Venus Merriwell knows exactly what she wants in a husband: a selfless academic, free from all the vices of her gambling father. Unfortunately, at twenty-three and after several romantic disappointments, the one true love of her life is a bursting-at-the-seams Covent Garden orphanage that desperately needs to expand into the empty building next door. Gambling isn't just Galahad Sinclair's life, it's in his blood. Following a childhood in a New York tavern, he's spent the last five years making a success out of his East End gaming hall and saving for the pleasure palace of his dreams in Covent Garden. The only problem is the buildings he’s bought just happen to be right next door to Venus's orphanage.
The third Merriwell has her story, whilst this book is easily read on its own the Merriwells are a delight so I’d recommend reading in order. I loved Gal, a very private self made man who was also kind, caring & understanding. His reactions to the boys’ antics had my heart melting & the Park incident whilst tense showed who he really was. My feelings for Vee fluctuated, I really liked her at the beginning & end but in the middle I felt she over reacted & should have guarded her tongue in front of the orphans. A very well written, captivating read but I felt not as much of a rom-com as the previous books but it did have its moments.
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

What a way to end a series - brilliant! I read all three books in a row, which was perfect because they are closely tied together and shouldn’t be read standalone. Too many important details carry over between each book and readers will be quite lost and confused missing the information from the other stories.

Wrapping up the series is the youngest Merriwell sister, Venus (Vee), who has a tentative friendship with brother-in-law Giles’ cousin Galahad (Gal). Gal has purchased property that was supposed to be willed to the orphanage that Vee teaches at, but the late property’s owner left it to her nephew asking him to pass it to them because she was too infirm to change her will. As he was too indebted from gambling to do as asked, he sells it the second he can and thus causing the secret rift Gal must keep from Vee, until he no longer can.

All of the banter between the pair, the secrets, the relationship they have and the previous characters making so many appearances makes this my favorite of the series - I think it has the strongest writing and plot and storyline of the trilogy as well. Completely a recommendation from me, but the whole series definitely needs to be read in order to make sense.

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press (St. Martin's Griffin), and this is my honest feedback.

Never Wager with a Wallflower by Virginia Heath-Book #3 The Merriwell Sisters

✔️ Regency Romance 1830, England
✔️ Enemies to lovers
✔️ Book lovers-Shakespeare retelling
✔️ h's POV



This is the story of the youngest Merriwell sister -Venus. She is pious,disapproving, and just wants a love like Beatrice and Benedick from Much Ado About Nothing. She is a teacher at the Covent Garden Asylum for Orphans and loves to read. Galahad Sinclair is a tavern owner who gambles, drinks, and has worked hard to buy 3 properties that happen to be next to the orphanage. He wants Venus but she believes he breaks all the rules of propriety. The only way to get her to soften towards him is to dispel all her perceived notions about him.


The world building is the difference between the wealthy and poor in Brighton and London. It's a nice comparison between Gal and his properties and the orphanage. Gal has a "pleasure palace" while children live on the streets and steal to survive. From pickpocketing to a place in the country, Venus has big dreams for the children. The sisters move from the slums to Minerva becoming a countess.It's a real show of the haves vs. the have nots.

The characters- Gal talked about his grandfather a lot, considering his father abandoned him. His grandfather taught him about business, working his way out of poverty, and to be self reliant. Venus becomes a part of his dreams, but it takes some good deeds and grovelling for Venus to believe him. I laughed at Lord Dorchester, Venus's other suitor. He ignored and belittled her, and Venus had no intention of encouraging his attention.

I love a hero that proves the heroine wrong. Gal had a reputation as a gambler like Venus's father. He showed his compassion for the children in the orphanage, his intelligence in literature and politics(among other things), and his devilish charm. FYI I haven't read the other books in the series, but I was able to follow along.


Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

~•~•~
Published 11/7/23, Read 11/6/23
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC💛! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

I loved how Venus and Galahad chafed off each other. Sparks flew off the pages as they countered, parried, and theist back against each other.
I loved that Venus was a book hound and thought she would be happy with dullard Dorchester.
Gal arrived just in time to change her mind and gamble with him on buildings.
I’m sorry to see the series end but it was delightful while it lasted.
I love the card game they play at the end and all the hole and longing in his eyes……makes a reader swoony!

Ever since I read Never Rescue a Rogue last year, I’ve been eager to see how Venus Merriwell and Galahad Sinclair’s love story would play out. Their “meet-cute” was pretty unconventional! And indeed, when Never Wager with a Wallflower begins four years later, they’re not exactly close, despite their family connections. Vee thinks Galahad is simple-minded and always up to no good; Gal thinks Venus is standoffish and best to be avoided. When Galahad buys some buildings to start his new gaming hell business, not realizing it’s next door to the orphanage where Venus volunteers, he decides it’s high-time he gets onto Vee’s good side.

Up until now, Vee has been unlucky in love and with men in general. It started with her no-good father, and since coming of age, her pursuit of a husband has been futile. She’s burdened with a name and figure that attract the wrong kind of men; she’s also not a great judge of character. So when Galahad suddenly starts being nice and charming, she’s suspicious at first, but ready to be let down. And with his little secret, it will have major repercussions on their newly improved relationship.

Gal has grown used to holding his cards close (pun very much intended with this book’s plot). He’s the kind of guy who only shows people what he wants them to see, and he’s a social chameleon ready to adapt to any situation. Depending on the context, Gal will play up his American accent, show off his business savvy and quick wit, or play dumb altogether. You never know which version you’ll get. Does that mean you can never trust Galahad or that he’s a bad person? He has a tragic backstory, though it takes a while to find out all the details. But over the course of the novel, we start to see glimpses of Gal’s true character: his kindness, understanding, and heroism, especially with the orphans that Vee cares for.

This book isn’t quite as light as the first two were, but it is still a lot of fun. One recurring theme is Gal and Vee going up against each other in card games. They’re both expert players, but who’s better? Stay tuned for the answer to that… and bit of a strip game.

As always, the supporting cast of characters is a riot. The first two books’ couples are here in their full glory, complete with growing families. Hugh’s mother, Olivia, is also up to her usual habit of playing matchmaker. And similar to the previous books, this one also tackles working class issues and highlights characters without title or money. With my own background, that always strikes close to my heart.

The full Merriwell Sisters series has been a delight, and Never Wager with a Wallflower is a lovely way to close the trilogy. Vee and Gal are just as cute as the first two couples, and I loved seeing their romance unfold in the midst of business development, troublesome orphans, and meddling family members. Virginia Heath’s writing is sweet and pulls the reader in, and I look forward to reading more of her books in the near future.

I really enjoyed reading this book from one of my favorite authors. Ms Heath writes a fabulous story full of witty and funny banter that makes the reader wanting more. You have stubborn man who has against all odds, build up a business all his own. The man's name is Galahad Sinclair who hails from America. He finally has the money to make his dreams come true, but for one highly bossy woman who is his nemesis.
Her name is Venus Merriwell and she is one beautiful curvy woman that men find very appealing. Of course, Vee has learned her lesson on men who only want one thing from her. She's not buying whatever their selling. She is the manager of a orphanage for unwanted children and her next door neighbor is Galahad who wants to buy the home for gambling.
Gal and Vee seem to rub the wrong way towards each other. But hidden sorrows and not trusting people who come too close. Gal finds himself involved with the orphaned children and it makes Vee see him in a different way.
The magic of love blooms for two people who were meant to be. Fate takes hold and never lets go for a happy ever after.
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.

