Customer Reviews

Imprudent Lady (A Regency romance)

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Joan Smith is one of the great writers of Regency Romance, and this book is a classic and a keeper. I bought it in hardcover because my paperback edition is falling apart after being read many times. In one of Ms. Smith's best efforts, colorful, 3-dimensional characters abound, the plot flows, and romance slowly blooms between two writers, Prudence Mallow and Lord Dammler. Prudence, shy and inexperienced, is at first overawed by the brilliant, rakish Dammler, already a famous poet, and he barely notices her. But her writing soon earns his respect, and their professional friendship deepens as he discovers that beneath Prudence's wide-eyed innocence is a keen mind, literary talent and a strong character. Despite her hilarious missteps in London society and his efforts to protect and guide her, Dammler begins to realize that perhaps he has as much to learn from Prudence as she does from him. If you enjoy witty, sparkling dialogue, droll characters, and depth of detail on Polite Society, don't miss Imprudent Lady. They don't write them like this anymore. A charming, refreshing Jane-Austen-meets-Lord-Byron romp.

This is a sparkling Regency romance that I took up as a wind-down to sleep but was unable to put down until it was completed in the wee hours of the morning. The witty interactions between the uncut-gem heroine, Prudence, and the Byronic Lord Dammler are entertaining and engaging. It is a joy to see their relationship deepen and progress beyond friendship, and witness their gradual realisation of their feelings. It makes quite a refreshing contrast with the many romances - Regency and otherwise - where there is that grating instant and inexplicable passion between an otherwise unsuited pairing, without any trouble taken by authors to explain how this came to be.

I first read the works of Jane Austen (bound in one huge book) when I was 15, and was both thrilled at the discovery and devastated that they were such a finite resource. It wasn't until some 15 years later that I found solace in the works of Georgette Heyer. I exhausted these within a few months, and am now so delighted to have stumbled upon a prolific treasure-trove like Joan Smith. This example of her work is an absolute gem.

What a friend we romance lovers of a certain age have in Kindle. Can you believe that several Heyer novels are being offered right now at $1.99? And there's this great selection of Joan Smith books at $4.00 apiece. The Heyers are obviously the better bargain, but Joan Smith romances are not easy to come by in hard copy so I'm snapping up the Kindle versions.

English romance novelist Georgette Heyer wrote most of her Georgians and Regencies in the 1930s, 40s and 50s with a handful in the 60s and pretty much set the standard. Canadian Joan Smith wrote most of hers in the 1970s and 80s in a similar but not exactly imitative style. Both authors are probably my 2 favorite Regency romance novelists.

Well, that's all neither here nor there. The point is that if you're a Georgette Heyer fan but have never read Joan Smith, you might want to try her out. This one, IMPRUDENT LADY, is a great starting point. It was written in 1978 and is considered to be one of her best.

When you read Joan Smith, be expecting lots of character-driven plot, period information and really great dialogue. If, on the other hand, you consider Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn et al to be the epitome of Regency and historical romance, you might not like Joan Smith. Smith's books, like Heyer's, may have a kiss or two to express the love between H and h, but nothing at all explicit and definitely no "all-the-way" intimacy. Yet I find them more romantic and satisfying than the recent historical romances with hot passion throughout the book. (Am I showing my age? Thought so.)

Especially when you have admiration, respect and a shared interest. Imprudent Lady's H/h not only have the admiration and respect for each other they also have a shared interest in writing that will bring two unlikely individuals together. Lord Dammler a world traveler, author and man about town is enjoying the published success of his poems based on his travels abroad. He is the reigning society's darling, his words are quoted in the papers and his dress is being copied by all the young blades. His every move is remarked upon. Prudence is on the brink of putting on a cap and joining the ranks of spinsterhood when a series of events leads her to writing novels that will force her into the limelight and make her the latest published sensation. When Pru and Dammler first meet Dammler is not impressed. He sees her as another tongue tied Miss in awe of his celebrity. Pru is a fan of Dammler's poems and upon occasion has featured him in her private fantasy's about love and romance. Dammler's pride is pricked when he is made aware of Pru's slight criticism of his work. He decides to take a second look at the woman he had dismissed as another brainless fan. He reads her novels and realizes Pru is a woman of substances due to her superb writing ability. Dammler pursues a closer relationship with Pru thinking it would be a lark for the ton to witness him in public with a shy spinster. But the laugh is on him when he discovers Pru is intelligent and a sparkling conversationalist that will keep him on his toes.

Thus begins one of the most entertaining and delightful romances to read about. Our H/h were not looking for love when they meet, but they found it as they got to know one another when Dammaler took Prudence on day trips to discover the under belly of London society. One of their trips was to a home for teenage unwed mothers that will later prove a blessing to the girls that reside there and cause the admiration Pru has for Dammler to rise. Their conversations are witty and full of double entendres. Their misunderstandings will have you rolling with laughter as they finally realize they are in love. Pru is one of the sweetest h you will ever meet but when her back is against a wall she comes out swinging. I liked how Pru evolved as her world expanded, the shy little Miss turned into a woman of considerable charm that Dammler had a hard time dealing with once she acquired suitors.

What a classy book, if you are a lover of Regency Romance this is the book for you. A story about a friendship that should have lasted a season that developed into love to last a lifetime. It does not get much better than Imprudent Lady. The supporting cast of characters are hysterical especially Pru's Uncle Clarence and the social climber Mr. Seville. I first read this book in the late 70's and can say it has stood the test of time, it can still put a smile on my face.

I totally agree with reviewer "Bookcat". I love Ms. Smith's writings, and this book ranked on top even among her works. This book also had so much of Jane Austen's shadow in it, I feel I could call it "Jane Austen in Love" (inspired by the movie "Shakespeare in Love"). A big thumb up!

The characters were beleivable and the dialogue intelligent and witty. Very well written. There is a 2nd book that continues the story.