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The Wagered Widow
HE INSISTED ON TREATING HER LIKE A TROLLOP'
...and Rebecca Parrish, a most respectable young widow, found him utterly odious. What right had this supercilious rake, Trevelyan de Villars, to incessantly force his attentions on her? Rebecca far preferred Trevelyan's charming friend, the noble Sir Peter Ward. Indeed, her dreams of handsome Sir Peter aimed straight for the altar!
What Rebecca soon discovered duly horrified her. For her dear Sir Peter and the contemptible Trevelyan had formalized a bet--that Trevelyan could seduce the very proper widow within a month's time.
Still, Trevelyan's attentions grew ever more passionate. And Rebecca found (to her horror!) that she thrilled to his touch. As her heart strove to resist this irresistible cad, she suddenly saw what he really was: A libertine no more--now at last and forever in love!
...and Rebecca Parrish, a most respectable young widow, found him utterly odious. What right had this supercilious rake, Trevelyan de Villars, to incessantly force his attentions on her? Rebecca far preferred Trevelyan's charming friend, the noble Sir Peter Ward. Indeed, her dreams of handsome Sir Peter aimed straight for the altar!
What Rebecca soon discovered duly horrified her. For her dear Sir Peter and the contemptible Trevelyan had formalized a bet--that Trevelyan could seduce the very proper widow within a month's time.
Still, Trevelyan's attentions grew ever more passionate. And Rebecca found (to her horror!) that she thrilled to his touch. As her heart strove to resist this irresistible cad, she suddenly saw what he really was: A libertine no more--now at last and forever in love!
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
13 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Veryan
75 books102 followersPatricia Valeria Bannister was born in London. After World War II, she married Allan Louis Berg and moved to the United States; she lived on the West Coast and was the author of many historical novels from 1978 until 2002, using the pen names Patricia Veryan and Gwyneth Moore.
At the time of her death, she was living in Bellevue, Washington, USA.
At the time of her death, she was living in Bellevue, Washington, USA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
February 15, 2017
Although I’ve been aware of Patricia Veryan for a number of years, up until recently, her books were out of print and the only way to obtain them was to find rather tatty second-hand paperbacks. Fortunately, many of her books have now been made available digitally, meaning that I was able to make her my “new to me author” for February’s TBR Challenge prompt.
I’ve often seen her work likened to Georgette Heyer’s, and although I think that Heyer fans are likely to enjoy Ms. Veryan’s books, they are quite different in certain essentials. For one thing, almost all Ms. Heyer’s books are set during the Regency, while only around a third of Ms. Veryan’s are; most of her books are set more than fifty years earlier in the Georgian era. In fact, the cover of the paperback edition (1984) of The Wagered Widow proudly proclaims it to be A Regency Romance, whereas it’s actually set almost seventy years before the Regency, in 1746, just a year after the Battle of Culloden. And for another, her books usually have a political element; Ms. Veryan’s series of romantic adventures – The Tales of the Jewelled Men , The Golden Chronicles and the Sanguinet Saga (which is set during the Regency) all use the Jacobite rebellion and Battle of Culloden as important plot points and feature characters who are in some way connected with both events.
The Wagered Widow is a standalone book that also works as a prequel to The Golden Chronicles , which I definitely intend to read now they’re all available as ebooks. It tells the story of a lively young woman who has just finished her year of mourning for her late husband - who has left her in impecunious circumstances and with a six year old son to look after. Rebecca Parrish is petite, lovely, vivacious and well aware of her tendency towards hoydenish behaviour. She is also aware that, if she is to secure a well-to-do second husband who will be able to keep her and Anthony more than comfortably, she is going to have to tone down her liveliness a little and be a little more demure; after all, no man wants a wife who could be labelled ‘fast’.
When she makes the acquaintance of Sir Peter Ward, a wealthy gentleman who also happens to be extremely handsome and not too much older than she is, Rebecca thinks she has found the solution to her problems. She knows it’s mercenary of her, but she has her son and his future to think of, and she decides to fix Sir Peter’s interest and secure an offer of marriage from him. It’s true that he’s rather reserved and a bit of a stick-in-the-mud, but he’s kind and attentive and Rebecca knows she could do a lot worse than wed a man who will care for and look after her, even if there is no great passion or love between them. The problem is that his friend, the darkly attractive Trevelyan de Villars knows exactly what Rebecca is about, and takes every opportunity he can to tease her about it. De Villars has the blackest reputation and is widely known to be a rake of the first order, something Rebecca won’t let him forget. His wickedly humorous, flirtatious teasing is often very funny; she devises various epithets for him in her head – The Brute, The Lascivious Libertine, The Wicked Lecher… he infuriates her, she amuses him and the sparks fly.
The plotline might not be very original, but it’s well-executed, with lots of humour and fun dialogue, an entertaining secondary cast (especially the foppish Sir Graham Fortescue who is definitely more than he seems) and a touch of drama in the later stages. The way that Rebecca very gradually comes to see just which of the two gentlemen is the right one for her is nicely done; we watch her slowly shedding her prejudices about de Villars at the same time as he finds it increasingly difficult to maintain his coolly cynical persona around her, and the few scenes in which he interacts with Rebecca’s son, who very shrewdly notes that “… his eyes say different to his words” - are utterly charming. The couple doesn’t progress past a few kisses on the page, but there’s a nice frisson of sexual tension between them, and it’s clear that these are two people who are passionately in love.
The writing is witty and spry and makes use of expressions and idioms that feel authentic, and there is plenty of detail about the fashions, décor and customs of the day, so those of us who like a bit of history in our historical romance certainly won’t be disappointed. But one of the things I was most pleasantly surprised about in this book was the characterisation. In some of the older romance novels I’ve read, it’s sometimes fairly thin, but that is most definitely not the case here. Rebecca is a fully-rounded character who own up to her flaws and while Trevelyan is perhaps not quite so well-developed, his feelings and motivations are easy for the reader to discern and through them, we get a clearer picture of the real man beneath the outer layer of world-weary ennui.
The Wagered Widow is a light-hearted, frothy read overall and is firmly rooted in the time in which it is set by the addition of the secondary plotline that revolves around the continuing search for Jacobite fugitives. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading more of Ms. Veryan’s work.
I’ve often seen her work likened to Georgette Heyer’s, and although I think that Heyer fans are likely to enjoy Ms. Veryan’s books, they are quite different in certain essentials. For one thing, almost all Ms. Heyer’s books are set during the Regency, while only around a third of Ms. Veryan’s are; most of her books are set more than fifty years earlier in the Georgian era. In fact, the cover of the paperback edition (1984) of The Wagered Widow proudly proclaims it to be A Regency Romance, whereas it’s actually set almost seventy years before the Regency, in 1746, just a year after the Battle of Culloden. And for another, her books usually have a political element; Ms. Veryan’s series of romantic adventures – The Tales of the Jewelled Men , The Golden Chronicles and the Sanguinet Saga (which is set during the Regency) all use the Jacobite rebellion and Battle of Culloden as important plot points and feature characters who are in some way connected with both events.
The Wagered Widow is a standalone book that also works as a prequel to The Golden Chronicles , which I definitely intend to read now they’re all available as ebooks. It tells the story of a lively young woman who has just finished her year of mourning for her late husband - who has left her in impecunious circumstances and with a six year old son to look after. Rebecca Parrish is petite, lovely, vivacious and well aware of her tendency towards hoydenish behaviour. She is also aware that, if she is to secure a well-to-do second husband who will be able to keep her and Anthony more than comfortably, she is going to have to tone down her liveliness a little and be a little more demure; after all, no man wants a wife who could be labelled ‘fast’.
When she makes the acquaintance of Sir Peter Ward, a wealthy gentleman who also happens to be extremely handsome and not too much older than she is, Rebecca thinks she has found the solution to her problems. She knows it’s mercenary of her, but she has her son and his future to think of, and she decides to fix Sir Peter’s interest and secure an offer of marriage from him. It’s true that he’s rather reserved and a bit of a stick-in-the-mud, but he’s kind and attentive and Rebecca knows she could do a lot worse than wed a man who will care for and look after her, even if there is no great passion or love between them. The problem is that his friend, the darkly attractive Trevelyan de Villars knows exactly what Rebecca is about, and takes every opportunity he can to tease her about it. De Villars has the blackest reputation and is widely known to be a rake of the first order, something Rebecca won’t let him forget. His wickedly humorous, flirtatious teasing is often very funny; she devises various epithets for him in her head – The Brute, The Lascivious Libertine, The Wicked Lecher… he infuriates her, she amuses him and the sparks fly.
The plotline might not be very original, but it’s well-executed, with lots of humour and fun dialogue, an entertaining secondary cast (especially the foppish Sir Graham Fortescue who is definitely more than he seems) and a touch of drama in the later stages. The way that Rebecca very gradually comes to see just which of the two gentlemen is the right one for her is nicely done; we watch her slowly shedding her prejudices about de Villars at the same time as he finds it increasingly difficult to maintain his coolly cynical persona around her, and the few scenes in which he interacts with Rebecca’s son, who very shrewdly notes that “… his eyes say different to his words” - are utterly charming. The couple doesn’t progress past a few kisses on the page, but there’s a nice frisson of sexual tension between them, and it’s clear that these are two people who are passionately in love.
The writing is witty and spry and makes use of expressions and idioms that feel authentic, and there is plenty of detail about the fashions, décor and customs of the day, so those of us who like a bit of history in our historical romance certainly won’t be disappointed. But one of the things I was most pleasantly surprised about in this book was the characterisation. In some of the older romance novels I’ve read, it’s sometimes fairly thin, but that is most definitely not the case here. Rebecca is a fully-rounded character who own up to her flaws and while Trevelyan is perhaps not quite so well-developed, his feelings and motivations are easy for the reader to discern and through them, we get a clearer picture of the real man beneath the outer layer of world-weary ennui.
