Wager of the Heart was previously released as part of the Once Upon a Highland Glen anthology in 2019. There is no added content, no bonus scenes. It is a novella.
When Graham Keith wakes after a night of debauchery and drink, he finds he’s not only won a very comely lass in a game of chance, he’s also married her. Worse yet, his pretty bride comes with three small children.
He is Leelah … is Leelah MacDonald’s last vestige of hope. She’d make a deal with the devil if she had to, in order to get her children back into the safe and loving arms of her family. But Graham Keith has no desire for a wife or children, as they’d interfere with his gambling and drinking and roaming ways.
But the lass is desperate—so desperate she is willing to put her life, and the lives of her children, in the hands of a gambler and drunk. Ignoring the little voice inside his head that warns him to run far and fast away from the woman, he listens instead to the honorable warrior of his heart.
How hard could it be to see the lovely Leelah and her three children back to Clan Hay?
more
“Wife” Graham couldn’t get the word out of his mind. And truth be told, he was having an even harder time wrenching it from his heart. “Leelah. Wife. Children.” Over and over again, the words tumbled through his heart like tiny pebbles down a mountain. “I need your help.” Even harder words to ignore. But ignore them he must.”
There was a lot of humor at the beginning of the story as our hero Graham thought the last rites were being said over him and he knew he would wake up in hell. But he actually was being married to a woman who had four children he had “won” on a bet the night before. In his drunken state, he didn’t remember a whole lot. When he woke his “wife” Leelah had begged him to take her home to her family and then he could get the marriage annulled. He refused. Taking her home he would have to go by his family lands and he knew he would be seen. He could never go home due to the terrible things that he had done.
But when he looked out the window and saw Lelah pulling a cart with her children, he could only curse and gather supplies to help her. This was the start of his redemption, he just did not know it.
Sigh. I want to just tell you this entire tale because it went right to my heart and held everything I loved. A wounded hero needing to find his way back to life, a strong lass in need of help, but determined to make it on her own if she had to… a touch of humor and a slow build of love that sets the heart on fire
Of course this was written by the fabulous Suzan Tisdale so I knew it would be one I would carry in my thoughts for awhile and have to sigh as I turned the last page!
Do tales of handsome Highlanders make you smile or swoon? Are you a fan of white magic? If so, you definitely need to read Suzan Tisdale’s Wager of the Heart, a novella previously published in the 2019 anthology, Once Upon a Highland Glen.
Graham Keith, ne’er do-well without a sense of direction, awakes after a night of drinking and gambling to find he won Leelah MacDonald in a game of chance and is now married. To make things even worse Leelah is a widow with four young children. Leelah wants to return to her clan, Clan Hay, and needs Graham to escort her, but he is beyond reluctant. Graham is finally convinced to accompany Leelah and her brood. The journey is filled with drama, tempered with a healthy dose of humor and a budding romance.
The story is laugh-out-loud funny, especially little Vonda and Graham’s internal dialogue with himself regarding the children. I loved the excellent characterization. This is a well-written tale of love, honor and redemption with a little magic thrown in for good measure. Ms. Tisdale has shown her expertise with historical romance in this novel. Wager of the Heart rates a definite 5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend it to all readers of historical romance, especially Highlander romance.
My thanks to the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
I adored Wager of the Heart. I loved the chemistry between Graham and Leelah – even though Graham did not want to admit it. This story was a little predictable but oh so good and definitely a must read. I highly recommend this sweet historical romance and am giving it a very well deserved five plus stars.
I received this book from the author, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Graham Keith wakes after a night of debauchery and gambling to find he’s a married man, he has a wife with 4 kids. Leelah MacDonald recognizes the Keith name, she grew up knowing the Graham Keith was a honest young man. She knows he’s her last hope of getting back to her clan and away from her brother-in-law. Leelah’s a strong, beautiful woman whose determined not to let her children suffer, to make a better life for them and herself.
Graham feels he’s let his clan and father down, he feels unworthy to return home. He doesn’t want to escort Leelah and her children, but deep down he knows it’s the right thing to do. He really is a good man, he just has lost all confidence in himself. Leelah and he children are good Graham, and he’s definitely good for them. I love all the interaction between them, he tries to be gruff, but you know deep down he really glad he’s taking them to Leelah’s family. A great story with two people deserving a better life, children deserving of love and happiness after such turmoil and a love beyond their wildest dreams just waiting for them. An excellent story I loved and I voluntarily wrote a review.
Enjoyable story. After a night of wagering and drinking, Graham wakes up hungover, as usual. But this time, he has a wife and four step children. I received an ARC of this story.
“Wager of the Heart” shows how a man can be transformed when he has a good and determined woman at his side. Leelah is a strong heroine who knows what she wants and will get it at any cost, even if she has to depend solely on herself. Because of her spunkiness, Graham feels the need to help the beautiful young widow. He is gruff and rough on the outside, but this exterior soon melts away as Graham grows into the man he is supposed to be. The four children also show growth as they learn to first trust, then love, Graham. The story unfolds across the breathtaking scenery that is Scotia. The reader is immediately engaged in the story as Graham thinks he is receiving last rites, but he is really just getting married. There is humor interlaced with the grimness to keep the story from becoming too somber and there are several laugh out loud moments. Leelah and Graham’s story is beautifully told and will bring a smile to the heart of the reader.