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Miss Treadwell's Talent
Finders Keepers
One-and-twenty and still unwed, Maylene Treadwe ias a talent for finding people and things, but not husbands. High-spirited and unconventional, she is more a worthy adversary than a blushing bride--a fact made all too clear to the Earl of Hyatt when he comes to call. Well-favored, wellbred, and well-financed, the Earl is nicknamed "The Ideal" by an enraptured society, especially those members with daughters to wed. But his long bachelorhood has ended in an engagement that may end in a mystery, for his fiancee has disappeared ....
Upon meeting the boorish earl, Maylene is convinced the girl ran off with good reason ...until his lips claim hers in a breathtaking kiss! Caught off her guard, Maylene believes she has lost her mind as well as her manners. But she and the nonplused nobleman form a heated alliance, sparring with words and succumbing to passion. Soon, Maylene begins to curse her inborn talent because the more time she spends in the Earl's embrace, the more she wished his betrothed to remain lost.
One-and-twenty and still unwed, Maylene Treadwe ias a talent for finding people and things, but not husbands. High-spirited and unconventional, she is more a worthy adversary than a blushing bride--a fact made all too clear to the Earl of Hyatt when he comes to call. Well-favored, wellbred, and well-financed, the Earl is nicknamed "The Ideal" by an enraptured society, especially those members with daughters to wed. But his long bachelorhood has ended in an engagement that may end in a mystery, for his fiancee has disappeared ....
Upon meeting the boorish earl, Maylene is convinced the girl ran off with good reason ...until his lips claim hers in a breathtaking kiss! Caught off her guard, Maylene believes she has lost her mind as well as her manners. But she and the nonplused nobleman form a heated alliance, sparring with words and succumbing to passion. Soon, Maylene begins to curse her inborn talent because the more time she spends in the Earl's embrace, the more she wished his betrothed to remain lost.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
About the author
Barbara Metzger
105 books201 followersBarbara Metzger is the author of over three dozen books and a dozen novellas. She has also been an editor, a proof-reader, a greeting card verse-writer, and an artist. When not painting, writing romances or reading them, she volunteers at the local library, gardens and goes beach-combing and yard-saling.
Her novels, mostly set in Regency-era England, have won numerous awards, including the Romance Writers of America RITA, the National Reader's Choice Award, and the Madcap award for humor in romance writing. In addition, Barbara has won two Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times Magazine.
Source: http://www.barbarametzger.com/about_b...
Her novels, mostly set in Regency-era England, have won numerous awards, including the Romance Writers of America RITA, the National Reader's Choice Award, and the Madcap award for humor in romance writing. In addition, Barbara has won two Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times Magazine.
Source: http://www.barbarametzger.com/about_b...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
November 14, 2023
LOVED this laugh out loud funny book written in 1999. It is a totally clean book about Miss Treadwell's mother who can speak to the dead.....I think....maybe. But what a wonderful cast of characters. Miss Treadwell's talent is finding things and people. She just uses common sense which many of those around her lack. I enjoyed the first 3/4 but found it slowed a bit on the last quarter. Is it a 5* book...no, but it was every bit of a 4* winner.
June 27, 2018
3.5
It had been a while since I read a Metzger regency and thought this one sounded like fun. Her books are usually hit or miss for me. I thought this was a fun and entertaining read, with a light romance. I enjoyed the unique plot (our heroine's mother is a psychic) and filled with quirky characters (clients).
The overall story was cute, I did think the séances were a tad repetitive. I would have enjoyed more scenes with Maylene actually doing the leg work. I did like how the Treadwell women really came together and found a way to support themselves after the death of Lord Treadwell, who had left them with basically nothing.
Lord Hyatt never quite won me over. He could be pretty rude to Maylene and I thought she should have made him work for things a bit harder. I would have liked to see a sincere apology from him. I did love that she'd dish it right back and stood up to him though. I did enjoy how he basically fell for her right from the start, but didn't understand what was happening. He just couldn't keep himself away from her! In the end, they will probably make a good match of things.
Overall, if you're looking for a more unique storyline than the traditional regencies, this is a good one to pick up. Charming and lighthearted.
Content
Romance: Clean, just kissing. Mention of mistresses
Language: Mild
Violence: None-mild
Religious: None
Source: Amazon
It had been a while since I read a Metzger regency and thought this one sounded like fun. Her books are usually hit or miss for me. I thought this was a fun and entertaining read, with a light romance. I enjoyed the unique plot (our heroine's mother is a psychic) and filled with quirky characters (clients).
