Lady's Wager [Mass Market Paperback]

Mary Spencer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 13, 1998

A Game of Passion .  .  .

Miss Gwendolyn Wells was determined to win the Perfect Husband--and she found him while visiting London with her father.  From the moment the spirited young American laid eyes on Jack Sommerton, Earl of Rexley, she knew he was The One--though he had vowed never to wed.  So she secretly wagered that the notorious rake would soon be married.  To her! But first she had to tempt and infuriate him, to drive the man who was the talk of the London ton to passionate extremes.  Then she said no--and he vowed to have her at any cost.  .  .  .  

...Played for Keeps...

Her beauty dazzled him.  Her bold laughter unnerved him.  For the first time in his rakehell life, Jack Sommerton met a woman who touched his very soul.  Gwendolyn Wells invaded his dreams, blinded him with her charms, drove him mad with desire, until he finally swept her into his arms.  Love had nothing to do with it--until she said she'd settle for nothing less. . . .

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Mary Spencer reintroduces likable characters from her previous book, Dark Wager, and explores London's unsavory underworld in this Regency historical that's more notable for its original characterizations than its sensual lovemaking. Plainspoken Gwendolyn Wells, raised in Boston but connected to the ton, knows on sight that Jack Sommerton, Earl of Rexley, is destined to be her husband. Convincing Jack, however, isn't so easy. Jack, who has reason to believe he's illegitimate, spends his nights searching London's most notorious neighborhoods for proof of his birth, and ferreting out evildoers who profit from the most heartless crimes. When Gwendolyn ventures into those depraved dens after him, and engages in a risky scheme to help bring a villain to justice, Jack is kept busy protecting her reputation... and resisting the idea that life without Gwen would be intolerable. An amusing secondary romance between a clumsy lord and his long-suffering fiancée provides a refreshing diversion. Spencer creates an authentic and appealing Regency world on a broader-than-usual canvas, and hints at more related books to come. --Ellen Edwards

Review

Gwendolyn Wells is a young American miss who lives under a curse . . . a curse of beauty. It has been the bane of her existence and has forced her to use her lively wit to manipulate the smitten males of her acquaintance into focusing their attentions where else. Though she has many suitors and offers for her hand, Gwendolyn has yet to meet the man that stirs her heart. Her brilliant scientist of a father is in constant despair that his daughter will never leave home. Jack Sommerton, Earl of Rexley, has problems of his own. He was born under less than ideal circumstances and is seeking to find the truth of his birth. He also is the warmhearted benefactor of women who are caught up in dire straits and seeks to find them safe employment. He is asked by one of his best friends to meet Gwendolyn Wells and her father as a favor. Suspecting a matchmaking trap, Jack agrees to meet his friend's relatives but vows not to fall for any attempts to lure him to the alter. Once Gwendolyn lays eyes on Jack she knows that he's the ONE. Gwendolyn immediately begins scheming to bring Jack under her spell. Between Gwendolyn's machinations and Jack's foray's for information about his past, this lively tale swiftly draws the reader into the plot for enjoyable hours of entertainment. This was the first story I had read of Mary Spencer's and was pleasantly surprised. Ms. Spencer has a flair for the dramatic, and humor, and spins a fine story, which will inspire laughter and tears. The heroine is refreshingly aware of her great beauty but is not adversely affected by it. She has a warmth and generosity of spirit that makes one wish she were your friend. Jack Sommerton is a wonderfully written hero whose situation tugs at the heart while fascinating the reader with his strength of character and loyalty to his friends. Ms. Spencer not only provides wonderful leading characters, but she has provided a host of endearing secondary characters. It is very easy to see that the reader will be reading more stories about at least one more of these characters in the future, and I for one can hardly wait. Ms. Spencer is definitely on the fast track for success, and I highly recommend her story to anyone seeking a humorously entertaining tale. Ms. Spencer personally appeals to the heart of the reader with her fine tale and wonderfully developed characters. Mary Spencer knows romance and delivers it with great wit, warmth, and humor! Take a chance, and bet on Mary Spencer. The rewards of your wager will return two fold and leave you all the more richer in heart and imagination! Gloria Lower -- Copyright © 100198 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary Times

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Dell (October 13, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440224926
• ISBN-13: 978-0440224921
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,006,712 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The worst of the Wager series, April 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Lady's Wager (Mass Market Paperback)

