Jack of Clubs (The House of Cards Trilogy, Book 2) [Paperback]

Barbara Metzger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 7, 2006

Years ago, Captain Jack Endicott's half-sister vanished after a carriage accident. He now sets out to honor his father's dying wish and find her. Jack plans to open a lavish gaming parlor and hire only beautiful ladies to deal cards, possibly finding his sister. All he needs is a little luck. Instead he finds prim schoolteacher Allie Silver, who needs a guardian for one of her most precocious pupils. With such an unlikely duo, all bets are off in a wild game of romance.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Signet Eclipse (March 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451218051
• ISBN-13: 978-0451218056
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #845,477 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another fun regency by Barbara Metzger, April 15, 2006

By 

Ratmammy "The Ratmammy" (Ratmammy's Town, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Jack of Clubs (The House of Cards Trilogy, Book 2) (Paperback)

JACK OF CLUBS by Barbara Metzger
April 15, 2006

Amazon Rating: 4/5 Stars


I am really enjoying Barbara Metzger's historical romances. JACK OF CLUBS was just as fun as the previous one I read, RAKE'S RANSOM and A LOYAL COMPANION. In JACK OF CLUBS, Captain Jack Endicott is the focus, a rake who is running a gambling operation. (His brother Ace was the focus of the previous book). In the meantime, 8-year old Harriet is told that she has a new guardian, Jack Endicott, who was a friend of her grandfather's. With nowhere else to go, Harriet is taken to Jack's residence by her instructor the prudish Allie. Thus starts the story of how Jack Endicott becomes a father over-night, dealing with a precocious child who would rather be climbing trees than having tea, and a young woman, Allie, who is beyond the age of the marriage mart, but he for some reason finds desirable.

I chuckled while reading about their adventures, as poor Allie tries to deal with a man who gambles for a living and has a reputation with the ladies. While her own reputation is now on the line, she finds herself attracted to him, but she knows being associated with him will ruin her future, as she has no money and must find employment soon before it's too late. Harriet, on the other hand, loves her new "Papa Jack" and never wants to leave. He's certainly not the best influence on this very young and impressionable girl, and Allie is certain this is not the lifestyle Harriet should be exposed to.

I loved this book, and recommend it to all lovers of regencies and romances of all types. Barbara Metzger writes her stories with tongue in cheek, all well written and enjoyable. I have become a fan of this author and now will always pick up a book if her name is on it. JACK OF CLUBS is yet another romance that didn't want to end.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars enjoyable but..., August 29, 2007

By 

Leisa Demostene (odessa, texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jack of Clubs (The House of Cards Trilogy, Book 2) (Paperback)

Overall I enjoyed the book. It was funny, and the chemistry between the characters was steamy without being trashy. I like a regency romances that expand my vocabulary- it makes me feel like reading romances isn't totally wasting my brain. I did feel that the story dragged a little in the middle, and based on other regencies I've read, I think they didn't emphasize enough how beyond the pale it would have been for him to open the Red and Black and at the same time they over emphasized her expectation of still being treated like a lady after becoming a governess. Also some of the exchanges felt too modern.
Still the pluses out numbered the minuses.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not her best but Metzger's second rate, June 10, 2007

By 

Kate Rothwell "reads and writes" (CT, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jack of Clubs (The House of Cards Trilogy, Book 2) (Paperback)

is still my idea of a wonderful time.

The only thing that might keep it from my keeper shelf was the heroine. I got tired of her harping about her Good Name and not being seen with the hero so that her reputation might be preserved. She came across as a ninny. I didn't see what Jack found attractive....She did redeem herself slightly by dealing well with Harriet the demon child and later on, she's less of a pill. I almost put it down, which never happens with Metzger.

But the hero, the secondary characters the fun of the Metzger style make it worth the money.