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The Gentlemen's Gamble
A Fortunate Miscalculation
A wager. An inconvenient love. A fortunate miscalculation that changes everything.
Andrew Langford is an honorable man. So it is deeply inconvenient when Sophie Renard, the woman he loved, appears at his door on the very day he’s reminded of a youthful wager that will cost the last unwed man a small fortune. She is beautiful, desperate, and, Andrew believes, married.
Sophie came to London for a prestigious mathematics position that she’s worked toward for six years. But after the promised job is withdrawn, she faces humiliating failure unless she can persuade her employer to reconsider. With no one else to turn to, she seeks help from her old friend, Andrew.
Andrew offers assistance where he can, determined to be nothing more than a friend. But proximity rekindles old feelings neither of them can afford, and Sophie’s charm and brilliance remind him why he once fell for her. As secrets unravel and the future threatens to pull them apart for a second time, they both must decide what they are willing to risk for love.
Andrew Langford is an honorable man. So it is deeply inconvenient when Sophie Renard, the woman he loved, appears at his door on the very day he’s reminded of a youthful wager that will cost the last unwed man a small fortune. She is beautiful, desperate, and, Andrew believes, married.
Sophie came to London for a prestigious mathematics position that she’s worked toward for six years. But after the promised job is withdrawn, she faces humiliating failure unless she can persuade her employer to reconsider. With no one else to turn to, she seeks help from her old friend, Andrew.
Andrew offers assistance where he can, determined to be nothing more than a friend. But proximity rekindles old feelings neither of them can afford, and Sophie’s charm and brilliance remind him why he once fell for her. As secrets unravel and the future threatens to pull them apart for a second time, they both must decide what they are willing to risk for love.
235 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 8, 2026
42 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
About the author
Karen Thornell
10 books330 followersKaren Thornell grew up reading when she should have been sleeping, but it wasn't until 2019 that she started writing. Tired of ending books and saying 'goodbye' to beloved characters, she wondered what it would be like to have her own characters that lived in her head always. It was probably a mark of sleep deprivation that she wanted people living in her head, but the idea was planted regardless.
Karen lives in Utah with her husband and kids. When not writing contemporary or regency romance, she spends her free time doing endless loads of laundry, playing board games, and, yes, talking to those characters in her head.
You can connect with Karen on Instagram, Facebook, or on her site at www.karenthornell.com
Karen lives in Utah with her husband and kids. When not writing contemporary or regency romance, she spends her free time doing endless loads of laundry, playing board games, and, yes, talking to those characters in her head.
You can connect with Karen on Instagram, Facebook, or on her site at www.karenthornell.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
January 13, 2026
“I swear, on my life, that I will marry before any of you ridiculous fools.”
Now, he needed only to convince Sophie of it.
Yes. Yes. And YESSS. 👏
I am absolutely here for a he-falls-first Regency romance—and A Fortunate Miscalculation by Karen Thornell delivers it beautifully.
📅 Officially Available January 8, 2026 (but linked in stories for you to get now on Amazon😘)
This story begins with a wager, an inconvenient love, and one very unfortunate (or fortunate?) miscalculation. Andrew Langford is honorable to a fault—and deeply inconvenienced when Sophie Renard, the woman he once loved, shows up at his door at exactly the wrong moment. Sophie is brilliant, bookish, and desperate after the prestigious mathematics position she worked six years for is suddenly withdrawn. Andrew believes she’s married. She believes he’s the only one who can help her. Proximity does the rest.
Friends… this is already a Book of the Year contender for me. It’s that good.
This multi-author series is such a delightfully fun concept—seven gentlemen, one reckless wager, and we don’t know the order of the books or romances until right before release. Even advanced readers are kept guessing, and honestly? I love it. It makes each new release feel like an event, and you can bet I’ll be reading every single one and cheering (loudly) from the sidelines.
This particular romance has layers. There’s a hidden trope I did not catch from the description (and I’m not spoiling it), but trust me—it adds serious swoon factor. Sophie is intelligent, driven, and quietly vulnerable. Andrew is a second son carving out his place in the banking world, determined to prove his worth—and utterly gone for her. Their second-chance love story is tender, emotionally rich, and deeply satisfying. The forced proximity is perfection, the romance is top tier, and the ending? Completely adorable.
I couldn’t put this book down—and then didn’t want it to end.
10/10 for book one. I’m officially hooked and must know how this wager ends.
Content notes: difficult family relationships, mention of a loved one passing (off page and reflective), gender bias, and a couple living in the same house before marriage (with no hint of impropriety). Romance is clean and swoony with chaste kisses only. Recommended for mature teens and up—you know your kids best.
📚 I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Now, he needed only to convince Sophie of it.
Yes. Yes. And YESSS. 👏
I am absolutely here for a he-falls-first Regency romance—and A Fortunate Miscalculation by Karen Thornell delivers it beautifully.
📅 Officially Available January 8, 2026 (but linked in stories for you to get now on Amazon😘)
This story begins with a wager, an inconvenient love, and one very unfortunate (or fortunate?) miscalculation. Andrew Langford is honorable to a fault—and deeply inconvenienced when Sophie Renard, the woman he once loved, shows up at his door at exactly the wrong moment. Sophie is brilliant, bookish, and desperate after the prestigious mathematics position she worked six years for is suddenly withdrawn. Andrew believes she’s married. She believes he’s the only one who can help her. Proximity does the rest.
Friends… this is already a Book of the Year contender for me. It’s that good.
This multi-author series is such a delightfully fun concept—seven gentlemen, one reckless wager, and we don’t know the order of the books or romances until right before release. Even advanced readers are kept guessing, and honestly? I love it. It makes each new release feel like an event, and you can bet I’ll be reading every single one and cheering (loudly) from the sidelines.
This particular romance has layers. There’s a hidden trope I did not catch from the description (and I’m not spoiling it), but trust me—it adds serious swoon factor. Sophie is intelligent, driven, and quietly vulnerable. Andrew is a second son carving out his place in the banking world, determined to prove his worth—and utterly gone for her. Their second-chance love story is tender, emotionally rich, and deeply satisfying. The forced proximity is perfection, the romance is top tier, and the ending? Completely adorable.
I couldn’t put this book down—and then didn’t want it to end.
10/10 for book one. I’m officially hooked and must know how this wager ends.
Content notes: difficult family relationships, mention of a loved one passing (off page and reflective), gender bias, and a couple living in the same house before marriage (with no hint of impropriety). Romance is clean and swoony with chaste kisses only. Recommended for mature teens and up—you know your kids best.
📚 I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
January 8, 2026
4½ stars
"𝑯𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆𝒅. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒚. 𝑯𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒎 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏. 𝑯𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒔."
This was a perfect start to this new Regency series! I quickly became very invested in all the characters, including side characters that will have their own books.
Andrew is a sweet, loyal friend (and secret lover) to Sophie, and melted my heart over and over. 🩷 I loved how he encouraged and fought with Sophie to go after her dreams, even when no one else did. He adored Sophie exactly who she was.
Sophie is an amazing hard worker, that is so ambitious! She really encouraged me just with life, to chase those dreams and not to care what others will say about you.
I can't wait for the rest in this series now! I highly recommend you check this one out if you're looking for a closed-door, sweet Regency!
*I received an e-ARC copy, all opinions are my own
"𝑯𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆𝒅. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒚. 𝑯𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒎 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏. 𝑯𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒔."
This was a perfect start to this new Regency series! I quickly became very invested in all the characters, including side characters that will have their own books.
Andrew is a sweet, loyal friend (and secret lover) to Sophie, and melted my heart over and over. 🩷 I loved how he encouraged and fought with Sophie to go after her dreams, even when no one else did. He adored Sophie exactly who she was.
Sophie is an amazing hard worker, that is so ambitious! She really encouraged me just with life, to chase those dreams and not to care what others will say about you.
I can't wait for the rest in this series now! I highly recommend you check this one out if you're looking for a closed-door, sweet Regency!
*I received an e-ARC copy, all opinions are my own
January 12, 2026
I’m so excited for a fun and innovative new series. Each book in the set is about a different friend and this group made a wager about who would marry last. The releases are secret, so no one knows until the end who will lose the bet. I enjoyed meeting each man and speculating on who will hold out the longest, but I also savored every moment of Andrew’s and Sophie’s story.
Set in the Regency times, a banker and a mathematician rekindled their childhood friendship through a series of misunderstandings and circumstances, which lead to them pretending at something for mutually beneficial reasons, giving them a second chance at love. What could be more fabulous than this?! I’m all about this type of story
, especially when added to a great cast of characters in unusual situations. I found myself completely charmed by this endearing tale and appreciated every page.
Karen Thornell’s writing style is so engaging and sweet, and her characters fly off the pages in the most vivid of ways. It’s refreshing to see unique occupations for these two solid, strong characters, and even more energizing to watch them soften with unexpected love and attraction.
This is such a satisfying beginning to what is sure to be an amazing series and I’m beyond excited to read about each member of this school-friend group.
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
Set in the Regency times, a banker and a mathematician rekindled their childhood friendship through a series of misunderstandings and circumstances, which lead to them pretending at something for mutually beneficial reasons, giving them a second chance at love. What could be more fabulous than this?! I’m all about this type of story
, especially when added to a great cast of characters in unusual situations. I found myself completely charmed by this endearing tale and appreciated every page.
