A fun conclusion to the Merriwell Sisters' Series. This enemies-to-lovers regency romcom has a great mix of banter and slow burn. Super fun historical romance.

What a great ending to the series. I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

Sometimes a final book in a series has trouble creating tension, but not so here. And the hilarious pigeon scene was absolutely brilliant.

If you ask me to name one of my go to authors, one of my auto buy picks, Virginia Heath is right there at the top of my list. There's not a work she's written that I've read thus far which I haven't fallen completely in love with it! My first exposure to her work was her Warriner's series and while we've come a long way from a flash of an ankle being a scandalous moment, the stories never fail to enchant, the characters never miss leaving an impression, and I've never turned the final page without a smile on my face.

Venus and Galahad were a story waiting to happen...or a volcanic eruption of passion waiting to come forth, but, in any case, it was a welcome event! We followed the paths to love for her sisters, and now it was the youngest's turn. Though saddled with a beautiful name that caused her nothing but torment from the male species, she was a lady not to be toyed with. She learned from her mistakes, and chose to take her love life by the reigns to guide it where she wanted it to be. Ah, if only matters of the heart were that simple...but then the story wouldn't be as delicious, the banter so hard hitting, the distractions so tantalizing, and the build up so filled with anticipation!

I loved how much Venus was truly herself. She knew who she was, what she wanted, what she hadn't gotten in the past, and the way to procure it in the future (well, sort of). When Galahad stepped in as an obstacle not to be simply gotten around, her heart took a misstep, but she wouldn't let it sway her mission. It wasn't selfish, in fact she was fighting for those less fortunate in need of education, a roof over their heads, and a chance at a successful future, but it was narrow sighted, and though stubborn, even she couldn't deny the truth once all the masks of the "gallant knight" were seen through. I adored Galahad for everything he was, everything he made it through, and the golden heart that shined in every dark moment despite his best efforts to hide it from the world. It wasn't selfish either, he'd been hurt BIG TIME by those that should have been his protectors, but he found his way, and eventually his heart had its say.

A FABULOUS READ once again from an author who knows her craft, and shares it with the world! I can't say enough about this release, or those prior, except that if you've yet to read her work, and are a fan of Historical Romance, you don't know what you're missing!

I always love seeing a series come to a close in a beautiful way. This book definitely met all my expectations. I won’t lie though, for almost the first half of this book I really disliked Vee. She just was being portrayed as a huge spoiled brat. I really liked Gal and his sweet nature. I will say I really liked Vee’s growth and who she turned into. The ending to this series was very sweet and I liked getting a glimpse into their future!

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

What a wonderful story. It was full of humor and just enough heat. Venus and Galahad were a delight. I enjoyed the first two books in the series and this was a fitting conclusion.

A very cute conclusion to the Merriwell sisters' series! I really enjoyed following this unruly family through these three books and I'm quite sad to see it end. Thankfully we got quite a will-they won't-they and enemies to lovers in this one following Galahad and Venus, FINALLY! I've been waiting very patiently for this story and Virginia Heath delivered. I look forward to what she's going to write next!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

I loved this series finale. It was actually my first work by Virginia Heath, and I can’t wait for more. Everything about this book worked for me, and I highly recommend it!

I received an ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

I received an advanced reader's copy of Never Wager with a Wallflower by Virginia Heath from NetGalley and the publisher.

This was an enjoyable historical romance. I think the way that Galahad's background was tied into the story gave it a lot of depth. Galahad was patient, understanding and an overall wonderful character. Venus was judgmental and inflexible in her thinking at times, especially when it came to Galahad. Since it was for situations he couldn't be blamed for, she was difficult to relate to in those moments.

The characters from previous books in the series made an appearance and I loved the family interactions. There were some memorable scenes with them.

The epilogue was wonderful. It brought the entire series full circle with an update as to how all the characters were doing.

I really enjoyed this series and this story and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for some entertaining historical romances.

I love this series. It will definitely be a comfort read for me.

When we met Vee in the first book she was delusional and annoying and by the second book she was one of my favorite characters.

I’m so glad she got her HEA and I really enjoyed this funny and sweet story.

Virginia Heath writes enjoyable historical romance novels, with quickly moving plots and likable characters. This was no exception - Venus, Galahad and the assorted cast of supporting characters were great company in this enemies-to-lovers novel. Thank you to St Martin’s and Net Galley for the Advance Reader Copy!

Rounding out the Merriwell sisters, Venus is a spitfire with a big heart, and Galahad is a man with a plan. I think this is the perfect ending to the series. It was light, fun, and kept me engaged. Venus and Galahad's enemies-to-lovers storyline was fun to read because they both had an obvious attraction to one another from the start.

I can't wait to see what Virginia Heath writes next!

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

I did not love this book. I am finding it hard to stick with books that lose my attention in the first 100 pages, and unfortunately, the book fell victim to that.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and net galley for the eARC.

On paper, this sounded like exactly the kind of book that I usually thoroughly enjoy: a rakish American in the trenches of British aristocracy, a plucky heroine with bookish and brainy tendencies, and the colorful characters who surround them. Unfortunately, within just a few pages, I started to get the feeling that, in execution, it wasn't going to be quite as excellent as the summary promised. The writing was stilted and tried too hard to sound ~posh~, the characters were flat, and the descriptions were repetitive (and overbearing). I wanted to love it, but I did end up finally throwing in the towel after about 100 pages. There are too many things to read - and many with plots and characters similar to this that are done infinitely better - to slog through all 341 pages of this one when it was thoroughly underwhelming. Alas, this isn't one I'll be recommending, even as a fluffy palate-cleanser.

A cute story with characters who are as busy searching their own souls as they are the soul of their confirmed enemy. Of course they become SSO “Sometime Significant Others “ but that only leads to more misconceptions and miscommunications. Well written, it is light reading with several important underlying messages.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc I didn't manage to read in time but very much enjoyed nonetheless. This was a great conclusion to the series. Venus and Galahad's story was my favourite of the trilogy. I love a slow burn and this proved to be just that. Poor disillusioned Vee took a while to come around to Galahad but once she did it was magic. I loved seeing Galahad contribute to the orphanage and start to build relationships with the boys. This was all around lovely and I recommend it if anyone is looking for a fluffy historical romance with minimal angst. Perfect for the holiday season.

Virginia Heath Brock is a quirky historical romance/Rom com.series. As a whole the Swiss was quirky and adorable and this one was no exception. Venus and Gerald are an adorable addition to the couples in this Trilogy. This study warmed my heart and entertained me from beginning to end.

I love this series and these sisters and their friends and family. This one was enjoyable as well as the broader cast of characters.

I adore this author and this book was just another amazing read. The main characters were so good and the story just brought me in and never let go. I wish I could be friends with these characters even during that time period. I just highly recommend this book.

Never Wager with a Wallflower
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Virginia Heath

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Miss Venus Merriwell has been waiting for her prince to come since the tender age of fourteen. She wants a man who is 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 hell 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?

My Thoughts: This is the third and final book in The Merriwell Sisters series. Usually I do not like to read historical or regency romance books but I like Heath’s style and have read this series. Even though this is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone, however, there is some crossover from the prior books to this one with characters. Venus Merriwell has had a string of disappointing suitors and still remains unmarried at 23. Venus puts her heart and soul into the orphanage in Convent Garden, but desperately needs to expand into a the building next door to be able to continue to service orphaned children. Galahad “Gal” Sinclair loves everything about gambling and has been saving to build a hall for gamblers. Galahad has his eye on the building next door to the orphanage. Galahad had crossed paths with Venus a few years ago that ended in disaster. Galahad knows that Venus (his cousin’s wife’s sister) runs the orphanage and thinks he needs to change the way to approach her. This follows the tropes of historical romance, regency romance, and enemies to lovers.

The story is narrated in dual POV by Venus and Gal. Venus was very independent, especially considering how dependent women were in this time period, she was kind, intelligent, and generous. Venus does not have a positive outlook on men in general based on her experiences. We do not know what these are until very late in the book, however, we get little snippets from her journal at the beginning of every chapter, which I loved. Venus has created this lock over her heart and thinks about marriage with her head and not her heart. Gal has had to depend on himself for a while and only shows a facade of what he is. Gal brought himself from nothing to successful. Gal tries to get the building by getting on Venus’s good side, but when an omission causes mistrust, he will have his work cut out for him. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, and intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, funny, time appropriate, swoony, and kept me invested throughout the novel.

This was a fantastic ending to a well-written series. I would highly recommend this book and the prior two in the series. While you can read this alone, you would get better character development by reading them in order.

This book was hard to get through for one reason and one reason only: Venus Merriwell. I wanted to like this book because I am all for reading a series and having "the baby" come into her own and be a lovely woman... but this series did not do Venus well.

First of all, don't forget! She has big boobs! Massive honkers!! GINORMOUS BAZOOKAS! Not a chapter goes by where either Venus hates that she has big boobs or that Galahad thinks about her "supple busoms".

Second, Venus is mad at Galahad for... purchasing property without knowing that she worked at the orphanage next door and without knowing that the woman who had originally owned said property had verbally let the orphanage know that she would probably give them a building. And that's his fault, for some reason.

I found myself struggling to pay attention through this, as everything seemed to be rehashed over and over. The ending was quite painful as well, and did not fit the tone of the event that was happening. Overall... quite disappointed.