Virginia Barlow – Gamble of Hearts

Today, I am hosting author Virginia Barlow’s latest release Gamble of Hearts, a historical romance. Be sure to read my review. And don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

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Title: Gamble of Hearts
Series: N/A
Author: Virginia Barlow
Genre: Historical Romance
Publication Date: April 12, 2023
Length: 290 pages
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Blurb: When a powerful duke arrives to collect his winnings from her brother, Lady Amora Hargrove discovers she is one of them. Following her brother’s arrest, she becomes the duke’s ward and falls for him hard and fast. Problem is, the duke has a violent hatred for gamblers, and she possesses a natural ability. Something he can never discover, or she will lose him forever.

The Duke of Ravencroft exacts revenge for his nephew’s death and gains a ward. Irresistibly drawn to the villain’s sister, he must play and gamble with their hearts or lose everything.

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He stared at her as if she had gone crazy. His gaze dropped to her mouth, and heat flared in his eyes for a second before his lids dropped over them, shielding his expression. “You want me to find a tutor to teach you how to kiss?” His voice sounded strangled.

Amora giggled. She shocked him out of his cold, stuffy manner, and her success delighted her soul. “I think I shall enjoy his lessons the most.”

The duke’s eye twitched, and his hands fell flat to the tabletop. “There will be no tutor. Your husband shall teach you the proper way to kiss, and…other things. This discussion is over.”

Amora gave him her sweetest smile. “But, your grace, you gave your word.”

He turned to stone before her eyes. The silence lengthened to a full minute. “Aye, I did.” Rising to his feet, he left the room without looking back. If he bothered to turn, he would have seen his houseguest grinning an impish smile as she finished her dinner with relish.

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I enjoyed the blurb, and since I love historical romance, I signed up to read and review this book right away. Since you’ve read the synopsis, I’ll get straight to the review.

First off, I felt for Lady Amora Hargrove. Losing her parents, and then having to move to London when her brother came for her must have shocked her “country” senses. Then being at the mercy of his abuse, forced to gamble for him, could’ve crushed her spirit. But she hung in there. The novel opens with the duke’s arrival while Amora’s nasty brother plans his escape, having gambled away not only her but everything in the house.

Amora is a bruised and beaten shell of herself, but she has strength. After what she’s been through, all she longs for is to find a way to live quietly alone, never under the rule of a man again. But the duke has obligations… He wants to marry off Amora. As stated in the blurb, he detests all things gambling for good reasons, and Amora is hiding a secret of her finesse with the cards.

I liked that the stakes were set right away for Amora and Alexander, and some major conflict. I also found the writing fresh with wonderful visceral responses that put me deep into the emotions of the characters. Well done, author. I also liked that there weren’t immediate sparks from the duke, not for a good two weeks when he returned from the country, having checked in on his mother and sister. That’s when the romance begins. But his care for Amora before unmasking her true beauty was the clincher for me. He truly cared about her, beat up and bruised and all.

Considering up until then Amora had been hiding inside of herself, it did shock me when she asked for kissing lessons LOL. But the more I read on, and got to know the real her, and not the young woman presented at the beginning of the novel who’d been horribly abused, this request did suit her.

The plot keeps rolling along, with some misunderstandings. Some might think they could be cleared through a conversation, but keep in mind these two are new to each other. Communication and trust take time to build.

There is also a great cast of characters, from Lord Antony to Olga, a wonderful gypsy woman who stays on the duke’s country property, since the dowager duchess has befriended the woman. I will say I wasn’t impressed with the way Alexander and Amora treated the gypsy. Whereas the dowager duchess didn’t expect anything from Olga, and only wanted her to have a safe place to live, it wasn’t until Olga could “give” something to Alexander and Amora could they truly accept her.

Still, with that one quibble, I enjoyed this read very much. The writing is solid. Their conversations are to true characters, and there is much excitement and action happening. Do yourself a favour and get a copy.

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I have always loved reading romance novels. I used to sneak them from my mom’s room as a young girl and read them while she was gone. As I grew older, my reading and tastes expanded to sci-fi, dystopian, paranormal, and fantasy.

I considered becoming an author in my late twenties but as a busy mother with toddlers, I didn’t have the time. Later, in my fifties, I decided to give it a try and have enjoyed every word of it since. I recently signed my thirteenth contract and am doing my happy dance as I type this. My husband of forty-one years is my greatest support as are all my kids. Most of them are grown and carving out lives for themselves. They are the beat of my heart and with every grandchild, the rhythm gets stronger. I enjoy every moment of my life.

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Virginia Barlowwill be awarding a special edition anthology featuring her two summer romances S’mores Siren Song and Key Lime Coconut Curse in print form Volume seventeen of the Wild Rose Press series One Scoop or Two to a randomly drawn winner during the tour.
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