Review: The Twelfth Night Wager by Regan Walker

The Twelfth Night Wager by Regan Walker

Published November 4th 2013 by Boroughs Publishing Group

ebook, 134 pages

Series: Stand-alone

Genre: Historical Romance

Heat Level: Steamy
Source: From the author in exchange of an honest review.
Amazon |Goodreads 

Mature Content Advisory, must be 18+ 

Summary from Goodreads

THE REDHEADED RAKE
It was a dull day at White’s, the day he agreed to the wager: seduce bed and walk away from the lovely Lady Leisterfield, all by Twelfth Night. This holiday season, Christopher St. Ives, Viscount Eustace, planned to give himself a gift.

THE INNOCENT WIDOW
She was too proper by half—or so was the accusation of her friends, which was why her father had to find her a husband. But Lord Leisterfield was now gone a year, and Grace was at last shedding the drab colors of mourning. The house felt empty, more so during the coming Christmastide, and so tonight her coming out would begin with a scandalous piece of theater. The play would attract rogues, or so promised her friend the dowager countess. It would indeed. The night would bring about the greatest danger—and the greatest happiness—that Grace had ever known.

When I first read a novel by Regan Walker for a tour, I absolutely fell in love with her writing. So when the lovely Regan came to me with her Christmas Novella, I couldn't wait to crack open the little piece of joy. I have to admit. I took it slow in hopes of savoring this one. As with all novellas I was afraid it would end too soon. This one just hit the spot!

I was once again thrown in to Walker's wonderful writing and storytelling, pulling me into the world of Christopher St. Ives and Lady Leisterfield. When Christopher agrees to a wager with his friend to seduce and walk away from a lovely widow, he didn't see the truth behind her friends plan.

I enjoyed the instant attraction between the two characters as much as I enjoyed the characters. Thought at first Christopher's intentions have made me want to throttle him, I was glad when his true character began to come out. It really warmed my heart through the story as he grew close to Grace and felt protective over her.

I couldn't imagine what Grace had went through. Being handed off to marriage to a man much older then her at such a young age and going through so much before he dies. It made her seem older, experienced. But she had a really kind and sweet heart.

Loved the sizzling attraction between these two and the little Christmas magic that bought the two together. I couldn't help it. I was rooting for them from the very beginning. The Twelfth Night Wager had everything I could ask for. Wonderful romance. Likeable characters, and a sweet storyline!

I cannot wait for more wonderful books from Regan Walker, always looking forward to her amazing writing.

Author’s Note for The Twelfth Night Wager

Men in aristocratic Regency London loved to wager, and the betting books at White’s and Brook’s clubs are famous for the often ridiculous subjects that led to the exchange of considerable coin. It is not, therefore, inconceivable that two peers would wager on the seduction of a certain unnamed lady.

The playbill for the San Pareil Theatre (later changed to the Adelphi) really did read Bachelor Miseries that opening night in October 1818. And it was to be appropriate as Eustace was to learn.

As with my other stories, many of the characters are real persons: Lord and Lady Hardwicke, Baron Alvanley, Sir Alex Abercromby, and by mention William Cavendish, the 6^th Duke of Devonshire, Richard Tattersall and Lord John Russell. Some of these are also characters in my other stories. Interestingly, neither Alvanley, Sir Alex nor the 6^th Duke of Devonshire ever married.

Those who have read Racing With The Wind, first in the Agents of the Crown trilogy, will recognize Hugh and Mary, Lord and Lady Ormond and Griffen and Elizabeth Lambeth. Lady Claremont, the Dowager Countess of Claremont was introduced in Against the Wind, and appears in my short stories.

Wimpole Hall in Cambridgeshire (pictured on the cover) is an actual, historic estate that can be visited today. In 1818, it was the home of Philip Yorke, 3rd Earl of Hardwicke and his wife Elizabeth. I like to think the house party in my story might well have occurred that fall and included fox hunting and pheasant shooting. The entrance hall floor tiles actually date from the Victorian era but I could not resist including them, particularly since they feature the Hardwicke motto, so appropriate to Lady Leisterfield’s emotions at the time.

The perfidy of Lord Pickard and his blackmail mischief were suggested by actual historical events, though the murder of a peer was my own creation as was Viscount Pickard himself.

If you’d like to see what happened that same December when Lady Claremont invited a certain Scot named William Stephen to her party where he met the violet-eyed Lady Emily Picton, you might like to read The Holly & The Thistle, my short story from that same December that features all the traditions of a Regency Christmas. Because it was a short story, I did not include the ton’s response to Queen Charlotte’s death, should you wonder why the characters are not all wearing black.