Since Never Fall for Your Fiancee surprised me in such a good way, the following books in The Merriwell Sisters series have been some of my most anticipated books. My only complaints about Never Rescue a Rogue is that Diana and Giles had to follow in Hugh and Minerva's footsteps and have sex before marriage. I was disappointed that most of the antagonistic part of their relationship was skipped. Not to spoil too much, but Galahad and Venus do have premarital sex, but they don't skip out on the antagonism.

I found Never Wager with a Wallflower to have a slow start. I wasn't excited with Galahad's business ventures. I think around 30% I finally felt hooked into the story where I didn't want to put it down when I had to.

Galahad and Venus had so many similarities, even though many of them seemed like contradictions. I really enjoyed their banter that eased into comraderie and eventually into reluctant appreciation and then into more. Galahad was on board long before Venus.

I felt for Venus. She got royally screwed by someone who never should have been someone who she trusted. In this way I could totally relate to her. I even found myself getting teary over her fear of not being able to trust her instincts about people, especially men. Once you've been screwed over or trusted the wrong person, especially if it happens more than once, you can really begin to become jaded and mistrustful.

Favorite quotes:
-"Dreams, like plans, should always adapt with the circumstances, especially if the circumstances allow them to get bigger and better, and some risks are worth taking."

-...grandpa always said trust had to be given before it was earned...

-"That's cheating." "Maybe--but I'm oddly at peace with it."

Venus's sisters' gave off the impression that she was a lot more prim and proper than she actually is in her own story. Of course this could be explained away, that no one knows our true selves except us. But I felt like this made her a little inauthentic. I did like that Virginia Heath used her history, even back to her father and her desire and trust for him to be a true father and love them, as a means of building Venus's history of trusting the wrong men. This felt more authentic which was needed to balance how Venus is portrayed in the previous books versus who she really is. I loved her work with the orphanage and got invested into the orphan boys that were side characters. Never Wager with a Wallflower was better once I got past the slow beginning, and I give it 3.5 Stars. Have you read Never Wager with a Wallflower? What did you think? Let me know!

I adore this series! So excited for Vee to get her HEA! She's been a very prominent part of the past couple books. This was a perfect end to the trilogy.

I’d never picked up this series until I saw the third instalment on NetGalley. When my request was approved, I decided to read all three.

The first two books corresponded to a we (the protagonist’s) older sisters. While this story doesn’t really have anything to do with those stories, it does refer to events in the past, like the sister’s marriages. If you haven’t read those stories there are mild spoilers.

I like to read a series in order. I enjoyed the first two and the third was just as good. We see a slightly older Vee and get a better look insider her head.

This novel is split perspective. We get Vee and Gal’s points of view. Despite previous books, Gal seems interesting. His backstory is nicely fleshed out and his motivations are pretty realistic. There’s lovely tension and o liked how the romance developed.

It wasn’t quite enemies to lovers; more like not-friends to lovers. While there are brief cameos from previous characters, the focus is on Veronica and Gal.

I enjoyed this story. It was easy to read. It had a plot. It had backstory. It had romance. I felt like the character were lifelike.

If you’re looking for a rom-com type book, I highly recommend this book and the other two in the series.

Never Wager with a Wallflower by Virginia Heath, the third and final book in the Merriwell Sisters series, focuses on the youngest sister, Venus, as she is up against Galahad in this enemies to lovers Regency romcom. Vee teaches at a local orphanage and does what she can to avoid Galahad, her brother-in-law’s brother. Gal has spent years working toward his dream of opening a pleasure palace, and now his dreams are finally accomplished. Except, when he learns he bought the property next door to Vee’s orphanage, their paths repeatedly cross, and they must face their changing feelings for each other.

Though they believe they are very different, Vee and Gal have a lot in common; which they discover the more they’re together. Both had difficult and tragic pasts, both have erected pretty strong walls, and they both have feelings for each other that they’re hesitant to act on. This helps create amazing chemistry and somewhat quarrelsome banter, as well as amazing conversations about books and Shakespeare. Vee and Gal learn that their first impressions of each other are not as accurate as they believed, and it was wonderful seeing their preconceptions change as they learn more about each other.

Ms. Heath wrote a humorous, clever, entertaining and amusing conclusion to this trilogy that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with escapades, clever banter, sizzling chemistry and endearing characters giving Vee and Gal a chance to fall in love. I highly recommend Never Wager with a Wallflower to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book

It had emotion and found family and I loved it. Was not expecting an emotional turn but I loved it, had lots of laughs as well. Overall a great read.

4.5 stars

"You're my dream, Venus. Anything else is a bonus"

This final book in the The Merriwell Sisters series was delightful!! Book 2 is still my favorite by FAR but this was was just the perfect amount of bickering and mooning to keep me very entertained and very happy.

I loved Vee and Gal's romance! And as much as I hate misunderstandings, I feel like the one in this book made sense and thankfully was fixed quite quickly. I did wish there were more steamy scenes but it did make me laugh out loud quite a bit!

I will really miss this series and the sisters! AND I can't wait for what Virginia Heath writes next!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Virginia Heath for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Never Wager With a Wallflower coming out November 7, 2023. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I love historical romances a lot, especially this era! I enjoy this author and I really enjoyed the first book. I liked the second book in some aspects, so I wanted to check out the third book. But this book was not for me. I thought it would be fun because Venus was considered a wallflower, and I can relate to that introverted personality. But I didn’t really understand her motives. I thought she was rude to Galahad most of the time. Her personality didn’t work for me. I mostly just thought she was stubborn and slightly annoying so I wasn’t really rooting for the main couple. Then it seem like she suddenly into him. If there are any other books in this series, I probably won’t be interested in them. I was just hoping for something more substantial and the plot felt more like fluff.

Do not let the cartoon cover fool you - this book is superb. It follows in the same vein as "Never Rescue a Rogue" and lets just say it does not disappoint!

Never Wager with a Wallflower is a fun and swoony Regency romance.

I have to say this has been a solid and fantastic series. Virginia has done an excellent job at creating engaging and delightful characters and stories that are fun and unique. Now, for those new to the series, this book does read as a stand-alone, but I recommend reading the other books first because they are fabulous. I've been looking forward to Vee's story right from the moment I first met her. Probably because I just loved the fact that she was a bookworm, and her love for the written is just so contagious and relatable. I am happy to report that Vee's story did not disappoint. It was everything I hoped it would be. For those bookworms who want to read a historical Christmas story, you will be happy to know that this book takes place in the months leading up to Christmas, which was a delightful surprise for me. I just loved how the holiday season was woven into the story.

One of the great things about Virginia's storytelling abilities is that she knows how to create a story that is fun, light, and romantic while also having a great deal of depth. I found myself laughing multiple times while reading this book. Some of the situations that Vee and Gal find themselves in is hilarious, especially when the twins set their sights on Gal and make it their mission to make his life miserable. There is so much wit and delicious banter in this book, especially between Vee and Gal. I had to keep on reading because I wanted to see what their next exchange would look like. The secondary characters all bring something to the table in this book. They take this story to the next level. They added humour, heart, and conflict at just the right moments in the story. I loved getting to spend time with Minerva and Diana (Vee's sisters) once again. It's always a treat to see what characters have been up to since you last saw them.

There is a lot packed into this story. You have Gal, who is trying to open up a new gambling business (right beside the orphanage that Vee works at). You have Vee, who is trying to figure out a way to help this struggling orphanage survive. Then you have all these wonderful side stories, some that revolve around some of the orphans, Vee's sisters, or Vee's love life. Virginia does an amazing job at balancing all that is going on in this book to create this cohesive story that is just a real page-turner.

