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Whitechapel Wagers #3
Reckless Wager
Set against the backdrop of London's dangerous East End in 1888, Victorian propriety and passions collide when a beautiful widow makes a wager with a wounded police detective bent on solving the Ripper mystery.
Unlucky in love and estranged from his family, Detective Sergeant Benjamin Quinn is obsessed with solving the Ripper crimes. When he’s suspended from the Metropolitan Police, it’s another failure in a long line of disappointments. But a new mystery arises when a beautiful widow shows up at the most infamous pub in Whitechapel seeking his help. He’s determined to assist Kate Guthrie, and equally determined to quell his growing attraction to her.
Kate Guthrie hides painful secrets from her first marriage and has avoided matrimony for nearly ten years. Now she’s finally decided it’s time to remarry and move on with her life, even if it means giving up the charity clinic work in Whitechapel that makes her days worthwhile. But when a battered young woman turns up at the clinic claiming to have been attacked by Jack the Ripper, Kate seeks out Detective Sergeant Benjamin Quinn, a man who sparks feelings in her too potent to deny.
Unlucky in love and estranged from his family, Detective Sergeant Benjamin Quinn is obsessed with solving the Ripper crimes. When he’s suspended from the Metropolitan Police, it’s another failure in a long line of disappointments. But a new mystery arises when a beautiful widow shows up at the most infamous pub in Whitechapel seeking his help. He’s determined to assist Kate Guthrie, and equally determined to quell his growing attraction to her.
Kate Guthrie hides painful secrets from her first marriage and has avoided matrimony for nearly ten years. Now she’s finally decided it’s time to remarry and move on with her life, even if it means giving up the charity clinic work in Whitechapel that makes her days worthwhile. But when a battered young woman turns up at the clinic claiming to have been attacked by Jack the Ripper, Kate seeks out Detective Sergeant Benjamin Quinn, a man who sparks feelings in her too potent to deny.
188 pages, ebook
First published December 29, 2014
8 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
About the author
Christy Carlyle
55 books564 followersFueled by Pacific Northwest coffee and inspired by multiple viewings of every British costume drama she can get her hands on, USA Today bestselling author Christy Carlyle writes sensual historical romance set in the Victorian era. She loves heroes who struggle against all odds and heroines who are ahead of their time. A former teacher with a degree in history, she finds there's nothing better than being able to combine her love of the past with a die-hard belief in happy endings.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 16, 2023
Rated 3.5
February 5, 2015
I just love stories with strong women and Kate certainly fit that bill – especially with respect to the time period she was living in. Kate carries the scars from a short but abusive marriage, and has long since given up hope of finding love, but feels it’s time she settles down again, even if it means giving up her charity work at the clinic, which has become her true passion.
Ben has followed his passion but has sacrificed his family and his chance for love because of it. Rather than follow in family tradition and become a lawyer, he has chosen to become a police detective, which has driven a wedge between him and his family and has driven the woman he loved in to the arms of another man.
When Ben and Kate meet, the attraction between the two have them both rethinking their position on love – something neither of them want to even consider. It was fun watching Ben and Kate dance around the attraction, and I loved Ben finding it beyond himself to stop from acting on it. Once Kate has caught his eye he just can’t help himself…he’s totally taken with her and can’t seem to control his actions!
Of course family relationships and external factors conspire to get in their way, and when Kate needs to decide on a marriage proposal from a man who does nothing to stir her heart or following her passion – which may or may not include a certain police detective – Kate must look inside her heart and decide if love and passion are two things she can live without. Watching Kate make decisions and take action on things made me smile – as I said, I love strong heroines and even though Kate has not had it easy, she constantly stood up for herself and made her own way.
I don’t read a lot of historical fiction, but this was a quick, fun read that sprinkled in a bit of history and did a nice job setting the time period and creating a picture of what the Whitechapel area looked and even smelled like. I loved some of the impropriety of the story– the scandal of a woman going to Whitechapel alone! I also liked the other characters in the book as well – Kate’s brother and his wife, Ben’s sister, and Ben’s boss all added to the depth of the story.
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
Ben has followed his passion but has sacrificed his family and his chance for love because of it. Rather than follow in family tradition and become a lawyer, he has chosen to become a police detective, which has driven a wedge between him and his family and has driven the woman he loved in to the arms of another man.
When Ben and Kate meet, the attraction between the two have them both rethinking their position on love – something neither of them want to even consider. It was fun watching Ben and Kate dance around the attraction, and I loved Ben finding it beyond himself to stop from acting on it. Once Kate has caught his eye he just can’t help himself…he’s totally taken with her and can’t seem to control his actions!
