A kiss in the gardens. A ruined reputation. A wager without a winner. Having been caught kissing an earl’s heir in the gardens during a ball, Miss Lucy Fitzsimmons has been relegated to the company of potted palms and wallflowers at London entertainments. Despite behaving as a perfect young lady up until that fateful night, she knows time won’t lessen the stain on her reputation. She’ll rarely be asked to dance, nor does she expect to be courted by anyone, but then given the terms of the wager, she won’t need to—her brother apparently gave the rake permission to court her! One thing is certain—when Marcus Higgins returns in two years, she intends to collect what she’s owed. They had made a wager, and she won. Meanwhile, Marcus has disappeared from London. The second son of the late Earl of Greenley, he left on a Grand Tour the day after he accepted the terms of a wager and kissed the young woman he has secretly been in love with since they were children. Two years away from her will be torture—he can’t get her out of his mind. His only saving grace is they made a wager, and he’s quite sure he was the winner. When he returns to British shores, a surprise for Lucy’s brother in tow, Marcus is determined to collect what he’s owed.
One high-stakes wager. Two stubborn hearts. After a humiliating debut three years earlier, Lady Prudence Davies decided to embrace her status as a wallflower and sets course for spinsterhood. But when her fellow wallflowers become targets of a band of rogues, Prudence ventures out of the shadows to aid them. Silas Hayward, Viscount Winstead, and his friends make an unfortunate wager, one that Silas deeply regrets. If his family didn’t so desperately need the winnings, he would’ve found a way to bow out. Twelve balls and a dance with twelve different wallflowers. How hard could it be? Prudence has no intention of allowing any of the rogues to win the ridiculous wager—not when she’s one of the twelve. While a steamy kiss with Silas has her reconsidering her opinion of rogues, she refuses to allow her friends to be hurt. Silas is knocked sideways as he comes to know Prudence and doesn’t like the idea of using her to win. Suddenly there’s more at stake than the money, yet he can’t possibly choose her over helping his family. Who will win the wallflower wager? This standalone novella is connected to Revenge of the Wallflowers and The Mayfair Literary League series, which starts with A Matter of Convenience. If you enjoy wallflower romances with charming rogues, read The Wallflower Wager!
New York Times and USA Today Bestseller They call him the Duke of Ruin. To an undaunted wallflower, he's just the beast next door. Wealthy and ruthless, Gabriel Duke clawed his way from the lowliest slums to the pinnacle of high society—and now he wants to get even. Loyal and passionate, Lady Penelope Campion never met a lost or wounded creature she wouldn’t take into her home and her heart. When her imposing—and attractive—new neighbor demands she clear out the rescued animals, Penny sets him a challenge. She will part with her precious charges, if he can find them loving homes. Done, Gabriel says. How hard can it be to find homes for a few kittens? And a two-legged dog. And a foul-mouthed parrot. And a goat, an otter, a hedgehog . . . Easier said than done, for a cold-blooded bastard who wouldn’t know a loving home from a workhouse. Soon he’s covered in cat hair, knee-deep in adorable, and bewitched by a shyly pretty spinster who defies his every attempt to resist. Now she’s set her mind and heart on saving him. Not if he ruins her first.
A wallflower And an elegant gentleman… Gauche Hazel Springfeld is reconciled to being left on the shelf. At a society ball, she is improbably asked to dance by charismatic Mr. Lucas Darkwood. When she discovers it was all for a wager—he’ll win a prize if he can turn her into marriage material—Hazel plans to get her own back! She’ll frighten Lucas into thinking she really does expect that proposal—from him! From Harlequin Historical: Your romantic escape to the past. Young Victorian Ladies Three spirited sisters, all highly individual, find the men who are just right for them Book 1: Wagering on the Wallflower
Never Wager with a Wallflower is the third and final delightful installment in Virginia Heath's Merriwell Sisters Regency rom-com series. Miss Venus Merriwell has been waiting for her prince to come since the tender age of fourteen. She wants a man who is a 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 hall 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?
A lively Regency romance with secrets to unravel… The stakes of the wager? Saying “I do”! When Gabriel is awakened by the news that his riotous grandmother has lost a card game and he has gained a bride, he knows he has to act! So the viscount wastes no time in meeting Marie, his unexpected betrothed. But she’s nothing like the wallflower he expected. Not least because Marie is privy to his family’s deepest secrets…which he has worked hard to hide. Now he has no choice but to keep Marie tantalizingly close! From Harlequin Historical: Your romantic escape to the past.
"Love--sentimental drivel for insipid, weak, feckless fools. A wounded hero. Since an explosion ravaged Captain Morgan Le Draco's face and cost him his commission in the Royal Dragoons, he's fortified himself behind an impenetrable rampart of cynicism and distrust. Now destitute and shunned by the very society that once lauded his heroics, he's put aside all thoughts of marrying and having a family. Until he risks his life to save a drowning woman. At once, Morgan knows Shona's the balm for his tortured soul, but as a wealthy, titled noblewoman, she's too far above his humble station and can never be his. Love--a treasured gift reserved for those beautiful of form and face. An intrepid wallflower. Scorned and ridiculed most of her adult life, Shona, Lady Atterberry believes she's utterly undesirable and is reconciled to spinsterhood. She hides her spirited temperament beneath a veneer of gauche shyness, until a strapping, scarred stranger saves her life, and she can't deny her immediate, powerful, and sensual attraction to him. Despite how ill-suited they are and innuendos that Captain Le Draco is a fortune-hunter, she cannot escape her growing fascination. Two damaged souls searching for love. Others are determined to keep them apart, and Shona is goaded into placing a wicked wager. One that sets her upon a ruinous path and alienates the only man who might have ever loved her. Is true love enough to put their pasts behind them, to learn to trust, and heal their wounded hearts?"--Page [4] of cover.