The overall story was cute, I did think the séances were a tad repetitive. I would have enjoyed more scenes with Maylene actually doing the leg work. I did like how the Treadwell women really came together and found a way to support themselves after the death of Lord Treadwell, who had left them with basically nothing.
Lord Hyatt never quite won me over. He could be pretty rude to Maylene and I thought she should have made him work for things a bit harder. I would have liked to see a sincere apology from him. I did love that she'd dish it right back and stood up to him though. I did enjoy how he basically fell for her right from the start, but didn't understand what was happening. He just couldn't keep himself away from her! In the end, they will probably make a good match of things.
Overall, if you're looking for a more unique storyline than the traditional regencies, this is a good one to pick up. Charming and lighthearted.
Content
Romance: Clean, just kissing. Mention of mistresses
Language: Mild
Violence: None-mild
Religious: None
Source: Amazon
March 31, 2024
Oh my gosh, I loved this one. It surprised quite a few chuckles out of me when I least expected it.
I would have given 5 stars but I just wish the author had shown in Soc's mind (his POV) when he actually admits to himself that he loves Maylene. He would always show her in actions his affection while still telling himself he plans to marry Belinda and get on with his usual life. It was still a sweet and satisfying ending though.
Maylene and her mother and various others in their household are in the business of speaking to the dead and finding things with the help of a spirit named Max and his dog (also a spirit). They had to create this business to make ends meet after Maylene's horrid father dies in debt. Still they are good at it and their customers are always happy. But Socrates is a huge pessimist and believes they are out to bilk people out of their money, including his friend and neighbour the Duke. Soc and the Duke were planning his daughters betrothal to Soc, when she up and disappears. In desperation the Duke decides to try the Treadwells and their spiritual guidance.
I loved Maylene! She is practical and proud but not enough to cut of her nose to spite her face, like some heroines. She stands up to Socrates with enthusiasm and it was fun reading about them going at like hammer and tongs. You want to smash Soc's face into the séance table at times, but he is never cruel. After a while you start to notice he is actually helping them and their other customers despite his grumpy cynical attitude.
And he can't seem to stop kissing Maylene. Even though he has no idea why he keeps doing that (smirk).
The writing is clever and fun without being too silly. Maybe just a little silly here and there. There is second romance with the mother that adds a little to the ending.
Safety is pretty good.
I would have given 5 stars but I just wish the author had shown in Soc's mind (his POV) when he actually admits to himself that he loves Maylene. He would always show her in actions his affection while still telling himself he plans to marry Belinda and get on with his usual life. It was still a sweet and satisfying ending though.
Maylene and her mother and various others in their household are in the business of speaking to the dead and finding things with the help of a spirit named Max and his dog (also a spirit). They had to create this business to make ends meet after Maylene's horrid father dies in debt. Still they are good at it and their customers are always happy. But Socrates is a huge pessimist and believes they are out to bilk people out of their money, including his friend and neighbour the Duke. Soc and the Duke were planning his daughters betrothal to Soc, when she up and disappears. In desperation the Duke decides to try the Treadwells and their spiritual guidance.
I loved Maylene! She is practical and proud but not enough to cut of her nose to spite her face, like some heroines. She stands up to Socrates with enthusiasm and it was fun reading about them going at like hammer and tongs. You want to smash Soc's face into the séance table at times, but he is never cruel. After a while you start to notice he is actually helping them and their other customers despite his grumpy cynical attitude.
And he can't seem to stop kissing Maylene. Even though he has no idea why he keeps doing that (smirk).
The writing is clever and fun without being too silly. Maybe just a little silly here and there. There is second romance with the mother that adds a little to the ending.
Safety is pretty good.
July 2, 2024
On audio raising to 5 stars. Absolutely delightful. A widowed Baroness makes ends meet by providing spiritual connections with the next world by communicating with Max and his dog Alex. The baroness is a very sweet person and you wonder just who Max is and the true nature of her communications. Her daughter Maylene assists her mother and according to her mother, is a gifted finder of people and things. Many twists and turns lead to HEAs for everyone.
February 24, 2014
Maylene Treadwell and her mother have seances to earn a living. Lord Treadwell was a gambler and a ladies man who spent their money and left them in need of making a living.
Socrates, the Earl of Hyatt is the IDEAL. Not only a perfect looking gentleman but also a perfectly correct man of the ton.
