If you missed the March 25th release of A Wager at Midnight, you want to run after you read this review to your retailer of choice and pick up a copy. How do I know? Well, let me introduce myself properly. Hello, my name is She Nell. I am an author, blogger, independent publisher, and Literacy teacher. I was blessed to receive an advance reader copy of A Wager at Midnight. Friend, I could not put A Wager at Midnight down.
Who is Vanessa Riley
If you are new to black Regency or Historical romance, in short, Vanessa Riley is the Queen of the genre. She has many titles to her credit and is a wonderful author. Vanessa speaks at a variety of book events throughout the year and is active on social media. In one of her talks, she expressed the importance of representation and knowing our history beyond what is told in school textbooks. Vanessa’s books are immersive. Friend, I promise you will feel like you are walking with the characters as you read.
A Wager at Midnight
The stakes are high in this dazzling and diverse Regency romance, in which a clever duke has made a wager with the now-widowed Viscountess who is the love of his life: To win a second chance with her, he will find husbands for her two sisters—or resign himself to a life of longing in this enchanting tale from award-winning author Vanessa Riley.
Scarlett Wilcox is willing to live out her life as a spinster if it means being able to continue her medical research to help a friend in need. After all, few husbands would tolerate her dressing as a man to attend lectures at the Royal Academy of Science. If the Duke of Torrance finds her such a specimen, she’ll agree to a marriage in name only, much to the dismay of her elder sister, the Viscountess.
When she’s unmasked at a lecture on ophthalmology, Scarlett prepares to be disgraced, but she’s saved by Trinidadian-born physician Stephen Carew, who claims her as a cousin. Dedicated to caring for his community, Stephen has no wish to marry a frivolous and privileged lady, no matter how many fall for his disarming accent and seductive charm. But Scarlett proves to be the opposite of any he’s ever met before. Yet the pressure to marry blinds them both to the chemistry growing between them, pitting their brilliant minds against their reluctant hearts—as the Duke and Viscountess await with bated breath to see who will win. A WAGER AT MIDNIGHT.
My thoughts on A Wager at Midnight
Once again, Vanessa Riley transports readers to another time. I could not put this book down! Vanessa Riley has made me fall in love with another strong, well-written character. Her attention to research and detail made it easy to immerse myself into Scarlett’s world. I quickly became Scarlett’s friend, talking to her as I swiped the pages. Vanessa Riley skillfully reminds us that we (people of color) were also a part of the splendor we know as Regency.
Thank you, Vanessa Riley, Kensington Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this Advance Reader Copy.
Have you read any of Vanessa Riley’s books? Let’s chat in the comments below.
I hope that you pick up this fantastic story. If you would like to learn more about Vanessa Riley’s books, check out this article: Book Review: Queen Of Exiles.
If you are looking for your next read, I have a list of 2025 releases check out this article: New Releases 2025
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She Nell is the author of over 19 Christian Fiction books. In 2020 she published her tenth Amazon best seller Walking Crooked with Christ and became the CEO of Light and Salt Press LLC. Her blog Shenellinc.com is a go-to resource for writers and readers of Christian Fiction.