This is the third and final book in The Merriwell Sisters series. They’ve all had easily recognizable covers that are very fitting for the stories. The backstory is her father left her and her two older sisters almost destitute from his vices. Her older sisters have now both married well but love hasn’t come her way. Venus at 23 is content teaching at an orphanage in Covent Garden where she also helps get sponsors and patronage. Galahad Sinclair is an American but his cousin is married to one of her sisters. He has spent the last years making a success out of his gambling businesses. And he wants to open a new gambling palace in Covent Garden. Unfortunately the location he purchases is next to the orphanage.

There is the typical he pushes her buttons to vex her, but that gets dropped quickly. I was happy about it because I find that really annoying. The two are pushed together by circumstance and by her sister who wants Venus away from a particularly boring Lord. Heath brings humor into her stories and does really well with building longing from just one kiss. But when this slow burn finally got to a moment of passion it was so lackluster I was truly disappointed. I still like the story and then the entire series. And while I was looking forward to Venus’s story I think the first book in the series is still my favorite. I will forward to the next series from the author. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review. (3.5 Stars)

Never Wager With A wallflower by Virginia Heath - 3 Stars Sometimes reviews are really hard to write not only because you read them too long ago but also some books just don't need a lot. This would be one of those. This is the third in a historical romance series that follows three sisters and we get the youngest's story here. Venus is almost considered a spinster but is determined to marry a man who has similar ideas to her unfortunately though he doesn't seem interested. However, after some run in's with her brother-in-law's grumpy cousin Galahad things start to change. While I still enjoyed this story over all I just got really tired of Venus at times and wished she would get her head out of the clouds. While this wasn't my favorite in this series I still think the series is a fun one and if you like historical rom-coms than I would check it out. Thank you St. Martin's Griffin for my gifted copy for review you can pick this one up on November 7th.

We have the youngest of the Merriwell sisters and since these sisters are no nonsense I expected Vee to be just the same even though I have watched her grown but from book 1 to now. This enemies to lovers trope was so obvious because there is no secret that Gal and Vee have a thing for each other. But they seriously fight to make it not that obvious.

Vee has gone through a ton of heartbreak and she is looking to be with someone “safe” someone not like her dad. And it’s funny to see how her family are all around to see this relationship start to blossom. Sadly enough this is the end of their amazing story, and the ending was pure perfection.

An enemies to lovers historical fiction that was full of heart and ache. Laugh out loud humour, found family, along with heart wrenching back stories. It was a delight to read.
Gal is a business man, always planning his next move. He keeps everything close. Does not let anyone in, including family. This does cause problems with his already fraught relationship with Venus. I think Venus is as hard headed as they come. Pretty sure I wanted to yell at her across the page at least a few times.
This book was about so much more than the burgeoning romance between Gal and Vee. At the core of the story is loneliness, people having to fend for themselves. Vee is dedicated to the orphanage that she teaches at and Gal’s mysterious sad tale is revealed bit by throughout the book. We also get so much more of our beloved characters from the previous books in the series.
The author does an excellent job with her storytelling, keeping with the period in which the story is set. I will gladly pick anything up by her again.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a digital advanced reader copy of the book. The opinions expressed are honest and my own.

Genre: Historical romance
England, 1830

Miss Venus Merriwell, the youngest of the Merriwell sisters, passionately assists at Covent Garden Asylum for Orphans, helping the proprietors with the children and securing funds when possible. The roof needs fixing, and there are other necessary repairs, but they truly dream of expanding into the building next door, and on the death of the building’s owner, they might be able to see that through. Except that Galahad Sinclair has recently purchased the building to convert it to a place called The Den, a sort of upscale gaming hell, which not only prevents their dreams of expansion, but also brings more avenues for sin into the neighborhood. Vee and Galahad have been verbally sparring for years whenever their paths cross - which Vee has been scrupulously avoiding, until it becomes impossible to ignore the orphanage’s new neighbor.