Soc knows for a fact that Lady Treadwell and Maylene are cheats, social climbers, con artists, and basically evil. He is wrong on every count.
Lady Treadwell tries to help people who need help - she offers sound solutions to those who have loved ones who have passed away.
Maylene finds things. She is a logical person who solves puzzles and helps find items that are lost. At times what is lost are people.
This is a fun book. The relationship between mother and daughter is quite obviously reversed. Mother acts like an impetuous child and Maylene manages to keep them from starving.
The relationship between Maylene and Soc is filled with humor and events which appear to be one funny accident after another. They argue at the same time being very attracted to one another. Both find the mutual attraction bothersome and in spite of themselves are unable to do anything about it.
All the secondary characters are wonderfully colorful and add to the texture of the story. In each relationship we know what the eventual outcome will be, but the journey to the outcome is a wonderful one.
I am a huge fan of Barbara Metzger's writing. Her books are well plotted, with wonderful characters and humor which makes every book enjoyable.
If you like laughter with your romance, this is a book you will enjoy.
Socrates, the Earl of Hyatt is the IDEAL. Not only a perfect looking gentleman but also a perfectly correct man of the ton.
Soc knows for a fact that Lady Treadwell and Maylene are cheats, social climbers, con artists, and basically evil. He is wrong on every count.
Lady Treadwell tries to help people who need help - she offers sound solutions to those who have loved ones who have passed away.
Maylene finds things. She is a logical person who solves puzzles and helps find items that are lost. At times what is lost are people.
This is a fun book. The relationship between mother and daughter is quite obviously reversed. Mother acts like an impetuous child and Maylene manages to keep them from starving.
The relationship between Maylene and Soc is filled with humor and events which appear to be one funny accident after another. They argue at the same time being very attracted to one another. Both find the mutual attraction bothersome and in spite of themselves are unable to do anything about it.
All the secondary characters are wonderfully colorful and add to the texture of the story. In each relationship we know what the eventual outcome will be, but the journey to the outcome is a wonderful one.
I am a huge fan of Barbara Metzger's writing. Her books are well plotted, with wonderful characters and humor which makes every book enjoyable.
If you like laughter with your romance, this is a book you will enjoy.
January 2, 2015
3.5 stars. If you want to take a break from angst-soaked romances and looking for something light and funny, don't miss this book. It has delightful 'love/hate' sparring of main characters, witty one-liners, and tightly executed although somewhat farcical plot.
October 23, 2023
Well, I gotta say that this author finds the most unusual ways for her impoverished characters to survive. Well done.
I super enjoyed the main characters' banter. It was a fun enemies to lover story. Very improbable but enjoyable.
I super enjoyed the main characters' banter. It was a fun enemies to lover story. Very improbable but enjoyable.
May 14, 2018
A Soft 5
I love farce and I spent summers with my aunt who ran a boarding house and read tea leaves in the front parlor in Asbury Park N.J. near the boardwalk. So this one hit close to home. Made me laugh out loud. You might want to deduct a star if your favorite aunt wasn't "talented".
I love farce and I spent summers with my aunt who ran a boarding house and read tea leaves in the front parlor in Asbury Park N.J. near the boardwalk. So this one hit close to home. Made me laugh out loud. You might want to deduct a star if your favorite aunt wasn't "talented".
March 18, 2024
Oh, how funny and wonderful this book is! It's a lighthearted, typical Regency romance with some element of the paranormal. It features an unmarried plain woman paired with a lofty earl, along with a bunch of other interesting characters. There were a lot of moments that made me chuckle and the banter was quite enjoyable.
May 2, 2026
This book was clean and very funny. After her father loses their fortune and dies, Miss Treadwell's mother becomes a psychic but Miss Treadwell's detective work is behind her mothers success. Very fun book.
March 3, 2017
3.80-4.60 stars - pg13?
Very funny. Good story. Not crazy about some of the spiritual/paranormal aspects....thus the 3.8-4.6 rating.
Very funny. Good story. Not crazy about some of the spiritual/paranormal aspects....thus the 3.8-4.6 rating.
December 16, 2025
4.5 rounded up, a highly underrated author. If you enjoy comedic regency romance with light spice, give this a try.
