What do you think?
Rate this book
Miss Lockharte's Letters
If she must die, she vows to cast some blame on a rather attractive heartbreaker!
Delirious with fever, Rosellen Lockharte summons all her strength to pen several letters from her attic deathbed. Soon all who set her willy-nilly on this path to perdition as a penmanship teacher will learn that in her final hour she forgave them. All except him. But why wait for Judgment Day to tell Viscount Stanford she thinks he is the most heinous of humans? Let her death be a burden to him forever.
But the burden, it appears, is on her. For not only has she cheated death, but now the very same man who ruined her life has—albeit, reluctantly—come to her rescue. Certainly, not even the angels above could have predicted the chaos that will ensue—nor the magic of unexpected love...
Delirious with fever, Rosellen Lockharte summons all her strength to pen several letters from her attic deathbed. Soon all who set her willy-nilly on this path to perdition as a penmanship teacher will learn that in her final hour she forgave them. All except him. But why wait for Judgment Day to tell Viscount Stanford she thinks he is the most heinous of humans? Let her death be a burden to him forever.
But the burden, it appears, is on her. For not only has she cheated death, but now the very same man who ruined her life has—albeit, reluctantly—come to her rescue. Certainly, not even the angels above could have predicted the chaos that will ensue—nor the magic of unexpected love...
213 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 29, 1998
63 people are currently reading
993 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Metzger
93 books200 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...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
November 2, 2014
I don't know why I waited so long to read Metzger, because this was awesome. I had such a delightful time reading Miss Lockharte's Letters! You know the I-don't-know-what-to-do-with-my-life-anymore kind of feeling you get after putting a good book down? This is what happened to me with this one. I did not want it to end. And when it inevitably did, I did not know what to do (I am somewhat recovered now, as I started another good book).
The story opens up with our poor heroine, Miss Rosellen Lockharte, a teacher at the Select Academy for Young Females ofDisease Distinction, who is dying of the influenza on an attic bed. Thinking she will be gone by morning, Miss Lockharte summons her last bit of strength to pen letters to all who had a role in sending her to this Academy in the first place and/or making her life miserable. Although she reveals important informations about the true state of the school, secret affairs of its head teachers and deplorable behaviour from her relatives, she forgives them all. All, except the one man who shattered her dreams in one brief visit, when he came to the Academy to get his sister Susan, Rosellen's only friend, and refused that she accompany them to London to serve as Miss Alton's (Susan) companion. Rosellen has hated Viscount Stanford ever since, and feels no scruples in letting him know it, before she passes away.
Only, the thing is, she doesn't die. She survives the fever, and is immediately kicked out of the institution, for fear she will reveal the scandals she has seen in there. She is barely out the door than she survives a runaway carriage, and when she is brought back to the institution, survives a push down the stairs which did no more than broke her wrist. Someone is trying to kill her, that much is clear, and she is fairly confident that is it the Merrihews, the ones in charge of the institution.
Meanwhile, Wynn Alton, Viscount Stanford, who has already enough problems on his shoulders (mainly a recent break-up with his mistress, an aggravating mother, a debutante sister who must be accompanies to all the insipid ton parties, and missing toy soldiers from his secret workroom, where he devotes a lot of time painting the tiny army men, which serves as a spy technique for the War Office), gets Miss Lockharte's mean, injurious, viper-tongued, full of hatred letter and he's like:
But deep down:
Which is why he doesn't put up that big of a fuss when he sister, upon receive her letter from Rosellen, begs him to go to her rescue. And, she adds, if she's already dead, could he please add some flowers on her grave?
I will admit that until Wynn finds Rosellen, I was a little bit confused with where the story was going, and what was going on. Stanford is trying to find a missing hat belonging to his mother's admirer, in which he believes the stealer of his toy soldiers might have hidden them. He and his assistant, Stubbing, are making a list of every man they know whose names have the initials T.H. ... which just happens to be almost every male character in this novel, so I had a hard time remembering who was who.
Rosellen may be half-dead, and she may have seen the Viscount only once, but one does not forget such a handsome countenance and good looks so easily. Stanford is moved by the inhuman conditions in which he finds Rosellen, and immediately offers to help her. Still resenting him, she first refuses his help, and he simply deposits the flowers by her bed before heading out, "but then he looked back and saw the tear. A solitary drop of moisture was rolling down the penmanship instructor's empurpled cheek, travelling from a closed black eye to a cut and scraped chin. Wynn gently touched the hand that lay limply on the cover. 'Miss Lockharte?'"
Oh, how I loved that passage!! Miss Lockharte has enough sense to recognize that she needs his help, however much she might hate him, and so he literally sweeps her off in his arms, and ignoring Miss Merrihew's shrieking protests, heads out the door.
Thus ensues a lovely, heart-warming romance between a bold, sharp-tongued, honest and turquoise-eyed woman and her perfect match, an arrogant, domineering, loyal, generous and gorgeous-looking lord. I had so much fun witnessing them fall for each other! Wynn tries to convince himself that Rosellen is too far beneath him and too independent for him, and Rosellen is equally aware that she doesn't belong in the same circles as him, but between their activities in London and the numerous attempts on Rosellen's life, they become closer and closer (and not just because Wynn has to carry her in his arms multiple times), until their mutual affection cannot be denied.
I don't know exactly what it is about this book, but I simply loved it. It was just wonderful.
I loved all the subtle adorable moments, like when Wynn picks a ball gown for Rosellen, or when he wishes he had been the one to give her a dog. There were also many comical moments, and the Heatherstone twins were priceless! They were just so hilarious!
This book could have been unbearably sad, but the tone and writing style were so humorous and fun that I actually found myself laughing even when I was learning, through Miss Lockharte's various letters, that she had suffered at the hands of practically everyone she had encountered. The Merrihews (who are in charge of the establishment) have mistreated her and given her quarters worse than a servants', her uncle Haverhill and her cousin Clarice have unjustly turned her down from London Society, and Clarice had been a total b**** to Rosellen the entire time they were together. I was never one for sad fictional novels, so I was happy to find out that Metzger's style is funny and engaging, and very Regency-like.
I cannot wait to read another book by her!
The story opens up with our poor heroine, Miss Rosellen Lockharte, a teacher at the Select Academy for Young Females of
Only, the thing is, she doesn't die. She survives the fever, and is immediately kicked out of the institution, for fear she will reveal the scandals she has seen in there. She is barely out the door than she survives a runaway carriage, and when she is brought back to the institution, survives a push down the stairs which did no more than broke her wrist. Someone is trying to kill her, that much is clear, and she is fairly confident that is it the Merrihews, the ones in charge of the institution.
Meanwhile, Wynn Alton, Viscount Stanford, who has already enough problems on his shoulders (mainly a recent break-up with his mistress, an aggravating mother, a debutante sister who must be accompanies to all the insipid ton parties, and missing toy soldiers from his secret workroom, where he devotes a lot of time painting the tiny army men, which serves as a spy technique for the War Office), gets Miss Lockharte's mean, injurious, viper-tongued, full of hatred letter and he's like:
But deep down:
Which is why he doesn't put up that big of a fuss when he sister, upon receive her letter from Rosellen, begs him to go to her rescue. And, she adds, if she's already dead, could he please add some flowers on her grave?
I will admit that until Wynn finds Rosellen, I was a little bit confused with where the story was going, and what was going on. Stanford is trying to find a missing hat belonging to his mother's admirer, in which he believes the stealer of his toy soldiers might have hidden them. He and his assistant, Stubbing, are making a list of every man they know whose names have the initials T.H. ... which just happens to be almost every male character in this novel, so I had a hard time remembering who was who.
Rosellen may be half-dead, and she may have seen the Viscount only once, but one does not forget such a handsome countenance and good looks so easily. Stanford is moved by the inhuman conditions in which he finds Rosellen, and immediately offers to help her. Still resenting him, she first refuses his help, and he simply deposits the flowers by her bed before heading out, "but then he looked back and saw the tear. A solitary drop of moisture was rolling down the penmanship instructor's empurpled cheek, travelling from a closed black eye to a cut and scraped chin. Wynn gently touched the hand that lay limply on the cover. 'Miss Lockharte?'"
Oh, how I loved that passage!! Miss Lockharte has enough sense to recognize that she needs his help, however much she might hate him, and so he literally sweeps her off in his arms, and ignoring Miss Merrihew's shrieking protests, heads out the door.
Thus ensues a lovely, heart-warming romance between a bold, sharp-tongued, honest and turquoise-eyed woman and her perfect match, an arrogant, domineering, loyal, generous and gorgeous-looking lord. I had so much fun witnessing them fall for each other! Wynn tries to convince himself that Rosellen is too far beneath him and too independent for him, and Rosellen is equally aware that she doesn't belong in the same circles as him, but between their activities in London and the numerous attempts on Rosellen's life, they become closer and closer (and not just because Wynn has to carry her in his arms multiple times), until their mutual affection cannot be denied.
