Customer Reviews

Primrose Path

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

1. Go to your nearest bookstore or library. 2. Purchase/select a copy of "The Primrose Path" by Barbara Metzger. 3. Go to a very private place before you begin to read.

4. Read about the tumultuous events at Primrose Cottage, which, although he truly doesn't need it, the Seventh Viscount Knowle had anticipated to be a part of his inheritance. While he was off fighting Boney, however, his aged Aunt Sophie had not only acquired a companion, Miss Angelina Armstead, but a hoard of hairy 'heirs' as well. The two ladies have turned Primrose Cottage into a sanctuary for problem doggies, or doggies with problems. As the somewhat toplofty Viscount tries to dislodge Miss Angelina along with her doggies, a slightly different outcome occurs. She dislodges his heart from the block of ice in which it had been hiding. As all of this unfolds, you will no doubt --

5. Chuckle. 6. Chortle. 7. Giggle. 8. Guffaw. 9. Wipe tears from eyes. 10. Laugh some more, ad infinitum.

Warning: Do not, under any circumstances, give this book to anyone who is recuperating from surgery. Anyone who has had stitches put into their person within the previous thirty days must avoid this book for at least another thirty days.

This is without doubt, the funniest book I have ever read. If only Ms. Metzger could write for television. She'd keep people off the streets, that's for certain. It's really too bad there can't be extra stars available for such superlative efforts.

What a fun tale - the personalities of the dogs make this story so wonderful. How many books have fainting dogs, man-hating dogs, escaping dogs, horse biting dogs, sheep killing dogs (unfairly labeled!), and little blind barking mites of dogs. Throw in a spy in the shape of a French courtesan, a respectable duchess, a "fallen" schoolteacher, a sweet companion (our heroine) and a toplofty viscount (our hero) and you have a delightful romp with all sorts of hilarious situations!

Poor Corin (our viscount hero)! All he wants is Primrose Cottage to serve as a place to hide a spy (serving England). Now his Aunt Sophie has died, the place will be his! But Aunt Sophie had other plans and the cottage was left to her companion, Angelina. She is to care for all the remaining dogs that Aunt Sophie has collected during her life, oversee the building of a "home for dogs," and collect a little salary besides.

Corin tries hard to find homes for these dogs for the sooner they are gone, the sooner Angelina is gone. But instead he loses his heart as "Angel" becomes less a drab companion and more of a lady. The romance is very sweet. Angelina tries hard not to lose her heart since she believes she is unfit to be a Lord's wife.

You will laugh your way through all the dog tales (pun intended) and other intrigues that go on to a very satisfying conclusion. Well worth reading and keeping!

How could a publisher with any business -- or otherwise! -- sense allow any book of Barbara Metzger's to go out of print? She is one of the Regency genre's best writers, and one of the wittiest authors in any genre. One of the reviews here cited saw this as a movie, and I heartily concur---the situations and slapstick in The Primrose Path are positively hilarious. Viscount Knowle (aka Knolly) finds himself up to his champagne-polished Hessian boots in dogs, long-lost sisters, French spies, ex-mistresses, languishing possible fiancees, and others, when he tangles with the formidable Angelina Armistead, his late aunt's companion. Knowle has to remove Angelina from Primrose Cottage in order to house a fleeing French spy, but Lena aka Angel has been mandated by the late aunt's will to provide a home for her numerous dogs. A clash of wills and personalities becomes a charming love story. Knowle is a marvelous hero, even as he fends off the monstrous Ajax and the problematic Puddles, and tries to keep upwind of old Windy. A smart BBC producer would do well to snap this up. But do BBC producers (or any producers at all) read Regency romances???? Well, they should!

What can I say, a Regency isn't supposed to take itself too seriously...and this one leaves you smiling. In fact, you should be smiling the whole time you are reading this book. There are twista and turns, but never for a moment are you in doubt that love will some how win out in the end.

I would so enjoy seeing this book done as a movie in the style of Pride & Prejudice. There is a little intrigue in addition to a great deal of comedy. I wish Sue Birtwhistle would take a look at this book and choose Colin Frith as the lead, Lord Knowle. Definitely worth reading more than once.

While this book wasn't awful, and a rating of 2.7 would probably be more accurate, I found all those dogs annoying more than amusing. The book is something of a farce, more than a romp. Knowle is obnoxious to begin with, his encounters with the dogs are sometimes amusing, and he does grow on you. It's just that I never cared much what happened to the lovebirds, and so much of the story was ridiculously farfetched. Faulty book.

I really enjoyed 2 other Barbara Metzger books, and this one had some great reviews, so I bought it too. This was too hard to like right from the beginning. The premise of why the hero needs the cottage was too far fetched. Just leave the girl alone and go find another solution to your problem. You don't need the money. I just found the hero mean, and didn't want the heroine to like him. Why like somebody that is so nasty from the very beginning. Leave the poor girl alone!

Anyway, I gave up after a few chapters because I didn't see anything funny about a mean hero and a sweet heroine that has to tolerate all that nastiness.

I did enjoy Barbara Metzgers A Suspicious Affair and Snowdrops and Scandalbroth, and would recommend them, but not this.

If you are a fan of Regency romance, there is nothing better than the early novels of Barbara Metzger. They are hilarious, full of comic mischief and romance. Primrose Path is the best of the best, and if you're a dog lover it's even better. I am happy to see older, out-of-print books available for kindle.

once again barbara metzger has written another delightful book. her sense of hunor along with a lively plot of the story makes this a must read book.