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Book Review: Cotillion by Georgette Heyer

December 9, 2008 by Darlene

Cotillion by Georgette Heyer, for me, can be best described as a great ‘romp’ through a Regency Romance. I loved it!

This was such a fun novel. The novel is mainly centered around Kitty Charing who stands to inherit a fortune if only she’ll marry one of her miserable guardian’s great-nephews. If she doesn’t, she will be left penniless. Her choices are Hugh (much to stuffy), Dolph (sweet but completely dim-witted), Freddy (not to swift either but he surprises us plus he’s such a gentleman) and Jack (the handsome and rakish man of the novel).

Kitty has always had a hankering for Jack, since they were children really. However Jack will not be bullied into marrying anyone even if he might acually want to marry them one day. Besides he’s much to busy being popular in London with all the young ladies. So Kitty, desperate to get to London, hatches a plan with Freddy. She gets him to agree to pretend to be betrothed to her and take her to London. She does this in the hopes of getting Jack so jealous he’ll come after her. So, off they go to London and Kitty is fascinated. She’s seeing the sights, dragging poor Freddy with her and getting herself new cloths and meeting lots of new people. However, Kitty being the busy body she is manages to get herself embroiled in many other people’s romances on the side and it turns out to be quite funny the lengths she’ll go to in the hopes of getting people together. Even funnier is she manages to drag Freddy right along with her. They seem to have minds that work in the same direction on matters such as these, not to mention Freddy didn’t have a choice as half the time he was trying to save Kitty from herself.

While I really liked all the characters, Kitty and Freddy stole my heart. They are both sweet and charming characters who were a joy to read about. This novel had me laughing out loud several times which I truthfully didn’t expect from a novel such as this. I loved the period detail described throughout the book and the book was very well written. The language more often than not had me laughing. Some examples of sayings I won’t soon forget because I’ll probably be using them are, ‘he or she is queer in their attic’ and ‘I dashed well can’t help you’. It was phrases like these that had me laughing and wanting to keep reading this more than enjoyable story.

While this was my first Georgette Heyer novel, it won’t be my last. If you’re looking for a fun historical Regency Romance type of book to take you away for a while to another world I would certainly recommend this one. I thouroughly enjoyed it!

Many thanks to Danielle at Source Books for sending me this great read!
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Comments

  1. naida says

    December 9, 2008 at 10:20 pm

    Sounds good, I did enjoy The Reluctant Widow by this author.
    Great review.
    Its nice when a novel can make you laugh out loud.

    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

  2. Nymeth says

    December 9, 2008 at 10:30 pm

    I’ve been hearing so much about her lately! She does sound like a fun author and I’m a big fan of historical fiction, so I need to try her sometime.

  3. Toni says

    December 9, 2008 at 11:19 pm

    I sure love the cover of this book Dar… sounds like it was a good read. I hope to review a few historical fiction books in the near future. Nice review Dar!

  4. Janel says

    December 10, 2008 at 12:56 am

    A regency romance with a sense of humor. Sounds fun!

  5. Luanne says

    December 10, 2008 at 1:10 am

    This isn’t a book I would have picked up Dar, so your review was an eye opener – it sounds like it was a lot of fun!

  6. Veens says

    December 10, 2008 at 5:02 am

    Georgette Heyer is the flavor of the month. I have already ordered her ” Reluctant Widow”
    I Was hoping I will like it! Now i m suer i will like her 😉 because I know I love your taste in historical fiction.. Thanks Dar!
    take Care!

  7. Lezlie says

    December 10, 2008 at 2:03 pm

    I’ve read three of her Regencies now, and this one is my favorite so far. Glad you liked it!

    Lezlie

  8. S. Krishna says

    December 10, 2008 at 3:18 pm

    I’ve got this one to review, but I’m looking forward to it after your review!

  9. Trish says

    December 11, 2008 at 3:49 am

    I feel like a dope for asking–but what is a regency romance? I haven’t heard of this author and thought at first it was a classic, but I guess it isn’t? 😛 So confused! LOL

  10. Dar says

    December 11, 2008 at 4:46 pm

    Naida, I wasn’t expecting it to be so amusing. It does say it’s funny on the back but still.

    Nymeth, her books are being published again by Source Books so they’re making their rounds. This one was good and I’m looking forward to the other one I have.

    Toni, the cover is really pretty isn’t it. I’ve got a few more historicals too but you know how I love them so that’s ok.

    Janel, it was a fun read.

    Luanne, I enjoy historical fiction and I’ve been hearing so much about Heyer so I was anxious to read one of hers.

    Veens, Heyer writes a bit different than what I normally read in historical fiction but I still enjoyed it. I’m curious to see what you’ll think.

    Lezlie, your blog is where I first heard of Heyer and wanted to read her novels so thanks!

    Swapna, I’m curious to see what you’ll think of this one.

    Trish, I guess it is a classic in that Heyer has written many really popular books for her time. A regency romance just refers to that period of time if that makes sense.

  11. Anna says

    December 11, 2008 at 5:48 pm

    Sounds like a great book. “Queer in their attic”…that’s too funny!

    Reluctant Widow is in my TBR pile and will be my first Heyer novel.

    Great review, as always!

    –Anna
    Diary of an Eccentric

  12. Lezlie says

    December 11, 2008 at 6:02 pm

    I totally forgot to comment on the language! It’s my favorite part of regencies. I like the phrase you mentioned, “Queer in the attic”, but the one that cracks my up every single time I run across it is, “He’s dicked in the knob.” Is my immaturity showing? 🙂

    Lezlie

  13. Dar says

    December 11, 2008 at 6:14 pm

    Anna, thanks. Don’t you just love that-queer in the attic-it’s my new saying for people. lol. I’ve got The Conqueror next on my list.

    Lezlie, I had even forgotten that one. That was hilarious too. I was trying to remember to write them down as I read them but kept forgetting. Those were definitely laugh out loud moments.

  14. Ladytink_534 says

    December 11, 2008 at 9:17 pm

    I haven’t read one of her books yet but this does sound SO charming!

  15. Shana says

    December 11, 2008 at 10:04 pm

    Oh, there’s always the handsome, rakish man, isn’t there!?!?

    This sounds like fun, Dar. I really enjoyed my first Heyer novel too and look forward to reading more when time permits!

    Shana
    Literarily

  16. samantha.1020 says

    December 12, 2008 at 12:22 am

    Dar, great review! I’ve got one of her books on my review pile and now I’m wishing it was this one 🙂 Adding it to the tbr list…

  17. Ramya says

    December 13, 2008 at 3:12 am

    i think i read georgette heyer quite a while ago (atleast 10 yrs ago) and i don’t remember anything about her or what i read.. i guess it is time for me to pick up one of her books again..:) awesome review dar..as usual!:)

  18. Icedream says

    December 13, 2008 at 4:27 am

    This sounds like fun. I haven’t read a really good fun romance in awhile.

  19. Dar says

    December 17, 2008 at 2:07 am

    Tink, this was a charming book. I quite enjoyed it.

    Shana, yes there is usually that ‘rakish’ man somewhere in these novels. lol. I have another Heyer one to read but it will be in the new year as it’s a bigger read.

    Sam, which Heyer book do you have to review?

    Ramya, thanks. She certainly has enough books to choose from. I didn’t realize she had written so many.

    Icedream, I’m not one for romances usually but the way this one was written was fun and good, not mushy and I liked that.

  20. rohit says

    August 1, 2011 at 5:17 pm

    An enjoyable read Cotillion by Georgette Heyer. loved the way you wrote it. I find your review very genuine and original, this book is going in by "to read" list.

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