Oh my, what an absolutely wickedly delicious Recency Historical Romance. From beginning to end, this story and the characters will capture your heart. The H/H are both troubled souls, looking for love,a family, acceptance and their HEA. While, Lisbeth, aka, the infamous Black Raven, is looking for the person or persons responsible for her husband's murderer, and determined to overcome her feelings of hopelessness, loneliness, powerlessness, and free herself of being branded a murderous woman, our hero, Oliver is participating in a wager for money. He finds his brother has drained the family coffers. But, he also finds so much more than her ever thought to find. For, Lisbeth is nothing he was lead to believe and thus their strong attraction to each other begins. With the threat of losing all, Lisbeth and Oliver sets out to prove her innocence. Filled with betrayal, passion, abuse, desire, danger, manipulation, fraud and romance. A dark romance of epic portions, and one truly worth the time to read. Powerful, compelling, and romantic. A not to miss historical romance. A treasure to be sure! Well written with engaging and interesting characters. A unique and intriguing romance. Well done, Ms. Samuels!!
http://tometender.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/a-scandalous-wager-by-cassandra-samuels.html
The Ton calls her the Black Raven, but do they know what the Countess of Blackhurst went through before her husband’s mysterious murder? On the outside, ice runs through her veins, but what is happening to the hot-blooded woman within? Lisbeth has become a pariah, even though she was innocent of her husband’s death and his shady dealings. Now she has become the object of a cruel wager, set forth by the irresponsible and wealthy “men” of London.The Earl of Bellamy has just ascended to his title after the death of his brother, only to find the family fortunes are gone. Oliver, an unknowing pawn of the infamous wager sees a way to gain some coin to pay his bills without London’s Society learning of his predicament. He is to gain entry into the Black Raven’s home and actually speak with her. What happens becomes a game of who’s fooling who and the stakes are getting high as she bargains with him to become her escort for the season. Little did they know they were playing with fire as her reasons are revealed and their business arrangement takes on a much more personal note.A Scandalous Wager by Cassandra Samuels is NOT your ordinary, cookie cutter historical romance among London’s High Society wagging tongues. One crass wager, two people with their own secret needs, some intrigue, some heartache and oh, let’s not forget the brilliant banter between Lisbeth and Oliver! Fast-paced, wicked clever and one of the best historical romances I have read. There is a unique feel to A Scandalous Wager, is it the light tone it often resonates between the stuffiness of the Ton? Could it be the sheer audacity of Oliver to find rakish humor and want upon seeing Lisbeth’s wrath? Maybe it’s the intelligence and grit of Lisbeth that does it. Whatever it is, Cassandra Samuels has put some spark into this historical romance that ignites in passion, love and brilliant adventures for two outcasts, proving that when you least expect it, anyone can find love!I received this copy in exchange for my honest review.
