Whew- this story is too hot! Tessa Siren- now known as Lady Tessa Calthorp after her brother, Gabriel unexpectedly inherits a dukedom from their recently deceased great uncle, She is confronted by a disgruntled member as she is on duty at the gambling Hell she co-owns along with Gabriel. Tessa is a very independent lady who was serious about her tea. She makes a wager with Julian Batchelor, the Marquess of Ormonde regarding the derby match in which his horse is featured in. He hopes to convince her that his horse's odds of winning are greater than the ones she has predicted. The chemistry between Tessa and Julian hops off of every page as they take their relationship to another level. I have read many books by Sophie but this is by far the sexiest and in my honest opinion, the best she has written thus far. I was not able to put my pad down until I had finished the story in one sitting.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

This series is more and more intriguing and beautiful and compelling with every book I read! The world building is astounding, the descriptions beautiful and never boring (the horse races are as vivid as if I were there watching them!) and the angst is there, but it’s never overwhelming.
This one in particular had two wonderful characters, Tessa, who’s strong and unconventional, but also caring and devoted to those she loves, and Julian, who’s very sweet and tormented and who’s spent his life wearing a mask and doesn’t know how to shed it.
Darling is a GREAT writer and she has a way with words that never fails to touch my heart. I can’t wait to see what she will do with the other characters that gravitate around the main ones of this book. They are all so intriguing!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Oliver Heber Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked how unique the heroine was and being in the world of horse racing.

Golden boy Julian meets gambling hell co-owner Tessa. Tessa is a smart woman who knows what she wants but while tending to her brother's affairs meets Julian who throws her off her game. She intrigues him so he makes a wager with her that has them both sharing and keeping secrets.

This book takes you on such a thrill ride. This story has many layers and secrets to reveal while building this epic romance for both characters. After the wager is made the story really takes off and is about so much more than just horse racing. Tessa is such a strong, no-nonsense woman who doesn't take any crap from anyone. But she does have a softer side that Julian eventually brings out from her. It is a slow-burn romance but the pace of the story will have you turning pages fast to see the outcome. They do talk a lot in the dialogue but it is all part of the charm of the story as they both push each other to let go of past demons, feel emotions, and face fears. A good amount of steam that fits well, expertly written by a great author, a villain that pushes our hero to be the hero, can be read as a stand-alone but having read book 2 does help for names of mentioned characters.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This is the third book in the series, I have read all three. Tessa and Julian’s story was less about horse racing (which I loved) and more about their unusual path to love. Their relationship was deep and interesting, in fact ai loved this book. 5 stars.

This was an entertaining, well-written historical romance. It was fun, steamy, charming and kept me reading. I enjoyed this historical romance and would recommend it to others.

A passionate page-turner romance

Tessa and Julian are two amazing, complex characters in this book. She is strong, independent, unique, and devoted to her siblings. Julian appears to be a nice, amiable, and optimistic hero. However, as the story progresses, we discover more about Julian's true nature and appearance—much like Tessa overcomes how Julian appears to be. There are many back-and-forth moments in their relationship, as well as tender, heartfelt, and steamy ones.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you for the early copy for review... I liked this but found that I wasn't connecting as well with the characters and their story as I had hoped. I really enjoyed Darling's writing style and storytelling though so I'll definitely be checking out the backlist!

Thanks again

"Wager with a Siren" is the third entry in Sofie Darling's All's Fair in Love and Racing series, and I think it is the best so far. You do not need to have read the previous books to understand/enjoy this one, though those books are also enjoyable. Tessa is my favorite kind of FMC, smart and independent. She is a recent addition to the ton with her brother unexpectedly becoming a duke. She refuses to give in to the strictures of the ton, dressing as she likes and refusing to let go of her ownership interest in a gambling hell. Julian, the MMC, plays the role of a charming aristocrat in public while expressing what he thinks of as debauched desires in private. Tessa sees beneath the charm, and Julian becomes something of a puzzle she very much wants to solve. Julian, meanwhile, knows he should steer clear of Tessa but just cannot seem to do so.

Tessa and Julian have fantastic chemistry and Darling's writing is lovely - touching and amusing as needed. There is the dreaded third-act break-up, but based not on miscommunication but on Julian's utter foolishness. Tessa is unwilling to compromise who she is for Julian and shows again and again that she is extremely capable. Her interactions with maybe villain Blaze Jagger show her determination (and help Julian realize his love for her) and I would frankly love to see Blaze end up with one of Tessa's hilariously irrepressible and inappropriate younger sisters. There is a decent amount of steam in this book, and I am not complaining about it.

