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The Mismatched Lovers #4
An Unusual Wager
A dissipate rake, a reckless bet, and a feisty lady
One night, Verity Farrington’s father, an inveterate gambler down on his luck, stakes the only thing he has left to wager on a last hand of cards, and loses. What he’s lost is far more valuable than mere money – it’s his daughter. He’s lost her to one of the worst rakes in London, a man known as the Black Earl for his dissipate soul.
But Verity, the veteran of a life spent roaming Europe with some dangerous escapes from angry creditors, is made of stern stuff. Mindful of debtors’ prison threatening her dear papa, on the morning after that fateful card game, she turns up on the doorstep of Jonathan Wintringham, Earl of Dunster. He’s more than a little taken aback: he was so drunk, he’s forgotten all about winning that final wager. Things only get worse when his best friend, Walter, turns up and recognizes Verity as his long-lost cousin.
Jonnie Wintringham is tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome. He’s been Earl of Dunster since he was only sixteen, and from an early age has led the sort of life of indulgence Verity can only imagine. Until he realizes he’s compromised Walter’s cousin, he’s harbored no intention to get leg shackled in the near future. Thanks to Walter’s horror-stricken reaction, Jonnie decides marrying her could be quite fun, and if it gets him an heir, it will shut up his bothersome family for good.
They agree to a marriage in name only, and he sends Verity to his country estate, Luxborough. Once there, she discovers he has an estranged mother, an illegitimate half-sister, and a very dark secret he’s shared with no one. Not an auspicious start to a marriage.
But when Jonnie is attacked by supposed random footpads and is taken to Luxborough to recuperate, things could well take a turn for the better when Verity has to nurse him back to health.
One night, Verity Farrington’s father, an inveterate gambler down on his luck, stakes the only thing he has left to wager on a last hand of cards, and loses. What he’s lost is far more valuable than mere money – it’s his daughter. He’s lost her to one of the worst rakes in London, a man known as the Black Earl for his dissipate soul.
But Verity, the veteran of a life spent roaming Europe with some dangerous escapes from angry creditors, is made of stern stuff. Mindful of debtors’ prison threatening her dear papa, on the morning after that fateful card game, she turns up on the doorstep of Jonathan Wintringham, Earl of Dunster. He’s more than a little taken aback: he was so drunk, he’s forgotten all about winning that final wager. Things only get worse when his best friend, Walter, turns up and recognizes Verity as his long-lost cousin.
Jonnie Wintringham is tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome. He’s been Earl of Dunster since he was only sixteen, and from an early age has led the sort of life of indulgence Verity can only imagine. Until he realizes he’s compromised Walter’s cousin, he’s harbored no intention to get leg shackled in the near future. Thanks to Walter’s horror-stricken reaction, Jonnie decides marrying her could be quite fun, and if it gets him an heir, it will shut up his bothersome family for good.
They agree to a marriage in name only, and he sends Verity to his country estate, Luxborough. Once there, she discovers he has an estranged mother, an illegitimate half-sister, and a very dark secret he’s shared with no one. Not an auspicious start to a marriage.
But when Jonnie is attacked by supposed random footpads and is taken to Luxborough to recuperate, things could well take a turn for the better when Verity has to nurse him back to health.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 8, 2026
15 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Fil Reid
27 books65 followersAWARD-WINNING author, Fil Reid's first novel won a GOLD medal at the Readers' Favorites Awards in 2022.
Fil lives in Cornwall with her extremely supportive husband and where she's only minutes from the sea. She has a rescue dog from Romania called Bella.
She writes historical fiction and has a six book time travel series, GUINEVERE, out in which the heroine is a 21st-century girl kidnapped back to the Dark Ages to become King Arthur's Queen Guinevere. Lots of fun plot twists mixed in with some of the well-known and also the lesser known legends.
Her poor husband mostly sees the back of her head as she sits at the computer writing.
When she's not writing (which she does pretty much all of the time) she likes to walk the dog, visit sites of historical interest (preferably those connected to her writing), read, and sew.
She has Asperger's Syndrome, but she sees that as a plus as it helps her to be very focused on what she does.
Fil lives in Cornwall with her extremely supportive husband and where she's only minutes from the sea. She has a rescue dog from Romania called Bella.
