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Timeless Regency Collection
Wedding Wagers
Three wagers. Three couples. Three chances at love. Let the bets begin.
From the publisher of the USA TODAY bestselling & #1 Amazon bestselling Timeless Romance Anthology series in Regency Romance, comes WEDDING WAGERS. Featuring bestselling authors Donna Hatch, Heather B. Moore, and Michele Paige Holmes.
From the publisher of the USA TODAY bestselling & #1 Amazon bestselling Timeless Romance Anthology series in Regency Romance, comes WEDDING WAGERS. Featuring bestselling authors Donna Hatch, Heather B. Moore, and Michele Paige Holmes.
362 pages, Paperback
First published August 20, 2018
182 people are currently reading
295 people want to read
About the author
Donna Hatch
43 books1,039 followersMulti-award-winning author of more than twenty best-selling Regency Historical Romances, Donna Hatch is a hopeful romantic and an adventurer at heart. Each book she writes is filled with wit and heart and plenty of swoon-worthy romance. Donna sings, plays the harp, and loves to ballroom dance. Her family, including six children and two cats, recently left their native Arizona for the Pacific coast of the US. No matter where they live, she and her husband of over twenty years are proof that there truly is a happily ever after.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
September 13, 2018
Review for November issue of InD'tale Magazine.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
August 17, 2018
I really enjoyed this regency collection, each story was well-developed, great characters and fun plots. It's always nice when you read an anthology and end up liking all the stories!
A Wager of Love by Donna Hatch
Kind of a "forbidden love" type story, Phillip is the son of a Duke and Meredith is the daughter of a factory owner. They come from different stations in life, but none of that matters when it comes to their hearts. I thought they had a sweet relationship and I enjoyed seeing their story unfold.
Trivia: For fans of Ms. Hatch's Rogue Hearts series, you'll see some cameo's from some of our favorite characters (I believe A Wager of Love takes place before that series). Also, if you want to catch Phillip's brothers story, check out Autumn Masquerade where he gets his HEA in Unmasking the Duke. Reading order, although each can stand alone: A Wager of Love, The Stranger She Married, Unmasking the Duke.
The Final Wager by Heather Moore
I enjoyed this one! Victor and Juliet are both likable leads and it was fun to watch them fall in love. They have a lot of obstacles to over come which made for an enjoyable read. It was nice to see both Victor and Juliet take control of their own lives and fight for each other.
An Improbable Wager by Michele Paige Holmes
Eli and Emily have a sweet love story. Another forbidden love story, Eli is in love with the boss's daughter. While I could see the "surprise" coming right from the start, it was fun to see how it all came about and it was nice reading to fill in the pieces and figure out where Eli came from. I liked this one. I thought it was well written and kept me glued to the pages.
This collection easily could have been called Forbidden Love, haha. It wasn't until I sat down to write this review did I catch that each H/h were in impossible situations and had to overcome a lot to be together. They also each had fun wagers that play a big role in each of the stories. I liked that even though they're each novella length novels, they all felt like complete stories.
Content: Clean
Source: Review Copy
A Wager of Love by Donna Hatch
Kind of a "forbidden love" type story, Phillip is the son of a Duke and Meredith is the daughter of a factory owner. They come from different stations in life, but none of that matters when it comes to their hearts. I thought they had a sweet relationship and I enjoyed seeing their story unfold.
Trivia: For fans of Ms. Hatch's Rogue Hearts series, you'll see some cameo's from some of our favorite characters (I believe A Wager of Love takes place before that series). Also, if you want to catch Phillip's brothers story, check out Autumn Masquerade where he gets his HEA in Unmasking the Duke. Reading order, although each can stand alone: A Wager of Love, The Stranger She Married, Unmasking the Duke.
The Final Wager by Heather Moore
I enjoyed this one! Victor and Juliet are both likable leads and it was fun to watch them fall in love. They have a lot of obstacles to over come which made for an enjoyable read. It was nice to see both Victor and Juliet take control of their own lives and fight for each other.
An Improbable Wager by Michele Paige Holmes
Eli and Emily have a sweet love story. Another forbidden love story, Eli is in love with the boss's daughter. While I could see the "surprise" coming right from the start, it was fun to see how it all came about and it was nice reading to fill in the pieces and figure out where Eli came from. I liked this one. I thought it was well written and kept me glued to the pages.
This collection easily could have been called Forbidden Love, haha. It wasn't until I sat down to write this review did I catch that each H/h were in impossible situations and had to overcome a lot to be together. They also each had fun wagers that play a big role in each of the stories. I liked that even though they're each novella length novels, they all felt like complete stories.
Content: Clean
Source: Review Copy
July 20, 2020
2020 update--I listened to the audiobook this time around. I only remembered bits and pieces of the 3 stories so it was fun to read them again. I liked the narrator's voice and thought she did a great job with all of the voices.
I love these collections and this was such a fun storyline to read about. I wondered how each author would fit the theme of "Wedding Wagers" into their novella. By the way, each of these stories didn't feel like I was reading a novella.
A Wager of Love by Donna Hatch--The Regency era had so many rules on who could marry whom, it's a wonder anyone got married for love. Phillip is the son of a duke and wants to meet a woman who's not interested in him just because he's the brother of a duke. He finally meets Meredith Brown, but when he accidentally dumps her into the River Thames it leads to a wager with his best friend. This was a fun story. I liked Phillip's friendship with Michael, the man he places the wager with. I think Phillip is a lucky man that Meredith was such a forgiving lady after he caused her unexpected swim in the Thames. I wouldn't have been quite as forgiving or found humor in it as Meredith did.
The Final Wager by Heather Moore--Victor Roland plays a game of twenty-one with Lord Southill, who loses hand after hand. Lord Southill finally tries to bet his sister and her dowry, which Victor refuses to do. Later on, Victor finds out the truth of Lord Southill's finances and meets his sister, the beautiful Lady Juliet. I loved this story. Poor Lady Juliet was saddled with a selfish brother who wasted their inheritance, and Victor wanted to help so that she didn't have to marry a man old enough to be her father. I loved the ending with the horses; it reminded me of Julia Roberts in Runaway Bride.
An Improbable Wager by Michele Paige Holmes--Sherborne Rowley III intends to marry his long-time neighbor, Emily Montgomery, because it will solve his financial problems. His plan hits a big snag when Eli Linfield, a childhood friend, remembers the wager they made as children that Eli would marry Emily. The late night birthing of a foal causes quite a bit of trouble for Sherborne, Eli and the Montgomery sisters, and a huge secret comes to light. I liked how this story resolved itself. I knew how the bet would end but I never suspected how it would play out. No spoilers here.
This is another wonderful trilogy of Regency stories. I don't know how the authors continue to do it, but I'm glad they do.
I love these collections and this was such a fun storyline to read about. I wondered how each author would fit the theme of "Wedding Wagers" into their novella. By the way, each of these stories didn't feel like I was reading a novella.
A Wager of Love by Donna Hatch--The Regency era had so many rules on who could marry whom, it's a wonder anyone got married for love. Phillip is the son of a duke and wants to meet a woman who's not interested in him just because he's the brother of a duke. He finally meets Meredith Brown, but when he accidentally dumps her into the River Thames it leads to a wager with his best friend. This was a fun story. I liked Phillip's friendship with Michael, the man he places the wager with. I think Phillip is a lucky man that Meredith was such a forgiving lady after he caused her unexpected swim in the Thames. I wouldn't have been quite as forgiving or found humor in it as Meredith did.
The Final Wager by Heather Moore--Victor Roland plays a game of twenty-one with Lord Southill, who loses hand after hand. Lord Southill finally tries to bet his sister and her dowry, which Victor refuses to do. Later on, Victor finds out the truth of Lord Southill's finances and meets his sister, the beautiful Lady Juliet. I loved this story. Poor Lady Juliet was saddled with a selfish brother who wasted their inheritance, and Victor wanted to help so that she didn't have to marry a man old enough to be her father. I loved the ending with the horses; it reminded me of Julia Roberts in Runaway Bride.
An Improbable Wager by Michele Paige Holmes--Sherborne Rowley III intends to marry his long-time neighbor, Emily Montgomery, because it will solve his financial problems. His plan hits a big snag when Eli Linfield, a childhood friend, remembers the wager they made as children that Eli would marry Emily. The late night birthing of a foal causes quite a bit of trouble for Sherborne, Eli and the Montgomery sisters, and a huge secret comes to light. I liked how this story resolved itself. I knew how the bet would end but I never suspected how it would play out. No spoilers here.
This is another wonderful trilogy of Regency stories. I don't know how the authors continue to do it, but I'm glad they do.
August 21, 2018
This book gets all the love and gushing for a review. Three of my favorite authors and the three original creators of the Timeless collection wrote the three novellas. Let me just say, I was a little excited to pick it up. And each novella was just fabulous! I loved the characters, the story, the wager, the problem and the solution. Not to mention, the romance in all of them was clean, and the getting to the happily ever after was so fun to read about! More please! ;-)
These three novellas did not feel like they were novellas. I felt very satisfied with the story being well rounded and not feeling rushed. These three authors are well into their careers and definitely know their craft very well. I truly loved all three but if I were asked to pick a favorite, it would hands down be The Final Wager by Heather B. Moore. But don't let that diminish how much I loved the other two stories. I was very engrossed in each story and felt like I connected to all the characters very easily.
And wagers. What a fun idea to make the premise of a story. I thought the authors were very creative in the wagers that fueled their story. Each different from the other but each very believable and adding angst to the story and the relationships between the characters.
If you haven't read any of these Timeless Collections I would say start with this one (if you're a Regency Fan-or even if you're not). It's so hard to pick favorites in these collections because I truly enjoy them all. But, I think it all depends on if you want to read Timeless Regency, Timeless Romance, Western, etc. for which collection you start with. Any of them have great authors who write the novellas. Grab this one though, it's well worth the time spent!
Content: All clean.
I received a copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
These three novellas did not feel like they were novellas. I felt very satisfied with the story being well rounded and not feeling rushed. These three authors are well into their careers and definitely know their craft very well. I truly loved all three but if I were asked to pick a favorite, it would hands down be The Final Wager by Heather B. Moore. But don't let that diminish how much I loved the other two stories. I was very engrossed in each story and felt like I connected to all the characters very easily.
And wagers. What a fun idea to make the premise of a story. I thought the authors were very creative in the wagers that fueled their story. Each different from the other but each very believable and adding angst to the story and the relationships between the characters.
If you haven't read any of these Timeless Collections I would say start with this one (if you're a Regency Fan-or even if you're not). It's so hard to pick favorites in these collections because I truly enjoy them all. But, I think it all depends on if you want to read Timeless Regency, Timeless Romance, Western, etc. for which collection you start with. Any of them have great authors who write the novellas. Grab this one though, it's well worth the time spent!
Content: All clean.
I received a copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
August 20, 2018
These 3 stories were fun to read. The 1st story was about a wager to win the girl. It was a little silly but fun to read. I bit of insta love is just hard for me to buy. The 2nd story was my least favorite. The leading lady did something so completely out of character is was hard to like the Hero or Heroine in that one. The 3rd story is why this has 3 stars. It was wonderful:} It was so sweet and my perfect kind of story. I will be rereading that one again.
September 15, 2018
***4.5 stars***
Love is always a gamble, particularly when a wager is involved. This book has three anthologies that have a wager made about marriage as part of the plot. All three are set in England during the Regency Era.
I loved the stories. Each of the stories were written by a "go to" author for me. Donna Hatch's story is humorous. The MC's meet when he accidentally has her take is swim in the Thames. It is not a likely way to begin a courtship. It was a wonderful story to read. It had a great start, middle, and finish.
Heather Moore's story is more of a damsel in distress book. The damsel is a strong character who could find her way in the book, but having a handsome man to help her along doesn't hurt. This was another wonderful book to read. In saving her, he saves himself.
Michele Paige Holmes' story has some interesting twists. I didn't see some of them coming. I will say that both of the male MC's get what they deserve in the end. This story also has some humorous moments that made it a lot of fun to read.
All three of the stories are clean. There is some innuendo and kissing.
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Love is always a gamble, particularly when a wager is involved. This book has three anthologies that have a wager made about marriage as part of the plot. All three are set in England during the Regency Era.
I loved the stories. Each of the stories were written by a "go to" author for me. Donna Hatch's story is humorous. The MC's meet when he accidentally has her take is swim in the Thames. It is not a likely way to begin a courtship. It was a wonderful story to read. It had a great start, middle, and finish.
Heather Moore's story is more of a damsel in distress book. The damsel is a strong character who could find her way in the book, but having a handsome man to help her along doesn't hurt. This was another wonderful book to read. In saving her, he saves himself.
Michele Paige Holmes' story has some interesting twists. I didn't see some of them coming. I will say that both of the male MC's get what they deserve in the end. This story also has some humorous moments that made it a lot of fun to read.
All three of the stories are clean. There is some innuendo and kissing.
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
September 24, 2018
This book was so much fun to read! These are three of my favorite authors so I knew I was in for a treat with this book. I loved that each story revolved around a wager the character(s) made. It made for some sticky situations because we all know how wagers can most certainly come back to haunt you!
I thought each book was entertaining and well done. I loved how each male character in each story worked so hard to get the girl he wanted. The wagers were out of a sincere desire to ultimately end up with the girl of their dreams. How sweet is that? Yeah, I loved those men even if making wagers is not the smartest thing to do.
Content: clean romance, some kissing.
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I thought each book was entertaining and well done. I loved how each male character in each story worked so hard to get the girl he wanted. The wagers were out of a sincere desire to ultimately end up with the girl of their dreams. How sweet is that? Yeah, I loved those men even if making wagers is not the smartest thing to do.
Content: clean romance, some kissing.
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 16, 2018
I loved all three novellas in this collection! Usually, I have a favorite when I read a collection like this, but all three ended up being my favorite!
"A Wager on Love" by Donna Hatch
Phillip Partridge is the brother of the Duke of Suttenberg, and many young girls see him as a means to meet his very eligible brother or as a means to marry into such a prestigious family. He's not sure he will ever find a girl who suits him, until he meets Meredith Brown. Phillip is instantly taken with her and makes a wager with his best friend, Michael Cavenleigh that he can win Meredith over (despite their rocky start) and get her to marry him. Unfortunately, her lack of connections makes her unacceptable in his mother's eyes. Fortunately, he has plans and allies who will help him.
Meredith Brown is nearly 23 years old and the daughter of a factory owner - not to mention there is some scandal attached to her name. She has nothing to recommend her except kindness, quickness to forgive, championing young naive girls who may be taken advantage of, thoughtfulness, generosity, intelligence and compassion - all things that Phillip values.
"The Final Wager" by Heather Moore
Lord Victor Roland, Earl of Locken is the next Duke - if he marries the girl his dad has picked out for him. Otherwise, he will be disinherited by the Duke.
John Baldwin, Earl of Southill, is desperately gambling away all his money and his future. His sister, Juliet, is trying to keep the household going while trying to hold off her brother's debtors.
Victor and Juliet inadvertently meet through her brother, and Victor is drawn to her immediately. But he knows he shouldn't be because he has an almost-fiancee that his father has selected. He decides to help her by convincing her brother to have a 2-week house party with eligible bachelors. He makes a wager with her that she will have 3 engagement offers by the end of the house party. He even invites his almost-fiancee to remind himself that he isn't eligible to offer for Juliet. But things don't always go as planned...
"An Improbable Wager" by Michele Paige Holmes
12-year-old Eli Linfield, "a common farm boy," and 10-year-old Sherborn Alexander Rowley III, the future Earl of Shrewbury, make a wager over young Emily Montgomery. Eli is madly in love with her and wagers that she will one day marry him, as impossible as that seems.
14 years later Eli is a stable master for the Montgomery's, and is content - even if he does have a lot of secrets that no other living person knows. Sherborn has inherited the title and needs to marry money quickly. He is already practically betrothed to Emily Montgomery and needs her dowry. Just as it appears Eli has lost the bet, Emily's sister Sophia takes matters into her own hand. And Emily is left to decide between money and position or happiness.
Content: Clean
Source: Review Copy (opinion is 100% my own)
"A Wager on Love" by Donna Hatch
Phillip Partridge is the brother of the Duke of Suttenberg, and many young girls see him as a means to meet his very eligible brother or as a means to marry into such a prestigious family. He's not sure he will ever find a girl who suits him, until he meets Meredith Brown. Phillip is instantly taken with her and makes a wager with his best friend, Michael Cavenleigh that he can win Meredith over (despite their rocky start) and get her to marry him. Unfortunately, her lack of connections makes her unacceptable in his mother's eyes. Fortunately, he has plans and allies who will help him.
Meredith Brown is nearly 23 years old and the daughter of a factory owner - not to mention there is some scandal attached to her name. She has nothing to recommend her except kindness, quickness to forgive, championing young naive girls who may be taken advantage of, thoughtfulness, generosity, intelligence and compassion - all things that Phillip values.
"The Final Wager" by Heather Moore
Lord Victor Roland, Earl of Locken is the next Duke - if he marries the girl his dad has picked out for him. Otherwise, he will be disinherited by the Duke.
John Baldwin, Earl of Southill, is desperately gambling away all his money and his future. His sister, Juliet, is trying to keep the household going while trying to hold off her brother's debtors.
Victor and Juliet inadvertently meet through her brother, and Victor is drawn to her immediately. But he knows he shouldn't be because he has an almost-fiancee that his father has selected. He decides to help her by convincing her brother to have a 2-week house party with eligible bachelors. He makes a wager with her that she will have 3 engagement offers by the end of the house party. He even invites his almost-fiancee to remind himself that he isn't eligible to offer for Juliet. But things don't always go as planned...
"An Improbable Wager" by Michele Paige Holmes
12-year-old Eli Linfield, "a common farm boy," and 10-year-old Sherborn Alexander Rowley III, the future Earl of Shrewbury, make a wager over young Emily Montgomery. Eli is madly in love with her and wagers that she will one day marry him, as impossible as that seems.
14 years later Eli is a stable master for the Montgomery's, and is content - even if he does have a lot of secrets that no other living person knows. Sherborn has inherited the title and needs to marry money quickly. He is already practically betrothed to Emily Montgomery and needs her dowry. Just as it appears Eli has lost the bet, Emily's sister Sophia takes matters into her own hand. And Emily is left to decide between money and position or happiness.
Content: Clean
Source: Review Copy (opinion is 100% my own)
August 27, 2018
There is plenty of humor and wit in these three Regency stories (by three of my favorite must-read authors!) that have some kind of wager about a wedding as the premise. They are longer than novella length, and each have fully developed characters and plots. I appreciated that I felt like I could connect to each of the couples and their dilemmas, and was invested in the outcome of their happily-ever-afters. I definitely enjoyed all three, but my favorite was An Improbable Wager by Michele Paige Holmes, because I'm a sucker for the unrequited love/childhood crush trope! Eli was such an admirable and unassuming hero, working his way up in the world with moderate success so that even though he never expected to have his romantic dreams fulfilled, he was prepared when the opportunity arose. Lots of romance and navigating of Regency society made this collection one I'll definitely re-read in the future!
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
August 15, 2018
I absolutely enjoyed these stories. I must admit though the The Final Wager was my favorite. I just loved the chemistry of these characters. These are all sweet, clean romances.
August 24, 2018
Another good collection of novellas. I think I enjoyed the 2nd one the best.
November 24, 2018
A Wager For Love- Donna Hatch-4 stars
I enjoyed this novella about Meredith, who has been twice disappointed in love and Phillip, the younger brother of a Duke. She is very untrusting and I liked watching Phillip break down her walls and gain her trust. The story had likeable supporting characters and I wish it had been a full length story.
The Final Wager - Heather Moore-5 stars
Juliet needs to make a match because her brother is gambling away his inheritance and their estate is in disrepair. Victor plans on marrying a woman of his father's choosing to secure his inheritance. They meet when Victor brings her drunk, injured brother home. Despite being taken with her, Victor decides to fund a house party to help her find a husband. It was fun to watch these two fall in love. I loved both characters and wish their story had been full length because I wasn't ready to say goodbye.
An Improbable Wager - Michele Paige Holmes-5+stars
I gave the previous novella 5 stars and I still believe it deserves it but this is my favorite novella in the book. I absolutely loved it so it gets 5+stars. I loved Eli and Emily. Their story was so much fun to read and I couldn't put it down. I will definitely reread it in the future.