I don't know exactly what it is about this book, but I simply loved it. It was just wonderful.
I loved all the subtle adorable moments, like when Wynn picks a ball gown for Rosellen, or when he wishes he had been the one to give her a dog. There were also many comical moments, and the Heatherstone twins were priceless! They were just so hilarious!
This book could have been unbearably sad, but the tone and writing style were so humorous and fun that I actually found myself laughing even when I was learning, through Miss Lockharte's various letters, that she had suffered at the hands of practically everyone she had encountered. The Merrihews (who are in charge of the establishment) have mistreated her and given her quarters worse than a servants', her uncle Haverhill and her cousin Clarice have unjustly turned her down from London Society, and Clarice had been a total b**** to Rosellen the entire time they were together. I was never one for sad fictional novels, so I was happy to find out that Metzger's style is funny and engaging, and very Regency-like.
I cannot wait to read another book by her!
April 6, 2022
This was an absolute gem! I had a blast reading this. There were many LOL moments. I enjoyed the dry humour. A bit light on the romance, though. The MCs only met at the 43% mark. There's also a murder mystery.
The writing was meant to amuse, but if you think about it, females in that era didn't have a lot of options. The heroine was left destitute by her vicar's father; her uncle was a penny-pinch, so he fobbed her off to a finishing school as an instructor, and the proprietors of the school were scoundrels. I just felt lucky not to be born then.
Anyway, if you're new to Ms Metzger, I think this book would be the best introduction to her body of work.
The writing was meant to amuse, but if you think about it, females in that era didn't have a lot of options. The heroine was left destitute by her vicar's father; her uncle was a penny-pinch, so he fobbed her off to a finishing school as an instructor, and the proprietors of the school were scoundrels. I just felt lucky not to be born then.
Anyway, if you're new to Ms Metzger, I think this book would be the best introduction to her body of work.
May 24, 2022
What a treat! This book was for sure an unexpected treat. So the heroine is on her death bed and as she has nothing anymore to lose, she spends 4 chapters writibg letters to everybody that have wronged her. And so we get to know her short life and see how a young lady alone in the world would survive back in the day.
I thought it realistic if a bit dark yet it was humorous. Not a lot of romance but the little it had was wonderful.
I highly recommend.
I thought it realistic if a bit dark yet it was humorous. Not a lot of romance but the little it had was wonderful.
I highly recommend.
March 30, 2013
This was a brilliant, brilliant, fun story. Rather, I should say, BRILLIANT. AND SOO FUN!
It's opening was absolutely unique and unforgettable. A gentlewoman discarded by her father and relatives and eking out a living as an underfed and underpaid penmanship teacher at an academy for young ladies, is near death from influenza. She decides to pen letters to the tormentors who stole her life before she ever had a chance to live it. Her list of 'nevers' is at once heartbreaking and hilarious. I loved her from the first paragraph.
One recipient of her poison pen letters, a viscount, ends up stung by her accusations and reluctantly agrees to see to her proper burial to silence his sister, who was a favorite student and friend. So while the heroine drifts in and out of consciousness, subsisting on the kindness of a maid sneaking her gruel and barley water, we are forced to wonder if help will come in time...My jaw hurt from the wondering and the laughter.
What happens as all the letters land in the hands of those who deserved her reproaches leads to multi-faceted mayhem, murder attempts and the imbecility of various secondary characters, the best were a pair of witless twins, whose dialogue and logic left me helpless with laughter. She survives thanks to the viscount who is convinced her mind is disordered. As the story progresses, more odd, near-fatal coincidences happen and he comes around. All the while, she looses her barbed tongue on him and others. Every shit gets his or her comeuppance and the many strands are neatly and deftly tied off.
Loved this, there was as much hilarity as there was heart. Some of the other Regencies from the 90's feel almost frantic to stir up a frenzy of plot, leaving almost no room for feeling to evolve and convince me of the heartfelt romance. This had as much heart as it had humor and I loved it. In fact, I am sick with envy.
It's opening was absolutely unique and unforgettable. A gentlewoman discarded by her father and relatives and eking out a living as an underfed and underpaid penmanship teacher at an academy for young ladies, is near death from influenza. She decides to pen letters to the tormentors who stole her life before she ever had a chance to live it. Her list of 'nevers' is at once heartbreaking and hilarious. I loved her from the first paragraph.
One recipient of her poison pen letters, a viscount, ends up stung by her accusations and reluctantly agrees to see to her proper burial to silence his sister, who was a favorite student and friend. So while the heroine drifts in and out of consciousness, subsisting on the kindness of a maid sneaking her gruel and barley water, we are forced to wonder if help will come in time...My jaw hurt from the wondering and the laughter.
What happens as all the letters land in the hands of those who deserved her reproaches leads to multi-faceted mayhem, murder attempts and the imbecility of various secondary characters, the best were a pair of witless twins, whose dialogue and logic left me helpless with laughter. She survives thanks to the viscount who is convinced her mind is disordered. As the story progresses, more odd, near-fatal coincidences happen and he comes around. All the while, she looses her barbed tongue on him and others. Every shit gets his or her comeuppance and the many strands are neatly and deftly tied off.
Loved this, there was as much hilarity as there was heart. Some of the other Regencies from the 90's feel almost frantic to stir up a frenzy of plot, leaving almost no room for feeling to evolve and convince me of the heartfelt romance. This had as much heart as it had humor and I loved it. In fact, I am sick with envy.
June 5, 2020
4.5/5. Absolutely hilarious, this gem of a book is full of witty observations and loveable characters. This is a clean romance which might lack a bit in the romance department, but more than made up for it with a stellar cast of quirky characters. It is anchored by an utterly charming heroine who gets repeatedly knocked down by life, relatives and would-be-assassins, but who refuses to stay down. Instead she bounces back on her feet, in some instances, more like crawling back on her knees - battered, bruised and broken but never defeated. Armed with her considerable wit and pen, she was never more prolific than when she was at perceived death's door. She fired off a multitude of letters to those who have touched her life and many more who have wronged her, and those letters led to a series of events that made for a highly entertaining and original plot. I must check out more of this clever and talented author's backlist.
November 4, 2022
2022 Review
My housemate does not understand why I re-read books I didn't love when I first read them. All I can say is that I keep changing. And a book that had me rolling my eyes in 2018 has me going, "Eh, I've read worse" in 2022.
This is a fairly clean, fun story and I think I'm going to have to add it as a regular re-read for when I'm looking for something over-the-top. I disagree with my earlier hesitation about the main couple but what can I say? Only because I've now read worse. (And you can't expect every Regency romance to shine with the same subtlety of Georgette Heyer.)
2018 Review - 3.5 stars
The first 2/3rds of this book was really quite unexpectedly funny and delightful. The last 3rd I didn't care much for. The viscount's affection just never made much sense. I get the initial attraction but suddenly he is OBSESSIVELY JEALOUS and IN LURVE.
Sigh. Now if this had been more a slow burn....mmm, then we'd have had something good.
Overall, clean and funny. This was better than your average Regency book but falls short of remarkable.
My housemate does not understand why I re-read books I didn't love when I first read them. All I can say is that I keep changing. And a book that had me rolling my eyes in 2018 has me going, "Eh, I've read worse" in 2022.
This is a fairly clean, fun story and I think I'm going to have to add it as a regular re-read for when I'm looking for something over-the-top. I disagree with my earlier hesitation about the main couple but what can I say? Only because I've now read worse. (And you can't expect every Regency romance to shine with the same subtlety of Georgette Heyer.)
2018 Review - 3.5 stars
The first 2/3rds of this book was really quite unexpectedly funny and delightful. The last 3rd I didn't care much for. The viscount's affection just never made much sense. I get the initial attraction but suddenly he is OBSESSIVELY JEALOUS and IN LURVE.
Sigh. Now if this had been more a slow burn....mmm, then we'd have had something good.
Overall, clean and funny. This was better than your average Regency book but falls short of remarkable.
December 6, 2014
Rosellen (thinking she's dying) writes to all the people in her life who have been mean to her in some capacity or another and offers them forgiveness for their assholery. Except Wynn, Lord Stanton, who's a pompous ass and should probably die in a fire. Except then she doesn't die. AWKWARD. And now someone(s) is actively trying to kill her, so, you know. Then Wynn shows up and OF COURSE he's not REALLY pompous ass so they fall in love and out the villains and live happily ever after, etc., etc.
