House Of Cards Trilogy 03 Queen Of Diamonds [Paperback]

Everyone knows the story of the vanished Lady Charlotte "Lottie" Endicott and the huge reward for her safe return. At the age of three, Lottie was the only survivor of a stage coach ambush. Everyone was supposed to have died, including little Lottie. Instead of finishing the deed they were hired for, Dennis Godfrey and Ezra "Ize" Iscoll, decided to implement an exotic extortion scheme. Dennis has his spinster sister, Molly, take the child far away to raise as her own. Every few months Molly would quietly collect blackmail money from a special bank account. Lottie became "Queenie", whose father died while serving his country. As only a child can do, Queenie adapted and, therefore, forgot all about her previous life. Molly loved Queenie as if the child was her own daughter. She devoted herself to bringing up Queenie as a proper lady, having her educated as such too. Molly even made sure that a dowry would be ready when Queenie was due to wed. Queenie had no idea that it was all a lie until Molly whispered, on her death bed, that she had never really been married.

Alex, the Earl of Carde, and his brother, Jack, have never given up hope on locating their sister, Lottie. Queenie actually returned to London for a short time after Molly died. She spent much of that time with her friend, Hellen Pettigrew, who is the daughter of a "kept lady". Ize has Queenie convinced that she had been adopted by Molly and was supposed to be part of a con to make the Carde family believe she was their lost daughter so they could collect the reward money, but when the scheme fell through, Molly kept Queenie as her own. Queenie felt bad for the Carde family and planned to tell the current family about the con that never happened and about the rumor she heard long ago that little Lottie had died. But Ize kept her from doing so. When news spread that the Carde family was looking for a lady going by the name of Queenie in town, Queenie fled to France, thinking she would be sent to jail.

Now Queenie returns again to London. This time she is known as Madame Denise Lescartes, a dressmaker fresh from France. Hellen is still her best friend and joins Queenie as she opens her new shop. Lord Harking is in town, hunting down his sleazy brother-in-law who has stolen the family heirlooms (diamonds) and left his sister. While searching, Madame Denise catches his eye. Queenie is soon the talk of the ton and her business begins to boom. Yet as Queenie's desire for Harking grows, her lies begin to catch up with her.

***** Absolutely outstanding! The author, Barbara Metzger, has succeeded in creating a tale within a tale. I was hooked on the very first page and unable to tear myself away. Queenie is a strong role model, doing what has to be done to survive in one of England's roughest eras for women. Watching meek little Queenie transform into a strong businesswoman is spectacular. In no way could the author have possibly made this story any better. Full of wonderful characters that I could not help but love or hate (depending on who they were), lots of action, drama, tension, and simply fantastic! Highly recommended! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

QUEEN OF DIAMONDS, the long-awaited novel concluding author Barbara Metzger's "House of Cards" Trilogy, finally has been published; thus, the clever mysteries of the two earlier books finally are resolved. (Those being ACE OF HEARTS and JACK OF CLUBS.) Since, by now, the characters have come to feel like old friends, this resolution will delight Metzger's legion of fans.

Though QUEEN OF HEARTS definitely holds its own as a separate novel, it is gratifying to read it as part of its series.

Barbara Metzger arguably is the world's finest author of Regency romances, and nobody alive writes them better.

She is so steeped in the rhythms and styles of those decades bridging the beginning of the 19th Century that it seems clear that she must have studied the period thoroughly enough to earn a doctorate.

Most of Metzger's work is light and funny and dear. Her style delights her fans, and forms the basis of her admirable reputation.

QUEEN OF DIAMONDS, however, is somewhat darker than the typical Metzger romance. It opens with a violent scene that is so compelling that the reader's heart will pound.

Much as I like this author's work--and, obviously, I'm a huge fan--QUEEN OF DIAMONDS reveals a depth and complexity not seen in most of her other books.

This does not mean that the Metzger trademarks are not present. Consistent with the period, the book abounds with its studied, artificial manners, which actually work to shape the plot. Too, there is the slang--amusing by modern standards--that sets her research apart from the average author of Regencies.

All of Metzger's novels are charming; QUEEN OF HEARTS also has a moody and intricate aspect that is not typical of her work.

Read it! As with any novel by Barbara Metzger, there's no way that one will not be engaged by her characters, her settings, her plots and subplots, her vast body of knowledge about the period. Nobody does it better!

A real achievement. Astonishingly good. While this finishes a trilogy (and please don't read the spoilers in the reviews!) you don't need the other two books to follow the story. While the first two books were solidly enjoyable reads, Queen of Diamonds is an instant classic on it's own merits. I've read all of Barbara Metzger's work and I was still unprepared for the emotional impact of this novel.

What sets Queen of Diamonds apart is more than solid characterization and excellent plotting. The heroine is unlike any stock character you've read this year. She is an independent woman through the entire book. She is a real person with plausible reactions and conflicts, her actions make sense and lack the foolishness a lesser book requires to move the story along. The aspects of Regency life she experiences come alive in a true way rarely achieved in genre fiction. Her Cyprian Ball isn't an excuse to get someone half raped or a 'steamy' scene underway. It's a place her characters would go, and the event is treated as sincerely as a night at Almacks. (In fact, if you're looking for a sex laden read, move along. The steam in this book is achieved through the relationships of the characters rather than heaving bosoms or throbbing anythings).

And what characters! None of them are a plot device or a waste of space - each one adds interest and depth to the tale. Maybe once a decade I'll read a genre book that actually causes me to tear up. I'm cynical like that. This one got me. I bought into the story like it was an autobiography. The hero and heroine are people of conviction making the best choices they can. Both grow and learn from their experiences. You know, I think it's better than Whitney, My Love. You need to read it and decide for yourself.

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