The Diamond Key

This was my first outing with Barbara Metzger and I have to say that it was a trully enjoyable ride! Refreshing and light-hearted. I found myself chuckling out loud at the antics of Wynn and Torrie. The characters were very well written and believable. I also enjoyed the secondary characters. I cheered when Wynn FINALLY found a valet who could tie a proper cravat. I've gone out and bought up every book I could find by this author.

When Lady Victoria Keyes is trapped in a burning building she vows that if she is saved, she'll marry right away and do her duty. She'll even marry the man who saves her. Well as you can probably see, she is saved. And the man that saves her is none other than Wynn, Viscount Ingall who has been exiled from society after rumors of him killing someone during a duel.When Torrie (Lady Victoria)tries to complete her vow and marry this handsome hunk, who has obviously been wrongly accused, he begins to run in the opposite direction because getting caught in the parson's mousetrap is the last thing he wants to do. But the more and more he sees Torrie, the more and more he wants to be with her. And she is the same with him, vow or no vow. What follows is a great story filled with action and romance. This story was overall a good story. The minor characters and problems that Wynn is face with keep the story moving smoothly for the most part. There are a couple spots that seemed to drag on but not that many. The characters were well thought out and the reader is easily able to feel what they're feeling!So yes, I do recommend this book to everyone!

One of the best at regency comedy, Barbara Metzger has offered up another winner with The Diamond Key. Others have summed up the plot well so there is no point in going over it again. As always, with this author, it is the witty writing, colourful characters and bizarre supporting cast that makes her work so attractive.Metzger's command of farcical writing is brilliant. She uses word-play so effectively and gives us wonderful comedic situations so very well. I love her use, in particular, of alliteration such as "preening pea-geese" which gives a bright sparkiness to her writing.The best running joke in this novel was the search for the perfect valet for our delicious hero, Lord Ingall. Torrie, our heroine was not Metzger's best (hence 4 instead of 5 stars) as she was a bit two dimensional which made her effect on the plot a little heavy. However, Ingall grows in the reader's eyes throughout the story and you want to cheer for him at the end. By the way, the last chapter is a delight!

Lady Victoria Ann Keyes is trapped in a burning building. She makes a vow to herself: she will marry the man who saves her. That man is Wynn Ingall, Viscount Ingall (and his dog). Now, she only needs to convince him of the power of fate. Will she hand over her diamond key--the key to her heart--to Wynn?The only problem is, Wynn has no desire to marry. Because of a scandal 6 years ago, he was banished from society. Now he has a fortune, and he is being hailed as a hero. He certainly doesn't want to add "Torrie" (lovely, though she is) to the list of females who are begging to be his bride. A former mistress is desperate to marry him. A penniless widow is desperate to marry him. His sister-in-law is eager to marry him off to her prim and proper cousin. But Wynn doesn't want to take a wife--even though he finds himself growing more and more attracted to Miss Keyes. Overall, the novel is yet another Metzger delight. But I've read better Metzger books. "The Diamond Key" starts with a bang (what could be more exciting than a brush with death?), then loses momentum middle. Most of the middle consists of Wynn dealing with the other women in his life, and Torrie catching him in compromising situations. For a period of the book, I was somewhat bored and frustrated. But the book picks up during the last 100 pages. You learn to love the characters. Torrie starts to seems less like a spoiled brat and more like a spirited, feisty woman. Wynn finally shows his colors as the charitable, caring man that he is. I loved Homer, Wynn's dog. (You can always count on Barbara to pen a humorous, heroic mutt). Even the bumbling villain was worth some laughs. I would recommend this as yet another light, witty, Metzger read. (I thought Wynn's struggles with terrible valets were hilarious). It'll definitely brighten your afternoon.

Lady Victoria "Torrie" Ann Keyes had turned down many suitors. But when she found herself surrounded by fire at Madame Michaela's dressmaking shop, she vowed to marry the man who rescued her, if she lived. The man who saved her was Wynn Ingram, Viscount Ingall. He had been exiled six years ago for dueling with Lord Lynbrook. He was NOT accepted by polite society and could care less by the fact. He was only in England to deal with three problems, all concerning letters sent to him by women. When Torrie offered marriage, he politely refused. He did, however, consider the government post her father offered him. Regardless of what Wynn said, he was very attracted to Torrie. One of her rejected suitors, Lord Boyce, was out to compromise her. Lord Boyce and Wynn knew each other from younger days. Neither cared for the other. But Lord Boyce needed Torrie's money desperately and would go to any lengths to get it. ***** Very well done! This story began in the middle of a dangerous situation and captured my interest immediately. The author added little sub-plots, such as the three women Wynn was dealing with, to keep events lively as well. This is the PERFECT book for a dull or rainy afternoon to help the time FLY by. Very good reading within these pages!