1. Rosellen is basically TSTL from the start. She overhears a doctor say that there's nothing left for him to do--while he's standing in the middle of an infirmary with several sick girls. There's multiple clues pointing to the fact that the girl in the next bed over is dying, but Rosellen is so self-centered that she believes that (even though she's feeling better), she must be dying. Hence, the letters.
And there's never really any acknowledgment made to the fact that the girl in the next bed DOES die, because Rosellen is too caught up in her own shit to care.
2. If you are able to overcome that mess, there's also the fact that Wynn spends 90% of the book believing that Rosellen is ~not right in the head because she says someone is trying to kill her. (And to actually convince him, she slaps down a ... dagger? That someone threw over a fence? OF COURSE this is what changes his mind and makes him realize that she's not a liar just a horrible victim O HORRORS. (Nevermind the inn fire, the falling roof tiles, the balcony scene, the...I COULD GO ON. WYNN IS THICK LIKE A PINE TREE.)
3. Which, that balcony scene was pretty gross. "MEETING ANOTHER MAN? ME TOO! *FORCEFUL KISSING*" Like, fuck off. That's a pretty gross way to get your hero to mack on your heroine, you know?
4. It's not a very good book, is what I'm saying, and I know some of it is due to when it was published and some of it is due to the tropes and it's just sad. :(
1. Rosellen is basically TSTL from the start. She overhears a doctor say that there's nothing left for him to do--while he's standing in the middle of an infirmary with several sick girls. There's multiple clues pointing to the fact that the girl in the next bed over is dying, but Rosellen is so self-centered that she believes that (even though she's feeling better), she must be dying. Hence, the letters.
And there's never really any acknowledgment made to the fact that the girl in the next bed DOES die, because Rosellen is too caught up in her own shit to care.
2. If you are able to overcome that mess, there's also the fact that Wynn spends 90% of the book believing that Rosellen is ~not right in the head because she says someone is trying to kill her. (And to actually convince him, she slaps down a ... dagger? That someone threw over a fence? OF COURSE this is what changes his mind and makes him realize that she's not a liar just a horrible victim O HORRORS. (Nevermind the inn fire, the falling roof tiles, the balcony scene, the...I COULD GO ON. WYNN IS THICK LIKE A PINE TREE.)
3. Which, that balcony scene was pretty gross. "MEETING ANOTHER MAN? ME TOO! *FORCEFUL KISSING*" Like, fuck off. That's a pretty gross way to get your hero to mack on your heroine, you know?
4. It's not a very good book, is what I'm saying, and I know some of it is due to when it was published and some of it is due to the tropes and it's just sad. :(
July 19, 2019
MISS LOCKHARTE'S LETTERS is the first book by Barbara Metzger that I read. Published in 1998, this book is a Regency Romance of the old-school variety. The main character, Rosellen Lockharte, is both intelligent and witty when she isn't "dying".
The first third of this 213 page book has Rosellen on her deathbed determined to write letters to all those people who have affected her life, Viscount Stanford among them. Honestly, I found this part slow-going but I understood why the author wrote the story this way. The reader needs to imagine the loneliness and fear Rosellen felt. She was destitute of both companionship and support. She was a teacher of penmanship but had been very sick. Now she wrote the dreaded letters and discovered, after the fact, she was no longer unemployed. To make matters worse, someone was trying to kill her.
Enter Viscount Stanford, 'Wynn', a confirmed bachelor and painter of toy soldiers. Loaded with money, opinionated, and an 'I'm in charge' type-of-guy, he visited Rosellen expecting to find her deceased. She wasn’t but she looked like she was on death’s door. She had been locked in an attic by her employers, was black and blue from someone having pushed her down a flight of stairs -AND- stinky! Wynn expected to do his duty and leave as soon as possible. From here on out, the story picks up and has some very funny moments.
Wynn thinks Rosellen was a few bricks shy of a load but tried to help her. Their verbal sparring was enjoyable with some snarky humor before its time. I don't want to tell you too much more because I want you to enjoy the story. I gave it 3.5 stars because of some slow-reading and the distance between the H/h. I would have been a five star romance if Wynn was included early-on.
3.5 stars
The first third of this 213 page book has Rosellen on her deathbed determined to write letters to all those people who have affected her life, Viscount Stanford among them. Honestly, I found this part slow-going but I understood why the author wrote the story this way. The reader needs to imagine the loneliness and fear Rosellen felt. She was destitute of both companionship and support. She was a teacher of penmanship but had been very sick. Now she wrote the dreaded letters and discovered, after the fact, she was no longer unemployed. To make matters worse, someone was trying to kill her.
Enter Viscount Stanford, 'Wynn', a confirmed bachelor and painter of toy soldiers. Loaded with money, opinionated, and an 'I'm in charge' type-of-guy, he visited Rosellen expecting to find her deceased. She wasn’t but she looked like she was on death’s door. She had been locked in an attic by her employers, was black and blue from someone having pushed her down a flight of stairs -AND- stinky! Wynn expected to do his duty and leave as soon as possible. From here on out, the story picks up and has some very funny moments.
Wynn thinks Rosellen was a few bricks shy of a load but tried to help her. Their verbal sparring was enjoyable with some snarky humor before its time. I don't want to tell you too much more because I want you to enjoy the story. I gave it 3.5 stars because of some slow-reading and the distance between the H/h. I would have been a five star romance if Wynn was included early-on.
3.5 stars
November 8, 2022
Re-read, November 2022
Aha! I could not for the life of me remember which book had a governess-type character wounded and ill and locked in an attic room wherein she is discovered and carried down by a gentleman rescuer.
This is that book. Phew. One less thing to worry about.
Other than that, I enjoyed it pretty well but slightly less than the first time through.
Original review follows:
Another pleasant surprise in a Regency novel... this one has amusing farce and believable romance, although some of the assassination attempts on the heroine do strain credulity! However, I think you're meant to take the whole book as a fun romp and find plenty to laugh about.
Aha! I could not for the life of me remember which book had a governess-type character wounded and ill and locked in an attic room wherein she is discovered and carried down by a gentleman rescuer.
This is that book. Phew. One less thing to worry about.
Other than that, I enjoyed it pretty well but slightly less than the first time through.
Original review follows:
Another pleasant surprise in a Regency novel... this one has amusing farce and believable romance, although some of the assassination attempts on the heroine do strain credulity! However, I think you're meant to take the whole book as a fun romp and find plenty to laugh about.
January 31, 2025
A seriously peculiar book, wildly implausible and with a veritable tsunami of anachronisms but very, very funny, for all that.
Here’s the premise: Miss Rosellen Lockharte has fallen on hard times. Her clergyman father has died, leaving her penniless, and although her uncle tried, rather half-heartedly, to introduce her into London society, his daughter’s machinations got Rosellen compromised and banished in disgrace. Since then she’s been eking out a poor living teaching penmanship to the daughters of the aristocracy at a rather shady girls’ school. An outbreak of influenza at the school makes her so ill that she’s convinced she’s going to die. As a last act before death, she decides to write to all the people who, in one way or another, set her on this road to poverty and illness, to tell them (after listing all their transgressions) that she forgives them. Except for one, Wynn, Viscount Stanford - his crime is too heinous for forgiveness.
Rosellen survives the influenza, but several mysterious accidents leave her even worse off than before. But help is on its way, in the shape of most of the people she wrote to, but particularly Viscount Stanley, who is the first to actually reach her in her paltry attic room. He’s brought flowers and is ready to beat a hasty retreat, but a single tear as he’s about to leave makes him decide to help her. He whisks her away from the school, thinking he’ll send her to one of his more distant estates to recover and be looked after, but after various mishaps, he gradually develops a new plan - he’ll take her to London, to the care of his mother and sister, and introduce her into society and… well, we can see where this is going. This is one of the pleasures of the story, Wynn’s gradual realisation that, however prickly and spirited and independent Rosellen is, she’s exactly right for him.
I’m going to be honest, and say that credibility isn’t this book’s strongest suit. The ‘accidents’ that befall Rosellen and her miraculous escapes from them are almost too silly for words, some of the characters are pretty silly, too, not to mention the dog, and Wynn’s determined refusal to believe that someone is trying to kill her is really carried too far. But the moment when he realises the truth is just perfect. “You could have been killed,” he says, horrified. “I could have lost you.”
The romance, once it gets going, is the strongest part of the book. The plot is distinctly wobbly (why does the villain keep trying to murder Rosellen even when the reason for it is gone?), the loose threads are more or less tied up at the end almost as an afterthought, and I’m still not entirely clear where the fifty pounds came from, or why. As for historical accuracy, forget it. But it’s the funniest book I’ve read for months, and that alone makes it worthy of four stars. Here’s just one sample that made me laugh out loud:
‘Uncle would turn purple with apoplexy at the price of Rosellen’s ball gown. Aunt Haverhill would go ashen at the low cut. Clarice would turn green with envy. Rosellen was pink with pleasure.’
