The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

 

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Description:
They call him the Duke of Ruin.

To an undaunted wallflower, he’s just the beast next door.

Wealthy and ruthless, Gabriel Duke clawed his way from the lowliest slums to the pinnacle of high society—and now he wants to get even.

Loyal and passionate, Lady Penelope Campion never met a lost or wounded creature she wouldn’t take into her home and her heart.

When her imposing—and attractive—new neighbor demands she clear out the rescued animals, Penny sets him a challenge. She will part with her precious charges, if he can find them loving homes.

Done, Gabriel says. How hard can it be to find homes for a few kittens?

And a two-legged dog.

And a foul-mouthed parrot.

And a goat, an otter, a hedgehog . . .

Easier said than done, for a cold-blooded bastard who wouldn’t know a loving home from a workhouse. Soon he’s covered in cat hair, knee-deep in adorable, and bewitched by a shyly pretty spinster who defies his every attempt to resist. Now she’s set her mind and heart on saving him.

Not if he ruins her first.

Review:

The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare is the 3^rd book in her Girl Meets Duke series. I have not read the first two books in this series, but this read very well as a standalone; though I will say the fun humorous banter between the friends, who were part of the previous stories make me want to read the earlier books.

Lady Penelope Campion (Penny), our heroine, lives alone with servants in her family home; but she does have plenty of company with her rescued animals. Penny does not like to socialize, and has no problem being known as the spinster.  She is very warm, compassionate and puts her heart into taking care of her animals (talking parrot, crippled dog, goat, hedgehog and kittens), especially those that no one wants.  When Penny’s aunt visits to let her know that if she does not socialize more and get rid of the animals, her brother will force her to leave her home.   Penny is beside herself with worry, and when the parrot escapes to the abandoned house next door, she goes to the rescue.

Gabriel Duke, our hero, is known as the Duke of Ruin.  Gabe lived all his young life in poverty, and eventually made a success of himself by buying out and ruining many families to become wealthy and part of the society that fears him.   He is woken up from a deep sleep, when he hears a noise, and sees this woman trying to coax her parrot.  Gabe will surprise Penny, as she did not know anyone was in that house.   He will learn quickly about all the other animas that Penny has living with her, but when he learns she is being forced out of her home, he offers to help her find places for her animals.  His motive? He does not want her to move, as her living there will bring more buyers to his new house project, as she is part of society.

In a short time, both Penny and Gabe find themselves becoming attracted to each other; but Gabe fights that off, as he does not think he is suitable for love.  They made a great couple with wonderful chemistry, but the best thing about Gabe and Penny was the banter between them.   Tessa Dare does a marvelous job making us laugh and be entertained.

Though I had not read the first two books, we did meet the heroes from those stories, and it was a blast to see their reactions to Penny becoming involved with The Duke of Ruin.  Lots of fun with Penny and her friends.   It was also a laugh a minute when they went together to place some of the animals and the things that went wrong.  Besides the humor, make no mistake that the romance between Gabe and Penny was very steamy.

The Wallflower Wager was a wonderful Historical romance that was heartwarming, fun, sweet and a sexy romance.  I enjoyed this book very much, and plan to go back and read about her wonderful friends.  The Wallflower Wager was very well written by Dare, and I suggest you make sure to read this book, as it was a lot of fun.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

She circled back, standing before him. “There now. Better?”
He gave a reluctant nod.
“Can you move your arm in all directions?”
He rolled his shoulder to prove it. “Yes.”
“What about your grip?
“My grip is strong.”
“Perhaps I should wrap the arm in a sling.”
“I do not need a sling.”
“Wait here. I’ll dash upstairs to fetch some linen and—”
“For the love of God, woman. My shoulder is fine.” He took her by the waist and lifted her straight off the floor, until they were eye to eye. “There. Believe me now?”
She nodded, wide-eyed.
“Good.”
In his hands, she was delicate, breakable. Her hair was a golden treasure he should never, ever touch. And oh, how he hungered for those soft, pink lips.
The familiar voice echoed in his ears.
Don’t touch, boy. She’s not for the likes of you.
Put. Her. Down.
But before Gabe could lower those beribboned pink slippers to the floor, she captured his sooty, sweaty face in her hands—
And kissed him on the lips.

 

Tessa Dare is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty historical romances. Her books have won numerous accolades, including Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® award (twice) and the RT Book Reviews Seal of Excellence. Booklist magazine named her one of the “new stars of historical romance,” and her books have been contracted for translation in more than a dozen languages.

A librarian by training and a booklover at heart, Tessa makes her home in Southern California, where she lives with her husband, their two children, and a trio of cosmic kitties.

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Tessa Dare’s publisher is graciously offering a paper copy of THE WALLFLOWER WAGER to ONE lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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