Truly Yours by Barbara Metzger
Review by Connie
It has been a while since I have read a true historical romance. I have read some of Barbara Metzger’s old traditional regencies, so this seemed like it might be an interesting book to dip my toes back into the genre.
Alone in the world, Amanda Carville has no dowry, no reputation left, and no one who believes her to be innocent of murder, since she was found holding the gun that killed her stepfather. Viscount Rexford also has his troubles. He’s scarred by war, and cursed—or blessed—with the family trait of knowing the truth when he hears it, and his success at extracting the truth from military prisoners has left many doubting his honor and his methods. When Amanda tells him she didn’t do it, he believes her. Tired of the truth business, Rex refuses to get involved…until his heart leaves him no choice.
When Amanda Carville is accused of murder it is her godmother who wants Viscount Rexford to help her. The godmothers turns out to be his estranged mother and for some reason he feels he has no choice but to help her.
All of Rexford’s family has a gift for truth. And each member has paid a high penalty for the special power. Along with the paranormal element they fall in love with each other but seem to snub their noses at proper Regency behavior as they try to find the real murder.
Overall it isn’t a bad book but I was expecting more of a traditional and don’t feel it was done as well as it could have been. The frustrating part was I wanted to enjoy the book more than I did, it seemed to just miss the mark. I am not sure if it was the addition of the paranormal element in the novel or if Barbara Metzger is still feeling her way from moving from traditional regency form to a the longer full length historical. Maybe True Lady, her next novel in June 2008 will be better.
Grade: C-
