Barbara Metzger

Barbara Metzger became known for witty Regency romance, where social rules, money, and eccentric households generate both courtship and comedy. After studying English and teaching, she built a long career with Signet and other romance imprints, earning particular recognition for humorous historical fiction. Miss Westlake’s Windfall appeared from Signet in April 2001. The novel follows Ada Westlake after a discovery of old coins changes her modest circumstances and draws the attention of Lord Ashmead. Their developing relationship unfolds amid questions about the money's origin, possible smuggling, family expectations, and the unequal freedoms available to men and women in Regency society. Metzger uses the windfall to test character rather than simply to solve material problems, allowing suspicion and generosity to complicate the romance. The book's blend of mystery, farce, and affectionate social observation reflects the style that made her work distinctive within the genre and won her a lasting readership.