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The Wagered Heart
Miss Juliann Alard arrives home early from the London Season to concoct a plan that will destroy the Duke of Kelbourne, but unbeknownst to Juliann, the Duke has a special plan of his own. Original.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 2, 2003
11 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Rhonda Woodward
8 books17 followersRhonda Woodward is the author of six Signet Regency romance novels, and is happily working on her next. Among other accolades, Rhonda’s novels have been nominated for RWA's RITA and RT Reviewer's Choice awards and won the Book Sellers’ Best Award.
You can connect with her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RhondaWoodwa...
You can connect with her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RhondaWoodwa...
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 30, 2018
This was boring ! It had a great premise and the beginning was actually good because it established the foundation for what could've been a riveting romance story. I liked the heroine Juliann a lot because the author spent more time developing her character. The H, Kel, the Duke of Kelbourne, was always too superficial a character. He spent too much on aimless, stupid things and the author waited too late in the story to develop him into a H who's worthy of Juliann. The premise itself was good: it's about the heroine's desire for revenge after the H ruined her first London season even before she'd attended her first party or ball. Kel did that in order to win a bet ! He'd been drinking and gambling all night long with his useless friends and he'd wagered that he was gonna find the first beautiful stranger he saw and give her a public kiss. He saw the heroine standing outside a dress shop on Bond Street and because she was wearing a grey dress, the drunken asshole thought she was a maid and kissed her. This created some bad fallout for Juliann because her relatives sent her back to the country; they hadn't wanted any hint of scandal to ruin their own daughter's debut season.
The storyline could've been fabulous if the author had built on the superb premise and not gotten bogged down with boring details. I didn't find the second half of the story interesting at all. The author focused too much attention on minor characters and threw in lots of details about what socialites did in the town of Bath. Such information could've been an asset to the storyline if it had been presented differently; it should've been woven into the romantic storyline and not just lumped in as boring background data. The author also failed to make good use of the OW as a plot device. What the purpose of establishing an OW if she's just gonna be a cardboard cutout character with no primary, secondary or even tertiary function ? The MC's also took too long to get close to each other after they met again in Bath. The revenge trope wasn't even satisfying because Juliann was unable to accomplish any form of vengeance. In fact, things turned out badly for her when the H's dumb, drunkard friends followed him to Bath and open their big mouths about Juliann's identity as the infamous girl who'd been kissed by the H on Bond Street.
The H did make amends for all the trouble he'd caused and the epilogue, set on Bond Street, was sweet, but it still failed to lift the boring second half of the story. I've looked at a few other books by this author and those look more promising, however. As for this, well, let's just say:
February 21, 2015
2.5 stars
The prologue was interesting, but that was about it.
The prologue was interesting, but that was about it.
August 26, 2019
Well done! I really liked this one.
The characters are well formed and both are decent people. The Duke did something silly that almost cost the heroine her reputation so it’s understandable that she is angry with him.
I liked that despite a year having passed before they meet again, the Duke did not forget their one encounter. Although this is not a love at first sight novel, that little detail goes far to show that his heart or mind had recognized her even then.
The characters are well formed and both are decent people. The Duke did something silly that almost cost the heroine her reputation so it’s understandable that she is angry with him.
I liked that despite a year having passed before they meet again, the Duke did not forget their one encounter. Although this is not a love at first sight novel, that little detail goes far to show that his heart or mind had recognized her even then.
August 21, 2009
Julia Allard is in town for the season with her cousin and her family when one day she is accosted by a stranger on the streets and kissed. The kisser was the duke of Kelbourne trying to win a wager made after a night of drunken revelry. When the matter is known Juliann's relatives decide to ship her to the country as they feel they could never force the duke to propose and her reputation will be in tatters if it becomes known she is the woman involved. So Juliann is sent back home in disgrace although she never really did anything to deserve it and feeling rather hurt that she could not have a season.
A few months later she is invited to join her cousin, now married, in Bath. One day, in the streets, she meets the Duke of Kelbourne who, in the mean time, had realised that is actions were less than acceptable and suddenly decides he must apologise. Unfortunately the duke's apology leaves Julia feeling more offended still and she decides to work on a little revenge of her own by engaging his attentions and then refusing him. Since they meet constantly at several social functions that's not really difficult to work on, although sometimes Juliann can't always keep her cool and serene facade and she soon starts finding the duke more attractive than she would like.
