qwelling4's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mal_eficent's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
While I expected this to have a little more investigation and action based on the blurb, this was still a great little comedy! I would say mystery, but apart from conjecture, no one does anything to look into the problems and the end result is more comedy of errors on Kit and his mother's part.
Although still a major part of the story, the romance felt like less of a driver of the plot/character interactions than is typical with a Heyer. It doesn't quite follow the insta-love trope, but it feels like Kit's attention is elsewhere for much of the actual romantic interactions. Not my favourite couple dynamic, but both are excellent characters with good chemistry!
If you've not read a Heyer before, this would be a great one to start with – and if you have, then this has all the fun, romp, and comedy of her other Regency stories.
Although still a major part of the story, the romance felt like less of a driver of the plot/character interactions than is typical with a Heyer. It doesn't quite follow the insta-love trope, but it feels like Kit's attention is elsewhere for much of the actual romantic interactions. Not my favourite couple dynamic, but both are excellent characters with good chemistry!
If you've not read a Heyer before, this would be a great one to start with – and if you have, then this has all the fun, romp, and comedy of her other Regency stories.
__meg's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
meganclancy's review against another edition
4.0
Every character in this book is super charming; even with a thin plot, it is a ton of fun.
talina's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Fun
maplessence's review against another edition
4.0
4.5*
I'm gratified to say that Georgette Heyer's books hold up so well for me (I never liked Charity Girl & hadn't read Why Shoot a Butler before) as I work through my goal of rereading all of them on Good Reads. (well maybe not My Lord John & Helen – a reader can only suffer so much)
This is one that has improved with time & I have now given it a rating of 4.5*
GH shows her trademark careful plotting & tying up of loose ends. Kit is one of my favourite GH heros – kindly, witty, handsome & resourceful. & he is a GH hero with a career - & one of her rare younger sons.
The sensing something is wrong with older twin Evelyn (now there's a name!)is deftly done.
For me this is a fast moving plot – partly because I wolfed it down in a day! Reviewers who like more action in their historical romances may prefer GH's Georgian romances or Beauvallet. GH's Regency world is generally an unruffled, ordered one.
The characters' amusements in this book may be sedate by our standards but Kit & Cressy are always busy.
They play battledore & shuttlecock (as an ex, not very good, badminton player I always pick up on this when it's mentioned)
& billiards.
Kit also rides & goes shooting.
But there are a couple of flaws which do detract from the story (The Grand Sophy spoiler ahead as well)
Financial difficulties played a large part in GH's own life - & in common with so many of her characters, a lot of the problems are called by burdensome family members & not taking responsibility for some bad monetary decisions.
Do we give Amabel a pass because she adores her children when we condemn Lord Ombersley (The Grand Sophy) who is indifferent to his offspring.
Have to say no.
Point 2 is that The Loving Mother accepting Evelyn at only 24 making a loveless marriage (and even suggests Cressy) rather than accepting one of her her many admirer's offers- especially when one of them is quite fabulously wealthy. GH does deal with this both by making Evelyn a bit of a financially irresponsible wild child & showing the wonderfully named Sir Bonamy Ripple as a figure of fun., but I'm still not totally convinced.
As usual with GH Arrows this edition is Typo City. Next time a pre GH's death copy turns up at my work (I volunteer at an op shop) I'm going to bring it home & go through the book with a red pen!
I do like the stock painting Arrow has used on this cover but my favourite remains this one. This is how I always picture Kit & Evelyn looking.
[bc:False Colours|2994554|False Colours|Georgette Heyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1205259367l/2994554._SY75_.jpg|2213432]
One of my all time favourite GH covers.
Edit; Sorry for all the typos - even worse than usual!
Edit; Second read on Goodreads (although I have read this title many times)
I'm feeling a bit kinder about the twin's mother Amabel this time - also more charitable about the older twin Evelyn. Amabel was based loosely on the Duchess of Devonshire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgiana_Cavendish,_Duchess_of_Devonshire.So there is no point feeling someone can't behave the way someone already has!
I'm gratified to say that Georgette Heyer's books hold up so well for me (I never liked Charity Girl & hadn't read Why Shoot a Butler before) as I work through my goal of rereading all of them on Good Reads. (well maybe not My Lord John & Helen – a reader can only suffer so much)
This is one that has improved with time & I have now given it a rating of 4.5*
GH shows her trademark careful plotting & tying up of loose ends. Kit is one of my favourite GH heros – kindly, witty, handsome & resourceful. & he is a GH hero with a career - & one of her rare younger sons.
The sensing something is wrong with older twin Evelyn (now there's a name!)is deftly done.
For me this is a fast moving plot – partly because I wolfed it down in a day! Reviewers who like more action in their historical romances may prefer GH's Georgian romances or Beauvallet. GH's Regency world is generally an unruffled, ordered one.
The characters' amusements in this book may be sedate by our standards but Kit & Cressy are always busy.
