The Grand Sophy (Regency Romances, 10)

I thought this was my going to be my first book by Georgette Heyer after a friend suggested I give the author a try, but after looking over several of the book covers online, I think I have already read a couple of her books while I was in junior high or high school. Back then I was making my way row-by-row through our local library, and I spent a great deal of time in the "H" section because Victoria Holt resided there.

Now for the Austenite purists, Heyer is not Austen, but she writes with a fresh wit and humor that often reminds the reader of Jane Austen. And the time period is similar.

At first blush, the text and language seemed a bit heavy and tedious, but I soon founds myself enchanted with Sophy's shenanigans. She is truly one of the original free spirits - full of life and vigor. She's part matchmaker, part fairy godmother and part devilish sprite.

I love her dealings with her poor cousin Charles- the way she drives him to fits of rage only to later hear him defending her every move to his beloved Miss Wraxton. They were more instantly equals from day one...

The climax of Sophy's antics were a bit preposterous and completely unbelievable, but as a reader, I couldn't help but be swept away in her entanglements, her rash behavior, etc. In real life Sophy would drive me mad, and yet like Charles, I still wanted to see her triumphant.