Here’s the premise: Miss Rosellen Lockharte has fallen on hard times. Her clergyman father has died, leaving her penniless, and although her uncle tried, rather half-heartedly, to introduce her into London society, his daughter’s machinations got Rosellen compromised and banished in disgrace. Since then she’s been eking out a poor living teaching penmanship to the daughters of the aristocracy at a rather shady girls’ school. An outbreak of influenza at the school makes her so ill that she’s convinced she’s going to die. As a last act before death, she decides to write to all the people who, in one way or another, set her on this road to poverty and illness, to tell them (after listing all their transgressions) that she forgives them. Except for one, Wynn, Viscount Stanford - his crime is too heinous for forgiveness.
Rosellen survives the influenza, but several mysterious accidents leave her even worse off than before. But help is on its way, in the shape of most of the people she wrote to, but particularly Viscount Stanley, who is the first to actually reach her in her paltry attic room. He’s brought flowers and is ready to beat a hasty retreat, but a single tear as he’s about to leave makes him decide to help her. He whisks her away from the school, thinking he’ll send her to one of his more distant estates to recover and be looked after, but after various mishaps, he gradually develops a new plan - he’ll take her to London, to the care of his mother and sister, and introduce her into society and… well, we can see where this is going. This is one of the pleasures of the story, Wynn’s gradual realisation that, however prickly and spirited and independent Rosellen is, she’s exactly right for him.
I’m going to be honest, and say that credibility isn’t this book’s strongest suit. The ‘accidents’ that befall Rosellen and her miraculous escapes from them are almost too silly for words, some of the characters are pretty silly, too, not to mention the dog, and Wynn’s determined refusal to believe that someone is trying to kill her is really carried too far. But the moment when he realises the truth is just perfect. “You could have been killed,” he says, horrified. “I could have lost you.”
The romance, once it gets going, is the strongest part of the book. The plot is distinctly wobbly (why does the villain keep trying to murder Rosellen even when the reason for it is gone?), the loose threads are more or less tied up at the end almost as an afterthought, and I’m still not entirely clear where the fifty pounds came from, or why. As for historical accuracy, forget it. But it’s the funniest book I’ve read for months, and that alone makes it worthy of four stars. Here’s just one sample that made me laugh out loud:
‘Uncle would turn purple with apoplexy at the price of Rosellen’s ball gown. Aunt Haverhill would go ashen at the low cut. Clarice would turn green with envy. Rosellen was pink with pleasure.’
August 2, 2016
This little gem was full of witty humor.
"...Wynn turned on his most forbidding demeanor, the one he saved for cardsharps, pimps, and mothers of debutantes."
Fun, over the top side characters done in the style of Austen or Heyer. I'm definitely checking out more of Barbara Metzger's books. Don't you just love it when you find a new author to love?
"...Wynn turned on his most forbidding demeanor, the one he saved for cardsharps, pimps, and mothers of debutantes."
Fun, over the top side characters done in the style of Austen or Heyer. I'm definitely checking out more of Barbara Metzger's books. Don't you just love it when you find a new author to love?
April 2, 2018
What a fun -- and funny --read! The plot -- beginning with Miss Lockharte's "deathbed" letters -- is so clever, showing the ever-growing results of those letters on the various recipients. The resulting escapades are very Georgette Heyer-ish but more hilarious that anything Heyer every concocted.
Recommended for a rainy afternoon.
Recommended for a rainy afternoon.
March 29, 2014
If you want a silly, light-hearted, fun story with a dash of romance then this is the book to read. I was laughing throughout! It should have been a sad story, or rather, could have been a sad story, given that the heroine was either dying of influenza or trying to be murdered for most of the book! However, the brilliant, humorous and often sarcastic tone of the story meant that it was not sad in the slightest!
There is everything from murderous vicars to troublesome twins, evil uncles to one-eyed dogs in this story! As well as stampeding horses, highwaymen abductions, flying knives and an inn fire!
Rosellen Lockharte was a brilliant heroine; independent and out-spoken, even though she did almost die!
Wynn Stanford was a great hero; devastatingly handsome and is used to getting his own way. (I will admit he had to grow one me, but once we began to see his real character he became a fast favourite!)
Bring the two together and you get a lot of friction, resulting in arguments about everything, but also two passionate souls who are perfect for each other.
The secondary characters were also brilliant. You have everything from funny, friendly and caring to the complete opposite; evil, spoilt and murderous! I warn you there are a lot of secondary characters to keep up with, and many with the initials TH due to a certain lost hat which must be found with the initials TH in - it got confusing at times but it all added to the fun of the book, trying to keep up with what was going on!
Although this book was brilliantly funny, it was also sweet and romantic as the relationship between Wynn and Rosellen grows, even though they both realise how unsuitable a match they are for each other by societies standards. There are lots of tender moments - and a few stolen kisses - and it was lovely to read.
This really is a book to read when you want something light-hearted, silly and fun. I think the last line sums up what this story is trying to achieve and succeeds in achieving: a sweet story with a lot of humour... "Yer man must have loved you a lot. My donkey needed the hat." (And yes, I know that will make no sense to you at all. And no, I am not going to attempt to explain it. You'll just have to read the story yourself and find out!)
There is everything from murderous vicars to troublesome twins, evil uncles to one-eyed dogs in this story! As well as stampeding horses, highwaymen abductions, flying knives and an inn fire!
Rosellen Lockharte was a brilliant heroine; independent and out-spoken, even though she did almost die!
Wynn Stanford was a great hero; devastatingly handsome and is used to getting his own way. (I will admit he had to grow one me, but once we began to see his real character he became a fast favourite!)
Bring the two together and you get a lot of friction, resulting in arguments about everything, but also two passionate souls who are perfect for each other.
The secondary characters were also brilliant. You have everything from funny, friendly and caring to the complete opposite; evil, spoilt and murderous! I warn you there are a lot of secondary characters to keep up with, and many with the initials TH due to a certain lost hat which must be found with the initials TH in - it got confusing at times but it all added to the fun of the book, trying to keep up with what was going on!
Although this book was brilliantly funny, it was also sweet and romantic as the relationship between Wynn and Rosellen grows, even though they both realise how unsuitable a match they are for each other by societies standards. There are lots of tender moments - and a few stolen kisses - and it was lovely to read.
This really is a book to read when you want something light-hearted, silly and fun. I think the last line sums up what this story is trying to achieve and succeeds in achieving: a sweet story with a lot of humour... "Yer man must have loved you a lot. My donkey needed the hat." (And yes, I know that will make no sense to you at all. And no, I am not going to attempt to explain it. You'll just have to read the story yourself and find out!)
June 11, 2013
Barbara Metzger's novels are as close to a literary antidepressant as you can find. In a genre that sometimes drowns under the weight of its own angst, Metzger's books are unashamedly joyful, giddy, high energy gems. Like most of my favorite romance writers, she writes in a witty, sharp and breezily accessible style while managing to sneak in splashes of depth and insight more often that you might expect. The plot is engaging and surprisingly intricate, and after a somewhat sluggish beginning it moves along at a refreshingly fast pace. The heroine is genuinely likable yet not eye-rollingly, boringly perfect. The supporting characters are, as always, vividly defined and eminently amusing.
Despite all the sincerely meant gushing above, though, this fell just short of a five-star read for me. Maybe hearing from so many people that this was Metzger's very best novel elevated my expectations to the point where I'd inevitably be a bit disappointed. (I actually think I preferred Miss Treadwell's Talent, but that's just me!)
I also think that devouring a few Metzgers in rapid succession has underscored both the strengths AND certain perceived flaws of her work, like that for some reason her heroes and the overall romance never connect with me *quite* as well I'd like them to. The heroes generally feel a bit 'seen this type only a million times before' generic to me, and their sparring with the heroines tends to cross over from amusing and stimulating to just a touch tiresome by the end of the novel. Metzger's are among the (admittedly numerous!) novels that leave me wishing the H/h did just a little less bickering and instead shared a few more moments of genuine connection and compatibility.
Rest assured, though, that these are relatively minor complaints about a supremely likable, clever and interesting book! It's sweet, it's smart, and it's different from nearly any other historical romance I've been lucky enough to read.
