The Marriage Wager by Jane Ashford-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Re-release Date November 5, 2013

After watching her husband gamble his life away, Lady Emma Tarrant is determined to prevent another young man from meeting a similar fate. So she challenges the scoundrel who holds his debts to another game. Intrigued by the challenge, the scoundrel, Lord Colin Wareham agrees, but if he wins, the lady must give him her heart.

REVIEW

4 out of 5 for this reader folks!

Another first time author for me in my fave genre. The Marriage Wager by Jane Ashford is a historical regency romance set in London (and surrounding countryside). A beautiful story about a married couple falling in love with a little gambling, action and annoying yet humorous and memorable secondary characters on the side.

We are introduced right away to our heroine Lady Emma, who happens to be at a gambling house with eyes upon her estranged and irresponsible younger brother. Lady Emma has been banished by her father for running away and marrying a scoundrel who was truly only after her fortune. A hard lesson for Emma to learn, as truth became reality when her husband has gambled her entire fortune away and was then found dead. Emma has returned to London and needs to sit at the dreaded gambling tables herself in order to survive. This is when she witnesses her brothers behaviour which seems to be mimicking her late husbands. Taking matters into her own hands, Emma confronts the older gentleman that her brother has lost to, and tries to win the destruction of his debt. What she hasn’t realized is that she has also just begun to gamble away her heart.

Lord Colin is gobsmacked by this beauty who has the nerve to demand a game to clear her brother’s debt. Colin is also an esteemed gentleman who must marry and produce an heir for his title. Having fought in a war, and losing his life love (or at least that is what he thought) Colin’s mother has been pushing superficial ladies his way and quite frankly he has had enough. When Emma walks into his life, he thinks she is a breathe of fresh air. Soon thereafter, Emma’s father (who conveniently opens his arms to his estranged daughter when he realizes Colin has set his eyes on her) has forced both Emma and Colin into marriage.

Emma and Colin marry with a bargain struck between then. Each will serve the other as needed for polite society, remain friends although an heir must be produced, fill the emptiness they both feel but NEVER FALL IN LOVE! Guess what??? YUP you got it … LOL

Through much turmoil, a horrible man from Emma’s past, a family hesitant to accept this marriage, a young woman who believes she has been jilted, a forming bond of siblings and lots of “sassy” in between, Colin and Emma travel down an interesting path. They are well suited and at times I chuckled at their antics. I will say there were some parts of this book that dragged on a little and the stubborn streak Emma has, was downright irritating. Overall, it was a beautiful romantic story. I loved the premise of one falling in love with their husband and wife, usually is historical romance, the marriage comes after a couple falls in love! LOL

HAPPY READING! 🙂

Reviewed by Rachel T.

Copy supplied by Netgalley