I read very few romance novels, but Heyer's writing is so good, I'll read anything she wrote. This is an absorbing story.

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This was not my favorite Georgette Heyer book. It is set in Elizabethan times, rather than her usual Victorian times, and she spends a lot of time describing dress and history...neither of which is a bad thing, if you enjoy it. It did have a typical love story with a strong heroine and many adventures, and many of her books do.

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The story was suspenseful and nonstop action. It had us rooting for the hero all the way. The humor was contagious.

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One of the earlier Georgette Heyer books, this one is not a Regency romance, but a swashbuckling adventure in Elizabethan times. The hero appears to be modeled on the real-life and dashing Sir Francis Drake, who sailed right into Cadiz harbor and "singed King Philip's beard." (in other words, burnt down most of the Spanish fleet). Not that Sir Nick does that, exactly, but I wouldn't put it past him! Dona Domenica is a winsome heroine, both modest and a dutiful daughter, but full of spirit -- no fainting for her! Georgette Heyer is NOT a "romance novelist". She is the "Grande Dame" of historical fiction. I was reading her books about 50 years ago, when I was about 10. No graphic sex scenes, no gory and explicit violence, but lots of very witty humour (yes, spelled the British way!) and non-stop action. A book for the whole family! If you have never read any of her books, this is a good one to start with.

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Beauvallet by Georgette Heyer
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Rating: 5/5

When Dona Dominica sets sail on the Santa Maria, she wonders if she will ever meet the infamous El Beauvallet, the English pirate with a reputation of being able to do anything because of witchcraft. But she does not expect her ship to be taken by him, Nor does she expect to be kidnapped by him and taken abord his ship the Venture.

Sir Nicholas Beauvallet captures Dominica and her father and proclaims that he will take them home to Spain, as Dominica has demanded. But falling head over heels in love with her was never part of his plan. In order to please her, he agrees to returning her to her country, but also announces that he will wed her before the year is up. How is Sir Nicholas supposed to come back to Spain to claim fair lady as his bride if all of Spain wants his head? The answer is easilybecause Beauvallet can do anything, of course.

This was such a sweet story! I cannot think of words enough to describe how much I adored Beauvallet. The romance was fast-paced, the adventure was exciting, and the language was eloquent. I absolutely loved it. It was a pretty fast read and I read it in a few days. Georgette has many little surprises spread all through the story and tells amazing creative adventures of Beauvallets wits, fights, and escapes. It was a perfect blend of a sweeping romance and a gripping adventure.

The story is told in third-person omniscient, so you dont always have all the details. It was a little hard to get inside the characters heads at first, but once I learned who they were It was very easy to relate to them.

A wonderful thing about Beauvallet is that when El Beauvallet falls in love with Dominica, he does not claim her as his love or as his mistress or, in our culture, his girlfriend, he claims her as his bride. Which is really the most romantic aspect of it all.

The end was so sweet I wont tell what happened but rest assured it was wonderful.

I loved this story so much! I have already run out to pick up more books by Georgette Heyer, I am officially a new fan! I cannot wait to read other books by her.

Content: Gloriously clean: no language, no sex.

Recommendation: Boys and girls (its such an adventure that boys would like it too!) Ages 13-Adult. Its not aimed specifically to teens or young people, and would be perfect for an adult as well.

(Beauvallet was first published first in 1929. Reprint copyright to Sourcebooks: 2010)

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Beauvallet is set in Elizabethan times. I'm not aware of any other Georgette Heyer book that is set in this time, so that makes it a treasure in itself. Nick Beauvallet is a rugged charmer with an eye for a pretty lady--so different from the other Heyer books where the heros are more intellectual and less down to earth. He's a self-made entrepeneur who also happens to be a pirate for England. It's wonderful how Drake and other famous historical characters are mentioned casually as contempories of Nick. Secondary characters steal the show very much like Heyer novels set in Georgian and Regency times. Joshua, Nick's sidekick is delightful. Nick's lady love is a feisty Spanish beauty who is worth the risk that Nick takes to rescue her from an arranged marriage in Spain during the time of the Inquistion. King Philip is a baddie as are his minions who are determined to impose their un-Christian version of Christianity on the general populace (or else!) The outrageous Nick Beauvallet outwits King Philip and his posse in an exciting narrative. You'll enjoy every minute of this old-fashioned but fun book.

It's a rowdy and earthy book, very different than her Georgian/Regency books, which is not a bad thing. If I were to compare it with her other books, I would say it is most like The Talisman Ring in down-to-earth tone. I was surprised and delighted to discover it.

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