A Gamble at Sunset, Vanessa Riley
A Gamble at Sunset, Vanessa Riley
List: $24.99 | Sale: $17.50
Club: $12.49

A Gamble at Sunset

Author: Vanessa Riley

Narrator: Bianca Drew

Unabridged: 11 hr 13 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 05/21/2024


Synopsis

Georgina Wilcox, a wallflower with hidden musical talents, is furious when her reclusive older sister—the recently widowed Viscountess—refuses sorely needed help from the Duke of Torrance, the only gentleman who has shown kindness to the bereft Wilcox sisters. Georgina decides to get back at her sister and shock the Viscountess by kissing the first willing stranger she meets in the enchanting gardens of Anya House. Unfortunately, her sister is not the sole witness. A group of reporters and the ton's leading gossips catch Georgina in a passionate embrace with a reticent composer, Lord Mark Sebastian.

The third son of an influential marquis, the tongue-tied Mark is determined to keep the scandal from ruining Georgina's reputation and his own prospects of winning the celebrated Harlbert's Prize for music. Under the guise of private voice lessons, the two embark on a daring gamble to fool the ton into believing that their feigned courtship is honorable while bolstering Georgina's singing genius to captivate potential suitors. Sexist cartoons, family rivalries, and an upcoming ball test the fake couple's resolve. Will their sudden fiery collaboration—and growing attraction—prove there's nothing false about a first kiss and scandalously irresistible temptation?

About Vanessa Riley

Vanessa Riley is an award-winning author of historical romance, mystery, and fiction novels featuring realistic multicultural communities and powerful persons of color. To fuel her interest in the Regency and early-Victorian eras, she made time for attending renaissance fairs and consuming period novels and films while obtaining her PhD in mechanical engineering and a master's in industrial engineering and engineering management from Stanford University, as well as a BS and MS in mechanical engineering from Penn State University. A frequent speaker at literary, women's, and STEM events, she lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her military husband and teenage kid.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Literary on March 26, 2024

While the concept is fabulous, I would have loved more emotion in this creative historical romance, the first in a new trilogy. May Books 2 & 3 bring all the feels as we follow the lives of the fascinating Wilcox sisters -- a dynamic black family in Regency England.......more

Goodreads review by Liz on April 10, 2024

Many thanks to the author and Netgalley for my advance copy! I love historical fiction (especially the regency era) and this first book in a new series had equal parts great characters, vivid setting and fantastic dialogue. Since I prefer clean, closed door romances, this book hit all the right note......more

Goodreads review by Larissa on May 08, 2024

Thank you to Netgalley and Vanessa Riley for this DRC! "Joy must defeat the darkness." Vanessa Riley breathes life into a diverse cast of characters in this creative take on a regency era romance and fake dating. The Wilcox sisters inherited their father's successful coal business, but when the oldest......more

Goodreads review by R on March 29, 2024

This was an enjoyable, engaging read. The characterisation was great with each person showing both strength and vulnerability. The book is really well researched and some of the characters are based on historic figures. Most importantly it explores the hypocrisy of the ton. Life is fine if you are a......more

Goodreads review by Colleen on April 03, 2024

Awesome story! I enjoyed this book, it was a fast read and I liked how the story unfolded. The characters were well done and I would recommend this book to others.......more