Bath Tangle by Georgette Heyer

Bath Tangle by Georgette Heyer ISBN-13: 9780061002045 Mass Market Paperback: 379 pages Publisher: Harper Released: 1955; June 28, 1996

Source: Bought through Half.com.

Book Description, my take:
Lady Serena Carlow's eccentric father left her a fortune when he died, but in a Trust controlled by the man she jilted, Ivo, the Marquis of Rotherham. In order to get her rightful money, she must marry a man that Ivo approves of! The two are more likely to quarrel as both have strong wills and tempers, so her money seems forever out of her reach.

Then Serena's first love, a man who worships her and gives in to her every whim, bumps into her in Bath. Based on their heady, romantic reunion, Serena decides she could be happy married to him. Since Ivo separated them the first time, Serena is surprised that he makes no objection to the match. But Ivo has also chosen a bride--a meek, young girl who loves only his title.

It slowly becomes clear that each couple is an ill-suited match, each better suited to another. But it's too late...isn't it?


My Review:
Bath Tangle is a Regency romance. At first, I didn't think I'd like this novel much because the apparent "romantic couple" had genuine quarrels that even they decided wouldn't lead to a happily married life together. Both had tempers and were used to speaking their minds.

But as each makes a romantic match with another (as in, "oh, how romantic sounding! Of course you should marry!"), the story explores how a romantic match doesn't necessarily create a good match. There were others so obviously better suited to each person's upbringing and temperament. Yet now each felt stuck in a commitment made in the throes of romantic feeling, or temper, or gratification.

So the story is about coming to appreciate good qualities in others and about what makes a good match in a marriage. As usual, Heyer did a good job at bringing out how people really act and the humor of the situations.

There was no sex. There was some bad language--almost all of it a swearing use of "God." Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: A link to Amazon so you can read an excerpt using Look Inside.