I read it in two days, so it’s good. This is my first book from this author and I didn't know what to expect. It’s not one of those books that you read, and you start thinking about other books that are similar, so I liked that. The book doesn’t have too many unnecessary characters with names I can’t remember, and it also doesn’t have too many unnecessary side stories. However, it does have one too many steamy scenes, but that’s just my taste. Also, I understand that Tessa is different from other ladies, but it just felt weird that she, as a lady, can live and go everywhere alone. Other than that, it is a good book and I would recommend it.

Lord Julian Batchelor, the Marquess of Ormonde is loved by everyone but Julian harbors dark secrets. He holds himself separate from all feelings until he meets Lady Tessa Calthorp who is everything unexpected in an aristocratic woman. Tessa is co-owner of a gaming hell and her recent entry into the ton, means that she sees Julian as simply another rich lord handed everything in life. However, Julian surprises Tessa when he makes a water with her. Spend one night together if she loses the bet.
An intense romance between two headstrong characters. Whilst there is plenty of spice, what keeps them apart is Julian’s history. Whilst I loved both characters, Julian did frustrate me particularly when all common sense seemed to be lost. Thank goodness that Tessa was a patient woman and knew what she needed to do. I did enjoy the last two chapters of this book and look forward to more books in this series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I LOVE a book about a wager, so I was thrilled to pick up Sofie Darling's new romance, Wager with a Siren. It did not disappoint! Five stars for this swoony romance.

Everyone likes and admires Lord Julian, Marquess of Ormonde.
Whatever he does, he comes out on top, until he goes head to head with Tessa Siren, now Lady Tessa Calthorp. She and her brother own THE ARCHANGEL gambling hell. In an upcoming race, THE ARCHANGEL gives low odds on Julian's horse winning. Confronting Tessa, Julian's unexpected wager could be a danger to revealing his secrets, but she isn't willing to back down when he later decides to change the wager. It takes a very strong woman to stand up for what she wants and challenge the man she loves to be the man he needs to be. (Slightly erotic)
VERY DESCRIPTIVE SEX.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Running a gaming hell with her brother, Tessa is not your typical lady. Julian is attracted to her but due to his family history he does not let himself become close to any woman. Wagering on a night together, they must learn to trust each other. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Oliver Heber books for my honest review

Tropes: opposites attract; MC's wager on one night together
Steam level: 4
Part of a series, but fine as a standalone.

Another winning book in this series. Nothing too surprising plot-wise, but the writing has the intelligence and elegance typical of this author, and while the first half is a slow-burn, none of the scenes felt strained or convoluted. Actually, the steam level may be higher in the second half than in any recent book by this author (Marquess Julian has a proclivity), but emotion runs through even the many spicy scenes. Julian is Mr. Popular of the Ton, a sunshine-y if rather banal presence, and it takes someone as clever as tea-loving, tough-as-nails Tessa to see beyond his facade to the darkness he's hiding. As much as I liked and felt for Julian, I loved Tessa; she's a complex character who knows what she wants and doesn't fall into the strident stereotypes that sometimes plague strong women in romance novels. The last chapter and epilogue are wonderfully romantic as she and Julian find their future together.

Very much looking forward to the next book in this series; hopefully there will be a upcoming entry featuring the intriguing Blaze Jagger.

I read an advance reader copy of this book and this is my honest review. Thanks to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for this opportunity. Expected publication date is June 4.

She is amazing not only because she is a gaming hell owner but she is so perceptive only she can truly see him.. He would protect the world and specifically her, from his past and ‘tainted’ blood. I enjoyed their steamy progress towards their HEA. I also love the two sisters and the new hell owner and looking forward to their respective stories!

I personally love Sofie Darling’s books but the Wager with a Siren is the perfect well balanced regency book. Full of historical moments, great love story, funny scenes, great secondary characters, steamy and sensual charged moments. Just perfect! In my humble opinion.

This time is Tessa and Julian’s story. Tessa is this independent woman who experienced from a very young age the value of hard work and family bonds. She is now the co-owner of the most exclusive gaming hell in London along with her brother, Gabriel, the new Duke of Acaster. Since the new responsibilities of her brother, she now has to deal with the job by herself and confront the consequences of her business decisions.

Julian is the Marquess of Ormonde, a man intensely affected by family tragedies and the lasting effect of hereditary bad blood for him and the next generations.

Tessa and Julian will have to be willing to be strong and work on themselves and each other in order to be able to have a future together and be happy at the same time.

It was a delightful reading with a great epilogue at the end.

I just reviewed Wager with a Siren by Sofie Darling. #WagerwithaSiren #NetGalley

Gorgeous romance, a passionate page turning delight. One wager and one night that turns into everything for Tessa and Julian. Wonderful chemistry and beautifully written, this story takes you on a journey of honesty, hope, connection, trust and the biggest gamble of all - love!