It must be said that although Kelbourne does apologise for his actions, his bad behaviour is not something that he has thought much about. In fact when we meet him again in Bath he is ready to move in from his rakish ways and settle down and marry. Julia, on the other hand, is still suffering the effects of having been sent home and everyone in the village has been gossiping about it. What I enjoyed the most about the book was how it was about class and status and how that influenced people's daily lives. The highest ranking people could get away with almost anything while the others were left to dance to their tune.
The book includes a big set of secondary characters which are all of Julia and Kelbourne's family and friends and there's a secondary storyline about Julia's cousin problems with her mother in law that I actually thought were fun. The story is definitely on the light side, despite the subject, except for the scenes where Julia was exposed as the woman Kel had kissed. I thought that intruded a bit in the general tone of the book but nothing to worry about o I can really say I enjoyed it.
Grade: 4/5
A few months later she is invited to join her cousin, now married, in Bath. One day, in the streets, she meets the Duke of Kelbourne who, in the mean time, had realised that is actions were less than acceptable and suddenly decides he must apologise. Unfortunately the duke's apology leaves Julia feeling more offended still and she decides to work on a little revenge of her own by engaging his attentions and then refusing him. Since they meet constantly at several social functions that's not really difficult to work on, although sometimes Juliann can't always keep her cool and serene facade and she soon starts finding the duke more attractive than she would like.
It must be said that although Kelbourne does apologise for his actions, his bad behaviour is not something that he has thought much about. In fact when we meet him again in Bath he is ready to move in from his rakish ways and settle down and marry. Julia, on the other hand, is still suffering the effects of having been sent home and everyone in the village has been gossiping about it. What I enjoyed the most about the book was how it was about class and status and how that influenced people's daily lives. The highest ranking people could get away with almost anything while the others were left to dance to their tune.
The book includes a big set of secondary characters which are all of Julia and Kelbourne's family and friends and there's a secondary storyline about Julia's cousin problems with her mother in law that I actually thought were fun. The story is definitely on the light side, despite the subject, except for the scenes where Julia was exposed as the woman Kel had kissed. I thought that intruded a bit in the general tone of the book but nothing to worry about o I can really say I enjoyed it.
Grade: 4/5
March 13, 2013
This is a rather short historical with an unique plot and a charming set of characters.
The Duke of Kelbourne made a wager with his friends one night that if lady luck is in his favor, then he will kiss the prettiest female he sees the next day. That female happens to be Miss Juliann Alard, whom Kel kisses in broad daylight and on a busy London street. While it was a pleasant experience for Kel, Julia was forced to return home to her aunt and uncle before the Season started in order to avoid the rumors of her supposed indecent behavior. A year later, as Julia has grown tired of the circulating rumors in her own village, she accepts an invitation to visit her cousin in Bath, the first enjoyment she's had since her abrupt return from London, and little does she know, the Duke of Kelbourne is also in Bath...
The plot is highly amusing as Julia, who had been wronged by Kel due to his kiss, tries to plot revenge against him by making him fall in love with her only to jilt him. Kel had initially experienced some guilt - albeit not much - at having forced his attentions on an innocent party, but he did not realize the implications of his actions until near the end of the story, which is also when he redeems himself. Although Julia and Kel play a game of cat-and-mouse with each other, they inevitably fall in love and end the charade with some hypocrisy. In truth, there isn't anything that stands out about the characters - Julia is a beautiful and nice miss who endured much embarrassment due to Kel, and Kel is a duke who cares deeply for his family - that add to a substantial depth, but as a lighthearted read this fits the bill nicely. The dialogue is funny, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the antics Julia goes through to "seduce" Kelbourne before she realizes that she's in love.
Evidently embracing our niece in public is a habit the Duke of Kelbourne is not likely to break.
Highly recommended as a frolicking read for the afternoon!
The Duke of Kelbourne made a wager with his friends one night that if lady luck is in his favor, then he will kiss the prettiest female he sees the next day. That female happens to be Miss Juliann Alard, whom Kel kisses in broad daylight and on a busy London street. While it was a pleasant experience for Kel, Julia was forced to return home to her aunt and uncle before the Season started in order to avoid the rumors of her supposed indecent behavior. A year later, as Julia has grown tired of the circulating rumors in her own village, she accepts an invitation to visit her cousin in Bath, the first enjoyment she's had since her abrupt return from London, and little does she know, the Duke of Kelbourne is also in Bath...
