Today I’m delighted to welcome dystopian sci-fi author Clare Rhoden. Her ‘Porridge & Cream’ read is The Talisman Ring by Georgette Heyer.

“I’m now onto my third copy of The Talisman Ring by Georgette Heyer. What’s that? There’s a copy in your local charity shop?! Let me at it!

Clare’s copy of ‘The Talisman Ring’

“I first read this book as a teenager, home from school with a bad case of something or other. My big sister assured me I’d love it. As usual, she was right. I have since read all Heyer’s Regency romances, and own most of them. My little library of happy, witty, female-centred adventure books followed me through several house moves. Then, after a somewhat uneventful decade, I was stuck at home for a long recovery after surgery. Time for The Talisman Ring again!

“Imagine my surprise to discover that the book had changed. Well, of course it hadn’t changed, but I had. I recalled a dashing young couple diving headlong into adventure, assisted by an older cousin and a clever spinster. But no! Instead, thirty-year-old Sir Tristram and Sally Thane – unmarried in her late twenties – were actually the heroes in the story. I enjoyed it all the more.

“The long stint at home saw me re-read all of Heyer’s romances, and I realized that her style is not only polished in a Jane-Austen kind of way, but that she does indeed have sympathetic characters for readers of many ages. Her plots are neat, her heroes handsome, her leading ladies strong-willed and loving.”

Clare’s elevator pitch for The Talisman Ring: Lord Lavenham’s dashing young heir has fled the country, wrongly accused of murder. Can his cousin Eustacie find the missing heirloom which will prove his innocence?
 BUY

Clare’s Bio
Clare Rhoden is an Australian author of historical, fantasy and science fiction novels, always centred on love and hope in dark times.

Clare’s links
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

Clare’s latest book
Clare’s most recent novel is the WWI romance The Stars in the Night 
Harry Fletcher is sure he will marry Nora, despite the opposition of their families. He’ll always protect Eddie, the boy his father saved from a Port Adelaide gutter.
Only the War to End All Wars might wreck Harry’s plans.
From Semaphore beach to Gallipoli, this is a story of love, brotherhood, and resilience.
BUY

What is a ‘Porridge & Cream’ book? It’s the book you turn to when you need a familiar read, when you are tired, ill, or out-of-sorts, where you know the story and love it. Where reading it is like slipping on your oldest, scruffiest slippers after walking for miles. Where does the name ‘Porridge & Cream’ come from? Cat Deerborn is a character in Susan Hill’s ‘Simon Serrailler’ detective series. Cat is a hard-worked GP, a widow with two children and she struggles from day-to-day. One night, after a particularly difficult day, she needs something familiar to read. From her bookshelf she selects ‘Love in A Cold Climate’ by Nancy Mitford. Do you have a favourite read which you return to again and again? If so, please send me a message.

Discover the ‘Porridge & Cream’ books of these authors:-
Jane Cable’s choice is ‘A Horseman Riding By’ by RF Delderfield
Rosie Dean chooses ‘Prudence’ by Jilly Cooper
‘Chocolat’ by Joanne Harris is chosen by Kate Frost

And if you’d like to tweet a link to THIS post, here’s my suggested tweet:
Why does dystopian sci-fi author @ClareER re-read THE TALISMAN RING by Georgette Heyer? #books https://wp.me/p5gEM4-47T via @SandraDanby