One last note before I finally stop rambling: I'm someone who will read both "clean" romances and steamy ones with equal enthusiasm, but steam lovers should be warned that there are no sex scenes in this book. If it were a movie, this book would be rated PG...at most :)
Despite all the sincerely meant gushing above, though, this fell just short of a five-star read for me. Maybe hearing from so many people that this was Metzger's very best novel elevated my expectations to the point where I'd inevitably be a bit disappointed. (I actually think I preferred Miss Treadwell's Talent, but that's just me!)
I also think that devouring a few Metzgers in rapid succession has underscored both the strengths AND certain perceived flaws of her work, like that for some reason her heroes and the overall romance never connect with me *quite* as well I'd like them to. The heroes generally feel a bit 'seen this type only a million times before' generic to me, and their sparring with the heroines tends to cross over from amusing and stimulating to just a touch tiresome by the end of the novel. Metzger's are among the (admittedly numerous!) novels that leave me wishing the H/h did just a little less bickering and instead shared a few more moments of genuine connection and compatibility.
Rest assured, though, that these are relatively minor complaints about a supremely likable, clever and interesting book! It's sweet, it's smart, and it's different from nearly any other historical romance I've been lucky enough to read.
One last note before I finally stop rambling: I'm someone who will read both "clean" romances and steamy ones with equal enthusiasm, but steam lovers should be warned that there are no sex scenes in this book. If it were a movie, this book would be rated PG...at most :)
May 7, 2014
Miss Rosellen Lockharte is dying from the influenza epidemic that's raging through the school where she teaches. She believes she won't last the night, so in her fevered state, with her last bit of energy, she writers letters to all those who wronged her (and a few she believes she wronged)- starting with her awful uncle who disowned her mother and ending with the brother of her one and only friend. True, Susan tried to help, but she forgot to get her brother's approval and he dismissed Rosellen with only one glance, thus ensuring her downfall that has led to her current state. Wynn Alton, Viscount Stanford has had it with plaguey females. His sister keeps begging to be allowed to see the wrong man and visit the wrong places, her companion is always hysterical and his mother is making him feel guilty about being a bachelor. When he gave up his mistress, she didn't take it well. His mother's paramour has a missing top hat which conceals a love letter that will cause a scandal if made public. To top off matters, two of his toy soldiers are missing. The missing soldiers could mean disaster for Wellington. He doesn't have time to deal with his sister's former teacher. After all, the chit had nothing to do with him. Rosellen's letters have a surprising effect on their readers and all roads lead to Brighton as Wynn chasing his suspects who are rushing to Rosellen's side. He discovers Rosellen, alive, but barely, after a series of mishaps. He doesn't trust Miss Merrihew but he doesn't believe Rosellen that someone is trying to kill her. He feels compelled to help for some reason, but dash it, Rosellen is too prickly to accept his help. Rosellen doesn't want to accept help from this arrogant, toplofty gentleman, but she realizes that she will literally die if she doesn't. So begins a whirlwind of activity which involves highwaymen, a pair of idiotic twins, a scandalous clergyman, one shrewish cousin, and one very handsome, very high-handed viscount. Oh, and one rather large, brutish dog, too.
This story is meant to be funny and yet is has a sad undertone. It's horrible to think that a young woman in the prime of her life could die from the flu. The story also illuminates just how difficult it was to be a woman without means. I have much more sympathy for Mrs. Bennet after reading this book because I understand she fears exactly this happening to one of her girls. I could easily see Lizzy in a similar situation. The story deals with embezzlement, fraud, rape, illness, attempted murder and supposed mental instability. The plot is dealt a light touch despite all the dark topics. It never quite reaches the screwball status that's typical of her books. The dog doesn't appear until 80% into the story and he's not a very lovable companion. The romance is a little bit odd. The characters spend all their time arguing yet their true feelings lie just underneath the surface. Some of the early mysteries were dropped and I was left wondering if they would conclude and when they did, it was a real shocker. This story is cute but not her very best.
Rosellen is a bit silly but her decisions are not made rationally but in a fevered state and she was drugged with laudanum. It took awhile for her head to clear and by then, a chain of events had been set in motion. I can easily relate to her desire for independence and her rebellion at Wynn's attempts to control her. She's spunky even when she's down and out and always remains calm no matter what. I really liked that about her. Wynn is not a very nice hero. First, he's a rake and though I love rakes, I don't like seeing or knowing about their exploits. He's also really autocratic. He's kind of a Mr. Darcy personality in that he's never really noticed anyone outside of his social class. They just exist on the periphery of his awareness and he originally dismissed Rosellen with barely a glance. He never attempted to ask his sister about her and he didn't even remember her. She was beneath his notice merely because she was a teacher (and a frumpy looking one at that). He does experience a subtle shift in attitude. Like Darcy, he wants the heroine to like him for some reason he can't understand. Like Darcy, he begins to respect the lady for being different from what he's used to. I liked the dialogue between Wynn and Rosellen. Their scenes together are cute and funny.
What really drives the story is the secondary characters. No one does zany like Barbara Metzger and though these characters don't quite meet expectations, they're pretty good. The twins are too funny. They're so stupid but they mean well. Even the horrid villains manage to be funny. The dog is a great character and I wish he had appeared sooner. It's too bad Noah the cat exited the story so quickly because I'd love to see them go toe-to-toe. The other humans are rather bland stock characters. I liked Lady Stanford when she appeared in the story but she wasn't in it very much. I especially liked her relationship with Lord Hume. They're so sweet! Susan is a nice little thing. I like how she grows based on her relationship with Rosellen. Her plot doesn't come as much of a surprise.
This story is meant to be funny and yet is has a sad undertone. It's horrible to think that a young woman in the prime of her life could die from the flu. The story also illuminates just how difficult it was to be a woman without means. I have much more sympathy for Mrs. Bennet after reading this book because I understand she fears exactly this happening to one of her girls. I could easily see Lizzy in a similar situation. The story deals with embezzlement, fraud, rape, illness, attempted murder and supposed mental instability. The plot is dealt a light touch despite all the dark topics. It never quite reaches the screwball status that's typical of her books. The dog doesn't appear until 80% into the story and he's not a very lovable companion. The romance is a little bit odd. The characters spend all their time arguing yet their true feelings lie just underneath the surface. Some of the early mysteries were dropped and I was left wondering if they would conclude and when they did, it was a real shocker. This story is cute but not her very best.
Rosellen is a bit silly but her decisions are not made rationally but in a fevered state and she was drugged with laudanum. It took awhile for her head to clear and by then, a chain of events had been set in motion. I can easily relate to her desire for independence and her rebellion at Wynn's attempts to control her. She's spunky even when she's down and out and always remains calm no matter what. I really liked that about her. Wynn is not a very nice hero. First, he's a rake and though I love rakes, I don't like seeing or knowing about their exploits. He's also really autocratic. He's kind of a Mr. Darcy personality in that he's never really noticed anyone outside of his social class. They just exist on the periphery of his awareness and he originally dismissed Rosellen with barely a glance. He never attempted to ask his sister about her and he didn't even remember her. She was beneath his notice merely because she was a teacher (and a frumpy looking one at that). He does experience a subtle shift in attitude. Like Darcy, he wants the heroine to like him for some reason he can't understand. Like Darcy, he begins to respect the lady for being different from what he's used to. I liked the dialogue between Wynn and Rosellen. Their scenes together are cute and funny.
What really drives the story is the secondary characters. No one does zany like Barbara Metzger and though these characters don't quite meet expectations, they're pretty good. The twins are too funny. They're so stupid but they mean well. Even the horrid villains manage to be funny. The dog is a great character and I wish he had appeared sooner. It's too bad Noah the cat exited the story so quickly because I'd love to see them go toe-to-toe. The other humans are rather bland stock characters. I liked Lady Stanford when she appeared in the story but she wasn't in it very much. I especially liked her relationship with Lord Hume. They're so sweet! Susan is a nice little thing. I like how she grows based on her relationship with Rosellen. Her plot doesn't come as much of a surprise.
March 31, 2020
Still hilariously slapstick, utterly ridiculous and laugh out loud. Sept 2018 reread (maybe third time?) I was looking for something with a good laugh that would not annoy me, this is always an amazingly good comfort read when I wonder why I bother with the genre.
Heyeresque, with exaggerated characters and situations. If you don't like Movie capers or musicals from the forties and fifties like "It Happened One Night" or Doris Day's "Pillow Talk" the type of humour may not be for you.
Edit- reread again in 2020, this is my official go to happy place book I think. I detest rereading anything, too many books in the world and let's not get started on TV and movies, but this book always tickles my humour whenever I want soothing.
Heyeresque, with exaggerated characters and situations. If you don't like Movie capers or musicals from the forties and fifties like "It Happened One Night" or Doris Day's "Pillow Talk" the type of humour may not be for you.