The plot is highly amusing as Julia, who had been wronged by Kel due to his kiss, tries to plot revenge against him by making him fall in love with her only to jilt him. Kel had initially experienced some guilt - albeit not much - at having forced his attentions on an innocent party, but he did not realize the implications of his actions until near the end of the story, which is also when he redeems himself. Although Julia and Kel play a game of cat-and-mouse with each other, they inevitably fall in love and end the charade with some hypocrisy. In truth, there isn't anything that stands out about the characters - Julia is a beautiful and nice miss who endured much embarrassment due to Kel, and Kel is a duke who cares deeply for his family - that add to a substantial depth, but as a lighthearted read this fits the bill nicely. The dialogue is funny, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the antics Julia goes through to "seduce" Kelbourne before she realizes that she's in love.
Evidently embracing our niece in public is a habit the Duke of Kelbourne is not likely to break.
Highly recommended as a frolicking read for the afternoon!
March 25, 2011
I though this was a good book, but a little slow. It takes a long time to really get going and only achieves a really good tempo at the very end. The characters are good though with great side support. Kelbourne is a very regal character - you really think of his as a duke - and has a natural pompousness and arrogance that is for some reason quite believable. Julia is full of pent up fury though in my opinion she puts too much blame of Kelbourne and doesn't take quite enough responsibility for her own actions. It was a good book and the ending is great.
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May 18, 2015
I kind of liked the first of Woodward's books I read: Moonlight and Mischief, but this one had so many repeated phrases and mannerisms from the characters of the first that I grew annoyed by the lack of originality. Lots of eye-rolling ensued.
October 17, 2021
Banal, Insipid...
I wager this book was written in haste and I've repented for having read it at leisure.
Nothing is inherently wrong with the plot as a regency storyline but something significant is absent from its execution. I am bored by the characters who never quite reach the pinnacle of development. Perhaps it's that the evolution of the hero, heroine that is stilted. So much is explained as the tale ensues, but then ta da! redemption is achieved without the detailed complexity of transformation.
Even the peripheral characters are painted on like the background characters in a cartoon who lack individual animation: the persistent unrequited beau, the new love, the quixotic family members...
I have to wonder if this was the author's first book. She has several that are well written. Please avoid this one at all cost.
I wager this book was written in haste and I've repented for having read it at leisure.
Nothing is inherently wrong with the plot as a regency storyline but something significant is absent from its execution. I am bored by the characters who never quite reach the pinnacle of development. Perhaps it's that the evolution of the hero, heroine that is stilted. So much is explained as the tale ensues, but then ta da! redemption is achieved without the detailed complexity of transformation.
Even the peripheral characters are painted on like the background characters in a cartoon who lack individual animation: the persistent unrequited beau, the new love, the quixotic family members...
I have to wonder if this was the author's first book. She has several that are well written. Please avoid this one at all cost.
February 8, 2018
My first Regency by this author
And I liked it very much. I thought the plot was original and its handling quite adroit. I liked that the setting was Bath rather than London, because Bath is a city that I did love to visit. I will certainly read more by this author.
And I liked it very much. I thought the plot was original and its handling quite adroit. I liked that the setting was Bath rather than London, because Bath is a city that I did love to visit. I will certainly read more by this author.
February 8, 2014
Julia Allard looks forward to a Season in London with her cousin Caroline until a rakish gentleman accosts her in the street and kisses her in broad daylight! The Duke of Kelbourne claims he made a vow with Dame Fortune to kiss the most beautiful woman he saw that day. Julia doesn't care about vows or wager; all she knows is that she's just been insulted and humiliated in public. Julia is forced to return home to the country in disgrace, where she becomes the subject of cruel gossip. A year later, cousin Caro, newly married, invites Julia to join her in Bath. Julia happily accepts the invitation. The last person she expects or wants to see in Bath is the Duke of Kelbourne. Kel shows up to do his familial duty at the summons of his adored older sister, expecting to be bored, but once he sees Julia, his boredom vanishes. Kel tries to apologize for his insufferable behavior, but Julia feels his apology is shallow and insincere. She wants to humiliate him the way he humiliated her and concocts a scheme of revenge. Her cousin warns her that she might lose her head, but she doesn't imagine she might lose her heart. The plot of this novel is a little bit unconventional since the "meet cute" occurs so early and Julia hates Kel for what he did. The story is paced too slowly and there isn't much plot. I feel like the reader doesn't get to know either of the main characters very well. I think the book could have benefited from being longer so there could be more character development. If I hadn't read Moonlight and Mischief first, I may have liked this one better. Kel and his friend Lord Haverstone appear so different in that book than this one. Moonlight and Mischief is a spinoff of this book but is superior in plot and character development.
