The Bride Bet

Girl Meets Duke #4

by Tessa Dare

How to lose a duke in ten years…without losing your heart.

Once upon a time, two sworn enemies—the bookish daughter of a scholar and the devilish heir to a duke—made a pact: If they were both still single in ten years, they would marry each other.

It was a joke, Nicola thought. A duchess? Her?

But when the Duke of Westleigh returns a decade later, he’s serious. He needs an heir, so he’s holding her to their marriage bargain—diamond ring, lavish gown, engagement ball, and more. Nothing Nicola says can dissuade him. When she calls him arrogant, he praises her honesty. When she makes social stumbles, he catches her fall. And when she gets exasperated, the duke can’t seem to get enough. For reasons she can’t fathom, he claims that no other woman will do.

He’s betting he can change her mind, with logic and passion.

She’s betting she can change his mind, just by being herself.

And as the clock ticks down to a wedding day, neither is counting on losing their heart.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Adult, Fiction, Regency Romance

384 pages, Paperback

Expected publication February 12, 2026

About the author

Sign up for Tessa's newsletter and be the first to hear about new books and hot deals! http://tessadare.com/newsletter-signup/

Tessa Dare is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fourteen historical romance novels and five novellas. Her books have won numerous accolades, including Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® award (twice!) and the RT Book Reviews Seal of Excellence. Booklist magazine named her one of the “new stars of historical romance," and her books have been contracted for translation in more than a dozen languages.

A librarian by training and a booklover at heart, Tessa makes her home in Southern California, where she lives with her husband, their two children, and a trio of cosmic kitties.

Reviews

[Anne]

2021?
Wait. 2024?!



Ok. It's none of my business, but at this point, I just hope Tessa Dare is doing all right.
Best wishes to one of my favorite authors.

[Michelle]

Release date changed to next year 😭😭😭😭😭
This was the only ray of hope I had for this year!

[Warda]

I was SO looking forward to this. And now I have to make sure I live till 2021 so I can read this. 🥺💔

[Sara Reads (mostly) Romance]

Hello! update it is now March 2022 I BEG YOU TESSA DARE PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF MY LOVE FOR SMUTTY FUNNY BODICE RIPPERS RELEASE THIS BOOK!!! I WILL SELL MY SOUL FOR IT. I JUST NEED IT

2024???
HUH???



Someone explain to me and riri before i lose my shit.

WHERE IS THIS BOOK.

in the meantime im just gonna rewatch bridgerton. what else is there to do?

[Wendy'sThoughts]

February 18, 2021
UPDATE, Well Hell...When Did This Become 2024? So "Nancy Drew Wendy" went to Ms. Dare's Website and found this...It was written on Decemember 23, 2020, and explains all:

So about that email….
If you had preordered The Bride Bet from Amazon, you may have received an email today saying the release date has been changed to-gulp-JANUARY 2024?! 😱
Nobody panic! (I’m saying that mostly to myself.)
The decision to reschedule the book was made several months ago (sorry if you missed that announcement) but a new date hasn’t been finalized. The 2024 date is just there as a placeholder until a new date is confirmed.
Thank you for your patience and understanding! I promise I want to get The Bride Bet in your hands just as soon as possible. When the new date is firmed up, I will be sure to let everyone know.
Announcement over. Please resume your Happy Holidaying!

January 14, 2021
Well, February Isn't Too Far Away, hahahahahaha
August 2019
If a Duke wants Nothing of Marriage...
And a Woman feels the Same...

An Answer to the Dilemma...
Would be to Engage...
With the One who has No Interest...

Ten years ago that was the Answer...
Nicola and the Duke wanted...
Nothing to do with Each Other…

But those Years have passed...
Has Time and Desires Changed...

Each has Lived a Life...
Never thinking All Would Lead to...

The Bride Bet- August 15th, 2020


The Duchess Deal (Girl Meets Duke #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Governess Game (Girl Meets Duke #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Wallflower Wager (Girl Meets Duke #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Bride Bet (Girl Meets Duke, #4)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Dani]

When this releases, I'll finally die in peace.

[Denise Lima]

So apparently Nicola has been engaged with a (hot) duke for ten years?

Yep I'm totally sold by the plot. BRING IT ON!

[Soft Nectarine ~]

Wait. No. Did the release date just change to 2026?! I hope Tessa is okay because girlie got us on our tippies 😮‍💨

[abi]

January 2025

Four years…four years we’ve been waiting for this book, and still no updates on when it’s being published 😭 I hope Dare is doing well /: I do hope she eventually comes back to writing. She’s been pretty much dead silent since Covid…



* * *



December 2023

AHHH the release date says January 15th, 2024 on Amazon!! I’m so ready for this book, i feel like I’ve been waiting a lifetime for it!!!