Edit- reread again in 2020, this is my official go to happy place book I think. I detest rereading anything, too many books in the world and let's not get started on TV and movies, but this book always tickles my humour whenever I want soothing.
May 31, 2018
Very sweet little story, but the titular heroine is really too-stupid-to-live and the hero and various side characters were poorly sketched.
April 10, 2020
2.5 stars.
The beginning of this story and the premise were just great. I was actually able to set aside disbelief and become invested in the heroine's story. I wanted good things for her! Unfortunately, between the ravages of illness, multiple murder attempts, and a hero who couldn't be bothered to help her (he was seriously going to leave her in the attic room with pigeon feces, with her looking like she was about to die, because he did his duty by bringing her flowers), things were looking a little too dire for even me to enjoy. Add into the mix a supposed hero who is still thinking about his former mistress at 64% of the book? Granted it was to compare the heroine favourably against the mistress. But nah. Needless to say, this is probably my least favourite Barbara Metzger to date. All the stars are for the heroine. She was such a wonderful character. She wasn't a pushover and even though the hero refused to believe her idea about the multiple murder attempts, she didn't stop believing in herself. And when she had proof of a murder attempt and shoved it in the hero's face? That was probably one of my favourite scenes. As awesome as this heroine was however, I'm not sure I would read this book again just for her. The hero was too much of a toad.
The beginning of this story and the premise were just great. I was actually able to set aside disbelief and become invested in the heroine's story. I wanted good things for her! Unfortunately, between the ravages of illness, multiple murder attempts, and a hero who couldn't be bothered to help her (he was seriously going to leave her in the attic room with pigeon feces, with her looking like she was about to die, because he did his duty by bringing her flowers), things were looking a little too dire for even me to enjoy. Add into the mix a supposed hero who is still thinking about his former mistress at 64% of the book? Granted it was to compare the heroine favourably against the mistress. But nah. Needless to say, this is probably my least favourite Barbara Metzger to date. All the stars are for the heroine. She was such a wonderful character. She wasn't a pushover and even though the hero refused to believe her idea about the multiple murder attempts, she didn't stop believing in herself. And when she had proof of a murder attempt and shoved it in the hero's face? That was probably one of my favourite scenes. As awesome as this heroine was however, I'm not sure I would read this book again just for her. The hero was too much of a toad.
February 6, 2017
Recalling after a few months after reading.
It is the best book of Metzger I have read for now (I have read eight). It is really funny and enjoyable. How I recall it the main concept is: she gets into the trouble, he (unwillingly at first) helps her. A sweet and engaging Regency romance.
It is the best book of Metzger I have read for now (I have read eight). It is really funny and enjoyable. How I recall it the main concept is: she gets into the trouble, he (unwillingly at first) helps her. A sweet and engaging Regency romance.
June 29, 2020
This is the first book I've read by Barbara Metzger. Sure won't be the last.
Rosellen Lockharte starts out as a pitiful character. It's hard to know exactly what to think of her, since she's feverish with influenza, half-starved, overhears comments leading to believe she's close to death, and then writes several bizarre-sounding letters forgiving everyone who's treated her badly (except Viscount Stanford, who she believes does not merit her forgiveness). There are quite a few of them. Most of her letters start out by plaintively whining that she's dying and never had a dog.
But first impressions are misleading. While these letters serve to establish Rosellen's backstory, she isn't actually dying. Once her fever goes down, she doesn't even remember writing them. Furthermore, her subsequent behavior shows her to be remarkably level-headed and plucky.
Unfortunately, a couple of recipients of the correspondence she penned in her delirium are now out to murder her. She's definitely not mistaken about that.
Another letter recipient, Viscount Stanford - the one she didn't forgive - becomes her unlikely savior. He doesn't believe her assertion that someone wants to kill her, but at least his actions on her behalf take her away from immediate danger.
It's a crazy farce, with the aforementioned letters having all kinds of absurd effects. I lost count of the many murder attempts (a dozen or so) and the random ways they're thwarted. It's like the Coyote going after the Road Runner.
There's an odd mystery element, too. Rosellen and the reader know exactly who's out to get her, but we don't know who took some items missing from Lord Stanford's townhome that have serious implications for the war effort.
I love the banter between the feisty Miss Lockharte and Lord Stanford, who's not accustomed to his directives being questioned. The outlandish plot is Georgette Heyer-esque, while the sparks between the hero and heroine are very Jane Austen-esque.
It's laugh-out-loud funny (ask my husband, who heard me). Excellent writing. Entertaining storyline. Clean content.
Highly recommend!
Rosellen Lockharte starts out as a pitiful character. It's hard to know exactly what to think of her, since she's feverish with influenza, half-starved, overhears comments leading to believe she's close to death, and then writes several bizarre-sounding letters forgiving everyone who's treated her badly (except Viscount Stanford, who she believes does not merit her forgiveness). There are quite a few of them. Most of her letters start out by plaintively whining that she's dying and never had a dog.
But first impressions are misleading. While these letters serve to establish Rosellen's backstory, she isn't actually dying. Once her fever goes down, she doesn't even remember writing them. Furthermore, her subsequent behavior shows her to be remarkably level-headed and plucky.
Unfortunately, a couple of recipients of the correspondence she penned in her delirium are now out to murder her. She's definitely not mistaken about that.
Another letter recipient, Viscount Stanford - the one she didn't forgive - becomes her unlikely savior. He doesn't believe her assertion that someone wants to kill her, but at least his actions on her behalf take her away from immediate danger.
It's a crazy farce, with the aforementioned letters having all kinds of absurd effects. I lost count of the many murder attempts (a dozen or so) and the random ways they're thwarted. It's like the Coyote going after the Road Runner.
There's an odd mystery element, too. Rosellen and the reader know exactly who's out to get her, but we don't know who took some items missing from Lord Stanford's townhome that have serious implications for the war effort.
I love the banter between the feisty Miss Lockharte and Lord Stanford, who's not accustomed to his directives being questioned. The outlandish plot is Georgette Heyer-esque, while the sparks between the hero and heroine are very Jane Austen-esque.
It's laugh-out-loud funny (ask my husband, who heard me). Excellent writing. Entertaining storyline. Clean content.
Highly recommend!
February 18, 2024
I enjoyed the humorous and satirical writing, but the MMC was a sticking point for me.
Writing- The writing was very unique and my favorite aspect of the book! Tongue in cheek, sarcastic, and witty. There was a lot of period slang which I had never come across before. But there was also dialogue that I think wouldn’t have been period appropriate (swearing in front of women, the FMC flippantly referencing the option of selling herself if her situation became dire, stuff like that). The 3rd person omniscient worked well.
Plot- The plot was uniquely entertaining. Pacing was a bit slow for the first 40% with a long setup. But the witty writing was entertaining throughout.
Characters- A great many characters were introduced that I had to occasionally go back to remember who they were.
The FMC was likable and not a doormat.
The MMC was much less likable. He kept calling women “chit” and “brat” which seemed jarring for the setting and just overall disrespectful and condescending.
He had a mistress at the beginning of the book and referred to her casually in the book occasionally. Having a casual sexual relationship with someone he doesn’t care about is a huge mark against him. But it gets so much worse. He broke up with his mistress, Maude, near the beginning of the book and I quote:
“Maude hadn’t quite understood. Either that or she preferred rubies to diamonds as a parting gift. Perhaps he should have made his announcement before enjoying her favors, he acknowledged now. Something about diamonds and damp sheets did not fit. Maude had thrown a fit when he announced he wouldn’t be coming back to the little house in Kensington.”
WHAT A JERK! This is absolutely not funny, quirky, or witty. It is appalling, disgusting, and callous. Ew, what a detestable man. I have no respect for him anymore.
Romance- the romance was not particularly romantic. The MMC isn’t very nice to the FMC. In fact, at one point he was awful to her!! He found the FMC on a dark balcony (the villain had dragged her out there to throw her off the balcony), and he assumed she was kissing someone so he said:
“If you care so little for your reputation and mine,” he said in a harsh whisper, “I might as well share the bounty, too.”
And he kissed her without waiting to find out if it was welcomed. As if it was his right to force himself on her because she had been willing to kiss someone else.
!!
Later, when she tells him she had actually just been accosted by a man who was trying to harm her, he didn’t believe her and refused to sincerely apologize for his inappropriate kiss, saying:
“You must have learned by now that females who go off alone in dark corners must expect to be accosted. I was wrong, you were wrong. Drop it.“
GRRRRRRRRRRR!!!
I think the fact that the MMC was heavy handed and arrogant was supposed to be part of the charm of the romance, but I didn’t like it at all. Of course he wasn’t always hateful, but when he was lovable, it was hard to forgive him or believe his sincerity.
