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A Most Scandalous Wager: An Outrageously Seductive Rivals-to-Lovers Regency Historical Romance
Not yet published
Expected 31 Jul 26The Tollivers return in the highly anticipated third instalment of the beloved Regency romcom series—and if London thought the family scandalous before, it has clearly never encountered Charlotte Tolliver in competition with a man!
Seven outrageous wagers. One irresistible rivalry. No chance of escaping with their hearts intact.
Miss Charlotte Tolliver has returned to London for her second Season with a singular to enjoy herself as thoroughly—and improperly—as possible. After a scandalous entanglement and an exile to the countryside, Lottie has no intention of submitting meekly to Society’s expectations. Marriage, she is firmly convinced, is merely another method by which the well-meaning men in her life attempt to manage her behaviour. She desires only laughter… and perhaps a modicum of trouble.
Unfortunately for London, she finds both in Mr Jasper heir to an earldom, menace in a cravat, and entirely too handsome for his own good. When Lottie boldly declares she might best him at anything a man might do, Jasper cannot possibly refuse the challenge. Thus begins a battle of wills unlike anything the ton has ever witnessed.
From dawn horse races to fencing matches, pistol duels, and parlour games, Lottie and Jasper throw themselves into a battle of increasingly improper forfeits. In this game, the winner may take all… but losing could cost them everything—for the trouble with games, of course, is that they rarely remain so for long. Matters grow considerably more complicated with the return of Lord Marchmont, whose charm once caused no small scandal, and whose presence threatens to reopen old wounds.
In a world where a woman’s choices are narrow and reputations fragile, independence may prove the most dangerous wager of all. Between freedom and desire, defiance and expectation, Lottie must decide what she is truly willing to risk, and whether surrendering her heart means losing the game.
An outrageously seductive Regency romance brimming with reckless wagers, wicked hands, and one charming heir on his knees.
Fans of Julia Quinn, Sarah MacLean, Tessa Dare, and Evie Dunmore will adore the wickedly entertaining world of the Tolliver family.
Seven outrageous wagers. One irresistible rivalry. No chance of escaping with their hearts intact.
Miss Charlotte Tolliver has returned to London for her second Season with a singular to enjoy herself as thoroughly—and improperly—as possible. After a scandalous entanglement and an exile to the countryside, Lottie has no intention of submitting meekly to Society’s expectations. Marriage, she is firmly convinced, is merely another method by which the well-meaning men in her life attempt to manage her behaviour. She desires only laughter… and perhaps a modicum of trouble.
Unfortunately for London, she finds both in Mr Jasper heir to an earldom, menace in a cravat, and entirely too handsome for his own good. When Lottie boldly declares she might best him at anything a man might do, Jasper cannot possibly refuse the challenge. Thus begins a battle of wills unlike anything the ton has ever witnessed.
From dawn horse races to fencing matches, pistol duels, and parlour games, Lottie and Jasper throw themselves into a battle of increasingly improper forfeits. In this game, the winner may take all… but losing could cost them everything—for the trouble with games, of course, is that they rarely remain so for long. Matters grow considerably more complicated with the return of Lord Marchmont, whose charm once caused no small scandal, and whose presence threatens to reopen old wounds.
In a world where a woman’s choices are narrow and reputations fragile, independence may prove the most dangerous wager of all. Between freedom and desire, defiance and expectation, Lottie must decide what she is truly willing to risk, and whether surrendering her heart means losing the game.
An outrageously seductive Regency romance brimming with reckless wagers, wicked hands, and one charming heir on his knees.
Fans of Julia Quinn, Sarah MacLean, Tessa Dare, and Evie Dunmore will adore the wickedly entertaining world of the Tolliver family.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 31, 2026
About the author
Samantha Blok
6 books48 followersSamantha Blok lives in sunny Sydney, Australia, and is a hopeless creative at heart. She studied Fine Arts before going on to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Education and English Literature, followed by a Master of Teaching. She worked as a teacher for several years, then somehow found herself in educational public policy.
By day, she writes about Very Serious Things. By night, she writes historical romance — usually of the Regency or Gothic variety — where heroines are sharp, heroes are brooding, and things tend to get delightfully improper.