She bit her lower lip, just piercing the edge of it with straight, white teeth, and a surge of desire assaulted him. Ben tensed, held still, and waited for the ache to ease. No woman had as much as caught his eye in an age, and now this tiny, out-of-place lady had him dissecting the shade of her eyes.
Of course family relationships and external factors conspire to get in their way, and when Kate needs to decide on a marriage proposal from a man who does nothing to stir her heart or following her passion – which may or may not include a certain police detective – Kate must look inside her heart and decide if love and passion are two things she can live without. Watching Kate make decisions and take action on things made me smile – as I said, I love strong heroines and even though Kate has not had it easy, she constantly stood up for herself and made her own way.
I don’t read a lot of historical fiction, but this was a quick, fun read that sprinkled in a bit of history and did a nice job setting the time period and creating a picture of what the Whitechapel area looked and even smelled like. I loved some of the impropriety of the story– the scandal of a woman going to Whitechapel alone! I also liked the other characters in the book as well – Kate’s brother and his wife, Ben’s sister, and Ben’s boss all added to the depth of the story.
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
February 7, 2015
Reckless Wager by Christy Carlyle
Series: Whitechapel Wagers Series
Source: Author
My Rating: 3½/5 stars
My Review:
In the late 19th century the Whitechapel district of London was in the grip of fear. Jack the Ripper was running around killing prostitutes and taunting the cops before disappearing just as quickly as he appeared. The police had absolutely no idea what to do with the likes of Jack the Ripper and to this day, we still have no idea who the mad man was. Reckless Wager is a fine mix of fact and fiction revolving around the search for Jack the Ripper, one most determined detective and, a widow who wants nothing more than to help others.
Detective Sergeant Benjamin Quinn comes from an extremely wealthy family and right up until the moment he told them he was abandoning the law for police work, they were quite proud of him. Though Benjamin has learned to live without his family, old habits die hard and impressing his family is always lingering in the back of his mind. Ben has become obsessed with the Ripper case and is determined to bring the culprit to justice. Ben’s determination has led him to living in Whitechapel and doggedly pursuing any and all leads he can dig up.
Kate Guthrie has spent the last decade trying to rid herself of the demons of her past. She survived a violent husband who frequently took his rage out on her and has discovered that caring for others is something she is quite passionate about. Though it is inconceivable that a woman of her means and standing should be in the Whitechapel district, Kate knows this is a part of London that will benefit most from her skills. One late night just before her shift at the community clinic comes to an end, Kate is sent on an errand by a patient who is sure she was attacked by Jack the Ripper.
Benjamin and Kate’s first encounter is anything but ordinary as Kate finds the Detective Sergeant unusually drunk in a Whitechapel bar and unable to come with Kate to the clinic. Though every social dictate says Kate should leave the man where he is, Kate has never been one for convention and ensures Benjamin gets safely to his apartment. Before she can leave, Benjamin takes every liberty possible and kisses Kate. Though she has spent ten long years as a widow, Kate knows it is time for her to move on and that kiss awakened something in her she thought to be long dead. In the harsh light of day, Benjamin regrets his actions but only because he is worried for Kate and the impression he most certainly made on her.
Sure they will never see one another again both Kate and Benjamin are pleasantly surprised to run into one another at the Whitechapel clinic. Benjamin is determined to follow-up on the Ripper lead and Kate is determined to ensure the patient is alright. In a moment of pure spontaneity, Kate wagers another kiss with Benjamin so that she can work alongside him. Benjamin is loath to drag Kate into danger but as he quickly discovers, she is quite stubborn and he is very interested in winning that second kiss. As the case develops, Kate is forced to face many truths about herself and her future and Benjamin is forced to accept that the woman he loves may never marry him, may never keep herself out of danger and, all of that is more than alright with him.
The Bottom Line: Reckless Wager is not just the first book in the Whitechapel Wagers series, it is also my first Christy Carlyle read. Overall, this read was enjoyable and I liked both characters immensely but there just isn’t enough Jack the Ripper for my taste. I was rather hoping the drama surrounding the Jack the Ripper case would play more heavily into the plot but alas, it does not. Kate and Benjamin are two extremely likable characters with Kate being a woman ahead of her time and place and Benjamin being a man who is willing to buck tradition and defy his family in order to pursue the things he truly loves. The story reads quickly with very little danger and only the lowest level of real drama. In all, this is a solid read that I can recommend but with the caveat that is doesn’t necessarily need to be at the top of your TBR list.