Getting to spend some one-on-one time with Vee was fabulous. She is so clever and kind and also vulnerable when it comes to matters of the heart. Vee has had a string of bad luck when picking a suitable husband. It seems to her that all men want from her is to sleep with her because of her looks. This shatters Vee's confidence when it comes to men. She no longer trusts her judgement, and this mindset really dictates how she interacts with Gal. She doesn't know if she can trust him or his intentions. Gal's personality is this wonderful mix of broody and cinnamon roll. He can be a cocky, mysterious son of a bitch at times, but then he switches to this kind and understanding man that will do anything to help those around him. I loved those dualling personalities that he had. There was this mystery around his past that Vee was determined to uncover, and it was so enjoyable peeling back those layers and seeing what was beneath Gal's exterior.

The romance in this book is perfection. It's this fabulous blend of enemies to lovers, slow burn, and forced proximity with plenty of miscommunication. At the beginning of the book, Vee and Gal aren't on the friendliest of terms. They try and tolerate each other for their families, but it's a struggle. When Gal realizes that his new club is going to be neighbours with the orphanage that Vee works at, he knows that being on friendlier terms with Vee would be beneficial to his business. The thing with these two is that even though they say they hate each other, it's evident to everyone around them that they are really attracted to each other. There are a lot of ups and downs, and will they won't they with the growing relationship between Vee and Gal. They fight those romantic feelings hard. It was great watching their internal struggles when it came to coming to terms with what they were actually feeling.

Never Wager with a Wallflower is the perfect conclusion to a delightful romance series.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Merriwell Sisters series never misses, and I couldn’t be more satisfied with the final installment. In her sisters’ novels, Vee was at turns idealistic and romantic and stubborn, but she was always interesting, and it was lovely to see her get a starring turn. After a few terrible decisions with men, Vee is determined to marry someone practical and continue to work in the orphanage she loves. She has no interest in spending time with her brother-in-law’s cousin Galahad, who owns a gaming hell and therefore must be like her wastrel, estranged father. But Vee and Gal are both in for a surprise, learning their first impressions of each other might not be correct.

Heath creates such realistic, entertaining family relationships, whether that’s biological family or found. Her supporting characters shine, but never so much that we forget Vee and Gal are the stars here. They’re both clever, with big dreams and bigger hearts, even if Gal tries to hide his. They’re fun when they’re bantering, or arguing, or especially when they’re challenging each other at cards. I loved the obvious chemistry they tried so hard to ignore, and the way they slowly unearthed secrets about each other. It was such a naturally paced love story.

The conflict is set up from early on – Gal doesn’t tell Vee he’s bought the buildings next to her orphanage for his new club. And I was practically screaming at the pages for him to just be honest and avoid the obvious fall out. But that would be a terrible book, wouldn’t it? How they come to terms with their very different life goals is just as fundamental a part of this story as how they fall in love. And the whole thing was as brilliant as Vee, as charming as Gal, and as hilarious as their meddling family and friends. A worthy ending for a great series!

I have loved every book in this series and this final Merriwell happily ever after is no different. I was utterly charmed and couldn't put it down. "Never Wager" is the story of youngest Merriwell sister Venus finally finding her match in her brother-in-law Gile's cousin, Galahad. This being the final book in the series, Ms. Heath included extra scenes with the whole meddling family and made sure to revisit the other sister's HEAs and growing families.

After years of avoiding each other at family functions, a waltz finally brings Gal & Vee together and then a real estate dispute breaks them apart. This is an enemies-to-lovers trope with a fun cast of secondary characters (orphan hijinks galore!), plenty of high stakes card games, and one very hot strip match game scene.

Before they can give their hearts to each other Gal has to get over his childhood and open up while Vee has to risk her heart again after it was broken and give Gal the benefit of the doubt that he's truly a good guy. I was a Gal fan from the beginning. I love a hero with a good heart AND good business sense. What a catch! Plus, a heroine with spectacles! That's my Achilles heel. I think I will have to draw some spectacles on the heroine on the cover.

