felix.

I thought Alverstoke's character development was mostly to learn to feel affection, become bonded with people. He had family, friends and flirts but before he met Frederica and her siblings he wasn't really attached to anyone, becoming easily bored. But when people start to matter to him it turns out he is very good in a crisis.

Thank you NetGalley for providing this book for a review.

Well, even though I am not new to the regency/period romance genre, this book was actually the first book I read from Georgette Heyer.

I had heard of her books and many of my friends who also loved regency romance highly recommended her books.

I had a great time reading Frederica. Frederica is intelligent, witty, loyal, and definitely a wonderful sister to her younger sister and two younger brothers. Also, she is very pretty. She has come to London to introduce her younger sister to the society in hope of making a splendid match for her.

Of course, nothing goes as planned.

This book has all the things that we usually look out for in a regency romance. There's this Darcy like Marquis of Alverstoke, marriage market, family dramas.

I love this book because the heroines are not damsels in distress!