They play battledore & shuttlecock (as an ex, not very good, badminton player I always pick up on this when it's mentioned)
& billiards.
Kit also rides & goes shooting.
But there are a couple of flaws which do detract from the story (The Grand Sophy spoiler ahead as well)
Spoiler
I do find the twin's mother Amabel funny & charming. It probably helps that I know plenty of people that weren't always Ms/Mr Responsible as parents. But as persuasive as the narrative of this book is, I do find it hard to believe that a woman who absolutely adores her sons wouldn't make the smallest effort to reform her extravagant ways when she realises the burden of her debts will fall on Evelyn.Financial difficulties played a large part in GH's own life - & in common with so many of her characters, a lot of the problems are called by burdensome family members & not taking responsibility for some bad monetary decisions.
Do we give Amabel a pass because she adores her children when we condemn Lord Ombersley (The Grand Sophy) who is indifferent to his offspring.
Have to say no.
Point 2 is that The Loving Mother accepting Evelyn at only 24 making a loveless marriage (and even suggests Cressy) rather than accepting one of her her many admirer's offers- especially when one of them is quite fabulously wealthy. GH does deal with this both by making Evelyn a bit of a financially irresponsible wild child & showing the wonderfully named Sir Bonamy Ripple as a figure of fun., but I'm still not totally convinced.
As usual with GH Arrows this edition is Typo City. Next time a pre GH's death copy turns up at my work (I volunteer at an op shop) I'm going to bring it home & go through the book with a red pen!
I do like the stock painting Arrow has used on this cover but my favourite remains this one. This is how I always picture Kit & Evelyn looking.
[bc:False Colours|2994554|False Colours|Georgette Heyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1205259367l/2994554._SY75_.jpg|2213432]
One of my all time favourite GH covers.
Edit; Sorry for all the typos - even worse than usual!
Edit; Second read on Goodreads (although I have read this title many times)
I'm feeling a bit kinder about the twin's mother Amabel this time - also more charitable about the older twin Evelyn. Amabel was based loosely on the Duchess of Devonshire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgiana_Cavendish,_Duchess_of_Devonshire.So there is no point feeling someone can't behave the way someone already has!
Spoiler
Kit & Cressy are one of my favourite couples and one of the GH couples I think will live happily ever after!thunguyen's review against another edition
3.0
What I love most about reading Georgette Heyer books is that her books are never formulaic. They're always funny and serve as comedy, but the characters are never the same, even the side characters.
False Colours is fun from the onset. What a fix our hero found himself in, having to masquerade as his twin brother to maintain the twin's convenient engagement to their spendthrift mother's indifferent god-daughter. Set against a whole cast of frivolous persons of the "ton", yet GH didn't feel the need to make our hero a grumpy straight-laced man in contrast, or a victim of the havey cavey scheme, in fact, Kit was equally mischievous and fun-loving. Placed next to level-headed yet also playful Cressy, it's an instant match.
If there is anything being repeated in GH's books, it's the easy friendship between the couple in her romances. And I think a lot of modern romances need that desperately. Enough with heart wrenching angst and hot sensual desire that in real life don't usually make long-lasting marriages, give us understanding and open conversation, these old books provide a good lesson for healthy relationships. Besides a good laugh.
The only problem I have with this book is that it is unnecessarily long. Luckily I listened to an audio book and could tune out when it went on and on about who-knew-what.
False Colours is fun from the onset. What a fix our hero found himself in, having to masquerade as his twin brother to maintain the twin's convenient engagement to their spendthrift mother's indifferent god-daughter. Set against a whole cast of frivolous persons of the "ton", yet GH didn't feel the need to make our hero a grumpy straight-laced man in contrast, or a victim of the havey cavey scheme, in fact, Kit was equally mischievous and fun-loving. Placed next to level-headed yet also playful Cressy, it's an instant match.
If there is anything being repeated in GH's books, it's the easy friendship between the couple in her romances. And I think a lot of modern romances need that desperately. Enough with heart wrenching angst and hot sensual desire that in real life don't usually make long-lasting marriages, give us understanding and open conversation, these old books provide a good lesson for healthy relationships. Besides a good laugh.
The only problem I have with this book is that it is unnecessarily long. Luckily I listened to an audio book and could tune out when it went on and on about who-knew-what.
lectriza's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
The plot could've been stronger, but I enjoyed the characters. It was fun to see a more sensible and staid heroine and hero get entangled in such a ridiculous situation.
The plot could've been stronger, but I enjoyed the characters. It was fun to see a more sensible and staid heroine and hero get entangled in such a ridiculous situation.
tunnel_time's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Very slow, but incredibly cute and charming!
barb_d's review against another edition
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Pretty much what you would expect from a lightly humorous regency character comedy with traces of romance. Much of the plot is advanced via dialogue, which can get a bit tiresome.