Beauty in simplicity is a very appropriate sentence to describe the plot of this book. It is very straightforward and easy to love. The second book of the “Gambling Peers” series by Matilda Madison opens with a young widow named Holly Smyth and her two seventeen twin siblings, Jasper and Katrina. Before agreeing to marry John, Holly was barely surviving the loss of her parents, the debts and the decay of the farm that her brother is to inherit. John was a gentle man who offered marriage on his death bed so he could help his beloved friends and give her a little hope in form of inheritance. Or that’s what Holly thought.

What John actually did was trick her and his own nephew and heir Gavin, uniting them forever by what’s called “marriage by proxy”. For those who don’t know, in this kind of union, the groom is actually acting as representative of the person who is actually married, in this case John for Gavin, who not only wasn’t in England at the time, he doesn’t know Holly at all. When our two protagonists discover what John has done to them, after the initial shock, they decide to have an annulment only to find out that the cheeky man that was John, had had the ceremony of the wedding following the laws of the Catholic Church, they will need the Pope to consent to the annulment… but that will take time, perhaps long enough for them to fall in love.

In the meantime they have to deal with their respective families and responsibilities, and they somehow naturally approach all that as a team, a perfectly matched team. What could have John foreseen that they couldn’t?

Matilda Madison writes some comfort books in my opinion. This is one of her best books, for it is about two very human characters with their flaws and insecurities, but none of them are too overdramatic about whatever burdens they carry on their shoulders. The plot is unveiled very slowly, although the romance doesn’t fall into the slow burn trope, nor does it go the fast lane. It has romantic moments with the couple that are incredibly tender and moving, beautiful, and sweet. The family moments made Holly and Gavin feel like a couple before they themselves realized. Navigating their struggles with aunts and siblings, their shenanigans… They say that sometimes family puts a strain on a couple’s relationship, in this case, they made them stronger. I devoured this book in two days and now I can’t wait for the next book!

Holly finds herself in a poy that many women find today as well, that of being a single caretaker. Then the new Baron, Gavin appears and wants to help take care of her. A charming story of conniving deceit which leads to an entertaining plot. The second book in the series is fun to read. There are a number of time, it was a bit repetitive but overall a good read. Still can't wait for Derek's turn.

What a situation to find oneself in! I empathized with Holly when she discovered that she had not married her gentle elderly friend on his deathbed, but rather his nephew, whom she had never met. Gavin, however, won my heart while he took stock of the situation and assessed the damage before reacting. Not only did he find himself married, but he had also inherited all the problems that Holly was carrying, including a recalcitrant brother who sabotaged all her efforts. Gavin finds more than just the problems he had inherited but also the truth about his relations and the battle they fought, resulting in misinformation and subterfuge. Ultimately, Gavin and Holly discover that they are perfect for one another, that is until their lawyer makes his announcement. I felt like laughing and crying at the same time. The novel is a standalone and does come to a satisfactory conclusion, albeit I wanted to smack young Jasper about his head! I received a copy of this heartwarming romance as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Holly and Gavin find out they are married to each other because neither read the latin in the marriage certificate. Holly was trying to marry the dying Baron, because he was a friend, and he offered her a way to afford to not fall into abject poverty. Only, he didn’t tell her that she was marrying by proxy to his nephew.

So that is the premise of this quick little romance. Holly just wants a way to restore her family home. Gavin just wants to get out of the marriage. Throw in a rebellious brother who is in debt because of gambling, and you have a fairly lively regency romance.
But of course, because it is a romance, the two are going to have to fall for each other, with the usual tropes being thrown at them, such as only one bed, and having to pretend to be married.

I enjoyed it. The flirting the cute. The woman was strong. The ending seemed rushed, but I presume there is a third book in the series that might wrap up any loose ends. This was the second book, and though you wouldn’t have had to read the first, there are a few asides to what happened in the previous story.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is being published August 22, 2024.

Holly Smyth has had an unlucky life, losing her parents, caring for her twin siblings & the estate literally falling down around her. So, when her dear friend the kindly old Baron Winscombe offers to marry her and save her from destitution, she accepts, thankful to finally have some security. Until the baron dies, and his nephew, Gavin Winscombe, inherits the title. The quick-witted Gavin is curious to meet his uncle’s deathbed bride, but upon his arrival at Kingston House, he and Holly are informed that she didn’t marry Baron Wincombe, the elder. She was married to Gavin, by proxy.
The second book in the series & the premise was different, you don’t get many, if any, proxy marriages in Regency romances. A well written book which could easily be read on its own but we do meet characters from the first as Gavin is friends with Silas & Holly with Clara. I loved Gavin who’d had a lonely life & was ripe for falling in love, he was everything you wanted in a hero. I liked Holly but boy was she determined to do things on her own! I loved the chemistry between the couple & also their banter. The pace was good & never lagged but I did find the ending to be a bit rushed & would have liked more about the journals
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

This turned out to be an interesting book. The story kept my attention the whole way through by adding characters and little tangent storylines.

