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lolarose1234's review against another edition
4.0
Was very enjoyable- just not a 5 because I enjoyed the other book I’ve read by the author more. The characters stood out to me more and had stronger wills.
rosannelortz's review against another edition
4.0
Lady Louisa Hargreave is on the verge of announcing her betrothal to the Earl of Kerridge when her family receives some shocking news: a promissory note written by her grandfather before she was even born makes her contractually obligated to wed another. And William Barlow, the impecunious Viscount Farleigh, has no intention of tearing up that note. He needs Louisa's dowry to rescue his estate. For the sake of the family honor, her own dreams must be sacrificed.
William always thought it a long shot that the Hargreaves would honor the note, but as he begins to understand Louisa's steadfast character, he realizes that she could do nothing else. As they wait for the banns to be published, William has three weeks to get to know his betrothed. But with rumors and secrets about his late father swirling around the ton, William's own retiring nature balks at revealing who he really is. And if he cannot get the lady's goodwill, even her acute sense of family honor may desert her before the wedding day comes around.
The premise of this story was a bit farfetched, but I enjoyed watching how it all played out. Louisa's parents were both affectionate and solicitous, an unusual quality in Regency romances, and her quick-witted and over-protective brothers were a delight. William's reticence was depicted well and the reasons behind it. In the end, I wished for the hero to show a little more pluck, but the happily ever after still came off all right.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
William always thought it a long shot that the Hargreaves would honor the note, but as he begins to understand Louisa's steadfast character, he realizes that she could do nothing else. As they wait for the banns to be published, William has three weeks to get to know his betrothed. But with rumors and secrets about his late father swirling around the ton, William's own retiring nature balks at revealing who he really is. And if he cannot get the lady's goodwill, even her acute sense of family honor may desert her before the wedding day comes around.
The premise of this story was a bit farfetched, but I enjoyed watching how it all played out. Louisa's parents were both affectionate and solicitous, an unusual quality in Regency romances, and her quick-witted and over-protective brothers were a delight. William's reticence was depicted well and the reasons behind it. In the end, I wished for the hero to show a little more pluck, but the happily ever after still came off all right.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
katiemayveil's review against another edition
4.0
This was a book that I stayed up until 3 am reading! I enjoyed this book quite a lot.
After his father's passing, William Barlow is the new Viscount Farleigh, along with the title come the debts and poor reputation of his father. Louisa Hargreaves is in the midst of her first London season and is enjoying it immensely, especially the attention of the Earl of Kerridge. Louisa and William are thrown together in a most unexpected way, and all that follows is a delightful tale of communication, struggling with family expectations and learning to trust.
Louisa is an outspoken lady who sticks up for herself and desperately wants to marry for love. William keeps things bottled up and close so that no one can tell what he's thinking or feeling, he is trying to protect the people who now depend on him as Viscount.
I really enjoyed the conversations between Louisa and William, and how their relationship changed throughout the book. There was a lot of growth and I liked that Louisa's family, who is very wealthy and privileged did not behave that way.
If you're looking for a lighthearted engaging read, then this is for you.
After his father's passing, William Barlow is the new Viscount Farleigh, along with the title come the debts and poor reputation of his father. Louisa Hargreaves is in the midst of her first London season and is enjoying it immensely, especially the attention of the Earl of Kerridge. Louisa and William are thrown together in a most unexpected way, and all that follows is a delightful tale of communication, struggling with family expectations and learning to trust.
Louisa is an outspoken lady who sticks up for herself and desperately wants to marry for love. William keeps things bottled up and close so that no one can tell what he's thinking or feeling, he is trying to protect the people who now depend on him as Viscount.
I really enjoyed the conversations between Louisa and William, and how their relationship changed throughout the book. There was a lot of growth and I liked that Louisa's family, who is very wealthy and privileged did not behave that way.
If you're looking for a lighthearted engaging read, then this is for you.
kimber_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Wager For A Wife by Karen Tuft is a regency romance with a marriage of convenience style plot. Then again maybe I would say marriage of inconvenience.
Louisa is a well put together and respectable young lady of society who is being courted by a sought after Earl and heir to a dukedom. When the Earl proposes Louisa accepts and they decide to announce their engagement once the marriage contract is finalized. However their plans are derailed when a young viscount, William, shows up out of the blue claiming that a bet placed between their grandfathers allows him to claim Louisa as his bride. Will Louisa move forward with her engagement to the Earl ? Or will she honor the terms of the bet and marry the viscount?
I really enjoyed the unique plot for this book! The idea of winning/buying a bride isn’t used very often and it took me a while to decide whether or not I liked it. But I think I did end up liking it because Louisa still had the ability to say no to William, but she also had the ability to say no to the Earl. Although their courtship wasn’t traditional, William and Louisa still chose to be together and weren’t forced to.
It took me awhile to like William, but I found that the more Louisa got to know him and liked him, the more I liked him. It was kind of interesting that the Earl starts out as the hero and as the story goes on I liked him less and less, whereas William started out as the villain and as the story went on I liked him more and more. I think it just goes to show that people aren’t always what they seem, you have spend time getting to know them to see who they truly are.
Overall this is was an enjoyable read, it didn’t make my favorites lists but I still liked it. If you enjoy regency romance, love triangles, enemies to lovers, and strong capable female characters you should check out Wager For A Wife.
Louisa is a well put together and respectable young lady of society who is being courted by a sought after Earl and heir to a dukedom. When the Earl proposes Louisa accepts and they decide to announce their engagement once the marriage contract is finalized. However their plans are derailed when a young viscount, William, shows up out of the blue claiming that a bet placed between their grandfathers allows him to claim Louisa as his bride. Will Louisa move forward with her engagement to the Earl ? Or will she honor the terms of the bet and marry the viscount?
I really enjoyed the unique plot for this book! The idea of winning/buying a bride isn’t used very often and it took me a while to decide whether or not I liked it. But I think I did end up liking it because Louisa still had the ability to say no to William, but she also had the ability to say no to the Earl. Although their courtship wasn’t traditional, William and Louisa still chose to be together and weren’t forced to.
It took me awhile to like William, but I found that the more Louisa got to know him and liked him, the more I liked him. It was kind of interesting that the Earl starts out as the hero and as the story goes on I liked him less and less, whereas William started out as the villain and as the story went on I liked him more and more. I think it just goes to show that people aren’t always what they seem, you have spend time getting to know them to see who they truly are.
Overall this is was an enjoyable read, it didn’t make my favorites lists but I still liked it. If you enjoy regency romance, love triangles, enemies to lovers, and strong capable female characters you should check out Wager For A Wife.
leslie_books_and_socks_rock's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVED this book. I had read Tuft's previous work in "The Gentleman's Deception" and loved it, so I had high hopes that I would enjoy this as well.
This was such a sweet Regency romance. I love how William was of few words, while I could empathize with Louisa, how frustrating it would be, it seemed like a simple take that isn't as widely used in most Regency plotlines that I've read. And Tuft weaved a perfect story, the reader couldn't help but cheer for them! Wondering if they would get a HEA when it seemed like many times it wasn't in the cards. I couldn't put this book down.
I loved all the characters and the ending was perfect that I didn't want to say goodbye to these characters! Lo and behold, Tuft's previous work "The Earl's Betrothal" is connected, she created this book as a prequel of sorts. I can't wait to read that as well. I received this book in exchange for a review but I will most definitely be buying this in paperbook to share with family and friends!
This was such a sweet Regency romance. I love how William was of few words, while I could empathize with Louisa, how frustrating it would be, it seemed like a simple take that isn't as widely used in most Regency plotlines that I've read. And Tuft weaved a perfect story, the reader couldn't help but cheer for them! Wondering if they would get a HEA when it seemed like many times it wasn't in the cards. I couldn't put this book down.
I loved all the characters and the ending was perfect that I didn't want to say goodbye to these characters! Lo and behold, Tuft's previous work "The Earl's Betrothal" is connected, she created this book as a prequel of sorts. I can't wait to read that as well. I received this book in exchange for a review but I will most definitely be buying this in paperbook to share with family and friends!
thenovelbook's review against another edition
3.0
I was able to read this thanks to NetGalley and Covenant Communications.
The characters in this book were nice, and I would enjoy reading something else from the pen of this author to see what she could do with a more realistic plot. Unfortunately, I found the plot of "Wager for a Wife" to be so contrived as to be insupportable. It's not just that the grandfather made a ridiculous bet that could maybe, barely, conceivably be stretched to apply to future generations, it's that all the members of the current generation take it so very seriously. I understand the concept of "honor" as it applied in historical times, and that it is very different from what we might consider necessary today, but I think this plot goes beyond even the historical context. It is laughable that anyone even in that society would consider it honorable for someone to jilt her fiance and marry a complete stranger because of a vaguely worded wager made between a couple of rogues decades back. I also thought there was a contradiction between Louisa's feminist beliefs (as in, I should be held to the same standard of honor as the men) with her willingness to accept that the men's definition of honor was infallible.
Furthermore, the man who wants to hold her to it is much too nice to have suggested it; it's not really consistent with the way his character is written.
There were also some jarring anachronisms in dialogue.
However, the book was easy to read and I enjoyed the secondary characters and the general writing style well enough to give it three stars. The trope of a couple falling in love in spite of an arranged marriage can be a fun one, and it worked well enough here, if only the spur to set the relationship going had been slightly easier to swallow.