I enjoyed this novella about Meredith, who has been twice disappointed in love and Phillip, the younger brother of a Duke. She is very untrusting and I liked watching Phillip break down her walls and gain her trust. The story had likeable supporting characters and I wish it had been a full length story.
The Final Wager - Heather Moore-5 stars
Juliet needs to make a match because her brother is gambling away his inheritance and their estate is in disrepair. Victor plans on marrying a woman of his father's choosing to secure his inheritance. They meet when Victor brings her drunk, injured brother home. Despite being taken with her, Victor decides to fund a house party to help her find a husband. It was fun to watch these two fall in love. I loved both characters and wish their story had been full length because I wasn't ready to say goodbye.
An Improbable Wager - Michele Paige Holmes-5+stars
I gave the previous novella 5 stars and I still believe it deserves it but this is my favorite novella in the book. I absolutely loved it so it gets 5+stars. I loved Eli and Emily. Their story was so much fun to read and I couldn't put it down. I will definitely reread it in the future.
August 29, 2018
Three novellas, yet all felt like complete stories. Often in a novella the story is rushed, making it unbelievable. These however, do not fail us.
Each story is about overcoming some obstacle for their improbable relationship.
Of the three, A Wager of Love was my favorite. Donna Hatch is one of my favorite authors, and her stories have never disappointed or left me wanting. This story was 5 stars for me. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The other two stories were well done and the characters very likeable.
CONTENT
Romance - Pretty Clean
Violence - None
Language - None
Each story is about overcoming some obstacle for their improbable relationship.
Of the three, A Wager of Love was my favorite. Donna Hatch is one of my favorite authors, and her stories have never disappointed or left me wanting. This story was 5 stars for me. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The other two stories were well done and the characters very likeable.
CONTENT
Romance - Pretty Clean
Violence - None
Language - None
August 20, 2018
A Wager On Love by Donna Hatch
Phillip Patridge is tired of being used for his connection to his brother, the Duke of Suttenberg. He just wants someone to see him. Meredith Brown feels like she is only seen for her dowry, and asks her aunt and uncle to claim that it is modest. When Phillip meets Meredith, he sees her kindness to others and her confidence. He tells his best friend that he will marry her someday, and a bet is made.
The meet-cute in this story was adorable, and I loved watching Phillip try to work his way back from it.
The Final Wager by Heather B. Moore
Lord Victor Roland never got along with Southill in school, but when Southill is in an accident, Victor feels obligated to see him safely home. Victor meets Southill's sister, Juliet, a woman who doesn't deserve the deplorable brother she has. Victor orchestrates a house party and bets Juliet that she will receive three proposals by summer's end.
I loved that the heroine herself was in on this bet. Southill is an idiot! I am glad that Victor finds and is there for Juliet. I love seeing her gain confidence as she meets other members of society.
An Improbable Wager by Michele Paige Holmes
When farmhand, Eli Linfield, bets Sherborne Rowley at the age of 12, that he will marry the beauty next door, Emily Montgomery, nobody really expects it to happen, let alone, Eli. This was a classic story of a couple who have known each other for years, only to realize that they love each other. Emily's road to discovery was sweet, and Eli was so respectful and kind to her, that I was rooting for them the whole time.
Overall, this was a great collection of regency romances. I like that the stories are short enough to read in an evening, yet well developed. The subject of the collection was amusing. I expected bets between gentlemen put down in the betting book at White's. What I got was idle bets between supportive friends, the heroine, and a competitor. The stakes ranged from mucking out stalls or riding a mule, to property or ten years of free labor. Compelling, sweet, and amusing. This was a nice addition to the Timeless Regency Collection.
Content: Clean (some kissing, an interrupted tryst)
Phillip Patridge is tired of being used for his connection to his brother, the Duke of Suttenberg. He just wants someone to see him. Meredith Brown feels like she is only seen for her dowry, and asks her aunt and uncle to claim that it is modest. When Phillip meets Meredith, he sees her kindness to others and her confidence. He tells his best friend that he will marry her someday, and a bet is made.
The meet-cute in this story was adorable, and I loved watching Phillip try to work his way back from it.
The Final Wager by Heather B. Moore
Lord Victor Roland never got along with Southill in school, but when Southill is in an accident, Victor feels obligated to see him safely home. Victor meets Southill's sister, Juliet, a woman who doesn't deserve the deplorable brother she has. Victor orchestrates a house party and bets Juliet that she will receive three proposals by summer's end.
I loved that the heroine herself was in on this bet. Southill is an idiot! I am glad that Victor finds and is there for Juliet. I love seeing her gain confidence as she meets other members of society.
An Improbable Wager by Michele Paige Holmes
When farmhand, Eli Linfield, bets Sherborne Rowley at the age of 12, that he will marry the beauty next door, Emily Montgomery, nobody really expects it to happen, let alone, Eli. This was a classic story of a couple who have known each other for years, only to realize that they love each other. Emily's road to discovery was sweet, and Eli was so respectful and kind to her, that I was rooting for them the whole time.
Overall, this was a great collection of regency romances. I like that the stories are short enough to read in an evening, yet well developed. The subject of the collection was amusing. I expected bets between gentlemen put down in the betting book at White's. What I got was idle bets between supportive friends, the heroine, and a competitor. The stakes ranged from mucking out stalls or riding a mule, to property or ten years of free labor. Compelling, sweet, and amusing. This was a nice addition to the Timeless Regency Collection.
Content: Clean (some kissing, an interrupted tryst)
August 27, 2018
Wedding Wagers by Donna Hatch, Heather B. Moore, Michele Paige Holmes
Three men. Three wagers. Three fun stories about the misunderstandings that resulted.
Three men. Three wagers. Three fun stories about the misunderstandings that resulted. The authors of the Timeless Romance books write consistently good stories. With the right mix of humor and romance, these books always please.
I hadn’t read the synopsis before reading, so other than wagers about weddings, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Having read a number of books from the Regency period, I know that the types of wagers that were made were pretty crazy, so I was prepared for just about anything.
Author Donna Hatch, in A Wager on Love, told of Phillip, the younger brother of a Duke. Poor Phillip had pretty much always been sought out for his family and status for so long, he almost gave up on finding a woman who would love him for himself. The way that Phillip fell for Meredith so quickly and completely was very sweet. Her skepticism and previous hurts kept her from trusting him and made for an interesting story. I enjoyed the witty writing.
The Final Wager had me surprised at the wager and who was involved in it. Victor was very noble and kind. His determination to always do the right thing was admirable and led him to make a very difficult decision that put his heart in peril.
In An Improbable Wager, the wager is made by two boys, one a nobleman’s son, the other a nobody. The very fact that Eli fell in love as a youngster was so very sweet. The direction the story went was not expected and made it quite enjoyable.
