The Gamble

by Joan Wolf

Georgiana Newbury and her sister Anna are left penniless by the sudden death of their father -- a criminal who blackmailed five men for cheating at cards (or on their wives). The only way she can now survive, and save her sister, is to gamble herself on the risky prospect of marriage.

Using her father's blackmail files she compels Lord Winterdale to present her during the courting season in London. But unknown to her, the old Lord is dead -- and the Winterdale Lordship has now passed to his young, attractive nephew, the roguish Philip. For his own reasons, he agrees to Georgiana's plan...but both will end up with much more than they gambled on.

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

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 1998

About the author

Joan Wolf is a USA TODAY bestselling American writer, whose acclaimed Regency romances have earned her national recognition as a master of the genre. Her many historical and contemporary romances, some of which have been chosen as Literary Guild selections, have been highly praised by reviewers and authors alike.

Joan was born in 1951 and she grew up in the Bronx, New York. A former English teacher, she obtained a Bachelor's degree in Mercy College and Master in English and Comparative Literature at Hunter College. An avid rider and horse owner, Joan lives in Connecticut with her husband Joe and two grown children, Jay and Pam.

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh it was a struggle deciding between a 2 or 3 star, but since I finished it I'll give it 3. After thinking about it, this is definitely a 2 star, it's not on level with other books I've given 3 stars.

This book felt like three standard romance themes smushed into one...blackmailing someone for a London season (and then falling in love), marrying to protect a woman's reputation (and then falling in love), and a mystery to figure out who is trying to kill our main character (and falling in love). I read it all the way through, so there's that! I generally liked Georgie even though she was an idiot quite a bit.

It almost read as an another's first book? Some of it seemed a bit naive about how people lived at the time, some of the turns of phrase just felt off for the time period (ie. I have not once read a regency where a lady uses the term "rape" it is always "taken advantage of" or something about being "violated"), and there were three random moments where our main character speaks to us, the audience. Twice Georgie talks to us like she wants to clarify something to us (this book is written in first person, so that is completely unnecessary since we are privy to her every thought already), and the third time was to list off an entire dinner menu...it was just odd...here's the dinner menu moment:

The most important part of any dinner is the food, of course, and Lady Winterdale and Cook had spent many hours in deep discussion before coming up with the following menu, which was served the evening of the Winterdale Ball. I reprint it in full for those who are interested in such things:
SOUPE A LA BONNE FEMME
LE POTAGE A LA BEAUVEAU...

What? No, put that forth wall back up! I am not part of this! Stop it! This isn't The Office or the first season of Sex in the City, I'm not here, don't talk to me!

There was just a lot going on in this story and the whole strained, tense emotional romance was good for a bit there...and then at the end when we find out the reason for his being so tense I just rolled my eyes and went REALLY? That's IT? Also, it is constantly drilled into us that Lord Winterdale is a dangerous man...yet he never does anything remotely lascivious, we never hear any gory stories, and we have no idea why he knows a crime lord. All we know is he gambled and whored when he was younger. Wow. Such a bad boy.

In the end it was an easy, non-heart pounding read. Good for those nights you want to fall asleep reading but don't want to be kept up till 4 am.

[P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

An intriguing plot that lets itself, and the reader [well, me anyway] down. The hero is not only not what he appears to be, turns out he's not at all interesting.

[Zoe]

A blackmailing scheming heroine. It's not my cup of tea.

[Greymalkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat humdrum, and the heroine did some profoundly stupid things toward the end of the book, but I enjoyed how you could see how the hero felt even though you never heard his internal thought process and he was absent for large chunks of the book.

The big "reveal" at the end was a bit of a let down since I had very little invested in figuring out who the bad guy was, and I knew it would all turn out okay. The various blackmailees were not fleshed out well enough that I could really tell them apart, despite Ms. Wolf's repeated descriptions of them.

I think I liked the book mostly because of Catherine (minor character) and her romance. That was satisfying and sweet and nicely done.

[Nightwitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

The heroine is just so dumb, and that leads to stupid spunky adventures that make me want to slap her. Ditto the hero's inexplicable coldness to the heroine later on (and the hero's eventual explanation for said coldness is also dumb).

