Oh, the famous last words of a historical romance: “A kiss couldn’t hurt anything at all.”

For fans of Bridgerton and A League of Extraordinary Women, this book is a fun, sweet, and light read. Our heroine is a bold (red-headed 👩🏻‍🦰💁🏼‍♀️), independent woman who enjoys getting her hands dirty and studying archaeology. She’s such a unique and fun character for a historical romance! The Duke of Chase is charming and noble, and discovering that he can forge his own path for himself instead of trying to please his (dead) father. Together, they make a great couple for a forced marriage of convenience… yes it’s kind of a combination 😅 This was a delightful, palette-cleansing book to read!

“Blood, in the end, did not foretell a good man. No, only action did that.”

Thanks to Entangled Publishing and TLC Book Tours for the copy of this book!

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I have to say I was not in love with this. We have a character that is described as plain but the author never tells us anything else. Chase is a man that is tricked into marry a woman that doesn’t fit in to ton. It seemed like a good story but I just wasn’t jumping up and down in love with it.

4 Reasons I loved The Wedding Wager by Eva Devon

~The forced marriage plot
~The Knight (or in this case Duke!) who shows he cares
~Lady Victoria Kirby had a fun and fascinating personality and it made for some remarkably interesting situations!
~The overall storyline – which was easy to read, made you want to get involved with the characters

I was interested in this book based off the synopsis. It sounded interesting (I mean I will forever be a fan of Dukes in knights clothing/ Forced Marriage plots!) and I have read other books by Eva Devon and loved them. The bluestocking theme was also very well done, but not over the top which I appreciated. The character interactions were a bit stilted at first but once the book got going, they smoothed out and I really enjoyed getting to know Derek and Victoria, a good slow burn romance.

Overall, it was not my favorite book by Eva Devon, but it was still a good one (we all have our favorites!) and I give The Wedding Wager 4 Stars.

*I did receive this book in return for my honest feedback. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Give me a Duke with a damaged heart and the conviction he will never marry or sire an heir and watch me swoon. Also give me a unique, strong woman who speaks her mind, knows what she wants, and doesn't hesitate to put said Duke in his place, and I am a goner. I got that—and more—in this one from Eva Devon, who wowed me with The Spinster and the Rakelast year and has quickly become a go-to historical author for me. I loved the way Chase fell in love with his "plain" wife and her bright spark of a mind, and how she, in turn, came into her own after a being rejected by the ton. And the ending? Sheer perfection.

(Full article at https://ververomance.com/app/article/54120)

The Wedding Wager is the first in a new series, This one involves Victoria and Derek. When Derek hears Victoria's father gambling her away in a wager, he steps in and wins her instead to save her from an awful marriage. Victoria realizes that marrying Derek is the only way that she will be free of her father.

This one was OK for me. It's definitely a slow burn. The couple don't even really like each other in the beginning. I honestly didn't really feel much chemistry between them for a long time. That made the book go a bit slower that I like in a romance. My favorite of the couple was Derek. I felt like he had the biggest growth by the end. Victoria really just kind of got what she wanted without really having to sacrifice anything. I did like the glimpse forward in the epilogue. I also enjoyed Victoria's sister. I would be interested in seeing what happens to her in another book.

3 stars
This started out with an interesting idea full of possibilities. A woman who knows what she wants and it isn't to be married off in a bet because her father lost to a letch. We have a man who cannot let that happen and is pleased to step in, out bet the letch, and marries our independent woman.

Things seem to be working until they start to fall for each other.

The premise of this book really drew me in. I loved the idea of a Duke winning the heroine over a bet and the drama that may ensue.

I really liked that the Duke had a whole Hitch like thing on the down low but for helping women get out of ugly marriages. I even liked the the heroine was supposed to be a not so pretty, smart, and witty lady.

Up until like the 30% mark i thought we were really going somewhere. The angst was building up, maybe some misunderstanding drama, different plot lines of characters. I really liked it.

But then the storyline kept going no where, the problems laid out were resolved within a chapter or two, and I lost the whole purpose of this book.

I HATE when books tell you a character trait over and over instead of showing it. This was the case. If I heard a phrase about a DUKE and Duchess being able to do whatever they wanted, or a definition of a rake, or a dull superficial debutant I was going to throw my book across the room ! I felt like there was just so much effort in trying to make it obvious this book was about two characters that hated society and how unique they were and powerful .

Also, the cheesy nickname … “victory”… UGHH !!

I ended up DNF . I skipped to the last few chapters to see if anything seemed like it would get better and it didn’t, so I didn’t go back to finish it.

This was a good romance with some heartfelt moments that were both beautiful and at times painful. The father in this situation was peculiar and i can't decide if he was horrible or brilliant. I felt for the poor Duke in this because of the treatment he endured by his father, but at the same time i felt that perhaps his reaction might have taken things too far considering how common knowledge those affairs in the ton were. Regardless, i enjoyed the story and would enjoy more by the author. #netgalley #theweddingwager

The Wedding Wager drew me in from the start. The thought of a father gambling away his daughter’s hand in marriage as Victoria Kirby’s father does truly shocked me. I wondered what was so terrible about her that a wealthy and successful man would do that while at the same time I loved Derek Kent, Duke of Chase, for coming to her rescue. While Derek’s and Victoria’s marriage is one of convenience, it soon becomes apparent that despite their expectations, it is a love match. These two are bright, intelligent and compassionate people and nothing like they are believed to be by the general populace. Each has been hurt, each is protecting their heart and yet each of them work brilliantly together.
This book is witty, fast-paced and thoroughly entertaining though it does have serious undertones. My only real beef with it was the grammatical and linguistic slips that peppered the pages. Victoria’s modiste calling her “mon duchesse” when duchesse is feminine made me cringe. Minor details. The story had me reading as fast as I could and I loved it.

This is just a wonderful read of two broken members of aristocracy, a Duke and a daughter of a Marquess, coming together from the roll of a dice, and ultimately finding the fulfillment of their dreams. Derek, the Duke of Chase, seems to have it all, but his life is a lie, as the vow to his now deceased father threatens to destroy him. Victoria, a plain girl with a harsh tongue, rejected by the ton, seeks only for a life of freedom to be an archeologist, digging up ruins in foreign places. This mismatched couple are not so different after all, and bring love and healing to one another, and a love for a lifetime.

Once we get to know the Duke of Chase, it seems as if he’s a bit too good to be true. Even if at the beginning he seems a bit too bad to be trustworthy.

However, I loved Victoria from her very first appearance – as did Chase although he was much less willing to admit that even to himself.

But Chase is absolutely right about Victoria’s father. He is utterly irredeemable. There are no such thing as best intentions when one is wagering one’s daughter’s hand in marriage on a roll of the dice – even if it’s best two out of three and the dice are rigged.

That’s where we meet our hero, and our villain. Not that Victoria’s father turns out to be all that effective – or energetic – in that particular endeavor. The Marquess of Halford is determined to find his bluestocking daughter a husband before she’s permanently on the shelf – even though that’s exactly where his older daughter wants to be.

Victoria is a dedicated archaeologist, who has served as her father’s lead assistant ever since she was a child. She enjoys her work, and indeed pretty much any intellectual pursuits. She also hates the ton and the feeling is very, very mutual. She thought her father understood that, and he certainly encouraged her work.

Until the night he wagers her future, allowing her hand to be won by the scandalous rakehell otherwise known as Derek Kent, the Duke of Chase. A man whose reputation is hard-earned, hard-won, and utterly false.

Chase seems to have more than a bit of “white knight” syndrome, and Victoria is the latest in a long line of damsels he has rescued – generally by helping the world to think that they are not damsels at all.

Victoria doesn’t want the usual lot of high born women, marriage, motherhood and never allowed a thought in her head about anything serious, important or intellectual. Chase is caught on the horns of a dilemma, he needs a wife to keep the predatory mamas of the ton at bay, but he gave his word that he would never father an heir to the dukedom. Marrying Victoria, with her reputation as a plain-faced shrew should solve all of both their problems. He’ll give her the respectability of being his duchess, and the freedom to do whatever she likes. He’ll never desire her enough to bed her, so there will be no danger of an heir.

All’s fair in love and war, and the best laid plans of mice and men often go very far astray. While it’s true that Victoria’s caustic wit and sharp tongue are quite capable of disemboweling a man with a single phrase, she is beautiful. The ton’s narrow definition of beauty simply can’t encompass a woman who is meant to stride through the world like a goddess.