This review was originally posted on Among the Reads
I would like to thank Heather B. Moore for giving me a copy of this book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.
Three men. Three wagers. Three fun stories about the misunderstandings that resulted.
Three men. Three wagers. Three fun stories about the misunderstandings that resulted. The authors of the Timeless Romance books write consistently good stories. With the right mix of humor and romance, these books always please.
I hadn’t read the synopsis before reading, so other than wagers about weddings, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Having read a number of books from the Regency period, I know that the types of wagers that were made were pretty crazy, so I was prepared for just about anything.
Author Donna Hatch, in A Wager on Love, told of Phillip, the younger brother of a Duke. Poor Phillip had pretty much always been sought out for his family and status for so long, he almost gave up on finding a woman who would love him for himself. The way that Phillip fell for Meredith so quickly and completely was very sweet. Her skepticism and previous hurts kept her from trusting him and made for an interesting story. I enjoyed the witty writing.
The Final Wager had me surprised at the wager and who was involved in it. Victor was very noble and kind. His determination to always do the right thing was admirable and led him to make a very difficult decision that put his heart in peril.
In An Improbable Wager, the wager is made by two boys, one a nobleman’s son, the other a nobody. The very fact that Eli fell in love as a youngster was so very sweet. The direction the story went was not expected and made it quite enjoyable.
This review was originally posted on Among the Reads
I would like to thank Heather B. Moore for giving me a copy of this book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.
May 19, 2020
A Wager For Love by Donna Hatch-4 stars...I absolutely loved this book. The characters were lovable and relatable. The heroine has good reason for her reluctance and so I appreciated how the relationship between her and the hero developed. It was at a realistic and believable pace. This is my first book by this author, it most certainly will not be my last.
The Final Wager by Heather B. Moore-3 stars...This was a delightful book. I enjoyed the story and the chemistry between Victor and Juliet. Although the ending was a tad bit unrealistic and dramatic, it was a good read.
An Impossible Wager by Michele Paige Holmes-3.5 stars...This book was charming. I was puzzled at the beginning with regard to whose point of view I was reading but as I continued it all began to make sense. I love how Eli and Emily’s relationship blossomed. Although I knew what was coming, I was sucked into the story. It was interesting and I was very excited to see how things unfolded.
Content: Clean
The Final Wager by Heather B. Moore-3 stars...This was a delightful book. I enjoyed the story and the chemistry between Victor and Juliet. Although the ending was a tad bit unrealistic and dramatic, it was a good read.
An Impossible Wager by Michele Paige Holmes-3.5 stars...This book was charming. I was puzzled at the beginning with regard to whose point of view I was reading but as I continued it all began to make sense. I love how Eli and Emily’s relationship blossomed. Although I knew what was coming, I was sucked into the story. It was interesting and I was very excited to see how things unfolded.
Content: Clean
December 29, 2019
I started reading this anthology last year and didn't get to finish it. I picked it up again this year and finally finished it. I love this Timeless Regency Collection! The stories are all great and written by some of the best romance writers today. I liked the theme and it made for some amusing scenes in each story. If you've never read any of these anthologies you should. They are short enough to pick up and read one each night but they are also well developed so you get to read a good story. As always, I always wish that the stories were longer because I liked the characters so much. Read this anthology for some clean Regency romances.
August 27, 2018
I loved this collection of clean, Regency romances. All 3 of the authors (of the 3 different novellas) are skilled at writing moving love stories that make you root for the main characters and gasp in surprise at their happy endings (even though you know they're coming). I honestly loved all of the stories equally and love the novella format where they are long enough to get into but less of a commitment than a novel.
August 20, 2018
Romance, clean, period; Series, but stand alone read
Another fun collection. This was more of a 3.5 for me as a reader, but rounded up. The first two novellas, were the best in my opinion. While I suspended my disbelief on the last one, I kept questioning the premise and feasibility. The third was still a good read for me though. For me, all of them had genuine, honest, caring characters that were fun to read about their romance. The romance was there and fun. They all made for a great, clean, escape read. Always enjoy this series.
I received a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. My opinions are my own.
Another fun collection. This was more of a 3.5 for me as a reader, but rounded up. The first two novellas, were the best in my opinion. While I suspended my disbelief on the last one, I kept questioning the premise and feasibility. The third was still a good read for me though. For me, all of them had genuine, honest, caring characters that were fun to read about their romance. The romance was there and fun. They all made for a great, clean, escape read. Always enjoy this series.
I received a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. My opinions are my own.
March 25, 2020
Titles and covers like this make me embarrassed to admit I've read the book. But I did. And I enjoyed the stories. The 2nd and 3rd more than the 1st. A good distraction from the anxiety of the coronavirus pandemic.
August 26, 2018
Recency romance at it's best!
I could not get enough of these entertaining characters & their stories of gambling with love. These 3 authors and their books are all time favorites of mine! Definitely worth the time & money to read!
I could not get enough of these entertaining characters & their stories of gambling with love. These 3 authors and their books are all time favorites of mine! Definitely worth the time & money to read!
May 22, 2022
Audio book. These were good. Some better than others.
November 14, 2019
2019 Rone Award winner. The titles in this collection all centered around wagers to marry someone, but this regency romance anthology easily could have also been titled "Impossible Forbidden Love". The suspense of finding out how these couples would be allowed to be together in the end was just as entertaining as the the romantic pursuit of the heroes of the heroines that were wagered on.
Language: No profanity.
Sensuality content: Clean traditional regency romances with only kisses.
Source: My personal purchased library.
Language: No profanity.
Sensuality content: Clean traditional regency romances with only kisses.
Source: My personal purchased library.
April 17, 2025
I loved this collection! That’s not a surprise since I love all three of these authors. Each novella captured my attention and had me rooting for the characters, and smiling and sighing along the way. The stories were unique and the wagers added a fun element. I loved all three!
I received a complimentary copy of the book, which I voluntarily reviewed. I have given my honest opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of the book, which I voluntarily reviewed. I have given my honest opinion.
September 7, 2018
It is difficult to review three books at once, but I'll do my best. I enjoyed each one as I read it. The writing was solid and the stories engaging. That being said, none of them really stuck out in my mind as special. So it depends on the mood you're in. If you're a sucker for clean romances this is a winner, if you are craving something deeper, move on.p
March 5, 2020
Another wonderfully written collection of romances to whisk you away! This collection is well worth your time and will undoubtedly leave you wanting more. I do love getting a book with multiple Five Star Stories!!
September 26, 2018
I received a free ebook review copy of this book but was under no obligation to post a positive review
What a unique idea to center this collection around wagers made on love. I loved every second I spent reading this collection and I think I can even dare to say it is my favorite Timeless Romance collection I have read so far.
So I won’t waste any more words and just jump to my thoughts on each story :)
Oh and feel free to ignore the rest and just do yourself a favor and go read this book ASAP ;)
A Wager on Love by Donna Hatch
4.5/5 stars
Our opening story introduces us to Phillip Partridge and Meredith Brown.
