Reading Romances discussion

A dissolute rake, a virtuous lady, a ruthless society beauty, and a missing plantation owner with secrets – just another day in Georgian England…

1780

Wealthy Jamaican plantation owner, Harry Carstairs has disappeared – and everyone wants to know where he is…

Celeste Rosington knows her place in society, and while she may not be overjoyed at her upcoming wedding to her detached cousin, Raphael, she nonetheless hopes the marriage will be successful. When Raphael asks her for her help to save Harry, she agrees. But her decision costs her more than she knows…

Celeste’s clandestine visit to Harry’s home is witnessed, and her connection to Harry misconstrued. Harry’s secrets put Celeste into more danger than even Raphael understands, and throws her into the path of the ruthless, cunning, beautiful Lady Busselton and the dissolute, dangerous Lord Peregrine.

Raphael is invested in keeping Harry alive. Lady Busselton is invested in keeping him quiet. Lord Peregrine is invested in anything that staves off boredom. And Celeste is becoming increasingly invested in Lord Peregrine.

After all, what resistance does an innocent young woman have against something so deliciously wicked?

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Beverley Eikli wrote her first romance when she was seventeen but discovered that killing her heroine on the last page was death to her burgeoning romance writing career.

She became a journalist, occupied for many years with life’s newsworthy - but often, unhappy - events until romance finally trumped after she met a handsome Norwegian bush pilot around a camp fire in Botswana’s beautiful Okavango Delta where she was running a safari lodge for a couple of months.

Unhappily, Beverley was due to return home the following day to marry her Australian boyfriend.

Happily, though, that fell through and after a whirlwind eight-month courtship based on regular 18-page letters between Botswana and South Australia, Beverley returned to live with her handsome Norwegian bush pilot in a thatched cottage in the middle of a mopane forest beside a flood plain of lurking wild animals, marrying her handsome bush pilot in Norway shortly afterwards.

Twenty happy years—and 12 countries later—Beverley is now back in Australia living a more conventional life with her husband, two daughters and a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy the size of a pony in a pretty country town an hour north of Melbourne.

She writes traditional Regency romance as Beverley Eikli and sensual historical romance as Beverley Oakley.

LINKS:

Website: http://www.beverleyeikli.com/

Blog: http://beverleyeikli.blogspot.com.au/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeverleyOakley

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beverley.eikli


Read now an exclusive excerpt!


Setting the scene: Lord Peregrine discovers that women are more complicated – and more cunning – than he’d been brought up to believe…

Half an hour later, strolling the length of the family portraits lining the walls of Lord Cowdril’s Long Gallery, Peregrine halted when he spied Xenia’s elegant coiffure above the gold and cream striped sofa.

‘Lady Busselton, why am I not surprised to find you here?’

‘Indeed, why should you be surprised over anything after my cleverness in setting up yesterday’s little Vauxhall tryst?’ Her bright blue eyes sparkled as she twisted her head. ‘But, Perry, there are a few matters you’d do well to bear in mind if we’re to ensure the outcome is as satisfactory as required.’

‘As satisfactory as required …’ He repeated her words in a thoughtful tone as he took a seat beside her after a perfunctory bow. ‘What exactly do you consider satisfactory, Xenia? I’m curious, for reflection has me wondering if there might be greater depths to your interest in all this.’

She looked indignant. ‘I am a dear friend of Charlotte’s. Indeed, your sister is like the sister I never had, so of course I want to see her avenged.”

Peregrine nodded slowly. ‘A thousand pardons if I have insulted you, but Xenia, there is usually some ulterior motive—deeper than would appear—behind everything you do.’

Xenia fluttered her fan with even greater enthusiasm. ‘Have I not been transparent, Perry? I want Miss Rosington exposed … I want to see her reputation in tatters as part payment of the terrible cruelty she’s imposed on your good sister. And then I want you.’ Her smile was more a simper, and for the first time Peregrine wasn’t felled by a spear of lust at the mere thought of Xenia’s naked body writhing beneath his own. Rather, his mind was occupied by the conundrum occasioned by the mixed responses he had to Miss Rosington and the consequences of … exposing her.

Harlot and husband-stealer? She’d certainly been responsive to Peregrine’s overtures, but not in the way that suggested either epithet applied. And Peregrine was certainly speared by lust at the very thought of having her naked body writhing beneath his. Yet ruining her publicly was another matter.

He took up the dish of tea Xenia offered him and smiled at her pique over the rim. Yes, it was true that the last time anyone had seen his sister’s betrothed was in a tumble of Miss Rosington’s petticoats. It was also true that the last four letters of Miss Rosington’s name were written on a note found concealed in the locket Charlotte had ripped from Harry Carstairs’ neck that fateful night.

Certainly, if Miss Rosington needed to be called to account, Peregrine was very happy to be just the man to do that. But he would not do so without conclusive evidence.

Xenia raised one finely arched and darkened eyebrow as she patted the seat beside her. ‘I have it all planned. Won’t Miss Rosington’s heart be aflutter when she’s introduced to the handsome stranger who whisked her into his arms at Vauxhall the other night? What a surprise that you both find yourselves house guests of Lord and Lady Cowdril?’ She gave a little laugh. ‘Well, I will confess to a little meddling, but you will be the one to discover everything you need to know about the circumstances surrounding Harry Carstairs’ flight into the night.’ She held out a languid hand in invitation for Perry to come closer.

In other circumstances Peregrine would have caged the dainty little ring-encrusted hand she placed upon his thigh as he obeyed her summons, but today he felt a very real disinclination for contact.

Xenia raised an eyebrow, as if she sensed his reserve. ‘Just remember, my dear Perry,’ she said softly, ‘that it’s not worth falling in love with the little baggage.’

One glance at her hard, beautiful face reminded Peregrine that Xenia was not one to cross.

This is the first book by Beverley Eikli that I have read. The author knows how to weave a web full of mystery and suspense, and I had a great time relating to the heroine. Wicked Wager isn't the typical historical romance, it's very complex and intense.

However, I tend to prefer my books with more romance than any other element. In the end I had a good time reading Wicked Wager, it isn't too long that leaves you tired nor too short to see the story ending suddenly. Just the right thing for your weekend afternoon.






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Thanks for sharing your review, I enjoyed reading your post :)