P.S. To be completely fair, I did buy the other three novellas in this series. What can I say? I have faith this series will be all I believe it can be
Series: Whitechapel Wagers Series
Source: Author
My Rating: 3½/5 stars
My Review:
In the late 19th century the Whitechapel district of London was in the grip of fear. Jack the Ripper was running around killing prostitutes and taunting the cops before disappearing just as quickly as he appeared. The police had absolutely no idea what to do with the likes of Jack the Ripper and to this day, we still have no idea who the mad man was. Reckless Wager is a fine mix of fact and fiction revolving around the search for Jack the Ripper, one most determined detective and, a widow who wants nothing more than to help others.
Detective Sergeant Benjamin Quinn comes from an extremely wealthy family and right up until the moment he told them he was abandoning the law for police work, they were quite proud of him. Though Benjamin has learned to live without his family, old habits die hard and impressing his family is always lingering in the back of his mind. Ben has become obsessed with the Ripper case and is determined to bring the culprit to justice. Ben’s determination has led him to living in Whitechapel and doggedly pursuing any and all leads he can dig up.
Kate Guthrie has spent the last decade trying to rid herself of the demons of her past. She survived a violent husband who frequently took his rage out on her and has discovered that caring for others is something she is quite passionate about. Though it is inconceivable that a woman of her means and standing should be in the Whitechapel district, Kate knows this is a part of London that will benefit most from her skills. One late night just before her shift at the community clinic comes to an end, Kate is sent on an errand by a patient who is sure she was attacked by Jack the Ripper.
Benjamin and Kate’s first encounter is anything but ordinary as Kate finds the Detective Sergeant unusually drunk in a Whitechapel bar and unable to come with Kate to the clinic. Though every social dictate says Kate should leave the man where he is, Kate has never been one for convention and ensures Benjamin gets safely to his apartment. Before she can leave, Benjamin takes every liberty possible and kisses Kate. Though she has spent ten long years as a widow, Kate knows it is time for her to move on and that kiss awakened something in her she thought to be long dead. In the harsh light of day, Benjamin regrets his actions but only because he is worried for Kate and the impression he most certainly made on her.
Sure they will never see one another again both Kate and Benjamin are pleasantly surprised to run into one another at the Whitechapel clinic. Benjamin is determined to follow-up on the Ripper lead and Kate is determined to ensure the patient is alright. In a moment of pure spontaneity, Kate wagers another kiss with Benjamin so that she can work alongside him. Benjamin is loath to drag Kate into danger but as he quickly discovers, she is quite stubborn and he is very interested in winning that second kiss. As the case develops, Kate is forced to face many truths about herself and her future and Benjamin is forced to accept that the woman he loves may never marry him, may never keep herself out of danger and, all of that is more than alright with him.
The Bottom Line: Reckless Wager is not just the first book in the Whitechapel Wagers series, it is also my first Christy Carlyle read. Overall, this read was enjoyable and I liked both characters immensely but there just isn’t enough Jack the Ripper for my taste. I was rather hoping the drama surrounding the Jack the Ripper case would play more heavily into the plot but alas, it does not. Kate and Benjamin are two extremely likable characters with Kate being a woman ahead of her time and place and Benjamin being a man who is willing to buck tradition and defy his family in order to pursue the things he truly loves. The story reads quickly with very little danger and only the lowest level of real drama. In all, this is a solid read that I can recommend but with the caveat that is doesn’t necessarily need to be at the top of your TBR list.
P.S. To be completely fair, I did buy the other three novellas in this series. What can I say? I have faith this series will be all I believe it can be
February 5, 2015
So at the centre of this story is a wager. A fun and spicy wager. Ben wagers Kate that he can kiss her if she finds a woman they are both searching for first. This doesn’t sound all that risqué, but consider that this is England in 1888 – it is definitely a reckless wager! Kate is a well widowed woman who spends her time in Whitechapel in London helping the downtrodden at a clinic. Although she is not part of the aristocracy, for a well off woman, it is definitely not a place she should be frequenting.
She meets Ben when a prostitute named Rose nearly has her throat slashed and is convinced it is the ‘Ripper’. Ben has just been suspended for being overzealous in his pursuit of the ripper terrorizing the streets of London. Neither is in a place in their lives that makes them very happy. People always say that love comes when you aren’t looking for it or that you live through the bad times to get to the good. Those are very apt saying for Ben and Kate. Kate is still healing over a horrible marriage and Ben is living the life he wanted, but is distanced from family and friends.
I thought the premise would be entirely about the hunt for the ripper, but it’s not the focus. Kate and Ben spend just as much time together as apart. Kate has to be very circumspect about her visits to Whitechapel as it is not appropriate for a woman of her station. This disappointed me as I have probably read way too many books where widows get to do whatever they want and damn the consequences. Kate is being courted by a man she doesn’t love and likely never will. He is pushing for marriage and although Kate knows what the expectations are this time around, her heart isn’t in it. Especially after she meets Ben.