The Wagered Widow is a light-hearted, frothy read overall and is firmly rooted in the time in which it is set by the addition of the secondary plotline that revolves around the continuing search for Jacobite fugitives. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading more of Ms. Veryan’s work.
November 9, 2018
A bit slow-moving but a thoroughly charming and fun 'n fluff filled book!
With a somewhat self-absorbed but a hugely likeable twit as the h who brings a very cynical and savvy rake to his knees without even trying. She’s set her gold-digging cap on his more suitable friend but it’s the sight of the not-really-handsome libertine that irks and thrills her all the time.
And when the storm was over, she was too exhausted to evade the truth any longer. She loved. For the first time in her life, she really loved. But she loved the wrong man. It would not do!
All secondary characters are likable, even the ow. The kids are adorable. The sub-plot involving the Jacobite rebellion adds a much needed tension to the story.
With a somewhat self-absorbed but a hugely likeable twit as the h who brings a very cynical and savvy rake to his knees without even trying. She’s set her gold-digging cap on his more suitable friend but it’s the sight of the not-really-handsome libertine that irks and thrills her all the time.
And when the storm was over, she was too exhausted to evade the truth any longer. She loved. For the first time in her life, she really loved. But she loved the wrong man. It would not do!
All secondary characters are likable, even the ow. The kids are adorable. The sub-plot involving the Jacobite rebellion adds a much needed tension to the story.
July 16, 2018
The masterpiece of the genre. Splendid fun.
Seriously, I don't see any flaw, any weak point. Witty dialogues, historical accuracy, charming characters, a wonderful romance, a small mystery, many hilarious scenes (I burst out loud many times).
Do you want to know more? Read the book! Or Christa Schönmann Abbühl's or Rebekah's review.
Seriously, I don't see any flaw, any weak point. Witty dialogues, historical accuracy, charming characters, a wonderful romance, a small mystery, many hilarious scenes (I burst out loud many times).
Do you want to know more? Read the book! Or Christa Schönmann Abbühl's or Rebekah's review.
April 1, 2018
I give only the four stars because I need some way to show which books by Veryan I like even better. But compared to most other books, especially romances, this would be a five star book. (Two days later: had to change it to five stars, sorry. I keep thinking about it, and just cannot leave it at four.)
I found myself reluctant reading anything new after finishing a truly glorious re-listen of one of my favorite audiobooks. I wanted to be sure that the next read would be satisfying, if not in the same, at least in a similar way. And how to know that with an unknown book?
Which is why I started a re-read of my favorite romance writer, Patricia Veryan. And I started with this one, because it is kind of the beginning of The Golden Chronicles.
And it has delivered. I have finished it in record time, because I am happily on vacation, and finishing a book in the early hours of the next day is not as big a problem as it would be in other circumstances.
I love how she writes, I adore her characters, the crazy plots and the wonderful dialogue. Veryan always makes me happy. Always.
I found myself reluctant reading anything new after finishing a truly glorious re-listen of one of my favorite audiobooks. I wanted to be sure that the next read would be satisfying, if not in the same, at least in a similar way. And how to know that with an unknown book?
Which is why I started a re-read of my favorite romance writer, Patricia Veryan. And I started with this one, because it is kind of the beginning of The Golden Chronicles.
And it has delivered. I have finished it in record time, because I am happily on vacation, and finishing a book in the early hours of the next day is not as big a problem as it would be in other circumstances.
I love how she writes, I adore her characters, the crazy plots and the wonderful dialogue. Veryan always makes me happy. Always.
October 20, 2016
One of the prequels to her outstanding romantic adventure series, The Golden Chronicles, this is one of the books I would recommend to any who wanted to try a Patricia Veryan for the first time. The heroine is delightful and a very well rounded character. The hero is (supposedly) a cad but with a heart of gold and good with children. It is a nice mix of country and city, adventure and social comedy, and is one of her funniest books. Not to mention, it introduces numerous characters one will meet in later books.
Veryan is often compared to Georgette Heyer, and love of Heyer is how many readers discover her. She really shouldn’t be. Only about a third of her books are set during the regency period. Most are set in the mid 1700’s and are indirectly concerned with the Jacobite rebellion. They both use the language of the period with lots of detail on fashion and the culture of the day. The romance aspect in Veryan seems much more robust than in Heyer: The hero and heroine just seem more passionately in love. The courtship of Treve and Becky builds slowly, as Becky starts to realize Treve is not a horrid rake and Treve realizes that she is not a woman to be trifled with. At the end, their romance is thrilling. In Heyer, it is less about passionate true love, and more about the protagonists finding their kindred spirit and making a match.
Veryan’s books also incorporate much more intrigue and adventure, while Heyer’s are primarily a social dance. Both result in the happy ending for the two principals and both have their delights.