He kinda wrecked the book for me. :/
Content-
Language- some low level swearing
Spice- clean. Some kissing. Some references to having a mistress.
Format- ebook on Everand
Writing- The writing was very unique and my favorite aspect of the book! Tongue in cheek, sarcastic, and witty. There was a lot of period slang which I had never come across before. But there was also dialogue that I think wouldn’t have been period appropriate (swearing in front of women, the FMC flippantly referencing the option of selling herself if her situation became dire, stuff like that). The 3rd person omniscient worked well.
Plot- The plot was uniquely entertaining. Pacing was a bit slow for the first 40% with a long setup. But the witty writing was entertaining throughout.
Characters- A great many characters were introduced that I had to occasionally go back to remember who they were.
The FMC was likable and not a doormat.
The MMC was much less likable. He kept calling women “chit” and “brat” which seemed jarring for the setting and just overall disrespectful and condescending.
He had a mistress at the beginning of the book and referred to her casually in the book occasionally. Having a casual sexual relationship with someone he doesn’t care about is a huge mark against him. But it gets so much worse. He broke up with his mistress, Maude, near the beginning of the book and I quote:
“Maude hadn’t quite understood. Either that or she preferred rubies to diamonds as a parting gift. Perhaps he should have made his announcement before enjoying her favors, he acknowledged now. Something about diamonds and damp sheets did not fit. Maude had thrown a fit when he announced he wouldn’t be coming back to the little house in Kensington.”
WHAT A JERK! This is absolutely not funny, quirky, or witty. It is appalling, disgusting, and callous. Ew, what a detestable man. I have no respect for him anymore.
Romance- the romance was not particularly romantic. The MMC isn’t very nice to the FMC. In fact, at one point he was awful to her!! He found the FMC on a dark balcony (the villain had dragged her out there to throw her off the balcony), and he assumed she was kissing someone so he said:
“If you care so little for your reputation and mine,” he said in a harsh whisper, “I might as well share the bounty, too.”
And he kissed her without waiting to find out if it was welcomed. As if it was his right to force himself on her because she had been willing to kiss someone else.
!!
Later, when she tells him she had actually just been accosted by a man who was trying to harm her, he didn’t believe her and refused to sincerely apologize for his inappropriate kiss, saying:
“You must have learned by now that females who go off alone in dark corners must expect to be accosted. I was wrong, you were wrong. Drop it.“
GRRRRRRRRRRR!!!
I think the fact that the MMC was heavy handed and arrogant was supposed to be part of the charm of the romance, but I didn’t like it at all. Of course he wasn’t always hateful, but when he was lovable, it was hard to forgive him or believe his sincerity.
He kinda wrecked the book for me. :/
Content-
Language- some low level swearing
Spice- clean. Some kissing. Some references to having a mistress.
Format- ebook on Everand
September 4, 2019
Another delightful read. I won’t bother to do a summary since so many other reviewers have already done an excellent job.
Madcap regency romance. A bit silly, you have to be in the mood for it, but nevertheless, kept up the entertainment factor.
I liked that:
The Hero was a decent man. He truly didn’t want to think himself capable of abusing anybody. I liked that he didn’t realize he was falling for the heroine, he was just constantly concerned, solicitous and so protective of her.
The heroine was smart, feisty and indomitable- especially in the light of her real abuse and circumstances. I also liked that she put her evil cousin, who caused her ruin, in the path of danger, instead of exposing herself! 😂👍🏻 Truly brilliant! She does get a belated pang of remorse, and nothing too bad happens to the cousin anyway so it’s still funny.
Secondary charters were amusing as well, the featherbrained bumbling twins with their well-meaning but inept attempts to redress their wrong towards the heroine really did steal the show for me. In the end, they did rise to the occasion and help save her from the villain.
The villains were truly evil...possible loss of star because the male villain just got shipped off to India! And female villain gets off Scott free 😒
Aside from that it was silly, amusing and oh so entertaining.
Madcap regency romance. A bit silly, you have to be in the mood for it, but nevertheless, kept up the entertainment factor.
I liked that:
The Hero was a decent man. He truly didn’t want to think himself capable of abusing anybody. I liked that he didn’t realize he was falling for the heroine, he was just constantly concerned, solicitous and so protective of her.
The heroine was smart, feisty and indomitable- especially in the light of her real abuse and circumstances. I also liked that she put her evil cousin, who caused her ruin, in the path of danger, instead of exposing herself! 😂👍🏻 Truly brilliant! She does get a belated pang of remorse, and nothing too bad happens to the cousin anyway so it’s still funny.
Secondary charters were amusing as well, the featherbrained bumbling twins with their well-meaning but inept attempts to redress their wrong towards the heroine really did steal the show for me. In the end, they did rise to the occasion and help save her from the villain.
The villains were truly evil...possible loss of star because the male villain just got shipped off to India! And female villain gets off Scott free 😒
Aside from that it was silly, amusing and oh so entertaining.
February 5, 2017
I fell in love with Wynn Alton. Enough said haha!
November 21, 2022
Sweet, whimsical with a touch of humour would have been perfect if it had more romance but overall, very enjoyable read.
December 17, 2020
2 ½ stars
I have read and enjoyed several novels by Barbara Metzger when I was younger and deeply entrenched in my Regency phase. I guess that over the years I have become a lot more knowledgeable about the Regency period, and also a bit more discerning in my reading tastes. I consider the writing in this novel to be quite immature, the plot to be all over the place, and the behavior of the characters to be frequently unbelievable.
Here is a quote from Miss Lockharte (a vicar’s daughter and a young lady of quality who has fallen on hard times) who is conversing with our hero, a Viscount.
“I could starve, I suppose.” She raised her bandaged arm. “I cannot work and I have nothing to sell. Offering my body, even if I were willing to take a woman’s last option, which I am not, does not seem to be an alternative, considering your reaction this afternoon.” – Miss Lockharte’s Letters
Lord Stanford is so worried that he will be trapped into marriage with Miss Lockheart that he sleeps in the stables rather than anywhere in the same inn as she. So what does he do next?
The door to Miss Lockharte’s room was partially open, so the viscount rushed right in…. She was sitting next to the fire, with her back to him, trying to fluff her curls dry with one hand…. “Here, let me do that,” Wynn said, taking the towel away from her. - Miss Lockharte’s Letters
And he then proceeds to gently towel dry her hair for her while she sits there in her robe.
I don’t think so. This kind of thing makes me NUTS!
I have read and enjoyed several novels by Barbara Metzger when I was younger and deeply entrenched in my Regency phase. I guess that over the years I have become a lot more knowledgeable about the Regency period, and also a bit more discerning in my reading tastes. I consider the writing in this novel to be quite immature, the plot to be all over the place, and the behavior of the characters to be frequently unbelievable.
Here is a quote from Miss Lockharte (a vicar’s daughter and a young lady of quality who has fallen on hard times) who is conversing with our hero, a Viscount.
“I could starve, I suppose.” She raised her bandaged arm. “I cannot work and I have nothing to sell. Offering my body, even if I were willing to take a woman’s last option, which I am not, does not seem to be an alternative, considering your reaction this afternoon.” – Miss Lockharte’s Letters
Lord Stanford is so worried that he will be trapped into marriage with Miss Lockheart that he sleeps in the stables rather than anywhere in the same inn as she. So what does he do next?
The door to Miss Lockharte’s room was partially open, so the viscount rushed right in…. She was sitting next to the fire, with her back to him, trying to fluff her curls dry with one hand…. “Here, let me do that,” Wynn said, taking the towel away from her. - Miss Lockharte’s Letters
And he then proceeds to gently towel dry her hair for her while she sits there in her robe.
I don’t think so. This kind of thing makes me NUTS!
August 21, 2015
Great fun. Barbara Metzger's stories take the same ingredients as so many other RegRoms, but manage to infuse them with a merriment and sweetness that always leave me with a smile on my face while I'm reading them. She shows a pleasant respect for her characters - they aren't manoeuvred into false positions for the the sake of the plot, for example, neither are the heroes too testosterone-rich, or the heroines TSTL. The tone is refreshingly tart, and there's a sense that Metzger is well-aware that she is writing candy-floss, even if it's superior candy-floss -
[If Rosellen didn't marry] Susan swore...Rosellen could stay on with her as the young lady's paid companion. Then she could be governess to the five children Susan wanted, after Miss Alton found her own Sir Lancelot. He, naturally, would be everything Rosellen's humble parti was not: well born and well breeched. And devastatingly attractive, Susan insisted. Rosellen wasn't sure about the five children, or the emphasis her friend was putting on the gentleman's outward appearance instead of his inner character, but she didn't care. So long as he could afford to pay her fair wages, enough that she might have a pension and a cottage of her own someday, Susan could marry a troll. A nice troll, of course, for sweet Susan deserved no less.
