The book is as good as the cover. Great couple with just the right amount of laughter and romance. Delightful!

This is the part of the All's Fair in Love and Racing series and was quite an entertaining read. The story is unique, filled with suspense, intrigue, drama, and of course romance. Julian is well-liked by all, but he has some dark secrets he keeps well hidden. He breeds racehorses and when he finds out a local gaming club is betting against his prize horse he is not happy about it. When he goes to the gaming looking for the person responsible for the bet, he is surprised to say the least but also intrigued. Tessa is no ordinary Lady of the ton. She is the co-owner of her brother's gaming club and while Julian is not too happy with her at first, he is also captivated by her and ends up making an interesting wager with her. Their back and forth banter kept me reading and I enjoyed the witty dialogue. Tessa was a wonderful character, marching to the beat of her own drum and not afraid to speak her mind.
The book was well-written and kept my interest from start to finish. I enjoyed seeing Julian and Tessa together, they made quite a compelling couple. I very much enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next one.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I cannot believe I started with the third book unknowingly, now I need to search for her other books in this series. I absolutely adored the writing in this one. I hadn’t read a good historical romance in a while and this one came as a nice surprise. I enjoyed this book so much. Cannot wait to continue this series. Thank you netgalley for helping me discover such an underrated gem.

This is the book you need! For adventure, for the unexpected, for passion and for love. Lord Julian Batchelor is well known to everyone. A man with a past and a gambler. Lady Tessa Calthrop is not your average Lady of the ton. She is co-owner of a gaming hell and a major part of the business. When their paths cross over the subject of horse races business is everything but usual. After a scandalous wager and paths crossing they can’t help but fall hard.
This was just the right amount of story, adventure and spice for me. I loved every second of it and didn’t want it to end. Sofie Darling always has such amazing characters and is brilliant at storytelling that makes you become immersed in the story. You can’t help but feel like you're part of the passion and holding the secrets. You're going to love this one.
I received this as an ARC thanks to the publishers and NetGalley. I couldn’t wait to add it to my home collection.

This one kind of fell flat for me. While I knew it was about horse racing and gambling, I didn't realize how much time would spent on the horses aspect. Some of the verbiage choices, especially in related to the spicy scenes felt a little...technical for me? All in all, I wasn't a huge fan of the main female character, I thought the whole focusing on her wearing half men's clothes was odd especially when it didn't translate to the cover.

Thanks to NetGalley for another regency romance!

As is typical with historical romance it’s very predictable, however I did enjoy reading about their adventures and misadventures, I would recommend to historical romance readers.

About 10% into this book I stopping reading and thought holy crap, who IS this fabulous author? Does she have a back catalog?? How is this the first book I've ever read by Sophie Darling?? Have I been living under a rock? I'm quite glad to discover that she has, indeed, already written a lot of books. Woot!!!
My god, WHAT a book. Tessa and Julian have such DEPTH. This story is more than a romance. It has many layers of past hurts, insecurities, loneliness, intimacy and connection. And the heat between these two about set my kindle on fire. Lawd have mercy. My poor attempt for a review does not do this book justice. Just read this book!!
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Wow what a romantic and hot story. I loved it. Tessa and Julian started out as not liking each other, as Tessa thought he was a spoiled Lord. That sure changed with a wager and one evening. Best book by this author.

I wish I liked this book more because there is a nice balance of plot to spice to fun in this book and the heroine is amazing - she is a bit unconventional, very independent and she knows what she wants. But for some reason I could not really get into this book because I did not care much for the hero... I was more into the bad boy Blaze (please tell me there is a book with him) than our big people pleasing marquess with the sad past.

There were too many paragraphs about horses and horse racing that were not really doing anything for the plot and there was a bit of repetition in the writing that annoyed me a bit, but other than that Darling's writing is really good and engaging. I also loved how there are a lot of steamy scenes, but they are very emotional, while I don't mind an explicit scene, the way Darling wrote these scenes made a lot more sense for our characters.

I am definitely looking forward to reading more books from Sofie Darling.

I was excited to read the Duchess' love story. It was a great story and the twist with the love story was unexpected. Looking forward to the next in the series. Review of advanced copy form Net Galley.

A Scandalous Wager

A horse race set them on a course that would change their lives forever. Could a scandalous wager turn into love? It could, but Julian was much too damaged. Both he and Tessa had colorful pasts, but Julian was letting his past rule his life. What would it take for Julian to let go of his fears? This is a lovely historical romance. I enjoyed it and would recommend it.

I need to read more by Sofie Darling. This book was fun, flirty and immediately sucked me in. I cannot wait for the next book!!

Sofie Darling does it again, she writes an amazing story that will keep you entertained until the end. Julian, the Marquess is loved by everyone, but he has secrets which makes him not want to get close to any woman. Tessa is the co-owner of a gaming hell with her brother, she is different and unique. Julian and Tessa have chemistry which is off the chart. This story is fun and hot and very enjoyable.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and I am leaving my honest opinion.

Loved It! From the first page to the last you will spellbound by Wager With a Siren. Sofia Darling's stories are always interesting with unconventional characters with diversity of personalities who manage to grow and yet retain their individualities which captivates you from the beginning until the very end. It's emotional ride that keeps you turning the pages, sizzling passion, angst and journey for both Tessa and Julian as they learn to trust and believe in one another.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review

Lord Julian Batchelor, Fifth Marquess of Ormonde, is an affiable friendly, smiling sort who everyone likes. He has hard rules for himself, no indulgence of drink, women or gambling. He has a horse racing farm that he takes pride in with a stock of first rate horse flesh at his estate in Suffolk— Nonsuch Castle.

Gabriel Siren the lost Seventh Duke of Acaster, along with his older sister Lady Tessa Calthorp-Siren Owen a gaming he'll called The Archangel. Gabriel has added the betting for The Race of the Century. Now Tessa has to contend with that add responsibility.

Gabriel is dealing with the Dukedom, Tease handles the running of the gaming hell. Her mannerisms are felmale, her dress is more masculine. She likes it that way and knows it is somewhat of a shield for her. Their sisters, Saskia , and Viveca are unique in that they have been sheltered by Gabriel and Tessa. Tessa is analytical and loves to solve puzzles.

Join in the dance of wills, A bet gone awry, and meeting your match. In this fun, witty, and a battle of desires that will keep you on your toes. Add in an up and coming betting black leg, as they were called, who wants a piece of the pie.

Can everyone get what they want or does it all go wrong, find out!!!

Super stern and serious Julian is actually just trying to keep himself under control, thinking he doesn’t deserve love and acceptance while also distancing himself from his father’s reputation. He gives the outward appearance of respectable dullard. Except when he meets Tessa, the sister of a newly minted duke, who challenges him with her disdain. They end up making a wager about the horse he has in an upcoming race and his prize is one night in bed with her. Tessa is not at all prepared for her new station in life and would prefer to stick to what she already knows as the co-owner of a gambling hell. But she and Julian are totally drawn to each other and she’s ready and willing to spend that night with him. There’s a lot of compromise needed here on both their parts to figure out how they fit together. Super steamy and emotional.

"Wager with a Siren" by Sofie Darling is a captivating tale of passion, secrets, and unexpected love. Lord Julian Batchelor, the Marquess of Ormonde, is the charming golden boy of the ton, hiding his dark secrets behind a flawless facade. Lady Tessa Calthorp, a bold and unconventional co-owner of a gaming hell, is unimpressed by Julian's status but intrigued by his surprising depth and daring nature.

Their initial wager turns into a sizzling romance, with Julian's scandalous hobby adding a thrilling twist to their story. The chemistry between Julian and Tessa is palpable, and their journey from a simple bet to a profound connection is beautifully written. The unexpected revelations and emotional intensity kept me hooked from start to finish. I absolutely love this story for its blend of passion, intrigue, and the perfect balance of romance and suspense. It's a must-read for fans of historical romance with a touch of the unexpected.

When her brother Gabriel inherited a dukedom, Tessa Siren, now Lady Tessa Calthorp, took over the running of the gambling den they owned together. Lord Julian Batchelor, Marquess of Ormonde is one of the most likable and well liked among his peers. He, however, does not like himself very much, bad blood and such. Julian and Tessa are attracted to each other, but pain from their pasts keep them distant, for a while. A difference of opinion of the probable winner of a horse race results in a wager. Julian wins, and they are to spend one night together. When danger threatens Tessa, Julian is protective of her. When their affair goes wrong, he reacts badly. This is an interesting romance. Both main characters have had hard pasts, and find it difficult to trust. Tessa is smart and independent. She is also nurturing. Julian is stubborn and distrustful. Tessa’s sisters are a treat. A happy future looks doubtful. A solid plot with a few twists and strong characters make this story one that is hard to put down. It is a great addition to the series.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Oh how I love Sofie Darling’s books, This is a spicy must read story during the Regency era.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoyed this touching story! The author’s storytelling is engaging, humorous and almost therapeutic at times.
The characters are wonderful, their interactions and chemistry are enjoyable and very steamy. They are the perfect match. Tessa is a strong heroine, a brilliant businesswoman, intelligent and caring, who supports and encourages Julian to let go of his past and fears by challenging him and giving him a different perspective. Julian is too afraid to live freely and leave his comfort zone. He sticks to his rigid rules for himself and doesn't allow any real intimacy.
Their story is supported by a great cast of sympathetic secondary characters, most of whom are familiar from previous books.

The book can be read as standalone but I recommend to start at the beginning of the series.

Lord Julian Batchelor, Marquess of Ormonde is universally loved and known for his sunny disposition, but this is only a mask he wears on the outside. Inside, he feels dark and depraved, like his father before him. A long time ago he decided not to let anyone get close to him, not to marry and above all not to sire any offspring who might inherit his bad blood. He is disciplined and does not allow the slightest vice for fear of losing control. His only interest lies in his horses and his racing stable. His goal is to win the Race of the Century. But the bad betting odds at „The Archangel“ gambling den annoy him. When he goes to the club to get better odds, he meets Lady Tessa Calthorp (née Siren), the co-owner and sister of the new Duke of Acaster.

Tessa and her siblings grew up in poverty after the death of their parents. She and her brother founded „The Archangel“ gambling den for nobs and became successful. Unexpectedly, her brother inherits a dukedom and Tess continues to run the club on her own. She is fascinated by Julian and immediately realises that behind his sunny façade there are secrets that intrigue her. When Julian offers her a daring wager, she agrees: if his horse wins, she will spend a night with him…

If you like emotional and steamy historical romances with strong character development, you are sure to enjoy this book!