September 10, 2014
3.5 stars
Miss Maylene Treadwell's Papa died leaving she and her mother penniless. With no great beauty or dowry to attract the gentlemen, May remains unwed and perilously close to being on the shelf at one-and-twenty. Her mother sees to enriching the family coffers by holding seances in her home. Visitors must pay a contribution to the "Fund for Psychical Research" if they wish to contact their loved ones beyond. Lady Tremont's conduit to the spirit world is a mysterious male named Max, who helps her locate those she wishes to contact. May secretly thinks her mother's so-called "talent" is phony but as long as they're helping people find happiness, that's all that matters. May has her own talent. She's a finder. Her mother believes Maylene's talent is akin to her own but May knows she finds things due to intelligence and hard work. She's even asked to track down a Duke's missing heir. When the Duke of Mondale's daughter Belinda, the almost fiance of Socrates, the Earl of Hyatt goes missing, he thinks Lady Tremont and Maylene can help. Soc scoffs at the idea and proceeds to insult Lady Tremont, her talent and Maylene. That sets May's back up and she engages in a battle of sexes and a battle of wills with Soc to see who is right. Soc is so confused by this young woman who looks like she has a lamb on her head. She infuriates him and he believes she's a scheming social climber; yet he can't stop thinking about her and kissing her. May knows that the one known as the Ideal is only trifling with her. Everyone knows he keeps the most expensive high flyers. She's mortified that her mother is flinging her at Soc's head and even more embarrassed that she enjoys his kisses.
The plot is very unique. It's not super historically accurate though, it reads more Victorian or modern with a few Regency references tossed in for good measure. I liked the spiritualist aspect of the story and I was really surprised by the epilogue. I learned to rethink my views of spiritualists and mediums. I really liked the mystery angle though I figured out right away where the missing people were. The audience is keyed in to that pretty early on too. The plot would have been more interesting if that was not known. The love story doesn't work for me, however, because I loathed the hero. I'm not marking this one as kisses only because there is some subtle sensuality, talk of mistresses, etc. and some implied passionate kissing. It's perfectly free of anything smutty and not even as skirting the edge as some of her other novels.
Soc is arrogant, rude and insulting. Not only does he barge in where he's told the ladies are not receiving, he is downright insulting and rude to his hostess! He insults Maylene without knowing who she is, which I find incredibly rude, and continues to voice his opinions even after her identity is known. He's impatient to keep an assignation with his mistress and everyone knows he's a notorious womanizer. He's passionate without being kind and loving. He continues to misjudge May's motives, even near the end after he realized he was in love. I would have liked him better if he had come to the realization that she was not what he initially believed her to be. He does have a few good points but mostly I hated him.
Maylene is the type of heroine I enjoy. She's intelligent and resourceful without being too modern. She wants to marry for love but she knows that's not a possibility and is pragmatic about it. She loves her mother, despite her mother's embarrassing tendencies and treats everyone as an equal. She can outwit the hero any day! I don't think they're a good match. They're both very fiery and though they won't be bored, I don't think there's enough love and trust yet.
The secondary characters are fabulous as only Metzger can create them. She uses the dog/s differently in this book than in any of her others. It was a little surprising and strange but also very funny. Aunt Regina is a hoot and would be friends with Kathleen Baldwin's Aunt Honore. Lady Tremont is also quite amusing. I admire her for making the best out of a situation. Her plot is quite sweet and touching though it's also funny. Lord Shimpson, the brainless Mama's boy adds a lot of humor as well. His Grace of Mondale is a modern father and I'm willing to let his feelings slide because Belinda is his only child and it's a time period when children were beginning to be valued and allowed to have opinions.
Miss Maylene Treadwell's Papa died leaving she and her mother penniless. With no great beauty or dowry to attract the gentlemen, May remains unwed and perilously close to being on the shelf at one-and-twenty. Her mother sees to enriching the family coffers by holding seances in her home. Visitors must pay a contribution to the "Fund for Psychical Research" if they wish to contact their loved ones beyond. Lady Tremont's conduit to the spirit world is a mysterious male named Max, who helps her locate those she wishes to contact. May secretly thinks her mother's so-called "talent" is phony but as long as they're helping people find happiness, that's all that matters. May has her own talent. She's a finder. Her mother believes Maylene's talent is akin to her own but May knows she finds things due to intelligence and hard work. She's even asked to track down a Duke's missing heir. When the Duke of Mondale's daughter Belinda, the almost fiance of Socrates, the Earl of Hyatt goes missing, he thinks Lady Tremont and Maylene can help. Soc scoffs at the idea and proceeds to insult Lady Tremont, her talent and Maylene. That sets May's back up and she engages in a battle of sexes and a battle of wills with Soc to see who is right. Soc is so confused by this young woman who looks like she has a lamb on her head. She infuriates him and he believes she's a scheming social climber; yet he can't stop thinking about her and kissing her. May knows that the one known as the Ideal is only trifling with her. Everyone knows he keeps the most expensive high flyers. She's mortified that her mother is flinging her at Soc's head and even more embarrassed that she enjoys his kisses.