May 28, 2025
The incident is quite unexpected. Enjoying a spring afternoon of shopping with her relatives, Miss Julia Allard could not be better chaperoned with the Royal Navy by her side. Even so, a handsome stranger catches up with her, and before she knows what's happening, Miss Allard is in his arms - being kissed.
The young lady slaps her assailant, of course, but not before her reputation has been fairly tarnished - and the memory of his passionate kiss forever sealed on her lips. The stranger in question, the Duke of Kelbourne, has made a name for himself with such roguish acts. Now, to allay rumours, the mortified Miss Allard must cut short her Season and return home, where she'll concoct an elaborate plan to exact her revenge. Little does she know, however, that the duke also has some plans up his rakish sleeve...
A pleasant enough tale, although very little happened. There was nothing very interesting about Julia or Kel, she was fairly bland & I saw no evidence that he was a rake. Julia shouldn't have been standing alone on the street & Kel would have to be falling-down drunk not to realise his mistake, in which case she could easily have evaded his intentions. Nice but unremarkable, even a little dull at times.
The young lady slaps her assailant, of course, but not before her reputation has been fairly tarnished - and the memory of his passionate kiss forever sealed on her lips. The stranger in question, the Duke of Kelbourne, has made a name for himself with such roguish acts. Now, to allay rumours, the mortified Miss Allard must cut short her Season and return home, where she'll concoct an elaborate plan to exact her revenge. Little does she know, however, that the duke also has some plans up his rakish sleeve...
A pleasant enough tale, although very little happened. There was nothing very interesting about Julia or Kel, she was fairly bland & I saw no evidence that he was a rake. Julia shouldn't have been standing alone on the street & Kel would have to be falling-down drunk not to realise his mistake, in which case she could easily have evaded his intentions. Nice but unremarkable, even a little dull at times.
November 7, 2011
Heroine is kissed on the street by a drunk aristocrat settling a wager, and her reputation is ruined. The next year, he turns up in Bath at the same time as heroine does and realizes he owes her a serious apology. He’s never been able to forget her and now wants to mend fences, though she rightly despises him. He does manage to make amends and there’s the obligatory happy ending. Very good read
December 20, 2015
I found the opening interesting, then in a blink, the story got bogged down by a lot of amateurish writing, clunky enough to discourage. Before I gave up reading the writing straightened out - not brilliant or even bright but decent, and the plot, while thin, is good enough, although some reviewer called it improbable! As if.
October 26, 2018
Adored it!
Through no fault of her own, lovely young lady gets dragged into scandal by an unthinking man and his ridiculous friends.
The men come away from the encounter amused and entertained, unaware of the consequences the young woman deals with on a daily basis.
By the end of the story I was feeling all the feels over this one. Loved the ending.
A bit of violence, no sex, mild language.
Through no fault of her own, lovely young lady gets dragged into scandal by an unthinking man and his ridiculous friends.
The men come away from the encounter amused and entertained, unaware of the consequences the young woman deals with on a daily basis.
By the end of the story I was feeling all the feels over this one. Loved the ending.
A bit of violence, no sex, mild language.
May 22, 2013
This was just not very good. Julia came across as petty and childish, and I just couldn't bring myself to like her. I suppose there are people who will enjoy the story and maybe empathize with Julia and her actions, but her lack of pride and refinement turned me against the entire book.
April 3, 2012
4.5
This was a really fun read. I really liked the characters and the plot. I look forward to reading more from Rhonda Woodward.
Content: Clean romance.
This was a really fun read. I really liked the characters and the plot. I look forward to reading more from Rhonda Woodward.
Content: Clean romance.
December 12, 2011
On a wager, the Duke kisses the most beautiful woman he sees the next day. Little does he know that it wasn't his purse that he wagered, but his heart...
June 7, 2017
4.40 stars - pg13?
April 25, 2016
I liked The Wagered Heart; it was a pleasant regency romance.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews