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The Ladies' Wagering Whist Society #2
Jack of Diamonds
Can the Ladies' Wagering Whist Society help a young woman with a dark secret allow light and love into her heart?
Lydia Sheffield is always laughing, always joking, always charming, always surrounded by adoring gentlemen. She wants to enjoy the season, and not yield to Regency society's expectation that she quickly marry and have children. She also has a secret lurking within her—one that will keep her from ever taking a risk on love.
Lord John Welles has a secret of his own, but Lydia has discovered it. She noticed what no one else did, that this attractive, upstanding gentleman is filching diamonds from unsuspecting ladies. Lydia extracts a price for her silence—a fake engagement to her for the season. John never expected to want to make the arrangement real, nor that Lydia would be so dead-set against it. There's something she's not telling him, and he's determined to find out what it is.
Can John discover Lydia's secret in time to save his heart from breaking? He'll need to convince her to take a chance on love, on life… and on him.
It will take the Ladies' Wagering Whist Society to help John win his diamond.
Lydia Sheffield is always laughing, always joking, always charming, always surrounded by adoring gentlemen. She wants to enjoy the season, and not yield to Regency society's expectation that she quickly marry and have children. She also has a secret lurking within her—one that will keep her from ever taking a risk on love.
Lord John Welles has a secret of his own, but Lydia has discovered it. She noticed what no one else did, that this attractive, upstanding gentleman is filching diamonds from unsuspecting ladies. Lydia extracts a price for her silence—a fake engagement to her for the season. John never expected to want to make the arrangement real, nor that Lydia would be so dead-set against it. There's something she's not telling him, and he's determined to find out what it is.
Can John discover Lydia's secret in time to save his heart from breaking? He'll need to convince her to take a chance on love, on life… and on him.
It will take the Ladies' Wagering Whist Society to help John win his diamond.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 13, 2019
60 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Meredith Bond
72 books204 followersMeredith Bond's books straddle that beautiful line between historical romance and fantasy. An award-winning author, she writes fun traditional Regency romances, medieval Arthurian romances, and Regency romances with a touch of magic. Known for her characters “who slip readily into one’s heart,” Meredith loves to take her readers on a journey they won't soon forget. She is currently living in Europe enjoying the Bohemian life. I write a blog on writing and self-publishing that is published every Sunday at www.meredithbond.com/blog/posts
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 11, 2019
Fear and theft take a chance
John has a hobby! Stealing funds help for poor people in the Rookeries! Lydia masks her fears with constant laughter after watching her mom die in childbirth! A fake engagement, stealing at parties and kisses in the garden can lead to HEA or heartbreak!
John has a hobby! Stealing funds help for poor people in the Rookeries! Lydia masks her fears with constant laughter after watching her mom die in childbirth! A fake engagement, stealing at parties and kisses in the garden can lead to HEA or heartbreak!
May 11, 2019
Another wonderful book of the Ladies' Wagering Whist Society. Meredith Bond knows how to write the most amazing historical romances. She knows all of the season's do's and don't's and understands how to frame her stories to make your heart bleed while you still hold out hope that there can be a happily ever after.
Lydia, a member of the Ladies' Wagering Whist Society, is brought to London for the season by her father, who hopes that Lydia can find someone to love as much as he loved her mother. Lydia, haunted by a secret in her past, is only trying to please her father and is determined to leave London without a husband.
John Welles' has his own secret. Lydia makes an agreement with him to become engaged, with the understanding that she will break off the engagement at the end of the season and they will go their separate ways. This is a story that will tug on your heartstrings, as John falls deeply in love with Lydia, who is still determined never to marry.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy.
Lydia, a member of the Ladies' Wagering Whist Society, is brought to London for the season by her father, who hopes that Lydia can find someone to love as much as he loved her mother. Lydia, haunted by a secret in her past, is only trying to please her father and is determined to leave London without a husband.
John Welles' has his own secret. Lydia makes an agreement with him to become engaged, with the understanding that she will break off the engagement at the end of the season and they will go their separate ways. This is a story that will tug on your heartstrings, as John falls deeply in love with Lydia, who is still determined never to marry.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy.
April 27, 2020
This was like getting two stories in one. We have the H/h story then each of their parents fall in love.
