Customer Reviews

Wedded Bliss

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

He doesn't need another wife--he's already had two of those--but he needs someone trustworthy to care for his two neglected sons, and the widowed Mrs. Henning is ideal. But the situation is that she has made a powerful enemy, and the only way he can protect her is by making her his wife. In a marriage of convenience. And then he takes off for London to resume his diplomatic career and his demanding German princess of a mistress.

Alissa, however, is no meek miss to be taken for granted. Having been a true wife and mother before, she is determined to force her new husband to face up to his responsibilities. It isn't long before the neglectful earl comes home to find his beautiful London home invaded by four mischievous boys, their mongrel puppies, and an indignant wife who demands to know why their marriage has not been consummated. He got a mother for his children; on her side, she wants a daughter out of the deal.

While not one of the most entertaining stories I've read by Barbara Metzger, the story is full of humorous situations as Alissa and the earl are gradually drawn together in a true marriage that becomes the foundation of a strong family unit. No young miss could have exhibited the kind of determination and backbone that was necessary to accomplish the task. As a penniless widow with two children to provide for, Alissa was ideal for the job.

Nevertheless, it doesn't get five stars from me, because I felt the hero was a little too reluctant, at least in the beginning. And I agree with earlier reviewers that the adultery that is hinted at after their marriage tarnishes his character somewhat, even taking into consideration the status of the marriage at the time. Leaving her to go to London (and his mistress) on their wedding night is not something that can be quickly forgiven, especially when it left the heroine open to malicious gossip about the true nature of the marriage.

Perhaps it's because I'm used to the shorter Regency format, but it seems to me that this book would have been more effective with about 50 fewer pages. As it is, there seem to be too many scenes that don't necessarily advance the plot.

All in all, however, I find the time spent reading this book to be well spent. You won't regret it!

This story was captivating from word one, no lie, and the characters were simply wonderful, very realistic. But for all its thoroughness, the novel lacked romance. So much detail was given to all aspects of the story line, except for the romantic scenes. They could have been at least a little detailed.

One of my all time favourite Regency writers, Barbara Metzger has done it again! It's always harder to write comedy than tragedy and Metzger's talent shines through another of her clever farces.

Weddded Bliss is about a twice-widowed earl who needs a mother for his long neglected young sons; indeed the Earl of Rockford thinks they are cuckoos in the nest. Alissa Henning (really Lady William Henning - wife of a deceased disowned son of a Duke) is a loving and devoted mother of two young sons. Well, hey presto - we have the makings of the perfect match and a wonderful story of step families, parenting and an inadvertent and unexpected love.

Amongst the things I particularly admire about Metzger is her sparkling prose - she always has a clever turn of phrase to make you smile to yourself. Although I am not a lover of stories overly dependent on children, her child characters are always well drawn - indeed this lot made me think of the family in Heyer's Frederica. And no one does the family pet as well and this time we get a pack of four mongrel puppies. Added bonuses include an infatuated tutor, a drooling villain and Metzger's usual cast of outrageous servants and eccentric relatives.

All in all, if you like clever comedy, excellent prose and wonderful characterisations, then you will enjoy this. If you are a Metzger fan, don't miss it.

During the Napoleonic troubles, widower Viscount Rockford earned the reputation as a great diplomat, but he will need all his honed skills with his two sons that he rarely sees as he is too busy saving the country and besides he doubts he even sired either of them. He becomes quite upset to learn that Alissa Henning, a widow with two children of her own, has kidnapped his five year old son William. He races to his home from London to rescue his younger child only to find the lad is quite happy living with Alissa and her family after being neglected in Rockford's home.

Rockford sees Alissa as the solution to his personal problem as a mother to his two boys as he plans to bring his oldest the ailing twelve year old Hugo home. Alissa has a secret counter plan as she agrees to marry the Viscount since she needs protection and money to raise her children and to support her seventeen year old sister. Her strategy is to win his heart so that their extended families are raised in a sea of love.

This is a fun Regency romance due to the lead female protagonist who teaches the hero that international diplomacy is important, but so is taking care of family. Readers will feel for Rockford's two sons raised away from him until he brings Alissa into his life. Though somewhat by the genre rules, readers will find Barbara Metzger's latest historical simply bliss.

Harriet Klausner

Robert Rothmore, the Earl of Rockford, is a very important and successful diplomat, always busy promoting his country's interests; so that it is absolutely essential that his days not get bogged down by tedious little details concerning his estate, his tenants and his two sons. That is until he receives news that his latest steward has run off with money from the estate, a Rembrandt painting and his 40 year old sister. Rockford immediately makes for Rock Hill, where he discovers that things are in even further disarray, and that his younger son, William, is now living with the widowed Mrs. Alissa Henning and her family in a badly thatched cottage. Even though he is loath to do so, it doesn't take Rockford long to realize that what he needs is a new wife -- a capable and loving woman, who would be perfectly happy to take care of his sons, estate and tenants -- someone exactly like Mrs. Henning in other words. And so he offers Alissa a marriage of convenience: money, security and his name in exchange for her agreeing to be caretaker. With few options open to her, Alissa has no choice but to accept. But the very thought of a cold and unloving marriage to a very stiff and impeccable Rockford chills Alissa. And she begins to wonder if she can change the state of her marriage, if she can she influence her new husband enough so that he will look for love and companionship from her instead of elsewhere?

While not one of Barbara Metzger's laugh-a-minute Regencies, "Wedded Bliss" was still a gem of a read. It possessed a wonderfully grown-up story-line that dwelt on how two strangers who are both intrigued and attracted to each other, work through all their problems and issues and so manage achieve their happy ever-after ending. The heroine, Alissa, was likable, easy to relate to and empathize with; the hero, on the other hand, was so incredibly high-handed and arrogant that it really did take a while to warm up to him. Fortunately, Barbara Metzger does allow us to see glimpses of the warm hearted person Rockford could be if given the right encouragement, so that I did find myself rooting for Alissa and Rockford to work through all their various issues. Swiftly paced and thoughtfully executed, "Wedded Bliss" may not be a sensual read, but it was (for me) a perfect read.

Just a delightful book. This book qualifies as a "Real Page Turner." Not much to their romance, though.

I wasn't sure how to take this earl, Rockford, at first, and if the book weren't so funny I probably would have been offended by his attitude. The story line was really good and this author is so talented, she made Rockford an extremely likeable man even with all his faults, of which there were many. A great book!

This is my first book by this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Every line was good, and I thought it an extremely funny book, too. What wit this woman has! Since it's the only one I've read, though, I don't know if I would find her kind of constant humor tedious after awhile, or if I'll find her books fresh. I'll have to see, but in the meantime, do read this book, it was very good.

Very readable book by Ms. Metzger. Liked it - love happy endings (there are so few good ones in real life - for some people!) and isn't it nice to have someone taking care of you (male or female - whatever you prefer) and isn't it a relief when your worries and woes take a back seat to the good things happening as you journey to the land of "Good Things Come To Those Who Wait!" Again, Ms. Metzer throws in a lot of character introspection, but don't we all "overthink" ourselves and situations we face and are scary? Read this one, fellow readers. It's a cozy trip.

This book was lively, fun, and intelligently written - it was not however, emotionally satisfying. The story lacked a certain depth of emotionality between Rockford and Alissa. The writer was certainly capable of writing with more feeling, as the characters subjectivity spoke in more depth, but whatever her reasons, she didn't. That aside, I couldn't help but think what a great movie this could be if done by an English director, with an English cast, something in the vein of Sense and Sensibility - class with both drama and humor.