5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. These opinions are my own.

Both the main characters in this enjoyable romance have a painful past with all the coping mechanisms that shield them from the glare of society. Tessa's brother may have inherited a dukedom, but she is still firmly enmeshed in the gambling den she and her brother started to feed their family. Julian is hiding behind his smile to deflect nosey questions about his family. However, there are those in the ton who have very long memories of what transpired in his earlier life. Together Tessa and Julian make an amazing couple and Tessa is the woman who manages to get past his facade. When things go wrong, it is amazing what a cup of tea can do. I received a copy of this entertaining novel as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Wager with a Siren, the third book in Sofie Darling's All's Fair in Love and Racing historical romance series, is a fantastic read, beautifully written and filled with tender moments and searing steamy goodness. It occurs in parallel with the events of Book 2, The Duchess Gamble, which is Gabriel and Celia's love story. Book 3 follows the romance of Gabriel's older sister, the former Tessa Siren, now Lady Tessa Calthorp, and Julian Batchelor, the handsome and affable Marquess of Ormonde - hailed by all as the Golden Lord of the Ton. The two form an almost immediate connection when Julian makes a Derby Day wager with Tessa: one night in his bed if his horse, Filthy Habit, wins the race. Tessa soon comes to realize that Julian is a different man behind the amiable facade of his aristocrat title, and Julian realizes that Tessa - an unconventional, intelligent, independent, attractive woman - may see him for who he truly is beneath the golden lord persona.

Theirs is a complicated love story, as both are complex characters, adeptly drawn with shadow and light, and Sofie Darling does an excellent job revealing their strengths and weaknesses as Tessa and Julian peel away each other's layers, down to their souls. In some ways, it reads like a Beauty and the Beast retelling - Julian is described as massive, a great hulk of a man who is protective of Tessa, but who is scarred and broken as a hero due to tragic events in his past. Tessa, very much a nurturer, helps Julian to see that he is indeed worthy of love and happiness despite the dark secrets of his past. Since this is one of my very favorite tropes, I happily followed them on their hard-won journey to love and contentment.

I thoroughly enjoyed Tessa and Julian's love story and could not put down the book until the last page was turned.. I highly recommend it if you like a strong heroine who doesn't let the hero off the hook easily when it comes to embracing love and banishing loneliness.

My thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of Wager with a Siren. I am leaving my honest review of the book voluntarily, and all thoughts expressed herein are my own.

A "Wager with a Siren" by the amazing writer Sophie Darling was such a delicious read! I loved it!!!
This book is the third one of it's series, All's Fair in Love and Racing.

Lady Tessa Calthorp and Lord Julian, the Marquess of Ormonde, not keen on the ideia of marriage and but with a funny twist of fate and lot of sassy banter in. the mix they do a scandalous wager. Still this outrageous wager is just the beginning of their story.
Will love bloom between this unconventional woman and this notorious rake?
You to read it to find out!

I received a free copy of this book from the author and Oliver Heber Books via Netgalley.

This is the first Sofie Darling book I've read.

At first, I had my misgivings since the story starts out from the POV of Lord Julian. I admit to preferring books centered on the female character POV- especially romances. However, Lady Tessa's POV comes next. The dual POV's switched back and forth smoothly. They were well written and there was no confusion about where in time or place we were with each character.

This book did start of slow for me but quickly picked up steam (in more ways than one). There were some predictable aspects (can’t share cause… spoilers)- but I loved the turns this story took. It was a fun read and Lady Tessa was not the typical historical romance heroine which was my favorite aspect of this book.

I will definitely be reading more Sofie Darling in the future!

A daring wager - one race and one night or twenty thousand pounds - between a gaming hell owner recently turned a Lady, and a marquess determined the family line ends with him.

Everybody loves him, or at least the impression of him. He believes himself no better than his debauched dead father, so he keeps a tight leash on his life and his emotions. He’s in control of everything, except… her!
She’s her own woman, runs her own house, raised her sisters and is not impressed by spoiled nobs, least of all him. But… this man has hidden depts, and there’s nothing she loves more than solving impossible equations…
Pearls, jade and feathers… and suddenly neither of them is ready for the night to be over. Not yet.

This series just gets better and better with each new book, and I’m an absolute sucker for a fixer-upper like Julian!
He and Tessa are evenly matched in character, wits and determination, but where she had to fight to survive, he allowed fear and grief to rule his destiny. Julian is completely stuck in his past and what that might make him, so he puts on a charming smile and hides his true self behind a suave veneer. Honestly, he needs a swift kick in the butt, and Tessa is the right woman to deliver.

It's the third book in this series, and it helps if you’ve read the previous ones, but this story certainly holds its own. The style, the pace, the out-of-the-box MCs and the endless supply of curveballs make it absolutely impossible to put this one down! It’s sizzling steamy delight and simply exquisite!

Do wager with a Siren.

I liked that Tessa was an independent lady, who runs a gaming club. She is good at math, naturally.

Julian skates by on his shallow affability. Everyone likes him, but he has his own secrets. He does love a wager and makes a private wager with Tessa that leads to steamy times.
He has much growth to do and Tessa is exactly the one to school him.
Recommend.

He Won The Bet ! She Taught Him To Love !
Wager With A Siren Book 3: Alls Fair In Love And Racing Sofie Darling Adds Another Saga To The Lords And Laddies Of The Racing Circuit ! It All Starts With A Wager On The Race ! The Marquess Is A Nobleman Everyone Likes ! The Lady Was A Commoner Till Her Brother Became The Duke ! She Dressed Strangely And Ran The Gaming Hell ! Something Happens When The Bet Is Lost ! Someone Has To Pay Up ! It Is Not Money ! It Is Not What You Would Think ! This Starts A Unique , Exciting , Relationship ! Feelings and Pasts To Be Dealt With !
Lady Tessa Calthorp was the Brother to The Duke Of Acaster . They had two youger Sisters Saskia and Viveca that they cared for. Their Parents died when they were children themselves . Being Commoners Learning to survive on their own ! Running a Gaming Hell . Then out of Know Where He Becomes The Duke .
Julian The Marquess of Ormonde had a Very Dark Past ! He hid those feelings . Everyone thought him Pleasant and Liked Him . Taking A Vow ! Never Court , Marry , or Cross That Line !
Tessa and Julian became acquainted when his Horse was in The Big Race ! She was involved with odds set for the race ! They make A Wager If He Would Win The Race ! Only It was More Than A Wager ! Let Your Imagination Go From There !
There is So Much To Love About This Story ! The Dynamics of Tessa and Julian ! How Their Relationship Starts, Escalades , and Handles The Obstacles ! The Warmth, Incite, Patience , and The Opening Of One’s Heart is Extremely Touching ! Loved Everything About This Story !

I enjoyed the story and especially loved Julian and Tessa with their complicated relationship which was unique for the time they lived in. There are several surprises throughout the story that spreads light on some minor characters in the story.
I loved the twins, Ladies Viveca and Saskia and their ability to state their thoughts and opinions totally without a filter. Their dialogues were expertly written and most times extremely humorous as well as inappropriate for young ladies, and I loved it. Blaze Jagger is another unique character who caught my attention. There is so much to like about this story and the many different characters who attributed to my enjoyment of the story. It is a story that is worth your time to read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and are voluntarily leaving a review.

Wager with a Siren was a delightful book to read, and kept my interest throughout. Lord Julian Batchelor, the Marquess of Ormonde, was a complicated character who had demons of his own to slay. Tessa, was part owner of a gambling hell as well as a duke's sister and was an independent spirit who lived life on her own terms. To put a free thinker and a man with dark secrets together was a winning combination. These two were so good together.

The writing was exquisite. Ms. Darling knows how to write swoon-worthy heroes and feisty heroines. I look forward to reading more books in the series.

A lovely story of Tessa and Julian. The plot is definitely different than the standard plots covering this time period. Here we have Tessa, a lady and the owner of a gambling den. She has lots of freedoms that we don't usually see. Add in, Julian whom everyone likes and you have a decent story. However, then you add in some special wagers, lots of spice, a past struggle and you end up with a story you won't want to put down. This is part of a series but can definitely stand on its own.

What a lovely book. We have Tessa aka Siren, who is a gambling den co-owner, recently rising to the aristo ranks and crazy good at Maths. The MMC Julian is mister sunshine, loved by all, able to get what he wants with his mild demeanor and unassuming ways. Except that Tessa sees right through him. It starts with a wager and then just rolls over and over into a deep emotional and physical abyss. Tessa loves Julian, but is unwilling to take him back until he forgives and accepts that he is not like his parent, but his own individual who deserves his happy ending. The groveling and the end was amazing.