She writes historical fiction and has a six book time travel series, GUINEVERE, out in which the heroine is a 21st-century girl kidnapped back to the Dark Ages to become King Arthur's Queen Guinevere. Lots of fun plot twists mixed in with some of the well-known and also the lesser known legends.
Her poor husband mostly sees the back of her head as she sits at the computer writing.
When she's not writing (which she does pretty much all of the time) she likes to walk the dog, visit sites of historical interest (preferably those connected to her writing), read, and sew.
She has Asperger's Syndrome, but she sees that as a plus as it helps her to be very focused on what she does.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 22, 2026
Verity Farrington has spent her life trailing after her charming, gambling-addicted father across Europe, dodging creditors and sleeping in haylofts. So when he drunkenly stakes her in a card game and loses to one of London's most notorious rakes, she doesn't panic. She shows up on the Earl of Dunster's doorstep the next morning, ready to pay her father's debt.
Jonathan Wintringham, the "Black Earl," has no memory of winning anything (he was that drunk). He's even less prepared for the sharp, practical woman standing in his foyer, offering herself as if she's simply settling an account. Then his best friend arrives, recognizes Verity as his long-lost cousin, and suddenly Jonnie finds himself honor-bound to marry her.
It is a marriage of convenience that actually makes sense: Verity gets security, Jonnie gets an heir, and they both agree to stay out of each other's way. She's packed off to his country estate, where she discovers an estranged mother, an illegitimate half-sister, and a dark secret Jonnie has never shared with anyone. He stays in London, continuing his dissipate lifestyle, until someone tries to kill him.
The forced proximity of Jonnie's recuperation at Luxborough gives the romance room to breathe. Reid takes her time letting these two move from strangers to allies to something more, and the slow burn is well handled. Verity is resourceful, steady, and utterly unintimidated by Jonnie's reputation. And Jonnie, once you get past the rakish exterior, has genuine depth.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
Jonathan Wintringham, the "Black Earl," has no memory of winning anything (he was that drunk). He's even less prepared for the sharp, practical woman standing in his foyer, offering herself as if she's simply settling an account. Then his best friend arrives, recognizes Verity as his long-lost cousin, and suddenly Jonnie finds himself honor-bound to marry her.
It is a marriage of convenience that actually makes sense: Verity gets security, Jonnie gets an heir, and they both agree to stay out of each other's way. She's packed off to his country estate, where she discovers an estranged mother, an illegitimate half-sister, and a dark secret Jonnie has never shared with anyone. He stays in London, continuing his dissipate lifestyle, until someone tries to kill him.
The forced proximity of Jonnie's recuperation at Luxborough gives the romance room to breathe. Reid takes her time letting these two move from strangers to allies to something more, and the slow burn is well handled. Verity is resourceful, steady, and utterly unintimidated by Jonnie's reputation. And Jonnie, once you get past the rakish exterior, has genuine depth.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
April 9, 2026
This book suffered from too many missing threads. The premise is that Verity gets gambled away to Jonnie by her father. Her cousin, Jonnie’s BFF Walter, forces his hand to marry her because she’s compromised Jonnie is a big bad drunken rake, and he immediately offends her by suggesting this isn’t the first time her dad used her as collateral, and that she isn’t chaste.
It’s a fun premise and it could have been interesting. But this book has everything but the kitchen sink.
- big secret
- former con artist life style by Verity
- attempted assassination of Jonnie
None of these loose threads are addressed. It just…ends.
Also the wedding which is advertised in the plot synopsis doesn’t happen until the 40% point. Verity and Jonnie only meet TWICE before the wedding.
I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy and all opinions are my own
It’s a fun premise and it could have been interesting. But this book has everything but the kitchen sink.
- big secret
- former con artist life style by Verity
- attempted assassination of Jonnie
None of these loose threads are addressed. It just…ends.
Also the wedding which is advertised in the plot synopsis doesn’t happen until the 40% point. Verity and Jonnie only meet TWICE before the wedding.
I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy and all opinions are my own
March 12, 2026
Right off the bat I can tell that this novel is not going to be for everyone for one simple reason; your average reader does not want to have to consistently look up the meaning of the words the author has chosen to use. I consider myself both well-read and well-educated and there were a couple that I had to look up myself. Some examples of the words used are: lugubrious, efficacious, interlocutor, pedantic, obdurate, impecunious, and chatelaine just to name just a few.