Karen Thornell’s writing style is so engaging and sweet, and her characters fly off the pages in the most vivid of ways. It’s refreshing to see unique occupations for these two solid, strong characters, and even more energizing to watch them soften with unexpected love and attraction.
This is such a satisfying beginning to what is sure to be an amazing series and I’m beyond excited to read about each member of this school-friend group.
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
January 8, 2026
"One Woman, One Wager, One Chance"
A Fortunate Miscalculation hooked me right from the start. I adored this sweet love story with the friends-to-lovers trope. That's my top pick every time. It kicks off a fresh series called The Gentlemen's Gamble. I'm thrilled about it. Each book opens with a prologue on how the big wager began.
Karen Thornell is a spectacular romance writer. The way you see Andrew and Sophie reconnecting and growing closer made me never want to put this book down. They both are such wonderful characters. Childhood friends who grew up together were torn apart by individual circumstances. Andrew has always loved Sophie, so when they meet up many years later, Andrew can't help but be drawn to her and help her in any way he can.
Sophie stands out in her time. She's smart, loves books, and dreams of science fame. Strong women in Regency romances thrill me. Her parents hated that she didn't act like a lady and a socialite. They preferred her mild sisters who wed and had children. I hated how they treated her. At the same time, it was almost magical the way that Andrew treated her like a Queen. Even though their renewed relationship had a rocky start, it was a joyful experience.
Andrew makes the ideal hero. A real gent through and through. Life tests him too, but he stands by Sophie. He backs her up against her biased boss and horrible parents.
I flew through the pages, and I'd read it again in a heartbeat. It's that fun. I can't wait for more in the series. Who loses the bet? Who weds last among the pals? I'll grab every Karen Thornell book for a sure win.
A Fortunate Miscalculation hooked me right from the start. I adored this sweet love story with the friends-to-lovers trope. That's my top pick every time. It kicks off a fresh series called The Gentlemen's Gamble. I'm thrilled about it. Each book opens with a prologue on how the big wager began.
Karen Thornell is a spectacular romance writer. The way you see Andrew and Sophie reconnecting and growing closer made me never want to put this book down. They both are such wonderful characters. Childhood friends who grew up together were torn apart by individual circumstances. Andrew has always loved Sophie, so when they meet up many years later, Andrew can't help but be drawn to her and help her in any way he can.
Sophie stands out in her time. She's smart, loves books, and dreams of science fame. Strong women in Regency romances thrill me. Her parents hated that she didn't act like a lady and a socialite. They preferred her mild sisters who wed and had children. I hated how they treated her. At the same time, it was almost magical the way that Andrew treated her like a Queen. Even though their renewed relationship had a rocky start, it was a joyful experience.
Andrew makes the ideal hero. A real gent through and through. Life tests him too, but he stands by Sophie. He backs her up against her biased boss and horrible parents.
I flew through the pages, and I'd read it again in a heartbeat. It's that fun. I can't wait for more in the series. Who loses the bet? Who weds last among the pals? I'll grab every Karen Thornell book for a sure win.
January 8, 2026
Such a fun premise for this series! A group of friends have a wager about who will be the last one married. The last one must pay the other six fellows each a sum of 100 pounds.
This is a sweet best friends to more some twist and turns. You will enjoy trying to figure out how this couple can each make their dreams come true.
The story explores the effects of rumors and the place of women and their opportunities during this time period.
This is a sweet best friends to more some twist and turns. You will enjoy trying to figure out how this couple can each make their dreams come true.
The story explores the effects of rumors and the place of women and their opportunities during this time period.
January 5, 2026
This is the first book in the Gentlemen’s Gamble series. This story features Andrew and Sophie. They were childhood friends. Sophie has been away for a few years and Andrew was planning and hoping to pursue her but then heard of her marriage so plans changed. Now Sophie is back in town, and shows up on his doorstep.
I really loved this story! Andrew and Sophie are such great characters! However, Sophie’s parents are horrible. Anyway, I loved how much Andrew helped Sophie. He is such a nice man. And I loved his declaration towards the end. So romantic! Sophie is a go getter, and I loved how she was with Andrew. There was an unexpected trope in this story and I loved it! Overall, a great story and I definitely recommend!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
I really loved this story! Andrew and Sophie are such great characters! However, Sophie’s parents are horrible. Anyway, I loved how much Andrew helped Sophie. He is such a nice man. And I loved his declaration towards the end. So romantic! Sophie is a go getter, and I loved how she was with Andrew. There was an unexpected trope in this story and I loved it! Overall, a great story and I definitely recommend!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
January 11, 2026
"....𝚐𝚊𝚖𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚘𝚛 𝚗𝚘 𝚐𝚊𝚖𝚋𝚕𝚎, 𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚒𝚖𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚎: 𝚊 𝚋𝚕𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚞𝚗𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚌 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚛 𝚐𝚘𝚊𝚕𝚜.”
“𝙲𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚞𝚕, 𝚂𝚘𝚙𝚑𝚒𝚎, 𝚘𝚛 𝙸 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚋𝚞𝚝𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚎. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚊𝚜𝚜 𝚞𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚑.”
𝐎𝐤𝐚𝐲, 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧!!! So swoony, quite the slow burn, but it has to be when you have been pining after a woman for years and now forced proximity is wrecking havoc with those feelings. Loved this. Bring on the friends’ romances!
Andrew has loved Sophie much of his life. So when he and his friends come up with the marriage pact, a race to see who marries, he knew exactly who he wanted to marry. But all his plans are dashed when her parents share she already is married. But if that is the case, why is she showing up at his family home, needing help with a job and needing a place to live?! It is hard enough loving her and knowing she is taken, but living in his home? What is a man to do now?!
These two.... I will not overshare in this review, but let’s just say this romance is worth the wait. And gosh, every small touch, lingering glance, and sweet compliment had me waiting for the moment these two would finally see what their future could really be, and gosh I was totally there for it!
I gave this 4.5 stars rounded up to 5!
I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
“𝙲𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚞𝚕, 𝚂𝚘𝚙𝚑𝚒𝚎, 𝚘𝚛 𝙸 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚋𝚞𝚝𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚎. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚊𝚜𝚜 𝚞𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚑.”
𝐎𝐤𝐚𝐲, 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧!!! So swoony, quite the slow burn, but it has to be when you have been pining after a woman for years and now forced proximity is wrecking havoc with those feelings. Loved this. Bring on the friends’ romances!
Andrew has loved Sophie much of his life. So when he and his friends come up with the marriage pact, a race to see who marries, he knew exactly who he wanted to marry. But all his plans are dashed when her parents share she already is married. But if that is the case, why is she showing up at his family home, needing help with a job and needing a place to live?! It is hard enough loving her and knowing she is taken, but living in his home? What is a man to do now?!
These two.... I will not overshare in this review, but let’s just say this romance is worth the wait. And gosh, every small touch, lingering glance, and sweet compliment had me waiting for the moment these two would finally see what their future could really be, and gosh I was totally there for it!
I gave this 4.5 stars rounded up to 5!
I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
January 9, 2026
After weeks of speculation and anxiously waiting to see which book of The Gentlemen’s Gamble would release first, A Fortunate Miscalculation has finally arrived as book one of the highly anticipated series. And friends let me tell ya—the bar has been set high.
Sophie Renard is an anomaly in 19th century London: a woman determined to make her mark in the world of science with her brilliant mind and forward thinking. When her chance to prove herself is dashed and she is left with no where to turn, Sophie recalls a dear friend from childhood who would certainly come to her aid.
Andrew Langford, the second son of gentleman, has worked hard to make a life for himself. With plans to open a bank in the country, he can’t afford to be associated with scandal. Yet when the childhood friend he hasn’t seen in years shows up on his doorstep in dire straits, he invites potential disaster in as well.
This delightful slow burn romance was the perfect friends to more. Sophie is my favorite type of FMC: independent, driven, passionate about her work. Andrew was a dear and sweet friend that would move heaven and earth to help the woman he had one day hoped to marry.
We were also introduced to the rest of the “gents” and their stories promise to be just as satisfying!
Thank you Karen for the advanced copy, all opinions are my own.
Sophie Renard is an anomaly in 19th century London: a woman determined to make her mark in the world of science with her brilliant mind and forward thinking. When her chance to prove herself is dashed and she is left with no where to turn, Sophie recalls a dear friend from childhood who would certainly come to her aid.
Andrew Langford, the second son of gentleman, has worked hard to make a life for himself. With plans to open a bank in the country, he can’t afford to be associated with scandal. Yet when the childhood friend he hasn’t seen in years shows up on his doorstep in dire straits, he invites potential disaster in as well.
This delightful slow burn romance was the perfect friends to more. Sophie is my favorite type of FMC: independent, driven, passionate about her work. Andrew was a dear and sweet friend that would move heaven and earth to help the woman he had one day hoped to marry.
We were also introduced to the rest of the “gents” and their stories promise to be just as satisfying!
Thank you Karen for the advanced copy, all opinions are my own.
January 6, 2026
Andrew’s childhood love has come back into his life in need and married. Determined to help her and keep his emotions in check is a difficult task.
Sophie is a bluestocking. So much so that she is slightly estranged from her parents and enjoyed living with her grandfather while pursuing an education. She is determined to show her worth through her accomplishments, however she runs into a problem when her would be employer isn’t sure about keeping their end of the employment agreement upon the realization that their qualified candidate is a woman.
Talk about a huge misunderstanding with this story, but not in the annoying way. I rarely like miscommunication in books (or real life!), but the miscommunication surrounding Sophie’s marital status was very understandable and 100% not her fault. I enjoyed the communication that happened as well as the sweet moments between the characters once everything was out in the open. I loved how they each wanted to support each other in their dreams and ambitions for their lives. I truly enjoyed this first book in the series and can’t wait for more!
Sophie is a bluestocking. So much so that she is slightly estranged from her parents and enjoyed living with her grandfather while pursuing an education. She is determined to show her worth through her accomplishments, however she runs into a problem when her would be employer isn’t sure about keeping their end of the employment agreement upon the realization that their qualified candidate is a woman.
Talk about a huge misunderstanding with this story, but not in the annoying way. I rarely like miscommunication in books (or real life!), but the miscommunication surrounding Sophie’s marital status was very understandable and 100% not her fault. I enjoyed the communication that happened as well as the sweet moments between the characters once everything was out in the open. I loved how they each wanted to support each other in their dreams and ambitions for their lives. I truly enjoyed this first book in the series and can’t wait for more!
January 18, 2026
I'm excited for this series, but did not like this first book. If it wasn't kicking off the series, I would have marked it as DNF. There were so many improbable situations, and so much of it seemed so unrealistic. A woman in the regency era expecting her name to be included in articles and journals related to astronomy and mathematics? Faking a marriage and living together? I'm a contemporary romance, yes, but regency? Not likely. I didn't enjoy it, sadly.
January 10, 2026
“No, dear Andrew, that was always you. The calm to my storm.” “Hardly. I think I just got swept up in the tempest.”
What a fantastic start to this multi-author series! I loved every moment of this second-chance romance with friends to lovers, lots of witty banter, and swoony romace. I loved the twists and little surprises. And the wager! I loved meeting all of the gentlemen and getting a tiny glimpse of their personalities.
Andrew is honorable, thoughtful, and completely undone by the woman he never stopped loving. His growth and realization that his worth had nothing to do with his accomplishments was fantastic. Sophie is brilliant, determined, and caring. Her bravery and strength in her mainly male occupation was incredible. I enjoyed their “miscommunication”, witty, flirty banter, and quiet times together. There are so many sweet and romantic moments as their love blossoms from their childhood friendship. I loved that Andrew and Sophie only saw the best in each other and encouraged and supported one another with all that they were. They both fought for their place in the world and yet realized those places paled in light of their love.
Sophie meeting all of Andrew’s friends was one of my favorite parts of the story. I cannot wait to read the rest of the Gentlemen’s stories!
A few more quotes:
“My gender has no bearing on my intelligence, Mr. Whitcomb,” Sophie said.
“Why are you looking at me in that way?”
“I was just thinking about how handsome you are. How lucky I am to have captured myself such a pretty husband.”
“Go on then, Charles, find your own bookish woman. This one is taken.”
“Devil take it,” he muttered. Sophie laughed. “Good morning to you, too?” “Do not smile at me like that.” “I am just smiling, Andrew.”“I did not sleep a single minute, Sophie. My self-restraint is essentially nonexistent.”
What a fantastic start to this multi-author series! I loved every moment of this second-chance romance with friends to lovers, lots of witty banter, and swoony romace. I loved the twists and little surprises. And the wager! I loved meeting all of the gentlemen and getting a tiny glimpse of their personalities.
Andrew is honorable, thoughtful, and completely undone by the woman he never stopped loving. His growth and realization that his worth had nothing to do with his accomplishments was fantastic. Sophie is brilliant, determined, and caring. Her bravery and strength in her mainly male occupation was incredible. I enjoyed their “miscommunication”, witty, flirty banter, and quiet times together. There are so many sweet and romantic moments as their love blossoms from their childhood friendship. I loved that Andrew and Sophie only saw the best in each other and encouraged and supported one another with all that they were. They both fought for their place in the world and yet realized those places paled in light of their love.
Sophie meeting all of Andrew’s friends was one of my favorite parts of the story. I cannot wait to read the rest of the Gentlemen’s stories!
A few more quotes:
“My gender has no bearing on my intelligence, Mr. Whitcomb,” Sophie said.
“Why are you looking at me in that way?”
“I was just thinking about how handsome you are. How lucky I am to have captured myself such a pretty husband.”
“Go on then, Charles, find your own bookish woman. This one is taken.”
“Devil take it,” he muttered. Sophie laughed. “Good morning to you, too?” “Do not smile at me like that.” “I am just smiling, Andrew.”“I did not sleep a single minute, Sophie. My self-restraint is essentially nonexistent.”
January 14, 2026
Seven friends. One wager. Who will be the last to be married? This is a super fun premise and I can't wait to see who has to pay £100 to each of his friends.
Oh my, where do I start? This is a new favorite by Karen Thornell; I didn't want to stop reading, even to cook dinner. Thankfully, it's just my husband and me, and he won't starve if dinner's late.
Andrew Langford is exactly the kind of hero I love—honorable to his core, steady, and trying very hard to do the right thing, even when his heart has other ideas. Of course, everything gets complicated when Sophie Renard, the woman he once loved, shows up at his door needing help.
Sophie is a wonderful heroine and I adored her! I loved her intelligence, drive, and how she was determined to make her way in the world through her love of mathematics and astronomy. When she gives up her teaching position for a role she’s worked toward for years—only to have it suddenly withdrawn—her desperation in turning to Andrew made perfect sense, and it was impossible not to root for her.
I'm not a fan of friends-to-lovers, but this is also a second-chance romance, as circumstances years ago kept Andrew and Sophie apart, so he never got the chance to ask her to marry him. Andrew is completely taken with Sophie and I couldn't wait for her to admit to herself that her feelings for him were more than friendly. Who can resist a man who isn't afraid or ashamed to admit how he feels about the woman he loves?
There's so much I loved about this book: dual POV, forced proximity, bluestocking heroine, the comedic moments of them avoiding Mrs. Haverwick, Sophie taking lunch to Andrew, the kiss and the epilogue! If you enjoy slow-burn second-chance romance, this one is a must-read.
I received a digital copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own.
Oh my, where do I start? This is a new favorite by Karen Thornell; I didn't want to stop reading, even to cook dinner. Thankfully, it's just my husband and me, and he won't starve if dinner's late.
Andrew Langford is exactly the kind of hero I love—honorable to his core, steady, and trying very hard to do the right thing, even when his heart has other ideas. Of course, everything gets complicated when Sophie Renard, the woman he once loved, shows up at his door needing help.
Sophie is a wonderful heroine and I adored her! I loved her intelligence, drive, and how she was determined to make her way in the world through her love of mathematics and astronomy. When she gives up her teaching position for a role she’s worked toward for years—only to have it suddenly withdrawn—her desperation in turning to Andrew made perfect sense, and it was impossible not to root for her.
I'm not a fan of friends-to-lovers, but this is also a second-chance romance, as circumstances years ago kept Andrew and Sophie apart, so he never got the chance to ask her to marry him. Andrew is completely taken with Sophie and I couldn't wait for her to admit to herself that her feelings for him were more than friendly. Who can resist a man who isn't afraid or ashamed to admit how he feels about the woman he loves?
There's so much I loved about this book: dual POV, forced proximity, bluestocking heroine, the comedic moments of them avoiding Mrs. Haverwick, Sophie taking lunch to Andrew, the kiss and the epilogue! If you enjoy slow-burn second-chance romance, this one is a must-read.
I received a digital copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own.
January 8, 2026
“He made her feel calm in the face of everything uncertain. He was an anchor in her stormy seas.”
Oh my goodness I just adored this regency romance! It’s the first in the Gentlemen’s Gamble series & I can’t wait to read more in this series. It’s such a fun premise… 7 friends make a wager on who will marry last. The last one to marry will pay each of the others a 100 pounds. Years later Andrew receives a letter from one of his friends informing him of his marriage & reminding him of the wager. The gauntlet has been thrown & the only woman Andrew has ever wanted to marry is out of his reach. Until one day Sophie shows up on his doorstep in need of help. I fell in love with Andrew and Sophie. They both have dreams for their future. Andrew is a second son & is working as a banker hoping to make something of himself. Sophie is a bluestocking & brilliant. She is a mathematician/calculator & is trying to make a difference and prove herself in a man’s world. I love how they support each other in their dreams. Its a best friends to more with a few twists & turns. It’s full of unrequited love, friendship & themes of self worth. It’s sweet & swoony and had me staying up late to finish. 🫶🏼
"He will soon see your worth. It is impossible not to."
“How quickly he'd slipped behind her defenses, and her entirely unaware.”
Oh my goodness I just adored this regency romance! It’s the first in the Gentlemen’s Gamble series & I can’t wait to read more in this series. It’s such a fun premise… 7 friends make a wager on who will marry last. The last one to marry will pay each of the others a 100 pounds. Years later Andrew receives a letter from one of his friends informing him of his marriage & reminding him of the wager. The gauntlet has been thrown & the only woman Andrew has ever wanted to marry is out of his reach. Until one day Sophie shows up on his doorstep in need of help. I fell in love with Andrew and Sophie. They both have dreams for their future. Andrew is a second son & is working as a banker hoping to make something of himself. Sophie is a bluestocking & brilliant. She is a mathematician/calculator & is trying to make a difference and prove herself in a man’s world. I love how they support each other in their dreams. Its a best friends to more with a few twists & turns. It’s full of unrequited love, friendship & themes of self worth. It’s sweet & swoony and had me staying up late to finish. 🫶🏼
"He will soon see your worth. It is impossible not to."