Whem Marquess Ormonde learns that the odds of his horse winning the Derby is ten to one made by the Archangel Club is very angry and want to know the reason why when his horse is very fast . The co owner is Lady Tessa Calthorp which happen to be the only person who doesn't find him amazing . They make a bet and if he wins they have to dpent a night together . When his horse wins the Derby and they spent the night together he realises that she is someone he cares about . He always thought he will had bad blood and that with him his family will end but will Tessa's love cure him ?
I received this book from netgalley and the publicer as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .

Julian the Marquess of Ormonde is a man with a damaged heart. His father’s descent into melancholy and outright scandalous behavior makes Julian flinch whenever Ormonde is called as it reminds him of his father. Julian is determined not to marry or father children.
But he meets Tessa who turns his world sideways as he cannot stop thinking about her. She runs the gambling odds in his horse racing world.
They challenge each other and a wager is made but who,is really the winner in their challenging dance.
Enjoyed the sexy undercurrents and the romance associated with their wager.
Book three in this series which is action packed with some tough twists.
Fun to see characters from previous books and the epilogue was perfect.

She presided over the well-known, somewhat sophisticated gaming hell known as the Archangel. He was the fifth Marquees of Ormonde and bred racehorses. She dressed as she chose in plain sensible clothing, more for comfort than style and had a mind as sharp as a razor. He was liked by everyone he met, young and old, titled or otherwise.
Her brother and the part owner of The Archangel, came up with the idea of ‘The Race of the Century’ for the prize of Ten thousand pounds, which was to be run at Epsom Downs with only five competitors; each horse being the winner of one of the major races of the season.
This Race is causing conflict, as betting is already being a carried out on the winners, with terrible odds on Lord Julian’s horse. He wants to know what is going on and so to The Archangel he goes, to try and get to the bottom of the issue.
Lady Tessa Calthorp nee Tessa Siren, sister of the recently elevated Seventh Duke of Aster, is in her element checking the tables, but is irritated by the horse racing. Ormonde introduces himself and they go to talk, immediately discovering neither one will move an inch on what they consider is right, which leads, inadvertently, to Tessa placing an astronomical wager on the outcome of the race. Winner take all!
Wager with a Siren is written for the modern audience of Regency Romance readers and Sofie Darling gets into the heart of the matter right from the beginning, with Julian and Tessa discovering they have an undeniable attraction; she an insatiable curiosity that needs to be sated, something in which he is happy to assist.
A threat has become all too real, when Tessa’s townhouse is ransacked by men sent by Blaze Jagger, an up and coming East End gangster, leaving Tessa bound and dumped in the cellar and Julian knocked out cold! The gloves are now off, as far as Julian is concerned, even though at this stage he has no idea what he wants or why he finds Tessa so irresistible. Jagger considers Tessa and her brother are poaching on his ‘turf’ and is not happy!
As they romp their way towards the day of The Race of the Century, they both discover that their past keeps getting in the way of what seems to be burgeoning love and if there is to be any sort of future, they both need find a way through their issues. Julian, stuck fast in his depression and misery of many years standing, eventually begins to realise life really is all about living.
Wager with a Siren is the perfect companion for a quiet day on the couch, a long glass of something delectable by your side.

I enjoyed the first book in this series, but this book isn’t for me. I’m sure it will appeal to others. DNF.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Dive into this riveting book where love is a wild card, and secrets are the currency of the heart. In the posh setting of old English nobility, we meet the dashing Lord Julian Batchelor, the Marquess of Ormonde, and the daring Lady Tessa Calthorp, who's as unconventional as they come.

Julian, the ton's golden boy, conceals a past riddled with angst beneath his suave exterior. His world is upended when he crosses paths with Lady Tessa, a gaming hell's co-proprietor and a woman who scoffs at the norms. Their encounter ignites a scandalous bet, brimming with longing.

The game is on, and the chemistry between these two formidable foes is off the charts. Julian's murky past and Tessa's audacity set them on a journey where a single night's fervor might just turn into an eternity of joy. But are they ready to gamble their hearts? Or will their hidden truths drive a wedge between them?

I was utterly charmed by this book's intricate ballet of love and fate, where each gamble could rewrite destinies. The author weaves a tale so vivid and heartfelt, it's as if the couple leaps off the page. Their love story crackles with a passion that's heady and sublime, and the writing invites us into a romance that's as everlasting as it is spirited—showcasing the author's remarkable flair for storytelling.

I have never been into horse racing but I am certainly loving this series and the characters that comprise these stories. Sofie Darling has a wonderful talent of creating such interesting and deep characters with many layers that suck me right into their lives and heartbreaks. Lord Julian, was a wealthy Marquess , well liked and appeared to have it all, but he was very broken, going clear back to his childhood. Then he meets Tessa, the part owner of a gaming hell, who had been on her own, along with her brother, since the age of nine. She was strong and gutsy and she called him out on his fears. She was his match in every way. They loved passionately, but could it be enough to conquer his past?