I loved the descriptions of Ben. He was a big man, whose warmth and clean scent radiated off of him. I don’t know why, but descriptions like this make me feel safe and my trust in the character grows. Ben was a good man and a good detective. He wanted to catch the ripper, but as the book progressed, he wanted to catch Kate more.
I loved how he fought for her and put himself on the line with her family. He was just such a good guy that you wanted Kate to have some happiness and love in her life after the devastation of her first marriage. The love scene is really well developed and the timing of it in the book couldn’t have been better. There is a disagreement between the two, but thanks to great secondary characters, they are able to work through it.
This book is well written and weaves a lovely tale of love and second chances in life. While the slums of London are accurately depicted, it doesn’t take away from the beauty of the love blossoming between Ben and Kate.
Reviewed for www.kiltsandswords.com
She meets Ben when a prostitute named Rose nearly has her throat slashed and is convinced it is the ‘Ripper’. Ben has just been suspended for being overzealous in his pursuit of the ripper terrorizing the streets of London. Neither is in a place in their lives that makes them very happy. People always say that love comes when you aren’t looking for it or that you live through the bad times to get to the good. Those are very apt saying for Ben and Kate. Kate is still healing over a horrible marriage and Ben is living the life he wanted, but is distanced from family and friends.
I thought the premise would be entirely about the hunt for the ripper, but it’s not the focus. Kate and Ben spend just as much time together as apart. Kate has to be very circumspect about her visits to Whitechapel as it is not appropriate for a woman of her station. This disappointed me as I have probably read way too many books where widows get to do whatever they want and damn the consequences. Kate is being courted by a man she doesn’t love and likely never will. He is pushing for marriage and although Kate knows what the expectations are this time around, her heart isn’t in it. Especially after she meets Ben.
I loved the descriptions of Ben. He was a big man, whose warmth and clean scent radiated off of him. I don’t know why, but descriptions like this make me feel safe and my trust in the character grows. Ben was a good man and a good detective. He wanted to catch the ripper, but as the book progressed, he wanted to catch Kate more.
I loved how he fought for her and put himself on the line with her family. He was just such a good guy that you wanted Kate to have some happiness and love in her life after the devastation of her first marriage. The love scene is really well developed and the timing of it in the book couldn’t have been better. There is a disagreement between the two, but thanks to great secondary characters, they are able to work through it.
This book is well written and weaves a lovely tale of love and second chances in life. While the slums of London are accurately depicted, it doesn’t take away from the beauty of the love blossoming between Ben and Kate.
Reviewed for www.kiltsandswords.com
January 19, 2015
Kindle Copy for Review
It is London in 1888 and Jack the Ripper is still on the loose. A widow makes a wager with a police detective obsessed with Jack the Ripper.
Kate Guthrie had a painful marriage and has been a widow for ten years. She knows she should remarry but is afraid it will be abusive like her first marriage. She has a suitor whom she really does not care for but knows this time she is not in love with him.
Kate finds time to sneak in charity work in a clinic in Whitechapel which makes her feel like she is doing something worthwhile despite what her family may dislike. When a young battered woman shows up one evening claiming that Jack the Ripper attack her and the only police officer she will talk to is Detective Sergeant Benjamin Quinn. She seeks him out that night where she finds him drunk and he kisses her.
What follows is an attraction between them as the search for the woman who disappeared that night. Kate finds herself feeling things that she never had after one kiss with Benjamin and vica versa.
Two people who past loves hurt them, can they take a risk on each other to find love. Attraction that is more than physical.
It is London in 1888 and Jack the Ripper is still on the loose. A widow makes a wager with a police detective obsessed with Jack the Ripper.
Kate Guthrie had a painful marriage and has been a widow for ten years. She knows she should remarry but is afraid it will be abusive like her first marriage. She has a suitor whom she really does not care for but knows this time she is not in love with him.
Kate finds time to sneak in charity work in a clinic in Whitechapel which makes her feel like she is doing something worthwhile despite what her family may dislike. When a young battered woman shows up one evening claiming that Jack the Ripper attack her and the only police officer she will talk to is Detective Sergeant Benjamin Quinn. She seeks him out that night where she finds him drunk and he kisses her.
What follows is an attraction between them as the search for the woman who disappeared that night. Kate finds herself feeling things that she never had after one kiss with Benjamin and vica versa.
Two people who past loves hurt them, can they take a risk on each other to find love. Attraction that is more than physical.
January 12, 2015
This is the third book in the Whitechapel Wagers series which takes place around the time of Jack the Ripper and is the story of Kate Guthrie (Will's sister from Wanton Wager) and Benjamin Quinn (a detective in the Whitechapel district). Kate is caring and loving and I was very happy that she got her own story. Kate is haunted by the tragedy of her marriage and wants to make sure the same things do not happen to the women she works with at the clinic. In helping one of the women she comes across Sgt. Quinn who has his own problems to face. Their learning to trust each other and their hearts brings them together in a wonderfully romantic story. It is a nice change to read a historical romance that is not all about gowns and dances and the ton. If "not the norm" historical romance is what you are looking for then give this book and series a try.
*I received a free copy of this book.
*I received a free copy of this book.
January 30, 2015
After the death of Kate's abusive husband. She didn't want to get married again. But after taking care of her brother, she finds shes likes helping in the medical field. So she starts sneaking to the bad part of town to help at a clinic..the same part of town Jack the Ripper has been killing in. So when Rose shows up stating she was just attacked and will only talk to one person, Kate knows she has to find him. Ben is trying to blend into the bad part of town, but when Kate shows up at the tavern, he has no choice but to go to her. Ben has been suspended from the force for fighting and has been drinking, so he takes Kate to his apartment to talk, they end up sharing a kiss. Ben has 2 things on his mind...The Ripper and Kate. Since one is afraid of marriage and one thinks no one will love them because of their job, can they find their happily ever after?
February 2, 2015
After the death of Kate's abusive husband. She didn't want to get married again. But after taking care of her brother, she finds shes likes helping in the medical field. So she starts sneaking to the bad part of town to help at a clinic..the same part of town Jack the Ripper has been killing in. So when Rose shows up stating she was just attacked and will only talk to one person, Kate knows she has to find him. Ben is trying to blend into the bad part of town, but when Kate shows up at the tavern, he has no choice but to go to her. Ben has been suspended from the force for fighting and has been drinking, so he takes Kate to his apartment to talk, they end up sharing a kiss. Ben has 2 things on his mind...The Ripper and Kate. Since one is afraid of marriage and one thinks no one will love them because of their job, can they find their happily ever after?
July 19, 2015
Reckless Wager is a wonderfully sensual story of love and discovery. Both Kate and Ben have poor views on love, but together they will discover the true meaning and may find their forever romance. This was another beautiful story in the Whitechapel Wagers series. This may be my favorite so far.
April 1, 2015
I loved this story! Kate is a strong heroine with a mind of her own. Benjamin Quinn is a sexy detective. A reckless wager is made and I found myself rooting for the heroine throughout the book. The steamy romance between Ben and Kate built throughout the story. What a great read! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a sensual romance.
May 8, 2015
4.5/5.0
Christy Carlyle is a genius when it comes to historical romances!
Read full review in the 2015 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Christy Carlyle is a genius when it comes to historical romances!
Read full review in the 2015 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.
November 2, 2022
Weaving history with suspense and romance is what you will have in this dynamic book. With her imagination of what could have happened with Rose and Jack the Ripper as an under story it gives more meaning and drama to the real story.
Rose, a street working girl is accosted and abused goes into the free help clinic that Katherine Guthrie volunteers at. She is a widow, of 10 years, with a past she would live to forget. Wanting to help and do good deeds is what keeps her going. She is disheartened with her past marriage and the prospect of being remarried. When she meets a bold brave man.
Detective Sergeant Benjamin Quinn is the only on Rose will tell what happened to her. As he struggles to bring the man responsible for the murders to justice, he is not sure it is the same one who attacked Rose. As his work is his life, balancing that with trying to prove he is worth more doing it to his disapproving father, he struggles with what to do. His past has shaped his outlook but he meets someone who triggers an emotion he thought lost.
Can two lost souls find what they need? Will it be with each worth or someone else? Will the past haunt them or set them free? Will Rose get her justice? Come along to the East Ends Whitechapel area of London as we investigate the murders, solve Rose's attack, and heal old wounds. As you meet these lively characters and friends, co-workers, and family you will be drawn into a world unimaginable but by the colorful descriptions that draw in.
Rose, a street working girl is accosted and abused goes into the free help clinic that Katherine Guthrie volunteers at. She is a widow, of 10 years, with a past she would live to forget. Wanting to help and do good deeds is what keeps her going. She is disheartened with her past marriage and the prospect of being remarried. When she meets a bold brave man.
Detective Sergeant Benjamin Quinn is the only on Rose will tell what happened to her. As he struggles to bring the man responsible for the murders to justice, he is not sure it is the same one who attacked Rose. As his work is his life, balancing that with trying to prove he is worth more doing it to his disapproving father, he struggles with what to do. His past has shaped his outlook but he meets someone who triggers an emotion he thought lost.
Can two lost souls find what they need? Will it be with each worth or someone else? Will the past haunt them or set them free? Will Rose get her justice? Come along to the East Ends Whitechapel area of London as we investigate the murders, solve Rose's attack, and heal old wounds. As you meet these lively characters and friends, co-workers, and family you will be drawn into a world unimaginable but by the colorful descriptions that draw in.
June 15, 2017
*I received a copy of the box set in exchange for my honest review.
I love the setting of this one! I never was sure what was going to happen with them because they both and things in their pasts that affected them. I loved that they were both going to help Rose and the wager they had. The ending was perfect and I didn't want to put it down.
Kate survived her first marriage and didn't believe in love anymore. Every time the guy she was thinking of marrying came around I wanted to scream no! I wanted to jump and down when she realized you could love again.
Benjamin had a passion for his job. I loved him and his sister and the how much he loved his job. I wasn't expecting his reasons for never going home or what his boss told him. I was very happy in the end about where they were going.
I love the setting of this one! I never was sure what was going to happen with them because they both and things in their pasts that affected them. I loved that they were both going to help Rose and the wager they had. The ending was perfect and I didn't want to put it down.
Kate survived her first marriage and didn't believe in love anymore. Every time the guy she was thinking of marrying came around I wanted to scream no! I wanted to jump and down when she realized you could love again.
Benjamin had a passion for his job. I loved him and his sister and the how much he loved his job. I wasn't expecting his reasons for never going home or what his boss told him. I was very happy in the end about where they were going.
December 1, 2022
Wonderfully intriguing story of Detective Sergeant Benjamin Quinn and Kate Guthrie as they navigate the seedy streets of Whitechapel. Ben has been suspended from his position but continues to investigate the case of the Ripper. Kate volunteers in a clinic where a woman comes in claiming she was knifed by the Ripper. Loved these characters and loved watching them work together while trying to ignore the attraction.
November 4, 2022
Found the story about a widow from a short but abusive marriage very interesting. Also found the detective from a wealthy family working in the slum area of London, both of them had given up hope of finding a match, but once they see each other they are smitten but ty to hide the fact. Do they stay away from each other or do they give in to the attraction to each other
November 1, 2022
I am new to this author but I really enjoyed listening to this book via epub for sight impaired people.
Very good story well worth it.
No snippets
Get on and read it for yourself, I would recommend this book.
And looking forward to hearing more about this authors work.
Very good story well worth it.
No snippets
Get on and read it for yourself, I would recommend this book.
And looking forward to hearing more about this authors work.
October 31, 2022
Loved this book. The characters were so well written, I really cared about what happened to them. Such a delightful book. I’ve become a huge Christie Carlyle fan!
November 4, 2022
Good story! Loved the strength of the main characters!
November 8, 2022
A reckless wager turns to love. Entertaining story with good character development. Ben and Kate make a strong couple.
November 15, 2022
Beginning with spousal abuse, MS Carlyle weaves a story that includes danger, the infamous Jack the Ripper and finally love that overcomes fear. Loved it.
Read
December 11, 2022Awesome will read again
June 2, 2023
I received a free copy of this book through Bookfunnel. Ms. Carlyle is an author who is new to me, but now that I’ve read one of her books, I’ll be happy to read more. Kate Guthrie is widowed and we find out early on that her deceased husband was abusive. Now, she volunteers at a small clinic catering to the needs of local residents, often doxies who’ve been beaten up pretty badly. Detective Sergeant Benjamin Quinn is an investigator in Whitechapel, a particularly dangerous area in the east end of London, obsessed with trying to find Jack the Ripper. One evening when Rose comes into the clinic with a cut on her throat, claiming she was attacked by Jack and will only speak to Detective Quinn, Kate goes out to find him. Thus, they meet under less than ideal circumstances—in a dangerous area of the city, in a seedy pub, where Quinn has had a bit too much to drink. Still, there’s a spark between them.
Kate cannot get Benjamin out of her mind, and as it turns out, he can’t get her out of his mind either. In a relatively short period of time, they realize they are in love, but they both have mental obstacles to overcome. Ben was jilted by the woman he thought he’d marry when she chose his closest friend from law school over him because he chose to be a cop instead of a lawyer. This is compounded by the fact that his father, also a lawyer, has never quite forgiven him for choosing law enforcement rather than following in his father’s footsteps. Ben is plagued by doubts, and early on, we learn that he has a tendency to criticize himself and his failings. In fact, at one point, the voice of someone speaking to him halts “him on his well-trod path of self-recrimination.”
