The Gamble

Thoroughly enjoyed the book once I got past the author's problems with genre. Ms. Wolf is a marvelous writer, but her characters behave more like 1990's sophisticates rather than 18th century. Excellent historical research and settings. Minor plot problem (when the author has her main character do something dishonest, then continues to beat the reader over the head that the character really is scrupulously honest....) but once you get past that it is well worth reading!

It was after her father had violently died at the hands of a cutthroat, Georgie Newbury learned how he earned a living and kept her and her younger sister Anna out of the poor house. Alas, her papa, The late Lord Weldon, was blackmailing four of his peers for cheating in cards and a fifth for cheating on his wife. To insure their futures, Georgie decides to go into the family business and blackmail one of her father's victims into throwing her a season in order to snare her a husband. After inspecting the evidence and what she knew about the infamous five, Georgie selects the Earl of Winterdale, whose daughter is being presented to the ton. To Georgie's shock, her intended victim has been dead for about a year. Instead, she finds herself fighting with the new Earl, Phillip. However, he agrees to sponsor her stunt because he as he tells her this as an opportunity to slap back at his odious aunt. Though he treats her horribly, she soon falls in love with him. Soon, Georgie has other concerns to deal with as someone is trying to kill her. In spite of this outwardly her season might be considered a huge success, but inwardly, Georgie knows she has failed because she cannot have the one man she loves. No one does Regency romance quite as good as Joan Wolf, whose latest story is a terrific tale that is fun for all read the novel. The story line is fast-paced and often times humorous, and the lead protagonists are the top of the Ton. Fans of historical romance should take a GAMBLE on Ms. Wolf's newest novel because they will receive a large payoff. Harriet Klausner