"A Quick Read with a Fun Regency Odd Couple"

Barbara Metzger, who has long been one of the doyennes of the short Regency makes a seamless transition to single title in WEDDED BLISS.

Robert Rothmore, Earl of Rockford is a very busy man, serving the crown in the early years of the Napoleonic wars. Set in 1805, Robert is trying to help enlist allies for Britain in the War against France. Unfortunately, his duty is taking him to the bedroom of a plump Germanic Princess who wants to wed him. Robert will do much for his country, but he draws the line at marrying in the name of the King.

When Robert receives a letter from his country butler advising him that his estate manager has decamped with the silver, a Rembrandt and the Earl's sister he has the perfect excuse for leaving London without wedding the Princess.

When Robert arrives in the country he discovers not only the aforementioned items are missing, so is his son William. When Robert arrives at the Widow Hennings home he accuses her of kidnapping and attempts to take 'Willy' away with him. Willy fights him and Mrs. Hennings draws a pistol on him. It turns out that 'Willy' is Mrs. Hennings son and Robert is embarrassed to realize he doesn't know his own son on sight. His embarrassment is about to become riches as he is forced to return his son to Mrs. Hennings care after William (Billy) becomes ill in the carriage. It seems he inherited his motion sickness from his father, who is no longer the immaculately dressed dandy who set off to retrieve his son.

Robert then faces the fact that he also knows nothing of his older son and heir, Hugo, who is residing with his first wife's parents. Hugo is thought to be 'sickly,' but when Robert goes to see him the Grandparents are thrilled to be rid of him. Robert's total indifference to his children, let alone the plight of his tenants, might make him seem to be a complete jerk. But, as we get to know him we discover that Robert's mother died in childbirth and he was raised by a completely indifferent rakehell father. He was sent away to school at 5 and is just totally at a loss as to how to treat or raise a child. He also doesn't have any fond feelings for his country estate as he wasn't raised there. But, he had thought his manager was taking care of everything properly.

Luckily for Robert, Alissa Hennings is a wonderful mother who through no fault of her own is living in desperate poverty, trying to raise her two sons and her sister; while also fighting off the unwanted advances of men in the neighborhood. When Robert makes her a proposal for a marriage-of-convenience which will see her children provided for and her own reputation salvaged, she has no choice but to reluctantly accept.

Alissa is made aware when Robert leaves for London on their wedding night, that he intends this to be a marriage for his convenience and in-name-only. Alissa then digs in and sets the estate to rights and takes care of the tenants as Robert should rightly be doing. When Robert's missing sister Eleanor turns up, Alissa takes her in too and concocts a tale to save Eleanor's reputation.

Alissa eventually follows Robert to London with her entire entourage, which includes all of the children and each of their dogs. Of course a quick mess is made of Robert's townhouse and he is in a hurry to bustle them back to the country; but Alissa makes it clear she is going nowhere.

Thus begins Robert's turning into a whole man who is capable of giving and receiving love. His chagrin when Alissa subtly lets him know that he is less then a perfect lover was hilarious and his response lots of fun (especially for Alissa).

As Robert gets to know his sons and learns how to play with William, he begins to realize what he has missed in his life. Due to his two faithless wives he was not sure either boy was truly his. As he comes to know them he realizes they are not only his sons, but each is special in his own right.

Alissa is a strong heroine without being a saint, Metzger's dialogue as always sparkles and Robert becomes a hero worth a wonderful woman like Alissa. Which all in all made for a very satisfying read?

The secondary romance between Eleanor and a long ago beau is an absolute delight and the children and their animals are portrayed well. William who always seems to find a way to dirty his father's faultless linen is a particular joy and the happy ending was completely believable and well- earned.

Reviewed by Linda Hurst
Posted April 19, 2004

Summary

Award-winning author Barbara Metzger delivers a heartful of bliss with this witty tale of an inconvenient bride who must convince her groom that love is more important than convenience...

When Robert Rothmore, Earl of Rockford, receives word that his son has been taken by a neighboring widow, he hastily vows to enforce the kidnapping laws. But he quickly discovers that Alissa Henning is no criminal. Instead she is simply delightful—exactly the kind of woman who'd make the perfect mother for his sons. Marriage would be an ideal arrangement for both of them, wouldn't it?

At first, Alissa swore she'd spend the rest of her life scraping pennies together rather than wed the insufferable earl and become a glorified governess. Still, she couldn't very well let her own children starve—and there was no doubt that Rockford would give them all a good life. So she reluctantly accepts his offer...but there's more to a good life that what's in one's pockets. And Alissa intends to find out what's in her new husband's heart...