Delightful.
[If Rosellen didn't marry] Susan swore...Rosellen could stay on with her as the young lady's paid companion. Then she could be governess to the five children Susan wanted, after Miss Alton found her own Sir Lancelot. He, naturally, would be everything Rosellen's humble parti was not: well born and well breeched. And devastatingly attractive, Susan insisted. Rosellen wasn't sure about the five children, or the emphasis her friend was putting on the gentleman's outward appearance instead of his inner character, but she didn't care. So long as he could afford to pay her fair wages, enough that she might have a pension and a cottage of her own someday, Susan could marry a troll. A nice troll, of course, for sweet Susan deserved no less.
Delightful.
August 17, 2012
The final chapter was poorly done. It felt as though the ending was written as an after thought. It still left many unanswered questions.
May 8, 2020
The Perils of Pauline have nothing on Rosellen Lockharte and what her letters set off!
Believing she will not live until dawn, a delirious feverish Rosellen refuses the laudanum pressed on her by the beleaguered maid and spends what she believes to be her last night on earth writing letters to all who in some way wronged her. She persuades the beleaguered maid, with all of her money and her good red cloak, to deliver or mail all the letters. She then sleeps believing she will never again wake. Of course, that's not quite how it all works out. Oh and she is the victim of an influenza epidemic that has raced through the dismal school she is employed by. Don't think for a second that I did not appreciate the irony of reading for escape during a pandemic a book that includes an epidemic.
Rosellen is an impoverished vicar's daughter who is abandoned by her mother's titled family and left penniless and alone on her father's death. She ends up as a penmanship teacher in a dismal school for the nobility's girls run by a less than honorable matron. I will say no more but needless to say there are many who have wronged Miss Lockharte in some careless or mean way, thus depriving her of ever having owned a dog, been kissed, and a few other such dreams. In her letters she brings unwanted attention to the fact that she has noticed some not so admirable behaviour and even some illegal activity by some of the recipients. This is where those perils enter the picture.
Where's the romantic interest, you ask. Well it seems that the titled brother of one of the students caused Miss Lockharte much heartache through dismissive behaviour. He receives one of her letters, as does his sister, and he reluctantly accedes to his sister's pleadings and a mildly guilty conscious to check on the Lockharte situation. And so the hero enters the scene, but the two don't really meet and engage until about half way through the story. From that point on, the book becomes a madcap romp with the usual accoutrement of rescued pets and orphans to be found in Metzger's regencies. All of course it ends with a satisfying HEA, all plotlines tied up neatly into bows.
I'd forgotten what a delight this read was. I had a wonderful time rediscovering it, and it is the perfect pandemic escape. Metzger is one of my favorite regency romance authors because her books are funny, full of humor, and silly escapism. It's actually quite difficult to write truly funny stories, and Metzger is a master.
Believing she will not live until dawn, a delirious feverish Rosellen refuses the laudanum pressed on her by the beleaguered maid and spends what she believes to be her last night on earth writing letters to all who in some way wronged her. She persuades the beleaguered maid, with all of her money and her good red cloak, to deliver or mail all the letters. She then sleeps believing she will never again wake. Of course, that's not quite how it all works out. Oh and she is the victim of an influenza epidemic that has raced through the dismal school she is employed by. Don't think for a second that I did not appreciate the irony of reading for escape during a pandemic a book that includes an epidemic.
Rosellen is an impoverished vicar's daughter who is abandoned by her mother's titled family and left penniless and alone on her father's death. She ends up as a penmanship teacher in a dismal school for the nobility's girls run by a less than honorable matron. I will say no more but needless to say there are many who have wronged Miss Lockharte in some careless or mean way, thus depriving her of ever having owned a dog, been kissed, and a few other such dreams. In her letters she brings unwanted attention to the fact that she has noticed some not so admirable behaviour and even some illegal activity by some of the recipients. This is where those perils enter the picture.
Where's the romantic interest, you ask. Well it seems that the titled brother of one of the students caused Miss Lockharte much heartache through dismissive behaviour. He receives one of her letters, as does his sister, and he reluctantly accedes to his sister's pleadings and a mildly guilty conscious to check on the Lockharte situation. And so the hero enters the scene, but the two don't really meet and engage until about half way through the story. From that point on, the book becomes a madcap romp with the usual accoutrement of rescued pets and orphans to be found in Metzger's regencies. All of course it ends with a satisfying HEA, all plotlines tied up neatly into bows.
I'd forgotten what a delight this read was. I had a wonderful time rediscovering it, and it is the perfect pandemic escape. Metzger is one of my favorite regency romance authors because her books are funny, full of humor, and silly escapism. It's actually quite difficult to write truly funny stories, and Metzger is a master.
November 30, 2025
3.5
"Rosellen ignorò il suo sbuffo. — Sono una donna adulta, che sa badare a se stessa.
Wynn sollevò una mano, contando sulle dita: — Travolta da cavalli imbizzarriti. Scivolata dalle scale. Rapita, e ora vittima di un incendio. Ho dimenticato qualcosa?
Rosellen non pensò fosse un buon momento per ricordare a lord Stanford dei tentativi di strangolarla e soffocarla mentre era malata. — Va bene, non sto facendo un gran lavoro al momento.
— Miss Lockharte, di questo passo non arriverete alla fine della settimana."
Sicuramente questo libro mi ha sorpresa e divertita, e mi ha ricordato moltissimo quelle commedie degli equivoci che si vedono a teatro, del resto la protagonista ne passa davvero di tutti i colori e i personaggi che le ruotano intorno, dalla malvagia datrice di lavoro, all'eroe riluttante fino alla cugina egoista, sono figure esasperate, quasi macchiette a volte, che le girano intorno alimentando fraintendimenti di ogni genere XD Rosellen stessa, pur avendo guizzi di buon senso, spesso tira fuori un'ingenuità e una teatralità che non manca di esasperare chi la circonda, e non a caso tutto parte dalle lettere che decide di spedire credendosi in punto di morte (era solo una brutta febbre!) per togliersi qualche sassolino dalla scarpa, senza immaginare che non solo lei sarebbe sopravvissuta, ma le sue confessioni avrebbero messo in moto una serie di eventi tra agguati, scambi di identità, scambi di denaro, sensi di colpa che riemergono e, appunto, l'arrivo del nostro eroe che inizialmente di presenta come il tipico nobiluomo ricco e annoiato, egoista e anche un filo crudele, per poi rimanere suo malgrado incastrato dalle disgrazie della povera ragazza e infine incantato dal suo spirito audace e decisamente fuori di testa XD
"Rosellen ignorò il suo sbuffo. — Sono una donna adulta, che sa badare a se stessa.
Wynn sollevò una mano, contando sulle dita: — Travolta da cavalli imbizzarriti. Scivolata dalle scale. Rapita, e ora vittima di un incendio. Ho dimenticato qualcosa?
Rosellen non pensò fosse un buon momento per ricordare a lord Stanford dei tentativi di strangolarla e soffocarla mentre era malata. — Va bene, non sto facendo un gran lavoro al momento.
— Miss Lockharte, di questo passo non arriverete alla fine della settimana."
Sicuramente questo libro mi ha sorpresa e divertita, e mi ha ricordato moltissimo quelle commedie degli equivoci che si vedono a teatro, del resto la protagonista ne passa davvero di tutti i colori e i personaggi che le ruotano intorno, dalla malvagia datrice di lavoro, all'eroe riluttante fino alla cugina egoista, sono figure esasperate, quasi macchiette a volte, che le girano intorno alimentando fraintendimenti di ogni genere XD Rosellen stessa, pur avendo guizzi di buon senso, spesso tira fuori un'ingenuità e una teatralità che non manca di esasperare chi la circonda, e non a caso tutto parte dalle lettere che decide di spedire credendosi in punto di morte (era solo una brutta febbre!) per togliersi qualche sassolino dalla scarpa, senza immaginare che non solo lei sarebbe sopravvissuta, ma le sue confessioni avrebbero messo in moto una serie di eventi tra agguati, scambi di identità, scambi di denaro, sensi di colpa che riemergono e, appunto, l'arrivo del nostro eroe che inizialmente di presenta come il tipico nobiluomo ricco e annoiato, egoista e anche un filo crudele, per poi rimanere suo malgrado incastrato dalle disgrazie della povera ragazza e infine incantato dal suo spirito audace e decisamente fuori di testa XD
March 29, 2020
I was expecting something more like Georgette Heyer, but shorter. It was a decent Kindle read for 2am, but really lacked the humor and Regency flavor of GH.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews