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An Angel for the Earl
Lucinda's life was tragically cut short in a most scandalous manner, and her only means of entering heaven lies in saving Lord Stanford from hell.
Perhaps while guiding the notorious rake onto a virtuous path, she can show him how true love will save his immortal soul....
Perhaps while guiding the notorious rake onto a virtuous path, she can show him how true love will save his immortal soul....
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First published January 31, 1994
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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...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
July 24, 2023
The second Metzger book that I have read and want to recommend and give it a 4.5* First published in 1994 it is a wonderful story of a young woman that reminds me a bit of "It's a Wonderful Life" and touches upon faith much as the movie did. Lucy is so wonderfully written, and the side characters add so much to the story. I wavered between a 4 and a 5*. If you want a feel good well written that brightens your day this, is it. Please forgive me as I have forgotten which Goodread friend recommended this book...Thank you!
August 15, 2023
After nearly 24 hours I’m still floating on a cloud of HEA endorphins. What a funny, breezy, charming, optimistic romp. The plot was a series of closed doors leading to open windows. They served to undo Kerry’s rakish ways and bring him and Lucy together. ❤️
While it was written in 1994, it was remarkable to see the same favored regency phrases and tropes used then as they are used now. I guess, along with fairy tales, and this having the faintest hint of Sleeping Beauty, they never get old. ❤️
One thing that stood out, 90% of the story was told from Kerry’s POV. I wish other authors followed suit.
What cinched my enjoyment was a conversation about the Gentlemen’s Code. If you have read at least three HRs you’re familiar with it. A gentleman keeps his word, dresses appropriately for every occasion (which is illustrated in detailed, laughable ways), and a sliding scale on how to treat women. Lucy’s questions made mincemeat out of Kerry’s responses. Pure joy! ❤️
The ending was everything I could have wished for. I read it on Hoopla and immediate purchased a copy of my own. It’s better than a glass of warm milk at bedtime.
My thanks to Merry for bringing this book to my attention.
—-
Warning: written in 1994 a racial slur about the Roma people was used. Also, a nasty, stereotype was included. FWIW, I’d like to counteract it by offering a personal, family anecdote. When my father was a child and deathly ill, my mother invited a Romani woman to come to her home to say an incantation over him. The next day my father was on the mend.
While it was written in 1994, it was remarkable to see the same favored regency phrases and tropes used then as they are used now. I guess, along with fairy tales, and this having the faintest hint of Sleeping Beauty, they never get old. ❤️
One thing that stood out, 90% of the story was told from Kerry’s POV. I wish other authors followed suit.
What cinched my enjoyment was a conversation about the Gentlemen’s Code. If you have read at least three HRs you’re familiar with it. A gentleman keeps his word, dresses appropriately for every occasion (which is illustrated in detailed, laughable ways), and a sliding scale on how to treat women. Lucy’s questions made mincemeat out of Kerry’s responses. Pure joy! ❤️
The ending was everything I could have wished for. I read it on Hoopla and immediate purchased a copy of my own. It’s better than a glass of warm milk at bedtime.
My thanks to Merry for bringing this book to my attention.
—-
Warning: written in 1994 a racial slur about the Roma people was used. Also, a nasty, stereotype was included. FWIW, I’d like to counteract it by offering a personal, family anecdote. When my father was a child and deathly ill, my mother invited a Romani woman to come to her home to say an incantation over him. The next day my father was on the mend.
January 9, 2015
Frumpy, plump and plain-in-appearance: that was Miss Lucinda Faire when she died after an aborted attempt at elopement. Before all this happened, she was one of Derby's most important heiresses. She had thought she had finally found someone to love her.
It was a lie.
Kieren Somerfield was the Earl of Stanford. He was also poor as a church mouse and a gambler. A cad. A stinker. A good-for-nothing. Or, in his mother's own words: a "gudgeon, popinjay and wastrel". He never knew it was going to be so hard to improve the Stanford name. Before he lifted his father's prized dueling pistols and....
What happened next was the Devil made a wager and an almost-angel made a bargain. Lucinda was in limbo, not quite dead, and was given a second chance. All she had to do, to earn back her soul, was to save another sinner: Kieren Somerfield.
Kerry and Lucinda met for the very first time when he smelled something horrifically bad and saw the most tempting woman. In. His. Life. Ever. He lusted for her.
What happened after this was an amusing story of redemption. The Earl of Somerfield was on a path to hell. Lucy, as Kerry preferred to call her, was his conscience on his shoulder. When he swore, smoked, drank, gambled or wanted to meet a woman of wicked ways, there was Lucy was in all her glory. Stinking to high heaven (no pun intended!).
If I had to mention one fault, it was that sometimes tactics and words slipped out that were very contemporary in context. It was confusing because I felt that one moment I was in the early 1800s and the next I was reading something from the present time.
Not quite a traditional-style Regency romance, the story dribbled celestial moments. From the beginning, Kerry leered and contemplated dirty thoughts when Lucy was present. Ms. Metzger started his character off as unscrupulous but ever-so-slowly the reader observed various changes. And it was those various changes that provided a delicious mind-set for this unusual romance. If you are looking for an unexpected historical romance with some funny moments give AN ANGEL FOR THE EARL a chance.
It was a lie.
Kieren Somerfield was the Earl of Stanford. He was also poor as a church mouse and a gambler. A cad. A stinker. A good-for-nothing. Or, in his mother's own words: a "gudgeon, popinjay and wastrel". He never knew it was going to be so hard to improve the Stanford name. Before he lifted his father's prized dueling pistols and....
What happened next was the Devil made a wager and an almost-angel made a bargain. Lucinda was in limbo, not quite dead, and was given a second chance. All she had to do, to earn back her soul, was to save another sinner: Kieren Somerfield.
Kerry and Lucinda met for the very first time when he smelled something horrifically bad and saw the most tempting woman. In. His. Life. Ever. He lusted for her.
What happened after this was an amusing story of redemption. The Earl of Somerfield was on a path to hell. Lucy, as Kerry preferred to call her, was his conscience on his shoulder. When he swore, smoked, drank, gambled or wanted to meet a woman of wicked ways, there was Lucy was in all her glory. Stinking to high heaven (no pun intended!).
If I had to mention one fault, it was that sometimes tactics and words slipped out that were very contemporary in context. It was confusing because I felt that one moment I was in the early 1800s and the next I was reading something from the present time.
Not quite a traditional-style Regency romance, the story dribbled celestial moments. From the beginning, Kerry leered and contemplated dirty thoughts when Lucy was present. Ms. Metzger started his character off as unscrupulous but ever-so-slowly the reader observed various changes. And it was those various changes that provided a delicious mind-set for this unusual romance. If you are looking for an unexpected historical romance with some funny moments give AN ANGEL FOR THE EARL a chance.
February 4, 2018
Definitely a very original plotline with a very sweet touch and a funny whimsical execution.
A girl in coma and certain to die is asked by the celestial powers that be to reform a rake and get a second chance at life/heaven. She keeps appearing to him as an apparition to push and prod him to be a better human being and let go of his wasteful womanizing and gaming ways. They actually never meet physically until the very end and apart from the beginning where she gets in accident, the story is completely from the H’s pov.
Some bits are fresh and super sweet, some quirky and amusing but regrettably I was not greatly enamored because of the slow plodding pace.
A girl in coma and certain to die is asked by the celestial powers that be to reform a rake and get a second chance at life/heaven. She keeps appearing to him as an apparition to push and prod him to be a better human being and let go of his wasteful womanizing and gaming ways. They actually never meet physically until the very end and apart from the beginning where she gets in accident, the story is completely from the H’s pov.
Some bits are fresh and super sweet, some quirky and amusing but regrettably I was not greatly enamored because of the slow plodding pace.
September 14, 2017
4.5 stars
After a few books from Ms Metzger that were not quite satisfying (for me), finally I found this. Pheww...
This one was recommended to me by Linda. At first, I was so surprised by the way the characters behaved (or rather dressed, in Lucy's case) that I have to stopped and read other book(s). After a few books later, I was ready to tackle this one again.
And what a great story it was. I loved how The author potrayed Kerry's redemption. Little by a little bit, and reluctantly, at first. And I almost had a tear in my eyes (I am a sensitive sort, okay ;)) when Kerry said he gave up to be good and would revert to the wastrell he was before. But instead he single-handedly (with the help of Hellbreaker and Lucky, of course) trying to save the pigs and also the life of those who depended on him.
Thanks Linda for the recommendation! This one is a gem!
After a few books from Ms Metzger that were not quite satisfying (for me), finally I found this. Pheww...
This one was recommended to me by Linda. At first, I was so surprised by the way the characters behaved (or rather dressed, in Lucy's case) that I have to stopped and read other book(s). After a few books later, I was ready to tackle this one again.
And what a great story it was. I loved how The author potrayed Kerry's redemption. Little by a little bit, and reluctantly, at first. And I almost had a tear in my eyes (I am a sensitive sort, okay ;)) when Kerry said he gave up to be good and would revert to the wastrell he was before. But instead he single-handedly (with the help of Hellbreaker and Lucky, of course) trying to save the pigs and also the life of those who depended on him.
Thanks Linda for the recommendation! This one is a gem!
April 3, 2023
The book has an original premise, but Ms Metzger's signature wit and tongue-in-cheek humour are lacking here. Nevertheless, it was still a good read.
July 6, 2016
This is one of the finest traditional regencies I've read.
From the start, we're introduced to the unloved daughter of a rich knight, Lucinda Faire, as she is tricked on an elopement with an unsavory character (who already has a wife!). Lucy realizes the error of this soon enough, and accidentally kills her eloped while trying to resist his advances. So in the haste or coming back home, Lucy had an accident and fell into a coma, to which the judges Above give her a choice - get Kieran Somerfield, Earl of Stanford on the path to Heaven, and she can go to Heaven as well. Otherwise, she'll be sent to Hell.
Here begins the unlikely tale of a young miss, teetering on the brink of the River Styx, trying to reform a dissolute rake like Kerry Somerfield, who has broken all ten of God's commandments.
The characters are simply lovable. Lucy is a wonderful character who cares about many people, and places their own happiness above her own at times. Despite her young age - she is only 17 - she comes across as a older and wiser woman than Kerry, who is ten years her senior. Lucy is always coming up with ideas, and she becomes like a guardian angel to Kerry, helping him numerous times in his trials of life.
Kerry, on the other hand, becomes an endearing character as the story progresses. He changes from someone who gambles constantly to forswearing drink, smoking, and even to saving his man-of-all-trades from a fire. It was incredibly amusing how in his own defense of character he inadvertently caught a cheater, and his own fortunes seemed unwilling to decide on good or bad. I fell in love with Kerry when he started thinking of dear Lucy, and how his kind actions might bring her back another article of proper clothing.
The side character are also very interesting. From the villagers who thought Kerry was mad - talking to Lucy - from talking to himself, to the rogue-turned-knight Goldy and even to poor Uncle Nigel and the ghost haunting the abbey, they all served to enforce Kerry's goodwill and the changes in his character. There were so many moments where the antics of the side characters and their effect on Kerry made me laugh out loud that I had to re-read some of the funniest lines of this novel.
The ending is so sweet that it beats the best sweets in the world. Truly, a masterpiece in this work.
From the start, we're introduced to the unloved daughter of a rich knight, Lucinda Faire, as she is tricked on an elopement with an unsavory character (who already has a wife!). Lucy realizes the error of this soon enough, and accidentally kills her eloped while trying to resist his advances. So in the haste or coming back home, Lucy had an accident and fell into a coma, to which the judges Above give her a choice - get Kieran Somerfield, Earl of Stanford on the path to Heaven, and she can go to Heaven as well. Otherwise, she'll be sent to Hell.
Here begins the unlikely tale of a young miss, teetering on the brink of the River Styx, trying to reform a dissolute rake like Kerry Somerfield, who has broken all ten of God's commandments.
The characters are simply lovable. Lucy is a wonderful character who cares about many people, and places their own happiness above her own at times. Despite her young age - she is only 17 - she comes across as a older and wiser woman than Kerry, who is ten years her senior. Lucy is always coming up with ideas, and she becomes like a guardian angel to Kerry, helping him numerous times in his trials of life.
Kerry, on the other hand, becomes an endearing character as the story progresses. He changes from someone who gambles constantly to forswearing drink, smoking, and even to saving his man-of-all-trades from a fire. It was incredibly amusing how in his own defense of character he inadvertently caught a cheater, and his own fortunes seemed unwilling to decide on good or bad. I fell in love with Kerry when he started thinking of dear Lucy, and how his kind actions might bring her back another article of proper clothing.
The side character are also very interesting. From the villagers who thought Kerry was mad - talking to Lucy - from talking to himself, to the rogue-turned-knight Goldy and even to poor Uncle Nigel and the ghost haunting the abbey, they all served to enforce Kerry's goodwill and the changes in his character. There were so many moments where the antics of the side characters and their effect on Kerry made me laugh out loud that I had to re-read some of the funniest lines of this novel.
The ending is so sweet that it beats the best sweets in the world. Truly, a masterpiece in this work.
January 9, 2025
Listened to the book read by Pippa Rathborne. Pippa is a bit old to narrate a young woman’s voice but she is so funny that it becomes an incomparable experience. This might be a favorite as it brought me to tears. Highly recommended.
June 22, 2017
When Devils strike a bargain with angels , Lucinada is in limbo between the world of life and after life. If she wants an entry to heaven and be an angel she ought to reform a rake aka Our Hero and save him from going to hell more precisely save the devils from dealing with him.
It was an interesting read,original story. We all know all rake's reform after meeting the prim and proper heiress with whom they fall in love. Its just like that but a little different.
H is in deep financial debts and got heaps of bills to pay,thanks to his father and his gambling gene. So when he meets Lucinada, he assumes she is his Lucky lady, the next day his imagination coz he is been drinking too much , the next time he credits himself a good lot of Hallucinations. Lucy is Half-Angel Half-Devil and so very un-lady like. I especially loved the scene where he goes to satisfy his manly needs and requests for a young red head and Lucy appears literally smoking fire. It was good change to see a H trembling with fear ;)
Of course the ending had to be soapy but darn it , I loved it.
It was an interesting read,original story. We all know all rake's reform after meeting the prim and proper heiress with whom they fall in love. Its just like that but a little different.
H is in deep financial debts and got heaps of bills to pay,thanks to his father and his gambling gene. So when he meets Lucinada, he assumes she is his Lucky lady, the next day his imagination coz he is been drinking too much , the next time he credits himself a good lot of Hallucinations. Lucy is Half-Angel Half-Devil and so very un-lady like. I especially loved the scene where he goes to satisfy his manly needs and requests for a young red head and Lucy appears literally smoking fire. It was good change to see a H trembling with fear ;)
Of course the ending had to be soapy but darn it , I loved it.
January 10, 2025
A weird book - a sort of (but not quite) ghost is sent to rescue a wastrel earl from his wicked ways. The element of fantasy is certainly different, even if the theme of the rake’s redemption is an old one. But very readable, so long as you can suspend all critical faculties and just let it flow past.
Here’s the premise: Lucinda Faire is about to be pushed into one of those horrible old-enough-to-be-her-grandfather marriages so beloved of Regency authors. Her father keeps her a virtual prisoner at home, so when she manages to meet a halfway plausible and attractive young man, she instantly agrees to elope with him. He, of course, turns out to be a fortune-hunting rogue, and he’s not even planning to marry her. She deals with him and sets off for home, but an accident sees her unconscious and on the point of death. Her parents, lovely people, are quite happy to let her die. But at the pearly gates, they don’t quite know whether to send her to heaven (she’s young and very innocent) or hell (she eloped, silly girl). So she is given a test - redeem one sinner and she’ll get to heaven, and they even tell her the specific sinner they have in mind - Lord Stanford, or Kerry, a licentious, gambling, drunken thorough waste of space.
Right, I know, plausibility is not this book’s strong suit. But as I say, if you just go with the flow, it’s all very entertaining. Lucinda comes upon his lordship on the point of blowing his brains out, having lost absolutely everything. Needless to say, her appearance gives him the shock of his life, and this is one of the clever conceits of the book - Lucinda’s appearance matches his current state of virtue. So initially, she looks like one of the brothel women he’s so fond of, with a revealing dress, bare feet and her hair tumbled about her shoulders. Every time she manages to persuade him to do something ‘good’, she acquires slightly more modest clothing.
The book then proceeds on entirely predictable lines. The earl gradually is induced to become a virtuous man, Lucinda becomes increasingly modestly dressed and the two contrive to fall in love. The ending requires a complete shutdown of every critical faculty, and my historical accuracy meter blew a fuse at the idea of marrying an unconscious woman (there has to be some smidgen of consent involved, surely?), but a resounding happy ending for all that. Too implausible for five stars, but a very entertaining four stars.
Here’s the premise: Lucinda Faire is about to be pushed into one of those horrible old-enough-to-be-her-grandfather marriages so beloved of Regency authors. Her father keeps her a virtual prisoner at home, so when she manages to meet a halfway plausible and attractive young man, she instantly agrees to elope with him. He, of course, turns out to be a fortune-hunting rogue, and he’s not even planning to marry her. She deals with him and sets off for home, but an accident sees her unconscious and on the point of death. Her parents, lovely people, are quite happy to let her die. But at the pearly gates, they don’t quite know whether to send her to heaven (she’s young and very innocent) or hell (she eloped, silly girl). So she is given a test - redeem one sinner and she’ll get to heaven, and they even tell her the specific sinner they have in mind - Lord Stanford, or Kerry, a licentious, gambling, drunken thorough waste of space.
Right, I know, plausibility is not this book’s strong suit. But as I say, if you just go with the flow, it’s all very entertaining. Lucinda comes upon his lordship on the point of blowing his brains out, having lost absolutely everything. Needless to say, her appearance gives him the shock of his life, and this is one of the clever conceits of the book - Lucinda’s appearance matches his current state of virtue. So initially, she looks like one of the brothel women he’s so fond of, with a revealing dress, bare feet and her hair tumbled about her shoulders. Every time she manages to persuade him to do something ‘good’, she acquires slightly more modest clothing.
The book then proceeds on entirely predictable lines. The earl gradually is induced to become a virtuous man, Lucinda becomes increasingly modestly dressed and the two contrive to fall in love. The ending requires a complete shutdown of every critical faculty, and my historical accuracy meter blew a fuse at the idea of marrying an unconscious woman (there has to be some smidgen of consent involved, surely?), but a resounding happy ending for all that. Too implausible for five stars, but a very entertaining four stars.
February 14, 2014
*Book source ~ Many thanks to Untreed Reads for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Lucinda is a plain and chubby heiress. Severely sheltered from the world she believes the handsome and dashing Captain Anders when he says he loves her and convinces her to elope to Gretna Green. Unfortunately for Lucinda, she’s been hoodwinked in the worst way. In a struggle to defend herself from his now unwanted advances at an inn along the way, she unintentionally kills him. Compromised and now a murderess (even if it was self defense) she steals a horse and rides for home. Except she falls off the horse and hits her head. Now in a coma, her irate father declares her dead to the family and other than putting her in a bed he orders no one to feed or help her. He intends to let her die. Can we say asshat?
Lucinda, stuck between the living and the dead is told she has two weeks to reform Kieren Somerfield, sixth earl of Stanford if she wants to walk through the Pearly Gates. Kieren is deeply in debt with no hope in sight of ever being flush with cash let alone fix up the ancestral estate. He sees only one way out, but as he puts his father’s dueling pistol on the desk, he hears a voice. There sits Lucinda and she’s beginning to realize this reformation is going to be a lot harder than she was led to believe. Let the convincing begin.
Lucinda has been a good girl all her life, but since she racked up some serious sin in the short time before she hit her head she’s one of those souls that is hard to judge whether she should go to Heaven or Hell. So they give her the time it will take for her body to die without nourishment to reform a man who appears impossible to reform. If she can do that then she is destined for Heaven.
What a great story! I’ve read historical romances by Metzger before and enjoyed every one of them, but this is the first one of hers that has a touch of the paranormal to it. I was curious to see if she could pull it off and I’m happy to give a resounding Yes! Full of humor, fun and wonderful characters, it is a great ride watching Lucy (as Kerry calls her) convince Kerry first that she is a real apparition and second if he doesn’t reform his ways he will not only condemn himself to Hell, but her as well. And I have to say how much I love the ending. *swoon*
Lucinda is a plain and chubby heiress. Severely sheltered from the world she believes the handsome and dashing Captain Anders when he says he loves her and convinces her to elope to Gretna Green. Unfortunately for Lucinda, she’s been hoodwinked in the worst way. In a struggle to defend herself from his now unwanted advances at an inn along the way, she unintentionally kills him. Compromised and now a murderess (even if it was self defense) she steals a horse and rides for home. Except she falls off the horse and hits her head. Now in a coma, her irate father declares her dead to the family and other than putting her in a bed he orders no one to feed or help her. He intends to let her die. Can we say asshat?
Lucinda, stuck between the living and the dead is told she has two weeks to reform Kieren Somerfield, sixth earl of Stanford if she wants to walk through the Pearly Gates. Kieren is deeply in debt with no hope in sight of ever being flush with cash let alone fix up the ancestral estate. He sees only one way out, but as he puts his father’s dueling pistol on the desk, he hears a voice. There sits Lucinda and she’s beginning to realize this reformation is going to be a lot harder than she was led to believe. Let the convincing begin.
Lucinda has been a good girl all her life, but since she racked up some serious sin in the short time before she hit her head she’s one of those souls that is hard to judge whether she should go to Heaven or Hell. So they give her the time it will take for her body to die without nourishment to reform a man who appears impossible to reform. If she can do that then she is destined for Heaven.
What a great story! I’ve read historical romances by Metzger before and enjoyed every one of them, but this is the first one of hers that has a touch of the paranormal to it. I was curious to see if she could pull it off and I’m happy to give a resounding Yes! Full of humor, fun and wonderful characters, it is a great ride watching Lucy (as Kerry calls her) convince Kerry first that she is a real apparition and second if he doesn’t reform his ways he will not only condemn himself to Hell, but her as well. And I have to say how much I love the ending. *swoon*
May 20, 2021
Barbara Metzger is usually a hit or miss for me. At first, I wasn't interested in this book's premise but was looking for something in audio format and many reviews talked about how touching this was. Well, they were right. First of all, this is an incredibly funny book. The dialogue, the trials and tribulations, and the misunderstandings were all very diverting. I was a bit put off by the way Lucinda was attired when she first appears to the Earl but it goes with the story and it wasn't truly who she was. I was doubtful that I was going to be as touched by the ending as other readers but I did get teary eyed. The abruptness of the ending reminded me of the way Georgette Heyer ends her books, so it wasn't too jarring for me, but I did wish it had an epilogue since I fell in love with the characters and wanted to learn more about them. The audio narration is great and definitely added to the absurdity of it all. Highly recommended.
June 5, 2020
I howled with laughter and delight, but what’s this? Did I have to sob into a couple of tissues also…?
My Full Review
My Full Review
December 3, 2011
Loved it! girl in a coma and her spirit reforms a rake.
March 23, 2016
The heroine is in a coma but her spirit helps the hero to change himself and everything around him in a very sweet and funny way. There are no Metzger's villains and everything ends well.
May 24, 2014
Lucy thought she would escape from her miserable father by eloping with a young soldier. The soldier turned out to be a cad, Lucy is exposed to very bad weather and becomes very ill. Her father had never cared for her, so letting her die is a great idea as far as he was concerned.
Kerry is a wastrel. He has spent money as though he actually had money. Kerry is not a nice man at all. Wine, women, gambling and giving not a care for others has been his way of life.
That is until an angel (Lucy) comes along and tells him he must change his ways and become a good man. This angel looks like a temptress, but she starts convincing Kerry that changing his life can change his future and prevent him from going to Hades.
This is a lovely story. Ms Metzger has created a wonderful plot. As the story moves forward, we learn that Kerry has a good heart and does want to become a different person. Terrible things happen in his life, but as things move along, each disaster moves him toward living a better life. Kerry learns to make good decisions and he starts looking at the world and other people as something other than hurdles that have been in his path.
Both Lucy and Kerry are well rounded people who have made some choices that were not great. In spite of that, the reader is cheering for them because they are each trying to become better people.
Secondary characters are interesting and add to the color of the story. We find that there are layers which show us life of that time and the values which were taken for granted. Those times did not share the ethics or values of today, and we see some of the problems that were taken for granted.
This is a fantasy and a romance and altogether a lovely story. We are allowed to see a young man grow into an honorable person who sees what will make the world a better place and does what it takes to follow that path.
I received this book from the publisher, Untreed Reads, with the expectations that I would give a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Kerry is a wastrel. He has spent money as though he actually had money. Kerry is not a nice man at all. Wine, women, gambling and giving not a care for others has been his way of life.
That is until an angel (Lucy) comes along and tells him he must change his ways and become a good man. This angel looks like a temptress, but she starts convincing Kerry that changing his life can change his future and prevent him from going to Hades.
This is a lovely story. Ms Metzger has created a wonderful plot. As the story moves forward, we learn that Kerry has a good heart and does want to become a different person. Terrible things happen in his life, but as things move along, each disaster moves him toward living a better life. Kerry learns to make good decisions and he starts looking at the world and other people as something other than hurdles that have been in his path.
Both Lucy and Kerry are well rounded people who have made some choices that were not great. In spite of that, the reader is cheering for them because they are each trying to become better people.
Secondary characters are interesting and add to the color of the story. We find that there are layers which show us life of that time and the values which were taken for granted. Those times did not share the ethics or values of today, and we see some of the problems that were taken for granted.
This is a fantasy and a romance and altogether a lovely story. We are allowed to see a young man grow into an honorable person who sees what will make the world a better place and does what it takes to follow that path.
I received this book from the publisher, Untreed Reads, with the expectations that I would give a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 22, 2014
4/19 - 4/20
Pretty dull (Metzger is always character-driven and more interested in delicate flirtation than rambunctious sexytimes -- unlikely traits for a romance novelist) -- but oh so charming.
And she is always on the side of the downtrodden -- women, prostitutes, the poor. In one scene the hero is entreated to help the whores out of a shitty situation (at best, a nasty bit of coercion -- maybe outright sex-slavery). Give them gold if you like, but a better solution is to change the things that make them powerless! put yourself in between the wolves and the lambs! change the laws! change your friends!
Fuck, yeah! Social change! And the "change your friends" part -- well, it just touches my little black heart to see open reminder that you -- we -- us -- and the people we care about -- we are contributing to the problems. We are the problems.
Like that joke about the angry commuter, railing at heavy traffic from the driver's seat: YOU ARE THE TRAFFIC.
And god is revealed to be a woman (or genderless) in a throwaway line.
Adorable.
Pretty dull (Metzger is always character-driven and more interested in delicate flirtation than rambunctious sexytimes -- unlikely traits for a romance novelist) -- but oh so charming.
And she is always on the side of the downtrodden -- women, prostitutes, the poor. In one scene the hero is entreated to help the whores out of a shitty situation (at best, a nasty bit of coercion -- maybe outright sex-slavery). Give them gold if you like, but a better solution is to change the things that make them powerless! put yourself in between the wolves and the lambs! change the laws! change your friends!
Fuck, yeah! Social change! And the "change your friends" part -- well, it just touches my little black heart to see open reminder that you -- we -- us -- and the people we care about -- we are contributing to the problems. We are the problems.
Like that joke about the angry commuter, railing at heavy traffic from the driver's seat: YOU ARE THE TRAFFIC.
And god is revealed to be a woman (or genderless) in a throwaway line.
Adorable.
March 14, 2022
This is the standard reform-the-rake trope but with a supernatural twist.
"Miss Lucinda Faire was eloping with the man of her dreams. Captain Leon Anders was abducting one of Derby's leading heiresses. Obviously this was not a marriage of true minds."
Once the homely Lucinda figures out that this is an abduction, she accidentally kills Captain Anders while trying to escape his advances. As she is making her way back home, she falls off her horse, injures herself, and slips into a coma. While she's in the coma, the afterlife forces that be decide to have a pre-death trial. (Because it's been slow and boring in both heaven and hell lately since the Napoleonic Wars are now over.) So they decree if she can reform Lord Kieran Somerfeld, the sixth, and possibly last, Earl of Stanford she can get into heaven. So Lucinda haunts him and tries to reform him. It's great fun.
"Miss Lucinda Faire was eloping with the man of her dreams. Captain Leon Anders was abducting one of Derby's leading heiresses. Obviously this was not a marriage of true minds."
Once the homely Lucinda figures out that this is an abduction, she accidentally kills Captain Anders while trying to escape his advances. As she is making her way back home, she falls off her horse, injures herself, and slips into a coma. While she's in the coma, the afterlife forces that be decide to have a pre-death trial. (Because it's been slow and boring in both heaven and hell lately since the Napoleonic Wars are now over.) So they decree if she can reform Lord Kieran Somerfeld, the sixth, and possibly last, Earl of Stanford she can get into heaven. So Lucinda haunts him and tries to reform him. It's great fun.
November 23, 2016
I've never laughed as much as I did reading a romance and that's a good thing. This book is an absolute treasure, with the just right amount of romance, wit, humor and even angst.
I would have given it 5 stars but did not since those are reserved for gems like Shadow of the Moon and The Silver Devil.
I strongly recommend this book for those tired of reading the same formulaic romance novels.
I would have given it 5 stars but did not since those are reserved for gems like Shadow of the Moon and The Silver Devil.
I strongly recommend this book for those tired of reading the same formulaic romance novels.
December 22, 2013
This book was a total surprise. Kerry and Lucinda are two unlikely lovers. Send by the powers that be, they have to save each other. Lucinda is in limbo, almost dead, and given a chance to repair her tarnished soul by saving another sinner. Kerry, a rake, has no intention of repairing his image or his soul. Respect and friendship bloom and built into a wonderful realization that love follows. A great book that brings a tear to my eyes when I read it.
August 11, 2016
What a storyteller this author is! There is a paranormal aspect because the heroine is in a coma but has been sent to redeem the hero if she wants to go to heaven instead of hell. There are several HEAs included. I was reminded of my beloved Ian in "The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie" when he is at Beth's bedside where she lays unconscious and he pours out his heart to her at the end. There is no sex scene(s) but I didn't miss it because the story was so rich with emotion.
Need my own copy.
Need my own copy.
December 8, 2023
Fantastic
Fantastic in more ways than one. This is not a conventional Regency romance, it is a Regency fantasy romance if such a genre exists. Two fabulous characters, each suffering ruin in different ways, when one near death, is tasked with saving the soul of the other. In parts heartwarming and heartbreaking, always amusing and humorous, this is an absolute treasure of a book. I love it.
Highly highly recommended
Fantastic in more ways than one. This is not a conventional Regency romance, it is a Regency fantasy romance if such a genre exists. Two fabulous characters, each suffering ruin in different ways, when one near death, is tasked with saving the soul of the other. In parts heartwarming and heartbreaking, always amusing and humorous, this is an absolute treasure of a book. I love it.
Highly highly recommended
December 3, 2011
A sweet Regency story with a different twist. I thought the ending was very touching!
October 21, 2018
3.5
I wanted to like this but it was just alright. I feel like it could have been better if it leaned either into heartwarming or goofy. As it was, it was just not heartwarming enough or goofy enough. It read like an old fairytale, in that it was a bit bland. I liked the earl making everybody's life better in his good deeds and getting rewarded with things because he couldn't be trusted with money. It read like a fairytale in that sense. There was a pattern to the events. He does good deeds to help Lucy out, helps others consequentially, and gets rewarded. However, it lacked punch. I don't know, it might be that the earl wasn't a big enough character. He is slightly charming but isn't wholly so. It's why the events lack any impact, the story was just slightly goofy or slightly heartwarming. It isn't fully anything.
There were a lot of scenes that I liked. I liked Kerry saving the chimney sweep. The kid was abducted and forced into work. I felt so sad because the child was burnt and hurt. The child went to an adult and while everybody was ready to accept that this was the way of the world, Kerry responded to the child's distress and helped him out. That was really heartwarming. I felt bad for the other kid though who worked at a young age and was already cynical even though he was still young.
I laughed at his servant faking tremors so Kerry would leave him alone to work on his passion project.
The story revolves around Kerry and Lucy. Kerry is an earl who is down on his lucks. He gets visited by Lucy's spirit, who is halfway between life and death. She is in purgatory and her fate is between heaven and hell. She led an upright life until she decided to run away with a man and ended up causing his death. He was going to compromise her in a scandal and extort her father for money to keep the scandal quiet. When he was coercing her to bed him, she fought back and pushed. He was drunk and hit his head and he died immediately. She collapsed and didn't recover. Afterwards, she became a spirit guide to Kerry to guide him to the righteous path.
She kept pushing him to do the right thing. He started off as a gambling wastrel and ended up as a responsible earl. He inherited his title from another wastrel of a father. The estate wasn't well off when he got it and he had a defeatist attitude. With the help from Lucy, he was able to be pushed and achieve things.
On his way to becoming a better person, he ends up helping others. He gives a lottery ticket to his servant, rescues a dog, horse, and a fox, reunites a kidnapped child with his parents, reunites separated lovers, cleans his act up enough so his mother's suitor feels it's fine to propose to his mother, and matches a wealthy heiress with her true love. On the way, he ends up falling for Lucy and Lucy falls for him. He comes for her and they marry while she was on her deathbed. She recovers and she tells him of the sack of gold in the east wing.
I wanted to like this but it was just alright. I feel like it could have been better if it leaned either into heartwarming or goofy. As it was, it was just not heartwarming enough or goofy enough. It read like an old fairytale, in that it was a bit bland. I liked the earl making everybody's life better in his good deeds and getting rewarded with things because he couldn't be trusted with money. It read like a fairytale in that sense. There was a pattern to the events. He does good deeds to help Lucy out, helps others consequentially, and gets rewarded. However, it lacked punch. I don't know, it might be that the earl wasn't a big enough character. He is slightly charming but isn't wholly so. It's why the events lack any impact, the story was just slightly goofy or slightly heartwarming. It isn't fully anything.
There were a lot of scenes that I liked. I liked Kerry saving the chimney sweep. The kid was abducted and forced into work. I felt so sad because the child was burnt and hurt. The child went to an adult and while everybody was ready to accept that this was the way of the world, Kerry responded to the child's distress and helped him out. That was really heartwarming. I felt bad for the other kid though who worked at a young age and was already cynical even though he was still young.
I laughed at his servant faking tremors so Kerry would leave him alone to work on his passion project.
The story revolves around Kerry and Lucy. Kerry is an earl who is down on his lucks. He gets visited by Lucy's spirit, who is halfway between life and death. She is in purgatory and her fate is between heaven and hell. She led an upright life until she decided to run away with a man and ended up causing his death. He was going to compromise her in a scandal and extort her father for money to keep the scandal quiet. When he was coercing her to bed him, she fought back and pushed. He was drunk and hit his head and he died immediately. She collapsed and didn't recover. Afterwards, she became a spirit guide to Kerry to guide him to the righteous path.
She kept pushing him to do the right thing. He started off as a gambling wastrel and ended up as a responsible earl. He inherited his title from another wastrel of a father. The estate wasn't well off when he got it and he had a defeatist attitude. With the help from Lucy, he was able to be pushed and achieve things.
On his way to becoming a better person, he ends up helping others. He gives a lottery ticket to his servant, rescues a dog, horse, and a fox, reunites a kidnapped child with his parents, reunites separated lovers, cleans his act up enough so his mother's suitor feels it's fine to propose to his mother, and matches a wealthy heiress with her true love. On the way, he ends up falling for Lucy and Lucy falls for him. He comes for her and they marry while she was on her deathbed. She recovers and she tells him of the sack of gold in the east wing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2025
2.5 stars. dnf 32%. I am surprised this has a 4+ rating and think perhaps christian fiction lovers adored it. to me it can across as her being preachy and ridiculous and trying to find faults in a guy who hadn't really done much wrong inthe normal code of life for men of his era, and yet supposedly his soul was destined for hell..and hers too for accidentally being involved in death of a guy who tried to to rape her. pretty distasteful premise.
at 32% it is still her spirit preaching at him at every turn. I read other reviews and found out they never actually meet in person until the end. also, the real her is a plain Jane but the spirit version of her is ravishing and utterly sexy. excuse me? the whole point of a plain Jane romance is for the H to have to learn to see past the fact his love is plain and see her beautiful other qualities. so that didnt work for me either.
also, it's enjoyable in a romance to see how other people react to this couple courting, to see how it affects their other relationships. jealous friends, hopeful.mothers, proving naysayers wrong etc. but we were not getting any of this because she is an invisible spirit only he can see.
imo a better way to have done this romance would have been if she had been sent back in her usual body with the mission of saving him. oh what challenges that would have posed! how does a normal plain Jane 17 yr old female who has lost her reputation (for eloping with a rake and blackmailer and is now abandoned by her rich family) even get to meet a handsome young rake of an earl, let alone save his soul? what fun that would have been. instead we get an omnipotent omnipresent spirit that can turn up anywhere and everywhere and save him from himself at every turn while mouthing preachy drivel at him and begging him to be a good boy. boring.
this story just wasn't for me. alas.
at 32% it is still her spirit preaching at him at every turn. I read other reviews and found out they never actually meet in person until the end. also, the real her is a plain Jane but the spirit version of her is ravishing and utterly sexy. excuse me? the whole point of a plain Jane romance is for the H to have to learn to see past the fact his love is plain and see her beautiful other qualities. so that didnt work for me either.
also, it's enjoyable in a romance to see how other people react to this couple courting, to see how it affects their other relationships. jealous friends, hopeful.mothers, proving naysayers wrong etc. but we were not getting any of this because she is an invisible spirit only he can see.
imo a better way to have done this romance would have been if she had been sent back in her usual body with the mission of saving him. oh what challenges that would have posed! how does a normal plain Jane 17 yr old female who has lost her reputation (for eloping with a rake and blackmailer and is now abandoned by her rich family) even get to meet a handsome young rake of an earl, let alone save his soul? what fun that would have been. instead we get an omnipotent omnipresent spirit that can turn up anywhere and everywhere and save him from himself at every turn while mouthing preachy drivel at him and begging him to be a good boy. boring.
this story just wasn't for me. alas.
April 6, 2021
'The Angel and the Earl' was good fluffy fun. The Earl's redemption arc was satisfying and the I enjoyed the evolving relationship between Lucy and Kerry. It felt unrushed and sweet and their repartee was always fast-paced and witty. Metzger has great comic timing and her writing was fun and funny. I loved the 'Just Like Heaven' style plot. (Though I think the book predated the movie.) This is a quick, light-hearted and original take on old Regency Romance tropes. Kudos to Metzger, she can craft a story well, setting up details and characters well in advance to they can pay off. I'd have liked more details about the devils and angels bargaining over Lucy and Kerry, but I enjoyed what we got, and the details about Lucy's changing appearance made up for it. This was my first Metzger Regency Romance (I think), but I'll definitely read more. Based purely on enjoyment, I've rated it four stars.
November 1, 2024
Such a delightful and sweet story! My only issue is that the Lucy of the beginning isn’t the Lucy of the rest of the book, but perhaps it’s due to her experience and “in transition” status. I certainly liked the Lucy of the rest of the book, with her smart retorts and disastrous goodness. A devil of an angel to be sure! And the Earl didn’t come off as much of a rake and a ne’er do well at the beginning, other than his mountain of debt and crumbling manor. He was much more of a gentleman with Lucy than a true rake would have been. But I still found the story delightful and funny and so, so satisfying. He did have a long way to go to be saved and he did obviously have a good heart or he wouldn’t have done any of the things he did, even without Lucy’s prodding. So many great scenes with such interesting and surprising people, and such important life lessons presented. Just a feel-good, sweet tale.
May 20, 2018
Cute.
Most of romance suffers from a highly angsty hero plot combined with a heroine who is the less quirky version of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. I like that Metzger had relative equivalence in the conflicts of the protagonists (or that the heroine's problems were more than the hero's. it's a good balance- the setting tends to skew everything hero-ward anyway.), and had her protagonists working together to solve external problems rather than fight each other over perceived misunderstandings. You laugh, but that is one of the staple cliches of romance and it really has to go die already.
I rather wish I'd read Metzger back when I was less particular about what I wanted from a romance. I think I'd have enjoyed it better then. Still. It was a fun book.
Most of romance suffers from a highly angsty hero plot combined with a heroine who is the less quirky version of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. I like that Metzger had relative equivalence in the conflicts of the protagonists (or that the heroine's problems were more than the hero's. it's a good balance- the setting tends to skew everything hero-ward anyway.), and had her protagonists working together to solve external problems rather than fight each other over perceived misunderstandings. You laugh, but that is one of the staple cliches of romance and it really has to go die already.
I rather wish I'd read Metzger back when I was less particular about what I wanted from a romance. I think I'd have enjoyed it better then. Still. It was a fun book.
January 30, 2025
What a delightfully different plot. I can always count on Barbara Metzger to be a wonderful read. I love how she takes characters you don’t expect and develops deep relationships and draws out all the feelings. There’s adventure and depth and yet lightness. Lots of wit and intelligence and fun and always great romance. The kind of books you can reread many times. But this one went beyond even my expectations. The entire situation and the way she brings it all together was amazing. I’ve read this three times now and each time I love it more. She makes me cry each. Go and get a copy.
October 23, 2025
Enjoyable enough, although I found myself skimming certain sections to get to the parts where our protagonists actually interacted with one another. Their romance suffered from a lack of on-page conversation and chemistry, made difficult in part due to our heroine's incorporeal form, but still.
Barbara Metzger still intrigues and interests me, and I don't doubt that I'll pick up more of her work in the future. This book, however, was quite a letdown despite an intriguing and unique setup that could've led to a five-star read under different circumstances.
Barbara Metzger still intrigues and interests me, and I don't doubt that I'll pick up more of her work in the future. This book, however, was quite a letdown despite an intriguing and unique setup that could've led to a five-star read under different circumstances.
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