Once again Vanessa Riley transports readers to another time. I could not put this book down! Vanessa Riley has made me fall in love with another strong, well-written character. Her attention to research and detail made it easy to emerce myself into Scarlett’s world. I quickly became Scarlett's friend talking to her as I swiped the pages. Vanessa Riley skillfully reminds us that we (people of color) were also a part of the splendor of regency.

Thank you, Vanessa Riley, Kensington Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this Advance Reader Copy.

A Wager at Midnight is a sweet, sultry, and sour love story that had me rolling my eyes, feeling butterflies, and smiling extra hard when the Happily Ever After was delivered.

You know how a kiss on the collarbone is not so innocent, but it also isn’t super risqué? That’s the line Scarlett, the second youngest Wilcox sister, tiptoes across in book 2 of the series. A Wager at Midnight is a low heat novel that gave us a few ‘Scarlett is not a little girl’ scenes without going to the steamy side of Romance.

It was sweet and it was raunchy, yet somehow clean. And our main character, the lovely Scarlett Wilcox, was just plain fearless. Her love interest, the physician, drove me nuts. He was one of those intelligent people who was slow in matters of the heart.

Every time I wanted to tell Scarlett to go easy on the tortured man, he made a ridiculous command. Yes—COMMAND. At one point, I was like, look, I want you to get the girl, but you need to get your mind right first. But then there were those tender moments that made my toes curl while reading. And I forgave him for being not so bright.

The physician lived in Cheapside, a Blackamoor community of Caribbean descendants and immigrants that was so much fun to experience. Cheapside was an unexpected treat. Think the Ton with vivid head wraps (or bonnets). And think gossiping Aunties who knew everything about everybody. The fabulous Aunties made me want to spend more time in Cheapside.

When we first met the Aunties, I wanted to go home with them. They were colorful and engaging, and they said wildly inappropriate things with a smile. I am eager to visit Cheapside again. I’d wager (see what I did there? Wager :o) that there are so many stories waiting to be plucked out of that vibrant community. Vanessa Riley, can you hear me? I’d like to preorder a tale or two set in Cheapside and sealed with a Happily Ever After. Pretty please give me more life in Cheapside.

BUT only after book 3 of the Betting Against the Duke series because at the end of A Wager at Midnight, a huge secret that exploded and left me with my mouth hanging open.

I mean, I had a sneaking suspicion, but I wasn’t positive. Then, I was thrown off course by a new development. And when I was least expecting it, the gasp-worthy reveal came and A Wager at Midnight ended with a heartbreaking situation. I just don’t know how I’m going to be able to breathe in book 3. AND so, we wait.

A Wager at Midnight is an entertaining Historical Romance that challenges what we thought about Regency Romance with characters inspired by real people who lived and flourished during that time period.

It’s so refreshing to read novels depicting characters from the African diaspora who were not enslaved. Virtual flowers for the author, Vanessa Riley, for helping us to imagine another side of the story. And for giving us a different type of love story to add to our favorites.

I absolutely enjoyed this free ARC from NetGalley.

I have one word to describe this book. Joy.

Stephen Carew is a man who reads Jane Austen novels to unwind from his stressful work as a physician.
Scarlett Wilcox is a spinster who dresses as her deceased twin brother in order to teach herself to perform cataract surgery.
Scarlett and Stephen are bound together by family secrets and unusual wagers. I love their banter as they learn to work together to build a better community.

I look forward to the next book and find out how Scarlett older sister, Katherine and the Duke of Torrance manage their HEA. They both deserve an HEA.

I also look forward to Scarlett managing to assist Stephen's previous love interest, Eveline. Eveline needs a champion.

Took a little to get into, but once I did I couldn’t put it down. The differing perspectives gave depth and the book seemed well researched.
I’ll definitely be reading more by this author.

A Wager at Midnight by Vanessa Riley leaves the curtains wide open on the hypocrisy of the lure of assimilation in 19th Century London, England for anyone with a tinge of color, and the ambivalence of retaining cultural pride while longing to imitate those who feel they are superior. Riley meticulously excavates the nuances of the people and practices of the Regency period. In A Wager at Midnight, the Wilcox sisters, especially Scarlett, are models of thunderous defiance when women are expected to be demure.

The title itself hints at a mystique that pulsates throughout the novel. Scarlett Wilcox dares to infiltrate medical society meetings dressed as a man. Her family can’t afford another scandal, but her ache to become a physician overrules her senses. The only other ache that compares is her love-hate relationship with their older physician and family friend, Trinidadian-born Stephen Carew. Besides medicine, the only thing Carew appears to be fixated with is Sense and Sensibility, as it is mentioned often like a character begging to be seen. That is, until the scales fall from his eyes regarding Scarlett’s metamorphosis, Nevertheless, she lets her older sister, Katherine, now a widowed viscountess, and the Duke of Torrance, know in no uncertain terms that all bets are off for marriage for her unless any prospect accepts her deception to learn medicine.

Katherine’s late husband’s gambling brings the Wilcox family business to near destitution. The Duke of Torrance intervenes, using his power to give them time to turn things around with creditors. He’s Katherine’s secret. His closely-guarded secret is the sickness in the blood that befalls even the most affluent Blackamoors and those of mixed race. The duke needs more time to win the wager with Katherine. He already has the heart of Lydia, a child and the youngest Wilcox, and the admiration of Scarlett. Katherine needs more time to release the hate she feels toward him. No one wins when lies sit at the table with truth and refuses to move.

A Wager at Midnight is another jewel by historical fiction marvel, Vanessa Riley. Thank you Kensington Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

3.75 stars
A Wager at Midnight is the 2nd book in Vanessa Riley’s Betting Against the Duke series.

Scarlett has a great interest in science and medicine. Since she was young, she was mentored by physician Carew, but lately, the two of them find themselves more often at odds with each other. Both of them are part of London’s Black population, and it was interesting to learn more about that part of history.

This book is written in first person, dual perspective (between the two main characters), and in present tense. Unfortunately, this is probably my least favorite perspective to read and I often struggled to get into the rhythm of the text and story.

While I did enjoy the story and characters, there were times while reading that I felt a bit lost. I’m not sure if this was intentional by the author, or if there were things I was missing, not having read the first book in the series. For example, there was a lot of talk about bets and wagers that left me a bit confused.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for making this book available. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book! I really enjoyed the dual point of views between the main characters. You can tell how well the author researched the time period and what it was actually like around that time to be an immigrant from a country under British occupation/rule (without being depressing or boring).

Thank you Vanessa Riley, Kensington Publishing, and NetGalley for this delightful ARC!

Vanessa Riley is the queen of the Black folsk in regency genre.. This idea of a woman challenging convention to pursue her passion in medicing was good. But of cours,e love throws a monkey wrench in the plans.

Vanessa Riley does it again in this sequel in the Betting Against the Duke series, it had that historical element that I was looking for and enjoyed getting back into this world. I thought the characters were everything that I enjoyed from the previous book. It was everything that I was looking for and was glad I read this.

A beautifully written Regency romance with a brilliant heroine and lots of family shenanigans - Scarlett Wilcox means to live her life on her terms, or as much on her terms as a lady of her station can. She dresses as a man to attend medical lectures so she can continue her research and save lives. She engages in constant battles of wit with Stephen Carew, a physician who also spends much of his time helping people in the community. He also wants to open a hospital that will treat people of color, like him and Scarlett, and those with less means, who are not welcomed at most of the existing hospitals.

Meanwhile, Scarlett's little sister Lydia - who steals many a scene - and the doting Duke who wants the oldest Wilcox sister, a widowed Viscountess, both suffer from what is now known as sickle cell anemia. There is a secret about the Wilcox family, and although I guessed it early on, I was still very invested in knowing how it would resolve.

This is the second book in a series, and I've been hooked by Vanessa Riley's beautiful prose and the characters she has created. I want to know more about the Wilcox sisters and what happens after the cliffhanger at the end of this book.

Lots of good here!
I like that the characters are well developed and have their own minds and passions. I also liked that the book included BIPOC main characters in a historical setting but in a way that was optimistic and joyful rather than sad.

Free ARC from NetGalley. A Wager at Midnight is the second book in the Betting Against the Duke Series. Although this second book did not hold as much appeal as the first, i will continue to look forward to reading the complete series. the Hero and Heroine were both enchanting it just seemed repetitive from the first book at some points.

This book was high on African english language, and that really threw me off. The story itself was interesting. Stephen and Scarlett are both medical professionals, not intending to marry and unaware that they are falling in love. Their banter and interactions were fiery. Overall, it was a decent read but not to my personal taste.

#AWagerAtMidnight

This love story is mesmerizing with an intricate and mysterious plot twist that runs well alongside this couple's chemistry. I enjoyed their banter and the amazing, detailed oriented storyline full of adventures and true love.

I really like that the main characters of this book are BIPOC and their cultures feature heavily as they try to navigate London society, the restraints of their situations (gender, race, station, etc.), and find love. I'm glad the story focuses on joy. Furthermore, the main characters are passionate about things other than each other, as well, like science. There are plenty of hijinks, so this book is great if you love a romance with funny antics like dressing up, evading scandal, and general mischief. The aunties are also really funny and the other side characters are really compelling.

Vanessa Riley’s A Wager at Midnight is an absolute gem for Regency romance lovers. Set in a world of high-stakes wagers, this novel follows a clever duke and a widowed viscountess whose bet leads to an unforgettable love story. The tension between the characters is palpable, and Riley’s writing effortlessly weaves emotional depth into their journey of love, loss, and second chances.

What I really appreciated about this book was how Riley brings fresh perspectives to the Regency genre. The cultural richness and nuanced characters add layers to the plot, making it stand out from typical historical romances. The chemistry between the leads is electric, and their slow-burn romance will keep you hooked until the very last page.

Fans of historical romance looking for a story that’s both heartfelt and engaging will love A Wager at Midnight. It’s the perfect read if you’re craving a blend of passion, wit, and depth with a dash of historical intrigue.

This book was outstanding. I enjoyed reading this book. I am excited and waiting to read the next book. This book is filled with great insights and a well written plot. I am glad the truth finally revealed. Now, I am hoping for another beautiful ending and I’m hoping for a fourth book to hear Lynda thoughts. Yeah this book was spot on with the right of drama and romance. Glad the aunties were out in their place. This book illustrates how we can get caught up in valuing others opinions of us and our community.

What an absolute rush!

A quick-paced adventure, the perfect historical romance to read over the holidays (or anytime).

Scarlett & Stephen are the perfect opposites attract couple (can you be grumpy-sunshine if you're both grumpy?).

vanessa riley knows how to write a historical romance. she knows and trusts her readers will understand she’s getting them to that HEA, even if sometimes it feels impossible. that’s my favorite kind of romance: bc of the genre, you know how it must end, but the HOW is always hanging over you— and when an author can give us a satisfying HEA? there’s truly nothing better.

if you like banter & want to see more diverse characters & read about life and love for Black people in historical romance, pick this one up! you are in for such a treat.

I did not realize when I requested this book that it was the second in a series. I enjoyed the writing style, it was vibrant and full of energy, and portrayed a deep chemistry between the characters.