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Title: Devil's Wager
ISBN: 0440224934
Author:
Mary Spencer
Publicate Date: 2000-01-11
Publish: 2000-01-11
List Price: $5.99
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Format: Mass Market Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $18.56
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $0.01
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1: A story with a love angle
I enjoyed reading this historical novel although I wish I had known that it was the last of a trilogy (I would have read the others first).
There was a true glimpse of how hard it was for a person to move from one country to another, with a view of how important the class structure in England was. Better yet is the fact that the scenario is somewhat believable. Many marriages at the time were arranged to bring monies into an estate. The story explains a little about why this was so important for the survival of not just the castle Lord but also for those dependent on that relationship for survival.
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2: A careless gamble wins his everlasting love!
THREE HUZZAHS! Author Mary Spencer weaves an exceptional romantic tale of Lad Walker, the strange American characterized in Regency-era prequels Dark Wage and Lady's Wager. Mary Spencer makes the book come to life, covering the timeframe of both previous books in the series. Very well done!
We learn that Lad Walker, the desirable Earl of Kerlain in the London ton, has unwittingly gambled a bet that may lose his home and unbeknownst to him, his wife. In one quick stroke to a ruthless lord, Lad finds himself cast off from his lovely wife Diana as she insists he make it right, to earn the gambled price to keep the honorable and landed estate of Kerlain - and to keep her as well. If not, she will divorce him. Should Lad fail, all will come under the ownership of the cruel Eoghan Patterson, Viscount Carden of Lising Park. Lad has three years to accomplish this task.
The story takes us behind the scenes, as it were, to discover how poorly Lad fared and almost died in London until befriended by the generous and kind but ailing Sir Geoffrey Vear and his valet, Lloyd. From that day forward, Geoffrey takes Lad under his wing and teaches him how to win the necessary price through gambling and wagering, which will restore Lad's claim to his birthright and redeem is beloved wife Diana. In return, Geoffrey requests that Lad assist in overseeing the well-being of his only beloved child, Christabella Howell, who is assumed to be the daughter of the esteemed Professor Howell. Christabella is in love with the intelligent but socially misfit Wulf, also known as Viscount Severn, who doesn't seem to be in a hurry to marry. It is Geoffrey who suggests the wager between Lad and Lucien "Lucky" Bryland. Geoffrey also suggests that Lad bring his cousin Gwendolyn Wells and her famous scientific father to London, to match (and wager, naturally) Gwennie with Jack Sommerton, Earl of Rexley. When these two matches are complete, Sir Geoffrey feels Wulf will finally get the idea and make Christabella a happily married wife. And Lad will be much more close to financially meeting his goal to regain Kerlain.
In the meantime, Lad learns from Geoffrey's firm hand more of himself and his birthright, and how to handle both. His demeanor changes, and his self confidence grows, and he indeed becomes a rightful earl to be admired and contended with. In his absence, he sends to Diana worthy outcasts who help rebuild Kerlain and also keep an eye on Diana's welfare.
The story of how all this unfolds, of Lad's and Diana's faithfulness and hope, of the friendship that gives heart and hope, of the willing betrayal of Diana from her own servants, and of the victory won, keeps the reader quickly turning page after page. Mary Spencer skillfully weaves the poltical and social implications of the Regency erea, and the effects of the Revolutionary War. Then - just when it looks like everyone is to live happily ever after ... we discover the hateful intentions of the deceptive but insane Eoghan, who almost succeedss in killing Diana's unborn child ... I couldn't put it down! In fact, I read the book in one day! A truly satisfying story! This is one romance you DON'T WANT TO MISS!
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3: A "Keeper"!