Kate, for obvious reasons, is hesitant to marry again. She is haunted by visions of Andrew, her deceased husband, and fears tying herself to someone who might treat her the same way. Ben recognizes the signs of former abuse and convinces her to confide in him. As a detective, he is attuned to unspoken messages and deducted her marital experience based on her actions, but as a man, he is hurt by her hesitancy to marry him, and this hurt is worsened because he connects it to the feelings he experienced when the one other woman he wanted to marry said no. He cannot bear the thought of being hurt again.
It’s not an unusual theme—being hurt in a prior relationship and being fearful of being hurt again. Both Kate and Ben suffer from the same fear. The other thing they have in common is a deep desire to help those less fortunate who live in London’s east end. Although not entirely historically accurate, the book takes a peek at events surrounding the terror inflicted by Jack the Ripper and the attempts by detectives to identify and arrest him. One of the things I liked about the plot/characters is that neither Kate nor Ben were nobility. They both come from fairly affluent and respected families, but neither is compelled to marry to carry on the family line. They were regular people.
Overall, the book was well-written with well-developed characters. Kate and Ben both want to have a positive impact on the world. Peripheral characters had their own backstories, so even though they didn’t feature as prominently, it was clear where they fit into the story and how they supported the main characters. By the way, the wager involves a kiss—which Ben immediately tells Kate he plans to collect regardless of who wins. I liked the book and I’d recommend it.
Kate cannot get Benjamin out of her mind, and as it turns out, he can’t get her out of his mind either. In a relatively short period of time, they realize they are in love, but they both have mental obstacles to overcome. Ben was jilted by the woman he thought he’d marry when she chose his closest friend from law school over him because he chose to be a cop instead of a lawyer. This is compounded by the fact that his father, also a lawyer, has never quite forgiven him for choosing law enforcement rather than following in his father’s footsteps. Ben is plagued by doubts, and early on, we learn that he has a tendency to criticize himself and his failings. In fact, at one point, the voice of someone speaking to him halts “him on his well-trod path of self-recrimination.”
Kate, for obvious reasons, is hesitant to marry again. She is haunted by visions of Andrew, her deceased husband, and fears tying herself to someone who might treat her the same way. Ben recognizes the signs of former abuse and convinces her to confide in him. As a detective, he is attuned to unspoken messages and deducted her marital experience based on her actions, but as a man, he is hurt by her hesitancy to marry him, and this hurt is worsened because he connects it to the feelings he experienced when the one other woman he wanted to marry said no. He cannot bear the thought of being hurt again.
It’s not an unusual theme—being hurt in a prior relationship and being fearful of being hurt again. Both Kate and Ben suffer from the same fear. The other thing they have in common is a deep desire to help those less fortunate who live in London’s east end. Although not entirely historically accurate, the book takes a peek at events surrounding the terror inflicted by Jack the Ripper and the attempts by detectives to identify and arrest him. One of the things I liked about the plot/characters is that neither Kate nor Ben were nobility. They both come from fairly affluent and respected families, but neither is compelled to marry to carry on the family line. They were regular people.
Overall, the book was well-written with well-developed characters. Kate and Ben both want to have a positive impact on the world. Peripheral characters had their own backstories, so even though they didn’t feature as prominently, it was clear where they fit into the story and how they supported the main characters. By the way, the wager involves a kiss—which Ben immediately tells Kate he plans to collect regardless of who wins. I liked the book and I’d recommend it.
May 25, 2016
Reckless Wager
By Christy Carlyle
This book hooked me from page one. It takes place in the poor, slum sections of the East End, London – Whitechapel, to be precise – in December 1888. Kate Guthrie has been a widow for ten years. She has been living with her brother in the affluent section of Mareton Terrace of London, and now feels that with his recent marriage, her current living situation needs to change. While her brother's marriage is obviously a love-match, Kate has soured on marriage. Twelve years ago, Kate married into what she had thought would be a love match for her. It turned out to be two years of torture with a man that beat and abused her, and generally made her life past, and the parts of it she still relives all the time, a living hell.
But now Kate finds herself at a crossroads…should she marry again? She has been dodging (after having turned down his first proposal) a proposal from a very formal man, Mr. Solomon Thrumble. She fully expects to receive another one at any time. Marriage to this man will mean the end to the only work and life she finds fulfilling – doing charity work at a clinic in Whitechapel for the less fortunate. Mr. Thrumble will expect her to entertain his business associates and be his home’s keeper and the mother of an heir and a spare. She isn't as sure that she wants to be a wife, as she feels she needed to be out of her brother’s way.
