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Snowdrops and Scandalbroth
JUST WHAT MUST A GENTLEMAN DO TO PROVE HE'S A NOTORIOUS RAKE
Stranded in London at the mercy of strangers, Miss Kathlyn Parkland was mistrustful of Lord Chase's sympathy, surprised by his hospitality . . . and positively shocked by his outrageous offer: He wished to pay her to appear with him in public!
It seemed His Lordship wanted to counter the virtuous reputation that had branded him an oddity in the ladies' eyes. But Chase assured Miss Parkland that it would just be a ruse, for he strongly believed that if a bride was expected to enter marriage with her honor intact, so should the groom.
Miss Parkland needed the money; he needed a mistress. Several strolls on his arm would be enough to establish his character as a roguish connoisseur and complete rake. But, of course, love had a scheme of its own. . .
Stranded in London at the mercy of strangers, Miss Kathlyn Parkland was mistrustful of Lord Chase's sympathy, surprised by his hospitality . . . and positively shocked by his outrageous offer: He wished to pay her to appear with him in public!
It seemed His Lordship wanted to counter the virtuous reputation that had branded him an oddity in the ladies' eyes. But Chase assured Miss Parkland that it would just be a ruse, for he strongly believed that if a bride was expected to enter marriage with her honor intact, so should the groom.
Miss Parkland needed the money; he needed a mistress. Several strolls on his arm would be enough to establish his character as a roguish connoisseur and complete rake. But, of course, love had a scheme of its own. . .
216 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 28, 1996
46 people are currently reading
261 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Metzger
103 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 52 reviews
Did Not Finish
August 15, 2017Hero's obsession with finding a virgin bride was rather sickening by the end.
This is his "romantic" marriage proposal to the woman he can't live without who he just rescued (she rescued herself but that's besides the point):
“Do you love me?”
“Of course.”
“Are you a virgin?”
Of course he knew she was! But make no mistake just in case she wasn't that undying love he felt for her would have meant nothing whatsoever, because hymen!
This is his "romantic" marriage proposal to the woman he can't live without who he just rescued (she rescued herself but that's besides the point):
“Do you love me?”
“Of course.”
“Are you a virgin?”
Of course he knew she was! But make no mistake just in case she wasn't that undying love he felt for her would have meant nothing whatsoever, because hymen!
February 18, 2021
5 stars.
REALLY great writing. Fun, great pace, lots of conflict, and fantastically witty! I LOL quite a few times.
There is so much to say I don't know where to begin.
I love the old fashioned slang even though I didn't understand some of the meaning from time to time, but it didn't matter, I got the gist of it through the context. The dialogue really set the tone of the time period.
I LOVED the heroine! I am a fan of strong female personalities, and this author did well in making her strong, intelligent, yet beautiful and feminine. In fact she was absolutely gorgeous, and I really like that.
The hero was perfect, yet flawed. He was so honorable and noble that these very same qualities became a flaw at one point, but in a good way.
All of the characters were connected to each other and blended well together. Each set of characters added to different plots but the author was brilliant in weaving these plots together and intertwining them so they weren't different stories in side the main one but connected and enhanced it.
A very quick summary:
The hero is a virgin by choice due to his upbringing and his distaste for the way men in society are expected to be rakes. After he dumps his fiancée, , he fights in a war for two years, comes home, and the talk of his peers is that maybe the hero may be homosexual. He decides to find someone who can pose as his mistress. Just pose. To salvage his reputation. He meets up with the heroine who is a poor country girl, in London, who is to become a governess. Unfortunately her coach was held up due to weather an other circumstances, and the position is no longer available. She has no where to go, and the hero, being honorable, convinces her (and it takes a lot of convincing) to stay with his nanny until she can find another position. He sees how beautiful she is and makes a proposition to her, offering a years salary to pose as his mistress. She agrees since she will take another name and won't ruin her reputation. She also thinks she is helping the hero to obtain a potential bride.
