4.5 stars.
ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the third and final book in the "Wager of Hearts" series and what a fitting end to this with Gavin Miller's story(the successful writer).
What I truly like about Nancy Herkness's writing is the way she builds her characters so as the story develops they become very real and relatable. She has an elegant and somewhat traditional style that separates her from other contemporary romance writers and works so well within the storylines of all her books.
I have read all three in this series and loved them all. Each one felt so unique and had a very different storyline but all three men had initially found themselves in the same set of circumstances - wanting to meet a "real" woman worthy of a relationship and hence the wager they set.
Allie Nichols (a newly divorced physical therapist) was the perfect woman for the cynical, untrusting and suspicious Gavin because she was easily able to match his wit and yet she was also kind and gentle, with an innocent small town quality about her. She very soon has a noticeable healing effect on his wounded psyche as well as his injured body. She is the perfect cure for his writer's block.
Really good, warm and emotional story.

So this is the third novel in the Wager of Hearts trilogy about a group of crazy wealthy guys who belong to a mega-exclusive club and, one night when they are drunk and feeling sorry for themselves, make a bet that they can't find true love within a year. I didn't read the first book, [book:The CEO Buys In|24833795], but I enjoyed the second [book:The All-Star Antes Up|28319409]. Strangely, when I requested this book from NetGalley I didn't realise that this was part of this series and I didn't recognise the author's name; I thought it was a stand-alone.

Anyhoo, the third and last billionaire bachelor is Gavin Miller. He has written a series of mega-successful spy novels which have also been turned into a film franchise, he has a house in Manhattan and one in the Hamptons, a helicopter and a yacht. Sadly, he also has writer's block and has missed a deadline for the first time. The studio is on his back because they insisted on changing the ending of the last film to a cliff-hanger and now they want a film, like yesterday!

Allie Nichols is a recently divorced (and unemployed) physiotherapist, struggling to make ends meet when Gavin's agent employs her to help Gavin with the physical manifestations of his issues.

At first Gavin is resistant to Allie's ministrations and asks her to leave, although he does offer to let her keep the money for the five days that are already paid for. But after he feels marginally less tense from 15 minutes use of the stim unit (basically a gentle electric current applied to the stress areas), he invites Allie back to give him more therapy. Although Allie has been specifically warned not to talk to Gavin about his books (or films) or his writer's block, she is soon revealed as possibly his number one fan with an encyclopaedic knowledge of his books. Allie and her late mother used to share the books and then discuss them extensively.

Gavin and Allie are complete opposites. He had a harsh childhood, his mother left home when he was a child and he never heard from her again. His father was distant and hard to please, he remarried when Gavin was a young teen and his step-mother treated him like an outcast. he has a reputation for being grumpy and he is rich beyond the imagination of most people. Allie, on the other hand, is a Pollyanna character, even though her ex-husband was a narcissistic actor who demanded total support 24/7 and got verbally abusive if he was disappointed, she lives in a tiny apartment and is barely making rent.

Allie and Gavin are attracted to each other but Allie doesn't want to lose her only paying client and she refuses to break the PT code of ethics by sleeping with a client that she is treating.

I was really enjoying this book, probably until about half-way. I liked Allie, I liked Gavin, I liked the situation and the way in which the two of them were dealing with each other. Then about half-way through I got the feeling that the novel was maybe resolving itself too fast, or perhaps there wasn't enough angst because all of a sudden we seemed to be inundated with Gavin's wealth - look at his cars, look at his houses, look at his helicopter etc, etc. And the sex! Don't get me wrong, I love a sexy book as much as the next person but my eyes were rolling and TBH if I never read about Gavin and his two fingers again it would be too soon, it seemed like every other page had them getting down to it. It was a pity because Gavin's 'stupidity' which is the cause of the angst at the end of the book could have been explored more, it was a novel explanation for a standard guy-move and I think it could have been made more of.

Maybe I am being uber-critical because, let's face it, the premise for this series is a bit fantastical anyway. So, if you like your romance on the multi-billionaire side (with more than a hint of Pretty Woman) and lots of sexy times this IS the book for you.

Geez, sounds like the day he buried his father was a bad day in more ways than one.

I would love to have that desk.

Oh, he was engaged to one of the actresses in his movies? That's bad business.

I love electrical stim. My physical therapist does it on me every week.

If he's unused to being touched with kindness, does that mean he's used to being touched with malice?

Yup, "frenzied herd of ants" is pretty much what it feels like.

Hopefully her idiot ex hasn't gotten her blackballed in every therapy office in Manhattan.

I can't sleep with the stim on either. At least I get to keep my shirt on, though.

Wow, she remembers a lot of details about the books.

Rich people need love too.

Wow, small world!

His father was a real bastard. Who does that to a kid? Were there no animal shelters around?

Oh, this is bad. Lies have a way of coming out.

Oh, that cruel old man! If he wasn't dead, I'd shoot him!

Why do they keep waking the cat up? Isn't it easier if they're asleep in the carrier?

He jumps to conclusions a lot.

His stepmother really is crazy. She let him go on thinking his mother didn't love him so her husband could have free labor?

Loved this book! This is the final book in the Wager of Hearts series and I have enjoyed the prior books, but this one was the one I was waiting for - I just couldn't wait to see what the author would do with a snarky cynic that was the remaining wagerer. She not only didn't disappoint, she exceeded anything I could have hoped for.

Gavin is a cynical writer with writer's block when his agent sends a physical therapist to his home to help him. Gavin, being Gavin, immediately tries to throw her out. Allie, the PT, won't accept payment without trying to help him. Thus starts their odd relationship that will have extreme highs and lows. I found myself liking Gavin and rooting for Allie, while hating both of their prior partners.

This is a must read for fans of the genre. While it is part of a series, this is a stand alone novel. The author is on my must read authors' list.

I am a big fan of the authors and really enjoyed her writing. This book for me was a surprise how much I liked it because I was not in love with the male lead, Gavin at the start of the book. Then we meet Allie and well I didn't love her right away either. She is this divorced, PT that is hired to help Gavin with some back and shoulder pain. And she has this handsome, actor type husband who she divorced, but they were high school sweethearts and together a long time and so I was not sold on her being the one for Gavin.

Gavin, is a famous writer, and his ex is a movie star and he has serious writers block, alot of pain and a bet that he might lose where he bet he would fall in love in the next year. So he has a lot of problems. What I didn't liek is he was still slightly attracted to his ex. He also has a terrible home life and a mother who abandoned him. So he has issues too.

But around 30% I started loving loving Gavin and Allie. They really are perfect for each other and Gavin was so great to her that I fell hard for him too. I really enjoyed this story and I have loved this entire series. Gavin is this grumpy writer with a huge romantic streak and I loved how romantic and sweet he was.

I loved this book. I love the eccentric asshole of a character in Gavin and the good girl trying her hardest to do right in Allie. They fit together so well. I love that she accepted him for who he was, but didn't lose herself in the process. She had doubts, stayed strong but didn't close herself off to the possibilities. The way we are led to believe of Gavin, it was good to see him finally find someone or something that gave him purpose again. These two make the perfect pair and the way the author draws you into their relationship will leave you wanting more.