The Groom's Gamble

Bridal Favors #3.5

by Jade Lee

An original novella linked to Jade Lee’s hot new Regency bride series, a prequel to What the Groom Wants.

Caroline Lyncott, great grandaughter of the Duke of Bucklynde, has a secret. Years ago she was attacked and still bears the terrible scars. To escape the scandal and the reminders, she left everything behind to become housekeeper to a Scottish brother and sister. Gregory Murray, the Earl Of Hartfell, has a secret as well – he harbors a deep attraction to his housekeeper, Mrs. Lyncott. He knows she has a past, but doesn’t know how to fix the pain that still haunts her. His investigation leads him to the darkest London gaming hell and a villain too powerful to destroy. Can his love overcome her desperate past? Can she risk her heart despite the evil that still haunts her nightmares?

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Novella, Regency, Fiction, Historical Fiction

104 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 7, 2014

About the author

Librarian Note: Also writes under the pen name Kathy Lyons.

A USA Today Bestseller, JADE LEE has been scripting love stories since she first picked up a set of paper dolls. Ball gowns and rakish lords caught her attention early (thank you Georgette Heyer), and her fascination with the Regency began. An author of more than 40 romance novels and winner of dozens of industry awards, her latest series is RAKES AND ROGUES. The first one, 50 WAYS TO RUIN A RAKE, is an awesome tale of love and laughter.
And don’t forget Kathy Lyons.. She’s Jade’s paranormal half. Check out her new shifter series GRIZZLIES GONE WILD.
To find all the latest news on Jade or Kathy, visit them at www.jadeleeauthor.com or www.kathylyons.com! And find out where you can meet her at: http://jadeleeauthor.com/appearances

Reviews

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Groom's Gamble is a really nice read. I read it through Sourcebooks Casablanca and I am so glad they shared this book this month.
A regency romance that has the kind and giving Earl that happens to be attracted to his very proper and ladylike housekeeper. He can see that she has been raised as a lady and is not sure of the circumstances that would lead her to gain employment as a housekeeper, but he is happy that she is in his home.

The romance is sweet and I really enjoyed meeting Gregory and Caroline. Both very endearing characters that have to either choose a more clandestine way of being together or ignore the sparks that they feel for one another.

Even promoting her to his sister's companion leaves Caroline aware of their class difference and she is happy with any morsel of attention he tosses her way. He also tries to resist their pull. Caroline has a painful past that she believes makes her unable to ever have a husband. When Gregory sees the reminder of that past, she is afraid that he will never feel for her the way she feels for her. She sees herself as ruined, and fights both herself and Gregory on this.

What an enjoyable read this was. If you like regency romances, this is a good choice. Jade Lee tells a simple story in a very entertaining way.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I took a chance on this because it was free, but I might read the rest of this series. The writing kept me interested, only the story was a bit too clichéd for me at times (heroine was disfigured by a crazy sort-of-ex who carved his initials in her skin in a rage and what do you know, the initals turn out to be the hero's initials, too! *rolls eyes*). Other than that, it was a nice story about an Earl falling for his housekeeper. I liked both main characters (although with the hero I'm blaming the Scottish accent 😁), only the story wasn't really my thing.

[Rosemary K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caroline Lyncott is the great granddaughter of the Duke of Bucklynde, but this family connection is more of a hindrance than a help. She is an educated and talented lady who has never been introduced to polite society. Now she is the housekeeper for Lord Hartfell.
To help his sister find a suitor the Lord asks her to become Lady Anne's companion. She agrees. Caroline loves the handsome lord but she has a secret. If it's revealed, what will happen to her? Will she ever find love? Jade Lee has written a well plotted novella that is the prequel to her February release, What the Groom Wants. I love Caroline and Gregory as well as the rest of the delightful supporting characters that Jade has created. Caroline is such a strong willed woman. She has a logical mind that is more than a match for Gregory. The love and the desire between these two is romantic and at the same time very sensual. I love the thread of suspense running through the story. It was impossible to put this book down. Jade Lee is a talented author. I love her writing.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was great! I loved reading about Caroline and Gregory. They made a great couple. I really liked how Caroline was able to overcome her past and remain strong. Also how Gregory made her feel beautiful and confident. The only thing was I wished their story was longer. They were such a sweet couple.

[J. Kahele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blurb:
Caroline Lyncott, great grandaughter of the Duke of Bucklynde, has a secret. Years ago she was attacked and still bears the terrible scars. To escape the scandal and the reminders, she left everything behind to become housekeeper to a Scottish brother and sister. Gregory Murray, the Earl Of Hartfell, has a secret as well – he harbors a deep attraction to his housekeeper, Mrs. Lyncott. He knows she has a past, but doesn’t know how to fix the pain that still haunts her. His investigation leads him to the darkest London gaming hell and a villain too powerful to destroy. Can his love overcome her desperate past? Can she risk her heart despite the evil that still haunts her nightmares?

Caroline Lyncott is a housekeeper for Gregory, the Earl of Hartfell and has been crushing on for a while now. Little does she knows, that she intrigues him just as well. When Gregory switches her job from housekeeper, to a companion for his sister, who tends to get herself into trouble, things begin to get interesting.

The characters Caroline and Gregory were written so well, their connection was so deep and you could feel it from the very first dance they had together. I love the way the author took her time, to let the romance between the two bloom in a natural way.

[Nancy Steinle gummel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Groom's Gamble by Jade Lee is a prequel to a series of book. It's a cute historical romance. Lady Anne had a gypsy named Mr. Pike help her try to contact her dead sister Cora. Caroline, Mrs Lyncott, the housekeeper returns to her room and hears a noise. She goes to investigate and finds a gypsy thief in Lady Anne's room. She goes to scream and the thief grabs her throat and begins to choke her. Meanwhile, the Earl's dog barks and attacks the thief. Lord Gregory hears the dog as he returns home and rushes to see what happened. He saves Caroline from a certain death. He attacks the thief knocking the thief out. Gregory calls for help. Carolina secretly likes the earl and the same goes for the earl, he's infatuated with her. Figure out how far the infatuation will go as Gregory makes Caroline, the granddaughter of a duke, Lady Anne's companion and they go out for a season in London.

[LadyCalico · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than I expected. An original story, well developed main characters, and well-written, engrossing prose that moved along in a smooth, fast-moving flow. However, as a novella that is a lead in to another book, loose ends were left hanging, and the story of Lady Anne and Stefan Pike, which played such a large role in the beginning of the book just disappeared after a while. Apparently, we will continue the story of Demon Damon in the next book, but I don't know about Lady Anne--maybe another book after that?

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is a great book to read

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This historical e- book novella was really good I thought. It wasn't bad for a novella, though I did wish this story was a little bit longer, I didn't hate it or felt like it rushed through like some novella tend to do to get the point. Do I wish there was a little bit more development and angst? Yes. Do I wish it went into the history of Caroline's and Gregory's relationship and how that developed over time? Yes, it was clear that they both had feelings for each other for years before they became intimately involved, and I would have loved to see more tension and angst between the pair. Just go a little more in depth. And just see more moments between them.

Aside from that, I really did love everything else. It was such a sweet, tender yet very sexy story between Gregory and Caroline. I loved the had a history together. I loved the whole class difference to make it seem that their relationship was forbidden in society. I loved between them. The dance scene between them was very sensual and sexy, and really upped the tension between them. All their love scenes were really good. So sexy and passionate and just full of connection between them. I loved how much they needed and wanted one another. They really did belong together. I loved sweet and caring he was with her. I loved the moment where they were lying in bed and he's holding her and she's telling him about her past and how she got scarred. In the moment he was really there for her and supported and showed her to him her scars didn't matter. He loved her regardless. Those were some of my favorite moments of the story.

I would definitely read this again, and though I wished it was longer and had a little more to it, I did enjoy it very much. It hit all the emotional marks for me as did the sexy, passionate scenes. I loved how they were blended together to make a complete love story. It kept my interest. I loved them as characters and as a couple. It was just a nice quick read that had the perfect amount of passion and emotion blended together to create this story.

[Diana Aden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first exposure to author Jade Lee. The Groom's Gamble is the prequel novella to her Bridal Favors series. Two strong characters who withhold secrets from one another. Other characters who I assume will be in following works. It was a sweet, sexy read. Loved the dynamics between Gregory and Caroline. Very satisfied with the happy ending. Put a smile on my face.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Steamy; Easy-to-read; Wonderful characters; Page-turner; Romantic

[Joycee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah ha ha ha ha!

I thought the title word was groom in the sense of a horse caretaker, not a man who is to wed.

Enjoyed this so much (even though I didn't think the male cover model on the edition I read was all that - how shallow, eh?) I now want to move on to "What the Groom Wants" (sequel).