But by the time they’re each past admitting, at least to themselves if not each other, that they both want a marriage in full and not merely a platonic friendship, they’re both so deep in lies and misconceptions that they may not be able to wade across the chasm that they’ve dug between them.

Escape Rating B: The Wedding Wager is deliciously frothy and a quick and utterly lovely read. I liked Victoria so very much as a character, and I loved Chase’s response to her. He does think she’s beautiful, but the attraction between them is as much about her intellect as it is about her appearance. Nor does the story dwell on every detail of her appearance, and I really liked that. It felt like we got way more of the female gaze, Victoria’s appreciation of Chase’s charms, than we did the other way around.

And yet we still got that sense that she is beautiful and that the ton’s rules have become so narrow that they just can’t see it. Victoria doesn’t have to change anything about her physicality to become a “success” with the ton, she just has to own her authentic self.

One of the parts of this story that really sings is Victoria’s forthright nature and her unabashed cultivation and use of her own intellect. She’s smart, she’s thoughtful, she finds the restrictions of the ton unbearably frustrating, finds the entire thing a stupid but stupidly painful farce and does her best to ignore it as much as possible. I particularly enjoyed the scene at the theater where the older woman, Lady Gannet, enjoys Victoria and matches her in intelligence and agreed that the girls of the ton were generally forced to be stupid. Yes, Lady Gannet believed that Victoria’s prime duties as duchess were to take care of her husband and provide him with children, but she also used her brain and missed a time when other women did as well and wasn’t in the least bit shy about saying so.

I loved Victoria and Chase’s intelligent banter, although he seemed a bit too good to be true in his appreciation and support of her goals and ambitions. I wanted him to be, it makes the romance work, but at the same time it felt a bit too easy.

Speaking of easy, Chase’s secrets were too easy to figure out, so I’m glad that he revealed them to Victoria relatively early on. In the end, the conflict between them wasn’t about the secrets, it was about his clinging to the past that created those secrets.

And he gives very good grovel when he finally figures it out.

One final note. Something about the way the story was set up gave me the niggling feeling that this was part of a series. I think it was in the depth of Chase’s friendship with Brookhaven. It felt like there was prior history that was known but not present in this book. That might be true, but this is not – at least so far – part of a series. Howsomever, if it turned out to be, particularly if the next book were about Brookhaven himself, I’d be EXTREMELY interested!

A really lovely story that keeps the reader engaged. If you enjoyed Bridgerton, you will enjoy this.

We love an archaeologist heroine, especially/exclusively when it's not exploitative! In this regency romance, artifact enthusiast Victoria has her hand in marriage and entire future gambled away by her father. When Derek, Duke of Chase, sees that lecher is about to win it all, he steps in to place a bet as a chivalrous act. It's also a compelling arrangement for him since he would only marry an independent woman who isn't keen on producing an heir. I've never seen two characters so utterly enthusiastic to enter into a loveless marriage of convenience, so that was a fun energy to experience. Obviously, that completely falls apart. Which I also enjoyed watching occur. Seeking solitude through their arrangement, they discover that's not really what they want. Independence, yes. But both seek a unique opportunity in their lives to be truly seen and to share their work, their projects, their passions with another.

Both characters have complicated relationships with their parents, and I thought the author did well showing these many facets and how they have shaped Victoria and Derek. Derek has a bit of a savior complex, but the author played it well. He has a certain degree of self-awareness, and Victoria keeps him in check when that fails. I'm also learning to look forward to Eva Devon's consistent disdain for imperialism, sexism in all forms, and the vagaries of the ton.

This romance is a whirlwind and quick read. Derek supplies the angst and Victoria the strength and logic. Genre fans will enjoy this twist on some high-quality tropes. Thanks to Entangled and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

I loved the fact the heroine was not a young debutante but a mature woman who was not a diamond of the first water, nor was she was a wallflower. She knew she was not pretty but plain. However, the gossip of the ton severely thwarted. She put her energy with what she was good at; a cutting tongue, wit and a no nonsense attitude. When she was gambled away by her father she was stunned. Derek, the Duke of Chase married Victoria knowing he would never be attracted or desire her. She was perfect in his mind. Did things work out as they both thought? NOPE!!! This goes to show that the past can be overcome, love comes in many forms and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I highly recommend this book. It is very inspirational and full of hope.