*surprise marriage by proxy
*close proximity
*slow burn
*third act issues

Read this solely for the historical surprise marriage by proxy and wasn’t disappointed. Will read more of this series and the author 🙂



Thank you Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC

Knowing his end was near, the baron made certain his affairs were in order - especially when it came to Holly, his dear friend in desperate need of a rescue, and Gavin, his nephew and heir. Tricked into a by proxy marriage, neither of them dared to hope theirs would be the match of a lifetime…
When their parents died, she was left to run an estate and raise her younger siblings on nearly nothing, and he - much younger when it happened - was raised with the bare minimum by the baron’s sister, thinking his uncle didn’t want him. But where she always seemed to get the short end of the stick, he managed to become a wealthy independent man.
Now stuck in a marriage neither of them signed up for - except, they did sign - playing pretend while waiting for this farce to end, brings them impossibly close… and not being alone to face his vitriolic aunt, her rebelling brother, Society and all its hurdles, may not be so terrible after all.

This is a beautiful slow burn, close proximity romance!
Generous, joyful and a little cocky, he’s the sunshine to her grounded grump. How could she not be, buried in responsibility and debt? Strong but stubborn, Holly is the kind of woman I want to give a good shake and yell “Accept the help he’s offering!” Luckily, Gavin isn’t so easily deterred - even when life does not cooperate.
They have a bit of a rocky start, but the baron knew his game and seeing this lovable, but very different duo go from wary strangers to friends to lovers - even if their marriage has an expiration date, or does it? - is very entertaining. I really enjoyed their chemistry and confusion; the way they both know they shouldn’t, but find it impossible to resist. Yes, this story sizzles and steams!
The side stories with her siblings added some nice tension and excitement to the plot, and finding out Gavin’s family’s complicated history and what made him the man he is, was fascinating. I especially liked the way he stepped up as leader to ‘the clan’, his new-found family.
This was a fun and compelling read, and I can’t wait to find out what comes next!

Although I enjoyed the first book a bit more Book 2 is entertaining even though Holly was kinda annoying with her stubbornness . Gavin however was quite sweet and loveable

3.5 ⭐️

I saw this featured in the catalog and was drawn in by the synopsis. A poor young lady agrees to marry an old bachelor in exchange for funds to rehabilitate her dilapidated estate. Whoops, turns out he fiddled with the marriage contract and she's now wed to his hunky nephew instead. This was a fantastic premise, but the heroine sucked out all the enjoyment from the reader. She was a stubborn little priss who refused any sort of help from the hero. Girl, your house is literally falling apart and you can make eye contact with the moon from your parlor. Get it together. Gavin seemed like a swell hero who unfortunately got rejected at every turn. I'm confident I would have liked this story more if Holly was a tad more amenable to the hero's advances. I won't be continuing with the series and the Gambling Peers will have to take their money elsewhere.

This was a predictable and very quick Regency romance read.

The FMC's personality is summed up to the following: takes care of siblings after parents die. Nothing much stands out about her beyond that she is nice and caring (and of course beautiful in regular main character way). The MMC has more characterization, but it's not really necessary because the couple have an insta-love relationship despite not knowing each other at all before their accidental marriage. The third-act drama (at least not breakup!) was very expected but resolved fast enough.

This is entertaining and short enough to be read in one sitting, which is just sometimes what you need in between denser books or when in a slump. If I wanted another quick read, I might read the others in the series.

Thank you Dragonblade Publishing for the arc!

A sweet little read with two level headed and reasonable main characters. (Huge praise for a historical romance!)

Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade for a DRC of this title.

The ending felt a tad rushed, but overall, I really enjoyed this historical romance about two people who unexpectedly find themselves married by proxy and must decide whether they want to make their marriage real. My first book by Madison, but I'm already looking forward to reading some of her backlist and recommending to other historical romance readers.

4.25/5.

Holly Winscombe, Baroness of Bairnsdale, is now a widow from a very short marriage. The arrival of the new baron is a little unsettling for the future of she and her siblings. Gavin Winscombe has returned from the continent to take over his responsibilities as the new Baron of Bairnsdale. What a surprise to find out the widow didn't marry his uncle, but is married to him by proxy. Right away they both want it annulled, but it may not be possible. They live together under the same roof with her siblings. Generous to a fault, Gavin is pleased to take care of her family, including her confused and out of control brother. Time and close proximity changes their minds about their relationship. It's a gamble for love.
Great series! Descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley

Holly and Gavin come together under unusual conditions.
She has been trying to hold her family and home together despite circumstances.
As they try to negotiate going forward together, his aunt and her brother often add trials to the mix.
A fun storyline with good banter and hot kisses.
Truly enjoyable read.