Will the de Wolfe legacy once again lead to love?Ruby Compton’s world is upended when she meets a handsome stranger who doesn’t belong on the rough streets of London she calls home. When the man is knocked unconscious in a brawl, she’s compelled to come to his rescue, unaware her efforts will thrust her family into danger.Gideon de Wolfe discovers he owes his life to a beautiful woman whose … beautiful woman whose strength and intelligence remind him of the family legend. He intends to find a way to repay her but also determined to reveal who’s behind a lottery scheme that destroyed the lives of some of his workers and nearly took his own.
Ruby is taken aback by Gideon’s gratitude. His kindness and concern–not to mention his kisses–cause her to long for the dreams her harsh life forced her to relinquish years ago.
Now, with criminals after them, Gideon must find a way to end the scheme and save Ruby and her family, as well as himself. Ruby vows to help despite the fact that Gideon has shaken her simple life and it will never be the same.
She must decide if she’s willing to gamble everything she thought she wanted for love.
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A Gentleman’s offer
Gideon de Wolfe is on a mission, to stop a gambling lottery that is cheating his employees out of their money. After asking too many questions at the wrong place, he ends up injured. Ruby and her brother come to his rescue. Then one kiss from Ruby changes everything. A charming hero whose many great grandfather is William de Wolfe, carrying on the family history of a knight in shining armor.
Gideon de Wolfe is in London to check on the family shipping business when he learns of gambling scheme that his employees are being lured into. Intent on learning more about the “lottery” Gideon ventures into the pub he overheard his men talking about – and sees her.
Ruby Compton’s life has not turned out as she expected, the daughter of a once respected tutor, she and her brother Douglas now work to support their ailing father. Barely able to make ends meet, Ruby is angry when she learns her brother is gambling with the limited funds they have and goes to the pub to drag him home. When a fight breaks out and a handsome stranger is knocked out – Ruby can’t leave the man and insists that Douglas help her bring him to their home. She tends him and when he wakes and demands a kiss, she complies. She rushes him out the next morning, before her father wakes and assumes she will never see him again.
Gideon can’t forget her and askes his assistant (who just happens to be her brother) to send a gift to the family and later goes to visit. She is taken aback to find him at her home and again thinks she will not see him again, but he is waiting for her when she leaves work the next day. They talk and he asks what she knows about the lottery. He is worried about the scheme, as is she and promises to try and find out who is running it.
His questions attract interst and end up leading Ruby and her family into danger. He insists they reside with him until they stop the criminals running the lottery. Gideon and Ruby are growing closer, but when she overhears him talking to a family friend the Countess of Westering and it is clear the woman is hell-bent on finding Gideon a wife – Ruby knows that her time with him is over – he is too far above her station and she doesn’t fit into his world.
Gideon is confused by Ruby’s withdrawl, but new leads into the gambling ring prevent him from confronting her – for now. But will he ever get the chance?
This is a great little novella with an interesting story and wonderful characters. There is a fair bit of action, intrigue and drama combine with some heartache, light moments and sweet kisses. It is part of the Seven Curses series (and loosely connected to the de Wolfe Pack World) – but it can easily be read as a stand alone title.
*I am volunarily leaving a reveiw for an eARC that was provided to me.*
London 1872 Gideon de Wolfe was in London to check on the De Wolfe Shippig Enterprises. But he was greatly dismayed at what her found. May of the employees had been pulled into a gambling scheme and were being quickly divested of their earnings. He was determined to find the culprit.
Ruby Compton and her brother Douglas, are working as hard as they could to make ends meet and take care of their father who was ill. But Douglas had been pulled into the lottery scheme himself.
In an unexpected event, Ruby and her brother help Gideon when he is injured and thus begins a delightful story of unexpected love. Ruby and he seem to form a connection but it cannot last.
After all, they are from totally different walks of life!
This was a short read but held all the elements needed to bring a smile to my heart as I turned the last page. Do not miss this wonderful story of two people trying to find their own happy ending.