I received an Advance Readers Copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Entertaining
Original
Page-turner
Romantic
Realistic
Unpredictable
Wonderful characters

All Lady Victoria Kirby wants is to dig in the dirt, take notations, and record history, thank you very much. Bumbling through ballrooms and getting disdained by the ton for her less than ideal looks, on the other hand, is the last thing she wants. But her reckless father has a different idea for her future when he puts up the ultimate ante—her hand in marriage—and loses. Over her dead body.

The Duke of Chase cannot bear to see a woman misused. After all, he saw that often enough as a child. So when he’s witness to a marquess gambling away his daughter to a lecher of a man, he has no choice but to step in and rescue her. Lady Victoria has a reputation for being as tart as a lemon and as bitter as one, too. So, he may have just found the perfect wife to keep a promise he made to himself long ago--to never have an heir. With her, surely, he'll never be tempted to take her to bed and break that promise.

But when he meets the wild, witty intelligent young lady he’s bound to marry, he knows trouble is headed his way... And everything he ever swore to uphold may very well come undone, especially his heart.

Derek and Victoria's love story started out unconventional. Derek won Victoria's hand in a game of dice. Derek sees himself as a Knight in Shining armor for women and Victoria does not need a hero. I enjoyed the slow buildup of the relationship. They get to know each other and they both battle their inner demons. I did find a bit distracting the continued sentiment throughout the book that the heroine was "too plain" and Derek continued "secret". I would give this book a 3.5 stars.

Read this for the storyline alone! Fabulous! From the start, you are drawn into swooning over Chase as he stands up for women of the ton. I liked that he called Victoria by a pet name, cute. I really enjoyed this book and thought it was planned out pretty well, seemed to flow along nicely- although it did get a bit short and choppy through the middle with some scenes, it did not detract from the enjoyment. The epilogue is a bit short and doesn't really do much to further the story, it needed a bit more.
Strong writing from a great author.
I cannot wait for more of this new series!
I received an advanced copy in exchange for my review.

When Derek Marcus Andrew Kent, the Duke of Chase first becomes involved in Lady Victoria Kirby’s life, it is to win a wager. Her father, the Marquess of Halford, is in the process of gambling away her hand in marriage when Chase intervenes and wins her. Yet he believes that he will never take her to bed and have an heir, a promise that he made to his father. Yet when he actually meets Victoria, Chase is transfixed by her wit and intelligence. Soon he realises that his promise might be difficult to keep.
Whilst Chase struggled with his inner turmoil, I enjoyed seeing how Victoria developed in her self-confidence. It was comforting to see how Chase was incredibly admirable and respectful of her intelligence and did all that he could to help both Victoria and her sister, rise above the disappointments levelled out by their father. Whilst I couldn’t comprehend Chase’s insistence on abiding with his father’s promise, it did show Chase for the highly moralistic person that he was. An enjoyable read with all the right elements!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved Eva Devon's Spinster and the Rake, alas The Wedding Wager did not work for me and it's a did not finish situation. There wasn't really anything wrong, it was the set up to the relationship that didn't work for me. Chase is marrying for convenience rather than his own sake because of a promise made to his father. Who is dead. I'm sorry, I just don't understand sacrificing your own happiness for someone who is dead. Once I got this sense, I ended up deciding to leave this one behind.

A marriage made in?

Derek Marcus Andrew Kent, the Duke of Chase, can’t help but interfere when he sees the Marquess of Halford use his eldest daughter as collateral for a bet at a club with a known bouncer. One Halford should have wished to keep his daughter well away from. Chase knew he was going to regret interfering. On the other hand he might have just found a solution to his own pressing problem—a wife with no strings attached.
Lady Victoria Kirby was acknowledged as different and difficult, known for using her tongue as a weapon. Without knowing her, Chase admired that.
All Victoria wanted to do was to excavate the ancient burial sites on the family property. Now her father’s actions have put that in doubt. Chase and Victoria’s relationship might not be one made in heaven, and they do have a long way to travel, but the getting there is quite interesting.
I was concerned by a reference to life, lemons and lemonade, one that didn’t come into being until the early 1900’s. It just struck an odd note.

An Entangled Pub. ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)