Queen of Diamonds: Book Three of the House of Cards Trilogy by Barbara Metzger

Queen of Diamonds: Book Three of the House of Cards Trilogyby Anonymous

Reader Rating:
See Detailed Ratings

June 07, 2006: 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! *****