[A Book Matchmaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet novella

This novella was just so sweet and yet heartbreaking. Caroline our heroine is such a strong character. Then our hero Gregory is just adorable. We stan a cinnamon roll with a protective side. Loved it.

[☽ Rhiannon ✭ Mistwalker ☾ · Rating 2 out of 5]

TOO SHORT! Lovely premise but I might have enjoyed it more had I read the series (assuming the characters and their relationship foundations were laid in previous books). I liked the setup but it was just a quick fling and a HEA. No angst. (2.5 stars)

[Scout · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ordinarily, I have enjoyed the other books I have read by Jade Lee. This one, not so much.

This is a book that was phoned in seemingly to meet a deadline of filling a space on her list of things to do for the publisher.

It wasn't a compelling story as some of her works. Hence, two stars.

[BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet 😉

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Melanie Adkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady Anne Hartfell and her brother Lord Gregory Hartfell are as different as night and day. While Lord Gregory prefers the simple pleasures of life, his sister Lady Anne is all about the occult. Though they are unique, their home is managed by a very secretive woman, Caroline Lynncott. She hides her past to escape it and live a quiet existence. Lord Gregory believes he can see through Mrs. Lynncott to the real her. Will she let him or will she run again?

The story is one of strength, love and happiness. It seems so simple, yet it takes a great deal to gain these three items. I enjoyed the solid writing and the characters you can relate to. It did a beautiful job of showing there is more than one side to a person. We must look beyond the facade to see what's really there. Warm and caring, this is a perfect pick-me-up for any time of the day! Ms. Lee doesn't disappoint with this work. You'll love it as much as I did.

The only issue I found was the book seemed rushed. Even for a novella, it seemed as though everything took place way to quickly.

I gave this one 5 cheers out of 5 because the story is simply beautiful. ~Copy of book provided by author in exchange for a fair review~

[Tonileg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Historical English romance about a well born damaged housekeeper who falls in love with her titled Scottish boss and there is a sweet HEA.
Miss Caroline Lyncott goes about as a 'Mrs.' because of her housekeeper title but she is also the great granddaughter of the Duke of Bucklyndem but that family has never acknowledged her existence although her mother worked hard to educate her like other well born gentleman's daughters. Lord
Gregory Murray, the Earl Of Hartfell has been attracted to his housekeeper for some time, but only when there is an awful incident in his London home where he saves Mrs. Lyncott.'s life does their relationship change and develop into something more like lovers.
I liked this plot in The Heir (Duke's Obsession, #1) but this was more angst-y with the past torture and the tough childhood as a poor gentleman's daughter in London.
Decent short story that I would read this author again.
104 pages and kindle freebie
2 stars

[Barbara Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I checked this book out of my library because I started reading it through a serialized e-mail from Sourcebooks and I just couldn't wait for all of the pieces to arrive in my e-mail. They send one per day. Anyway, I was enjoying this and after about 5 of the e-mails with parts of the novella in it, I just couldn't wait!

I hadn't read anything by Jade Lee, but I will read more. One thing I don't understand here is that it is numbered as 3.5 in the series list -- but -- there are 9 books in the series so far and this one is about the 7th one the way I count it.

Sometimes with novella's I feel the story is unfinished, but I didn't feel that way with this one. The characters were pretty well fleshed out and the story was complete and sort of set things up for the next full length book. One thing I did wonder about is what happens with the hero's sister. She's definitely a wild child -- maybe she'll get her own story at some point.

I am glad this was novella was my introduction to Jade Lee and look forward to reading more of her books.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even for a novella, the story seemed to move too fast. Caroline is a housekeeper for a brother and sister. She has suffered a terrible scandal which led to her being scarred. She secretly admires the brother, Gregory, who, it turns out, is also enamored of Caroline. The plot sort of races forward until lo and behold, Caroline, who thinks no man will ever want her, agrees to be Gregory's mistress and they spend a very hot night together. There's a bit of a back story with the sister, Lady Anne, who is somehow involved with a gypsy but it's never quite clear what the relationship is and somewhere along the way, the plot gets dropped. There is an HEA. Apparently this book is a lead-in of sorts, to What the Groom Wants which was released recently. I did like the writing style so will read Ms. Lee's longer novels. She has a nice voice for the somewhat erotic historical novels.

[Joann Maggio · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Grooms Gamble by Jade Lee. *****

Carolyn Lyncott housekeeper or was she? Carolyn is the great granddaughter of the Duke of Bucklynde. at a young age she was attacked by her brothers friend. During the attack she was slashed and marked with the initials of the attackers name on her chest.

She has hidden this scar and the shame and left home to become a housekeeper for Lord Hartwell. When Carolyn was injured by an intruder Lord Hartwell saw her scars and wondered what happened to her. Hartwell was very attracted to Carolyn she had been living at his house for two years and she found herself in love with him as well.

This is such a powerful romance. Ms Lee breaks your heart with these two lovers. I love the way Gregory makes Carolyn feel beautiful and helps her conquer her fears.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this novella. It was a quick read, and I wish we could have gotten a little more of Caroline and Gregory's story. I'm sure the rest of the Bridal Favors series is more in depth.

I always like a story where the woman of lower social standing falls in love with the lord of the manor. In this case, Caroline is from a noble family, but circumstances have landed her as the housekeeper to the Earl of Hartfell, where she competently manages the household and the squabbling between the earl and his sister. In a bargain neither sibling likes, the sister agrees to partake in a season to find a husband, with Caroline as her companion, if Gregory will hunt for a wife during the season too. The only trouble is, he's already quite taken with his housekeeper. What's an earl to do?

[RedRedtheycallmeRed · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 STARS

Novellas are tricky, it's rare that there is enough character development for me. That was the case here. There was a lot that just didn't make sense to me.

Caroline considers herself ruined, but she is the epitome of properness. Which is why it seemed so odd that she's willing to be the mistress of her employer. Gregory acts like he's trying to protect her reputation, but it doesn't quite ring true.

There is a subplot with Gregory's sister, Anne, that is strong in the first half and then just disappears and we are left with no answers. Odd.

There just wasn't enough here to really capture my interest.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella was so good I wished for more. The heroine is the granddaughter of a duke who has been scarred by branding in the past and now works as a housekeeper for a lord. The lord is frustrated by his sister who, he thinks, needs a husband to take her attentions away from the gypsy she's been consulting. This has led to our heroine being attacked and her scars being bared to the lord. In turn the lord comes up with a plan that affects all their futures. What is this gamble and how does it work? You must read the novella to find out.

[Tracy Emro · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars...

Having read the other books in this series, I was expecting a light, witty little story that would lead into the next book.

What I got was a very dark almost tragic tale with a happy ending. I was blown away!

I can't say more without spoiling the book - but if you plan in reading What the Groom Wants - you will definitely want to read this first!

As always, Ms Lee writes an exceptional story. Her writing is fresh and emotional. You can't help but to be drawn in.

[Haley Whitehall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the originality in this Regency romance. The lord falls in love with his housekeeper. He is a charming well developed character and Caroline makes the perfect strong, passionate and intelligent companion for him. The romance was steamy and the story kept me turning the pages. Unfortunately the ending felt a little rushed and I would have liked a bit more plot. I would read more from this author.

[Maggie Hesseling · Rating 3 out of 5]

With great care Caroline has hid her scars and created a life for herself where she goes unnoticed. Or so she thinks. Fortunately for her Gregory's been secretly admiring her and when his sister cons him into joining her for a season and plants the idea of an affair with Caroline in his head, he's got no choice, his body just takes over and his mind can't stop thinking about her.

Heartwarming, this quick read is not only interesting but fun. You can't help but enjoy it.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my word... this novella was just so swoon-worthy! Caroline was a spectacular female character; she overcame such a horrible event to find herself in a good housekeeping position, and totally enamored with her boss, Gregory. Gregory is the epitome of a dashing gentleman. And when they finally succumb to their feelings for each other... it was beyond lovely. I adore this story, and I definitely will read more from Ms. Lee.

[Janejellyroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this novella, but the constant drumbeat of virulent racism from the MMC kept jarring me out of the story. I thought at first maybe his animosity was designed to help him learn to get past it, but he doesn't really. . . the FMC goes "Hey, you're maybe being unfair" a couple of times, but he doesn't change. Maybe it goes away as the series develops, but this just left a bad taste in my mouth.

[Sally Hannoush · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the story and it did not seem like it was prequel to anything. I did read a sneak peak of of the next book and it made me want to punch the evil man who did Caroline wrong. I was glad to see a HEA with the Earl. I am wondering what will happen with the Earl's sister. Seems like there may be a fun story behind that.