The compassion Tessa has for Julian is so beautiful that I confess I teared up quite a bit. Their journey starts with a wager but that wager takes a backseat to the developing love story. Sofie’s writing is superb and it shows in this story. It’s not just a story, it is a study in empathy and t is lovely. I don’t want to give away the story but let me say that if you don’t read anything else by Sofie, get this book. Read it, love it and cry with me.

Julian Batchelor, Marquess of Ormonde, is invested in his stables and horse racing. So when a popular gambling club is setting terrible odds on his prize stallion, he needs to have a word with the Oddsmaker. Tessa Calthorp, co-owner of her brother's gambling club and newly elevated Lady, is not at all what he expects. An unlikely wager emerges, and desire burns bright between the pair.

This is the third book in the All's Fair in Love and Racing series. While I recommend reading in order, I actually started this series with the third book and now I'm even more excited to go back and read the previous stories which feature Julian's best friend (book one) and Tessa's brother (book two).

Sofie Darling is an author that I've been meaning to read for a while now, and I'm only sorry I didn't start sooner. I loved her writing style and her characters were extremely relatable and easy to root for. Tessa is her own woman; she dresses and behaves the way she likes. She speaks her mind and she's a great pair with Julian who is considered a "golden boy" of the ton but has his own demons to face. The story was completely interesting, engaging, and sexy!

Tropes: Wager, Working Heroine

Steam: 5

Julian Batchelor, Marquess of Ormonde, is the ton’s golden boy. His affable demeanor is but a façade to hide his true nature. When his racehorse receives poor odds, Julian confronts the oddsmaker at a certain gaming establishment. The oddsmaker turns out to be Lady Tessa. Julian finds himself making a brazen wager with the woman. Will Julian want more than just one night? Or will Tessa awaken more than what he bargained for?
Lady Tessa Calthorp is the eldest sister to a newly elevated duke. She also co-owns a popular gaming establishment that caters only to aristocrats. Tessa is accustomed to dealing with spoiled and pompous noblemen. However, Julian proves to be different. Tessa finds herself locked in a daring wager with him. Can Tessa change Julian’s flawed views on love? Or will he bring her heartache?
Julian tugged at my heart. I never could resist the wounded/tortured types. Julian is haunted by his family tragedy. However, he never shows his peers or the world that wounded, dark side. Instead, Julian presents a façade of an approachable and genial man. What I love the most about Julian is his acceptance of Tessa’s individuality. He likes that she does not behave or dress like other noblewomen.
Tessa is a woman after my own heart! She does not conform to what men and the public view as a woman’s place. Tessa does what she wants when she wants. She also dresses the way she wants without any concern on what others think. What I admire the most about Tessa is how she deals with noblemen. She does not tolerate their temper tantrums. Tessa does not hold back her opinions and thoughts.
WAGER WITH A SIREN is the third book in Sofie Darling’s historical romance series, ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND RACING. This is my first foray into this author’s works.I remember eyeing ODDS ON THE RAKE (the first book) last year. However, at the time, my review queue was full. Now I wish I slid it in.
I found myself absorbed in the plot and characters. I made extra time (by not watching my Chinese dramas) just so I could read more. I did NOT want to put this book down. I cannot wait for future installments. Also, I plan to look for the previous two books, so I can read at my leisure.

This is the third book in the series and can be read as a stand-alone, however, the characters from the other two books do make appearances.
This is a wonderful, entertaining read.
Lord Julian, Marquess of Ormond has secrets from his childhood that have made him vow that he will never marry and have children.
Tessa, who is now Lady Calthorp, since her brother became the Duke of Acaster is determined to live her life the way she wants including never marrying. She is content running a gambling club for her brother.
Julian and Tessa make a bet on his horse winning a race and the bet changes the course of both of their lives.
I loved the interaction between the two and the storyline was interesting.
There are a couple of steamy scenes in the book that are interesting, but different.

Lord Julian Batchelor Marquess of Ormond is the golden boy of the ton, but he has dark secrets no one know about. He decides to never marry.

Tessa Siren now Lady Tessa Calthorp since her brother is now the Duke of Acaster. Tessa decided she was going to live her life the way she wants it.
Julian finds out that the odds on his horse for the race is not to his liken. He meets with Tessa, and he tells her his horse is going to win the race. They decided on a bet 20K, his offer one night with him.

As Julian and Tessa spend time together, they learn about each other. One-night changes their life's forever, will they come to the right decision?

Sweet love story unfolds between Tessa and Julian, bring the tissues.
This was received as an ARC in exchanged for an honest review