There is too much mystery and not enough romance in this book. The hero's character, which certainly seemed promising from the first book in the series, is poorly developed and shallow. The heroine likewise is poorly crafted.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Will her risk to free him cost them their lives?!!, December 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Lady's Wager (Mass Market Paperback)

Although the lighter tone of the story in Lady's Wager is in stark contrast to its darker predecessor, Dark Wager, Mary Spencer has once again proven her ability to tell a wonderful tale of adventure and romance in Regency England. And who better to tell of, than tall, blonde and handsome Jack Sommerton, Earl of Rexley, Lucien's dearest friend. (I definitely panted over Jack in his supporting role in Dark Wager!) We find that Jack's secret is consuming and dark, having everything to do with his birthright and who he is. We noted in Dark Wager the brief mention of Lord Manning's likness to Jack, and this comes more into play in this tale. A result of Jack's relentless pursuit of the truth brings him to redeem prostitutes and other unfortunate people from the bondage and torture of Lord Walsh, a member of the ton, whose wealth and fortune feeds on the evils of prostitution. Walsh holds a key document that bears light on Jack's birth. The fun begins when Jack's less-than-favorite American friend, Kerlain, manages to finagle Jack's sense of duty in meeting and attending to his beautiful forthright cousin, Ms. Gwendolyn Wells. Ms. Wells arrives with her famous father to the shores of England for a well-anticipated visit, especially by Lord Wulf Severn. Because of Gwendolyn's somewhat spoiled freedom as an unattended child (due to her father's preoccupation with science), she tends to go forth without really counting the cost of her actions. This creates all kinds of interesting debacles that Jack feels he must deal with. One thing Gwendolyn is sure of - and she informs Jack of this - is that he is The One. Jack, as much as he resists, finds in Gwendolyn more than physical beauty - he finds in Ms. Wells his helpmate and soulmate. She is more than his match, and he cannot but love her. As their bond grows, Gwendolyn risks her life to help Jack by pretending interest in his arch enemy, Lord Walsh, to find evidence of Jack's birthright and in doing so, she hopes that Jack will be free to be wholly hers. Gwendolyn places in interesting bet in the books, asking her cousin Kerlain to assist her .... but Walsh has other things in mind .... and is a dangerous man to deal with. In the midst of this seeming mayhem, Mary Spencer provides comical relief in settling the relationship between long suffering Christabella Howell and the remiss Lord Severn. Bravo, Mary Spencer! I thorughly enjoyed the daring and adventure Lady's Wager brought to my world, as well as discovering the heart and soul of Jack and enjoying again the comraderie amongst friends we found in Dark Wager. Mary Spencer's forte seems to be in her honest assessment of human nature, and she balances the dark side with the natural humor that occurs in life and love ... even in the most trying of circumstances. A topper! I practically read the book in one day, I couldn't put it down! I look forward to the last in this trilogy, hoping to find out what Kerlain has remained so faithful to on the shores of America!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Some nice characters, but an unreal heroine, November 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Lady's Wager (Mass Market Paperback)

Unfortunately, I was very disappointed by Lady's Wager. I very much enjoyed the previous book, and though that the teaser boded well for this effort. While I liked many aspects of the book, I grew to loathe to heroine. I realize that, by the conventions of the genre, disregard for proprieties and personal safety, as well as failure to admire oneself are considered to be heroic qualities. However, for a young woman to go into the middle of the worst slum in the city in the middle of the night is beyond stupid. The behaviour was nearly unmotivated, except perhaps by a desire to meddle and chase down the hero. Her persistent disregard for the advice of others with regard to the conventions is less strong-minded than rude and insensitive. The author, perhaps, was attempting a contrast between Gwendolyn and Clara of Dark Wager. I feel that the attempt went too far, leaving the reader with a character who, if not entirely ostracized by society in the first hundred pages, would have been gang-raped and dead in the river in the second hundred. Another jarring note (though certainly secondary)lies in a scene in which the elegant Lord Manning nearly foams at the mouth, as he thrashes around trying to punch someone. For a man of such (reputedly)lethal verbal skills and self-control to suddenly begin flailing around like a sitcom character was, I felt, inappropriate. For a final objection, I thought that the author wimped out on the Wulf-Bella-Yvette situation, which could have been genuinely psychological without being too unforgiveable. Instead, it turned out caricatured and unrealistic.

I will certainly buy Mary Spencer's next book, which I assume will deal with the Kerlain situation, but if it turns out as badly as Lady's Wager, I will probably stop.