“How quickly he'd slipped behind her defenses, and her entirely unaware.”
January 10, 2026
4.75⭐️ rounded up.
A wager. A woman he never forgot. And one “fortunate miscalculation” that changes everything.
If you love slow-burn Regency romance, brilliant heroines, and second-chance love that aches in the best way — let me introduce you to your next obsession:
A Fortunate Miscalculation by Karen Thornell — book one in The Gentleman’s Gamble series.
Andrew Langford is honorable, steady, and entirely unprepared for the woman he once loved to appear on his doorstep… on the exact day a reckless youthful wager threatens to cost him his fortune.
Sophie Renard is brilliant, determined, and fighting for the mathematics career she has worked six years to earn — a future now slipping through her fingers.
Forced into close proximity, old feelings reignite, secrets unravel, and both must decide what they’re willing to risk… for love.
This story is tender, intelligent, emotionally rich, and beautifully clean — the kind of romance that lingers long after the last page.
🔥Tropes you’ll love:
• Second-chance romance
• Pining hero
• Brilliant heroine
• Forced proximity
• Friends to lovers
• Clean Regency romance
• Slow burn with real emotional weight
🫶🏽This series is already shaping up to be a bookish comfort obsession, and this first installment is a soft, swoony, intelligent start that completely stole my heart. 🤍
A wager. A woman he never forgot. And one “fortunate miscalculation” that changes everything.
If you love slow-burn Regency romance, brilliant heroines, and second-chance love that aches in the best way — let me introduce you to your next obsession:
A Fortunate Miscalculation by Karen Thornell — book one in The Gentleman’s Gamble series.
Andrew Langford is honorable, steady, and entirely unprepared for the woman he once loved to appear on his doorstep… on the exact day a reckless youthful wager threatens to cost him his fortune.
Sophie Renard is brilliant, determined, and fighting for the mathematics career she has worked six years to earn — a future now slipping through her fingers.
Forced into close proximity, old feelings reignite, secrets unravel, and both must decide what they’re willing to risk… for love.
This story is tender, intelligent, emotionally rich, and beautifully clean — the kind of romance that lingers long after the last page.
🔥Tropes you’ll love:
• Second-chance romance
• Pining hero
• Brilliant heroine
• Forced proximity
• Friends to lovers
• Clean Regency romance
• Slow burn with real emotional weight
🫶🏽This series is already shaping up to be a bookish comfort obsession, and this first installment is a soft, swoony, intelligent start that completely stole my heart. 🤍
January 14, 2026
This is the first in The Gentlemen's Gamble series. It is a series about 7 male friends that have a life threatening event take place and they make a wager on who will be the last to marry.
This book kicks off the story with a bang! I loved it so much. There's not much inloke more than a super smart female heroine, especially in STEM. Put her in the Regency period, and I'm all in! Then pair her with the sweetest, yet strong male lead... You've captured my heart.
This was such a good book. I enjoyed getting to see the other male friends pop in and out of this story. It helps build anticipation for the books to come. I am going to go out on a limb and say this series will be best read in order so as to follow the progression of the wager in real time. (Although I had an ARC copy of book 2 before this one was released and I couldn't wait to read it.) spoiler alert... That one is fabulous also!
This book kicks off the story with a bang! I loved it so much. There's not much inloke more than a super smart female heroine, especially in STEM. Put her in the Regency period, and I'm all in! Then pair her with the sweetest, yet strong male lead... You've captured my heart.
This was such a good book. I enjoyed getting to see the other male friends pop in and out of this story. It helps build anticipation for the books to come. I am going to go out on a limb and say this series will be best read in order so as to follow the progression of the wager in real time. (Although I had an ARC copy of book 2 before this one was released and I couldn't wait to read it.) spoiler alert... That one is fabulous also!
January 12, 2026
A Fortunate Miscalculation by Karen Thornell is the first book in The Gentlemen’s Gamble Series.
What happens when you have 7 friends on a ship on the English Channel in the middle of a storm and they all are convinced they might actually die? They form a wager of course (such an early 20's male move). The wager? Whomever marries last owes the others £600. Andrew, in love with his childhood friend, Sophie, thinks, “Why not? I’m in love with her! I can get married before you lots!” He is horribly mistaken when he goes to court her and propose marriage. She’s already married! Years later his first love shows up on his doorstop asking for help. Even if she is married, he can’t stop himself from helping the one who got away.
Andrew Langford (The Anchor): Andrew suffers from second son syndrome. He feels like he’s never good enough, especially after loosing Sophie. He works in a bank and meticulously saves to one day own his own estate. And then his life get turned upside down when Sophie Renard shows up on his door step looking for help. Is the universe trying to torture him? Yes.
As a male lead Andrew is honest, straight forward, and will do anything to help Sophie. He’s a simp for Sophie. Which also means he is her biggest supporter and he will want throw down if someone makes her feel bad. Andrew is golden retriever energy. He’s a walking green flag. Can he be real please? PLEASE?
Clearly I loved his character. His inner monologue is a joy. He PINES for Sophie, which a causes readers to have great sympathy for this sweet bean. Even better, he is a man of action and doesn’t sit around doing nothing. When he wants something, he goes for it, even if he may get hurt in the end.
Sophie Renard (The Scholar): Sophie is a woman trying to prove herself in a man’s world. With little support, she studied, gained an education, and is trying to work on a important math project. Except... she’s a woman! Who cares that she’s a woman? Men. Men care. Frustrated she goes to Andrew for a place to stay until she can convince her potential employer to hire her. Sophie is fiercely independent and is always fighting to prove herself. She chases her dreams and by golly she will achieve it! But she also suffers from doubting herself and wondering if she is good enough. This causes her to be stubborn and blind to what is right in front of her. As the book progresses, Andrew, the person she one saw as her best friend, is starting to seem less like a friend and more as someone who supports her dreams and tells her repeatedly how wonderful she is.
Overall i LOVED this book. It’s swoony and the chemistry between Andrew and Sophie is adorable. Karen does a great job in writing their interactions in such a way that really makes you believe Andrew and Sophie were childhood friends. When I read this book I experience a full range of emotions: giddy, squealing, eye rolling, wanting to reach through my phone screen and shake certain characters... you know, normal emotions when you read a romance book. It’s a fun book that makes you wanting to re-read scenes and enjoy them over and over again.
Tropes:
Golden Retriever Male Lead
STEM Female Lead
Childhood Friends
Forced Proximity
Friends to Lovers
Second Chance Romance
He Falls First
Quotes:
"Your sisters?" He pushed his meat to teh side of the plate, nearer to the spinach.
"Are well, I am sure."
"And... your husband?" he asked the question innocently enough, spearing a piece of carrot as he did.
Her responding expressive was curiously dry, "Ever elusive."
What in the blazes did that mean?
Something akin to a growl sounded in the back of his thoat. he shouldn't have left her.
“You intended to walk to my home?”
“It’s only just above a mile or two.”
“It is nearly six miles by road, Sophie. And it would have grown dark, and cold, and --” Blast it all, why could this woman not have the smallest measure of self-preservation? She was going to kill him if she continued on in this matter.
She scanned the board a last time, though she knew it was futile. How quickly he’d slipped behind her defenses, and her entirely unaware. Was that a metaphor for her life? Because of a sudden, she did not think she could imagine a life without Andrew.
“I will not be the reason that your vision for your future has been shattered beyond repair...”
Something inside him broke...
“Shatter my future?... Ruin my dreams. You are my dream, Sophie.”
What happens when you have 7 friends on a ship on the English Channel in the middle of a storm and they all are convinced they might actually die? They form a wager of course (such an early 20's male move). The wager? Whomever marries last owes the others £600. Andrew, in love with his childhood friend, Sophie, thinks, “Why not? I’m in love with her! I can get married before you lots!” He is horribly mistaken when he goes to court her and propose marriage. She’s already married! Years later his first love shows up on his doorstop asking for help. Even if she is married, he can’t stop himself from helping the one who got away.
Andrew Langford (The Anchor): Andrew suffers from second son syndrome. He feels like he’s never good enough, especially after loosing Sophie. He works in a bank and meticulously saves to one day own his own estate. And then his life get turned upside down when Sophie Renard shows up on his door step looking for help. Is the universe trying to torture him? Yes.
As a male lead Andrew is honest, straight forward, and will do anything to help Sophie. He’s a simp for Sophie. Which also means he is her biggest supporter and he will want throw down if someone makes her feel bad. Andrew is golden retriever energy. He’s a walking green flag. Can he be real please? PLEASE?
Clearly I loved his character. His inner monologue is a joy. He PINES for Sophie, which a causes readers to have great sympathy for this sweet bean. Even better, he is a man of action and doesn’t sit around doing nothing. When he wants something, he goes for it, even if he may get hurt in the end.
Sophie Renard (The Scholar): Sophie is a woman trying to prove herself in a man’s world. With little support, she studied, gained an education, and is trying to work on a important math project. Except... she’s a woman! Who cares that she’s a woman? Men. Men care. Frustrated she goes to Andrew for a place to stay until she can convince her potential employer to hire her. Sophie is fiercely independent and is always fighting to prove herself. She chases her dreams and by golly she will achieve it! But she also suffers from doubting herself and wondering if she is good enough. This causes her to be stubborn and blind to what is right in front of her. As the book progresses, Andrew, the person she one saw as her best friend, is starting to seem less like a friend and more as someone who supports her dreams and tells her repeatedly how wonderful she is.
Overall i LOVED this book. It’s swoony and the chemistry between Andrew and Sophie is adorable. Karen does a great job in writing their interactions in such a way that really makes you believe Andrew and Sophie were childhood friends. When I read this book I experience a full range of emotions: giddy, squealing, eye rolling, wanting to reach through my phone screen and shake certain characters... you know, normal emotions when you read a romance book. It’s a fun book that makes you wanting to re-read scenes and enjoy them over and over again.
Tropes:
Golden Retriever Male Lead
STEM Female Lead
Childhood Friends
Forced Proximity
Friends to Lovers
Second Chance Romance
He Falls First
Quotes:
"Your sisters?" He pushed his meat to teh side of the plate, nearer to the spinach.
"Are well, I am sure."
"And... your husband?" he asked the question innocently enough, spearing a piece of carrot as he did.
Her responding expressive was curiously dry, "Ever elusive."
What in the blazes did that mean?
Something akin to a growl sounded in the back of his thoat. he shouldn't have left her.
“You intended to walk to my home?”
“It’s only just above a mile or two.”
“It is nearly six miles by road, Sophie. And it would have grown dark, and cold, and --” Blast it all, why could this woman not have the smallest measure of self-preservation? She was going to kill him if she continued on in this matter.
She scanned the board a last time, though she knew it was futile. How quickly he’d slipped behind her defenses, and her entirely unaware. Was that a metaphor for her life? Because of a sudden, she did not think she could imagine a life without Andrew.
“I will not be the reason that your vision for your future has been shattered beyond repair...”
Something inside him broke...
“Shatter my future?... Ruin my dreams. You are my dream, Sophie.”
January 8, 2026
What a fabulous start to the highly anticipated Gentlemen’s Gamble series! I absolutely loved A Fortunate Miscalculation! It’s definitely a new favorite from Karen Thornell that had me grinning, swooning, & waiting with bated breath to see how things would work out. It’s a witty, friends to more, he falls first, unrequited love romance with a surprise twist in the middle.
Darling Andrew Langford makes a wager with his friends that whoever marries last will have to pay the others 100 pounds each. Thinking he’ll easily convince his childhood love Sophie to marry him, he agrees. Unfortunately, when he arrives home, he learns Sophie’s married.
Now five years later, Andrew’s shocked when Sophie shows up on his doorstep needing a place to stay. Ever the gentleman, he agrees until she can find another situation. Sophie’s presence only reminds him of his unrequited love for her, but where’s her husband?
Bluestocking Sophie Renard is thrilled to accept a position as a computer for the prestigious Whitcomb Astronomy Endeavor in London & put her brilliant mathematical skills to use. Unfortunately, they weren’t expecting a woman. While she tries to convince Mr. Whitcomb to give her a chance, Sophie’s forced to find a place to stay. Andrew’s family home comes to mind & there’s where this delightful, swoonworthy romance takes many unexpected turns.
Loved this book! The miscommunication is hilarious & so well done. Andrew’s perplexed about her marital status, & Sophie’s vague answers only compound the confusion. Add to this a busybody from their mutual hometown, Sophie’s overbearing parents, & Mr. Whitcomb’s requirements, & it makes for one delightfully complex, clever romance.
I adored Andrew & Sophie! Their genuine friendship & championing of each other warmed my heart. Poor Andrew’s pined for Sophie for years & her close proximity doesn’t make things easy. Though Sophie’s always loved Andrew as a friend, I enjoyed seeing those romantic feelings develop. I also enjoyed the history & learning about “computers.” Some of my favorite moments involve a rain soaked lunch delivery, the dog & evading Mrs. Haverwick, Andrew defending Sophie, playing chess, the ring, Andrew’s artistic talent, & the kiss! I also loved meeting all the Gentlemen featured in this series & can’t wait to read their stories!
Highest of recommendations & now I’m dying to read the whole series! I received an advanced copy from the author but also purchased in Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are my own & provided voluntarily.
Darling Andrew Langford makes a wager with his friends that whoever marries last will have to pay the others 100 pounds each. Thinking he’ll easily convince his childhood love Sophie to marry him, he agrees. Unfortunately, when he arrives home, he learns Sophie’s married.
Now five years later, Andrew’s shocked when Sophie shows up on his doorstep needing a place to stay. Ever the gentleman, he agrees until she can find another situation. Sophie’s presence only reminds him of his unrequited love for her, but where’s her husband?
Bluestocking Sophie Renard is thrilled to accept a position as a computer for the prestigious Whitcomb Astronomy Endeavor in London & put her brilliant mathematical skills to use. Unfortunately, they weren’t expecting a woman. While she tries to convince Mr. Whitcomb to give her a chance, Sophie’s forced to find a place to stay. Andrew’s family home comes to mind & there’s where this delightful, swoonworthy romance takes many unexpected turns.
Loved this book! The miscommunication is hilarious & so well done. Andrew’s perplexed about her marital status, & Sophie’s vague answers only compound the confusion. Add to this a busybody from their mutual hometown, Sophie’s overbearing parents, & Mr. Whitcomb’s requirements, & it makes for one delightfully complex, clever romance.
I adored Andrew & Sophie! Their genuine friendship & championing of each other warmed my heart. Poor Andrew’s pined for Sophie for years & her close proximity doesn’t make things easy. Though Sophie’s always loved Andrew as a friend, I enjoyed seeing those romantic feelings develop. I also enjoyed the history & learning about “computers.” Some of my favorite moments involve a rain soaked lunch delivery, the dog & evading Mrs. Haverwick, Andrew defending Sophie, playing chess, the ring, Andrew’s artistic talent, & the kiss! I also loved meeting all the Gentlemen featured in this series & can’t wait to read their stories!
Highest of recommendations & now I’m dying to read the whole series! I received an advanced copy from the author but also purchased in Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are my own & provided voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Karen has absolutely delivered an amazing opening to this unique new series where the release dates for each book are a secret!
Seven Gentlemen. One Reckless Wager. A Fortune in Play—and their Hearts on the Line.
First, the prologue introducing us to these seven men is fantastic! Karen has written it so well, we get a peek at the personalities of each of these men. One of my favorite scenes in the book is seeing them six years later in Andrew’s library. Getting another glimpse of who these men are after the wager is such a delight! My thinking cap is on for who is going to be next in the series…
Second, the romance! Oh, my word, Karen knows how to write a love story! This friends-to-more, forced-proximity tale is brimming with tension and witty banter.
Andrew and Sophie have been friends since childhood, but time and distance have pulled them apart. Andrew has spent years educating and working to open his own bank, with the sole dream of marrying Sophie—only to learn she has married someone else. When she unexpectedly appears on his doorstep, he is forced to battle the line between his honor as a gentleman and his unwavering desire for a woman he believes is off-limits.
Sophie is an incredible FMC—strong, brilliant, intelligent, and resilient. After a mathematics employment offer falls through, she turns to the only person she has ever truly relied on to provide a place to stay until she can devise a plan for her employment. I absolutely love the unique twists this story contains. The inner turmoil Andrew has with his honor as a gentleman and his desire for Sophie. Sophie’s strength in facing her employer, society, and her parents. This book is page turner that I could not put down. I just had to see this journey through without interruptions!!
This story is an absolute must-read for fans of Regency romance, with forced proximity, a heartfelt friends-to-lovers arc, and a brilliantly strong heroine, and undeniable yearning.
(I also really enjoyed learning about “Calculators” in the Regency period. It was fascinating to read the author notes and learn more about how accurate Sophie’s employment is in the story. Don’t miss out on reading until the very last page of the book.)
I received an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Seven Gentlemen. One Reckless Wager. A Fortune in Play—and their Hearts on the Line.
First, the prologue introducing us to these seven men is fantastic! Karen has written it so well, we get a peek at the personalities of each of these men. One of my favorite scenes in the book is seeing them six years later in Andrew’s library. Getting another glimpse of who these men are after the wager is such a delight! My thinking cap is on for who is going to be next in the series…
Second, the romance! Oh, my word, Karen knows how to write a love story! This friends-to-more, forced-proximity tale is brimming with tension and witty banter.
Andrew and Sophie have been friends since childhood, but time and distance have pulled them apart. Andrew has spent years educating and working to open his own bank, with the sole dream of marrying Sophie—only to learn she has married someone else. When she unexpectedly appears on his doorstep, he is forced to battle the line between his honor as a gentleman and his unwavering desire for a woman he believes is off-limits.
Sophie is an incredible FMC—strong, brilliant, intelligent, and resilient. After a mathematics employment offer falls through, she turns to the only person she has ever truly relied on to provide a place to stay until she can devise a plan for her employment. I absolutely love the unique twists this story contains. The inner turmoil Andrew has with his honor as a gentleman and his desire for Sophie. Sophie’s strength in facing her employer, society, and her parents. This book is page turner that I could not put down. I just had to see this journey through without interruptions!!
This story is an absolute must-read for fans of Regency romance, with forced proximity, a heartfelt friends-to-lovers arc, and a brilliantly strong heroine, and undeniable yearning.
(I also really enjoyed learning about “Calculators” in the Regency period. It was fascinating to read the author notes and learn more about how accurate Sophie’s employment is in the story. Don’t miss out on reading until the very last page of the book.)
I received an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 10, 2026
Such a sweet romance!