Follow on Instagram & Tiktok
@samanthablok_author
By day, she writes about Very Serious Things. By night, she writes historical romance — usually of the Regency or Gothic variety — where heroines are sharp, heroes are brooding, and things tend to get delightfully improper.
Follow on Instagram & Tiktok
@samanthablok_author
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.25 stars: This is a fun Regency story, the third in a series about a family of sisters finding their matches. Charlotte "Lottie" Anne Tolliver has been sent away to the country and is finally back in London for the Season. Her mother is convinced she will follow in her sisters' footsteps to make a proper match, but Lottie has no interest in being subdued or caged under anyone's control.
Lottie has always been an exciting character, and here she gets to shine as the heroine. She is very confident, but often selfish, and there were times when it felt like her plotlines and consequences were overly indulgent. In her older sister's books, all three of the oldest sisters had at least somewhat important roles, but here, Hetty and Georgie faded into the background as doting mothers, and the younger sisters still did not rise to any particular importance, which meant all the Tolliver antics in this book were Lottie's alone, further emphasizing her tendency to only consider herself. There were some laugh-out-loud moments and others that really made you think; there were a few sweet moments, too, and plenty of shocking ones.
The wager was a fun idea, but the cross-dressing went too far even for this family in my opinion, and I was shocked that the scheme advanced to include what ended up being (warning: spoiler) essentially murder. I still had a fun time reading this (although the epilogue was too much for my personal taste), and I definitely think Blok is talented at showing how nicely everything can work together when a couple both choose and understand each other.
Thank you to the author for the ARC; all opinions are my own.
Lottie has always been an exciting character, and here she gets to shine as the heroine. She is very confident, but often selfish, and there were times when it felt like her plotlines and consequences were overly indulgent. In her older sister's books, all three of the oldest sisters had at least somewhat important roles, but here, Hetty and Georgie faded into the background as doting mothers, and the younger sisters still did not rise to any particular importance, which meant all the Tolliver antics in this book were Lottie's alone, further emphasizing her tendency to only consider herself. There were some laugh-out-loud moments and others that really made you think; there were a few sweet moments, too, and plenty of shocking ones.
The wager was a fun idea, but the cross-dressing went too far even for this family in my opinion, and I was shocked that the scheme advanced to include what ended up being (warning: spoiler) essentially murder. I still had a fun time reading this (although the epilogue was too much for my personal taste), and I definitely think Blok is talented at showing how nicely everything can work together when a couple both choose and understand each other.
Thank you to the author for the ARC; all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy
I loved this book! I had been anxiously awaiting the release of another Tolliver family book, and this latest installment did not disappoint! I have also read the two other previous books (also fantastic), but this could be read as a stand-alone if desired, as previous characters and plot lines were reviewed when necessary.
Lottie was a great character - very competitive and always looking to start a minor scandal and to push the boundaries of being a lady in society. But her family loved her and did what they thought was best to support her regardless. Like in the previous books, there were many hilarious family scenes and delicious banter between the main characters. I missed some of the sister-scheming that was prevalent in previous books, but Lottie was more of a fierce competitor (along with Jasper) and the plot of this book really highlighted and dove into that. Both main characters were complex and multi-layered, and the dialogue was smooth, believable, and wildly entertaining at times. There were also a few good twists to keep the plot interesting throughout!
Overall, this was another fantastic and wonderfully written book by Samantha Blok, and I highly recommend it! I can’t wait until the next one comes out! Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for the free advanced copy, this is my honest and voluntary review.
Lottie was a great character - very competitive and always looking to start a minor scandal and to push the boundaries of being a lady in society. But her family loved her and did what they thought was best to support her regardless. Like in the previous books, there were many hilarious family scenes and delicious banter between the main characters. I missed some of the sister-scheming that was prevalent in previous books, but Lottie was more of a fierce competitor (along with Jasper) and the plot of this book really highlighted and dove into that. Both main characters were complex and multi-layered, and the dialogue was smooth, believable, and wildly entertaining at times. There were also a few good twists to keep the plot interesting throughout!
Overall, this was another fantastic and wonderfully written book by Samantha Blok, and I highly recommend it! I can’t wait until the next one comes out! Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for the free advanced copy, this is my honest and voluntary review.
Review of advance copy
I absolutely loved the Tolliver book series until now. First, the characters, Charlotte was too over the top for me. I get where it came from, somewhat but ... Now, before anyone gets upset, that's read it. Let's say I have some history, so I feel I can express my feelings. I liked Jasper and all he'd been through, but was surprised he didn't figure it out sooner.
Now, the biggest problem for me was the other characters. They did not sound like themselves at all! And this difference is what drove the story, so did the author change the characters to fit the narrative? Yes, I think so and found that very disappointing. Georgie acting like a queen and the Duke - all he did was glare, Hetty was hugely pregnant and Theo seemed very unconcerned about it while running around after Lottie. Then, the story that concerns the Duke and Theo, which does not sound like them at all!! How can characters I loved in the last two books be so callous? I don't think they would, therefore this ruined this book for me. Also Mr Tolliver seemed so in tune with Lottie, yet he didn't at least realize something? Badly done, although I can't give a rating lower than 3 stars.
Now, the biggest problem for me was the other characters. They did not sound like themselves at all! And this difference is what drove the story, so did the author change the characters to fit the narrative? Yes, I think so and found that very disappointing. Georgie acting like a queen and the Duke - all he did was glare, Hetty was hugely pregnant and Theo seemed very unconcerned about it while running around after Lottie. Then, the story that concerns the Duke and Theo, which does not sound like them at all!! How can characters I loved in the last two books be so callous? I don't think they would, therefore this ruined this book for me. Also Mr Tolliver seemed so in tune with Lottie, yet he didn't at least realize something? Badly done, although I can't give a rating lower than 3 stars.
Review of advance copy
This series never fails to make me smile. The Tolliver family and their new spouses are hilariously on point every time, and the author's habit of stepping into the story to comment and warn the reader is a delight. I'm already eager to read about the rest of the family.
This installment gives us the third Tolliver sister, Lottie, falling for Jasper, her brother-in-law's best friend. She made quite an impression on him back in book one, and remembering it still makes me laugh. Their dynamic is drawn perfectly, complex and funny in equal measure. Can't wait to see who's next. For me this is a 4.5 stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This installment gives us the third Tolliver sister, Lottie, falling for Jasper, her brother-in-law's best friend. She made quite an impression on him back in book one, and remembering it still makes me laugh. Their dynamic is drawn perfectly, complex and funny in equal measure. Can't wait to see who's next. For me this is a 4.5 stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I laughed and I cried. I was expecting chaos after reading the previous books. Oh, there was delicious chaos, but there was a kind of calm within between Lottie and Jasper even in the chaos.
I loved the interactions with characters from previous books (even the tragic one, it was deserved) particularly the character in the very cheeky bonus chapter.
I enjoyed it very much!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved the interactions with characters from previous books (even the tragic one, it was deserved) particularly the character in the very cheeky bonus chapter.
I enjoyed it very much!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 25, 2026
5/5🌟
Review of Advanced Reader Copy received from author
Oh how I DEVOURED this one!! I can’t get enough of the Tolliver shenanigans. I’ve been so excited for a Lottie’s story and it did not disappoint! Lottie and Jasper’s wagers?! 🌶️🌶️Come on now!! I also really loved how we got to see more of the father-daughter relationship between Lottie and Lord Tolliver. Some of their interactions were my favorite parts of this one! 😊 Mari, you’re next!!
Thank you Samantha for allowing me to continue being part of the ARC team! I’m in it for the long haul for the Tolliver chaos! 🩶
Review of Advanced Reader Copy received from author
Oh how I DEVOURED this one!! I can’t get enough of the Tolliver shenanigans. I’ve been so excited for a Lottie’s story and it did not disappoint! Lottie and Jasper’s wagers?! 🌶️🌶️Come on now!! I also really loved how we got to see more of the father-daughter relationship between Lottie and Lord Tolliver. Some of their interactions were my favorite parts of this one! 😊 Mari, you’re next!!
Thank you Samantha for allowing me to continue being part of the ARC team! I’m in it for the long haul for the Tolliver chaos! 🩶
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Absolutely adored our gutwrenchingly resilient Lottie and fragile bisexual charmer Jasper together! Samantha Blok does it again!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews