The Balloonist's Wager
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3.8 • 12 Ratings
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- $5.99
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- $5.99
Publisher Description
Flying is wonderful, but romance is sublime if it's with the right person.
Fearless and impulsive, Lady Anne Lewis, daughter of the Earl of Doverton, is not the usual ton lady. Nor does she want to be, for she's worked the bulk of her adult life at being a balloonist. At eight and twenty she wants to make her stamp as an inventor and more importantly, show the beau monde she's not a laughingstock for wanting to fly. What is romance compared to that ultimate freedom?
Well-read Benedict Urquhart, Viscount Worthington is a man who values peace and order over all else in his life. After attaining the rank of captain in the military, he refuses to use it, for he was naught but a coward on the field. He wants a surcease from guilt and a way to gather the courage he lacked years ago, regardless of his dull work as an actuary. None of that can be found by marrying and furthering his line.
When a freak accident throws Benedict from his horse, his placid life takes an abrupt turn upon meeting the distracting and unrepentant woman manning the runaway hot-air balloon. Anne's ecstatic about the new distance she's covered and gives the handsome, incensed viscount a field promotion to her unlikely assistant. Despite their differences as well as the desire simmering between them, they become allies when a wager is thrown down. If they're fortunate, the prize won at the end will bring exactly what they both needed all along but were too obstinate to see.
Customer Reviews
Up and Away!
Anne is the daughter of an Earl who loves science and piloting her hot-air balloon. Benedict is a Viscount and former soldier, now an actuary. Due to a mistake and accident in the war, he is obsessed with analyzing risks. They have a common nemesis in a newspaper reporter who was also an officer in the war with Benedict. Anne and Benedict are absolutely opposites that attract, but as so often happens they complement each other and fit together perfectly. This really a fun story. The characters are interesting. I love the banter between Anne and Benedict. The story is well done and exciting. I was right there with him when Benedict took his first balloon ride. A good read. I recommend it.
I received and ARC of this book via BookSprout. My review is voluntary.
Opposites Attract Romance
Lady Anne is a risk taker with her ballooning, scandalous for the time ballooning attire, inventions, and confrontations with her enemy and biggest competitor the underhanded Mr. Davis. As an actuary, Benedict calculates his decisions to minimize his risk and lets fear rule his life. Lady Anne falls into his orderly life and stirs things up. I was surprised he was willing to go up in a balloon with her and risk his heart and a potential pregnancy, but she makes him see life is so much better when you take some risks. I enjoyed reading about ballooning and Anne’s inventions. It made me want to try a flight sometime. I liked Benedicts rakish friend Lord Randolph and I’m looking forward to his romance.