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Enchanted Affair
SHE WAS A MOST UNUSUAL MISS, TO BE SURE!
Lovely Lisanne Neville had always found solace in the verdant beauty of Sevrin Woods. But now the woods were about to be destroyed in order to pay off the gambling debts of the Duke of St. Sevrin. Clearly, drastic measures were called for. So Lisanne proposed marriage to the duke. The her fortune for his woods.
The Duke of St. Sevrin put aside his bottle long enough to consider this mad bargain, recognizing he had nothing to offer this sprite of a girl save his crumbling home, hellish reputation, and mountain of bills. He accepted. It was not the beginning of a fairy-tale marriage--but never underestimate the power of love . . . and a little bit of magic!
Lovely Lisanne Neville had always found solace in the verdant beauty of Sevrin Woods. But now the woods were about to be destroyed in order to pay off the gambling debts of the Duke of St. Sevrin. Clearly, drastic measures were called for. So Lisanne proposed marriage to the duke. The her fortune for his woods.
The Duke of St. Sevrin put aside his bottle long enough to consider this mad bargain, recognizing he had nothing to offer this sprite of a girl save his crumbling home, hellish reputation, and mountain of bills. He accepted. It was not the beginning of a fairy-tale marriage--but never underestimate the power of love . . . and a little bit of magic!
228 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 30, 1996
About the author
Barbara Metzger
108 books203 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
June 2, 2019
3.5/5. Cinderella story of sort only heroine was her own fairy Godmother and although she did eventually run away from the ball, it was not the prince who went looking for her but her own ducal husband who was already familiar with her identity but wanted to familiarise himself with her person. We've got an unusual heroine in the highly intelligent and precocious Lisanne, who became Baroness Neville after her parents' premature death. She, who had always loved roaming around in the nearby Sevrin Woods as a young child turned to the forest for solace after her wicked uncle was assigned her guardian and moved his repulsive family into her home and the home in turn became her prison. In her isolation, she frequently found comfort in the woods where she considered the creatures there, real and mystical, her only friends and, with the aid of books and nature, she taught herself the botanical art of healing. As Lisanne blossoms into a wild and beautiful young girl, she finds herself subjected to greater oppression by the avaricious uncle who wants to extend his guardianship over her indefinitely, thereby retaining control over her extensive fortune and hence he encourages local gossip labelling her "Addled Annie".
The new Duke of St. Sevrin of the neighbouring estate inherited a dukedom buried in such debts that he has no hope of rectifying the damage wrought by his spendthrift father. Sloane drowns his troubles in grog while making just enough money through gambling to barely sustain himself and his loyal man. So when Lisanne emerges from the woods in the moonlight like an enchanted fairy creature and makes him an offer so outlandish, he thinks the drinking has addled his brain. Lisanne however is very serious - her hand in marriage and most of her fortune in exchange for him rescuing her from the clutches of her uncle. She might be a slip of a girl, but her shrew negotiation skills are thoughtful and rival that of any lawyer and he knows soon enough not to underestimate her intellect.
Lisanne drew herself up to her five feet naught height, the naught giving her dignity. “I am eight and ten, Your Grace, not a child.”
“Forgive me, Baroness, but you appear to be no more than fifteen.”
“And you are said to be twenty and seven, yet you look nearly forty.”
St. Sevrin turned to Lisanne. “Are you insane?”
“Can you afford to be so particular?” she replied, pointed chin raised, blue eyes flashing.
Lisanne made a fabulous heroine - strong, independent, and yet lonely and fragile at the same time. Her pain in the forest when she thought she had been abandoned by all was heart-rendering. Sloane was sweet with her right from the start, not wanting to take advantage of her vulnerable state. He was a bit impotent and held on to the grog like his crutch for far too long, but she inadvertently made him feel redundant with her efficiency and her money. He eventually got over his inferiority complex and became a bit more attentive and proactive. There wasn't enough dialogues between them to show how their MOC and feelings progressed as they got to know each other better. The writing was great as expected from Metzger and there were the usual witty observations but the romance was lacking with the protagonists being apart for at least half the book. It also skipped her training in all the skills required for her ton debut and court presentation.
