Valentines and the Road to Ruin (Signet Regency Romance) (Paperback)

by Margaret Evans Porter (Author), Barbara Metzger (Author) "There was fog..." (more)
Key Phrases: Sir Parcival, Lord Maitland, Sir Algernon (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A lovely collection of three heartfelt stories, all about Valentine's Day, by Barbara Metzger, and one story of danger, devotion, and desire by Margaret Evans Porter.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Signet (February 3, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451211359
• ISBN-13: 978-0451211354
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #247,630 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book was a Delight!, March 22, 2004

By	V. Bratcher "vjbratcher" (Webster, New York USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Barbara Metzger is always a treat! Her stories are fun and full of wit, not to mention lovable (and believable) characters. If you haven't read her yet, may I suggest "The Diamond Key". It was my first B. Metzger and turned me into an instant fan!

This was my first by Ms. Porter but most definitely not my last. She writes in the style of Ms. Putney, only with more attention to detail of the period. "The Road to Ruin" was very well written with a beginning that draws the reader instantly into the story, characters that you immediately fall in love with, dialogue that is very well written, and secondary characters that you definitely want to know more about. The "Misunderstanding" was a bit drawn out, but I found it very difficult to put this book down and once it was over, I missed it. A true test of an excellently written book and an exceptional author!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A mixed bag, February 28, 2004

By	E. Kay "karenlk" (Ohio) - See all my reviews

In "Bald Lies," the first Metzger story in this compilation, Audrinna Rowe wants to save her beautiful cousin from a terrible fate. To do so, Audrinna needs to find a husband for her cousin--and she sets her sights on Lord Blanford. But Lord Blanford has other plans... This was my favorite story of the 3, and it was the sweetest. Lord Blanford's struggle with baldness was a charming focal point of the story, and you just had to love his hairpiece. I give it 4 stars.

In "Last Valentine," faux widow Martine finds herself getting a Valentine every day of the week. She just KNOWS they're coming from her ex-lover, the man who abandoned her several years ago. But... was she right to assume they are coming from him? ...This story was odd. It was an interesting concept, but it was just too short. The characters were silly. The whole story seemed kind of pointless, actually. I wish Ms. Metzger would have elaborated more on a good idea. 2 stars for this one.

"In Love and Tenderness", newlywed Senta has just made a muck of her wedding night with Lord Maitland. But it's not her fault. She was frightened by a ghost, who, unfortunately, has lost his memory! Now Senta and Lord Maitland must reunite, and the "ghost" is there to help them. Also, Lord Maitland must solve the mystery of his brother's death. This is the longest story of the 3--it's more like a novella. By far, the ghost is the star of the story. It's not hard to figure out the identity of the ghost... but when you do, it's a riot! I liked this story, but it would have been even better had there been more of the ghost, less of the "mystery", and more interaction between Senta and Lord Maitland. I give it 3 stars.

This compilation also includes a reissue by Margaret Evans Porter. I read "Road to Ruin" over a year ago, so I don't feel confident enough to review it at length. The book is about a man fleeing from a duel. On the road, he meets a pretty young lady--and they take part in a scandalous arrangement. "Road to Ruin" is a much darker counterpart to the light-hearted Metzger stories, which makes me wonder why they were tacked together. If I recall, Porter's novel was good, but slow.

Overall, it's an interesting assortment--definitely worth looking into.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars 1/2 decent if unremarkable & 1/2 truly wretched, February 20, 2005

By	S. Reader "scibarfan" (Dublin, OH USA) - See all my reviews

The two stars is for Road to Ruin only!! It's a decent story although somewhat slow. A fake marriage of convenience, a false charge of murder, and a trumped-up scandal -- plenty to work with here.

Metzger's 3 short stories, however, are abysmal. The first is mildly entertaining only becuase if the hero's terror of losing his hair. The second is fairly interesting even though the reader can sense what's going on from the very start, until the the end when the revelation of the truth makes absolutely no difference. The third story is so ridiculous that I can't even discuss it. One word will suffice--Elvis! Egads! All 3 equal a big fat zero.