[Anna Richland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found while sorting book boxes in the basement and decided -- correctly! -- that it would make a good comfort reread. I enjoyed the inciting event -- the blackmail scheme -- very much. Some plot similarities with Amanda Quick's "Dangerous" -- ie, the lord who decides to use an inappropriate bride to get back at a nasty aunt who doesn't like that he got the title. But the writing is excellent, being published in 1998, it does not have the tongue-in-cheek, wink-wink aspects of so many current Regencies.

If you like early Amanda Quick Regencies, you most likely enjoy The Gamble.

[Patrizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ormai orfana di Joan Smith, ho avuto la fortuna di imbattermi in un romanzo che ne ricorda la leggerezza, soprattutto nello spirito della protagonista, una giovane priva di mezzi disposta ad affrontare una 'impresa criminale' di cui non sa prevedere la portata e le conseguenze.
La narrazione in prima persona, che mette il lettore via via a parte degli avventati piani d'azione dell'ingenua diciottenne, tradisce l'intento umoristico di una storia che sarebbe altrimenti assurdamente sopra le righe

[Jeanne (love2cook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new author to me, and I enjoyed the read. Georgiana Newbury's father was a blackmailer, and when he died penniless, Georgiana had to devise a plan to secure a husband. Will her plan go as planned? Will it be squashed before it begins? Well, the author has written a wealth of challenges into the story. Oh, I should mention the Earl of Winterdale, the new heir to the title. There always have to be two main characters, and it is Georgiana and the Earl who are the main interests in this historical romance.

[Graylark · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was okay.

It was interesting to read because of the mystery and the romance.

However, the romance falls flat later when the heroine suddenly decides she is in loveat 50% of the story, having barely had much in the way of interaction with hero. Even better, you find out later that the hero fell in love with her at first sight. Snort.

As this is primarily a romance novel, I'm rating it on that, and the romance was pretty bad.

[Gurtha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Je to tak pitomé, až je to dobré!
Jak tomu v podobných knihách bývá, nic není reálné a přesto je část reálná až dost - dává to smysl, patrně ně - asi tak, jako závěrečná otázka: "Why did he always have to go to sleep on his back?" :)

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet regency. Love the first person narrative.

[Calli0pe · Rating 3 out of 5]

The guardian/ward trope has been done before and much better than here (by Georgette Heyer, for one). I don't believe that suspense/intrigue is Joan Wolf's forte, either. I really didn't care "who dun it" in the Guardian; the suspense element was fairly non-existent.
What is truly enjoyable is the first person narrative, written from the point of view of intelligent, entertaining and engaging Georgie.
I felt that the character of Philip is not as well developed as heroes in other Wolf's novels I'd read. Wolf does give some clues to his motivation and feelings, but she doesn't spend enough time revealing his traits.
Nevertheless, the Gamble is an enjoyable time-waster.

[Gayle]

Georgianna cares for her sister who has a brain injury. Her father dies leaving them penniless. While going through his papers she discovers he blackmailed several members of the nobility. Desperate to care for her sister she travels to London to blackmail an Earl to launch her along with his niece in the marriage mart. Georgianna discovers a perfect man in a unexpected way.

[Devz Milady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a new favorite author in Joan Wolf. Reason - her heroines are not the usual stupid man-lusting heroines you usually meet in a romantic novel.

Georgie is refreshing as a bold brave young girl who makes her own mind.
Philip is likeable but not very swoon-worthy.

The story kinda drags own a bit but overall its very enjoyable.
However I liked The Pretenders better.

[Julienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the FIRST Romance novel I ever bought for myself, in Powerbooks Pasay Road. I will never forget this one. I think I've read it thrice or something. On hindsight, it wasn't THAT great, but memorable all the same. I liked the leading lady's character =)

[Lynn Calvin]

ereader ebook

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting to like a few types of romance novels. GASP! This one was enjoyable. Predictable, yes. But that makes for a comfort read for me.

[Rose Lerner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made a HUGE impression on me in high school. I had a blast re-reading it, and Philip was just as dreamy as I remembered.

[Tressa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the story, but I didn't fall in love with the characters.

[Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, light read.

[Lola · Rating 2 out of 5]

In spite of some dark themes, this managed to be sweet and enjoyable in the best Regency romance way, though I fear ultimately forgettable. The epilogue was also more than a little self indulgent.