I highly recommend this series especially if you love a little humor and a fun family dynamic with your steamy historical romance. It's that little something extra that gives Heath's books a lot of heart and makes them memorable. Fans of Martha Waters, Suzanne Enoch and Tessa Dare will also love Heath's Merriwell Sisters series.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this fun, historical romance!

The characters were so fun, I liked getting to see more of couple from earlier in the series. There were some serious moments, but it was overall a light, fun read.

Thank you to SMP Romance and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

Venus is the youngest of the three Merriwell sisters. We have seen her grow through her sisters' stories, so I was delighted to read her book at the conclusion of this trilogy.

I love smart heroes and heroines, and both Gal and Venus were after my heart. I loved their banter about Much Ado About Nothing and the subtle references to Benedick and Beatrice in their own relationship. Both have overcome their childhoods and look for ways to do good. They are such fabulous characters. They come together with a mix of angst and rivals-to-lovers while also having history together.

I really enjoyed Venus's diary entries from her youth that started each chapter. But they also include mini spoilers for the previous books, so I do recommend reading the trilogy in order.

The audiobook featured excellent dual narration by Sebastian Brown and Sasha Higgins. They switched off at appropriate points even within chapters and highlighted the third person POV writing well. I especially enjoyed his many varied accents for Galahad depending on his audience, though some of his female voices weren't as strong.

This book was an excellent epilogue to the whole series.

4.25 stars

After having her heart broken, Venus “Vee” Merriwell has found a new suitor, Lord Dorchester, a man who poses no risk to her heart and has thrown herself into her work at the Covent Garden Asylum for Orphans. And now after being away for a week due to a snowstorm, Vee, the housekeeper, and the Reverend are currently trying to figure out the orphanage’s most current worry, money - as usual – but with the roof leaking and no contractor willing to patch it again, they must figure out how to pay for the replacement. Still pondering, Vee leaves to return home and runs into her nemesis – Galahad Sinclair – cousin to her brother-in-law Giles and the bane of her existence. She has no idea why he is in Covent Garden this early in the day but is sure he is up to no good. He is annoying and arrogant and insists on calling her Venus when he knows she prefers to be called Vee, and if all that is not bad enough, he is much too handsome for her peace of mind!

Galahad “Gal” Sinclair is a man full of secrets and dreams, and thanks to being in the right place at the right time, he is now the soon-to-be-owner of three connecting buildings in Covent Garden, the perfect location for his gaming club! He is admiring his acquisition when he spies HER – Venus Merriwell, the woman who hates and annoys him like none other and the woman he can’t seem to get out of his head. But when he helps her with her suitor and later joins the family for dinner and beats the unbeatable Venus at cards, everything changes between them and soon he is longing for more from her and it seems like she might be agreeable. But when she learns that he has bought the property that she thought was to be given to the orphanage, hell hath no fury like a thwarted Venus! Gal tries to reason with her, to no avail, and knows without a doubt that the only way to win Venus is by giving up his club – an impossible choice – his lifelong dream or the woman he loves.

I liked this book, it was well-written and flowed nicely, with witty banter and a wonderful hero. I wanted to love this story, and for the most part, I did, I loved Galahad, I loved catching up with Vee’s family, I loved the Claypole twins and their sabotage efforts, I loved the quibbling between Olivia and Jerehmah as well as the bickering between the Reverend and his wife, I loved the humor and I loved the ending, but what I didn’t love was Miss Venus Merriwell. I thought she was petty, manipulative, self-centered, self-righteous, and quite simply acted like a spoiled brat. I couldn’t believe that she actually thought she was right or that Gal felt the need to apologize – repeatedly, for something that I think she was just being overly dramatic about and used as an excuse to protect her feelings. Overall, I am glad I read the book and did get some closure (I agree with my blog partner – I would have liked to know what happened to their father) and the epilogue was very satisfying. So aside from my dislike of Vee, I enjoyed the book and would recommend the series to my fellow HR fans. This is the third and final book in the series and I would recommend reading the books in order for the best reader experience.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*