Lots of great stuff happen when she is being drooled over by every male that sees her, making the hero furious jealous. Yadda yadda, we have some jewels thieves, some Bow Street runners, and nasty relatives , plus the devious ex fiancée (who has now become very physically unattractive.) who all add to the conflict. Just fantastic!
I totally recommend this book, and plan to look at more written by this author.
This is a clean read, but it is so fantastic. I think there is a lot to be said for a romance book that doesn't need to lean so heavily on sex. I am impressed!
Content concerns:
REALLY great writing. Fun, great pace, lots of conflict, and fantastically witty! I LOL quite a few times.
There is so much to say I don't know where to begin.
I love the old fashioned slang even though I didn't understand some of the meaning from time to time, but it didn't matter, I got the gist of it through the context. The dialogue really set the tone of the time period.
I LOVED the heroine! I am a fan of strong female personalities, and this author did well in making her strong, intelligent, yet beautiful and feminine. In fact she was absolutely gorgeous, and I really like that.
The hero was perfect, yet flawed. He was so honorable and noble that these very same qualities became a flaw at one point, but in a good way.
All of the characters were connected to each other and blended well together. Each set of characters added to different plots but the author was brilliant in weaving these plots together and intertwining them so they weren't different stories in side the main one but connected and enhanced it.
A very quick summary:
The hero is a virgin by choice due to his upbringing and his distaste for the way men in society are expected to be rakes. After he dumps his fiancée, , he fights in a war for two years, comes home, and the talk of his peers is that maybe the hero may be homosexual. He decides to find someone who can pose as his mistress. Just pose. To salvage his reputation. He meets up with the heroine who is a poor country girl, in London, who is to become a governess. Unfortunately her coach was held up due to weather an other circumstances, and the position is no longer available. She has no where to go, and the hero, being honorable, convinces her (and it takes a lot of convincing) to stay with his nanny until she can find another position. He sees how beautiful she is and makes a proposition to her, offering a years salary to pose as his mistress. She agrees since she will take another name and won't ruin her reputation. She also thinks she is helping the hero to obtain a potential bride.
Lots of great stuff happen when she is being drooled over by every male that sees her, making the hero furious jealous. Yadda yadda, we have some jewels thieves, some Bow Street runners, and nasty relatives , plus the devious ex fiancée (who has now become very physically unattractive.) who all add to the conflict. Just fantastic!
I totally recommend this book, and plan to look at more written by this author.
This is a clean read, but it is so fantastic. I think there is a lot to be said for a romance book that doesn't need to lean so heavily on sex. I am impressed!
Content concerns:
February 19, 2025
A farcical Trad Regency that was written in a different time. I love virgin heroes in romance novels as a general rule, but this one almost put me off them entirely given how sanctimonious he was. Some slut-shaming (turned to fat-shaming for added bonus points 🙄) of the hero's former fiancée and the requisite Not-Like-Other-Girls nonsense tied to the heroine. Also a lot of writerly shortcuts taken to trim down word count, coupled with a large cast of secondary characters and the farcical tone meant the romance comes off rather slapdash. This one hasn't aged all that well.
July 22, 2017
A Virgin Hero . He broke his engagement with the OW coz she was not a virgin i.e she was not faithful to her future-husband like he is being faithful to his future-wife whoever it maybe,Here we have a H who dreams of forever love and happily ever after's and a h who is all set to be independent and open a school. It was funny with lot many extra characters than necessary and with very little of romance I must say.
September 6, 2012
3.5 stars. This was unexpected: a traditional Regency romance that's also a screwball crime caper and a bit of a sex farce. It's a shame it wasn't written until 1996, because it would have made a great 1930's movie, preferably directed by Ernst Lubistch.
Courtney, Lord Chase is that rarest of romance heroes -- not just a virgin, but a virgin because of principles. His unusual forbearance leads to some unfortunate misunderstandings amongst the ton, causing him to need a fake mistress, fast. Enter the poor but virtuous Kathlyn Parkland, who agrees to help him -- less for money than because she feels terribly sorry for the tragically wounded hero, who obviously needs a fake mistress because he has nothing to offer a real one. Meanwhile, various threads of a complicated plot involving a jewelry heist, Courtney's mother, Kathlyn's aunt, several bumbling thieves and two less than brilliant Bow Street Runners are also coming together.