Andrew Langford is determined to be honorable when Sophie Renard, the woman he once loved, seeks his help just as an old wager puts his fortune at risk. Sophie faces professional ruin after losing a mathematics position and has no one else to turn to.
As Andrew and Sophie grow close again, buried feelings resurface, and both must decide what they are willing to risk for love and their futures.
What you'll love:
Regency era (w/ Victorian vibes)
dual pov
friends to lovers
heroine in STEM
banker MMC
the rain soaked lunch
reunited with old crush
forced proximity
the hilarious wager
The idea behind this series, a group of friends who made a wager about who would be married last, is so fantastic! I loved diving into this first story full of second chances, misunderstandings (not the main character's faults), unexpected twists, and sweet romance.
I especially enjoyed the unique roles of both Andrew and Sophie. I can’t recall ever reading a Regency romance with a banker as the hero, and Sophie’s passion for astronomy and mathematics was both refreshing and intriguing. Their rekindled friendship is filled with fun and tender moments that slowly blossom into something truly sweet and oh, so swoony. I adore a hero who is determined to show the woman he loves exactly how he feels!
Adding to the fun, this series has a secret release order, so no one knows which friend will lose the bet until the very end...and I can’t wait to read them all! If you’re a fan of sweet historical romance with engaging characters and heartfelt emotion, this book is a wonderful place to start. 4.5 stars
Content: kisses only, toxic parents, living together before marriage (no hints of anything improper)
I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.
Andrew Langford is determined to be honorable when Sophie Renard, the woman he once loved, seeks his help just as an old wager puts his fortune at risk. Sophie faces professional ruin after losing a mathematics position and has no one else to turn to.
As Andrew and Sophie grow close again, buried feelings resurface, and both must decide what they are willing to risk for love and their futures.
What you'll love:
Regency era (w/ Victorian vibes)
dual pov
friends to lovers
heroine in STEM
banker MMC
the rain soaked lunch
reunited with old crush
forced proximity
the hilarious wager
The idea behind this series, a group of friends who made a wager about who would be married last, is so fantastic! I loved diving into this first story full of second chances, misunderstandings (not the main character's faults), unexpected twists, and sweet romance.
I especially enjoyed the unique roles of both Andrew and Sophie. I can’t recall ever reading a Regency romance with a banker as the hero, and Sophie’s passion for astronomy and mathematics was both refreshing and intriguing. Their rekindled friendship is filled with fun and tender moments that slowly blossom into something truly sweet and oh, so swoony. I adore a hero who is determined to show the woman he loves exactly how he feels!
Adding to the fun, this series has a secret release order, so no one knows which friend will lose the bet until the very end...and I can’t wait to read them all! If you’re a fan of sweet historical romance with engaging characters and heartfelt emotion, this book is a wonderful place to start. 4.5 stars
Content: kisses only, toxic parents, living together before marriage (no hints of anything improper)
I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was so incredibly lovely! Andrew has been in love with Sophie since childhood, she was the one he thought of when the wager was started. To his dismay, he discovered she was married and out of reach once he was ready to marry. Imagine the surprise, when she shows up at his door needing help years later.
Seeing Andrew continue to love Sophie in every situation was so delightful. Seeing Sophie fall in love with Andrew absolutely gave me butterflies. The support they gave each other was so solid, especially when plans had to change.
Favorite moments:
-Andrew rescuing Sophie when she was leaving her home.
-Sophie helping Andrew manage his schedule.
-that first lunch at the bank
-their star gazing evening and Sophie’s enthusiasm.
-their first kiss
-Andrew’s father who was super supportive.
Favorite quotes:
With her, he’d never felt like a second tier or like he had to be something he was not.
Andrew’s hand did not move, however. It settled across the back of her chair as it had across the bench the night before, somehow both comforting and distracting. But not the sort of distraction that she wished to remove. A handful of missed words from Gompertz might be worth the sensation of warmth that came from his palm.
“Shatter my future?” he very nearly growled. “Ruin my dreams? You are my dream, Sophie. You are the future that was shattered when I heard you were married. Your arrival on my doorstep changed my life, yes, but not in this negative light you paint. You think I do not see how far out of my reach you are? You think I do not know how I’ve resigned myself to a life of unrequited love by marrying you? That is the only concession I have had to make—and I would do it time and again if it meant sharing a life with you—being with you forever.”
Seeing Andrew continue to love Sophie in every situation was so delightful. Seeing Sophie fall in love with Andrew absolutely gave me butterflies. The support they gave each other was so solid, especially when plans had to change.
Favorite moments:
-Andrew rescuing Sophie when she was leaving her home.
-Sophie helping Andrew manage his schedule.
-that first lunch at the bank
-their star gazing evening and Sophie’s enthusiasm.
-their first kiss
-Andrew’s father who was super supportive.
Favorite quotes:
With her, he’d never felt like a second tier or like he had to be something he was not.
Andrew’s hand did not move, however. It settled across the back of her chair as it had across the bench the night before, somehow both comforting and distracting. But not the sort of distraction that she wished to remove. A handful of missed words from Gompertz might be worth the sensation of warmth that came from his palm.
“Shatter my future?” he very nearly growled. “Ruin my dreams? You are my dream, Sophie. You are the future that was shattered when I heard you were married. Your arrival on my doorstep changed my life, yes, but not in this negative light you paint. You think I do not see how far out of my reach you are? You think I do not know how I’ve resigned myself to a life of unrequited love by marrying you? That is the only concession I have had to make—and I would do it time and again if it meant sharing a life with you—being with you forever.”
January 7, 2026
Sophie Renard is a mathematician applying for a prestigious position with the Whitcomb project who will be calculating astronomical patterns!! She is a disappointment to her parents and trying to prove herself! I absolutely adored Sophie!! She is so positive despite her circumstances and she is so intelligent and witty!!
Andrew Langford is a second born son trying to find his way in the world. He is a banker and basically content in where his life is headed. That is until Sophie, his best friend from childhood, shows up at his door unexpectedly seeking shelter!
He thought his heart was over her but boy was he wrong!!!
Parts I loved:
💫Sophie delivering lunch
💫The proposal
💫Andrew walking Sophie to work
💫Andrew's friends coming over
💫Sophie explaining astronomy to Andrew
💫Chess
💫Sophie's parents showing up
💫THAT! KISS!
I adored the banter between Andrew and Sophie! They were always making each other laugh and comforting each other through their humor and memories! They just felt like a cute couple I could just turn into a blanket and cuddle under they were so cozy! (Strange description I know, but I MEAN IT!)
Andrew was so supportive of Sophie and her passions and desires, and I love the return support that Sophie gave to Andrew!
Sophie explaining astronomy and her calculations to Andrew just absolutely made me melt, it reminded me of just sitting and listening to my husband talk about his passions and how I fall deeper for him when I do!
The way these two fell for each other HARD was just the sweetest and I cannot wait to hopefully see more of Andrew and Sophie in coming books!
Getting a glimpse into the friendship between Andrew's friends just got me even more excited for more to come in this series!!
Andrew Langford is a second born son trying to find his way in the world. He is a banker and basically content in where his life is headed. That is until Sophie, his best friend from childhood, shows up at his door unexpectedly seeking shelter!
He thought his heart was over her but boy was he wrong!!!
Parts I loved:
💫Sophie delivering lunch
💫The proposal
💫Andrew walking Sophie to work
💫Andrew's friends coming over
💫Sophie explaining astronomy to Andrew
💫Chess
💫Sophie's parents showing up
💫THAT! KISS!
I adored the banter between Andrew and Sophie! They were always making each other laugh and comforting each other through their humor and memories! They just felt like a cute couple I could just turn into a blanket and cuddle under they were so cozy! (Strange description I know, but I MEAN IT!)
Andrew was so supportive of Sophie and her passions and desires, and I love the return support that Sophie gave to Andrew!
Sophie explaining astronomy and her calculations to Andrew just absolutely made me melt, it reminded me of just sitting and listening to my husband talk about his passions and how I fall deeper for him when I do!
The way these two fell for each other HARD was just the sweetest and I cannot wait to hopefully see more of Andrew and Sophie in coming books!
Getting a glimpse into the friendship between Andrew's friends just got me even more excited for more to come in this series!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A Fortunate Miscalculation
(The Gentlemen’s Gamble Book 1)
by: Karen Thornell
@authorkarenthornell
••I give 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~A wager. An inconvenient love. A fortunate miscalculation that changes everything…
“You need not prove yourself to anyone.”
-My friends, A Fortunate Miscalculation by Karen Thornell is such a charming Regency romance that delightfully blends wit, warmth, layers, and second-chance love with effortless grace. Andrew and Sophie’s reunion is tender and emotionally satisfying, enriched by the clever wager that adds both urgency and dear humor to the story. With its clean romance and heartfelt character growth, this dear book is a delightful treat for any and every reader who enjoys swoony, thoughtful historical love stories. I simply adored this story and happily look forward to more to come within this dear series. Worth the read, absolutely!📚🩷👌💯
•Content: No language, no violence or danger, some drinking/port, some sexism regarding gender/employment, some feelings of self-doubt, loss, not being enough, toxic/overbearing parents, a couple living in the same house before marriage (with no hint of impropriety), death of loved one (in past; mentioned in page), kisses only.
-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
“He made her feel calm in the face of everything uncertain. He was an anchor in her stormy seas.”
#afortunatemiscalculation
“I love your kisses. But I love you more.”
#thegentlemensgamble
“For all intents and purposes. I go where you go.”
