Ace of Hearts

This is not the usual strong writing from Ms. Metzger but if you want something quick and fun to read - this would be it. This is pure fluff and wonderfully hilarious ... thus the four stars. This is not a book to be read somewhere quiet; too many great laughs. The hero - Ace, who is an Earl - is a rather disappointing character. He seems to think running away from his problems is the way to solve them ... though to be fair, I too might run away if I had three people claiming (at the same time) that I was their fiancé. Ace has all of the power, wealth, and privilege of his position, and yet he is almost childish in the way he handles things. He has some wonderfully hilarious bits which will have readers snickering and chuckling (if not actually laughing out loud). These are what save the character from being a complete disappointment. The heroine - Nell - is a bit stronger and typical of the era. Ms. Metzger makes too many references to the fact Nell is thin; it grows tiresome after the first few times. She is your usual Regency spinster with the miserly brother who keeps her at home for his own selfish reasons. The saving grace for Nell's character are the laugh-out-loud parts which are truly marvelous. There are several flaws in the story. One of the most obvious is when Nell suddenly becomes "Lady Bountiful" to the tenants. She breaks into her brother's strong box whilst he is absent and uses the funds to help effect repairs and other things which were needed for quite some time but of which she was not aware. How could Nell not realize these problems existed when she, at times, collects rent and goes to these cottages? A roof does not fall into disrepair in a few months - even if it is thatched. Cast of characters includes Ace, Nell and her goose, Nell's pinch-penny brother, her aunt (who talks to the spirit world), a Duke's daughter (fiancée wannabe # 1); the Duke's daughter's dog, the Duke, the Earl's mistress (fiancée wannabe # 2), the Earl's neighbor and daughter (fiancée wannabe # 3), the Earl's valet, missing people, and assorted staff from several households. All in all, this is a good book to read once and share with someone else you know in need of a good laugh. I have not read the others in the series (they are on the way) so cannot comment but will hope they are better written ... if not, then I hope they are as funny.

I'll admit it: I'm a huge fan of Barbara Metzger. She probably is the finest author of Regency romances alive today. Her stories are gentle but very clever, clearly requiring a great deal of research on her part. She is whimsical, she is subtle and she is witty. ACE OF HEARTS is Metzger at her best. This romance has everything a reader could want, and more: A hero who is so hero-like that half the women he meets are trying to marry him...a dog who deserves better...and a tender heroine who deserves better, too. Of course, being Metzger, there is some bite to the plot, involving highwaymen and kidnapping and other dastardly acts. After all, it's a Regency romance and this is very much in keeping with the genre. Since it is Metzger at the controls, the whole tale is unfolded deftly, and with great restraint. As always, her language and her characterization strike a perfect chord; as always, she exhibits great humor as well. ACE OF HEARTS is the perfect kick-off book for a romance series.

It is a pleasure to read a quality written novel where you laugh out loud and enjoy the characters relationship throughout. In ACE of Hearts you don't have the constant bickering between hero and heroine. Of course there are obstacles, but it is an entertaining ride to the romantic feelings shared by each. It's refreshing to not have to deal with bickering to the end where they finally get together. I recommend this book and it's follow up in the series, Jack of Clubs. Barbara Metzger is one of the most talented humor/romance authors I've read.