It took me a while to really get into this story, because the caper elements were tiresome and seemed out of place. But the mildly risque humor was entertaining and the main characters quite sweet. After awhile I realized the whole thing was basically a farce and started to enjoy it more. The book is written in very broad strokes which keep it from being as genuinely romantic as I'd like, but it's certainly fun.
Courtney, Lord Chase is that rarest of romance heroes -- not just a virgin, but a virgin because of principles. His unusual forbearance leads to some unfortunate misunderstandings amongst the ton, causing him to need a fake mistress, fast. Enter the poor but virtuous Kathlyn Parkland, who agrees to help him -- less for money than because she feels terribly sorry for the tragically wounded hero, who obviously needs a fake mistress because he has nothing to offer a real one. Meanwhile, various threads of a complicated plot involving a jewelry heist, Courtney's mother, Kathlyn's aunt, several bumbling thieves and two less than brilliant Bow Street Runners are also coming together.
It took me a while to really get into this story, because the caper elements were tiresome and seemed out of place. But the mildly risque humor was entertaining and the main characters quite sweet. After awhile I realized the whole thing was basically a farce and started to enjoy it more. The book is written in very broad strokes which keep it from being as genuinely romantic as I'd like, but it's certainly fun.
October 10, 2019
Gave it a try because it was nice to have a hero who is not a philandering asshole or vulgar pig. In fact, I rather appreciated his more "moral" approach to marriage; it felt like a commentary--or an indictment even--on most books in this type of genre. But the story wants to have its cake and eat it too. It cannot resist descending into vulgar jokes on just about every occasion. And while it was nice to have a virgin hero besides the usual virgin heroine, the emphasis rather made it the obsession of the book and made it more hyper-focused than if it just avoided the topic altogether.
Perhaps, in fact, it was not trying to be a biting commentary about the virginal maidens that populate this genre at all. In which case, I still think it falls disappointingly short of what it might have been.
Perhaps, in fact, it was not trying to be a biting commentary about the virginal maidens that populate this genre at all. In which case, I still think it falls disappointingly short of what it might have been.
December 5, 2017
First, I am awful and knowing when to include spoiler alerts so having said that, just assume there are spoilers littered in here...
.
.
.
.
Second, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. What I have come to learn about the author is that her books are witty, often sensual (with innuendo more than graphic description), and hidden among it all are some really keen observations. I think that for those who are what I call "close or observant" readers, will appreciate most of her works where she often shows among all the "madcap romance," the darker reality. Women of breeding have few options where they have little to no legal rights and are considered of a commodity to be bargained by those with power (men) and women with no breeding or prospects have even less.
Having said that, I love that in this book, the H is NOT a rake. In fact, in a class where the worst rakes are forgiven if married, with money, titled or all 3, he stands by his values and morals. He has seen what infidelity has done to his mother as he remembers all her tears and sadness. He has seen what his nursemaid's husband left her with as well, heart ache and a struggle to find a way to make a living. He has vowed that he will not be that kind of man. That a real man stands up for his values. That if women are held to a standard of purity and expected to come into a marriage a virgin than she should expect the same of her future husband. Now, to the casual reader this may sound very dull but it's not. I attribute that to the fact that Ms. Metzger doesn't make him a saint. The H acknowledges the temptations, the difficulties involved in staying chaste until marriage. He has also made the mistake already of being engaged to marry someone who had already lost her virginity and have slept with more than one man. I think many readers focus on the "act" and hold it against the H that he is judging a woman based on her chastity. No, he is judging the women for not holding the sanctity of chastity and fidelity before and during marriage as sacred as he does.
I loved the h who was not helpless. She was simply...nice. And that was ok! She had the same values as the H despite her reduced circumstances.
