I didn’t remember Venetia as being one of my favorite Georgette Heyer books, but actually I liked it very much. It features a sparkling heroine.
Venetia Lanyon has lived almost secluded in the Yorkshire countryside. When her mother died, her father became a recluse and refused permission when the time came for Venetia to be brought out by her aunt. Now 25, since her father’s death she has been taking care of her brother’s estate until he returns from the wars, at which time she plans to take a house with her younger brother, Aubrey. Although she has two suitors, she cares for neither of them and believes she will need to be there for Aubrey, who has a bad hip and does not relish meeting people.
The Lanyons’ neighbor, Lord Damerel, is seldom home and has such a bad reputation that when they were children Venetia and her brothers called him the Wicked Baron. Venetia is out picking berries one day when she meets Damerel. He at first mistakes her for a village girl and kisses her. However, he soon finds his mistake and doesn’t know what to make of her reaction. Fairly quickly, they find themselves friends.
Of course, this will never do, think her friends and relations, and we’re off for another funny romp with Heyer.
What? Me Read? 
Oddly enough, I was thinking of re-reading this last October! Like you, it wasn’t one of my favorite Heyers but I did enjoy it the first time around and would be curious to see how I’d react to it now.
I was curious about that, too.
I love Venetia, although I feel doubtful that she could actually exist in that era in real life. As a denizen of the alternate Heyerverse, she’s a joy.
I think she could, since she’s lived so isolated.
I really need to read one of her books. Do you thing this would be a good start?
Any of them would be a good start. Take a look at my other reviews, I suggest, and pick one that sounds most fun. She has a few straight historical novels that aren’t as entertaining, where she’s seriously trying to depict a historical event or figure. The sense of humor is strangely lacking in those, so I would go for one of the mysteries or romances or romantic mysteries. For my part, the sillier the better, and I am not generally a romance reader.
I’m also not much of a romance reader, but she does sound fun!
If I wasn’t clear, you can look at her name on my Authors menu to see which of her books I’ve reviewed so far, and then use that to select some titles that sound interesting to you.
Will do!
I really like this one – I do like a sparkling heroine. I need to do some more Heyer again (though I also need to read off the TBR – argh at the moment (see today’s post)).
More Heyer is always nice.