Georgette Heyer: Cotillion

Cotillion, by Georgette Heyer, is a Berkley paperback from February 1973. This is a great story about Kitty Charing, who will inherit her guardian's fortune if she marries one of his grand nephews! She wants one, but chooses another and the cotillion (a dance) begins!

Allan Kass creates a pretty cover of our couple dancing in an elegant room. The hero is bright in his red coat while the heroine is pretty in yellow. What's more interesting is seeing the reflection of the other dancers in the mirror behind them. I wonder if this doesn't depict Freddy at all, but Jack!

Georgette Heyer: A Civil Contract

A Civil Contract is a Berkley paperback dated June 1974 and written by Georgette Heyer.

Adam Deveril has inherited Fontley Priory after the death of his wastrel father. He decides that his only hope of keeping the priory is to wed an heiress, Jenny Chawleigh, a wealthy financier's daughter. This is one of Heyer's quiet stories, quite heart wrenching at times. I must admit that it's one of my favorites!

Allan Kass's cover, while beautiful, isn't suited to this story. I like the idea of Jenny and Adam taking a picnic lunch to a lake, but unless they went on their honeymoon, this isn't a good representation of the story.

Georgette Heyer: Charity Girl

Charity Girl was published by Signet in March 1988. Charity Steane was dependent on relatives but didn't think that the handsome Viscount Desford would or could be interested in her after he decided to help the runaway return home.

This is a pretty cover by Allan Kass. I like the setting of a park on an estate. The heroine is wearing a simple purple day dress with only a ring for ornamentation. The hero is enamored of her and we feel as if we've intruded on an intimate scene.

Georgette Heyer: Behold, Here's Poison

Behold, Here's Poison is a mystery by Georgette Heyer, set in the 1930's and published by Fawcett in November 1979. Heyer wrote mysteries along with her Georgian and Regency romances.

Elderly Gregory Matthews has died and his family assumes it's old age. But no! He has been poisoned! Now everyone in the family is suspecting each other as the murderer!

Allan Kass illustrated only one of Heyer's mysteries and I think it's a nice departure from his usual subjects and time period! Our heroine has a short and flirty haircut and looks very modern while she stands in an ancient hallway. The hero looks suitably British with his pipe and suit jacket! I like the detail in the stairwell and wooden door frame.

Georgette Heyer: Bath Tangle

Bath Tangle by Georgette Heyer was published by Berkley in January 1975. Serena and her young stepmother decide to take a house in Bath for the season, flying in the face of advice given by the Marquis of Rotherham, her father's executor and Serena's jilted fiance!

I think this cover by Allan Kass is gorgeous. I love that the heroine's dress is almost the same color as her hair. I pictured the hero a bit older, but they make a charming couple. The room in which they stand seems to be a fitting display for our heroine!

Georgette Heyer: Arabella

Arabella, by Georgette Heyer, is a Berkley paperback edition published in July 1972. Arabella is one of a large family of a vicar and is given the opportunity of a London season! On her way there, her carriage breaks down in front of a house owned by Robert Beaumaris, a man of the ton. She lies about her family and situation and he is charmed with the new beauty and determined to get to know her better in London!

Allan Kass creates a cover of our couple reading outside during a fine spring day. Our heroine's dress is more Georgian in style but pretty in a sunny yellow color that mimics the hero's waistcoat.

Georgette Heyer: April Lady

We turn to one of my favorite authors. RUN and find any copy of her regency romances! She is the standard that all others use!

April Lady by Georgette Heyer was published by Berkley in September 1972. This is the story of Nell, a young bride, who gets into a crazy scrape and feels that she can't tell her husband, Lord Cardross. Add a gambling brother and romantic sister-in-law and you have a fun plot!

Allan Kass illustrated this early series by Berkley, but I feel like this one had the wrong cover put to the wrong book! This cover shows a highwayman with his arm around the heroine, but in this story, the highwayman in Nell's brother and there is no romance in the scene! I do like the clothing on our couple and the necklace is a gorgeous ornament to her pretty gown while the hero looks suitably dashing in his disguise!