debralewi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kath61's review against another edition
3.0
I used to read a lot of these when I was younger. It was nice to dip into Heyer's familiar style. Humorous, ridiculous and pure escapist fun.
avalydia's review against another edition
4.0
Very entertaining! I would rank it just after Sylvester and The Quiet Gentleman.
carolynf's review against another edition
3.0
Not as good as Cotillion. I picked a bunch of Georgette Heyer books at random, and this one I almost discarded when I realized it was about two identical male twins wooing the same woman. I am glad I persevered but it took me a while to get into it.
Basically one identical twin brother comes into town secretly to surprise everyone, and finds that the other twin brother has mysteriously disappeared. He knows that his brother is fine, due to his astute twin-sense, but his absence is socially awkward due to the eminent party at his fiance's house. So of course brother number two agrees to pose as brother number one and ends of falling for the fiance himself. Cue hijinks.
I liked the mom, even though I had a lot of contradictory feelings about her. She was in her 40s but completely and could not manager her own affairs, financially. Socially though, she is very kind and endearing, glamorous, also a smart ass. Several scenes display a DGAF attitude regarding societal conventions. She is so young, compared to her sons, that I was occasionally reminded of the relationship between Gillian and Jimmy Doherty in Boardwalk Empire, though thankfully without the incest.
Basically one identical twin brother comes into town secretly to surprise everyone, and finds that the other twin brother has mysteriously disappeared. He knows that his brother is fine, due to his astute twin-sense, but his absence is socially awkward due to the eminent party at his fiance's house. So of course brother number two agrees to pose as brother number one and ends of falling for the fiance himself. Cue hijinks.
I liked the mom, even though I had a lot of contradictory feelings about her. She was in her 40s but completely and could not manager her own affairs, financially. Socially though, she is very kind and endearing, glamorous, also a smart ass. Several scenes display a DGAF attitude regarding societal conventions. She is so young, compared to her sons, that I was occasionally reminded of the relationship between Gillian and Jimmy Doherty in Boardwalk Empire, though thankfully without the incest.
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
I'm always excited when I read a Heyer's book I didn't read before. This one was highly entertaining, witty, and well plotted.
A very pleasant, compelling, and highly entertaining story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
A very pleasant, compelling, and highly entertaining story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
exlibrisbitsy's review against another edition
Christopher “Kit” Fancot knows that something has gone wrong. He and his twin brother Evelyn have always known when the other was in trouble, wounded or worse and Kit has a very strong feeling that something has happened to Evelyn. His mother is in a huge amount of debt and his twin brother Evelyn has gone missing. Evelyn needs to be able to meet with his fiance Cressida Stavely’s family or risk having an elderly matron frown on the marriage of convenience (he wants to wind up his Trust, she wants to be free of her father and his new wife) and call the whole thing off. If Kit’s twin doesn’t marry, the family fortune won’t be made available to him, and their mother’s fantastic debts will lead to trouble for all involved.
That’s when his mother hits upon an idea he wishes she hadn’t. No one knows Kit is in town, so Kit can pose as Evelyn! For just one evening, she promises. In true Georgette Heyer style the crazy idea spawns yet more crazy and untenable circumstances that have Kit living in Evelyn’s shoes for far longer than he wishes to and results in him feeling more for his twin bother’s fiance than he really should.
I loved reading about this tangle of a situation that was created by Evelyn's disappearance. The trouble Kit has assuming his new brother's role in life puts all of his combined acting talent and diplomacy to the ultimate test. Plus there was always the threat of discovery.
The true representation of the period, the way that the characters thought, spoke and acted within the confines of their social standing and situations was delightful to read, and I love how the characters were drawn and portrayed throughout. Kit's mother was hilarious to read about as she thoughtlessly blew through her money, and Kit often had a sense of humor that made his uncomfortable situation at times very amusing.
Heyer's droll humor and her appreciation for the ridiculous truly come to play in this novel and if you are looking for a fun read true to the regency period than this novel will have you laughing your socks off.
Favorite Quote:
"You absurd boy! Oh, Evelyn, I'm so thankful you've come, but what in the world has detained you? I've been sick with apprehension!"
There was a quizzical gleam in the gentleman's eyes, but he said in accents of deep reproach: "Come, come, Mama - !"
"It may be very well for you to say Come, come, Mama," she retorted, "but when you faithfully promised to return not a day later than -" She broke off, staring down at him in sudden doubt.