#authorkarenthornell
“Bless Andrew for saving her future. For improving it.”
#allaboutthebestreads
(The Gentlemen’s Gamble Book 1)
by: Karen Thornell
@authorkarenthornell
••I give 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~A wager. An inconvenient love. A fortunate miscalculation that changes everything…
“You need not prove yourself to anyone.”
-My friends, A Fortunate Miscalculation by Karen Thornell is such a charming Regency romance that delightfully blends wit, warmth, layers, and second-chance love with effortless grace. Andrew and Sophie’s reunion is tender and emotionally satisfying, enriched by the clever wager that adds both urgency and dear humor to the story. With its clean romance and heartfelt character growth, this dear book is a delightful treat for any and every reader who enjoys swoony, thoughtful historical love stories. I simply adored this story and happily look forward to more to come within this dear series. Worth the read, absolutely!📚🩷👌💯
•Content: No language, no violence or danger, some drinking/port, some sexism regarding gender/employment, some feelings of self-doubt, loss, not being enough, toxic/overbearing parents, a couple living in the same house before marriage (with no hint of impropriety), death of loved one (in past; mentioned in page), kisses only.
-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
“He made her feel calm in the face of everything uncertain. He was an anchor in her stormy seas.”
#afortunatemiscalculation
“I love your kisses. But I love you more.”
#thegentlemensgamble
“For all intents and purposes. I go where you go.”
#authorkarenthornell
“Bless Andrew for saving her future. For improving it.”
#allaboutthebestreads
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
I'm sure this series will be a lot of fun because I already like this group of friends.
This was a sweet story where the characters reunite and help each other overcome their difficulties and insecurities.
I liked seeing Sophie as a mathematician determined to prove that women could also be mathematicians at that time.
This book has surprises and unexpected twists throughout the story, and I enjoyed them.
You'll have to read it to find out...
Andrew Langford has his next steps in life perfectly planned, but everything changes when the woman he loved and wanted to marry shows up at his door.
Now he has to keep his distance even though his old feelings are resurfacing.
Sophie Renard is determined to work on an ambitious astronomy project, but when doors are closed to her because she is a woman, all her plans change.
Desperate, she asks her old friend for help, but she wasn't prepared to find a charming gentleman who confuses her heart.
The more time they spend together, the more doubts arise; were their original plans really that important? And can this reunion bring something more than a renewed friendship?
You will find:
💫Dual POV
💫 Childhood friends
💫 He falls first
💫 Second chance
💫 Friends to lovers
💫 Surprise tropes
💫 Forced proximity
“I will be the first of any of you louts to marry.”
This is the first book in the series... Who do you think will lose the bet?
Thanks to the author for the copy.
All opinions are my own.
💐 For reviews with book aesthetics, quotes and more, follow me on Instagram: @sina.venus.booklover
I'm sure this series will be a lot of fun because I already like this group of friends.
This was a sweet story where the characters reunite and help each other overcome their difficulties and insecurities.
I liked seeing Sophie as a mathematician determined to prove that women could also be mathematicians at that time.
This book has surprises and unexpected twists throughout the story, and I enjoyed them.
You'll have to read it to find out...
Andrew Langford has his next steps in life perfectly planned, but everything changes when the woman he loved and wanted to marry shows up at his door.
Now he has to keep his distance even though his old feelings are resurfacing.
Sophie Renard is determined to work on an ambitious astronomy project, but when doors are closed to her because she is a woman, all her plans change.
Desperate, she asks her old friend for help, but she wasn't prepared to find a charming gentleman who confuses her heart.
The more time they spend together, the more doubts arise; were their original plans really that important? And can this reunion bring something more than a renewed friendship?
You will find:
💫Dual POV
💫 Childhood friends
💫 He falls first
💫 Second chance
💫 Friends to lovers
💫 Surprise tropes
💫 Forced proximity
“I will be the first of any of you louts to marry.”
This is the first book in the series... Who do you think will lose the bet?
Thanks to the author for the copy.
All opinions are my own.
💐 For reviews with book aesthetics, quotes and more, follow me on Instagram: @sina.venus.booklover
January 9, 2026
To say I am ECSTATIC about this book and series would be a massive understatement!!!
This is the first book of 6 in "The Gentleman's Gamble" series :) they are released in secret order, to help keep the secret of who lost the bet. Seven Gentlemen. One Reckless Wager. A Fortune in Play—and Their Hearts on the Line.
***The Gentlemen's Gamble is a series about six men racing to the altar in order to avoid losing a wager. Starting January, the books will release in an unannounced order to keep the loser of the wager a surprise.***
@authorkarenthornell 's story of Andrew and Sophie is brilliantly written with a secret trope!!
She weaves together a beautiful tale of second chance romance with friends to lovers.
There are some heart breaking moments mixed with witty banter.
From the Blurb:
Andrew Langford is an honorable man. So it is deeply inconvenient when Sophie Renard, the woman he loved, appears at his door on the very day he’s reminded of a youthful wager that will cost the last unwed man a small fortune. She is beautiful, desperate, and, Andrew believes, married.
Sophie came to London for a prestigious mathematics position that she’s worked toward for six years. But after the promised job is withdrawn, she faces humiliating failure unless she can persuade her employer to reconsider. With no one else to turn to, she seeks help from her old friend, Andrew.
**From the start I couldn't put it down!! I can't wait to read the rest of the series and see who loses the wager!!
This is the first book of 6 in "The Gentleman's Gamble" series :) they are released in secret order, to help keep the secret of who lost the bet. Seven Gentlemen. One Reckless Wager. A Fortune in Play—and Their Hearts on the Line.
***The Gentlemen's Gamble is a series about six men racing to the altar in order to avoid losing a wager. Starting January, the books will release in an unannounced order to keep the loser of the wager a surprise.***
@authorkarenthornell 's story of Andrew and Sophie is brilliantly written with a secret trope!!
She weaves together a beautiful tale of second chance romance with friends to lovers.
There are some heart breaking moments mixed with witty banter.
From the Blurb:
Andrew Langford is an honorable man. So it is deeply inconvenient when Sophie Renard, the woman he loved, appears at his door on the very day he’s reminded of a youthful wager that will cost the last unwed man a small fortune. She is beautiful, desperate, and, Andrew believes, married.
Sophie came to London for a prestigious mathematics position that she’s worked toward for six years. But after the promised job is withdrawn, she faces humiliating failure unless she can persuade her employer to reconsider. With no one else to turn to, she seeks help from her old friend, Andrew.
**From the start I couldn't put it down!! I can't wait to read the rest of the series and see who loses the wager!!
January 15, 2026
What an amazing series starter! I have been so excited for the #thegentlemansgambleseries from so many talented authors and a unique and exciting premise, and this first book starts us off in a fantastic way!
Andrew knows exactly who he hopes to marry when he makes a wager with his friends on who will marry last. He has been in love with his friends and neighbor Sophie for years and finally has the courage to tell her. But five years later and things didn't go as planned. Andrew has since pursued his career and tried to let Sophie go. I love how devoted he was. He was a gentleman in such a pure way; his actions were always in the best interests of his lady even if they didn't meet societal standards. Andrew had a calming presence to him and I loved his steady nature. We have our grumpy or stoic heroes and we have our cinnamon roll heroes...but I would like to introduce another and that the warm cup of coffee heroes because that was Andrew!
sophie was a delight! She is unlike any other regency heroine I can think of and I adored her. As someone who is hopeless with math, it was incredible to read about her passion and talent with mathematics. It really intrigued me about a woman pursuing that career in that time period and I loved learning about that. I also loved the character arc of discovering what your true passion is in a field and having the grace with yourself to pursue that.
I loved this love story, it was fresh and fun and endearing! I can't wait to read the next book!
Andrew knows exactly who he hopes to marry when he makes a wager with his friends on who will marry last. He has been in love with his friends and neighbor Sophie for years and finally has the courage to tell her. But five years later and things didn't go as planned. Andrew has since pursued his career and tried to let Sophie go. I love how devoted he was. He was a gentleman in such a pure way; his actions were always in the best interests of his lady even if they didn't meet societal standards. Andrew had a calming presence to him and I loved his steady nature. We have our grumpy or stoic heroes and we have our cinnamon roll heroes...but I would like to introduce another and that the warm cup of coffee heroes because that was Andrew!
sophie was a delight! She is unlike any other regency heroine I can think of and I adored her. As someone who is hopeless with math, it was incredible to read about her passion and talent with mathematics. It really intrigued me about a woman pursuing that career in that time period and I loved learning about that. I also loved the character arc of discovering what your true passion is in a field and having the grace with yourself to pursue that.
I loved this love story, it was fresh and fun and endearing! I can't wait to read the next book!
January 9, 2026
A Fortunate Miscalculation is a cute romance between Andrew and Sophie, childhood friends brought back together in London when Sophie randomly shows up at Andrew’s door. I thought they had great chemistry and enjoyed that Andrew most definitely fell first and his adorable pining. Fans of STEM representation for women are going to love Sophie’s character too and how smart and determined she was to state her place in a man’s world. I liked that Andrew supported her dreams and appreciated her intelligence. I also enjoy learning more about how mathematics and astronomy functioned during the Regency era.
That being said, the reason this is not a five star read for me is that it did not read like or feel like a Regency romance. Possible spoiler ahead, but for me this felt more like 1861 than 1816 which is the year it’s supposed to be set in. Even then, I just don’t see them living together (even in separate spaces) like it’s set up here and I think having had them get married and doing the marriage of convenience trope instead of a “fake married” trope would have been stronger. It just made the plot not plausible for Regency time—a bit too much of a stretch for me—and with how everything worked out so nicely in the end. I liked the characters and think if this was a contemporary romance or even late Victorian era it would have landed better. I just couldn’t suspend reality for it to feel realistic based on what I know about the Regency era.
That being said, the reason this is not a five star read for me is that it did not read like or feel like a Regency romance. Possible spoiler ahead, but for me this felt more like 1861 than 1816 which is the year it’s supposed to be set in. Even then, I just don’t see them living together (even in separate spaces) like it’s set up here and I think having had them get married and doing the marriage of convenience trope instead of a “fake married” trope would have been stronger. It just made the plot not plausible for Regency time—a bit too much of a stretch for me—and with how everything worked out so nicely in the end. I liked the characters and think if this was a contemporary romance or even late Victorian era it would have landed better. I just couldn’t suspend reality for it to feel realistic based on what I know about the Regency era.
January 18, 2026
I'm so excited for this new multi-author series! And this first book in it started off with a very well packed punch of goodness, heart, chemistry, and allllll the swoon!!!!
The premise is that a group of seven friends find themselves in a pretty dire moment and all make a wager that if they survive, they'll each strive to get married. The last one to get married loses the wager. I love that the release dates are secret for each book so we don't know who will lose the wager. And the way the books are written you don't know just from reading one who the loser could be.
Andrew and Sophie were just the sweetest couple! There's a bit of a misunderstanding that has Andrew thinking that Sophie is married and so when he discovers that she isn't, he is beyond ecstatic. Why? Because they were childhood sweethearts and he has never loved anyone other than her. Now the question is can he put his heart on the line and rescue her as well as marrying the woman he loves, and not lose the wager?
One of my favorite scenes...the lunch delivery that causes Sophie to be drenched in rain. Oh! My! Heart!!!
The group of friends are wonderful as well! They had me smiling and cheering them on with their lovable antics. I can't wait to see how their own love stories turn out! I am most definitely here for this whole series!!!
Content: Clean. Some sweet kisses but nothing further. ********SPOILER AHEAD********The couple lives together in the same house but that happened before Andrew realized that Sophie wasn't married and that he was helping out a friend in a tight spot. They keep up the charade to save her reputation when they both realize the misunderstanding. **********END SPOILER**********
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
The premise is that a group of seven friends find themselves in a pretty dire moment and all make a wager that if they survive, they'll each strive to get married. The last one to get married loses the wager. I love that the release dates are secret for each book so we don't know who will lose the wager. And the way the books are written you don't know just from reading one who the loser could be.
Andrew and Sophie were just the sweetest couple! There's a bit of a misunderstanding that has Andrew thinking that Sophie is married and so when he discovers that she isn't, he is beyond ecstatic. Why? Because they were childhood sweethearts and he has never loved anyone other than her. Now the question is can he put his heart on the line and rescue her as well as marrying the woman he loves, and not lose the wager?
One of my favorite scenes...the lunch delivery that causes Sophie to be drenched in rain. Oh! My! Heart!!!
The group of friends are wonderful as well! They had me smiling and cheering them on with their lovable antics. I can't wait to see how their own love stories turn out! I am most definitely here for this whole series!!!
Content: Clean. Some sweet kisses but nothing further. ********SPOILER AHEAD********The couple lives together in the same house but that happened before Andrew realized that Sophie wasn't married and that he was helping out a friend in a tight spot. They keep up the charade to save her reputation when they both realize the misunderstanding. **********END SPOILER**********
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
January 15, 2026
I loved A Fortunate Miscalculation and the concept behind The Gentlemen’s Gamble series. I immediately enjoyed Andrew and Sophie. Andrew is a true gentleman who is thoughtful, sincere, and is trying to prove himself as the second son. Sophie is strong, brave, and trying to prove that she can survive as a women in a man’s world. They have been friends since their youth and as they reconnect as adults, they ground and calm each other. I enjoyed how naturally comfortable they are with each other which leads to witty banter, camaraderie, and some flirting along the way. The support they give each other is endearing and leads to some very heartfelt moments. I was rooting for Andrew the whole time because he definitely fell first and watching him trying to be what Sophie needs and not act on his own wants was commendable. I enjoyed being introduced to the other gentlemen participating in wager and look forward to their stories. I highly recommend A Fortunate Miscalculation if you are wanting a sweet regency romance that will make you laugh while touching your heart!
My favorite things:
- Female STEM representation
- Andrew’s friends
- Andrew and Sophie’s relationship
- The walks home
- The alley
- The first lunch at the bank
- The first kiss!
Tropes: regency romance = gentleman MMC = brilliant FMC = childhood friends = second chances = forced proximity = he falls first = sweet kisses
Happy reading!
My favorite things:
- Female STEM representation
- Andrew’s friends
- Andrew and Sophie’s relationship
- The walks home
- The alley
- The first lunch at the bank
- The first kiss!
Tropes: regency romance = gentleman MMC = brilliant FMC = childhood friends = second chances = forced proximity = he falls first = sweet kisses
Happy reading!
January 17, 2026
After reading quite a bit of contemporary romance in a row, it was fun to jump back into the Regency era, which is one of my favorite times for historical romances. The Gentleman's Gamble series is unique and fun in that it is a multi-author series releasing in a secret order. A group of seven friends have all agreed to a bet that the last of them who gets married will owe the other six a decent sum of money. So that we the readers won't know how loses the bet, we don't know which book comes out next until right before it's release. It will make for a fun reading along for sure!
First up was Andrew's story! He's been in love with a childhood friend for as long as he could remember but he thought Sophie had married and was out of his reach. Until she randomly shows up on his doorstep in need of assistance. Between Sophie needing the guise of being married and the timer started on Andrew's bet after his first friend gets married, he proposes a marriage of convenience. But, he really hopes he will be able to show her just how true his feelings are and how he desires a real marriage. And oh, the admitting of the feelings! AH! That scene in the hallway after they had to answer to both Andrew's dad and Sophie's parents. I wanted to shout, FINALLY! We took some time to get there but it was so worth it. I may already know book 2 and 3 (hehe) thanks to being an ARC team reader but I'm still excited to see how the rest of this series unfolds.
First up was Andrew's story! He's been in love with a childhood friend for as long as he could remember but he thought Sophie had married and was out of his reach. Until she randomly shows up on his doorstep in need of assistance. Between Sophie needing the guise of being married and the timer started on Andrew's bet after his first friend gets married, he proposes a marriage of convenience. But, he really hopes he will be able to show her just how true his feelings are and how he desires a real marriage. And oh, the admitting of the feelings! AH! That scene in the hallway after they had to answer to both Andrew's dad and Sophie's parents. I wanted to shout, FINALLY! We took some time to get there but it was so worth it. I may already know book 2 and 3 (hehe) thanks to being an ARC team reader but I'm still excited to see how the rest of this series unfolds.
January 20, 2026
What an original and utterly intriguing read! This book stole my heart, and so did this couple. Andrew and Sophie are adorable, and their relationship is everything I love in a romance. Childhood friends to more is my all time favorite trope, and this story delivers it so beautifully with nostalgia, tension, and moments that had me smiling so much!
Andrew is the sweetest and Sophie is so lovable! The chemistry between these two is undeniable. The banter is witty, and full of charm, making every interaction a joy to read. From friendly banter, to something more, the slow burn sweetness had my heart racing with anticipation. Add in a he falls first romance, and I was smitten. The way he cares for her and loves her is just so swoony, and tender!
The characters’ personalities shine, the friend group is intriguing and I can’t wait to read their stories!
There’s a specific trope in this book that’s done so well, I can’t wait for you to discover it! This story is filled with warmth, humor, and heart!
Sweet, charming, and full of moments that make your heart happy, this book and this couple are truly wonderful!!! The author created such a beautiful story that I can’t stop thinking about! It’s absolutely amazing in every way!
Favorites:
🤍The kisses
🤍Her brilliance
🤍How he cares for her
🤍Their fun banter
🤍Chess
🤍So many swoony quotes and memorable scenes
🤍The confession
🤍The happiest ending that had me sighing out loud!
🤍Beautiful, touching story!
🤍”You are enough”
.
.
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Content: cruel family, kisses only
Andrew is the sweetest and Sophie is so lovable! The chemistry between these two is undeniable. The banter is witty, and full of charm, making every interaction a joy to read. From friendly banter, to something more, the slow burn sweetness had my heart racing with anticipation. Add in a he falls first romance, and I was smitten. The way he cares for her and loves her is just so swoony, and tender!
The characters’ personalities shine, the friend group is intriguing and I can’t wait to read their stories!
There’s a specific trope in this book that’s done so well, I can’t wait for you to discover it! This story is filled with warmth, humor, and heart!
Sweet, charming, and full of moments that make your heart happy, this book and this couple are truly wonderful!!! The author created such a beautiful story that I can’t stop thinking about! It’s absolutely amazing in every way!
Favorites:
🤍The kisses
🤍Her brilliance
🤍How he cares for her
🤍Their fun banter
🤍Chess
🤍So many swoony quotes and memorable scenes
🤍The confession
🤍The happiest ending that had me sighing out loud!
🤍Beautiful, touching story!
🤍”You are enough”
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Content: cruel family, kisses only
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