It was a surprise to learn that there are 4 stories in this 450-page book, not the 2 listed (on the front cover). Three are from Barbara Metzger and one from an author with which I have no experience: Margaret Evans Porter. I'll give a thumbnail sketch of each.
BALD LIES (Barbara Metzger): This story is absolutely priceless and a great first novella. Audrina Rowe wants to help her lovely cousin escape marrying an elderly man by helping her meet some gentlemen who have come to the country for a two-week house party.
Lord Blanford is struggling with getting bald and growing old (note: he's 32). He's one of the gentlemen invited to the house party and Audrina has chosen him for her cousin. However, Lord Blanford isn't interested in Audrina's plan -- at all. The Valentine Ball is a riot. Enjoy.
THE LAST VALENTINE (Metzger): Martine (a fake widow living in a small, out-of-the-way town), begins to receive Valentine gifts (each day) of the week leading up to Valentine's Day. The solution might have been more realistic if the couple had a few more pages.
LOVE AND TENDERNESS (Metzger): Let me preface this by saying that I do not like ghosts, apparitions, etc., in stories: It is the bedroom scene for the newly married couple Senta and her husband, Viscount Lee Maitland. Suddenly, an apparition appears before Senta and she screams. The Viscount thinks the worst (Senta isn't interested in him) and he leaves. Before long, the reader is told that the ghost has lost his memory, although he seems interested in helping the couple get back together.
There's another issue in this story; Lee must get to the bottom of his brother's death. So now we have a ghost and a murder to solve. The story gives the reader hints to guess who the ghost is and from that point, the plot is very funny. Of course, the story is happily-ever-after, but getting there is the trick.
Other than BALD LIES, which is pure Metzger hilarity, the other two stories were less interesting.
ROAD TO RUIN (Margaret Evans Porter): This was a very pleasant surprise. Dominic Blythe is escaping London after a duel. Through no fault of his own, the man he shot died. While escaping the Bow Street Runners, Dominic meets Nerissa Newby, who is on her way to visit a friend. Nerissa agrees to travel as man-and-wife to help Dominic evade detection (the authorities expect Dominic to be traveling alone).
I enjoyed this story much more than I expected; Porter tells an engaging tale.
BALD LIES (Barbara Metzger): This story is absolutely priceless and a great first novella. Audrina Rowe wants to help her lovely cousin escape marrying an elderly man by helping her meet some gentlemen who have come to the country for a two-week house party.
Lord Blanford is struggling with getting bald and growing old (note: he's 32). He's one of the gentlemen invited to the house party and Audrina has chosen him for her cousin. However, Lord Blanford isn't interested in Audrina's plan -- at all. The Valentine Ball is a riot. Enjoy.
THE LAST VALENTINE (Metzger): Martine (a fake widow living in a small, out-of-the-way town), begins to receive Valentine gifts (each day) of the week leading up to Valentine's Day. The solution might have been more realistic if the couple had a few more pages.
LOVE AND TENDERNESS (Metzger): Let me preface this by saying that I do not like ghosts, apparitions, etc., in stories: It is the bedroom scene for the newly married couple Senta and her husband, Viscount Lee Maitland. Suddenly, an apparition appears before Senta and she screams. The Viscount thinks the worst (Senta isn't interested in him) and he leaves. Before long, the reader is told that the ghost has lost his memory, although he seems interested in helping the couple get back together.
There's another issue in this story; Lee must get to the bottom of his brother's death. So now we have a ghost and a murder to solve. The story gives the reader hints to guess who the ghost is and from that point, the plot is very funny. Of course, the story is happily-ever-after, but getting there is the trick.
Other than BALD LIES, which is pure Metzger hilarity, the other two stories were less interesting.
ROAD TO RUIN (Margaret Evans Porter): This was a very pleasant surprise. Dominic Blythe is escaping London after a duel. Through no fault of his own, the man he shot died. While escaping the Bow Street Runners, Dominic meets Nerissa Newby, who is on her way to visit a friend. Nerissa agrees to travel as man-and-wife to help Dominic evade detection (the authorities expect Dominic to be traveling alone).
I enjoyed this story much more than I expected; Porter tells an engaging tale.
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