... there’s a lady who needs rescuing, and she just might be the salvation of us all.” Sloane took a swallow. “Tell me, old man, do you think I’m beyond hope?”
“The devil hisself is not beyond hope. They call it religion. Why don’t you try going to church instead of to that accountant bloke?”
“I wasn’t thinking of divine intervention. Let’s start off with small miracles.”
The new Duke of St. Sevrin of the neighbouring estate inherited a dukedom buried in such debts that he has no hope of rectifying the damage wrought by his spendthrift father. Sloane drowns his troubles in grog while making just enough money through gambling to barely sustain himself and his loyal man. So when Lisanne emerges from the woods in the moonlight like an enchanted fairy creature and makes him an offer so outlandish, he thinks the drinking has addled his brain. Lisanne however is very serious - her hand in marriage and most of her fortune in exchange for him rescuing her from the clutches of her uncle. She might be a slip of a girl, but her shrew negotiation skills are thoughtful and rival that of any lawyer and he knows soon enough not to underestimate her intellect.
Lisanne drew herself up to her five feet naught height, the naught giving her dignity. “I am eight and ten, Your Grace, not a child.”
“Forgive me, Baroness, but you appear to be no more than fifteen.”
“And you are said to be twenty and seven, yet you look nearly forty.”
St. Sevrin turned to Lisanne. “Are you insane?”
“Can you afford to be so particular?” she replied, pointed chin raised, blue eyes flashing.
Lisanne made a fabulous heroine - strong, independent, and yet lonely and fragile at the same time. Her pain in the forest when she thought she had been abandoned by all was heart-rendering. Sloane was sweet with her right from the start, not wanting to take advantage of her vulnerable state. He was a bit impotent and held on to the grog like his crutch for far too long, but she inadvertently made him feel redundant with her efficiency and her money. He eventually got over his inferiority complex and became a bit more attentive and proactive. There wasn't enough dialogues between them to show how their MOC and feelings progressed as they got to know each other better. The writing was great as expected from Metzger and there were the usual witty observations but the romance was lacking with the protagonists being apart for at least half the book. It also skipped her training in all the skills required for her ton debut and court presentation.
... there’s a lady who needs rescuing, and she just might be the salvation of us all.” Sloane took a swallow. “Tell me, old man, do you think I’m beyond hope?”
“The devil hisself is not beyond hope. They call it religion. Why don’t you try going to church instead of to that accountant bloke?”
“I wasn’t thinking of divine intervention. Let’s start off with small miracles.”
April 11, 2022
3.5 stars.
Not as charming as her other books I've read. I thought Lisanne was too perfect (what can she not do?), and St. Sevrin was too much of a coward. It would have been better if they spent their time together after the wedding. Unfortunately, the author placed them apart after the wedding, and they spent most of their time nursing their misapprehension about each other.
Not as charming as her other books I've read. I thought Lisanne was too perfect (what can she not do?), and St. Sevrin was too much of a coward. It would have been better if they spent their time together after the wedding. Unfortunately, the author placed them apart after the wedding, and they spent most of their time nursing their misapprehension about each other.
March 9, 2022
Regency England. Sorry to say this felt average.
Featured were Sloan, an Army officer who became
a Duke & heiress Lisanne who was treated poorly
by her uncle once her parents died. Lisanne as
a girl had no one nearby, her age, so she made
friends with critters and plants in the forest. The
locals and her uncle/ his family thought her daft
and called her "Addled Annie." She rescued animals
and acted as a healer of animals & humans, using
herbs & so on.
At age 18, Lisanne approached Sloan and offered
marriage to him to pay his debts and restore his
country home. He'd receive a large portion of her
fortune and she a smaller portion. In exchange
she'd escape her uncle (who told his son to rape
her, which did not happen) who embezzled from
her. She wore cast-offs while uncle's dtr wore silk.
She'd also spend time in the woods, at will.
Sloan considered the h beautiful & intelligent, but
spent too much of the story doubting her sanity.
His kisses lacked passion. We saw this couple, once
wed, be separated too long. The H did not seem in
love with the h. This couple would have been better
off living in separate households?
Featured were Sloan, an Army officer who became
a Duke & heiress Lisanne who was treated poorly
by her uncle once her parents died. Lisanne as
a girl had no one nearby, her age, so she made
friends with critters and plants in the forest. The
locals and her uncle/ his family thought her daft
and called her "Addled Annie." She rescued animals
and acted as a healer of animals & humans, using
herbs & so on.
At age 18, Lisanne approached Sloan and offered
marriage to him to pay his debts and restore his
country home. He'd receive a large portion of her
fortune and she a smaller portion. In exchange
she'd escape her uncle (who told his son to rape
her, which did not happen) who embezzled from
her. She wore cast-offs while uncle's dtr wore silk.
She'd also spend time in the woods, at will.
Sloan considered the h beautiful & intelligent, but
spent too much of the story doubting her sanity.
His kisses lacked passion. We saw this couple, once
wed, be separated too long. The H did not seem in
love with the h. This couple would have been better
off living in separate households?
September 2, 2026
A princess-like heiress, Lisanne, proposes a solution to the hero, the Duke, Sloane, for their problems: her money for his financial problems, in exchange for him not cutting off the forest in the Neville lands.
The first half of the book was great: Lisanne's eccentric childhood, her loving parents, her days with her unlikable uncle Alfred following her parents' deaths, her bargain with the Duke, the so-called wedding...
After that, things felt odd: the hero leaves the heroine and heads to London for months. The romance factor was missing. On their own, each character was notable. However, their chemistry together wasn't significant because they barely talked to each other.
I'll give this a 3.5 rounded to 4.
The first half of the book was great: Lisanne's eccentric childhood, her loving parents, her days with her unlikable uncle Alfred following her parents' deaths, her bargain with the Duke, the so-called wedding...
After that, things felt odd: the hero leaves the heroine and heads to London for months. The romance factor was missing. On their own, each character was notable. However, their chemistry together wasn't significant because they barely talked to each other.
I'll give this a 3.5 rounded to 4.
August 1, 2026
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. Here is my honest review.
An Enchanted Affair is such a sweet, whimsy, cosy fantasy romance. This story almost seems like a Cinderella retelling. We have our smart, quirky, FMC who is treated poorly by her uncle, and our MMC who is a rake that is swimming in debt. The two meet and what happens next is a sweet romance.
I enjoyed the stories of the Woods, although I do with we had seen more of the creatures and been told more of the lore.
Im rating this novel 4.25 ⭐️ and will be keeping an eye out for more novels by Ms. Metzger!
An Enchanted Affair is such a sweet, whimsy, cosy fantasy romance. This story almost seems like a Cinderella retelling. We have our smart, quirky, FMC who is treated poorly by her uncle, and our MMC who is a rake that is swimming in debt. The two meet and what happens next is a sweet romance.
I enjoyed the stories of the Woods, although I do with we had seen more of the creatures and been told more of the lore.
Im rating this novel 4.25 ⭐️ and will be keeping an eye out for more novels by Ms. Metzger!
October 30, 2024
3.5 stars
December 11, 2021
Lisanne Neville is hands down the best thing about this book and the sole reason that I think it deserves 4-stars!
March 22, 2022
I adore early HRs, and Metzger never disappoints. Lisanne was sweet, lonely, self-sufficient and altogether lovable. Sloane was attentive but dissolute and a bit of a coward towards his feelings and his wife. It was a perfect read for a cosy afternoon with a cup of coffee by my side.
December 24, 2014
cute, Cinderella like story, except instead of a fairly godmother, she takes matters into her own hands. wish the greedy uncle got a bit more punishment for all the pain he cause than just having to spend his own money
December 10, 2023
Lost Opportunity
I love this book & thoroughly enjoyed (almost) all of it. Our two lead characters were equally irritating and endearing, but the author lost the opportunity to build their relationship into something deeper and more meaningful.
Lisanne was resentful; Sloane was selfish; neither communicated in a proper and meaningful way. Sloane’s absence for months and the subsequent return did nothing to either of them or their relationship. There were passages of wasted pondering and rumination when the author should have used the space later to develop their characters and marriage.
Do read as it is enjoyable.
I love this book & thoroughly enjoyed (almost) all of it. Our two lead characters were equally irritating and endearing, but the author lost the opportunity to build their relationship into something deeper and more meaningful.
Lisanne was resentful; Sloane was selfish; neither communicated in a proper and meaningful way. Sloane’s absence for months and the subsequent return did nothing to either of them or their relationship. There were passages of wasted pondering and rumination when the author should have used the space later to develop their characters and marriage.
Do read as it is enjoyable.
August 30, 2022
I did not like this much, particularly because there was too much of abuse (not graphic) at the hands of greedy relatives. RR as a genre have some very standard tropes, and this one employed two of my least favorite - MoC and MisUnderstanding (I feel MU has to be the most idiotic things; just a little bit of communication, even in the times of that high degree of formality should have easily avoided it).
I found it quite average, with run-of-the-mill plot and no humor to redeem it.
I found it quite average, with run-of-the-mill plot and no humor to redeem it.
March 24, 2015
ve it! Love the light story telling, the strong but seemingly weak and slightly otherworldly heroine, the 'depraved' but kind hero, and the entertaining mix of other characters. Delightful read.
May 23, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC
What a letdown, I expected so much more from this book. I loved the idea and I enjoyed the beginning which read very much like a fairytale. Sadly it went quickly downhill from there.
The MMC was very unlikeable. I don't mind a grumpy MMC but Sloane was chaotic, mean and all over the place. He seems to have some growth but that then turns around again at the end and he is mean again? I couldn't get my head around his character. I feel like he doesn't treat the FMC well at all.
At not a single point in the story was there any chemistry between the couple or any reason to believe them in love.
There was a lot less magic than I expected. I had hoped for more actual magic and interference from the fae in the forest. The magic felt like an afterthought and a cheap plot device to make the FMC seem quirky and different.
The worst part for me was that the MMC thinks of Lisanne as a child several times. He literally has to tell himself that she is his wife and not his daughter at least twice in the book. This gave me the BIGGEST ICK.
Once you notice it, you can't ignore it. There is such a huge imbalance in maturity between the characters that it really feels illegal and gross.
Also, SPOILER, there are no trigger warnings at the start of this book but be aware that there is both mental and physical abuse and negligence of a child/young adult.
I feel that this is such a big part of the book but the consequences and aftermath for the main character are really glossed over and ignored.
Really disappointed, this had so much potential.
What a letdown, I expected so much more from this book. I loved the idea and I enjoyed the beginning which read very much like a fairytale. Sadly it went quickly downhill from there.
The MMC was very unlikeable. I don't mind a grumpy MMC but Sloane was chaotic, mean and all over the place. He seems to have some growth but that then turns around again at the end and he is mean again? I couldn't get my head around his character. I feel like he doesn't treat the FMC well at all.
At not a single point in the story was there any chemistry between the couple or any reason to believe them in love.
There was a lot less magic than I expected. I had hoped for more actual magic and interference from the fae in the forest. The magic felt like an afterthought and a cheap plot device to make the FMC seem quirky and different.
The worst part for me was that the MMC thinks of Lisanne as a child several times. He literally has to tell himself that she is his wife and not his daughter at least twice in the book. This gave me the BIGGEST ICK.
Once you notice it, you can't ignore it. There is such a huge imbalance in maturity between the characters that it really feels illegal and gross.
Also, SPOILER, there are no trigger warnings at the start of this book but be aware that there is both mental and physical abuse and negligence of a child/young adult.
I feel that this is such a big part of the book but the consequences and aftermath for the main character are really glossed over and ignored.
Really disappointed, this had so much potential.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An Enchanted Affair is a sweet, closed-door Regency marriage of convenience romance. It was first published in 1996 and this is presumably a re-release with a new cover.
Heroine Lisanne is a beautiful, fey woman who inherits a title and a bunch of money. Her wicked uncle wants her money. Lisanne is the sort of woman who forgives her enemies and benefits from it. The only thing she really cares about is the woods adjacent to her own land. The woods are rumored to be bewitched – as is Lisanne.
When Lisanne hears a rumor that the new duke and owner of the woods is planning to clearcut them and sell the trees, Lisanne must act. The Duke of St. Sevrin is a drunken war hero who inherited a moldering estate and who needs money. So Lisanne proposes a bargain. They will marry, he will get most of her money to spend on his own estate, and he will not cut down the woods. She will provide him with two male heirs.
The characters and the plot aren’t original. There are some interesting side characters like the duke’s batman. Lisanne reminds me of the stereotypical fairy girl delightfully parodied in the book and movie Cold Comfort Farm. Her aunt is very similar to Mrs. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Lisanne becomes less fey and the duke less drunk so they can fall in love and live happily ever after.
Are there fairies and leprechauns in this story? Maybe. You decide.
I read an advance reader copy of An Enchanted Affair from Netgalley.
Heroine Lisanne is a beautiful, fey woman who inherits a title and a bunch of money. Her wicked uncle wants her money. Lisanne is the sort of woman who forgives her enemies and benefits from it. The only thing she really cares about is the woods adjacent to her own land. The woods are rumored to be bewitched – as is Lisanne.
When Lisanne hears a rumor that the new duke and owner of the woods is planning to clearcut them and sell the trees, Lisanne must act. The Duke of St. Sevrin is a drunken war hero who inherited a moldering estate and who needs money. So Lisanne proposes a bargain. They will marry, he will get most of her money to spend on his own estate, and he will not cut down the woods. She will provide him with two male heirs.
The characters and the plot aren’t original. There are some interesting side characters like the duke’s batman. Lisanne reminds me of the stereotypical fairy girl delightfully parodied in the book and movie Cold Comfort Farm. Her aunt is very similar to Mrs. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Lisanne becomes less fey and the duke less drunk so they can fall in love and live happily ever after.
Are there fairies and leprechauns in this story? Maybe. You decide.
I read an advance reader copy of An Enchanted Affair from Netgalley.
May 26, 2026
Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. Also to #HistriaBooks!
#AnEnchantedAffair
This book is in the fantasy realm because one of the main characters Lisanne is like a little nymph, a young lady who is bewitched by the woods behind her house. Animals love her and she has healing powers. When her parents die, her Uncle and his wife and her cousin come to live with her and be her guardians. To them it is more about having money. They are hellbent to make her look mentally ill so she can be ruled permanently incapable of handling her parents’ estate. She plots with a Duke of St. Sevrin to marry thereby her wealth is shared between the two of them. It is set up more of a marriage of convenience with both benefiting from the terms. Overtime it evolves and changes as they both change to try to fit in each other’s worlds.
The story itself is captivating and the writing is excellent but there is just too much of it. The story could have been wrapped up quicker and at times it seemed redundant. It is a worthwhile read and I look forward to reading more of the author but just this one didn’t hit the mark with me.
#AnEnchantedAffair
This book is in the fantasy realm because one of the main characters Lisanne is like a little nymph, a young lady who is bewitched by the woods behind her house. Animals love her and she has healing powers. When her parents die, her Uncle and his wife and her cousin come to live with her and be her guardians. To them it is more about having money. They are hellbent to make her look mentally ill so she can be ruled permanently incapable of handling her parents’ estate. She plots with a Duke of St. Sevrin to marry thereby her wealth is shared between the two of them. It is set up more of a marriage of convenience with both benefiting from the terms. Overtime it evolves and changes as they both change to try to fit in each other’s worlds.
