Her brother’s gambling has put the whole family on the brink of ruin, and a rich marriage is the only way to mend matters. When the wealthy Earl of Rule decides to marry the eldest Miss Elizabeth Winwood, she tearfully realizes she must accept.
When I saw (while scanning Goodreads) that The Convenient Marriage has the same plot as the above mentioned books, how could I not rush to reserve it at the library? The setting of this book is earlier than most Heyer novels–in the Georgian period (the war in the Americas is mentioned a couple times)–so we have the added delight of powdered wigs and emerald-encrusted shoes. Whatever the hero might have done in his past life, true love comes when he finds it with his wife. Heyer, although turning an indulgent eye to youthful follies, is no friend to extramarital affairs. I also love the emphasis on MARRIAGE in these books (and in all of Heyer’s books). I adore how the hero and heroine grow to know each other, see the beauty of each other’s character, and eventually fall in love. My two favorite Heyer novels, Cotillion and Friday’s Child, both have a plot where the protagonists fall in love with each other AFTER they are engaged/married. Even though I know what’s going to happen, it’s always a delight to experience the subtle plot variations and the new cast of characters along the way. But all in all, Heyer books have transparent plots with markedly similar storylines.ĭo I mean this as a criticism? Absolutely not! I love picking up a Heyer book because I already know for a fact that I am going to like it (because, yes, I like that kind of plot). Of course, there always are the subtle variations, such as the heroine being the first to fall in love with the hero or–egads!–the hero NOT being a former rake.
Which book is this the plot to? It could be almost any of the Heyer canon. Thirty-something-year-old former rake falls in love with young girl barely out of the schoolroom (or alternatively, with a spunky twenty-something-year-old “spinster”), and after many misunderstandings, much wearing of finery, probably some gambling over cards, perhaps a duel or two, and loads of witty banter, the two finally come to an understanding. If you’re looking to read something unpredictable, Georgette Heyer books are not for you.
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