I was torn from liking the H for helping the poor, but to rob innocent people to support those I didn't care for. The h is smart and cares for the poor in her own way too. The h and her Whist friends come up with a plan to support the poor. The problem is we are not told if their plan was successful.
At times you would be in one house and the next paragraph they were in a different house. Made it hard to follow at times. It was like they were being transported like BEAM ME UP SCOTTY! lol
This is a clean story with only a few kisses. I did love how the h put someone in his place who threatened her - loved her strength and spirit.
No cheating, no cliffhanger, HEA, some romance and no spice. This is book 2 of the series but is a stand alone story. There is a sweet epilogue 1-2 years in the future. (ljb)
I was torn from liking the H for helping the poor, but to rob innocent people to support those I didn't care for. The h is smart and cares for the poor in her own way too. The h and her Whist friends come up with a plan to support the poor. The problem is we are not told if their plan was successful.
At times you would be in one house and the next paragraph they were in a different house. Made it hard to follow at times. It was like they were being transported like BEAM ME UP SCOTTY! lol
This is a clean story with only a few kisses. I did love how the h put someone in his place who threatened her - loved her strength and spirit.
No cheating, no cliffhanger, HEA, some romance and no spice. This is book 2 of the series but is a stand alone story. There is a sweet epilogue 1-2 years in the future. (ljb)
May 7, 2023
Charismatic Lady Lydia has no desire to marry and procreate after watching her mother die in childbirth at a young age. Viscount John Wells, whose estate is in debt due to his father's over-generosity to the poor, resorts to pilfering jewels from the ton's ladies to continue the practice. When Lydia catches him in the act, she makes a deal for him to stop the stealing while engaging into a fake betrothal to appease her father. A bit unrealistic but sweet and clean with a few twists and turns to make it entertaining.
June 6, 2019
The members of the Ladies' Wagering Whist Society do it again! Lydia and John, each with secrets, make a heart rending couple. How they come together, with the Ladies' help., will make you laugh out loud, as well as tear up when secrets are revealed. There is also love in the air for another unexpected couple. I highly recommend this book, as well as the entire series (only two books so far, but more are in the works).
October 27, 2021
Engaging Read
Another engaging read, although I didn't feel this book to be as good as the first. Lydia Sheffield wasn't an altogether likeable character for me, although I felt for her in her fear of morbidity due to childbirth and the fact that the ladies of the Whist Society poo poohed her fear which if they had thought about it was tactless, she obviously didn't consider others, particularly John Welles, her pretend beau. He was another character who was a bit off in his beliefs. Any way suffice it to say a Happy Ending was achieved, and it very pleasant to read how the ladies of the Whist Society are faring. I would recommend the book.
Another engaging read, although I didn't feel this book to be as good as the first. Lydia Sheffield wasn't an altogether likeable character for me, although I felt for her in her fear of morbidity due to childbirth and the fact that the ladies of the Whist Society poo poohed her fear which if they had thought about it was tactless, she obviously didn't consider others, particularly John Welles, her pretend beau. He was another character who was a bit off in his beliefs. Any way suffice it to say a Happy Ending was achieved, and it very pleasant to read how the ladies of the Whist Society are faring. I would recommend the book.
May 9, 2023
Easy and Entertaining Read
I loved this book. It was quick and so good! Excellent! It was an exceptional romance that didn’t have the explicit scenes, but still kept the story going. I totally recommend!
I loved this book. It was quick and so good! Excellent! It was an exceptional romance that didn’t have the explicit scenes, but still kept the story going. I totally recommend!
December 18, 2019
Cat n Mouse
The mysterious lady doesn’t want to marry, why? What would you do in her shoes? There are secrets to tell!
The mysterious lady doesn’t want to marry, why? What would you do in her shoes? There are secrets to tell!
March 7, 2021
A lovely story . It is entertaining and I could not put down the book until I finish the story.
Ready to start the next book in the series !!
Ready to start the next book in the series !!
May 15, 2019
Another winner by this author. Beautifully written and era appropriate, with an entertaining story and engaging characters, this book entranced me. I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn’t put it down. Although it is part of a series, it reads perfectly well as a standalone novel. Once again we are given an incredibly intriguing story, full of twists and turns, with a storyline that reads slightly different from the standard historical romance fare. The characters are all well developed and likeable and the story takes the reader on a thrill ride of emotions - from heartbreak and drama to humour and hope, and everything in between. Fantastic story!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews