As I was shelving books at Rae’s Reads (my bookstore) the other day, putting out romances, I came across a book described as a “Regency Romance.” It is something I have purposely avoided reading until now, historical fiction with romance at its core. The plots are “standard” in these romances, no surprises, with clipped “veddy British” dialogue, and almost no character development occurring in the novel. (definition my own)

I did a bit of googling and came up with the name Georgette Heyer as the “queen of Regency Romance.” Fortunately, I had one of her books on the shelf, so I took it home to read it to see what all the hoo-ha was about.

Frederica, a 2018 publication, is, according to Nora Roberts in a blurb on the front, “A lovely and affectionate study of a family.” It tells the story of Frederica and the Marquis of Alverstoke, a thirty-seven-year-old very eligible bachelor, and how they found true love in each other.

Frederica’s little brother, Felix, who has become the object of the Marquis’ attention, falls ill at the Marquis’ house, and of course, his spinster sister, Frederica, is called to come and live in the house and nurse Felix back to health. Frederica is described by another character as ” strong and independent but she never thinks about herself.” During this time, there are many encounters and miscommunication between Frederica and the Marquis. These progress and then hinder a budding attraction and romance as the plot progresses.

The novel has been described by critics as “witty,” “lighthearted,” and “a treat.” I found this to be true to a degree but must confess I did a bit of skipping and skimming throughout my reading of this large book. Now that I can say I have read and enjoyed a Regency Romance, I do not wish to repeat this experience any time soon.