This is such a fun conclusion to a delightful trilogy. Virginia Heath brings excellent banter and strong character development to her writing. Vee has trouble trusting any man who might be involved in gambling. She and her older sisters had to drag their gin-soaked father out of many such establishments before he ultimately deserted them, and she sees what the streets near the orphanage have in store for those who want to waste away. Vee sees every action that Galahad takes as a personal affront to her own desires, particularly when she learns that he has purchased the building she believed should have been bequeathed to the orphanage. Galahad, on the other hand, believes he has purchased this building in good faith and is interested in becoming better neighbors with Vee.

Galahad is a special kind of romance hero. He’s a self-made man, working to build towards his dreams of owning a club. But more than that, he understands fundamentally that actions he’s taken have wronged Vee, even when he acted in good faith. He wants to make things right, but doesn’t know how.

I enjoy high stakes card games, and Vee and Galahad are at their best against one another when playing cards. It’s a breath of fresh air to have a card game instead of a chess game in a historical romance! Vee and Galahad are both card counters, and have their own way of reading others in a game. This book features two card games with the high stakes of pride and dignity (and maybe a building), and two main characters who refuse to back down.

The third (and final) installment of the story of the Maxwell sisters- each of which is just fine as a standalone- is like the others, a delightful trope-y Regency romance. Venus has devoted herself to an orphanage in Covent Garden which she very much wants (and needs) to expand. Galahad (I think the name is a bit much but....) hopes to expand his gambling hall- something Venus disapproves of because of her father and, well gambling. They are opposites in so many ways and yet there's a spark. Fans of the genre know how this willed but Heath imbues the whole thing with a sense of humor and the orphans are a hoot. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

I really liked Galahad, the hero of the book whose name becomes surprisingly apt by the end of the book. However, Venus, the heroine, was rather irritating. She had had a poor childhood because her father had abandoned her and her older sisters. But the two older sisters had married happily to wealthy noblemen and she now has nothing to worry about except that her unfortunate name and buxom figure which attracts all the wrong sorts of men. She’s been burned by men in the past and so, at first, turns to a tedious, arrogant, self-centered bore who is clearly a terrible choice as everyone tries to tell her. For some reason she hates Galahad, but encounters him periodically and acts rudely and snippily to him for no real reason.

Then they become friendly and he helps her with some of the orphan children she is educating at her orphanage. Then she gets unreasonably angry with him and returns to being snippy and rude. Then he proves that he truly is a Galahad and they get their HEA.

I felt that all the romantic complications were mostly because she was too full of herself and her prior bad experiences with men to see what a great guy he was even though he proved it over and over. It was irritating.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

I love a good enemies to lovers story. I thought the author did a good job of showing the progression of Venus and Galahad from despising each other to falling in love. It has been awhile since I have read a book that was placed in this time era and it was refreshing to visit somewhere new. There were some very funny moments that had me laughing. I enjoyed this book and recommend picking it up to read.

Never Wager with a Wallflower is the third and last book in the Merriwell Sister's series. If you haven't picked up the other books in the series, I highly recommend you do as I have enjoyed each and every one of them.

In this book, Venus Merriwell is our main character. We still get to see how things are going for Diana and Minerva (and their now spouses) but this books focus truly is on Venus. Her growth from book one to this book is truly evident. She knows her father is a wastrel and having had a number of disappointing potential relationships, Venus isn't convinced there is that special someone out there for her like her sisters have found for themselves. Because of this, she has thrown herself into her work at the orphanage in Covent Garden and is determined to expand into the empty building next door to theirs.

Galahad Sinclair is motivated to succeed and that includes expanding his empire into Covent Garden where he has the most opportunity. Staying close to what is happening around him, he becomes aware of a new building (three actually) available due to a death and knowing that the person who inherited is desperately in need of money, he is able to purchase the buildings. Little does he know that they are the same ones that Venus and the orphanage have their eye on and when she finds out that he is now the proud owner, she is convinced he is in the wrong and should hand over the building that was promised to them.

