Helpful Score: 1
Jack of Clubs is the second book in the House of Cards trilogy and is as entertaining as the first book, Ace of Hearts. The characters are funny, witty and amusing, and you'll find yourself laughing out loud more than once while reading this book. Barbara Metzger's quick wit makes Jack of Clubs a truly enjoyable read.
"A doyen of humorous Regency-era romance writing . . . Metzger's gift for recreating the flavor and ambience of the period shines here, and the antics of her dirty-dish villains, near villains, and starry-eyed lovers are certain to entertain." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A doyen of humorous Regency-era romance writing . . . Metzger's gift for recreating the flavor and ambience of the period shines here, and the antics of her dirty-dish villains, near villains, and starry-eyed lovers are certain to entertain." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
I enjoyed this 2nd book in the "House of Cards" trilogy ... delightfully witty, as always!
A lively, entertaining read. Metzger writes great humor, cute kids, and adorable dogs. Good love story.
From the back cover-
Barbara Metzger deals a winning hand in her second House of Cards novel... in which a man determined to find his lost sibling learns that sometimes ever the most desperate bluff can reap the greatest reward...
Barbara Metzger deals a winning hand in her second House of Cards novel... in which a man determined to find his lost sibling learns that sometimes ever the most desperate bluff can reap the greatest reward...
A fun read. Great characters.
Second in The House of Cards Trilogy
LOVE LOVE LOVE Barbara Metzger. Her books are funny, with frequent unexpected twists, lots of action, romance, and a minimum of sex. I'm collecting all her books.
Second in series just as good as the first.
FYI: Be sure to read these books in order; they build upon each other (see list below).
Often, I think children detract from a story; that is not the case here. Harriett is a scream; she's manipulative and cunning ... and wonderful.
Captain Jack Endicott, out of the military, is looking for a way to find his sister, Lady Charlotte Endicott, who was lost (or died) in a carriage accident. Her mother (Jack and Ace's step-mother) was killed, along with all in and on the conveyance. However, Lottie was not found -- never a trace. The old earl begged his sons to find Lottie and bring her home.
Jack decides to create a high class gambling house. He hires only beautiful redheads and dark-haired women to deal cards. There was another entrance for anyone having any info about Lottie.
To that other entrance comes teacher (and prude) Miss Allison Silver, with her charge in tow, eight year-old Harriett. Through a will, a comrade of Jack's army days has left his child in Jack's care. As a womanizing bachelor, Jack is appalled; when he meets the child, he is horrified. He begs Allie to stay as her teacher -- and keeper.
Harriett loves her "Papa Jack" and soon decides she needs a family. To that end, she plots to get Allie and Jack together. Jack doesn't know if he wants to father Harriett but he gives it his all. This a comedy of the first order. I loved it.
House of Cards Trilogy
** 1. Ace of Hearts (2005)
** 2. Jack of Clubs (2006)
** 3. Queen of Diamonds (2006)
Often, I think children detract from a story; that is not the case here. Harriett is a scream; she's manipulative and cunning ... and wonderful.
Captain Jack Endicott, out of the military, is looking for a way to find his sister, Lady Charlotte Endicott, who was lost (or died) in a carriage accident. Her mother (Jack and Ace's step-mother) was killed, along with all in and on the conveyance. However, Lottie was not found -- never a trace. The old earl begged his sons to find Lottie and bring her home.
Jack decides to create a high class gambling house. He hires only beautiful redheads and dark-haired women to deal cards. There was another entrance for anyone having any info about Lottie.
To that other entrance comes teacher (and prude) Miss Allison Silver, with her charge in tow, eight year-old Harriett. Through a will, a comrade of Jack's army days has left his child in Jack's care. As a womanizing bachelor, Jack is appalled; when he meets the child, he is horrified. He begs Allie to stay as her teacher -- and keeper.
Harriett loves her "Papa Jack" and soon decides she needs a family. To that end, she plots to get Allie and Jack together. Jack doesn't know if he wants to father Harriett but he gives it his all. This a comedy of the first order. I loved it.
House of Cards Trilogy
** 1. Ace of Hearts (2005)
** 2. Jack of Clubs (2006)
** 3. Queen of Diamonds (2006)
Second book in Metzger's House of Cards triology. This is the Honorable Johnathan (Jack) Endicott's story. Now a hardened Peninsular war hero and home again, he and prim governess, Allison Silver, "lock horns" when she delivers an eight year-old, redheaded "brat" into his care after he has been made the wretched little girl's ward by an old army friend. Some really humorous moments involving the precocious little girl and the old dog had me laughing out loud. This story is quite romantic, touching and witty.
Years ago, Captain Jack Endicott's young half sister vanished after a carriage accident. Now hardened by fighting in the Pennisular wars, Jack decides to honor his father's dying wish find his sister. Disdainful of proper gentlemaly pursuits Jack decides to open a lavish gaming parlor in London and by hiring beautiful ladies to deal cards, possibly find his sister. Schoolteacher Allison Silver is at her wit's end after escorting a pupil to her grandparents in London and finding no one home to take delivery. The only possible alternate is a guardian well known as a womanizer and runs a gambling house. Yet when Jack and prim Allie meet the odds are surprisingly even, and all bets are off in a wild game of romance. Good Read