Finally, I know the H's final proposal to the h put up some hackles but I feel it was taken a bit out of context. When he asks her to marry him, she says:
"But...but our lives have been so different. We have nothing in common."
"Do you love me?"
"Of course."
"Are you a virgin?"
Blushing, she replied, "You know I am!"
"There, that's two things in common right off...Nothing else matters, my love."
I think people fail to note WHY he asks that question (things they BOTH had in common!) and BTW, he responds that HE TOO is a virgin. I thought it was sweet because it showed that they were 2 people, both inexperienced as to physical intimacy, who both shared the same values. I thought it was a pretty d*mn good way to start out a marriage myself! Though I like to lose myself in "fantasy," I can never really ignore a little bit of reality creeping in and the H won me over early when he decided that he would be a virgin until marriage because aside from coming into the marriage state the same as his bride, he also acknowledges rakes who bring back diseases and illegitimate children to his wife and you know, AMEN TO THAT. Because a part of me is always thinking in the back of my mind that the pox was deadly and all...
So ultimately, no overt sexuality, mostly just minor innuendo, but a lot of sweetness I think.
.
.
.
.
Second, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. What I have come to learn about the author is that her books are witty, often sensual (with innuendo more than graphic description), and hidden among it all are some really keen observations. I think that for those who are what I call "close or observant" readers, will appreciate most of her works where she often shows among all the "madcap romance," the darker reality. Women of breeding have few options where they have little to no legal rights and are considered of a commodity to be bargained by those with power (men) and women with no breeding or prospects have even less.
Having said that, I love that in this book, the H is NOT a rake. In fact, in a class where the worst rakes are forgiven if married, with money, titled or all 3, he stands by his values and morals. He has seen what infidelity has done to his mother as he remembers all her tears and sadness. He has seen what his nursemaid's husband left her with as well, heart ache and a struggle to find a way to make a living. He has vowed that he will not be that kind of man. That a real man stands up for his values. That if women are held to a standard of purity and expected to come into a marriage a virgin than she should expect the same of her future husband. Now, to the casual reader this may sound very dull but it's not. I attribute that to the fact that Ms. Metzger doesn't make him a saint. The H acknowledges the temptations, the difficulties involved in staying chaste until marriage. He has also made the mistake already of being engaged to marry someone who had already lost her virginity and have slept with more than one man. I think many readers focus on the "act" and hold it against the H that he is judging a woman based on her chastity. No, he is judging the women for not holding the sanctity of chastity and fidelity before and during marriage as sacred as he does.
I loved the h who was not helpless. She was simply...nice. And that was ok! She had the same values as the H despite her reduced circumstances.
Finally, I know the H's final proposal to the h put up some hackles but I feel it was taken a bit out of context. When he asks her to marry him, she says:
"But...but our lives have been so different. We have nothing in common."
"Do you love me?"
"Of course."
"Are you a virgin?"
Blushing, she replied, "You know I am!"
"There, that's two things in common right off...Nothing else matters, my love."
I think people fail to note WHY he asks that question (things they BOTH had in common!) and BTW, he responds that HE TOO is a virgin. I thought it was sweet because it showed that they were 2 people, both inexperienced as to physical intimacy, who both shared the same values. I thought it was a pretty d*mn good way to start out a marriage myself! Though I like to lose myself in "fantasy," I can never really ignore a little bit of reality creeping in and the H won me over early when he decided that he would be a virgin until marriage because aside from coming into the marriage state the same as his bride, he also acknowledges rakes who bring back diseases and illegitimate children to his wife and you know, AMEN TO THAT. Because a part of me is always thinking in the back of my mind that the pox was deadly and all...
So ultimately, no overt sexuality, mostly just minor innuendo, but a lot of sweetness I think.
October 17, 2010
Really delightful ... a hero who holds himself to a higher standard but he's not a prude. The heroine is a darling and the hero's retired nanny takes her to her ample bosom. A book like this, so witty and effervescent, reminds one of what is possible.
December 26, 2016
Sweetly silly.
June 30, 2017
This was unique in that the hero was a virgin and intended to stay one until after marriage, but he’s getting a reputation in society as not being interested in women. He runs across the heroine who is having a really bad day and is stuck in a snowstorm without hope of the job she came to London for. He convinces her to pretend to be his mistress for a short amount of time. She thinks his injuries have rendered him impotent and agrees because she feels sorry for him. So hilarious. This is the second book of hers with the bow street runner in it as a POV.
March 20, 2016
A enjoyable regency romance. I was reading with pleasure. There are misunderstandings, crimes, funny dialogues.
Barbara Metzger books are one level simpler than Georgette Heyer. In books by Metzger you don't find good described supporting characters and Metzger wrote shorter books. But still you can almost feel Heyer style and atmosphere.
Barbara Metzger books are one level simpler than Georgette Heyer. In books by Metzger you don't find good described supporting characters and Metzger wrote shorter books. But still you can almost feel Heyer style and atmosphere.
March 26, 2016
Maybe I've been too tired after reading same old plots of (historical) romances that I found this book refreshing...and FUNNY! True, it's more like a fiction with a touch of romance rather than a romance with subplots (of which I don't like), but to me it's waaaay better! The writing is very good, I enjoy reading it and can't help laughing every once in a while. There may be too many characters with different interests, but it's acceptable for stories like this. As a matter of fact, even with so many supporting characters and subplots, the interaction between two main characters is still sufficiently portrayed. It still amazes me that with limited portion in the plot (compared to other romance books), I can still see how their feelings grow and their relationship develops.
Also, the main characters are very likeable. I especially LOVE Courtney, our virgin hero. Kathlyn/Kitty is lovely by being independent but sensible. In short, I love that both hero and heroine is sensible most of the time.
The downside is the lack of steamy scenes. Seriously, the writer has so much left to readers' imagination. Almost too much, thank you. But anyway, maybe this is how a standard historical romance would be without all the...ah, activities.
My first Barbara Metzger, definitely not my last :)
Also, the main characters are very likeable. I especially LOVE Courtney, our virgin hero. Kathlyn/Kitty is lovely by being independent but sensible. In short, I love that both hero and heroine is sensible most of the time.
The downside is the lack of steamy scenes. Seriously, the writer has so much left to readers' imagination. Almost too much, thank you. But anyway, maybe this is how a standard historical romance would be without all the...ah, activities.
My first Barbara Metzger, definitely not my last :)
August 4, 2013
I discovered Barbara Metzger's novels by accident a few weeks ago via my local digital library, and enjoyed this one more than any I've read so far. When so much of what passes for Regency-era romance today is little more than dolled-up soft porn, it's a pleasure to read a story that is true not only to the language and social customs of the time, but to the traditional moral beliefs as well. The interesting twist in this one is the male lead, Lord Chase; he's not only a man of principle and honor, but virginal as well. His strong but voluntarily unfulfilled yearnings are touching and very compelling in their own fashion. Ms. Metzger has proven there doesn't need to be a "rake" to reform (usually at the expense of the moral compromise of the lead female) to hold the reader's interest. Well done! I hope I'm not disappointed when I get around to her more recent books.
June 9, 2015
This is not my favourite Metzger so far but this doesn't mean that I will stop reading her. The first half was amusing but in the second half a lot of characters were mixed and the farce was not so interesting any more. Mr Dimm the detective from A Suspicious Affair is here again searching for lost jewels and matchmaking.
June 6, 2009
Well, as compared to the prior books read for the Romance Genre Study, this one was a bit more to my liking. Regency in setting, it did have a more modern tone than Austen. The complicating feature here is the high moral standards of the hero and the fall-out from not having sex (pre-marital or a mistress). In the end, all love-making is "off-camera". Historic specifics seemed accurate.
July 13, 2022
This is definitely a fun regency love story and a very funny story. Lord Chase is horrified at his fiancee who wishes to carry out their marriage vows before the wedding. He proclaims he is a virgin and if she is not he cannot marry her. Then when the ton think the worst of him, he goes off to fight Napoleon, returning a hero and now ready to marry. On the way to his townhouse in London he picks up a young woman who has lost her way and her job governessing. This is Kathlyn Partland, a lady of quality who has had bad luck. She misunderstands Lord Chase's offer that she act as his mistress so the ton will think him a rake, thinking he is impotent. She also sat next to a robber on the stage to London, who dies, and is now considered by the Bow Street Runners as his doxie and by the robber's band as someone who knows where he hid the stolen jewels. A really wild and zany story. I loved it.
May 31, 2019
Barbara Metzger is one of my favorite authors because of her humor and likable characters. Although the characters were interesting and fun, they just didn't grab me. Lord Chase is a virtuous man who is looking for a like spirit. In the opening chapters, he finds that his first choice did not choose him first. When the young lady was jilted, she spread it around that Lord Chase wasn't very manly. Now, Lord Chase is in a quandary.
This book just didn't seem to be of the same quality as most of this author's other books. 3.5 stars
This book just didn't seem to be of the same quality as most of this author's other books. 3.5 stars
February 7, 2021
We first meet COURTNEY COATE, Viscount Chase when he and his fiancee get caught in a snowstorm. It appears that the two young lovers will anticipate their marriage vows, until…Courtney confesses that he is a virgin and wants to wait until their wedding night. No spoilers but this confession does not end well.
Fast forward a couple of years and we find Miss KATHLYN PARTLAND struggling through a snowstorm herself before getting rescued by our hero who has a proposition for her.
But there’s more to Kathlyn than meets the eye – well at least that’s what a gang of jewel thieves believe, and they’ll stop at nothing to find the truth.
What did I particularly like about this book?
Well that’s pretty much the whole of the book that I liked. That the hero does not believe it appropriate that his wife should be virginal whilst he is not.
Oh and the heroine. Kathlyn is intelligent, self-sufficient and generally thinks before she acts. She comes up with a plausible explanation for why Courtney wishes her to pretend to be a mistress and keeps her head when she’s in danger. She also works out the jewel mystery under very trying circumstances.
But apart from that, well I felt like the author was just ticking off various components to a romance novel:
Virtuous hero – check
Virtuous heroine – check
Heroine in danger, saved by hero even though she’s ugly – check
Heroine actually turns out to be drop-dead gorgeous – check
Hero has two silly friends as comic relief – check
Heroine wins over everyone with her external and internal beauty – check
Lots of secondary characters to add (more) comic relief and danger to the heroine – check
Heroine turns out to be something / someone which allows for happy ever after – check
And in the end, none of those components really added up to anything out of the ordinary.
In summary
Look, Snowdrops and Scandalbroth isn’t a bad book – I was able to finish it which isn’t always the case lately sadly. But it isn’t one I’ll be re-reading either.
I’d recommend getting it if / when it goes on special in your local Amazon but otherwise there’s plenty of other Romance books with a mystery, smart heroine and a gentle hero to spend your money on.
(Check out my personal blog for more Traditional Regency Romance reviews)
Fast forward a couple of years and we find Miss KATHLYN PARTLAND struggling through a snowstorm herself before getting rescued by our hero who has a proposition for her.
But there’s more to Kathlyn than meets the eye – well at least that’s what a gang of jewel thieves believe, and they’ll stop at nothing to find the truth.
What did I particularly like about this book?
Well that’s pretty much the whole of the book that I liked. That the hero does not believe it appropriate that his wife should be virginal whilst he is not.
Oh and the heroine. Kathlyn is intelligent, self-sufficient and generally thinks before she acts. She comes up with a plausible explanation for why Courtney wishes her to pretend to be a mistress and keeps her head when she’s in danger. She also works out the jewel mystery under very trying circumstances.
But apart from that, well I felt like the author was just ticking off various components to a romance novel:
Virtuous hero – check
Virtuous heroine – check
Heroine in danger, saved by hero even though she’s ugly – check
Heroine actually turns out to be drop-dead gorgeous – check
Hero has two silly friends as comic relief – check
Heroine wins over everyone with her external and internal beauty – check
Lots of secondary characters to add (more) comic relief and danger to the heroine – check
Heroine turns out to be something / someone which allows for happy ever after – check
And in the end, none of those components really added up to anything out of the ordinary.
In summary
Look, Snowdrops and Scandalbroth isn’t a bad book – I was able to finish it which isn’t always the case lately sadly. But it isn’t one I’ll be re-reading either.
I’d recommend getting it if / when it goes on special in your local Amazon but otherwise there’s plenty of other Romance books with a mystery, smart heroine and a gentle hero to spend your money on.
(Check out my personal blog for more Traditional Regency Romance reviews)
August 25, 2021
It's a kissing book
Races, fights, abductions, True Love....all wrapped up in Metzger's wit, seasoned with a dash of Shakespeare, and the usual bumbling villains as combined threat and comic relief.
Races, fights, abductions, True Love....all wrapped up in Metzger's wit, seasoned with a dash of Shakespeare, and the usual bumbling villains as combined threat and comic relief.
October 18, 2018
Snowdrops....
Not as lively not as entertaining as the other books by this author I have read. Glad I have a library card.
Not as lively not as entertaining as the other books by this author I have read. Glad I have a library card.
October 21, 2019
3.5 stars
May 19, 2022
This was adorable. All of Metzger’s stories are humorous and adorable. I loved the ending.
April 21, 2024
This was a little outrageous, but I still liked it.
September 24, 2025
A cute and humorous book that had me chuckling throughout.
April 27, 2026
Fabulous, classic Regency romp.
January 6, 2024
A male virgin hero! Lots of extra characters, all trying to find missing diamonds. Repeated references to winter weather - very creative use of the weather to move the story along.
October 20, 2014
I really thought I was going to like this book. It sounded like something that could have been turned into a Grant/Hepburn film and that's always a good sign. However...
I did like the two leads, even if I never felt any chemistry from their romance. The secondary plotline was decent, even if it took way too long to become amusing and I never found it as funny as it was probably supposed to be.
The big issue I had though was the writing style. I liked how there were a lot of different people to follow and I never had problems keeping them straight. They shined the most though, when the chapter was about them - like the first few building each of the main characters. Once more people were introduced to the story, the writing became 'third person omniscient' - which means that at any moment in the story, we would be afforded an inside look at character a, then one paragraph later we would get to see inside the head of person b.
While most (though not all) of this was limited to the main two characters, some of the others got their moment in too.
I don't like this writing style. It reminds me way too much of head hopping - something that actually gives me a headache when over done. This book quite nearly over did it for me. Some people might like it, but I much prefer each character to have their own chapter - or even just a couple of pages, and then switch to someone else, instead of back and forth each paragraph.
I did like the two leads, even if I never felt any chemistry from their romance. The secondary plotline was decent, even if it took way too long to become amusing and I never found it as funny as it was probably supposed to be.
The big issue I had though was the writing style. I liked how there were a lot of different people to follow and I never had problems keeping them straight. They shined the most though, when the chapter was about them - like the first few building each of the main characters. Once more people were introduced to the story, the writing became 'third person omniscient' - which means that at any moment in the story, we would be afforded an inside look at character a, then one paragraph later we would get to see inside the head of person b.
While most (though not all) of this was limited to the main two characters, some of the others got their moment in too.
I don't like this writing style. It reminds me way too much of head hopping - something that actually gives me a headache when over done. This book quite nearly over did it for me. Some people might like it, but I much prefer each character to have their own chapter - or even just a couple of pages, and then switch to someone else, instead of back and forth each paragraph.
April 10, 2013
A very sweet comedy of manners. Lord Chase is caught in a snowstorm with his betrothed only to find she is not as pure as himself. Breaking the betrothal creates all manner of rumours about him, which no amount of heroics can assuage, even when he returns wounded from the war. So he decides he must be seen to have a mistress, one who won't tell anyone of what they don't get up to in private.