Admittedly, Venus is made aware of Galahad's ownership of the building after they have started to have feelings for each other and that just makes it worse for her. She is convinced she can't trust herself and Gal is front and center as a recipient for her anger. When her anger actually prompts some of the orphans to sabotage his building and they start to work off their penance, she gets a better view of who Gal is and what he is trying to do. I didn't love that she held it against Gal that he purchased the building...he wasn't really the villain here.

Heath did a great job with the build of this relationship. The banter and the way these two were with each other only made it that much better when they did finally come together. I will be sad to see this series end but look forward to more stories from Heath in the future.

great book and loved the mystery through out the book. I loved the characters and how they grew through all of their adventures. I enjoyed this book and this author and will check them out again add them to my reading pile.

I really enjoyed that from the beginning there was a connection between Gal and Vee, although it was more of a frenemies situation, they still had quite a lot of interaction. Getting to see the evolution of their friendship was so good. Although they were together a lot, I also enjoyed getting to see them on their own in the things that they enjoyed (Gal’s businesses and Vee’s work with the orphanage). I enjoyed how this showed them as individuals but also them growing together. Plus seeing the characters from the previous books was so enjoyable too! I love that in interconnected series like these.

I loved the relationship that was building between Gal and Vee, the connections were so good and you could really tell they liked one another but were too stubborn to admit it! As good as that was, I really enjoyed getting to see the soft spot that Gal had too. Virginia Heath does a wonderful job at writing MMCs with great backgrounds! It adored those parts of the book!

This is the third book in this series, but I have not read the first two. However, that didn't interfere with my understanding of what was going on in the book. I enjoyed it, but didn't love it.

This is the final book of the Meriwell Sisters series by Virginia Heath. This series has a special place in my heart because the first book in the series was actually my first approved ARC for a historical romance. Though this isn't my favorite historical romance series, all the books are pretty fun and are definitely romcoms and use their humor really well. Never Wager with a Wallflower follows the youngest Meriwell sister, Venus (Vee), who once dreamed of an epic love but now has decided that's not what she's looking for anymore. She enjoys her work at an orphanage and is looking forward to expanding into the building next door. Unbeknownst to her, Galahad Sinclair has just bought the building as part of his business plan to create a new club that caters to both men and women. Vee and Galahad have always antagonized each other from the moment they met 4 years ago. But now with this forced proximity, the chemistry between the two of them may just boil over.

I really struggled with Vee's character throughout the middle of the book - I thought she was being pretty unnecessarily harsh to Galahad, who had not really done anything maliciously. I understand that her past experiences with men colored her experience with Galahad and made her feel betrayed even though his actions really weren't congruent to the level of betrayal she felt.

However all that being said, something I've realized about myself is that I will forgive a lot as long as the ending of a book works for me - and let me tell you, this ending really worked for me!! I loved the declaration of love and the scene with their families after they reconcile was honestly so funny.

I also really liked Galahad - I thought he was a super solid hero and I was on his side! I also love that we got both POVs and that we got to see Vee's diary entries throughout her life.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Never Wager with a Wallflower publishes on November 7th and can be read on it's own.

Lively Georgian romance!

The last Merriwell sisters’ story. Venus (Vee) Merriwell is a handful. A pocket Venus, a rapacious reader, intelligent, and after being let down so badly by Galahad Sinclair, a confirmed wallflower
Gal is her nemesis ever since she first met him. Very had attacked him in the grounds of their home where thinking he was an intruder.
Returned from America, Gal was looking to invest in a building to turn into a gambling establishment. He’d found one just after the owner had died. The heir needed cash. It was next to an orphanage but Gal had plans for that as well.
However, as he found out later, not just any orphanage but the one supported by Vee Merriwell.
You can imagine how Vee took that!
An enchanting bluestocking, enemy to lovers romance, with some delightful orphans thrown in to bleed us emotionally dry!

A St. Martin’s Press ARC invite via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Never Wager with a Wallflower is the final installment in The Meriwell Sisters series by Virginia Heath. I've enjoyed this series, and the sisters love stories but this one is my least favorite of the three.