* * *


December 2022

I was just thinking about how much I miss this series the other day, I really hope Tessa doesn’t change the release date again 🤞



* * *



December 2021

I’m so freaking excited, I have loved this series so much!! Just a few more months to wait for this one 😚

[niteskycs]

childhood enemies marriage of convenience excellence? definitely my most anticipated hr read of 2021.

[Topastro]

2/14/22 I just received this message from Audible “We regret to inform you that the release of The Bride Bet on Audible has been delayed indefinitely, so we have cancelled your pre-order. You will not be charged for this order, and any credits or coupons that were applied to this purchase have already been restored to your account. “



2/12/22- Audible has the audio book release date as 2/15/22 but no cover photo. I preordered, but I don't think it's truly being published. There is zero recent publicity; nothing on IG and 12/23/2020 was the last mention of the this book and the delay.

I have emailed the publisher and author just to see if they had an updated eta and neither responded.
I just wish there at least an update.

[Jenn (The Book Refuge)]

I don't know if Jan 15th, 2024 is real, but I just pre-ordered this on Amazon. I haven't seen a lick of marketing, ARCs, or anything else, but I hope to God it's a January miracle.

[Elise]

This is gonna be amazing.



FEBRUARY 2021 !?

[Corazon Perio · Rating 5 out of 5]

"How to lose a duke in ten years...without losing your heart.
"
More like "how to wait for a book to come out, without losing your mind"🙄

Hopefully it doesn't have to be 10 years🥴

[Yesy (The Book Vagrant)]

Amazon marked the release as FEBRUARY 15, 2022 so...has it been pushed back again??? I NEED ANSWERS

[crybby]

2024?? I ain’t got time for that ✋

[Aisling Zena]

7/3/20

[The Girl Murdered by Her TBR]

Can someone explain to me why I need to wait until 2024 to read Nicola’s story 😭😭😭

[Valkyrie ✨]

Expected publication: 2024????????????????????????????

[Ashley]

Back to no fucking clue when this is coming out. There is really absolutely no excuse at this point for keeping this fugly ass cover. Somebody redo it before this book's (eventual?) release date.

[Antonella]

release date 2026...

what is happening... look it is fine to have some anticipation but enough is enough ...

i officially do not care nor will i read this book ..

[Juan Pablo]

first, it was said to be released in 2021. now it's supposed to be in 2024!! what is happening???

[Bonnie]

Been waiting for this for what seems like forever... is January 2024 really the release date or is this just a tease?



It's Dec 23.... and I still don't see a pre-order for this on the retail sites.... starting to think this is a big tease...

I knew it - Jan 15 passed by and nothing... it is a jam up.

OK, now Goodreads is saying August 2024... Google Play has it listed for December 2025...

************This is the UNICORN of Historical Romances**************

Legendary - mythic.... it's existence is questionable, but when found, hopefully magical and heals all...

[Avid Booker]

Jan:28: IT seems this book was pushed again and NOW has no information on when it'll be published ://


This book is my most anticipated read of 2021. THAT SYNOPSIS THAT COVER EVERYTHING. I AM TOO EXCITED.

[Melissa]

Ok so is everyone waiting ten years for this story, just like the characters?

[Izzah ꒰Duchess of Cabria ಇ ⭑✧ ᴏɴ ᴘᴀᴛʀᴇᴏɴ ✧ ⋆꒱]

Is this the hill we're dying on?

I distinctly remember 2024. And now it's saying 20 26 ?!

[mari]

What do you mean February 12, 2026??? 😭😭

waiting, waiting... Odysseus when you come home i'll be waiting... even if you're the last thing i see

[Alvina]

2024?! 😂😂😂😂

[Doreen Ventura]

I had pre-ordered the Kindle ebook in April 2023 from Amazon expecting a February 2024 delivery. On 24 June 2023 I received this email from Amazon stating it is been delayed until February 2026. I actually had to take another look at the date, that makes it just under 3 years away. Reading all the other reviews there must have been previous delays as well.

We're writing because an unexpected delay has occurred in delivering the Kindle book listed below:
Title: The Bride Bet: The brand new, thrilling regency romance. A must read for fans of Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York and Georgette Heyer (Girl meets Duke, Book 4)
Author: Dare, Tessa
The new expected release date is: Thursday, February 12, 2026.
We'll keep your pre-order open on your account and deliver the title as soon as it is released. As a reminder, you can always change, cancel, or view the status of your orders in Your Account.

We apologize for any inconvenience caused by this delay.

Sincerely,

Customer Service Department
Amazon.com.au

Why was my order delayed? While we do our best to adhere to our delivery estimates, availability of digital content can change based on information we receive directly from our suppliers. Occasionally, unexpected issues arise that result in changes to release dates for new products.

This email was sent from a notification-only address that cannot accept incoming email. Please do not reply to this message.

[m]

This series get better by the book. I need more of Rosamund and Daisy. And I need to understand Nicola's backstory.