The Marriage Wager (Matchmakers) [Mass Market Paperback]

Candace Camp (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2007 | Series: Matchmakers

In a world where love was always a gamble, they meant to beat the odds

No longer in the first blush of youth and without a marriage portion, Miss Constance Woodley could scarcely imagine why one of the leading lights of London society should take an interest in the likes of her. But under her benefactor's guiding hand she was transformed into a captivating creature who caught the eye of the handsome, charming and ever-so-slightly notorious Lord Dominic Leighton. And before the shocked eyes of the entire Ton, the "nobody" and the rakish viscount showed that even in the heartless world of the marriage mart, when love was at stake, all bets were off . . .

Don't miss this charming Regency tale, the first in Candace Camp's new series, The Matchmakers.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With a nod to Jane Austen, Camp launches the Matchmaker series, set in 19th-century London and concerning the lovely widow Lady Francesca Haughston, mistress of romantic chicanery. When Francesca claims that she can get any marriageable girl engaged by the end of the season, Sinclair, the fifth duke of Rochford, accepts her wager, but only if he can choose the girl. The target he picks is Constance Woodley, a spinsterish young woman who's been living with her uncle since her father's death, hopeless for a future as anything but a chaperone for her spoiled younger cousins. Constance has no idea why Francesca has taken her under her wing, but doesn't worry too much about it: she's feeling alive as if for the first time, especially when she meets handsome Lord Dominic Leighton; unfortunately, he turns out to be Francesca's brother and way out of Constance's social class. While there are no surprises in this frothy concoction, Camp delivers another beautifully written charmer, sure to please fans of historicals, with enough modern appeal to pull in some contemporary romance readers. (Sept.)
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From Booklist

For Lord Lucien Talbot, it appears to be a wager he can't lose—Lady Francesca Haughston has to take a young woman of his choosing under her wing and see to it that she's engaged by the end of the season. But his choice, Constance, isn't exactly a young woman. At 28, she's considered a spinster long past her "prime." And not only has she spent her "prime" nursing her terminally ill father, her evil aunt has also relegated her to the role of chaperone for her two bratty daughters. Happily, Francesca is Constance's fairy godmother in human form. She updates Constance's drab wardrobe and takes her to all of the must-attend social events. When Constance meets Lord Dominic Leighton, known as a rake and a cad, she perceives an entirely different man. But Dominic isn't Francesca's choice for Constance; he's Francesca's brother. Camp (A Dangerous Man, 2007) launches her Matchmaker series with this delightful, Regency-era variation on the Cinderella theme. Mosley, Shelley

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: HQN Books; mass market edition (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373772432
• ISBN-13: 978-0373772438
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #483,012 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 41/2 stars: a charming read, September 4, 2007

By 

tregatt (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Marriage Wager (Matchmakers) (Mass Market Paperback)

The first installment in a trilogy that centers on the efforts of the beautiful but impoverished Lady Haughston, I devoured (there is no other word for it) "The Marriage Wager" in one sitting. True, as a previous reviewer has pointed out, the plot is a much used one with very little variation, but when a book is well written, and is peopled with characters that are charming and engaging, and that one quickly takes to heart, well there's nothing to it but to heartily recognise the novel as a stellar read and to recommend to other readers of like mind.

Widowed and impoverished, the beautiful Lady Haughston has managed to make ends meet over the years by discreetly helping parents at their wit's end find suitable matches for their sons and daughters. But when the Duke of Rochford playfully wagers that there are some cases that even she cannot aid successfully, Lady Haughston finds herself accepting the wager to marry off Miss Constance Woodley. A poor relation and well past the first blush of youth, Constance has resigned herself to playing chaperone for her two grasping cousins. Which is why she both bewildered and flattered when she suddenly finds herself being befriended by the fashionable Lady Haughston. Why is Lady Haughston taking such pains to help her spruce up her wardrobe and introduce her to all sorts of people? Soon, however Constance finds herself enjoying all the many entertainments and treats that a London season has to offer, and even the friendship the wonderfully charming Lord Dominic Leighton. And even though Constance knows that nothing can come of this delightful friendship and that she should not loose her heart to Dominic, she soon finds herself doing exactly that...

While I hate having to classify "The Marriage Wager" as a nice, old fashioned read, that's exactly what it is. I know that storyline is a really oft used one, and that the characters seem all of a stock type, but truth to tell I'm rather tired of heroes that smoulder and shout, and of heroines with more hair than wit. Constance is exactly the kind of heroine I'm partial to, and the situation she finds herself in is exactly one that is probable and possible. I also liked that Dominic matched her personality in style and character -- these two really were a well matched pair. Another thing I liked was that Constance did stand up to her unfeeling aunt rather early on in the book, and that the authour allowed for Constance to realise quite early on that she was the object of a wager. By allowing for these plot developments, the author gives Constance a backbone -- she may be a poor relation, but she's no cringing violet. And while it's true that the ending is a tad melodramatic, I enjoyed it nevertheless. So, in spite of the reviews here and elsewhere damning "The Marriage Wager" as a boring and tepid read, I'd recommend it to romance readers who are tired of all that angst and heavy breathing and who don't mind reading a well written and charming romance novel that has an oft used storyline.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Matchmaker series, September 26, 2007

By 

cb (Minot, ND) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Marriage Wager (Matchmakers) (Mass Market Paperback)

Lady Francesca makes a wager with the Duke of Rochford that she get take any wallflower and get her engaged by end of the season. Rochford picks Constance Woodley who is almost the Cinderella of the story. Her father has died and she had to live with her aunt and uncle and terrible two daughters. Constance finds herself attracted to Lady Francesca brother Lord Dominic Leighton. Great story - finished in a day. Enjoy!


If you enjoy this genre, I would also suggest; Forever Yours by Janmarie Anello and How to Abduct a Highland Lord by Karen Hawkins, The Heir and the Spare by Maya Rodale.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun easy read, September 30, 2007

By 

Laura Baker "Voracious reader" (Columbus, IN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Marriage Wager (Matchmakers) (Mass Market Paperback)

This was a very fun book to read. I recently had a tooth pulled and this book kept my mind away from my mouth. It was actually kind of nice not to read about sex within the first 100 pages. I am intrigued by Lady Francesca and the Duke. Could it be a one-that-got-away love? Can't wait for the next installment.