Veryan is often compared to Georgette Heyer, and love of Heyer is how many readers discover her. She really shouldn’t be. Only about a third of her books are set during the regency period. Most are set in the mid 1700’s and are indirectly concerned with the Jacobite rebellion. They both use the language of the period with lots of detail on fashion and the culture of the day. The romance aspect in Veryan seems much more robust than in Heyer: The hero and heroine just seem more passionately in love. The courtship of Treve and Becky builds slowly, as Becky starts to realize Treve is not a horrid rake and Treve realizes that she is not a woman to be trifled with. At the end, their romance is thrilling. In Heyer, it is less about passionate true love, and more about the protagonists finding their kindred spirit and making a match.
Veryan’s books also incorporate much more intrigue and adventure, while Heyer’s are primarily a social dance. Both result in the happy ending for the two principals and both have their delights.
February 1, 2013
So.... I found this on an "If you like, then you'd like..." post on a blog. A huge list given by commentors listed Patricia Veryan multiple times as THE clean romance author to read. And this particular title was mentioned at least twice. When I went onto Amazon, there were only 5 star ratings, nothing lower, so I shrugged my shoulders and got it.
Here's the thing. Her writing seems very authentic. The time period, the history, the clothes, those awful powdered wigs. But, it seems so boring. Nothing really spiced it up much except near the end at the masquerade. It was really a rather dull plodding read.
However, everyone was right - it WAS clean. I swear, every couple of chapters you were SURE there would be a sex scene, but there never was! A few kisses, a few inappropriate comments (nothing too awful), but that's it!
I wasn't a big fan of the characters, though - there wasn't anyone to really hang on to and like. Plus, the romance wasn't very believable. I might be a shade realistic to be reading something like this.
So. Graded a....C+.
Here's the thing. Her writing seems very authentic. The time period, the history, the clothes, those awful powdered wigs. But, it seems so boring. Nothing really spiced it up much except near the end at the masquerade. It was really a rather dull plodding read.
However, everyone was right - it WAS clean. I swear, every couple of chapters you were SURE there would be a sex scene, but there never was! A few kisses, a few inappropriate comments (nothing too awful), but that's it!
I wasn't a big fan of the characters, though - there wasn't anyone to really hang on to and like. Plus, the romance wasn't very believable. I might be a shade realistic to be reading something like this.
So. Graded a....C+.
August 17, 2009
Sometimes I really just need a fluffy romance book. This is one I found on the Clean Romances group, and it was really fluffy. This is a historical Romance, set in early Georgian times in England (that's about 1747 or so). It has a fun heroine, and interesting relationships. There were a few historical points that were referenced, but as good historical meat goes it is lacking (but I DID say I was in the mood for a fluffy romance book. The historical part is just background really. . .)
Now, this one does pass my clean test (no bedroom scenes), but there is some major flirting (the main character is of course a widow, so she's knows enough that the flirting is more daring. .. Well not by today's standards, but by her standards). I give this book 4 stars because it is just what it is meant to be, a romance that has enough plot to keep my interest, but not enough angst to turn me off. It has made me want to look up more books by this author (I'm going to add a few to my list). Books like this need to be taken sparingly, just like desserts need to be taken sparingly, but it is worth a read when you are in the mood for some good clean fluff.
Now, this one does pass my clean test (no bedroom scenes), but there is some major flirting (the main character is of course a widow, so she's knows enough that the flirting is more daring. .. Well not by today's standards, but by her standards). I give this book 4 stars because it is just what it is meant to be, a romance that has enough plot to keep my interest, but not enough angst to turn me off. It has made me want to look up more books by this author (I'm going to add a few to my list). Books like this need to be taken sparingly, just like desserts need to be taken sparingly, but it is worth a read when you are in the mood for some good clean fluff.
October 20, 2010
GREAT BOOK! Fun, flirty, exciting, and clean. I just really enjoyed this one. I loved how it all turned out and I loved turning each page to find out what was going to happen. I can always tell if it's a five star book if I go back and read my favorite parts...well, I did just that with this book. I LOVED the ending!!! Great bookclub book Ash!!
November 25, 2009
A nice light read with endearing characters whom I grew to love. However, I'm not a fan of the Jacobite rebellion and I'm not sure whether I want to read the series that this book was a prequel to. Plus, De Villers won't be in them at all when I had thought it would be about him. No real incentive to read the next books in the series.
December 23, 2020
Some authors should be remembered, not re-read.
June 7, 2017
4.50 stars - pg13?
October 6, 2021
We give an in-depth review of this book in our podcast, Questionable History - check it out: https://anchor.fm/questionablehistory...
This book has it all - romance, adventure, and extremely wide/complicated dresses that pay off in the end.
Meet our heroine: Rebecca Parrish, a beautiful widow - she is described as petite (of course, insert eye roll here) and dainty. Apparently being tall is a definite detriment on the marriage mart. She has recently left off mourning clothes and is ready to get back out there - she is single and ready to mingle people! She is also an unashamed fortune hunter who is seeking a wealthy and staid husband to help pull her out of the financial mess inherited from her late husband's gambling addiction. Her two top requirements in a husband - no gambling and no duels.
Our hero: Treve deVillars, a cynical, satirical, and self-proclaimed rake who enjoys gambling, duels, and women but not necessarily in that order. Basically he is the epitome of everything Rebecca does NOT want in a husband. And that is fine by him as he does not have matrimony in mind (he loves 'em and leaves 'em when he has had his fill). A trauma in his past has left him immune to a woman's charms and wary of this thing called "love". That is until he meets and falls under the spell of the beautiful Rebecca Parrish.
Our third line in this love triangle: Also vying for Rebecca's hand is the staid and proper (aka boring) Sir Peter Ward. We don't have a lot to say about him except that the only one who has a higher opinion of him than himself is Rebecca. In our humble opinion he lacked substance and there really was no competition but for some reason Rebecca is obsessed with Peter (who can do no wrong, but is all kinds of wrong for her) and dismisses the obviously superior Treve (who can do no right, but who is everything that IS right).
Eventually our heroine catches up to us and realizes that Treve is the only man for her (and luckily for her it isn't too late and for some reason he still wants her, huh - to each their own). They finally make their way to a happily ever after after the traditional misunderstandings and jumping to conclusions on the part of the heroine. Truly the best relationship in the whole book is between Treve and Rebecca's son Anthony who are honest and up front with each other from the beginning.
Those who are Patricia Veryan fans like us, would know this would not be a Veryan book without at least some adventure in the aiding and abetting of a Jacobean fugitive. And of course the daring rescue takes place in the middle of a costume ball where the heroine is some how able to hide the wounded man under her hooped skirts. Okay, sure, we will buy that - what do we know about fashion back then. . .
In all seriousness, this book is a lot of fun and we highly recommend it - especially if you have never read a Patricia Veryan novel before. This is a good one to start with as it is one of her best.
This book has it all - romance, adventure, and extremely wide/complicated dresses that pay off in the end.
Meet our heroine: Rebecca Parrish, a beautiful widow - she is described as petite (of course, insert eye roll here) and dainty. Apparently being tall is a definite detriment on the marriage mart. She has recently left off mourning clothes and is ready to get back out there - she is single and ready to mingle people! She is also an unashamed fortune hunter who is seeking a wealthy and staid husband to help pull her out of the financial mess inherited from her late husband's gambling addiction. Her two top requirements in a husband - no gambling and no duels.
Our hero: Treve deVillars, a cynical, satirical, and self-proclaimed rake who enjoys gambling, duels, and women but not necessarily in that order. Basically he is the epitome of everything Rebecca does NOT want in a husband. And that is fine by him as he does not have matrimony in mind (he loves 'em and leaves 'em when he has had his fill). A trauma in his past has left him immune to a woman's charms and wary of this thing called "love". That is until he meets and falls under the spell of the beautiful Rebecca Parrish.
Our third line in this love triangle: Also vying for Rebecca's hand is the staid and proper (aka boring) Sir Peter Ward. We don't have a lot to say about him except that the only one who has a higher opinion of him than himself is Rebecca. In our humble opinion he lacked substance and there really was no competition but for some reason Rebecca is obsessed with Peter (who can do no wrong, but is all kinds of wrong for her) and dismisses the obviously superior Treve (who can do no right, but who is everything that IS right).
Eventually our heroine catches up to us and realizes that Treve is the only man for her (and luckily for her it isn't too late and for some reason he still wants her, huh - to each their own). They finally make their way to a happily ever after after the traditional misunderstandings and jumping to conclusions on the part of the heroine. Truly the best relationship in the whole book is between Treve and Rebecca's son Anthony who are honest and up front with each other from the beginning.
Those who are Patricia Veryan fans like us, would know this would not be a Veryan book without at least some adventure in the aiding and abetting of a Jacobean fugitive. And of course the daring rescue takes place in the middle of a costume ball where the heroine is some how able to hide the wounded man under her hooped skirts. Okay, sure, we will buy that - what do we know about fashion back then. . .
In all seriousness, this book is a lot of fun and we highly recommend it - especially if you have never read a Patricia Veryan novel before. This is a good one to start with as it is one of her best.
August 2, 2025
Another great, fun Signet Regency romance book by a new-to-me author, I'm over the moon! I loved the heroine in this, Rebecca, who at the start of the book decides to forego wearing black after spending a year in mourning clothes. She's a feisty woman who'll stop at nothing to ensnare a rich husband to take care of her and her son Anthony, no matter that the best eligible bachelor around should be the most boring man on the face of the earth, Sir Peter. There's only the pesky little problem of De Villars, the country's most famous rake, who keeps pestering her with his advances.
The ebook price was extortionate so I hesitated before purchasing this but I'm so happy I did! A lot happens and this has a bit more steam than other books I've read in this line (very, very passionate kisses) but it's all good fun. There's a masquerade ball, more banter and enemies-to-lovers than you can imagine and even a bit of political intrigue. I'm not a fan of children in fiction but the two we've got here are pure comedic relief, which was great!
Highly recommend, and now I'm off to track down the gorgeous paperback copy!
The ebook price was extortionate so I hesitated before purchasing this but I'm so happy I did! A lot happens and this has a bit more steam than other books I've read in this line (very, very passionate kisses) but it's all good fun. There's a masquerade ball, more banter and enemies-to-lovers than you can imagine and even a bit of political intrigue. I'm not a fan of children in fiction but the two we've got here are pure comedic relief, which was great!
Highly recommend, and now I'm off to track down the gorgeous paperback copy!
April 18, 2026
This was cute! It could’ve been a four-star read if the story didn’t meander and rely on miscommunication/misunderstandings quite so much. The main characters were uniquely charming, and I loved Anthony and Patience more than I usually enjoy children in stories (his calling her “shrimp” amused me to no end). If Veryan had ever written a story about those two, I’d pick it up in a heartbeat.
Veryan did a fantastic job developing Rebecca and Trevelyan’s gradual shift in feelings towards each other, which made for a highly gratifying final confession scene. I don’t usually love rakish love interests, but Trevelyan was so well-written and dynamic that I couldn’t help it—similar to Rebecca.
I look forward to reading more of Patricia Veryan’s work in the future!
P.S. Did I miss it, or did Rebecca never learn that Ward was the gentleman Trevelyan made his wager with?
Veryan did a fantastic job developing Rebecca and Trevelyan’s gradual shift in feelings towards each other, which made for a highly gratifying final confession scene. I don’t usually love rakish love interests, but Trevelyan was so well-written and dynamic that I couldn’t help it—similar to Rebecca.
I look forward to reading more of Patricia Veryan’s work in the future!
P.S. Did I miss it, or did Rebecca never learn that Ward was the gentleman Trevelyan made his wager with?
February 27, 2026
An enterprising widow in need of a fortune sets her sights on an elusive bachelor: rich, handsome, and absolutely not interested in marriage. The bachelor is far from oblivious to her plans and even makes a wager with a friend who has his own less than honourable designs on the widow.
This was a fun read: quite slow at times but with a pull that gradually draws you in and keeps hold.
Interestingly, the key player in this story the hero, de Villars; slightly disreputable and very much a rake, yet possesses a certain charm and many honourable qualities……he reminded me of someone🤔 I’m sure Eloisa James must have read this book…
This was a fun read: quite slow at times but with a pull that gradually draws you in and keeps hold.
Interestingly, the key player in this story the hero, de Villars; slightly disreputable and very much a rake, yet possesses a certain charm and many honourable qualities……he reminded me of someone🤔 I’m sure Eloisa James must have read this book…
April 30, 2026
I loved this book. The characters are well thought out and are a delight to get to know. The writing style is excellent and you get to know about the Georgian Period in England. I have loved every one of Patricia Veryan’s, and to be able to put them on my kindle is amazing.
I highly recommend this book.
But be aware, some characters will reappear in the series, so you don’t have to say goodbye to them.
I highly recommend this book.
But be aware, some characters will reappear in the series, so you don’t have to say goodbye to them.
March 6, 2026
I'm loving Veryan's stand alone books so far. This was great - I might give it a 3.8, because I felt Treve was pretty free with his unwanted kisses for the first half of the book and that made me like him less. But this was exciting and had plenty of romantic suspense and great characters and historical context and everything one could want in a romance.
December 11, 2024
This was really bad. Not well written and the characters were insufferable. The only reason why it might not deserve the 1 star rating is that it's my own fault that i finished it. I should have just dnfed. A lesson for the future.
January 19, 2018
I usually like regency more than this period (Georgian?) with big skirts and powdered hair. But this was so cute and funny and well written that I loved it. I am sure this will be a book I reread.
February 11, 2018
Such fun to read! Definitely a favorite!
December 10, 2018
Not great.
September 9, 2024
It was longer than the HR I usually read but I enjoyed every second of it. A very interesting plot, several well-developed secondary characters, a slow burn romance, insta lust (H) turned into true love that was entirely believable, a mystery that felt like an action-thriller for me in the second half with the jacobite refugee sub-plot. Absolutely magnificent.
April 30, 2026
What s nice surprise! My first book from this author and definitely not my last. I wish she had audiobooks since it’s my preference, but alas..
October 6, 2025
Normally rakish heroes rub me the wrong way but I liked this one. I think the heroine being a widow and a bit experienced helped. And I loved the children in this book.
July 24, 2018
The only word to describe this novel is romp. In any other book, the beautiful widow who sets out to systematically ensnare the determined bachelor would be the villainess of the piece, Veryan instead makes us not only sympathise with but cheer on Mrs. Parrish in her pursuit of financial stability.
Veryan’s secondary characters contribute a great deal to this book, even more so than usual. This is partly because so much of the plot revolves around the obstacles to Mrs. Parrish’s scheme; obstacles which come in many shapes and forms. There were scenes, especially during the house party, that reminded me of Wodehouse. And I won’t give anything away but I have to mention The Red Velvet dress. It is a lesson on how to write foreshadowing. Talk about dressing for the occasion! I will say no more.