The plot is very unique. It's not super historically accurate though, it reads more Victorian or modern with a few Regency references tossed in for good measure. I liked the spiritualist aspect of the story and I was really surprised by the epilogue. I learned to rethink my views of spiritualists and mediums. I really liked the mystery angle though I figured out right away where the missing people were. The audience is keyed in to that pretty early on too. The plot would have been more interesting if that was not known. The love story doesn't work for me, however, because I loathed the hero. I'm not marking this one as kisses only because there is some subtle sensuality, talk of mistresses, etc. and some implied passionate kissing. It's perfectly free of anything smutty and not even as skirting the edge as some of her other novels.
Soc is arrogant, rude and insulting. Not only does he barge in where he's told the ladies are not receiving, he is downright insulting and rude to his hostess! He insults Maylene without knowing who she is, which I find incredibly rude, and continues to voice his opinions even after her identity is known. He's impatient to keep an assignation with his mistress and everyone knows he's a notorious womanizer. He's passionate without being kind and loving. He continues to misjudge May's motives, even near the end after he realized he was in love. I would have liked him better if he had come to the realization that she was not what he initially believed her to be. He does have a few good points but mostly I hated him.
Maylene is the type of heroine I enjoy. She's intelligent and resourceful without being too modern. She wants to marry for love but she knows that's not a possibility and is pragmatic about it. She loves her mother, despite her mother's embarrassing tendencies and treats everyone as an equal. She can outwit the hero any day! I don't think they're a good match. They're both very fiery and though they won't be bored, I don't think there's enough love and trust yet.
The secondary characters are fabulous as only Metzger can create them. She uses the dog/s differently in this book than in any of her others. It was a little surprising and strange but also very funny. Aunt Regina is a hoot and would be friends with Kathleen Baldwin's Aunt Honore. Lady Tremont is also quite amusing. I admire her for making the best out of a situation. Her plot is quite sweet and touching though it's also funny. Lord Shimpson, the brainless Mama's boy adds a lot of humor as well. His Grace of Mondale is a modern father and I'm willing to let his feelings slide because Belinda is his only child and it's a time period when children were beginning to be valued and allowed to have opinions.
November 6, 2015
A light, fluffy traditional regency romance, with colorful characters and a touch of paranormal. Maylene, her mother and aunt run a house that holds seances. There they are visited by several characters that want to talk to their dead relatives or find lost love ones. Socrates -what a name for a hero!- Hyatt is a distrusted rake that is there with his soon-father-in.law to find his lost fiancee.
I liked the banter between Maylene and Hyatt. I also liked that there is never a dull moment; there is always a seance, or a ball, or a walk in the park, or a short trip to Bath. And it is never just Maylene and Hyatt alone, but always surrounded by the secondary characters.
It is a mostly clean romance, meaning, no more that kisses. But also "mostly" because there are several mentions of mistresses (like Hyatt's) and more than a few less-than-chaste kisses between Hyatt and Maylene. Their attraction to each other is very passionate.
I did not like the way they ended up telling each other they love the other. Like, it was a bit out of nowhere. They are discussing and fighting and trying to deny their attraction, and then they are confessing their love and discussing their marriage. That part was a bit MEH.
I liked the banter between Maylene and Hyatt. I also liked that there is never a dull moment; there is always a seance, or a ball, or a walk in the park, or a short trip to Bath. And it is never just Maylene and Hyatt alone, but always surrounded by the secondary characters.
It is a mostly clean romance, meaning, no more that kisses. But also "mostly" because there are several mentions of mistresses (like Hyatt's) and more than a few less-than-chaste kisses between Hyatt and Maylene. Their attraction to each other is very passionate.
I did not like the way they ended up telling each other they love the other. Like, it was a bit out of nowhere. They are discussing and fighting and trying to deny their attraction, and then they are confessing their love and discussing their marriage. That part was a bit MEH.
April 7, 2020
The Heavens Are Telling
Barbara Metzger scored a rousing, rambling, romantic, respectful, reasonable and resounding investigative psychic, physical and only slightly provocative Regency denouement once again. Both normal, flawed and even naive but honest people who might have muddled unhappy, unwitting and unknowing thru life had they not met each fellow traveler on their lives' journey, seance or no. Brava.
