They call him the Duke of Ruin. To an undaunted wallflower, he's just the beast next door. Wealthy and ruthless, Gabriel Duke clawed his way from the lowliest slums to the pinnacle of high society—and now he wants to get even. Loyal and passionate, Lady Penelope Campion never met a lost or wounded creature she wouldn’t take into her home and her heart. When her imposing—and attractive—new neighbor demands she clear out the rescued animals, Penny sets him a challenge. She will part with her precious charges, if he can find them loving homes. Done, Gabriel says. How hard can it be to find homes for a few kittens? And a two-legged dog. And a foul-mouthed parrot. And a goat, an otter, a hedgehog . . . Easier said than done, for a cold-blooded bastard who wouldn’t know a loving home from a workhouse. Soon he’s covered in cat hair, knee-deep in adorable, and bewitched by a shyly pretty spinster who defies his every attempt to resist. Now she’s set her mind and heart on saving him. Not if he ruins her first.

This was exactly the book I'd hoped it would be. It was everything I needed. Sweet, steamy, low-angst, and hilarious in a way I rarely expect.

I was ready for this book once I heard there would be a new Girl Meets Duke book. I was even more ready once I heard it was going to be Penny's book--the tender-hearted animal lover with a pet hedgehog, too many kittens to count, goats, ducks...

Throw in a grumpy not-duke and all our old favorites from the other books in the series? Once I got approved for The Wallflower Wager, I knew I couldn't do anything else but devour it immediately. It really isn't fair that I have to wait another year for Nic's book.

In The Wallflower Wager, Penny is on the verge of being called back by family to live in the country and abandon her city house and all the animals she's rescued and mended back to health. That can't happen, for a variety of reasons (content warning: allusion to a history of trauma/abuse). Meanwhile, Gabriel is fixing up the house next door to sell it for a pretty price--and that price is dependent on having a fine lady next door. Maybe they can help each other out, eh?

Should you read it? Well, there's a trip gone wrong where there is ONLY ONE BED AT THE INN, a potty-mouthed parrot, a group of agonized men trying to take care of a goat, the sweetest romance you've ever read, some hot sex all over the place, and a wonderful cast of characters. If you've loved any Tessa Dare book, or appreciate anything good in life, you'll want to read The Wallflower Wager.

5 Stars

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Expected publication August 13, 2019 by Avon

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