In England, October 1814, the Earl of Kerlain died. He had banished his son long ago to America. Since there was no other to inherit the title, and so many depended on it, he sent the title to his grandson, Lad, in America. He had Diana write out his wishes of Lad coming to claim the title, care for the castle and people, and marry Diana.P. Lad Walker had lost his parents and brothers. Some to the war, some due to other causes. He was urged to go see the land his father had spoken so much about, even though Lad had his own estate to run in America. Once there he fell in love with Diana. She returned the feeling. However, she would never leave Kerlain and he could not imagine staying. None of the people liked him since he was American. None would listen to his American methods of putting the castle and its land back on its feet. To make matters worse, he lost the estate to a man to Eoghan in a card game during a time of grieving. He did not know how much the man coveted his wife. Lad had thought the man in only friend in the country. Diana was being blackmailed by Eoghan. Eoghan gave her three years to pay back the sum he named for regaining Kerlain. The hardest thing Diana ever had to do was send Lad away to find the funds. If she left England with her husband, Eoghan would see it that the estate went to ruin and that the tenants, down to the last child, would die of starvation. Diana had to agree that if Lad, the new Earl, could not pay the sum, then she would willingly divorce Lad, marry him, and be his wife in all ways. This bargain she could not reveal to her husband though. If Lad were to know, he would kill Eoghan. Lad, being American, would not even get a trial. Incredible story! Diana is such a brave and strong woman. Lad was her match in every way. Author, Mary Spencer, concluded this marvelous trilogy with a big climax. A keeper for your book shelves!
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4: This One is a SURE Bet!
Having formed an attachment to all these friends from the Wager series by Susan Paul, I was very pleased with this, the last of the trilogy. This was the story of Lad Walker, the Earl of Kerlain and his wife, Diana. From the previous two novels, you never knew he had a wife until the end of Lady's Wager. Here in this book you have the background of Lad and are able to figure out the mystery that surrounded him from the first two books. Although, let me say, you can read this out of sequence as it can definitely stand alone on its own merits. Lad, was finally, and belatedly, recognized by his grandfather as the heir to Kerlain with the conditions that should he come to Kerlain he would inherit the land, wed the Goddaughter of the late Earl of Kerlain who would inherit the castle. Luckily, it was love at first sight for Lad, and Diana and though the castle was pretty near falling down around their ears, their love would have managed to see them through most anything. That is, most anything but for the evil scheming of the neighboring estate owner, the Viscount Carden. The Viscount was a childhood `friend' of Diana's only because he was the only one of her class around to socialize with, and though she grew up with him she recognized that he possessed a cruel streak that he hid under the guise of a charming demeanor. She had promised her Godfather that she would never marry him. Being an American, and the war of 1812, still fresh in the minds of the English people, Lad was not welcomed at Kerlain, except by Viscount Carden who waited for the opportunity to create havoc in order to make Diana his. Lad was too trustworthy of his only friend at the time and paid the ultimate price. This was a wonderful story, and tied up so many loose ends from the previous two books of the trilogy. It can and does definitely stand alone, but is so much more enjoyable when read in order of the trilogy. This was a wonderful story. Definitely worth the wait!
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5: Enjoyable reading.....
I have been following the Wager trilogy since its inception, and have always loved Ms. Spencer's stories. Lad and Diana's story is by far the best written and most enjoyable of the series (and that's saying a lot! ). Lad kept popping up in the previous stories, and we would get glimpses of what his story might be. Thankfully, Devil's Wager delivers the story. Lad is a strong and interesting character. We find out why he leaves the United States, and even after a traumatic time in his life during The War of 1812 (losing his brother and shortly thereafter his mother), he still takes up his birth right in England. Not an easy move, and not one most people would have made. He loved his home and the memories it held of his family, but he was able to move beyond that. Once in England, watching Lad struggle with both the aristocracy and common folk is fascinating. He tries to befriend his tenants and ultimately sets them against him because of his egalitarian beliefs. They just don't understand him, and being an American, he just can't think of them as inferior or himself as superior. How he overcomes this and develops his character, makes for great reading. I found Diana a bit of a weak character, not believing in Lad's love (he figured out his letters were not reaching her, why could she not figure the same, especially for an intelligent person) and sticking so strongly to her home. The idea that love is not enough does not sit well with me (as a fan of romance books). How she could love Lad for what he is, but wants to change the very things that make him who he is, is unrealistic. The writing itself is wonderfully done, and I truly enjoyed reading Devil's Wager.
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