By Vanessa Riley
Betting Against the Duke Book 1
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice rating: 🌶️
Blurb
Award-winning author Vanessa Riley turns all convention on its head for the first in an enchanting, dazzlingly diverse new Regency romance trilogy featuring a duke, three sisters, and a tantalizing bet with a most desirable reward...
When a duke discovers the woman he loves was tricked into marrying another, the master chess player makes the now-widowed Viscountess the highest-stakes wager of his life in a last-ditch effort to win her affection: he will find husbands for her two sisters—or depart forever. Thus begins a sparkling new series from acclaimed author Vanessa Riley.
Georgina Wilcox, a wallflower with hidden musical talents, is furious when her reclusive older sister—the recently widowed Viscountess—refuses sorely needed help from the Duke of Torrance, the only gentleman who has shown kindness to the bereft Wilcox sisters. Georgina decides to get back at her sister and shock the Viscountess by kissing the first willing stranger she meets in the enchanting gardens of Anya House. Unfortunately, her sister is not the sole witness. A group of reporters and the ton’s leading gossips catch Georgina in a passionate embrace with a reticent composer, Lord Mark Sebastian.
The third son of an influential marquis, the tongue-tied Mark is determined to keep the scandal from ruining Georgina’s reputation and his own prospects of winning the celebrated Harlbert’s Prize for music. Under the guise of private voice lessons, the two embark on a daring gamble to fool the ton into believing that their feigned courtship is honorable while bolstering Georgina’s singing genius to captivate potential suitors. Sexist cartoons, family rivalries, and an upcoming ball test the fake couple’s resolve. Will their sudden fiery collaboration—and growing attraction—prove there’s nothing false about a first kiss and scandalously irresistible temptation?
Category: Historical Romance
Read if you Like:
🎹 Multicultural romance
🎹 Fake engagement
🎹 Closed-door
🎹 Chronic illness rep
🎹 Scandal
My Thoughts:
A historical romance series centered around a bet? I'm immediately in! I really enjoyed reading about the Wilcox sisters and liked Georgie and Mark's connection.
My favorite part of this story is Katherine and the Duke's connection. I already need their book and I know it's still two books away! I really love a series where we get to see a connection develop throughout the series. I liked Mark and Georgie's connection also but I wished we had gotten to see them connect a bit more. I felt like particularly Mark was attracted to Georgie but maybe didn't know her super well.
Another aspect of the story I loved was how Vanessa Riley wove the real history of black people in regency Victorian England into her characters. I learned a lot about a part of history that I haven't heard talked about much.
I am definitely hooked on this series and will be interested in reading the next two! Scarlet is also a great character and I'm interested to see her find a partner as well!
Thanks to Kensington Publishing for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.
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