Book Review: Viscount’s Wager by Ava March

Reviewed by Heather C

Title: Viscount’s Wager
Author: Ava March
Series: Gambling on Love #3
Heroes: Anthony Hawkins and Gabriel Tilden
Genre: MM Historical Romance
Length: 275 pages
Publisher: Carina Press
Release Date: August 10, 2015
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: You never forget your first love, but is a second chance worth the gamble?

Anthony, Viscount Rawling, knows exactly what he wants in life and he isn’t above having a look about London for it. When he spots recently widowed Gabriel Tilden at a ton function, he thinks he might have found love…again.

Gabriel is as gorgeous and reserved as he was when he broke Anthony’s heart seven years ago. But they were only adolescents then…surely Anthony won’t hold the incident against him. And especially not when the attraction between them is stronger than ever.

Gabriel came to London in search of distraction, and a teasing Anthony is impossible to resist. As Anthony introduces Gabriel to the pleasures that can be found in the city—and in his bedchamber—their bond deepens into something more. Yet both men are hiding secrets that could pull them apart forever…

Review:

I’m not usually a fan of “second chance” or “reunited” stories, but for some reason I was really looking forward to Viscount’s Wager.  For one, it’s written by Ava March!!!  And two, I really enjoyed the previous two books in the Gambling on Love series.

Seven years ago, teenagers Anthony Hawkins and Gabriel Tilden shared one remarkable evening together.  The very next day, Gabriel finds himself engaged to another and Anthony’s heart is broken.  Now, Gabriel is widowed and visiting in London, giving Anthony the perfect opportunity to show him “everything” the city has to offer.  But what if Gabriel can’t move past his guilt and out of the mess he has created.

This book in the trilogy took me a bit to get into.  First, I had to go back and read my previous reviews so I could catch myself up on the other story arcs.  In case you’ve forgotten, All in with the Duke and Sharp Love also share part of their timelines with Viscount’s Wager.  Although, it caused me a little confusion in the beginning, I loved getting the updates on Max and Tristan and Morgan and Drake.  There’s even a little scene with Anderson and Radcliffe from Brook Street: Rogues!!!  (Yes, I had to do a little research on that one, but I KNEW I recognized them!!)

Alright, about the characters.  I really loved Anthony!!  He oozed sexiness and his confidence was appealing.  On the flip-side, his insecurities made him even more endearing.  And his big secret…OMG I NEVER saw THAT coming!!  Then there was Gabriel.  I was quickly annoyed with Gabriel.  For the first half of the book he seemed totally “flat” unless he was gambling.  I was exhausted with his self pity, but by the second half he had won me over and I was cheering for them to figure out all their differences.

This definitely isn’t the sexiest book in the series, but Anthony and Gabriel’s first “real” encounter together…OMG that was hot.  The rest of the sex scenes were tamer than what I’m used to seeing from this author and not at all memorable.  Gabriel was so ashamed of his desires and of what he really wanted, I kept waiting for him to reveal some big kinky secret…yet that never happened.

The ending.  Well, the ending was easy to predict, but it was very romantic and sweet.  I’m guessing this is the end for the Gambling on Love series, but it would be great to see a cameo of Anthony and Gabriel in a later book.  *Hint*

Overall Impression: I Liked It

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*