The characters in this book were nice, and I would enjoy reading something else from the pen of this author to see what she could do with a more realistic plot. Unfortunately, I found the plot of "Wager for a Wife" to be so contrived as to be insupportable. It's not just that the grandfather made a ridiculous bet that could maybe, barely, conceivably be stretched to apply to future generations, it's that all the members of the current generation take it so very seriously. I understand the concept of "honor" as it applied in historical times, and that it is very different from what we might consider necessary today, but I think this plot goes beyond even the historical context. It is laughable that anyone even in that society would consider it honorable for someone to jilt her fiance and marry a complete stranger because of a vaguely worded wager made between a couple of rogues decades back. I also thought there was a contradiction between Louisa's feminist beliefs (as in, I should be held to the same standard of honor as the men) with her willingness to accept that the men's definition of honor was infallible.
Furthermore, the man who wants to hold her to it is much too nice to have suggested it; it's not really consistent with the way his character is written.
There were also some jarring anachronisms in dialogue.
However, the book was easy to read and I enjoyed the secondary characters and the general writing style well enough to give it three stars. The trope of a couple falling in love in spite of an arranged marriage can be a fun one, and it worked well enough here, if only the spur to set the relationship going had been slightly easier to swallow.
ebgracie77's review against another edition
3.0
Sweet book. There’s a little bit of fussing from the characters but overall, they were both kind to each other. Plus, I love that the heroine investigates when she is told hearsay about the hero rather than just lashing out at him and blaming him (so often done in romances). A lovely story and I liked the characters and their “families”.
I was torn about the stars. I think it’s a 3.5 stat book. I liked it but the setup is a bit ludicrous.
I was torn about the stars. I think it’s a 3.5 stat book. I liked it but the setup is a bit ludicrous.
shadowteabooks's review against another edition
5.0
To start with I was not quite sure I would like this book - but the more I read the more I wanted to keep Reading.
Karen Tuft captures the time period and the characters perfectly! Without her descriptions and creativity this book would not be near as good. I'm glad that I chose this as a book I would like to read on Netgalley and the publisher/author saw fit to let me read it.
I fell in love with Louisa From the beginning - such a chatty girl - something which is felt is outplace in the time period. But she is an amazing character. Full of wit, love, beauty and honour for her family.
In the beginning of this book we also learn about Will Farleigh - Who has just become the viscount of his fathers estate after he had passed away - to find out the estate is not in a good way - they are in debt to multiple mortgages and not doing well.
Will just wants to be able to save the manor from its likely fate of being consumed by debt.
While Will and his lawyer were going over estate documents they found a wager that his grandfather and Louisa's grandfather had made that could save the estate and everyone who lives there.
Louisa is almost officially betrothed to Earl of Kerridge when the wager is brought to her attention. To start with the betrothal to William Farleigh is one she does not want. But unbeknown to her she begins to fall in love with Will.
Will eventually lets Louisa go as he decides that he cannot marry her unless it is on her own terms. He does not expect Louisa to return to him.
However she does, not just for Will but for herself - she finally decides to marry for love and not because someone else will benefit from her marriage.
Such a lovely story - very well written and the story keeps you interested. This is a story for anyone who loves time period romances.
Karen Tuft captures the time period and the characters perfectly! Without her descriptions and creativity this book would not be near as good. I'm glad that I chose this as a book I would like to read on Netgalley and the publisher/author saw fit to let me read it.
I fell in love with Louisa From the beginning - such a chatty girl - something which is felt is outplace in the time period. But she is an amazing character. Full of wit, love, beauty and honour for her family.
In the beginning of this book we also learn about Will Farleigh - Who has just become the viscount of his fathers estate after he had passed away - to find out the estate is not in a good way - they are in debt to multiple mortgages and not doing well.
Will just wants to be able to save the manor from its likely fate of being consumed by debt.
While Will and his lawyer were going over estate documents they found a wager that his grandfather and Louisa's grandfather had made that could save the estate and everyone who lives there.
Louisa is almost officially betrothed to Earl of Kerridge when the wager is brought to her attention. To start with the betrothal to William Farleigh is one she does not want. But unbeknown to her she begins to fall in love with Will.
Will eventually lets Louisa go as he decides that he cannot marry her unless it is on her own terms. He does not expect Louisa to return to him.
However she does, not just for Will but for herself - she finally decides to marry for love and not because someone else will benefit from her marriage.
Such a lovely story - very well written and the story keeps you interested. This is a story for anyone who loves time period romances.
melissasbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this latest book from Karen Tuft. This book is sort of a prequel to The Earl's Betrothal. It's the explanation of how Louisa found her true love. Loved it! Even though it's a prequel, it can be read alone and is a great introduction to the characters in subsequent novels.
thebookscript's review against another edition
4.0
A Wager for a Wife is such a lovely regency romance. I adored both William and Louisa, especially with their character flaws and strengths. I loved the tenderness and the swoon worthy moments that totally warmed my heart proving to me once again why I love a good proper romance. The only thing I can complain about it that I wanted it to be longer, because I’m selfish and want as much romance as possible in these types of stories! A perfect easy read to sweep you off your feet.