Kate’s last night’s work in the clinic in Whitechapel leads to the side of a possible victim who barely survived an assault by the infamous ‘Jack the Ripper.’ Kate tries to help out the victim, and agrees to try and locate find the only police detective the victim trusts. Her mercy mission leads Kate to the very place in Whitechapel, unescorted, The Ten Bells Pub, where two of The Ripper’s latest victims had visited shortly before their deaths, in her search for Detective Sergeant Benjamin Quinn. Their mad search to save the latest victim just may also require that they have to save each other, as well.
I loved the story, the pace, and the wonderful characters in this book. The storyline was refreshing, with an adventure and characters in Whitechapel, the poorer section of London. The characters, both secondary as well as the hero and heroine, were wonderfully developed. While this book is a stand alone, I would love to see a future book with some of these characters continued.
I cannot give this book less than FIVE STARS!
By Christy Carlyle
This book hooked me from page one. It takes place in the poor, slum sections of the East End, London – Whitechapel, to be precise – in December 1888. Kate Guthrie has been a widow for ten years. She has been living with her brother in the affluent section of Mareton Terrace of London, and now feels that with his recent marriage, her current living situation needs to change. While her brother's marriage is obviously a love-match, Kate has soured on marriage. Twelve years ago, Kate married into what she had thought would be a love match for her. It turned out to be two years of torture with a man that beat and abused her, and generally made her life past, and the parts of it she still relives all the time, a living hell.
But now Kate finds herself at a crossroads…should she marry again? She has been dodging (after having turned down his first proposal) a proposal from a very formal man, Mr. Solomon Thrumble. She fully expects to receive another one at any time. Marriage to this man will mean the end to the only work and life she finds fulfilling – doing charity work at a clinic in Whitechapel for the less fortunate. Mr. Thrumble will expect her to entertain his business associates and be his home’s keeper and the mother of an heir and a spare. She isn't as sure that she wants to be a wife, as she feels she needed to be out of her brother’s way.
Kate’s last night’s work in the clinic in Whitechapel leads to the side of a possible victim who barely survived an assault by the infamous ‘Jack the Ripper.’ Kate tries to help out the victim, and agrees to try and locate find the only police detective the victim trusts. Her mercy mission leads Kate to the very place in Whitechapel, unescorted, The Ten Bells Pub, where two of The Ripper’s latest victims had visited shortly before their deaths, in her search for Detective Sergeant Benjamin Quinn. Their mad search to save the latest victim just may also require that they have to save each other, as well.
I loved the story, the pace, and the wonderful characters in this book. The storyline was refreshing, with an adventure and characters in Whitechapel, the poorer section of London. The characters, both secondary as well as the hero and heroine, were wonderfully developed. While this book is a stand alone, I would love to see a future book with some of these characters continued.
I cannot give this book less than FIVE STARS!
May 23, 2016
The length of this novella was well-suited to the story.
I particularly like how the author had the H/h “story” different scenarios, which is a trait many people partake of without realizing it. This gave them depth and sincerity as people rather than fiction. I believe creating real people carries a story through regardless of plot strength/weakness. In this case, the plot had a few troubles; such as the convenient coincidence of having the H’s sister show up uninvited to the h’s fundraiser with all her rich friends to give money to a cause that is rickety at best.
I particularly like how the author had the H/h “story” different scenarios, which is a trait many people partake of without realizing it. This gave them depth and sincerity as people rather than fiction. I believe creating real people carries a story through regardless of plot strength/weakness. In this case, the plot had a few troubles; such as the convenient coincidence of having the H’s sister show up uninvited to the h’s fundraiser with all her rich friends to give money to a cause that is rickety at best.
November 6, 2022
This book was so special!
It held me captivated as it's interesting and very entertaining tale was played out by Sgt. Benjamin Quinn and Kate Guthrie, a widow.
The subject matter deals with what could have happened during the times of 'Jack The Ripper' and even though this story was fiction, it sounds quite authentic and that's what makes it great fiction!
Most definitely one for my highly recommended reading pile!
It held me captivated as it's interesting and very entertaining tale was played out by Sgt. Benjamin Quinn and Kate Guthrie, a widow.
The subject matter deals with what could have happened during the times of 'Jack The Ripper' and even though this story was fiction, it sounds quite authentic and that's what makes it great fiction!
Most definitely one for my highly recommended reading pile!
May 15, 2016
Awesome series!
April 21, 2017
Kate is a widow from an abusive marriage. She spends her time helping at a clinic in Whitechapel and wants to do more to help the women in this area who are mistreated by the men they are with. Benjamin is a police detective who is determined to solve the Ripper murders in Whitechapel. Here is where they meet. Both have been hurt by love in the past; each wishes to avoid it happening again. Will they take a chance to have a second chance? Maybe. What will happen to the Ripper, or the suspect? Reckless Wager is well written and interesting. The characters are well developed and engaging. A good read.
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