Of course, the most prominent obstacle in Mrs. Parrish’s way is Trevelyan De Villars. Equally matched in wit, mischief, and stubbornness, they are a delight to watch. The mix up with the duel was particularly hilarious.
There is also the Monahan, a notorious woman who is the sort of character who demonstrates everything that Mrs. Parrish should be according to time honored cliches, but somehow isn’t. As the two women both scheme to the same end, the Monahan becomes both an opposite and a parallel to the heroine.
(Spoilers) I am not overly fond of the ever popular “bad boy hero” in historical fiction and by extension what I like to call “Reform School Courting.” However, in this instance Veryan makes the romance with the bad boy work. For one thing, Parrish doesn’t actually give in to her feelings for De Villars until she sees that he is not actually the bad boy, and, secondly Veryan make De Villars go through the wringer to prove his worth! Parrish marries De Villars knowing exactly what she is getting. There is no magical transformation of his innate character, but rather a better understanding of who he truly is. One might also note that Mrs. Parrish is not above a little scheming and ruthlessness herself. In short, they deserve each other. ;) (End of Spoilers)
I should also note that if you are one of those people that actually reads a series in order, The Wagered Widow is something of a the prequel to Veryan’s Golden Chronicles: De Villars, shows up quite a bit in the later books.
Notable Quotable: All but Incoherent with frustrated fury, she managed, “oh! If I but had a pistol! You are… vile! Vile!”
“Beyond all doubting. And there is a pistol in the drawer, yonder.”
Running around the desk, Rebecca tore at the top drawer so violently that it flew out, sending the contents over the floor and de Villars into new howls of mirth.
I didn’t like it quite as much as the Tyrant (also by Veryan), but definitely 4 out of 5 stars.
Veryan’s secondary characters contribute a great deal to this book, even more so than usual. This is partly because so much of the plot revolves around the obstacles to Mrs. Parrish’s scheme; obstacles which come in many shapes and forms. There were scenes, especially during the house party, that reminded me of Wodehouse. And I won’t give anything away but I have to mention The Red Velvet dress. It is a lesson on how to write foreshadowing. Talk about dressing for the occasion! I will say no more.
Of course, the most prominent obstacle in Mrs. Parrish’s way is Trevelyan De Villars. Equally matched in wit, mischief, and stubbornness, they are a delight to watch. The mix up with the duel was particularly hilarious.
There is also the Monahan, a notorious woman who is the sort of character who demonstrates everything that Mrs. Parrish should be according to time honored cliches, but somehow isn’t. As the two women both scheme to the same end, the Monahan becomes both an opposite and a parallel to the heroine.
(Spoilers) I am not overly fond of the ever popular “bad boy hero” in historical fiction and by extension what I like to call “Reform School Courting.” However, in this instance Veryan makes the romance with the bad boy work. For one thing, Parrish doesn’t actually give in to her feelings for De Villars until she sees that he is not actually the bad boy, and, secondly Veryan make De Villars go through the wringer to prove his worth! Parrish marries De Villars knowing exactly what she is getting. There is no magical transformation of his innate character, but rather a better understanding of who he truly is. One might also note that Mrs. Parrish is not above a little scheming and ruthlessness herself. In short, they deserve each other. ;) (End of Spoilers)
I should also note that if you are one of those people that actually reads a series in order, The Wagered Widow is something of a the prequel to Veryan’s Golden Chronicles: De Villars, shows up quite a bit in the later books.
Notable Quotable: All but Incoherent with frustrated fury, she managed, “oh! If I but had a pistol! You are… vile! Vile!”
“Beyond all doubting. And there is a pistol in the drawer, yonder.”
Running around the desk, Rebecca tore at the top drawer so violently that it flew out, sending the contents over the floor and de Villars into new howls of mirth.
I didn’t like it quite as much as the Tyrant (also by Veryan), but definitely 4 out of 5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2017
Fin oltre la metà, ho letto questo libro in un leggero stato di euforia: le risate irrefrenabili suscitate da alcune scene mi davano l'idea di avere in mano una nuova Heyer, il che avrebbe improvvisamente raddoppiato le mie future aspettative di letture gradevoli ed esilaranti. Ma i toni melodrammatici ('fustian', per usare un'espressione cara alla equilibrata e ironica Georgette) con i quali la storia inopinatamente si chiude, con un lieto fine che somiglia al 'salvi tutti!' di un vecchio gioco a nascondino, mi hanno riempito di perplessità: mi piacerà leggere qualcos'altro di suo?
November 29, 2015
When one reads a lot of historical romances, some recurring themes become boring. You expect certain things to happen in the plot. Characters start seeming similar.
This book is the most refreshing book I've read in a while. The characters - Rebecca ( the widow in question), her aunt, brother, and her potential beaus are all well-drawn. You actually like and sympathize with all of them. There is no real 'villian'.
