Lady Elizabeth's Comet

One of the first Regency romances I ever read, this nearly spoiled me for the whole genre. Unlike most Regencies, this is told in an intimate first person voice. The main character, Elizabeth, is surly but likeable, with a host of snappy comebacks like a 30s screwball movie heroine. Like Ada Byron Lovelace, she is a woman ahead of her time--Elizabeth is an astronomer who has discovered a new comet. Astronomy is not merely the window-dressing to create a simulacrum of a complex character like in so many other romance novels, but rather, her calling becomes an important plot point in the romance, and opportunity for the character's growth. The secondary characters are all very well-written and nicely developed. I wish there were many, many more Regencies like this.

This was one of the first Regency Romances that I ever read, and still one of my favorites. The heroine and hero are both very intelligent, strong-willed, and appealing; the relationship between them grows and matures with time, from initial distrust to acceptance, friendship, and love. Unlike many romances that take place over a matter of days, this book takes more than a year, and the love between the characters feels deep and real. I also like the first person narrative, which is rare these days. If you can find a copy of this book, I strongly recommend it.

The heroine is an astronomer corresponding with William and Caroline Herschel (two famous astronomers of the day); she is the eldest of eight daughters, and her father's distant cousin succeeds unexpectedly to the earldom, after having been despised and disregarded by Lady Elizabeth's father virtually all his life. No, Lady Elizabeth does not behave like a "feisty" heroine all the time, snapping and snarling to show how independent she is. Yes, she dislikes the new earl profoundly, because he does not show his face at the estate for a year after her father dies, because he is so stiff and unsmiling. But oh boy, does he have reasons! I found it has a very witty, dry humor that I loved. It's in first person but we get to see much of the motivation and feelings of the other characters. The heroine, Lady Elizabeth Conway, is an astronomer but it isn't merely an excuse for the author to have her act up in public in order for the hero to have to save her. She's very dedicated to her work and it plays a pivotal role in whom she marries. The hero, Lord Clanross, is a wonderful man. He's moved straight up the ladder of favorite heroes. The secondary characters are all marvelous and have necessary roles to play. This is a sequel to The Bar Sinister but you don't have to have read it first. A strong A+

I really enjoyed this book, it dealt with characters who seemed far more normal and also loveable than those in a standard regency. I also enjoyed that the hero and heroine were slightly older than the norm. Tom and Elizabth are nicely matched and mature. I also had great fun seeing them later in Love and Folly.