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The Painted Lady
A Private Sitting
Beneath Miss Lilyanne Bannister's starched facade was a wildcat who dreamed of wearing pink satin, dancing till dawn, and riding cross-country astride. But even Lilyanne wasn't daring enough to get involved with Kennard Cartland, the Duke of Caswell. As dashing as the devil, he'd have been a perfect match if not for the rumors that he was a collector of broken hearts. An isolated portraitist who preferred a woman in oils to one of flesh and blood, he was also said to be completely daft. But the more Lilyanne heard, the more intrigued she became. Perhaps this would finally be her Season to give in to a dangerously irresistible temptation, and discover for herself what she and the duke had to offer each other...
Beneath Miss Lilyanne Bannister's starched facade was a wildcat who dreamed of wearing pink satin, dancing till dawn, and riding cross-country astride. But even Lilyanne wasn't daring enough to get involved with Kennard Cartland, the Duke of Caswell. As dashing as the devil, he'd have been a perfect match if not for the rumors that he was a collector of broken hearts. An isolated portraitist who preferred a woman in oils to one of flesh and blood, he was also said to be completely daft. But the more Lilyanne heard, the more intrigued she became. Perhaps this would finally be her Season to give in to a dangerously irresistible temptation, and discover for herself what she and the duke had to offer each other...
217 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 2001
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 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 1, 2019
2.5 stars
July 8, 2013
an engaging and different twist on a regency romance - the perfect Duke has a secret vice; painting. His talent is prodigious, and his entire life is a cover up for his guilty pleasure. When his paintings take on a life of their own, he retires to a "mental" doctor in the country, where his own personal Nurse Ratched becomes his muse. I reallly like this tale, it was well written, the characters were fun and the author has a sly sense of humor
February 16, 2020
The Duke of Caswell is a closet artist. He's a man of means; after having a love-making session with his mistress, he rushes up to his private attic and paints what he has just seen and felt. He's been painting like this for years when something goes terribly wrong. His best semi-nude painting starts talking back to the duke. Now he's worried that there is insanity in the family (specifically, his branch). It is time to approach a professional.
I really didn't like the talking painting. However, the whole plot hangs on this device. Once I got past that, the story sailed along with hum and humor. Caswell needs to get away from the ton and searching for a cure for his problems and this gives him just the ticket to get out of London.
In case you are wondering, Barbara Metzger is the queen of problematic pets and addled aunties. When Kasey Cartland (Duke of Caswell) asks his dear ding-a-lings if there is any insanity in the family, the addled aunties worry he's talking about them. Assuring him that they are of sound mind, the aunties remind Kasey that lots of owners dress up their doggies. That certainly convinces me.
I really didn't like the talking painting. However, the whole plot hangs on this device. Once I got past that, the story sailed along with hum and humor. Caswell needs to get away from the ton and searching for a cure for his problems and this gives him just the ticket to get out of London.
In case you are wondering, Barbara Metzger is the queen of problematic pets and addled aunties. When Kasey Cartland (Duke of Caswell) asks his dear ding-a-lings if there is any insanity in the family, the addled aunties worry he's talking about them. Assuring him that they are of sound mind, the aunties remind Kasey that lots of owners dress up their doggies. That certainly convinces me.
November 5, 2008
I read this when I want a light, humorous escape from reality. I love it. :o)
November 12, 2025
Strange understanding of beauty as compatible with lewdness by the hero… The plot is interesting, but the ending is strange, as if the author were trying ton close everything in a single chapter. I don’t think there is much character development beyond that of the hero (heroine’s is described rather than seen through).
Definitely not my favorite Metzger, though certainly keeps with her fun/rompish writing style.
Definitely not my favorite Metzger, though certainly keeps with her fun/rompish writing style.
November 14, 2018
The.......
Another just okay book by this author. I think I'm going to take a break from her because okay is not cutting it right now.
Another just okay book by this author. I think I'm going to take a break from her because okay is not cutting it right now.
November 30, 2018
This is a very nice read. Romance done right.
April 13, 2020
Regency romantic comedy with a little supernatural included
May 16, 2024
Not believable
I felt that the story line was not very believable, not only the fantasy aspects of it but the way people behaved.
I felt that the story line was not very believable, not only the fantasy aspects of it but the way people behaved.
August 10, 2024
This book was trash, but I kept reading to see if it would get any better. Silly me.
August 2, 2015
Finally, a good one by BM. Not that this doesn't have a rake as hero, it does. But he's not sleeping around during the time we are peeking into his life.
And he is in a world of trouble-- he paints his current mistress Dolly (like he does all his women- shagging them, and then running upstairs to paint them-naked), and then makes a few changes, cos he's not happy with the painting, ends up with another woman altogether, and now that woman in the painting is talking to him!
He thinks he's mad, hearing voices (one voice- the woman in the painting) so he goes and stays at Bannister Hall for a week under Dr. Bannister's care, and meets the h, the good (bad?) doctor's niece, who falls in love wtih him. There's some knitting involved, and sweets at midnight.
Back home, that lady in the painting is annoyed with him, and Dim and Dimmer (constable and his nephew) are on his trail for murder... a woman went missing (Dolly, his last mistress), and another woman had gone missing some time back (another of his mistresses).
H ends up with Dr. Bannister, his niece and the other lady whose husband had threatened to declare her mad and had shipped her off to Bannister's sanatorium; he only wanted the niece (h).
And his paintings end up at a gallery where he is shocked to see them.
What spoiled my taste a little is that the paintings were all of his mistresses. He would engage a woman as mistress because he wanted to paint her, then would get to know her thoroughly, every inch, and run upstairs to paint her; after they'd had sex, of course. So, these are all nudes of women he slept with. I get that it's "art". I get that the paintings are tasteful and all that. I still don't have like it.
And he is in a world of trouble-- he paints his current mistress Dolly (like he does all his women- shagging them, and then running upstairs to paint them-naked), and then makes a few changes, cos he's not happy with the painting, ends up with another woman altogether, and now that woman in the painting is talking to him!
He thinks he's mad, hearing voices (one voice- the woman in the painting) so he goes and stays at Bannister Hall for a week under Dr. Bannister's care, and meets the h, the good (bad?) doctor's niece, who falls in love wtih him. There's some knitting involved, and sweets at midnight.
Back home, that lady in the painting is annoyed with him, and Dim and Dimmer (constable and his nephew) are on his trail for murder... a woman went missing (Dolly, his last mistress), and another woman had gone missing some time back (another of his mistresses).
H ends up with Dr. Bannister, his niece and the other lady whose husband had threatened to declare her mad and had shipped her off to Bannister's sanatorium; he only wanted the niece (h).
And his paintings end up at a gallery where he is shocked to see them.
What spoiled my taste a little is that the paintings were all of his mistresses. He would engage a woman as mistress because he wanted to paint her, then would get to know her thoroughly, every inch, and run upstairs to paint her; after they'd had sex, of course. So, these are all nudes of women he slept with. I get that it's "art". I get that the paintings are tasteful and all that. I still don't have like it.
October 19, 2017
For being a Barbara Metzger, this was not very clean. I was disappointed, because her writing is great and she adds superb humor. This just crossed the line of what is pleasing.
January 28, 2013
Meh, both Caswell and Lilyanne are rather boring, the most interesting character was the lady who's husband checked her into Bannister's care because she was against his indiscretions. Also the villains are discovered, too late, they aren't apprehended.
****Spoiler Summary****
Caswell worships his ladylove's bodies, then quickly sends them away, and with their image fresh in his mind, he secretly paints them. However his latest painting talks to him, so he checks himself under the care of Dr Bannister, falling for Bannister's niece, Lilyanne. He returns home, hoping he is cured, but the painting still talks and the police have come knocking, since many of Caswell's past ladyloves are missing! Eventually it is revealed that Caswell gives each of his ladies a great parting gift, but it is delivered by his man, who keeps the gifts for himself and ships the women off to other countries! In addition Caswell's cousin has been stealing from him and sold a few of his paintings. Caswell decides he needs Lilyanne's good sense, asks her to marry him, reveals his painting skills to the public, gifts the talking portrait to the Prince to be hung in his grand foyer.
****Spoiler Summary****
Caswell worships his ladylove's bodies, then quickly sends them away, and with their image fresh in his mind, he secretly paints them. However his latest painting talks to him, so he checks himself under the care of Dr Bannister, falling for Bannister's niece, Lilyanne. He returns home, hoping he is cured, but the painting still talks and the police have come knocking, since many of Caswell's past ladyloves are missing! Eventually it is revealed that Caswell gives each of his ladies a great parting gift, but it is delivered by his man, who keeps the gifts for himself and ships the women off to other countries! In addition Caswell's cousin has been stealing from him and sold a few of his paintings. Caswell decides he needs Lilyanne's good sense, asks her to marry him, reveals his painting skills to the public, gifts the talking portrait to the Prince to be hung in his grand foyer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2013
An almost generic regency, the best part was Kasey (the Duke) and his battle with society - a duke just does not paint in Society!
When Kasey believes he is having a conversation with the subject of his most recent painting, he travels to a remote supervised home where people who are dealing with overwhelming Turbulence go to be treated by a quack...and he falls in love with the quack's niece, Lillyanne.
She was the wise woman of the house and had a very sensible, healing approach to life...which was rocked when Kasey arrived for a week of treatment.
A bit of chaos ensues with a betrayal of the Duke's trust, abductions, fraudlent behavior and 2 flighty elder spinster aunts rescued the story from a single star.
When Kasey believes he is having a conversation with the subject of his most recent painting, he travels to a remote supervised home where people who are dealing with overwhelming Turbulence go to be treated by a quack...and he falls in love with the quack's niece, Lillyanne.
She was the wise woman of the house and had a very sensible, healing approach to life...which was rocked when Kasey arrived for a week of treatment.
A bit of chaos ensues with a betrayal of the Duke's trust, abductions, fraudlent behavior and 2 flighty elder spinster aunts rescued the story from a single star.
January 16, 2010
I'm not sure what the author was shooting for in this book but it didn't work. A duke who is a closet painter, a painting that speaks (literally) to him, murders, theft... it's all just a muddle, and a boring one at that.
November 11, 2017
Regency
October 4, 2012
Not your normal regency romance, since it has an element of supernatural, but I enjoyed the story.
March 13, 2015
I enjoy creative writing as much as the next guy, but this adventure's so abundant with alliteration it's absurd.
August 21, 2015
Two-and-a-half stars. It's weird, but very nearly works. If nothing else, I liked Kasey and Lilyanne.
Read
March 14, 2016I liked that for the most part it is told through the eyes of the male protagonist. A fast paced, lighthearted romance but with a message "To thine own self be true".
ebooks-to-read-i-own
January 5, 2010started reading but I can't get into it. Postponed until a later date.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews