Frederica

Georgette Heyer

Jan 2009 · Regency Romances Book 24 · Sourcebooks, Inc.

About this eBook

New York Times bestselling author Georgette Heyer's beloved tale of an entertaining heroine stumbling on happiness when her marital machinations for her sister go awry.

Determined to secure a brilliant marriage for her beautiful sister, Frederica seeks out their distant cousin the Marquis of Alverstoke. Lovely, competent, and refreshingly straightforward, Frederica makes such a strong impression on him that to his own amazement, the Marquis agrees to help launch them all into society.

Normally Lord Alverstoke keeps his distance from his family, which includes two overbearing sisters and innumerable favor-seekers. But with his enterprising — and altogether entertaining—country cousins chasing wishes and getting into one scrape after another right on his doorstep, before he knows it the Marquis finds himself dangerously embroiled.

Praise for Georgette Heyer:

"I have Georgette Heyer's books in every room of my house."—#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts

Ratings and reviews

Delightful Regency romance! This was my first Georgette Heyer read, and I honestly don't know what took me so long. This is a wonderfully complex story that takes an insightful look into the inner workings of London's Society in 1818. Frederica is a true heroine, sacrificing her own happiness to focus on securing stable futures for her younger siblings. That her own romance awaits just around the corner comes as quite a surprise to her, one that takes its time developing due to Alverstoke's own reluctance to even consider settling down. Soon though it is inevitable that Alverstoke finds himself charmed by the entire Merriville family. I loved the back and forth between Alverstoke and his extended family, especially Lady Buxted. I also really enjoyed the way Frederica kept him on his toes, never letting him get too comfortable with the truth of their attraction until he's firmly and irrevocably committed. As this book is nearly as old as I am, the writing style is far more complex and formal than that of recently written Regency stories, and that in itself was a refreshing treat. Heyer has a very engaging writing style and I easily devoured every compelling chapter. I highly recommend this story for anyone who loves Jane Austen-style romances. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

A wonderful romance and look into dynamics of two very different families, one grasping and one loving. Heyer delivers flawless characterization and witty prose for hours of enjoyment as Frederica launches her lively family in London with distant cousin Marquise of Alverstoke's help.

Each time I think I have discovered the perfect Georgette Heyer hero, I find I have discovered yet another more perfect but THIS time, the Marquis of Alverstoke is the perfect Heyer hero 😙

About the author

The late Georgette Heyer was a very private woman. Her historical novels have charmed and delighted millions of readers for decades, though she rarely reached out to the public to discuss her works or private life. She was born in Wimbledon in August 1902. She wrote her first novel, The Black Moth, at the age of seventeen to amuse her convalescent brother; it was published in 1921 and became an instant success.

Heyer published 56 books over the next 53 years, until her death from lung cancer in 1974. Heyer's large volume of works included Regency romances, mysteries and historical fiction. Known as the Queen of Regency romance, Heyer was legendary for her research, historical accuracy and her extraordinary plots and characterizations. Her last book, My Lord John, was published posthumously in 1975. She was married to George Ronald Rougier, a barrister, and they had one son, Richard.