I am participating in the St Martin’s Press boycott. I will not publicly be reviewing this title until St. Martin’s Press addresses reader concerns.

♠️ Never Wager with a Wallflower ♠️

“He could tell she didn’t believe him, so he guessed he would have to spend a lifetime convincing her that she was, without a doubt, the best opportunity fate had ever gifted him.”

Oh swoooon, what a delightful ending to the Meriwell sisters trio! My heart melted, enjoying the antics of Venus and Galahad.

Galahad is finally fulfilling his dream of buying the perfect property to turn into a club. The only catch? It’s right next door to Venus’s orphanage. In an attempt to soften the blow, Galahad decides to improve their relations, only to find himself losing his heart as he gets to better know Venus’s mind. The banter and antics was so delightful! Absolutely loved this one.

Check it out if you’re looking for:
♠️ Found family
♠️ Rivals to lovers
♠️ Mischievous children antics
♠️ Steamy card games 🃏

While this can be read as a standalone, I also highly recommend the first two books in the Meriwell Sisters series:
♠️Never Fall for your Fiancé
♠️Never Rescue a Rogue

Thank you to St. Martins and Netgalley for this ARC! My opinions are my own.

Venus Merriwell's unwavering dedication to the Covent Garden orphanage and her quest for a prince charming is both endearing and relatable. Her determination to find a selfless academic companion, free from her family's turbulent past, sets the stage for a captivating romantic journey.

Galahad Sinclair, on the other hand, is a complex character with a past deeply entwined with gambling, but he's determined to turn his life around and create a brighter future. When fate brings these two strong-willed individuals together, sparks fly, and their passionate clashes provide endless entertainment.

The narrative masterfully weaves together their spirited conflicts, the quirky orphans' antics, and the captivating backdrop of Covent Garden, bringing the story to life. The tension and chemistry between Venus and Galahad make their love story all the more satisfying.

It's the 3rd in the series, but is easily read as a standalone.
#1- Never Fall For Your Fiancé was the story of Minerva & Hugh. I gave it 4 / 5 🌟
#2- Never Rescue a Rogue featured the middle Merriwell sister Diana, falling for Giles Sinclair
#3 Never Wager With a Wallflower has the youngest sister, Venus falling for Galahad Sinclair who is the cousin of Giles.
There's so much to love about this regency romance- starting with Venus. She's not one of those heroines who doesn't know she's beautiful. She knows exactly what she's got going for her, and when she decides to use it- it's one of the best scenes in the book. She has a job! I love a strong female character.
Giles aspires to open a gambling den, and definitely falls first but I don't want to talk more about him because we see him grow and be excellent with kids (😍) Solid cinnamon roll behavior

A cute and easy historical read with an enemies-to-lovers trope (as well as that delicious slow build). I loved the witty back and forth between Vee and Gal. The two characters pulled me into the book and I just wanted to see them have their happily ever after. It's the third book in a series but can be read as a standalone. If you enjoy that slow burn with each person slowly revealing themselves, then get this book!

I read my first book by Virginia Heath (Never Fall For Your Fiancé) the fall of 2021. I loved it and since then there hasn’t been a book by this author that has disappointed me. That includes the latest and final installment of the Merriwell Sisters series - Never Wager With a Wallflower. This book is just sweetness in spades. I literally spent the afternoon baking bread and reading in between waiting on my dough to rise. It was the perfect cozy little romance to accompany my baking day. Never Wager With a Wallflower is endearing from start to finish. It was unique, held my attention, and wrapped up this beautiful series so wonderfully. Definite recommend from me!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review💗

not what I was expecting at all. actually so good and funny and much more deep than I initially thought. I loved the journal entries at the beginning of each chapter.

Falling in love with Virginia Heath's writing, I enjoyed the last in the Merriwell Sister's Regency romcom trio.

Venus Merriwell has been pining for her prince for a long time. She wants someone who knows what he wants and loves books. Sadly, nine years after first setting her "musts" for suitors, she's let down. Her only true love at the moment is the orphanage at Covent Garden and her fight towards making sure all children are cared for. There's just one person standing in her way..

Galahad Sinclair has just purchased land in Convent Garden after winning some bets. What he doesn't realize is the building next door is his enemy's orphanage. That enemy being no one other than Venus Merriwell. He's not giving up his plot of land. She's not giving up her dreams to his plot of land and expand the orphanage. Will they be able to come to an agreement? As they say, you should never wager with a wallflower.

I enjoyed reading Never Wager with a Wallflower and felt satisfied with the ending to Heath's series. Venus's diary entries at the beginning of each chapter made me smile and I found myself looking forward to each new one. The dual point of view flowed throughout and was spread evenly. While this could be read as a standalone, I do recommend this series being read in order.

I've read all of these books and am excited that the final Merriwell sister got her story. I appreciate that this role had me enthralled from the beginning and it was unputdownable.

Recommend to those who love a good historic romance!

This was another good book in the series The Merriwell Sisters. This is Venus and Galahad story. Vee feels she isn't meant to find love so tries to settle on someone who is just like her. Then Gal wants to open a new gambling den but finds out it is right by her orphanage and he tries to be a gentleman about it even though the 2 of them barely get along. They do their best to drive each other crazy. Which is hilarious 😂 and also slowly brings them together.

A big thank you to Virginia Heath and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Never Wager with a Wallflower is out and ready to read!

This book is the third and final installment in The Merriwell Sisters trilogy, this book is about the youngest sister Venus and the cousin of Giles, Gal. This book is a enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn and kind of forced proximity. I honestly really enjoyed reading this book. I thought both main characters had depth and growth. I liked that the twist happened earlier in the book, so you see them work through their issues. While this book can be read as a standalone it was nice to see the characters of the previous books and how their relationships developed. Overall if you are looking for a funny and fast-paced historical romance Never Wager with a Wallflower is for you!

** Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for the ARC and chance to read and review **

- slow burn
- dual POV

Overall, I thought it was very cute if you like regency romance. It’s a he falls first (one of my favorite tropes!). I did find it to be a bit overly wordy…with long paragraphs of the characters thoughts which seemed unnecessary and didn’t add to the plot. Also I don’t want to read the word bosom ever again 😂 I would definitely recommend to those who like regency romance - you would probably like it better if you’d read the books about the other sisters but I didn’t since it was an arc.

If you're still debating whether regency romance can be as engaging and entertaining as contemporary romance, try Virginia Heath's books. A word of warning: they are dangerously addictive and full of laugh-out-loud moments. The good news is that the will always brighten your day and we all need that from time to time.
This is the third book in the Merriwell sisters series and if you liked the first two books (Never Fall for Your Fiance and Never Rescue a Rogue), you must have been waiting impatiently for this charming finale. It was fantastic to see our beloved Minerva and Diana Merriwell happily married and doing fine, but is there her own Prince Charming on the horizon for Vee, the youngest of these three strong-willed, independent, adorable women?
Vee (Venus) loves her work in the Covent Garden Orphanage. It's not that she has completely given up on finding a suitable marriage prospect, it's just that she's had her share of heartbreak and disappointments and now firmly believes she needs someone who would appreciate her intellect. She doesn't need a love match when she can have a marriage of minds. But what if she can have both?
Galahad Sinclaire has finally had a break. He's been working hard to put aside a bit of money that he could invest and here is a perfect opportunity. Three properties in Covent Garden that with a bit of rennovation can be transformed into his kind of business and finally give him a steady sort of income. The only problem is that they are adjacent to an orphanage...the one where his cousin's sister-in-law happens to teach. Is it finally time to bury the hatchet and stop teasing this delightfully opinionated creature?
I loved both of our protagonists- they are funny, well-developed and have a heart of gold, despite (or thanks to) having a rough start in life. There's undeniable chemistry and lots and lots of humour to please even the most demanding romance reader. You get drawn into the story from page one and never want to leave this wonderful world created by Virginia Heath. The narrative flows easily and you can't help sympathizing and falling in love with the characters and wishing them a happily-ever-after.
Looking forward to Virginia Heath's next book!

This was a fun book! I haven’t read the first two in the trilogy, but I very much enjoyed this one I definitely want to read the others now!

This was a great enemies-to-lovers historical romance. It was a bit different than what I’m used to with these kinds of novels, but I loved the new take on things. The characters were enjoyable, and the tension and drama was fun to read. It’s definitely a slow burn, but there’s finally some spice at the very end to satisfy👀.

Some of my favorite parts were the card games between Gal and Venus! They were just so fun with the banter…the competition…the drama! Loved it!

And even though I haven’t read the first two in the series yet, this definitely seems like a nice way to end the trilogy with all three sisters and their HEAs💛.

If you enjoy historical romances, enemies-to-lovers, gorgeous bookworms with curves for days, ambitious self-made entrepreneurs, and flawed characters who came from difficult and adverse backgrounds, then I definitely recommend Never Wager With a Wallflower!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was an entertaining, well-written historical romance. It was fun, steamy and action packed. I didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed this book and will look for more books by this author.

4⭐️

Happy release day to Never Wager with a Wallflower! Really cute Regency rom-com. This book had me laughing and emotional, I loved Venus and Galahad's story.

The characters felt flushed out, and I continue to love Venus' family. The orphanage and Galahad's "pleasure palace" being right next door made for a great plotline, and I was genuinely curious to see how everything would work out.

The pacing of the romance was a bit odd at times, but in its own way made sense. I'm happy Venus got the ending she deserved! Galahad is a sweetheart as well, and the author managed to make me feel the same arc of emotions that Venus felt over time.

While I still need to read the first book in this series, I can appreciate how each storyline seems to be so unique. Overall this was a really sweet and humorous read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review:)

This makes me sad. This is the last we see of the Meriwell Sisters. I've enjoyed each of their stories, and Venus' was no exception.

Venus, the youngest sister, has always dreamed of her prince charming. Sadly, she is finding the pursuit hard, all potential prospects have left her disappointed. To keep herself occupied, she tirelessly works for the Covent Garden orphanage. One that is in desperate need of repair and growth.

Galahad Sinclair, cousin to Giles, has had to work hard his whole life and finally has his sights set on achieving his dream - to open his own pleasure house. And the space that has become available happens to be right next to Venus' orphanage.

These two lock horns consistently, mostly on misjudgements and preconceived notions. So when a gambling bet has them being cordial to each other, it's as though a flip has been switched. Their witty repartee is sheer foreplay, slowly building the steam as they start to careen toward the other.

Well, until Venus learns of Gal's plans.

Venus grew up with rose colored glasses until society kindly pointed out the realities of the world. It took her some time to realize that what she desired was standing in front of her. Watching Gal learn to accept family and that he could share some of his burden was endearing.

You should definitely one-click this book today. You will not be disappointed.

Never Wager with a Wallflower
Book 3 in "The Meriwell Sisters"
Rating: 1 star...DNF at 33%
Thank you to the author/publisher for the ARC provided through NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

This is the third and final book in this series which is where we see the youngest sister's turn at falling in love. Sad to say I could not finish it. I really did not like either of the two main characters, especially the female lead. I don't know what it was about them that I really couldn't connect or enjoy their bickering/banter.
I'll give it at least one star because I feel it was more of a me reason, than the book being badly written. I did enjoy the previous two in the series, but this sadly was a no.

Fun book. Although I haven't (yet) read the first two books in the series, therefore missing some of the history of Venus and Galahad, there was enough information provided that I could understand their pasts.

Vee is a romantic at heart, but after years of relationship disappointments, she has given up on looking for love. She no longer trusts her heart or her judgment and has set her sights on a nobleman who is as much of an academic as she is. Unfortunately, he is also boring, judgmental, and oblivious to her interest, and no one in her family believes they belong together. Vee's happiest times are spent working at the Covent Garden orphanage she helps run. It is also very overcrowded and needs more space - such as the empty building next door - if only she had the funds to purchase it.

Galahad is the American-born cousin of Vee's brother-in-law, Giles. He owns a gambling den near the London docks and is looking to add a second location. When he hears of the perfect building in Covent Garden, he rushes to secure ownership of it. He then discovers that it is next door to Vee's orphanage and realizes that for the sake of family harmony, he needs to mend fences with her.

The story opens with a prologue that describes the first meeting between Vee and Gal and sets the tone for their relationship over the past five years - chilly at best and antagonistic at worst. As the daughter of a gambler who deserted his family, Vee has definite opinions about gamblers and doesn't hesitate to share them. They do their best to avoid each other when possible and keep their distance when it is not.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Vee and Gal develop. Their antagonism is overt, but underneath are sparks of attraction that neither will admit. They are, however, blazingly apparent to others. When Gal acquires the rest of the orphanage building, he decides to "make nice" with Vee and try to get on her good side before she finds out about his purchase. It's understandable but also slightly underhanded and has the likelihood of coming back to bite him in the future.
Vee isn't sure what to think when Gal stops being such a pain and turns on the charm. She doesn't trust him, but it doesn't take long before he begins to win her over.

There are some hilarious scenes between the two as they spend time together. One is the first card game they play against each other. Vee is undefeated in the family, Gal is a professional gambler, and the tension between them is palpable. Their second game, after she finds out about his purchase, is a lesson in distracting the other player, and Vee is masterful. There are other times when the banter between the two had me laughing out loud and wondering when they would see the light about their feelings for each other.

However, both have serious insecurities that they keep locked behind sturdy walls. Both lost their mothers at a young age, and both have fathers who are morally bankrupt. Vee's issues make her very judgmental toward Gal and make it difficult for her to trust him. After the loss of his mother and grandfather, Gal keeps his heart locked up and doesn't allow himself to get close to anyone. The more time they spend together, the more Gal and Vee begin to see past those walls and realize that their initial impressions of each other were inaccurate. But it still takes a near tragedy for the last bits of wall to crumble and for them to admit their feelings for each other. I loved the ending.

Some of the best scenes in the book involve Vee, Gal, and Vee's orphans. I loved Vee's devotion to them and desire to give them the best possible future. I enjoyed her surprise at how Gal connected with her three most troublesome boys. Gal won my heart by understanding what drove their actions and his practical methods of helping her with them. At the same time, the boys were very protective of Vee, and their desire to help her with the building issue created some memorable moments. I especially enjoyed the scene with the pigeons and its aftermath. There was also a heartwarming scene involving the three boys and their proposed apprenticeship at Gal's business.

The epilogue was terrific, and I enjoyed seeing the three couples a few years into the future.

★ ★ ★ ★ //5

Never Wager With A Wallflower
by: Virginia Heath

THOUGHTS:

I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for giving me the opportunity to read an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Do you love a book that is:

-enemies to lovers
-found family
-historical romance
-banter & tension

This will be for you and it has even more within!


Just when I thought the first two couldn’t get any better, this third book stole me. I loved this book and all inside. I thought this was the cutest enemies to lovers read! This was a quick and swift read taking me away into this world with the characters and I didn’t want the book to end. I sat down on a beautiful sunny weekend and read this book front to back. The spice is perfection as well—perfect for someone who just wants to dip their toes in. I absolutely adored Vee and Galahad and the dynamic and relationship that they had building through the story. I thought they were simply perfect.