Lady in Green

Rating:
Summary: Another hilarious Metzger romp; fun reading
Review: Another laugh out loud Metzger novel. I've read so many, I keep a watch out for the dog and there he was. A mongrel Clyde who saves them all from a fire in the end. But... back to the story. Annalise Avery, an heiress, escapes from her stepfather and a faithless fiancé to her Aunt's house in London. Her aunt is away, and Annalise with her protectors (Nanny Henny and her former highwayman husband Rob) are taken for servants and asked to stay on since the house is to be rented. Lord Gardiner "Gard" has decided to rent the house for various rendezvous' with whatever lady takes his fickle fancy. From the beginning his plans run awry! The ugly humpbacked, hairy mole housekeeper Anna Lee seems to have the upper hand in keeping Gard from enjoying his ladies. The funniest portions of the book are how Anna Lee (Annalise in disguise) imaginatively prevents Gard from ever partaking of his ladies!

Along with Gard's struggle with his chosen ladies and puritan housekeeper, he meets and protects a mysterious woman in green who rides a beautiful part-Arabian horse each morning. He finds himself attracted to her and discovers along the way that she is the missing heiress. He also discovers she is hiding in his own rented house! I'll leave you to read how it all works out. Can this faithless lord make Annalise happy?

Although this was a entertaining story, I was not impressed with the characters Annalise or Lord Gardiner. I did find him a bit too amorous and not really likable though he was kind. Neither touched my heart as other Metzger heroes and heroines have. Annalise was a bit insipid as herself but I loved her as Anna Lee. Henny (the nanny) was interesting because when she was angry at Lord Gardiner or her husband Rob, she would retaliate by feeding the good food to Annalise or the dog instead of to the men.

Worth reading but be sure to catch other Metzger novels (An Angel for the Earl and The Primrose Path) for more endearing (and funny) characters.