When a scorned wallflower, Miss Julia Harbison, plots revenge on the roguish Lord Rushington, a dance floor mishap turns into a game of love and deception. Can truth and passion outshine vengeance? When a drunken gentleman mistakes her for another on the dance floor, Miss Julia Harbison must battle the gossip and whispers alone. Without any apology or explanation, Lord Rushington leaves her to fade into the background, forcing her into the guise of a wallflower. Angry at his lack of consideration, Julia plots her revenge – to make him fall in love with her before shattering his heart to pieces. Viscount Benedict Rushington is a gentleman inclined towards revelry and has no intention of finding himself a bride. However, his eye is caught by a mysterious young lady who hides away at the side of society but whose smiles pluck at his heart. All the more intrigued, he encourages her to step out a little more, finding himself entirely caught up with her. When the truth is revealed, will Benedict confess how much he adores her? And can Julia bring herself to break the heart of the gentleman she has come to love?
'There is currently a large Bridgerton shaped hole in my life, this book has filled it perfectly, enjoyable plot and likeable characters' 'A refreshing array of dazzling wit, hidden depths, lip curling humour and heartmelting fun, in all its entangling intimacy!!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader praise for the Merriwell Sisters series! A hilarious, sparkling historical romantic comedy, with an irresistible family at its heart, perfect for fans of Julia Quinn's Bridgerton and Martha Waters. 'The perfect mix of romance and intrigue, and the formidable central couple is sure to win hearts. This is a gem' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY starred review 'Virginia Heath's fun characters and situations will have you laughing out loud! Don't miss this wonderful read!' SABRINA JEFFRIES 'Filled with fabulously British banter, wit, and heart, this delightful book is one of my must-read rom coms of the year' EVIE DUNMORE ..................................................... The sainted Miss Venus was up to something - and he was damned if that didn't intrigue him. Venus Merriwell knows exactly what she wants in a husband: a selfless academic, free from all the wretched vices of her gambling father. Unfortunately, at twenty-three and after several romantic disappointments, the one true love of her life is a bursting-at-the-seams Covent Garden orphanage that desperately needs to expand into the empty building next door. Gambling isn't just Galahad Sinclair's life, it's in his blood. Following a childhood in a New York tavern, he's spent the last five years making a success out of his East End gaming hall and saving for the pleasure palace of his dreams in Covent Garden. The only fly in his ointment? His perfect building just happens to be right next door to Venus's orphanage. With Venus's malevolent orphans doing their darndest to sabotage Galahad's lifelong dream, the two soon find themselves locking horns. Will either of them ever take the ultimate gamble and learn to love their neighbour? ..................................................... 'Heath is carving a name for herself in historical rom-coms' BOOKLIST starred review Readers LOVE the Merriwell Sisters ! 'An utterly heartwarming and hilarious romp through regency England . . . Virginia Heath's new series is the perfect blend of humour and romance that Bridgerton fans will fall head over heels for' 5* NetGalley review 'A fresh, fun and a totally original take on the regency romance genre . . . the witty banter is brilliant and so entertaining! . . . I can't wait to read more from this author' 5* NetGalley review 'I absolutely loved this book . . . A historical romance with humour. Looking forward to the next book by Virginia Heath' 5* NetGalley review 'What a fun story! . . . Hugh and Minerva have fantastic chemistry, and they send up sparks every time they are on the page together . . . A great read all the way around!' 5* NetGalley review 'The first in a new series & boy what a starter, it had me hooked & giggling from the first page . . . If you want a humorous, entertaining often farcical yet romantic read look no further' 5* NetGalley review 'I loved, loved, loved this story!' 5* NetGalley review
Flirtatious behavior isn’t to be tolerated… said no man ever! Despite having been raised in a proper home with a proper nursemaid and then an even more proper governess, prim and proper Vivian wants anything but to behave properly when it’s been years since her come-out—especially since the man she has set her sights on is legendary rake Sebastian Peele, heir to the Weatherstone earldom. After a lengthy stay in a monastery in the Alps, Sebastian has returned to London a reformed man. He knows it's past time he take a wife, and he has a young lady in mind. A perfectly prim and proper young lady. At least, she was. He's shocked by Vivian's behavior and a bit bothered at how she reawakens his bad boy tendencies. He's not the only one who is surprised by Vivian's new persona—her best friend Christina is appalled by her unladylike behavior during a dinner with new viscount Richard Hartwell. Christina is secretly glad he shows no interest in Viv, though—she's quite taken with him, even after she learns the secret of how he came to be Viscount Hartwell. If only he could accept the truth of his identity, Richard might learn it's far better to accept a family who loves him than live a lonely life.