Abandoning the portmanteau, the gentleman shrugged the greatcoat from his shoulder, pulled off his hat, and mounted the remaining stairs two at a time, saying still more reproachfully: "No, really, Mama! How can you be so unnatural a parent?"
"Kit!" uttered his unnatural parent, in a smothered shriek. "Oh, my darling, my dearest son!"
That’s when his mother hits upon an idea he wishes she hadn’t. No one knows Kit is in town, so Kit can pose as Evelyn! For just one evening, she promises. In true Georgette Heyer style the crazy idea spawns yet more crazy and untenable circumstances that have Kit living in Evelyn’s shoes for far longer than he wishes to and results in him feeling more for his twin bother’s fiance than he really should.
I loved reading about this tangle of a situation that was created by Evelyn's disappearance. The trouble Kit has assuming his new brother's role in life puts all of his combined acting talent and diplomacy to the ultimate test. Plus there was always the threat of discovery.
The true representation of the period, the way that the characters thought, spoke and acted within the confines of their social standing and situations was delightful to read, and I love how the characters were drawn and portrayed throughout. Kit's mother was hilarious to read about as she thoughtlessly blew through her money, and Kit often had a sense of humor that made his uncomfortable situation at times very amusing.
Heyer's droll humor and her appreciation for the ridiculous truly come to play in this novel and if you are looking for a fun read true to the regency period than this novel will have you laughing your socks off.
Favorite Quote:
"You absurd boy! Oh, Evelyn, I'm so thankful you've come, but what in the world has detained you? I've been sick with apprehension!"
There was a quizzical gleam in the gentleman's eyes, but he said in accents of deep reproach: "Come, come, Mama - !"
"It may be very well for you to say Come, come, Mama," she retorted, "but when you faithfully promised to return not a day later than -" She broke off, staring down at him in sudden doubt.
Abandoning the portmanteau, the gentleman shrugged the greatcoat from his shoulder, pulled off his hat, and mounted the remaining stairs two at a time, saying still more reproachfully: "No, really, Mama! How can you be so unnatural a parent?"
"Kit!" uttered his unnatural parent, in a smothered shriek. "Oh, my darling, my dearest son!"
rachel_abby_reads's review against another edition
3.0
Note: when the characters are laughing hilariously and the reader isn't, it's likely that what has been written isn't as funny as the author thinks.
I get that the sons love their mother - since I don't, I couldn't find her funny and she filled a LOT of content in this book. I think that's why I don't own a copy.
Some GH I love and own. Some I like and will read. Some I hate and won't read. This one is okay to occupy shelf space at the library.
I get that the sons love their mother - since I don't, I couldn't find her funny and she filled a LOT of content in this book. I think that's why I don't own a copy.
Some GH I love and own. Some I like and will read. Some I hate and won't read. This one is okay to occupy shelf space at the library.
melindamoor's review against another edition
3.0
It was nice enough and entertaining enough and georgetteheyerish enough, but I was still unimpressed.
It's thanks to Phyllida Nash's excellent narration that I am giving it 3 stars.
I think the book very much hinges on whether you like Lady Denville or not. I did not dislike her, but was not enamoured by her either, so her taking center stage was a dampener.
It's thanks to Phyllida Nash's excellent narration that I am giving it 3 stars.
I think the book very much hinges on whether you like Lady Denville or not. I did not dislike her, but was not enamoured by her either, so her taking center stage was a dampener.
elizabethcaneday's review against another edition
5.0
I love this book so much. It's definitely made my top 10 by Heyer list. And the characters! The plot! I love False Colours so much.
shoelessmama's review against another edition
3.0
I agree with many of the other reviewers that there was too much of the mum and too little of the romance. The main characters were great as were their conversations (the few that there were). In fact, the romance felt like a side story. I liked the idea of the plot but not how it was fleshed out. There were about 100 pages at the end when I wondered where Heyer was going with it. This was unusual for this author since she tends to wind things up at the very last moment- as in sometimes there are 2 pages left and I wonder how she's going to get it done.
I did find it odd that even though I would have liked less of Kit's mother I didn't dislike her- and I felt like I should dislike her. Once again I agreed with another reviewer who likened her to an older Lydia Bennett with grown children. After all, I didn't dislike Lydia even when I felt that I should. If that makes sense.
I did find it odd that even though I would have liked less of Kit's mother I didn't dislike her- and I felt like I should dislike her. Once again I agreed with another reviewer who likened her to an older Lydia Bennett with grown children. After all, I didn't dislike Lydia even when I felt that I should. If that makes sense.