Now moving on to my review; I spent most of this novel wanting to strangle both of our main characters.
Jonathan is, quite frankly, an egotistical jerk. At one point he actually positions himself dramatically by a window so Verity can admire him, and when she doesn’t react the way he expects, he concludes that she must either have a “heart of stone” or be short-sighted. As if that weren’t enough, he becomes offended at the mere possibility that she might not be a virgin, despite the fact that he openly boasts about the numerous women he himself has slept with. The hypocrisy alone was enough to make me roll my eyes more than once.
Verity, unfortunately, wasn’t much easier to like. She spends nearly the entire book offended by the fact that Jonathan assumes she isn’t a virgin after winning her in a game of cards and then having her show up the next morning to “pay the debt.” Yes, it was insulting, but given the way her father behaved and the situation she walked into, it wasn’t exactly a shocking conclusion for him to reach. The fact that she clung to that insult for most of the story made her eventual feelings for him feel forced rather than natural.
Speaking of the couple themselves, they spend so much time apart, without even exchanging so much as a single letter, that by the time they’re reunited, I honestly didn’t care anymore. I understood her empathy toward him after his injury. Yes, he told her some of his past and that was great, yes she told him she thought originally he needed to be “taught a lesson”, but again, the deeper interaction that needed to be there to make this believable just wasn’t there for me.
In fact I would go so far as to say that their reconciliation felt less like the culmination of a growing connection and more like the story deciding it was time for them to end up together.
Sadly, there was also quite a bit of unrealized potential in the various subplots as well.
For example, Verity’s aunt takes her in after learning she’s engaged to Jonathan, yet despite the fact that Verity is about to become a countess, there is virtually no effort made to teach her the etiquette or expectations of society. I would have loved to see scenes of Verity learning how to navigate that world, perhaps learning to dance with her cousin Walter, or having her aunt explain the ins and outs of society. I mean, for heaven's sake, who ever heard of a Countess who was overwhelmed by the thought of a formal dinner?
Jonathan’s family dynamics also felt underdeveloped. His mother despises both Jonathan and Kitty for what she believes were their roles in the accident that killed her husband. I couldn’t help wondering whether her feelings might have changed if she had known the full truth. As it stands, she claims to hate Jonathan’s uncle, yet seems oddly unconcerned that the same man is plotting Jonathan’s death in order to inherit. And speaking of the uncle, his entire storyline simply… stops. After the attempted assassination, he essentially disappears from the story with no real resolution.
On the flip side of things, there was one plot device that immediately gave me the ick. When Jonathan reflects on his past, he mentions that his womanizing began before he inherited his title. But he inherited that title when he was around fifteen years old. The implication that a fifteen-year-old boy was already deeply involved in that kind of lifestyle was unsettling and completely unnecessary. It didn’t add anything meaningful to the story and instead came across as a bizarre attempt to emphasize his supposed reputation.
And then there’s the ending. Yes, technically the story gives us a happily-ever-after, but there’s very little emotional payoff after everything it took to get there. It essentially boils down to, “We have feelings for each other now, so we’re going to stay together at his country estate for a while.” And… that’s it. What happens after that? Do they bring Kitty to London? If so, how do they explain her connection to Jonathan's family? Does Jonathan ever tell his mother the truth about what really happened? Do they have children? Considering people in society know about her father's reputation, is Verity accepted in society? Does she learn how to navigate it? These are all things I would have liked to have seen, even briefly if not in the story, but at least in an epilogue.
Because this is the fourth book in the series, I may eventually pick up one of the earlier installments to see if perhaps there’s something I missed, or if this particular book simply isn’t one of the author’s stronger ones.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
Now moving on to my review; I spent most of this novel wanting to strangle both of our main characters.
Jonathan is, quite frankly, an egotistical jerk. At one point he actually positions himself dramatically by a window so Verity can admire him, and when she doesn’t react the way he expects, he concludes that she must either have a “heart of stone” or be short-sighted. As if that weren’t enough, he becomes offended at the mere possibility that she might not be a virgin, despite the fact that he openly boasts about the numerous women he himself has slept with. The hypocrisy alone was enough to make me roll my eyes more than once.
Verity, unfortunately, wasn’t much easier to like. She spends nearly the entire book offended by the fact that Jonathan assumes she isn’t a virgin after winning her in a game of cards and then having her show up the next morning to “pay the debt.” Yes, it was insulting, but given the way her father behaved and the situation she walked into, it wasn’t exactly a shocking conclusion for him to reach. The fact that she clung to that insult for most of the story made her eventual feelings for him feel forced rather than natural.
Speaking of the couple themselves, they spend so much time apart, without even exchanging so much as a single letter, that by the time they’re reunited, I honestly didn’t care anymore. I understood her empathy toward him after his injury. Yes, he told her some of his past and that was great, yes she told him she thought originally he needed to be “taught a lesson”, but again, the deeper interaction that needed to be there to make this believable just wasn’t there for me.
In fact I would go so far as to say that their reconciliation felt less like the culmination of a growing connection and more like the story deciding it was time for them to end up together.
Sadly, there was also quite a bit of unrealized potential in the various subplots as well.
For example, Verity’s aunt takes her in after learning she’s engaged to Jonathan, yet despite the fact that Verity is about to become a countess, there is virtually no effort made to teach her the etiquette or expectations of society. I would have loved to see scenes of Verity learning how to navigate that world, perhaps learning to dance with her cousin Walter, or having her aunt explain the ins and outs of society. I mean, for heaven's sake, who ever heard of a Countess who was overwhelmed by the thought of a formal dinner?
Jonathan’s family dynamics also felt underdeveloped. His mother despises both Jonathan and Kitty for what she believes were their roles in the accident that killed her husband. I couldn’t help wondering whether her feelings might have changed if she had known the full truth. As it stands, she claims to hate Jonathan’s uncle, yet seems oddly unconcerned that the same man is plotting Jonathan’s death in order to inherit. And speaking of the uncle, his entire storyline simply… stops. After the attempted assassination, he essentially disappears from the story with no real resolution.
On the flip side of things, there was one plot device that immediately gave me the ick. When Jonathan reflects on his past, he mentions that his womanizing began before he inherited his title. But he inherited that title when he was around fifteen years old. The implication that a fifteen-year-old boy was already deeply involved in that kind of lifestyle was unsettling and completely unnecessary. It didn’t add anything meaningful to the story and instead came across as a bizarre attempt to emphasize his supposed reputation.
And then there’s the ending. Yes, technically the story gives us a happily-ever-after, but there’s very little emotional payoff after everything it took to get there. It essentially boils down to, “We have feelings for each other now, so we’re going to stay together at his country estate for a while.” And… that’s it. What happens after that? Do they bring Kitty to London? If so, how do they explain her connection to Jonathan's family? Does Jonathan ever tell his mother the truth about what really happened? Do they have children? Considering people in society know about her father's reputation, is Verity accepted in society? Does she learn how to navigate it? These are all things I would have liked to have seen, even briefly if not in the story, but at least in an epilogue.
Because this is the fourth book in the series, I may eventually pick up one of the earlier installments to see if perhaps there’s something I missed, or if this particular book simply isn’t one of the author’s stronger ones.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An Unusual Wager is the fourth book in The Mismatched Lovers series. This book appears to be a stand-alone read. Although I hope it is not the end and it will continue in another book.
Verity Farrington’s father is a gambler, always looking for his next game where he can win, but rarely does returns after losing informs he that she now belongs to the Earl of Dunster. She is shocked and disappointed in her father's behavior. The next morning, she appears at the Earl's home to save her father from going to debtor's prison. It's not what she wants, but she feels she has no choice in order to save her father.
Jonnie Wintringham, the Earl of Dunster wakes to find he has a visitor. He vaguely remembers the night before but is shocked to find a beautiful women waiting for him. He has lived a life of drinking, womanizing, and gambling for the entertainment of it all. While he mulls over what to do with Verity, his friend Walter arrives to see what Jonnie aims to do with his new treasure only to discover she is his cousin. He surprisingly stands up for his cousin and takes her home until the wedding can be arranged.
On the wedding night Jonnie is eager to play with his new 'toy' But he insulted Verity by accusing her of not being a virgin. Verity keeps her doors locked and refuses him entry to her bedroom. Jonnie is angry to find he is not as charming to his new wife as he believed. He sends her to his country home in anger.
Verity happily goes to the country home only to find Jonnie's Grandmother, Mother, and a secret half-sister, all of which she gets to know and enjoys their company. A few days later Jonnie arrives with Walter and Robert, her cousins. Jonnie has been beaten and needs to recover away from London. As expected, Verity and Jonnie see their spouse in a new light and they become close.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The characters are wonderful and the plot was interesting. However, there are many loose threads that are hanging waiting to be resolved. There are several characters that deserve to have to pay for their actions which we did not get to see resolved. In addition to one character who believes they are someone they are not and deserves to know the truth. I hope there is a follow-up to this story. I don't feel as if this story is complete, yet. While I loved this story, I was disappointed in the ending.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.
Verity Farrington’s father is a gambler, always looking for his next game where he can win, but rarely does returns after losing informs he that she now belongs to the Earl of Dunster. She is shocked and disappointed in her father's behavior. The next morning, she appears at the Earl's home to save her father from going to debtor's prison. It's not what she wants, but she feels she has no choice in order to save her father.
Jonnie Wintringham, the Earl of Dunster wakes to find he has a visitor. He vaguely remembers the night before but is shocked to find a beautiful women waiting for him. He has lived a life of drinking, womanizing, and gambling for the entertainment of it all. While he mulls over what to do with Verity, his friend Walter arrives to see what Jonnie aims to do with his new treasure only to discover she is his cousin. He surprisingly stands up for his cousin and takes her home until the wedding can be arranged.
On the wedding night Jonnie is eager to play with his new 'toy' But he insulted Verity by accusing her of not being a virgin. Verity keeps her doors locked and refuses him entry to her bedroom. Jonnie is angry to find he is not as charming to his new wife as he believed. He sends her to his country home in anger.
Verity happily goes to the country home only to find Jonnie's Grandmother, Mother, and a secret half-sister, all of which she gets to know and enjoys their company. A few days later Jonnie arrives with Walter and Robert, her cousins. Jonnie has been beaten and needs to recover away from London. As expected, Verity and Jonnie see their spouse in a new light and they become close.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The characters are wonderful and the plot was interesting. However, there are many loose threads that are hanging waiting to be resolved. There are several characters that deserve to have to pay for their actions which we did not get to see resolved. In addition to one character who believes they are someone they are not and deserves to know the truth. I hope there is a follow-up to this story. I don't feel as if this story is complete, yet. While I loved this story, I was disappointed in the ending.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.
March 12, 2026
An Unusual Wager by Fil Reid is, as usual, a book with a different sort of plot, but a romance in the end. Jonathan Wintringham, Earl of Dunster was hung over, as usual, when his valet woke him to tell him he had a visitor. A female. In no great hurry, he dressed and descended to meet this woman. As it turns out, the previous night, while in his cups, he won a card game and since the loser had no money, he substituted his daughter. Miss Verity Farrington was pretty and while Jonnie’s mind was going all sorts of places, his friend, Walter Farrington, arrived. As they spoke they worked out that Verity was Walter’s cousin. Drat! The things he had been envisioning would not happen now. Walter quickly demanded they marry and took her off to live under the guidance of his mother while the wedding was arranged. His mother was thrilled.
As always, both Verity and Jonnie carried plenty of baggage. Verity, beyond being used as the payment for a debt, was determined and stubborn. She was not to be trifled with, which quickly became apparent to Jonnie. He had grown up with a hard, womanizing father and a mother that didn’t seem to care for her son. Things happened that had hardened Jonnie’s heart. This is a wonderful story that pushed boundaries and addresses some dicey topics. Among other things, Jonnie had an uncle who wanted his title, and the money that went with it, that caused complications, obviously. This was a terrific read. If you are looking for a go-to author, it would be Fil Reid.
I as invited to read An Unusual Wager by Dragonblade. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #FilReid #AnUnusualWager
As always, both Verity and Jonnie carried plenty of baggage. Verity, beyond being used as the payment for a debt, was determined and stubborn. She was not to be trifled with, which quickly became apparent to Jonnie. He had grown up with a hard, womanizing father and a mother that didn’t seem to care for her son. Things happened that had hardened Jonnie’s heart. This is a wonderful story that pushed boundaries and addresses some dicey topics. Among other things, Jonnie had an uncle who wanted his title, and the money that went with it, that caused complications, obviously. This was a terrific read. If you are looking for a go-to author, it would be Fil Reid.
I as invited to read An Unusual Wager by Dragonblade. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #FilReid #AnUnusualWager
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An unusual story, of an unusual father who decides it is not unusual to sell his daughter to pay a debt. It sets off a series of rather funny and dangerous issues. Jonnie is a bit of a spoiled brat, but it is to be expected from what he had to deal with growing up . That doesn’t mean he should get away with deeply insulting Verity. I found Verity a bit childish herself playing a game no one can win. The plot was well thought out, though there seemed to be. A LOT of unnecessary description , in my opinion, but will admit, I am more of an action reader than stickler for details. No crass language (thank you, author) , very sweet with no spice other than what is mentioned off stage. Kitty is adorable and was not surprised by her part in the story .Walter and his mother were a bit of comic relief. Verity and Jonnie’s banter is delightful , but I felt the story left a few threads unraveled. We never find out what truly happened to the villain and the ending seemed exceptionally abrupt. What I did like was not everything was wrapped up in a big bow. A good story to sink your teeth into.
I received this story for free and these are my own views.
I received this story for free and these are my own views.
March 12, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Dragonblade for the ARC.
The plot drew me in wanting to read this book, it was an interesting plot for a regency romance. Verity’s father one drunken night gambles her away to the most notorious rakes of all London, the “Blake Earl”. It is an awkward start when she shows up to his home offering herself up when Jonathan himself was so wasted he himself did not recall winning the bet. Soon after marriage Jonathan sends Verity to the countryside.
The story itself is a slow burn a bit predictable but still enjoyable. I wish these characters were a bit more rounded and we got to spend more time with them. They story was more about the secrets than the romance which was more at the tail end of the book I wish we got more of their romance even as an epilogue. It was a sweet story still overall, no spice only kisses if that is something someone is looking for.
The plot drew me in wanting to read this book, it was an interesting plot for a regency romance. Verity’s father one drunken night gambles her away to the most notorious rakes of all London, the “Blake Earl”. It is an awkward start when she shows up to his home offering herself up when Jonathan himself was so wasted he himself did not recall winning the bet. Soon after marriage Jonathan sends Verity to the countryside.
The story itself is a slow burn a bit predictable but still enjoyable. I wish these characters were a bit more rounded and we got to spend more time with them. They story was more about the secrets than the romance which was more at the tail end of the book I wish we got more of their romance even as an epilogue. It was a sweet story still overall, no spice only kisses if that is something someone is looking for.
March 7, 2026
Yays:
Well written book and has so many great details historical authors miss.
The premise of the story and the MFC are great, she is strong, independent and a hustler.
Nays:
The MMC unfortunately was the deal breaker for me, it is very hard to like him and his redemption arc is just neither long nor compelling enough to see him in a different light. Given his history and trauma, as revealed through the book, it is very hard to accept him as he was at the start of the story.
MMC's father who made the said wager, the antagonist all seem to be dead ends without satisfactory arcs of their own.
Complementary copy via, all views are my own.
I would probably read other books from this author given their style but hope for better characters and more well rounded plots.
Well written book and has so many great details historical authors miss.
The premise of the story and the MFC are great, she is strong, independent and a hustler.
Nays:
The MMC unfortunately was the deal breaker for me, it is very hard to like him and his redemption arc is just neither long nor compelling enough to see him in a different light. Given his history and trauma, as revealed through the book, it is very hard to accept him as he was at the start of the story.
MMC's father who made the said wager, the antagonist all seem to be dead ends without satisfactory arcs of their own.
Complementary copy via, all views are my own.
I would probably read other books from this author given their style but hope for better characters and more well rounded plots.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Kisses Only 3.5*
Verity’s father is a conman, gambler and drunkard but despite this she loves him and when, having run out of money, he wagers her and loses, she is prepared to do anything to keep her father from debtor’s prison. Little does she realise how much her life will be changed by meeting the Black Earl.
This was an enjoyable story but not long enough as it felt incomplete and I was left with a number of unanswered questions. Also to my mind the change in Jonnie’s character, almost overnight, felt too rapid to be fully believable.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Verity’s father is a conman, gambler and drunkard but despite this she loves him and when, having run out of money, he wagers her and loses, she is prepared to do anything to keep her father from debtor’s prison. Little does she realise how much her life will be changed by meeting the Black Earl.
This was an enjoyable story but not long enough as it felt incomplete and I was left with a number of unanswered questions. Also to my mind the change in Jonnie’s character, almost overnight, felt too rapid to be fully believable.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an ARC of An Unusual Wager by Fil Reid thanks to the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the concept of this book. I can definitely see it being something that could have happened in the past. I am a bit disappointed by the surprise reveal towards the end but it does not really take away from the plot. I just think adding that additional layer was unnecessary. I really liked the female main character while the male main character had much more growth. The book was fast paced with events happening frequently to the characters that they need to overcome. Well done.
I really enjoyed the concept of this book. I can definitely see it being something that could have happened in the past. I am a bit disappointed by the surprise reveal towards the end but it does not really take away from the plot. I just think adding that additional layer was unnecessary. I really liked the female main character while the male main character had much more growth. The book was fast paced with events happening frequently to the characters that they need to overcome. Well done.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Verity's drunken father loses her in a card game to Jonnie, a rake. When he finds out she is a distant relative to his best friend, he decides he has to marry her. Verity wants a marriage of convenience and is happy to be sent to the country estate. When someone tries to kill Jonnie, he is taken to the country to recuperate. Spending time together, they learn they are more compatible than they thought. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed this sweet historical romance. Verity the MFC is a really interesting character with a different upbringing to the usual regency romance miss.
Jonnie the MMC is complicated and a layered character. The supporting characters are well drawn. The plot moves along smartly, however the end seems a little rushed and so feels unsatisfying, hence the drop of 1 star. Maybe an epilogue would have helped this?
Thank you NetGalley and Dragonblade for the ARC
Jonnie the MMC is complicated and a layered character. The supporting characters are well drawn. The plot moves along smartly, however the end seems a little rushed and so feels unsatisfying, hence the drop of 1 star. Maybe an epilogue would have helped this?
Thank you NetGalley and Dragonblade for the ARC
March 8, 2026
I like Verity's character immensely. She is sassy, strong and steady. She speaks truth, but also has a downside of always doing what her father asks of her. Jonnie is a wastrel. As his character grows and changes, I wanted more depth to the transformation. I enjoyed Verity's aunt. Her cousin Walter deserves his own story! The ending didn't feel like an ending was my major reason for not being able to give this story a five.
March 16, 2026
First read from this author. Very detailed descriptions caused me to skip some pages but I still enjoyed the storyline. Main character a dissolute Earl who plays cards and wins but his opponent cannot pay and decides to give his daughter in payment. They couple don’t hit it off but eventually get married but Verity the new Countess is banned to the country. The plot is very easy to follow as is the reveal at the end
March 11, 2026
An unusual circumstance brought them together into a marriage of convenience. It is a good read with many interesting characters although the ending seems abrupt with some issues not quite resolved. It opens up a possibility of being taken up in the next book in series, if any.
I received an .ARC of this book and leaving my review voluntarily.
I received an .ARC of this book and leaving my review voluntarily.
March 18, 2026
This book is a cup of Swiss Miss hot chocolate for Regency romance lovers.
It has all the good stuff: interesting set-up with an expected marriage; devilish and handsome MMC with tortured past; spunky FMC with attraction she doesn't understand. There are grand manor houses and brand-new dresses. It was smoothly written, well paced, and escalated to a satisfying conclusion.
That said, there was nothing particularly fresh or surprising. It was a good, dependable comfort read, and it did well with what it set out to do.
It has all the good stuff: interesting set-up with an expected marriage; devilish and handsome MMC with tortured past; spunky FMC with attraction she doesn't understand. There are grand manor houses and brand-new dresses. It was smoothly written, well paced, and escalated to a satisfying conclusion.
That said, there was nothing particularly fresh or surprising. It was a good, dependable comfort read, and it did well with what it set out to do.
April 19, 2026
I've read a lot of Fil Reid's books and loved them. This one was a miss for me. I'm not sure what happened. The mmcs were not even together for most of the book. I'm not afraid of wild gambling wager plots either. There was too many issues that kept the characters apart until very late.
Thank you to Dragonblade for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
Thank you to Dragonblade for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This burnt so slow that I must've gotten 2nd degree burns just waiting for it, at some points it felt too predictable but a pretty nice read. There were a bit too many descriptions (I relish descriptions quite a lot but some readers might not), enjoyed it quite a lot, 4.5/5 stars!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Fun romance with some great plotting. the beginning is VERY weird and awkward but it rapidly gets better. 4.5 stars. tysm for the arc.
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