Barbara Metzger scored a rousing, rambling, romantic, respectful, reasonable and resounding investigative psychic, physical and only slightly provocative Regency denouement once again. Both normal, flawed and even naive but honest people who might have muddled unhappy, unwitting and unknowing thru life had they not met each fellow traveler on their lives' journey, seance or no. Brava.
December 19, 2014
A fun, light, funny romance. There were a few coincidences and the story is a little bit farcical, which I usually don't care for, but not so ridiculous that I wanted to stop reading. In fact, it was very entertaining the entire way through. The dialogue has some really funny lines that made me laugh. A very engaging story from Metzger.
June 20, 2014
Delightful! A charming tale, with interesting characters, mysteries solved by unusual means, and love found by seemingly unlikely couples.
September 29, 2012
I read this book a couple of years ago and I remember laughing out loud a lot!!
January 3, 2013
The 'talent' part of the book is a bit thin on the ground but boy was the bickering fun!
October 7, 2015
Story was progressing, and in last nine pages all the stories are brought to resolution, some with a contrived story line. Still, for most of the book, it was interesting.
September 3, 2022
Audible
Creative and funny as usual. Rathborn is perfect in her narration. her comedic sense is spot on always.
Creative and funny as usual. Rathborn is perfect in her narration. her comedic sense is spot on always.
March 11, 2023
Clean Regency Romance
This book was full of laugh out loud moments and wonderful turns of phrase. Had the last few chapters stayed as witty, this would have won 5 stars.
This book was full of laugh out loud moments and wonderful turns of phrase. Had the last few chapters stayed as witty, this would have won 5 stars.
October 31, 2025
3.5 stars. the book had merits but overall it was too long winded and the romance too drawn out and I was getting bored and skimming by the end.
this book is about a young woman (21yrs) whose mother is a psychic, and a perfect earl who thinks she and her mom are charlatans out to fleece his friend, a duke, who wants the psychic to help find his missing daughter. our h and her mom are technically part of the peerage (the dead father being a baron) but they are poor and rely on earning money from the business of being a psychic or helping people find things, which is our his talent, mainly by intuitive detection work. they exist on the edges of high society and are seen more as oddball entertainment than as part of society.
the romantic tension in the story mainly comes from the earl being determined to dislike our h and think she is a conwoman and trying to keep his friend, the Duke, and his fortune out of her clutches.
the story had an okay pace to begin with but towards the middle and end all the psychic stuff got a bit much and a bit dull. I had to start skimming things. also, one expects the romance to ramp up at the end, but it was softly softly all the way even at the end when they just decided to be together with no third act drama or breakup etc. it went out with an unsatisfying whimper, which is particularly disappointing after persevering with the boggy slow middle. I feel a bit annoyed. the good tropes of him misunderstanding her character and all the potential for a bit of angst came to nothing.
the book had good points of course. some readers may enjoy all the psychic fun and frolics and the funny side characters.
this book is about a young woman (21yrs) whose mother is a psychic, and a perfect earl who thinks she and her mom are charlatans out to fleece his friend, a duke, who wants the psychic to help find his missing daughter. our h and her mom are technically part of the peerage (the dead father being a baron) but they are poor and rely on earning money from the business of being a psychic or helping people find things, which is our his talent, mainly by intuitive detection work. they exist on the edges of high society and are seen more as oddball entertainment than as part of society.
the romantic tension in the story mainly comes from the earl being determined to dislike our h and think she is a conwoman and trying to keep his friend, the Duke, and his fortune out of her clutches.
the story had an okay pace to begin with but towards the middle and end all the psychic stuff got a bit much and a bit dull. I had to start skimming things. also, one expects the romance to ramp up at the end, but it was softly softly all the way even at the end when they just decided to be together with no third act drama or breakup etc. it went out with an unsatisfying whimper, which is particularly disappointing after persevering with the boggy slow middle. I feel a bit annoyed. the good tropes of him misunderstanding her character and all the potential for a bit of angst came to nothing.
the book had good points of course. some readers may enjoy all the psychic fun and frolics and the funny side characters.
January 31, 2021
Miss Maylene Treadwell’s father, a baron, is dead and has left nothing but his bad reputation and debts for his widow and daughter to live on. There is no money left and the title has passed on to Maylene’s creepy cousin and he has not interest in taking care of them. In order to earn money, Maylene’s mother holds seances, discreetly, for donations from her clients. Maylene is a smart young woman but without any beauty, no dowry, and no funds to outfit herself for the Marriage Mart she has been working with her mother instead of hunting for a husband. Whereas the dowager baroness contacts the spirits of the dead, Maylene uses her wits to do some impressive detective work. She even has an army of spies who inform for her. So if a member of the ton is looking for something, Maylene figures out where it is and then it is revealed during the seance. Clever.
That is until the daughter of a Duke goes missing and law enforcement can’t find her. The desperate father is willing to try anything to find his daughter and so he comes to the Treadwell’s. And he brings his cynical and suspicious friend with him. The Earl makes it his mission to figure out the scam and then expose them. Except he keeps enjoying the verbal sparring with Maylene.
This is part detective novel and part Regency romance. It’s light and fluffy and funny. I laughed out loud a lot reading this one. There were even a few belly laughs. So enjoyable. For those who care, this is a Clean Romance.
That is until the daughter of a Duke goes missing and law enforcement can’t find her. The desperate father is willing to try anything to find his daughter and so he comes to the Treadwell’s. And he brings his cynical and suspicious friend with him. The Earl makes it his mission to figure out the scam and then expose them. Except he keeps enjoying the verbal sparring with Maylene.
This is part detective novel and part Regency romance. It’s light and fluffy and funny. I laughed out loud a lot reading this one. There were even a few belly laughs. So enjoyable. For those who care, this is a Clean Romance.
June 7, 2022
For most of the book, there is a flow of witty and sarcastic exchange of dialogues between the lead pair, which is what I was looking for. I enjoyed the banter, and thought it was going on well, until the end, where it became full of fantastic coincidences, supernatural intervention, and inexplicable tidy closures.
I would have preferred to see a greater role of Maylene's well-advertised talents in solving the mysteries than the supernatural guidance from the seances held by her mother. We hear a lot about her abilities, but see little in actual action, and even less done without the hero's assistance. I could not warm up to the hero - Hyatt keeps insulting Maylene throughout. He may be excused for his cynism, but not for failing to apologizing to her even when his presumptions are proven false.
In order to provide a cut-and-dried solution for the heroine's happily-ever-after, one innocent girl is deplorably forced to marry her lecherous cousin, Lady Crowley marries Shimpson for no reason we could see, and Lady Tremont is paired off with the duke unnecessarily (not to say weird!).
A highly unsatisfactory conclusion, for which i subtracted a point from the rating.
I would have preferred to see a greater role of Maylene's well-advertised talents in solving the mysteries than the supernatural guidance from the seances held by her mother. We hear a lot about her abilities, but see little in actual action, and even less done without the hero's assistance. I could not warm up to the hero - Hyatt keeps insulting Maylene throughout. He may be excused for his cynism, but not for failing to apologizing to her even when his presumptions are proven false.
In order to provide a cut-and-dried solution for the heroine's happily-ever-after, one innocent girl is deplorably forced to marry her lecherous cousin, Lady Crowley marries Shimpson for no reason we could see, and Lady Tremont is paired off with the duke unnecessarily (not to say weird!).
A highly unsatisfactory conclusion, for which i subtracted a point from the rating.
April 5, 2020
Barbara Metzger turns a really bizarre plot into pure bliss. Maylene Treadwell's mother is, um, well a seance mystic. Since her husband died without a penny, Lady Tremont has been keeping poverty away by leading seances in her drawing-room in the evenings. Participants are ushered to the 'donating urn' near the door, for "the Fund for Physical Research." Actually, mother and daughter have an impressive cadre of maids, shop owners, and general snoops who help the ladies with their seances and searches.
Mother and daughter are barely staying part of Polite Society. One day, the Earl of Hyatt and the Duke of Mondale come to one of the seances -- looking for the Duke's daughter (who happened to be almost betrothed to the Earl). Belinda has disappeared and the London police cannot find her. The Earl of Hyatt is sure this is all a sham and voices his disdain. And the fun begins. This is a short, merry romp through the snobby ton vs. the women-who-always-seem-to-find-the-lost. Maylene and her mother have a wonderful time outsmarting the earl.
