Beauvallet. Georgette Heyer. 1929. 272 pages. [Source: Library]
First sentence: The deck was in shambles.
Premise/plot: Dona Dominica, the daughter of the former governor of Santiago, Don
Manuel de Rada y Sylva, is on her way back to Spain--along with her
dying father, when their ship the Santa Maria is boarded by English
adventurers (pirates) led by the fearless El Beauvallet (Nicholas
Beauvallet). The two are taken captive by Beauvallet and brought aboard
his ship, Venture. But he promises--and it's not a promise without
risk--to return these two safely to Spain. If anyone can land an English
ship safely into a Spanish port during these hostile times it would
have to be Beauvallet.
At first Dominica hates her captor. She refuses to admit to herself
that he is a little charming, a little handsome. She flirts with the
other men to drive him crazy. But. Soon she has to admit that there is
an attraction between them. And she's shocked to hear him boast
recklessly of his honorable intentions to make her an English woman
before the year is out. Since she is his captive, you might think this
would be easy. Just set sail for England instead of Spain. The lady
seems willing enough. But Beauvallet wants the challenge. So he keeps
his promise--his first promise--both father and daughter arrive safely
in Spain. Beauvallet returns to England, to his family, to his Queen.
But Dominica has not been forgotten. And a few months later, Beauvallet
is ready to pursue his lady. To woo her in Spain. With England and Spain
so very, very close to war--how can an Englishman, a pirate, a dreaded pirate, safely enter Spain? He has boasted that he will find a way...
Meanwhile, Dominica's father dies and she is taken into her aunt's
family. Her aunt!!! Oh what a character Dona Beatrice is! She's a
strong, strong woman with a mind of her own. She has a way of bullying
all the men in her life including her son, Don Diego. She has determined
that he must marry Dominica.
Beauvallet is an exciting and dramatic historical romance set in the
Elizabethan era. Beauvallet is a bold adventurer who will risk it all to
win his lady love. With his faithful companion, Joshua Dimmock, by his
side, Beauvallet is ready for any challenge.
My thoughts: The book had action, adventure, drama, and romance. I enjoyed Beauvallet very much! If only Beauvallet had been filmed... Errol Flynn would have been perfect--absolutely perfect--as Heyer's hero, Nicholas Beauvallet. It was easy to imagine, which perhaps helped me enjoy the novel more. Beauvallet would never be among my favorite, favorite Heyer romances. Most of my favorite Heyer novels are set in the Regency. This historical romance is set in the Elizabethan period. But it's good fun and well worth the read.
© 2022 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
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