Kathlyn has been left penniless after her parents' deaths and is on her way to London to become a governess. Hold-ups due to snow and highwaymen along the way mean that when she arrives the position is no longer there. She agrees reluctantly to become part of Chase's plan, mainly because she likes his old Nanny and wants to help that family until the new grandchild is born. Everyone is now watching the pair, either because they are intrigued by the scandal or because they suspect Kathlyn knows the location of stolen jewels. Multiple groups plan to kidnap her and some succeed only for her to rescue herself before Chase can get there. It all gets resolved in the end (possibly a little too quickly, but that's my complaint with a lot of romances.
Kathlyn has been left penniless after her parents' deaths and is on her way to London to become a governess. Hold-ups due to snow and highwaymen along the way mean that when she arrives the position is no longer there. She agrees reluctantly to become part of Chase's plan, mainly because she likes his old Nanny and wants to help that family until the new grandchild is born. Everyone is now watching the pair, either because they are intrigued by the scandal or because they suspect Kathlyn knows the location of stolen jewels. Multiple groups plan to kidnap her and some succeed only for her to rescue herself before Chase can get there. It all gets resolved in the end (possibly a little too quickly, but that's my complaint with a lot of romances.
December 30, 2016
Not as good as Loyal Companion which was my Metzger's first book. Oddball comedic story.
While looking up which book to read of hers next, I read someone say the virgin hero here is better than Mark from Courtney Milan's Unclaimed. After having read it now, I have to firmly disagree. Milan's Mark is chaste first of all for socio-political reasons. Moreover, he doesn't insist that the women he courts are virgins. Here the guy breaks an engagement with his non-virgin fiance (although, while it isn't explicitly said atleast from what I can remember, I think his objection was more to the fact that she didn't intend to stay faithful after) and considers his and the heroine's virginity to be common ground (although, again, this said in just). Anyway, I'm glad the book has a virgin hero but in no way is he comparable to Mark who not only understand the sexist double standards but was an activist that challenged them vocally.
While looking up which book to read of hers next, I read someone say the virgin hero here is better than Mark from Courtney Milan's Unclaimed. After having read it now, I have to firmly disagree. Milan's Mark is chaste first of all for socio-political reasons. Moreover, he doesn't insist that the women he courts are virgins. Here the guy breaks an engagement with his non-virgin fiance (although, while it isn't explicitly said atleast from what I can remember, I think his objection was more to the fact that she didn't intend to stay faithful after) and considers his and the heroine's virginity to be common ground (although, again, this said in just). Anyway, I'm glad the book has a virgin hero but in no way is he comparable to Mark who not only understand the sexist double standards but was an activist that challenged them vocally.
September 8, 2022
I really adored the premise and the writing is serviceable enough, but there's two smaller problems and a big problem. There's the bizarre theme park not-period period setting, full of anachronisms and trying too hard slang which has never existed at any time in any place. There's the near total absence of actual romance between our central couple, who go back and forth between dispassionate dislike and random warmth (as long as they're not in the same room) with no development whatsoever. And, finally, the big problem is the absolutely dripping misogyny wafting off every second sentence of the narration. Ugh, feeemmaales, it seethes. It's the kind of tone you'd expect from an Outlaw of Gor, not from a woman writing a romance novel. Pretty appalling. It takes a dim view of humanity in general, but there's a pronounced difference in how it regards the follies of the sexes.
Great tropes executed poorly, rushing over the good parts and spending entirely too much time with deliberately unpleasant, annoyingly mannered side characters. You're not Dickens and shouldn't try to be, it is embarrassing to watch the degree to which you fail.
Great tropes executed poorly, rushing over the good parts and spending entirely too much time with deliberately unpleasant, annoyingly mannered side characters. You're not Dickens and shouldn't try to be, it is embarrassing to watch the degree to which you fail.
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