A Gamble at Sunset

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Award-winning author Vanessa Riley turns all convention on its head for the first in an enchanting, dazzlingly diverse new Regency romance trilogy featuring a duke, three sisters, and a tantalizing bet with a most desirable reward…

When a duke discovers the woman he loves was tricked into marrying another, the master chess player makes the now-widowed Viscountess the highest-stakes wager of his life in a last-ditch effort to win her affection: he will find husbands for her two sisters—or depart forever. Thus begins a sparkling new series from acclaimed author Vanessa Riley.

Georgina Wilcox, a wallflower with hidden musical talents, is furious when her reclusive older sister—the recently widowed Viscountess—refuses sorely needed help from the Duke of Torrance, the only gentleman who has shown kindness to the bereft Wilcox sisters. Georgina decides to get back at her sister and shock the Viscountess by kissing the first willing stranger she meets in the enchanting gardens of Anya House. Unfortunately, her sister is not the sole witness. A group of reporters and the ton’s leading gossips catch Georgina in a passionate embrace with a reticent composer, Lord Mark Sebastian.

The third son of an influential marquis, the tongue-tied Mark is determined to keep the scandal from ruining Georgina’s reputation and his own prospects of winning the celebrated Harlbert’s Prize for music. Under the guise of private voice lessons, the two embark on a daring gamble to fool the ton into believing that their feigned courtship is honorable while bolstering Georgina’s singing genius to captivate potential suitors. Sexist cartoons, family rivalries, and an upcoming ball test the fake couple’s resolve. Will their sudden fiery collaboration—and growing attraction—prove there’s nothing false about a first kiss and scandalously irresistible temptation?Praise for Vanessa Riley’s Historical Romances:

“A sparkling love story with deep wells of faith and feeling…It’s refreshing to read historical romance that reflects the true diversity of the era…A Duke, The Lady, and A Baby is about overcoming trauma, a testament to love forged in adversity—a love that both leaves space for and hastens healing. Riley knows how to spin a yarn built on faith and trust, that lilts along with the gentility and reserve of her characters.” —Entertainment Weekly
 
“Readers on the lookout for Black or disabled characters in historical romance will not want to miss this.” —The New York Times on A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby

“Smart and witty…Vanessa Riley delivers the perfect historical read.” —Julia Quinn, #1 New York Times bestselling author on A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby

“Riley loads her expertly crafted romance with intrigue, droll banter, and steadily building passion.” —Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW on A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby

“With strong heroines, swoon-worthy heroes, and deeply emotional stories, Vanessa Riley is a magnificent voice in historical romance—one not to be missed!” —Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author on A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby
 
“Riveting from the first sentence to the last. Vanessa Riley’s lyrical voice shimmers in this emotional, uplifting tour de force.” —Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author on A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby

“Get your fill of scandal, misunderstandings and a secret society to boot.” — ELLE Canada on An Earl, the Girl, and a Toddler

“Move over, Bridgertons. There’s a new set of scandalous aristocrats waiting to take London society by storm.” —Library Journal on An Earl, The Girl, and a Toddler

“With brilliant pacing, memorable characters, and witty dialogue, the premise elevated beyond our expectations…portrays Black people in a beautiful way that makes us relatable and takes us out of the stereotypical maid and slave roles.” —AAMBC on A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby

“Riley’s extensive research into people of color during the Regency era adds greatly to the appeal of this page-turning romance. Fans of Shonda Rhimes’ adaptation of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton books will devour this series.” —Booklist, STARRED REVIEW on An Earl, The Girl, and a Toddler
 
“Riley dispels the myth of the all-white Regency—people of color rose to the titled elite in this and in many other historical periods—while also refusing to diminish or gloss over an iota of the bigotry and judgment a blackamoor earl would face.” —Bookpage on An Earl, The Girl, and a ToddlerVanessa Riley is an award-winning author of historical romance, mystery, and fiction novels featuring realistic multicultural communities and powerful persons of color. To fuel her interest in the Regency and early-Victorian eras, she made time for attending renaissance fairs and consuming period novels and films while obtaining her Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and a master’s in industrial engineering and engineering management from Stanford University, as well as a BS and MS in mechanical engineering from Penn State University. A frequent speaker at literary, women’s, and STEM events, she lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her military husband and teenage kid. Visit her online at VanessaRiley.com.US

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