The story is very simple in its basic premise. Rebecca Parish has thrown off her blacks as it is a year since her husband died. He has left them in near-penury. She is determined to use her beauty and wiles to get a better - as in - wealthy husband - who can afford to send her son to school. She meets the handsome and rich Sir Peter Ward - and The Plan to win his love and become his wife is born. Sir Peter's wicked friend Trevelyn though has other plans for her.
From here the story takes unexpected twists and turns. There is a lively house party, an intriguing masked ball, mysterious comings and goings in the mix. Slowly Rebecca realizes what she really truly needs in her husband.
There are fun situations, lively conversations and small mysteries aplenty. After a while Regency era is a bit boring, as clothes were less elaborate and dueling was banned. This is pre-Regency. So there are hoops, and extremely elaborate clothing and an exciting duel with swords etc.
Another wonderful thing was, how the characters get out of situations they get into. Sometimes authors like Jane Feather provide an overly simplistic solution. That isn't so in this book. When people get in trouble, they really use some guile and its fun to read.
It is light enough on the historical aspects though it deals in part with the Jacobite rebellion.
A wonderfully satisfying read in all. Much recommended if you like historical romances, lively characters and intricate plotting.
5 Stars!
I'm moving on to read more books by this author.
This book is the most refreshing book I've read in a while. The characters - Rebecca ( the widow in question), her aunt, brother, and her potential beaus are all well-drawn. You actually like and sympathize with all of them. There is no real 'villian'.
The story is very simple in its basic premise. Rebecca Parish has thrown off her blacks as it is a year since her husband died. He has left them in near-penury. She is determined to use her beauty and wiles to get a better - as in - wealthy husband - who can afford to send her son to school. She meets the handsome and rich Sir Peter Ward - and The Plan to win his love and become his wife is born. Sir Peter's wicked friend Trevelyn though has other plans for her.
From here the story takes unexpected twists and turns. There is a lively house party, an intriguing masked ball, mysterious comings and goings in the mix. Slowly Rebecca realizes what she really truly needs in her husband.
There are fun situations, lively conversations and small mysteries aplenty. After a while Regency era is a bit boring, as clothes were less elaborate and dueling was banned. This is pre-Regency. So there are hoops, and extremely elaborate clothing and an exciting duel with swords etc.
Another wonderful thing was, how the characters get out of situations they get into. Sometimes authors like Jane Feather provide an overly simplistic solution. That isn't so in this book. When people get in trouble, they really use some guile and its fun to read.
It is light enough on the historical aspects though it deals in part with the Jacobite rebellion.
A wonderfully satisfying read in all. Much recommended if you like historical romances, lively characters and intricate plotting.
5 Stars!
I'm moving on to read more books by this author.
Did Not Finish
February 20, 2017DNF 20/02/17
Bounced off this one - the rather stylised writing style didn't work for me, despite its shades of Heyer, and even though I wanted to like the characters they were just a bit stiffly-drawn.
Bounced off this one - the rather stylised writing style didn't work for me, despite its shades of Heyer, and even though I wanted to like the characters they were just a bit stiffly-drawn.
June 22, 2025
2nd in my Patricia Veryan re-read. I originally read this after the Golden Chronicles, which gave it something of a dessert flavor (lighter, fluffier and kind of relaxing after some of the more angsty/adventuresome books in Veryan's first Georgian series).
This one starts in May 1746 and extends into the summer, so probably overlaps time-wise with Mistress of Willowvale, although I don't think there were any characters who appeared in both. Secondary character-wise, Hilary Broadbent and Horatio, Viscount Glendenning and Kadenworthy were introduced and I think some or all appear in later books in the series.
The main character was fine, her tendency to daydream and not fit into the personality she aspired to was effective. Her brother, modelled on a typical dimwitted semi-comic Heyer sibling was actively annoying.
Overall, entertaining and very typical Veryan (on the lighter side).
This one starts in May 1746 and extends into the summer, so probably overlaps time-wise with Mistress of Willowvale, although I don't think there were any characters who appeared in both. Secondary character-wise, Hilary Broadbent and Horatio, Viscount Glendenning and Kadenworthy were introduced and I think some or all appear in later books in the series.
The main character was fine, her tendency to daydream and not fit into the personality she aspired to was effective. Her brother, modelled on a typical dimwitted semi-comic Heyer sibling was actively annoying.
Overall, entertaining and very typical Veryan (on the lighter side).
May 3, 2017
This was an old-school regency read (actually its not technically a “regency” time period, but close enough) and it took me a little bit to get used to the cadence of the writing. I had to look up a few of the terms Veryan used, but overall it was pretty easy to get into and understand. I really enjoyed the plot; it reminded me a lot of Pride and Prejudice, but with a lot more flirting and a very charming leading man. I typically don’t care for the “rake” character. I don’t think a guy who has had tons of mistresses is really all that great. However, this particular rake did win me over. I really loved his interactions with Rebecca. Rebecca is kind of a schemer, but really likable. I had a lot of fun reading this one. I would definitely be interested in reading more by Veryan, too bad most of her books are out of print!
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