Phillip is the younger brother of the highly desirable Duke of Suttenberg and because of that was never seen by anyone, particularly by no female, as a person but as a means to marry into the Duke’s family. Tired of being considered as a stepping stone in the social ladder of high society, Phillip is desperate to meet a lady who will see him for himself.
While Phillip is one of the ton’s catches, Meredith is a girl with a ruined reputation. Not only is she the daughter of a factory owner, she was also engaged twice- both times ending in disaster and with her heartbroken.
When Meredith arrives to accompany her cousin in the London Season she is determined to help young ladies avoid making her past mistakes and to protect her own heart at all costs. What she doesn’t count on is catching the eye of one Phillip Partridge, who will do anything to get to know her and convince her to marry him. Being so sure of his success, Phillip even makes a wager on that with his best friend. If only he knew that one should never wager on a woman...
A very cute and entertaining short love story. The only thing that made me deduct half a star was the fact that it felt very insta-lovey for me. I couldn’t understand how Phillip came to care so deeply for Meredith and leap into the decision to marry her so quickly- he barely even said two words to her by that point. This made the wager he made feel less of a side affect of his sureness in his success in securing their mutual love and more like a wager for sport in order to manipulate a woman. Even though I knew this wasn’t the case, it still felt like it at the beginning, which really bothered me.
But other than that, I really did enjoy all other aspects of the story :)
The Final Wager by Heather B. Moore
5/5 stars
When Lord Victor Roland is left with an old Eton classmate who happens to be extremely drunk he realizes that if he wants to rid himself from the gambling nuisance he has to make the 2 hour drive and return him to his estate.
When he arrives there instead of dropping the drunk off with a butler, like he expected, he is greeted by the culprit’s charming younger sister- Lady Juliet Baldwin.
When Juliet opens her doors in the middle of the night to find a handsome stranger who claims to have her brother passed out in his carriage, she finds herself at wits end. Not only did she just find out that he gambled away almost all their money, she was also just proposed by her unnerving neighbor.
She has no idea what she can do to save herself from what seems to be a start of a bleak future.
What neither Victor nor Juliet know is that sometimes, the stupid actions of a brother can lead to the meeting of two matching souls.
This was one of the most romantic and wonderful stories I have read in a while. Even though it was short it felt perfectly developed and flowed smoothly.
I loved every second I spent with Victor and Juliet and I would gladly read more about their lives 🤩😍
An Improbable Wager by Michele Paige Holmes
I can’t decide between 4 or 5 stars so I think we’ll go with a 4.5/5 stars :)
Ever since Eli Linfield was a boy he loved Emily Montgomery. So much was he confident in his love that he made a Wager with his then younger friend stating that he will someday marry her despite their difference in rank. If not he would work for his friend for 10 years without wages.
As the years went by the friends drifted apart and Eli became Emily’s Father’s groomsman. Content with just being somewhat of a friend to Emily, Eli didn’t allow himself to even hope to fulfill his deepest childhood wish.
That is until he, Emily, her sister and his old friend were all found in various compromising positions in the middle of the night at the Montgomery’s stables.
A tale filled with twists and fresh takes on the Regency society, this novella was truly entertaining and lovable. Eli is definitely one of my favorite love interests that I have encountered while reading the Timeless Romance anthologies and I wish we could read more about the future of all the characters I met here.
Lastly, I would like to thank Kathy from “I am a Reader” for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.
What a unique idea to center this collection around wagers made on love. I loved every second I spent reading this collection and I think I can even dare to say it is my favorite Timeless Romance collection I have read so far.
So I won’t waste any more words and just jump to my thoughts on each story :)
Oh and feel free to ignore the rest and just do yourself a favor and go read this book ASAP ;)
A Wager on Love by Donna Hatch
4.5/5 stars
Our opening story introduces us to Phillip Partridge and Meredith Brown.
Phillip is the younger brother of the highly desirable Duke of Suttenberg and because of that was never seen by anyone, particularly by no female, as a person but as a means to marry into the Duke’s family. Tired of being considered as a stepping stone in the social ladder of high society, Phillip is desperate to meet a lady who will see him for himself.
While Phillip is one of the ton’s catches, Meredith is a girl with a ruined reputation. Not only is she the daughter of a factory owner, she was also engaged twice- both times ending in disaster and with her heartbroken.
When Meredith arrives to accompany her cousin in the London Season she is determined to help young ladies avoid making her past mistakes and to protect her own heart at all costs. What she doesn’t count on is catching the eye of one Phillip Partridge, who will do anything to get to know her and convince her to marry him. Being so sure of his success, Phillip even makes a wager on that with his best friend. If only he knew that one should never wager on a woman...
A very cute and entertaining short love story. The only thing that made me deduct half a star was the fact that it felt very insta-lovey for me. I couldn’t understand how Phillip came to care so deeply for Meredith and leap into the decision to marry her so quickly- he barely even said two words to her by that point. This made the wager he made feel less of a side affect of his sureness in his success in securing their mutual love and more like a wager for sport in order to manipulate a woman. Even though I knew this wasn’t the case, it still felt like it at the beginning, which really bothered me.
But other than that, I really did enjoy all other aspects of the story :)
The Final Wager by Heather B. Moore
5/5 stars
When Lord Victor Roland is left with an old Eton classmate who happens to be extremely drunk he realizes that if he wants to rid himself from the gambling nuisance he has to make the 2 hour drive and return him to his estate.
When he arrives there instead of dropping the drunk off with a butler, like he expected, he is greeted by the culprit’s charming younger sister- Lady Juliet Baldwin.
When Juliet opens her doors in the middle of the night to find a handsome stranger who claims to have her brother passed out in his carriage, she finds herself at wits end. Not only did she just find out that he gambled away almost all their money, she was also just proposed by her unnerving neighbor.
She has no idea what she can do to save herself from what seems to be a start of a bleak future.
What neither Victor nor Juliet know is that sometimes, the stupid actions of a brother can lead to the meeting of two matching souls.
This was one of the most romantic and wonderful stories I have read in a while. Even though it was short it felt perfectly developed and flowed smoothly.
I loved every second I spent with Victor and Juliet and I would gladly read more about their lives 🤩😍
An Improbable Wager by Michele Paige Holmes
I can’t decide between 4 or 5 stars so I think we’ll go with a 4.5/5 stars :)
Ever since Eli Linfield was a boy he loved Emily Montgomery. So much was he confident in his love that he made a Wager with his then younger friend stating that he will someday marry her despite their difference in rank. If not he would work for his friend for 10 years without wages.
As the years went by the friends drifted apart and Eli became Emily’s Father’s groomsman. Content with just being somewhat of a friend to Emily, Eli didn’t allow himself to even hope to fulfill his deepest childhood wish.
That is until he, Emily, her sister and his old friend were all found in various compromising positions in the middle of the night at the Montgomery’s stables.