The story itself is captivating and the writing is excellent but there is just too much of it. The story could have been wrapped up quicker and at times it seemed redundant. It is a worthwhile read and I look forward to reading more of the author but just this one didn’t hit the mark with me.
February 11, 2020
This was somehow cute and whimsical. I loved Lisanne and thought she was a great heroine although somewhat peculiar - educated, knowledgeable, innocent and candid, believing in fairies and able to cure animals and people. But I didn't care much about Sloane. One moment the Duke was noble and on the path of reformation, the next - he was again sunk into debauchery. And I didn't like the lack of communication between these two. For me that was basically the plot hurdle - it was not that much the villains of the story (uncle Neville and family) or society's unacceptance of Lisanne, but the inability of the H and h to communicate clearly their feelings and wishes. So I would give this story a middle range "liked it" and move on to other light and fluff stories by Ms. Metzger.
Narrative: 3rd person following different characters, but mainly the H and h
Religion: none
Sensuality: clean, but talk of mistresses and light skirts
Narrative: 3rd person following different characters, but mainly the H and h
Religion: none
Sensuality: clean, but talk of mistresses and light skirts
May 18, 2026
2.5 rounded to 3 for the writing and prose, the story itself was let down.
Yays 👍
- Fast paced, novella length
- FMC is bloody awesome
- Writing is top notch, you can't help being sucked in
- The wedding day banter and scene is top notch and probably the best writing in the book
Nays 👎
- MMC is just meh, I couldn’t be invested in him. His character showed promise only to let down every time. Actions not intent make a good hero
- There is very little magic per se and I hoped there would be more
- Ton and socialising is the mountain to climb for a character as remarkable as the FMC seems wasted potential for the story and the reader
- There is so little time and chemistry between the lead characters, you can't really come to care about their relationship
Verdict 🪒
Recommend the author but not this story. The description is truly promising but the story does very little to redeem itself.
Yays 👍
- Fast paced, novella length
- FMC is bloody awesome
- Writing is top notch, you can't help being sucked in
- The wedding day banter and scene is top notch and probably the best writing in the book
Nays 👎
- MMC is just meh, I couldn’t be invested in him. His character showed promise only to let down every time. Actions not intent make a good hero
- There is very little magic per se and I hoped there would be more
- Ton and socialising is the mountain to climb for a character as remarkable as the FMC seems wasted potential for the story and the reader
- There is so little time and chemistry between the lead characters, you can't really come to care about their relationship
Verdict 🪒
Recommend the author but not this story. The description is truly promising but the story does very little to redeem itself.
June 26, 2021
Sweet story
The outline for almost every romance seems to be a couple who fixate on some misunderstanding from their first interaction and persist listening to their insecurities until the audience ready to scream at them to stop being ninnyhammers! Somehow Metzger writes with enough wit and detail to get through the formula enjoyalby. I would have liked to have read a bit more of the happily ever after. Did their children see fairies in the forests? More... I suppose she left me wanting more.
The outline for almost every romance seems to be a couple who fixate on some misunderstanding from their first interaction and persist listening to their insecurities until the audience ready to scream at them to stop being ninnyhammers! Somehow Metzger writes with enough wit and detail to get through the formula enjoyalby. I would have liked to have read a bit more of the happily ever after. Did their children see fairies in the forests? More... I suppose she left me wanting more.
March 3, 2023
Very Few Love Scenes forr a Love Story
As in most regency romances, our heroine is a rich orphan but treated very badly by her foster family as well as by her uncle who wants only her money. That is until our hero shows up. His father lost all their money but left him a Duke, one that drinks, gambles, has mistresses, and goes off to war. He ends up marrying our heroine for her money but then leaves her for almost the rest of the book. The love scene is one paragraph long. Too bad; the characters were interesting. The plot wasn't. I did not like this book.
As in most regency romances, our heroine is a rich orphan but treated very badly by her foster family as well as by her uncle who wants only her money. That is until our hero shows up. His father lost all their money but left him a Duke, one that drinks, gambles, has mistresses, and goes off to war. He ends up marrying our heroine for her money but then leaves her for almost the rest of the book. The love scene is one paragraph long. Too bad; the characters were interesting. The plot wasn't. I did not like this book.
November 26, 2023
It's hard to beat Metzger for dialogue, whether it's sharp and laugh-out-loud funny or poignant and moving. This is a lovely story with an unusual but appealing heroine and a flawed but deeply likeable hero. The villains are wonderfully hiss-worthy as well. I left off one star because the end felt rushed and therefore a bit unsatisfying. NOTE: I listened to the audio version read by the incomparable Pippa Rathborne. She takes a little getting used to at first, but she knows exactly how to bring out the best in Metzger's wonderful writing.
May 10, 2018
A soft 3
This started out really good. I like marriage of convenience stories. I thought it might be a 4 or 5 star read. However the day after the marriage which is not consummated by the way our hero goes to London and does not exchange a letter or have a conversation with the heroine until the 80% mark of the book. There is no romance really. A few pages before the end of the book they finally get it together. To little to late. Interesting premise though.
This started out really good. I like marriage of convenience stories. I thought it might be a 4 or 5 star read. However the day after the marriage which is not consummated by the way our hero goes to London and does not exchange a letter or have a conversation with the heroine until the 80% mark of the book. There is no romance really. A few pages before the end of the book they finally get it together. To little to late. Interesting premise though.
January 22, 2025
One of those stories that makes you smile and curl your toes in pleasure. Some may say the whole reformed rake thing doesn’t do it for them, but I thought this story went so well into the background and thoughts of the hero and heroine that I felt like I knew them better than they knew themselves. Besides, he treated her like a queen, so no matter what he had done in the past I could forgive it. Just a sweet, romantic, delightful, feel-good story.
September 1, 2018
Again, a bit disney-like story and quite an enjoyable read. I see some people think Lisanne is too perfect, but on the other hand, see that she is not generally well liked by people around her - they are wary of her, respect her, but don't understand her. It would be annoying as hell if everyone adored her - it was a lot more interesting the way it was. And a clean romance to boot -I was pleased.
July 24, 2025
This was unfortunately rushed at the end, they didn’t have the fairy plot anchieve anything except rumor and innuendo and the female main character is oddly both an expert at certain things without a believable background for this. The premise was promising but not enough pay-off. It’s the kind of book with an extensive re-write could be a fave of mine.
April 17, 2019
Charming and Enchanting!
What a refreshing and delightful novel filled with great wit and sparkling plot! Barbara Metzer’s writing never fails to be utterly charming!!! A must read book!
Helen
What a refreshing and delightful novel filled with great wit and sparkling plot! Barbara Metzer’s writing never fails to be utterly charming!!! A must read book!
Helen
October 18, 2021
I think it's more of a coming of age and just a tale of a girl who did not fit in. It's a little heavier than most Metzger. But Rathborn is wonderful, as usual. Her voice is perfect for the tone of the story. She is the empress of tongue in cheek!
March 15, 2023
Loved sweet little Lisanne. So sweet. I wish there would have been a little more romance in this. I also enjoyed the fact that they didnt rush “redemption” or an overnight change for the hero but wouldve liked to see a little more from him.
May 19, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up, a lovely story but there was a little too much emotional distance, could have maybe used more dialogue/interaction, I enjoyed the tale but I never really felt deeply connected to the characters.
October 15, 2019
Quick read by Barbara Metzger - not one of my favorites of hers but another interesting premise for a story. Ending seemed a bit rushed.
November 19, 2019
Delightful.
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