Snowdrops and Scandalbroth

The premise of the book is certainly unique. Who would have thought it--a virgin hero who is looked down upon as being less-than-masculine until he gains a reputation for being a rake? The irony of the plot is one of the keys to why the story is so entertaining. Two virgins are posing as lovers, and are thus applauded and approved of, but if they admitted to the "ton" their innocence, they would be scorned. Viscount Chase has to be one of the sweetest fictional heros, and it is so humorous how he damps down his sexual attraction and his affection for the heroine while fighting himself inside his head. The heroine plays the part of his mistress out of a need for money, but also due to misguided pity for him, thinking that he needs her to demonstrate his virility because he is suffering from an "old war wound!" The story does get a bit confusing because there are so many secondary characters, with a jewel-theft mystery thrown in, and it probably could have been fine without as many extra plot threads, but it still comes off very well. I am not that big a fan of Barbara Metzger since I don't care for her usual rakish hero, but this one is a keeper for me.

Snowdrops and Scandalbroth is the story of Miss Kathlyn Partland, a destitute noblewoman who must sell her services as a governess to make ends meet (yeah I know, this has been done to death). The hero, Courtney Chase is a retired soldier, in a unique position.Considered 'unmasculine' by the ton, because, heh, he is a virgin, Courtney is desperate to prove himself, a womanizing 'rake' without compromising his unconventional ideals.. He is saving himself for marriage! So, he hires Kitty to masquerade as his 'mistress,' not realizing that their easy frienship would soon become love!Courtney and Kitty make an interesting and unique couple. Kitty is a smart, pragmatic heroine, and Courtney a reasonable hero. Both seem to make a natural couple.There were a scattering of irritating secondary characters which seemed to pop up now and then... But they did not distract to omuch from the overall read. This was a decent read, especially for a Regency (not my normal reading material). Would recommend this book for those who want a fun read with a unique hero.

This is absolutely my favorite book by Barbara Metzger. I am a fan of Regency Romances, but I get bored by the sterotypical rakish hero, whom I would consider a jerk in real life. This hero was so sweet! But he was not a wimp, either. Just virtuous, which is far better than promiscuous. I would highly recommend this book, which I have re-read half a dozen times at least.

Barbara Metzger is such a master of all the little tricks that take a book from merely enjoyable to the unforgettable. If you want to know how, just read this book. Who else could carefully manage the plot so as to have four different groups of people converge on the same place at the same time, but yet all with their own independent agendas? Who else could think of a hero, invalided out of Boney's war in his mid-twenties, who has determined that if his chosen bride should be pure on their wedding night, why, then, so also should HE! Needless to say, this situation causes Courtney Choate, Viscount Chase, no little bit of difficulty. The poor man is driven to hiring a female person to pretend she is his mistress, for goodness' sake. Of course, the woman he selects, Kathlyn Partland, immediately decides its because the poor man's injury has rendered him, um, as somewhat less than a wife would desire. How was he to know that she's the granddaughter of an earl. Disowned, to be sure, but who's to know that? And, further, who's to know where the jewels were hidden before the highwayman died, practically in Kathlyn's arms? And, why is the Bow Street Runner camped out among the trees across the street from Courtney's hide-a-way in Kensington? And just who lives in that hide-a-way, anyway? Sorry, I've run out of words. You'll just have to read it for yourself, and laugh and chuckle, and chortle. Especially at the last line--it's nearly the best in the book!

Another funny, sweet Regency romance from one of the top authors in this popular genre. Our hero -- a virgin!-- has to prove to the haut monde that he's as much a rake as the best of them. To this end, he secures the help of a gently-bred maiden down on her luck (her impoverished father has died, and her closest relatives have disowned her). Love, of course, blossoms, in the midst of a number of extremely funny sub-plots and the usual hilarious cast of Metzger characters, including fumbling felons, over-eager Bow Street Runners, and heartless aristocrats.