Heath again treats the reader to Regency England with working women leading the charge for change and acceptance. Each of the sisters has a particular passion, and goes about working to achieve their goal while along the way finding love. Vee and Galahad have both had their lives upended numerous times since their youth, inspiring their passion in adulthood. Vee's is an orphanage and his fortunes and real estate, and this is where they collide.

Vee is a challenging character, and is often self righteous throughout the whole story keeping consistent with her glimpses in the previous books. She spars with the best of them, but has her sisters as sounding boards. The growth and appreciation for their passions draw their hearts together after beings at odds. It is a true enemies to lovers romance. .

Thank you SMP Romance / St. Martin's Press for the complimentary copy.

Never Wager with a Wallflower is a good ending for The Merriwell Sisters trilogy. It is a diverting and enjoyable historical romance, although it is my least favorite of the three. I did not like Venus very much in the previous novels, and she rubbed me the wrong way several times during this story. But she went through some character evolution so in the end, I found her more likable. It just made the time to get there drag a bit. Galahad was very likable. Overall, it was an interesting story with some good confused and delicious pining.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, the author, and NetGalley for my advance reader copy. All opinions are solely my own.

✨I do love nothing in the world so well as you✨

I did NOT expect to be so emotional at the ending of this series but of course I am!! I love these characters and their chaotic blended/found family so much it hurts. Virginia Heath has such a special way of merging screwball comedy with deeply emotional romance. Like the rest of the series, Never Wager With A Wallflower was no exception.

There were times while reading this book where I really couldn’t contain my laughter. I was listening to the audiobook incognito with a hidden AirPod and I had to turn my laughs into a coughing fit!! I thought that only happened in romance novels! But after the laughs, at its heart, the romance was so touching. Venus and Gal were definitely a long time coming. They felt inevitable.

Gal was down so bad for Venus, poor boy. Whenever a character realizes that they’re incredibly lonely (it’s normally a surprise to them or the other MC), I lose my mind. It’s always so real and sad but also hopeful because it’s romance and they won’t always be alone!! Gal also realized he had a place in their family. That he had people to spend Christmas with. That he had people to care for him.

Overall, I’ll be reading whatever Virginia Heath comes out with next. She’s such a unique voice in current histroms, and I’m really happy with how she approached each relationship in the series. While you could read this book without others in the series, I definitely recommend reading the series in order to feel the most feels.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️/5



Thanks so much to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.

I am so sad the Merriwell Sisters series has come to an end! It’s been a delightful ride with this family, and I enjoyed all of their stories. But Venus and Galahad might be my favorite one yet! I loved Venus’s and Galahad’s growth as young people and a couple. This book was really sweet (with a hint of cringe.)

Thank you #Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Content warnings: gambling, homelessness

Venus "Vee" Merriwell is done with men. After being burned by a gentleman in a previous series entry, the youngest Merriwell sister has decided that romance is no longer her goal. She finds a sensible match with an older man who enjoys reading and is pursuing Lord Dorchester when Galahad Sinclair blows back into town.

Galahad "Gal" Sinclair is the cousin of Giles Sinclair, the romantic hero of the previous novel and Vee's sister Diana's husband. Vee dislikes Gal because of his propensity for gambling and ownership of a "den of iniquity" in London. At a ball, Gal offers to dance with Venus to make Lord Dorchester jealous. The chemistry is undeniable. But will Vee reevaluate her beliefs to be with Galahad, and will Galahad be able to convince the lady that he's worth it?

Recommended for readers of historical romance, especially those who enjoy more independent female characters.

Representation: orphans, homeless

This was another great book in the series of historical romances following the Merriweather sisters. Venus is the last sister to find her happily ever after, and she butts heads with Galahad, the cousin of her sister's husband, whom we meet in an earlier book. They have really great banter and are a fun couple to follow through a few false starts before eventually finding their HEA. I enjoyed the story and the couple, this was a fun one.