Never Wager with a Wallflower
A Novel
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4.1 • 18 Ratings
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
Never Wager with a Wallflower is the third and final delightful installment in Virginia Heath's Merriwell Sisters Regency rom-com series.
Miss Venus Merriwell has been waiting for her prince to come since the tender age of fourteen. She wants a man who is a selfless academic like her, and free from all the wretched vices her gambler father enjoyed far too much before he left the Merriwell sisters practically destitute. Unfortunately, after a slew of romantic disappointments, there is still no sign of that prince at twenty-three and the only one true love of her life is the bursting-at-the-seams orphanage in Covent Garden that she works tirelessly for. An orphanage that desperately needs to expand into the empty building next door.
For Galahad Sinclair, gambling isn’t just his life, it’s in his blood. He grew up and learned the trade at his grandfather’s knee in a tavern on the far away banks of the Hudson in New York. But when fate took all that away and dragged him across the sea to London, it made sense to set up shop here. He’s spent five years making a success out of his gaming hall in the sleazy docks of the East End. Enough that he can finally afford to buy the pleasure palace of his dreams—and where better than in the capital’s sinful heart, Covent Garden? The only fly in his ointment is the perfect building he’s just bought to put it in also happens to be right next door to the orphanage run by his cousin’s wife’s youngest sister. A pious, disapproving and unsettling siren he has avoided like the plague since she flattened him five years ago.
While Venus and Galahad lock horns over practically everything, and while her malevolent orphans do their darndest to sabotage his lifelong dream, can either of them take the ultimate gamble—and learn to love thy neighbor?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A contentious real estate deal sparks a battle of wits and seduction in Heath's sexy third Merriwell Sisters Regency (following Never Rescue a Rogue). After years of saving, Galahad "Gal" Sinclair, who was raised by his grandfather in the States, is thrilled to purchase the perfect building for his new London gaming hall—not realizing it's next door to an orphanage run by his longtime family frenemy, Venus Merriwell. Venus is shocked and despondent: she had a spoken agreement with the late owner that the building would go to the orphanage. When guilt and recrimination don't move Gal to sell her the property, Venus tries seduction. Men have always been attracted to her ample bosom, which, combined with her name, has led many to see her as merely a sex object. But Gal wants her for more than just her body, and Venus's attempt to remain emotionally aloof falters in the face of his kindness and understanding, especially after she sees him interacting with some of the orphanage's troubled children. Gal's confusion and delight in the face of British colloquialisms ("Cold enough to freeze your knackers off," for instance) brings humor, and his memories of his grandfather's life lessons add heart. Readers will be hooked.
Customer Reviews
Venus and Galahad
Venus Merriwell doesn’t like her name. Vee doesn’t seem to like a lot of things. From her diary and her interactions with others, it is clear she has been hurt and cannot let it go. She does, have a heart, and works diligently with an orphanage. One of the people she really does not like is Galahad Sinclair. Gal is from America, and hopes to open another club in London. He has found the perfect buildings for his project. Unfortunately, it is next door to the orphanage that Vee loves. When she discovers that he bought the building she thought was to be given to the orphanage, she is livid. This is an entertaining, enemies (sort of)-to- lovers story. Gal and Vee have been at odds since they met. Venus is intelligent, well read, beautiful (although she doesn’t believe it), caring, but a bit grouchy and judgmental. Gal is an ambitious and industrious entrepreneur with a good heart. He has much in common with Vee’s orphans. There is an attraction hiding under the animosity, but the harder the family pushes, especially Olivia, the more resistant the pair is. The orphans are a handful and a delight. Their antics keep both Vee and Gal on their toes. Can these two learn to trust each other, drop the facades they show to society, and find love? Anything is possible. An enjoyable conclusion to the Merriwell Sisters Series. The dual narration by Sebastian Brown and Sasha Higgins is quite entertaining.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
4.5 Stars!
4.5 Stars! Virginia Heath absolutely knocked it out of the park, folks! This is the 3rd book in ‘The Merriwell Sisters’ series and can be read as a standalone. This was a killer series & I recommend reading from the start. In this book, the youngest Merriwell sister, Venus/Vee Merriwell & Galahad/Gal Sinclair, cousin to the main male character from book 2, are the main characters & go from frenemies to more. Or do they? Mwahaha! Kidding!…
Secrets, omissions, romance, arguing, witty banter, ‘sexy times’, orphans, sneaky sneakiness, an HEA ending and much more. This book, & this whole series, has such wonderful characters, I couldn’t help but get pulled in and invested in those fictional characters lives. I do wish the epilogue had been longer but it was still a lovely ending. All in all, an entertaining, page turner.
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*