Knaves' Wager

I LOVED this book. I have only read a couple of her books, including "Lord of Scoundrels", and this is my favorite. I adore Julian--he ranks right up there in my heroes' top ten list, alongside the likes of Sebastian St. Vincent, Ralston, and Jevraulx. Lilith is also wonderful--an imperious but highly vulnerable woman who is the perfect foil for Julian and his antics.

I laughed throughout the book at Julian's witty dialog and her tart rejoinders. They were priceless.

The secondary love story was also great and dovetailed perfectly into the main love plot. I wished there was more book, actually. I wondered what their wedding would be like and what would be the reactions of all his and her friends not to mention the "Ton". Plus, I'm one of those who loves an epilogue where you see them with their children, and all the boys resemble Julian and the girls Lilith, in temperament as well as appearance.

I don't care if these plots are predictable. If I fall in love with the hero and heroine and am anxiously rooting for them to get together at the end--that is pure and happy escapism for me.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

I really can't say it better than other reviewers who gave it high marks but I'd like to add that the intelligence and wit of the characters is what grabbed and held me from the beginning.

I have given 5 stars to only a handful of romances out of the hundreds I have read (including [[ASIN:0380776162 Lord of Scoundrels]] , [[ASIN:B00A4GPDI4 The Sandalwood Princess]], and [[ASIN:B000FCKOEU The Last Hellion]] - all 4 star reads).

Regencies don't get much better than this!

I just read this story for the second time (the other time being about a year ago). I wish I could give it six stars - it is that cleverly told, it is that witty, it is that emotional and it is that romantic. And other than a couple kissing scenes (one in which the top three buttons of a dress are undone) there is no sex or sexual innuendo. Yet the story has a reasonable degree of sensuality in it, too. In an era where "hot and steamy" passion is de rigueur in a romance novel, I'd forgotten how much I enjoy stories like this, too, where the love scenes are acted out in words and emotions, and not in bed. Loretta Chase's writing is wonderful, and her comedic timing perfect. Plus, her language and phrasing is easy to parse, something that I sometimes have a bit of trouble with when I read Georgette Heyer (and one reason I haven't read a whole lot of GH.) BTW, not all the characters are perfect or even appealing at times, but I think that makes the story richer, and makes it that much more fun to watch as they get the comeuppance they deserve.

In the time of Me Too, this did not feel good. I didn't finish it.

enjoyed

review found at: [...]

So this isn’t something I would normally read let alone review here on my blog since I mainly read young adult. However I enjoy a good break from my usual genre in order to read something else. This book was recommended to me by my mother-in-law who usually reads nothing but Newbury Award Winning books…so like middle grade or younger. Which says something about THIS book.

Originally written in 1990, this is your typical reform-the-rake/seduce-the-prude story. However shockingly this is clean! What I mean by that is there are no graphic sex scenes! *gasps* which is another reason why I’m reviewing it! Hey if I can find a good fun, relatively clean book outside my norm then hey! I might as well spread the word! Now, that being said I would still say this more for older audiences due to just the idea itself.

Lilith, a widow known for her complete and utter “coldness” of nature. Which in reality was pure discipline. She is regal, poise, and always in control of her thoughts, words, and emotions. Nothing escapes her without her consent. She is know as “the ice queen” for her rather cool and composed character. Yet she is kind, thoughtful and very generous. Due to her financial situation that her dead husband left her in she accepts the hand in marriage to a man who seeks nothing but a life in politics. And what better wife is there than someone as composed as Lilith.

Julian Wyndhurst, Marquess of Brandon bored, spoiled and a known scoundrel who is rich and who knows he’s good-looking. Julian lives to enjoy himself no matter how it affected others. A real rouge. In order to save his cousin from entering into matrimony with his mistress, he enters into a wager to see if he can seduce the impenetrable Lilith. If he succeeds this mistress will leave his cousin and life alone, but if he fails then Julian must not stand in the way of her happiness.

The wit and story telling was wonderfully paced. I enjoyed the slow moving and the slow thawing of this “ice-queen.” I loved Julian’s humor and way of doing things.

I really enjoyed the story and thought it was well written and completely. This is a romance novel with an actual storyline that does a great job without graphic sex! Now this is still a romance novel and will say there are plenty of sexual understanding.

Overall if you’re an adult and looking for a witty romance, check this out!

Sexual Content: moderate
Language: mild
Violence: mild
Drugs/Alcohol: mild

You can always rely on this author to write a rousing good story, no matter what the year! This one from 1990 will not disappoint. The characters were very well drawn and I enjoyed the secondary 'couple' as much as the hero and heroine. And since her publishers perhaps would not pick this up for reprint, I was happy to see that an author of Loretta's stature went the indie route and published it with CreateSpace. There is hope for us indie authors yet!!