Previously found in It Started With a WhisperA WAGER HEARD ‘ROUND TOWN…Known for his charm and silver tongue, Reese Delacy, the Earl of Darling, wagers that he can make any proper girl fall in love with him in less than a fortnight. Unfortunately, the boast catches the ear of the notorious gossip behind the Whispers of Lady X. In no time, details of Reese’s wager spreads through Town, making … spreads through Town, making him a pariah in short order. All seems lost until he stumbles upon a Bermudian beauty who is seemingly unaware of his scandalous wager.
…THAT HAS THE POWER TO CHANGE EVERYTHING
With control of the Caribbean salt trade hanging in the balance, Miss Cara Beckett, left the pink, sandy beaches of Bermuda to represent the interests of her family’s empire and to solicit the support of parliament. She’d bargained for batting her lashes and flirting with peers, but she’d never imagined she’d become embroiled in a reckless wager with a handsome earl that has captured all of Society’s interest.
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If you are looking for a fun beach read this book will do the trick!
*I originally read and reviewed this novella as part of the “It Started with a Whisper” anthology.
Reese Delacy, Earl of Darling is consoling his heartbroken friend Capt Lucien Gates. Lucien has been thrown over by his betrothed and is drowning his sorrows. Reese doesn’t believe in love and tells Lucien that he could make any woman fall in love with him, just by being charming. Lord Daniel Westham overhears him and they make a wager – Reese has ten days to make a woman fall in love with him – winner gets 200 pounds. Trouble is Lady X gets wind of the wager and no woman will give Reese the time of day. Enter the Duchess of Hythe (Lucien’s grandmother) she is sponsoring Cara Beckett for the season, Cara is from Bermuda and is only in England for one reason – to garner votes for the Turks Salt Trade bill, her family’s livelihood depends on Bermuda’s right to free salt trade on the Turk islands. Her father was dear friends with the duchess and she has been kind to Cara, helping her meet the peers she needs to speak with, but the duchess wants more for her. Cara is single minded in her quest, she has lost so much, her father and her betrothed and the business is all she has left besides her sisters. She cannot fail them! When the duchess and her friends learn about the wager, they come up with their own wager – they will have a woman let Reese think he is winning and then bring him down a few pegs and Cara is the perfect woman for the job. The duchess convinces Cara to go along with her and Cara reluctantly agrees.
When Reese meets Cara, he pours on the charm and Cara is hard pressed not to fall for him. She needs votes and Reese offers to help her. He introduces her to voting members and at the same time courts her. When the opportunity to visit the Hadleigh fair, she agrees to go. Archibald Atherton and his sister Emma insist that she stay with them for the three days and of course Reese is going. While at the fair, Cara sees her sister’s betrothed, but he avoids her, she wonders why and tells Reese, he warns her not to mention that Ballantyne is betrothed to her sister and that he can’t explain in the crowd why. Cara wants answers but will wait. Reese tracks down Ballantyne and asks about Cara’s sister – Charles Ballantyne is the man who stole Lucien’s betrothed – Charles says that he had no formal betrothal with Cait and Reese punches him. Reese returns to the group, but is withdrawn and during dinner Cara is sure he is angry with her. When her dinner partner seems interested in her political dealings, she tries to focus on him. Chopwell suggests they meet to discuss the vote and Emma shows them to parlor and leaves them to talk. Chopwell attacks Cara and Arch and Reese barely are in time to save her.
Reese takes her to her room and then returns to deal with Chopwell – he calls him out and goes to check on Cara. This is when she learns about Charles’ betrayal of her sister – it is all too much and she lashes out at Reese – she tells him she knows about the wager and he is no better than Chopwell.
Reese is hurt and angry, but he will leave her alone, he returns to London to prepare for the duel – it is the least he can do for her. She is upset when she learns he left and Lucien is demanding answers – Emma is drawn into things and even though she is secretly in love with Lucien, she can’t tell him what she knows, she also thinks that Lucien is in love with Cara and is a little heart sick. Lucien returns to London for answers, but hits a dead end.
Cara returns and confides all to the duchess, who vows that everything will work out. She then calls for reinforcements. Reese refuse to call on Cara, thinking that is her wish, so the duchess has her work cut out for her. Cara feels terrible about the things she said, she admits to herself that she cares for him and may love him – but everything has gone terribly wrong.
Cara reenters society and works to get the votes she needs. She is at a ball and sees Reese, but he tries to avoid her, but when he is drawn into the group around her, he helps her further her cause and he realizes he loves her. He decides to take a chance and talks to her, but Cara still has a secret and she hopes that when she comes clean, Reese can forgive her.
This is a no steam novella, but it is brimming with sexual tension, secrets, witty banter, very likable leads, great secondary character (who are begging for their own stories!) a well meaning meddling duchess and a sweet HEA.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*
A wager made between gentlemen. Another made between ladies. What could the outcome be? Reese,the Earl of Darling made a wager to charm a lady to fall in love with him in 10 days. Yes, he was a little full of himself but thought it would be easy with his charm. Miss Cara Beckett had traveled from her home in Bermuda to try to solicit votes for the island’s salt trade that was her family’s livelihood. In order to achieve her goal she needs help and Reese looks like the perfect target. What happens when two people with their own agenda get together? Fireworks and some unwanted attention!!
Although a novella this story packed a lot of emotion and humor in with the characters coming to life and grabbing your attention. I am looking forward to several of the secondary characters having their own story.
Recipe for How to Land an Earl in Ten Days or Less
Take a handsome, full of himself Earl.
A dash of an out of hand bet
Add a determined to get what she needs from Parliament to save her family’s business Miss.
Stir with a matchmaking Duchess and Countess
Toss with a dose of Ava Stone’s amazing writing
For an amazing story that will have you laughing, threatening some characters, and wanting to slap others silly.
A definite must read.
This Regency novella features an unwise bet and interference from the mysterious society gossip writer, Lady X. Reese Delacy, Lord Darling, unexpectedly got roped in to betting that he could win a proper lady’s heart in ten days. Since Lady X revealed the bet in her scandal sheet, no proper ladies would even associate with him. Enter Cara Beckett, newly arrived from Bermuda to try to influence any peer she can find to vote for Bermuda’s claims to the Turks Islands salt pans. Maybe she hasn’t heard about the bet, and Lord Darling is willing to introduce her to all the right people while he gets to know her better.
It was a lot of fun to see Cara and Reese dance around each other, each with their own objectives. This story was also very emotional because Cara had been through so much in her life, and then her treatment by so-called society was shocking and heart wrenching.
I read this when it appeared in the anthology, It Started With a Whisper. This was my favorite story of that collection.
Known for his silver tongue, Reese Delacy, the Earl of Darling, wagers that he can make any girl fall in love with him in less than a fortnight. Unfortunately, the boast catches the ear and subsequently the pen of a notorious gossip columnist Lady X, making Reese a pariah within the ton. He seems doomed for failure until he meets a Bermudian beauty who is seemingly unaware of the scandal. Miss Cara Beckett, left her home to solicit the support of parliament as control of the Caribbean salt trade is hanging in the balance, never imagining she’d become embroiled in a reckless wager. Another delightful read from the author that I was loathe to put down, I loved The Duchess of Hythe’s scheming. As usual with the author’s books I’m left wanting more & hope the other two Beckett sisters have their stories