Mother and daughter are barely staying part of Polite Society. One day, the Earl of Hyatt and the Duke of Mondale come to one of the seances -- looking for the Duke's daughter (who happened to be almost betrothed to the Earl). Belinda has disappeared and the London police cannot find her. The Earl of Hyatt is sure this is all a sham and voices his disdain. And the fun begins. This is a short, merry romp through the snobby ton vs. the women-who-always-seem-to-find-the-lost. Maylene and her mother have a wonderful time outsmarting the earl.
February 3, 2021
this book grows on you
read it few years back and didn't write review
a feel good all around group of characters with the earl and treadwell at the head of the dance
thisbe, maylene's mother contacts the beyond through Max, her true love and Maylene's actual father you are left with the acceptance there are such things as Einstein's last study never completed of synchronicity and how it comes in waves, events, ideas, people, animal, vegetable, mineral all subject to things beyond our comprehension. This is done lightly. The earl and snorting skeptic and maylene have worthy banter, the Duke searching for his daughter, the lawyers searching for a violinist heir to a dukedom, these are shaking dice, the search. Imagine the earl's house on a bluff overlooking Brighton. All those windows. Happy endings all around, but Max and his dog Alex are the deus ex-machina. Don't forget to practice with your lightening bolts. These seem more reasonable than MJ Greene, Qanon batshit congresswoman who has cowed entire gop and her Jewish lasers. I mean, WTF?
read it few years back and didn't write review
a feel good all around group of characters with the earl and treadwell at the head of the dance
thisbe, maylene's mother contacts the beyond through Max, her true love and Maylene's actual father you are left with the acceptance there are such things as Einstein's last study never completed of synchronicity and how it comes in waves, events, ideas, people, animal, vegetable, mineral all subject to things beyond our comprehension. This is done lightly. The earl and snorting skeptic and maylene have worthy banter, the Duke searching for his daughter, the lawyers searching for a violinist heir to a dukedom, these are shaking dice, the search. Imagine the earl's house on a bluff overlooking Brighton. All those windows. Happy endings all around, but Max and his dog Alex are the deus ex-machina. Don't forget to practice with your lightening bolts. These seem more reasonable than MJ Greene, Qanon batshit congresswoman who has cowed entire gop and her Jewish lasers. I mean, WTF?
May 18, 2025
This was okay.
There was some really good humor and while I would have preferred more romance, it was quite the fun story to read. The humor was abundant and the paranormal aspects helped quite a bit in that front. As for our MCs, I would say, they were well matched. I didn't feel like they had any chemistry at all. It just felt forced, honestly.
The main complaint I had was that there seemed zero purpose or closure to the story. Parts of the story actually seemed to have been skipped and the male MC who was actually thinking of the female MC as a fraud upto ninety percent of the book suddenly fell in love with her. Finally, the paranormal aspect. Most of the book left us guessing if it's true or not and in 1 page it was made into the truth. I suppose it was meant to be a surprise reveal but it just felt sloppy to me.
There was some really good humor and while I would have preferred more romance, it was quite the fun story to read. The humor was abundant and the paranormal aspects helped quite a bit in that front. As for our MCs, I would say, they were well matched. I didn't feel like they had any chemistry at all. It just felt forced, honestly.
The main complaint I had was that there seemed zero purpose or closure to the story. Parts of the story actually seemed to have been skipped and the male MC who was actually thinking of the female MC as a fraud upto ninety percent of the book suddenly fell in love with her. Finally, the paranormal aspect. Most of the book left us guessing if it's true or not and in 1 page it was made into the truth. I suppose it was meant to be a surprise reveal but it just felt sloppy to me.
February 9, 2025
Fast paced and furiously funny, this book has a psychic element that is really a hoot. I had a problem with all the unplanned kisses, however, because the justifications for them just weren’t believable. Also, the hero’s character is “womanizing rake” but then details later conveniently arise making him out to be a very different and better man. I felt that was misrepresentative, and it lacked the power of him actually changing. But the chemistry was great and the dialogue witty and the plot fun, if a little silly.
September 4, 2020
Funny and lighthearted. I liked the banter between the hero and the heroine (I adore Metzger's heroines because they are usually clever, no-nonsense females with a lot of spunk and a sense of humor).
However, I feel that the plot would work better without the paranormal influence and intervention. I'd prefer Maylene to solve the riddles using more of her wit and less of her mother's conversations with beings from beyond.
Overall 3.25 stars.
However, I feel that the plot would work better without the paranormal influence and intervention. I'd prefer Maylene to solve the riddles using more of her wit and less of her mother's conversations with beings from beyond.
Overall 3.25 stars.
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