A tale filled with twists and fresh takes on the Regency society, this novella was truly entertaining and lovable. Eli is definitely one of my favorite love interests that I have encountered while reading the Timeless Romance anthologies and I wish we could read more about the future of all the characters I met here.
Lastly, I would like to thank Kathy from “I am a Reader” for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 26, 2018
This anthology is the best of the series I’ve read so far. All 3 stories were just wonderful, all solid 4 star reads, if not better.
A WAGER FOR LOVE by Donna Hatch:
The blurb summarizes the premise of the storyline very well indeed. A very frustrated Phillip is tired of the young ladies of the ton whose only interest in him seem to be his connections & don’t see the charming person he is - his words! LOLs. He does have a rather high opinion of his own charms; now if only there was a genuine person out there was would see the man instead of the brother-to-a-Duke.
Meredith (Merry) agrees to one season, sponsored by her Uncle & Aunt, to accompany her cousin Annabel. After 2 disastrous relationship which has her totally ruined, Merry is estranged from her parents and is quite cynical of men. With her father being in trade, Merry also thinks that no gentleman would consider her worthy.
This was such a lovely story. Phillip is a wonderful and worthy hero in his dogged and determine pursuit of Merry given their disastrous 1st meeting; which both manage to see the humour in. I loved the way the author brings up Phillip’s dimple, which he flourishes quite shamelessly as a weapon in winning Merry (more LOLs).
THE FINAL WAGER by Heather B. Moore
Victor, Lord Locken’s mother dies after complication birthing him and his grieving father blames him for causing her death. Threatening to disinherit him unless he marries the lady of his father’s choosing, Victor is resigned to a loveless marriage.
When the reckless Lord Southill challenges him at cards only to lose badly; Victor ends up driving the intoxicated man back to his estate.
Juliet has been desperately trying to make ends meet after her father dies and her wastrel of a brother throws away his inheritance on luxuries, gambling and what have you so much that his reputation is in tatters with creditors at their door. When Victor arrives with Southill and ends up staying the night due to a storm, he finds himself trading intimacies with Juliet and in sympathy with her plight & determines to do what he can to help her find a suitable husband; only to find (or course) that he desperately wants her himself.
AN IMPROBABLE WAGER by Michele Paige Holmes:
A most wonderful, sweet, tender and poignant story. Eli has loved Emily since he was a boy of 11, but as an orphan with no knowledge of who his father his, the daughter of a baron is far above his station in live.
Years later finds Eli working as the head groom for Emily’s father. When his childhood friend, the rakish and rather profligate Lord Rowley comes calling to court Emily, more for her dowry than anything else, Emily who is quiet and reserved goes along more so to please her parents than for any partiality to the man. When a midnight visit to the stables when her beloved mare foals leads to a compromising situation with Eli, a forced marriage ensues.
I loved this story which has, for a novella a wonderful depth to the characters and story. A forced marriage but one where Eli is most definitely desperately in love with Emily while Emily is thrust into a totally different way of life that what she has always known; one that she finds she much prefers. I love how patient Eli is & how protective he is of Emily. Wonderful writing!
A WAGER FOR LOVE by Donna Hatch:
The blurb summarizes the premise of the storyline very well indeed. A very frustrated Phillip is tired of the young ladies of the ton whose only interest in him seem to be his connections & don’t see the charming person he is - his words! LOLs. He does have a rather high opinion of his own charms; now if only there was a genuine person out there was would see the man instead of the brother-to-a-Duke.
Meredith (Merry) agrees to one season, sponsored by her Uncle & Aunt, to accompany her cousin Annabel. After 2 disastrous relationship which has her totally ruined, Merry is estranged from her parents and is quite cynical of men. With her father being in trade, Merry also thinks that no gentleman would consider her worthy.
This was such a lovely story. Phillip is a wonderful and worthy hero in his dogged and determine pursuit of Merry given their disastrous 1st meeting; which both manage to see the humour in. I loved the way the author brings up Phillip’s dimple, which he flourishes quite shamelessly as a weapon in winning Merry (more LOLs).
THE FINAL WAGER by Heather B. Moore
Victor, Lord Locken’s mother dies after complication birthing him and his grieving father blames him for causing her death. Threatening to disinherit him unless he marries the lady of his father’s choosing, Victor is resigned to a loveless marriage.
When the reckless Lord Southill challenges him at cards only to lose badly; Victor ends up driving the intoxicated man back to his estate.
Juliet has been desperately trying to make ends meet after her father dies and her wastrel of a brother throws away his inheritance on luxuries, gambling and what have you so much that his reputation is in tatters with creditors at their door. When Victor arrives with Southill and ends up staying the night due to a storm, he finds himself trading intimacies with Juliet and in sympathy with her plight & determines to do what he can to help her find a suitable husband; only to find (or course) that he desperately wants her himself.
AN IMPROBABLE WAGER by Michele Paige Holmes:
A most wonderful, sweet, tender and poignant story. Eli has loved Emily since he was a boy of 11, but as an orphan with no knowledge of who his father his, the daughter of a baron is far above his station in live.
Years later finds Eli working as the head groom for Emily’s father. When his childhood friend, the rakish and rather profligate Lord Rowley comes calling to court Emily, more for her dowry than anything else, Emily who is quiet and reserved goes along more so to please her parents than for any partiality to the man. When a midnight visit to the stables when her beloved mare foals leads to a compromising situation with Eli, a forced marriage ensues.
I loved this story which has, for a novella a wonderful depth to the characters and story. A forced marriage but one where Eli is most definitely desperately in love with Emily while Emily is thrust into a totally different way of life that what she has always known; one that she finds she much prefers. I love how patient Eli is & how protective he is of Emily. Wonderful writing!
August 19, 2018
This is a collection of three terrific novellas!
A Wager for Love by Donna Hatch
No one ever sees Phillip as more than a duke's younger brother, so when he meets a young lady who doesn't care at all about his familial connections, who is kind and interesting and pretty to boot, he's determined to get to know her better--in fact, he makes a bet with a friend that he'll marry her and sets out to win her heart. That turns out to be more complicated than he anticipated, as Meredith seems determined not to like him.
Meredith has been duped before--not once but twice have men pretended to love her when that wasn't the case. Now, acting as a companion to her cousin, Meredith is on the lookout for other men praying on innocent girls, and she definitely won't fall for a charming but deceitful man again. When Phillip, the brother of a duke, seems interested in her, the daughter of a mere factory owner, she knows he must be up to something, and she won't be taken in.
This was a really captivating, well-written story. It drew me in very quickly. I loved seeing Phillip's appreciation for Meredith and how he continued to pursue her and show her his true feelings.
