Lady Sparrow

If you like Amanda Quick Regency Romances you will probably like this one by Barbara Metzger. Here the mystery and romance are much more important than the Regency setting. I loved all the characters and the way the main characters built a friendship before a romance. I gave this book 5 stars because there are way too few Regency Romances where the two main characters are smart, kind, and totally respectful of one another. Thank you Ms. Metzger!

A mixed bag of reviews, I note, for this Barbara Metzger story. I liked it immensley. Not only do we have a sweet heroine and a kind-hearted hero but we also have an entertaining adventure and mystery. The concept of a duke's second son (and a spectacle wearer at that!) setting up as a regency Lord Peter Wimsey was clever and unusual. Minerva, the widowed Lady Sparrowdale is the daughter of a cit and Lord Lowell, the endearing second son who doesn't have enough money to live up to the standards expected of him, gradually fall in love whilst looking for a seemingly unlimited number of by-blows from Minerva's late husband.Although Metzger is a master of the beautifully written regency comedy, she does here hit on a number of serious points. Minerva's late husband pursued virgins in a quest for a "cure" for rampant VD (based on fact - this was a well known belief at the time); the by-blows grow up in poverty; Lord Lowell denies himself a family because of his straightened financial circumstances and Minerva shoulders responsibility for a financial empire. Some meaty issues here which provide a background note to the banter and comedy Metzger does so well. I particularly liked Harkness, the multi-purpose butler - especially with a noted butler in the news right now!I always enjoy Metzger and this was no exception. I think Lord Peter Wimsey would have recognised his predecessor, Lord Lowell the Regency PI. I do recommend this!

After five years of marriage Minerva Caldwell's cruel old husband, the Earl of Sparrowdale, died. She soon found out that her deceased husband had several illegitimate children scattered about. She decided to hire a young private eye, Lord Lowell, to help her locate them so she could offer them the home and love they deserved! A Regency Romance with a serious plot, for a change! Most Regency Romances show the couple forced together for reasons that in today's age would be considered ridiculous. (Such as a nosy person seeing the couple kiss.) Not so here! THIS book has an all together different approach to bringing the main couple together. I thought this to be a wonderful story!

Although I enjoy humor in Regency novels, I usually find Barbara Metzger's usual style something of a distraction and frivolous - so I bought this one on the strength of the review that said is was "darker" than her usual fare. True! and I liked it for that reason. This book features a couple of complex characters not from the usual background - Minerva(Mina) daughter of a wealthy Cit, recent widow of a truly apalling old man who left behind a string of illegitmate children and Lord Lowell (younger son of a duke) still living with his mother (who is NICE) and with not a lot of money - doing detective work to add to his income and have an interesting career (NOT hobby). Through their search for the lost children we watch them grow to like and respect each other as well as fall in love. Although there is humor aplenty with the antics of a mongeral dog and a dieaway cousin, there is also plenty of a serious nature - conditions in the orphanage come immediately to mind - drawing a picture of Regency England not usually shown in the books of this genre. Recommended! However, fans of a lighthearted romp - avoid this one - you won't like it!