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.

Series:

Girl Meets Duke

Book 3

Can be read as a standalone

Book Type:

Historical Romance

Review: The Wallflower Wager

A reclusive wallflower finds love unexpectedly with the infamous Duke of Ruin, in Tessa Dare’s sweeping new romance, THE WALLFLOWER WAGER.

In this third, highly anticipated installment in the Girl Meets Duke series, we meet twenty-six-year-old Lady Penelope Campion who surrounds herself with a menagerie of animals, from parrots to otters, goats to kittens. When one of her animals escape, she chases him to the house next door, colliding with the ill-famed Gabriel Duke, known for ruining wealthy London families.

While they meet under somewhat scandalous circumstances, they are both surprisingly drawn to each other. But Penny’s family is intent on sending her to the countryside, as her prospects for marriage seem grim. Gabriel agrees to help her stay in London, if he can find suitable homes for her many furry charges. Before too long however, Penny and Gabe engage in a torrid affair that is sure to ruin them both if anyone only knew…

Penny and Gabe’s story will sweep you away from the very beginning. As usual, Dare delivers a tale that’s brimming with heart, humor and romance. Penny is such a kind, spirited soul, and despite his reputation, Gabe is caring and wildly protective.

The narrative moves quickly and it’s impossible not to devour this story with all the charm and wit it touts. I love this series so much for that reason, but also because there is always an emotional underpinning that makes you fall even more for these characters. It’s a beautiful dance between humor and heart and somehow, Dare always gets it right.

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