The Final Wager by Heather B. Moore
When an old school enemy enters his club and demands a game of cards, Victor doesn't want to gamble with him--because he knows he'll win, which his opponent can ill afford. As expected, the game goes badly, but things get worse when Victor discovers Southill, deeply in debt, has lost his London home. The honorable Victor travels two hours to take Southill to his family estate--where he meets Southill's lovely sister, Juliet. Victor bets Juliet that she'll garner three proposals and then arranges a house party where she can meet several eligible young men. This might not a be bet Victor wants to win, though, as seeing other men appreciate Juliet leaves Victor wishing his dictatorial father hadn't made clear who Victor must marry if he wants to keep his inheritance.
Another really enjoyable story. I liked seeing Victor and Juliet overcome the obstacles between them--I particularly enjoyed seeing Juliet stand up to her brother and seeing Victor realize he'd been all wrong about marriage.
An Improbably Wager by Michele Paige Holmes
When he's only twelve years old, Eli Linfield, a common servant, bets his wealthy, titled friend Sherborne that he's going to marry Emily Montgomery someday. Years later, Eli is working as stablemaster for the Montgomery family when Sherborne, in need of a bride with a good dowry, returns to his family's holdings in order to court Emily. Emily, although not particularly taken with Sherborne, wants to please her family and plans to go forward with marrying him.
I really liked Eli, who just had this sweetness about him. I liked seeing how this story unfolded--not necessarily the way I expected. I also liked how even the aggravating characters had their redeeming moments.
This is a great collection of stories! They're all well-written and very entertaining. Highly recommend!
I read a copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
A Wager for Love by Donna Hatch
No one ever sees Phillip as more than a duke's younger brother, so when he meets a young lady who doesn't care at all about his familial connections, who is kind and interesting and pretty to boot, he's determined to get to know her better--in fact, he makes a bet with a friend that he'll marry her and sets out to win her heart. That turns out to be more complicated than he anticipated, as Meredith seems determined not to like him.
Meredith has been duped before--not once but twice have men pretended to love her when that wasn't the case. Now, acting as a companion to her cousin, Meredith is on the lookout for other men praying on innocent girls, and she definitely won't fall for a charming but deceitful man again. When Phillip, the brother of a duke, seems interested in her, the daughter of a mere factory owner, she knows he must be up to something, and she won't be taken in.
This was a really captivating, well-written story. It drew me in very quickly. I loved seeing Phillip's appreciation for Meredith and how he continued to pursue her and show her his true feelings.
The Final Wager by Heather B. Moore
When an old school enemy enters his club and demands a game of cards, Victor doesn't want to gamble with him--because he knows he'll win, which his opponent can ill afford. As expected, the game goes badly, but things get worse when Victor discovers Southill, deeply in debt, has lost his London home. The honorable Victor travels two hours to take Southill to his family estate--where he meets Southill's lovely sister, Juliet. Victor bets Juliet that she'll garner three proposals and then arranges a house party where she can meet several eligible young men. This might not a be bet Victor wants to win, though, as seeing other men appreciate Juliet leaves Victor wishing his dictatorial father hadn't made clear who Victor must marry if he wants to keep his inheritance.
Another really enjoyable story. I liked seeing Victor and Juliet overcome the obstacles between them--I particularly enjoyed seeing Juliet stand up to her brother and seeing Victor realize he'd been all wrong about marriage.
An Improbably Wager by Michele Paige Holmes
When he's only twelve years old, Eli Linfield, a common servant, bets his wealthy, titled friend Sherborne that he's going to marry Emily Montgomery someday. Years later, Eli is working as stablemaster for the Montgomery family when Sherborne, in need of a bride with a good dowry, returns to his family's holdings in order to court Emily. Emily, although not particularly taken with Sherborne, wants to please her family and plans to go forward with marrying him.
I really liked Eli, who just had this sweetness about him. I liked seeing how this story unfolded--not necessarily the way I expected. I also liked how even the aggravating characters had their redeeming moments.
This is a great collection of stories! They're all well-written and very entertaining. Highly recommend!
I read a copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
August 17, 2018
I thoroughly this anthology - a fun theme I definitely wouldn't have thought of, but very cleverly woven into each story (I found myself super curious about how each author would do that!). I always enjoy the novella approach, where I can read a story in one sitting and not feel as guilty about what I am not getting done. ;)
A Wager on Love by Donna Hatch
This one caught me right from the beginning with Phillip, the younger brother of a Duke being frustrated yet again at not being seen for who he is. And his being so intrigued with unassuming Meredith Brown; he noticed her goodness and kindness over the normal attractions of the regency period. I love that these are people who care about what matters and don't get caught up in all the fluff and stuff. Somehow, that seems very relevant today as well! They don't give up easily when the obstacles arise, so I got my happy ending. But it was interesting to see how they navigated all that.
The Final Wager by Heather Moore
This was my favorite. Didn't love the opening scene setting and the obnoxiousness of the antagonist, but he brought a wonderful sister/love interest into the story, very unexpectedly. The obstacles seemed to loom large and I wondered how they would ever succeed! But I loved both Victor and Juliet and was quickly rooting for their relationship to somehow succeed (it had to!). And love always finds a way!
An Improbable Wager by Michele Paige Holmes
Sherborne was obnoxious from the beginning, but even moreso as an adult! But I loved level-headed, good hearted Eli and aristocratic yet unassuming Emily, with their quiet beginnings at a young age and how that brings about the wager. Then seeing what evolves later when they are adults. Lots of twists and surprises in this one, including what happens with Emily's older sister, Sophia. And I appreciate how love conquers in the end...but what were they willing to sacrifice to get there?
Could hardly put this down and read the first 2 stories the same day I got it and the final one the next morning as soon as I could manage it.
A Wager on Love by Donna Hatch
This one caught me right from the beginning with Phillip, the younger brother of a Duke being frustrated yet again at not being seen for who he is. And his being so intrigued with unassuming Meredith Brown; he noticed her goodness and kindness over the normal attractions of the regency period. I love that these are people who care about what matters and don't get caught up in all the fluff and stuff. Somehow, that seems very relevant today as well! They don't give up easily when the obstacles arise, so I got my happy ending. But it was interesting to see how they navigated all that.
The Final Wager by Heather Moore
This was my favorite. Didn't love the opening scene setting and the obnoxiousness of the antagonist, but he brought a wonderful sister/love interest into the story, very unexpectedly. The obstacles seemed to loom large and I wondered how they would ever succeed! But I loved both Victor and Juliet and was quickly rooting for their relationship to somehow succeed (it had to!). And love always finds a way!
An Improbable Wager by Michele Paige Holmes
Sherborne was obnoxious from the beginning, but even moreso as an adult! But I loved level-headed, good hearted Eli and aristocratic yet unassuming Emily, with their quiet beginnings at a young age and how that brings about the wager. Then seeing what evolves later when they are adults. Lots of twists and surprises in this one, including what happens with Emily's older sister, Sophia. And I appreciate how love conquers in the end...but what were they willing to sacrifice to get there?
Could hardly put this down and read the first 2 stories the same day I got it and the final one the next morning as soon as I could manage it.
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