You know when you finish a book and just want to hug it close? That was me after finishing this book.

I mean, this was Tessa Dare’s latest release so I never had any doubts that I would adore it. She could write a to-do list and I would probably end up singing it’s praises which probably doesn’t fill any of you with hopes for an unbiased review, but really? Don’t come here for a balanced review of books, you come here for honest reviews where I am either 100% a fan of a book or feeling meh or DNF a book. There is no middle ground in my world!

It was just so utterly satisfying to read. It had fluff, romance, sexy times, drama and fun. I am so glad I read it and will happily read it again and again. I've never been disappointed by Tessa Dare and there was no concern that would happen here either. I loved reading Penny's story and she so deserved this book.

At the start, you know little of Penny apart from her large collection of unwanted animals (and when I say that, I mean unwanted by others, Penny adores her animal family). From a goat to a dog with a cart due to his back legs not working. There was an otter, a hedgehog, and a Highland steer. And let's not forget the parrot with the dirty mouth. This, rather large, collection of animals was the family she didn’t get to have. And she cared for them even more as her close friends grew to have families of their own, she felt a little abandoned so these animals gave her purpose and a chance to care for someone. Throughout the book you learn that she was not just a crazy animal lady (cat just didn’t fit here) but there are so many reasons for the person she was. She did adopt every sorry animal she came across and she did it for many reasons. She had grown distant from her family and these animals gave her purpose. Luckily for her, Gabe moves in next door and if there was ever a man in need of a little saving (and a whole lot of love) then it was him. And she needed the level of stubbornness and care he could offer too.

I love when a romance has sparks flying off the page as soon as the couple meet and we definitely had that in this book. I mean, when the opening was Penny breaking into the neighbour's house to retrieve her parrot (who turns out to be a foul-mouthed fiend) and closes the night bumping into her neighbour fresh from the bath (and in a revealing towel). I was cracking up laughing from the very beginning and the book only went up from there.

Honestly, the friendship between Penny and her friends was already well established but it was so much fun seeing Gabe slowly become integrated with their husbands. Especially when Ash and Chase were wholly against Gabe being anywhere near Penny from the start. I mean, come on! If that doesn’t convince you just leave now. There’s no hope for you.

In the end, as you can plainly see, I adored this book. It was absolutely genius and I cannot wait to read it again and again.

The Wallflower Wager is the third book in the Girl Meets Duke series by Tessa Dare. Although part of a series it can easily be read as a stand-alone book.

Gabriel Duke was brought up in the slums but was determined he would not stay there. Clever thinking amongst other things has made him a very wealthy man whose only desire is to ruin the aristocracy, the people that have always looked down on him and haven't offered any help to those less fortunate than themselves. He also likes to make a profit from other things such as buying houses, doing them up and selling them. The latest house that he has bought and is having refurbished has a 'Lady' spinster neighbour. People will pay a lot of money to live next door to somebody like her, so the house is a perfect investment. That's what he thinks until he realises that the aforementioned is practically running a home for unwanted animals in her house.

Lady Penelope Campion loves animals and won't see a wounded or unwanted one come to any harm. She has 13 kittens, an otter, an adorable dog that gets around with the aid of wheels for back legs, a steer, a parrot, and a goat! She takes the latter out onto the green in order for her to graze.

Gabriel first meets Penny when her parrot escapes into what she believes to be his unlived in house. I won't give spoilers but let's just say the house is not empty and that the first meeting between Penny and Gabriel had me laughing out loud. What a fun start to a fabulous story.

Gabriel wants to calm Penny down, for her to be the perfect 'Lady' otherwise he believes that his property won't sell for as much as he hoped. He wants her to rehome all her animals too, something that she says she will never do. Her aunt has something to say about it all though. She wants Penny to settle down and to marry, to have another season in London as her first didn't go well. She gives her an ultimatum, either she gets rid of the animals, updates her wardrobe and starts being more social, or she will have to move back home.

Gabriel offers to help her with the animals because it suits her purpose too, he even thinks he can help her with being more social. He says he will do anything to keep her there in order to sell his house. But soon it becomes more than about making money. The problem is, even if he let himself seduce Penny it couldn't go anywhere because of his background. They are worlds apart. Penny couldn't disagree more. The more time they spend together the more she lusts after him, maybe even is falling for him.

They both have histories that are holding them back from what could be if nothing else a hot, sexy affair. They may give in to their carnal lust, and they may have hot fantastic steamy times, but can that be enough for either of them?

I absolutely loved this book, I haven't laughed so much reading a book in a very long time. From the very first scenes, I was laughing. Each funny moment involved one of Penny's animals. One of the funniest involving the goat and 3 men including Gabriel. That's a scene I won't forget in a hurry!! Amongst the fun times and the romantic times, there were also some poignant and sad times. I had tears in my eyes at one point, but no spoilers. You will have to read the book to see what got to me. The book may have sounded a little modern at times, but it didn't bother me in the slightest. When a book is so good it's easy to forgive little things like that.

So, if you aren't a stickler for 100% correct historical writing this is the book for you. You won't regret reading it I am sure!

Lady Penelope Campion is not the usual society lady. She looks after and protects lost animals and looks for the good in people, at the moment she has a goat, cow, otter and kittens running around her home along with a disabled dog with wheels in place of the legs that don't work and a parrot. The parrot is how we meet our gentleman...

After the parrot escapes her house and flies into next door, Penny knows she must go and collect it, however although it's late at night she believes the house to be unoccupied. Much to her horror she meets her new neighbour, Gabriel Duke in his bedroom in a most surprising encounter.

Gabriel has come up from the streets and has brought the house to do up and sell on, who wouldn't want to live next door to a real Lady? Thing is Penny is eccentric but she has been summoned back to her family estates if she can't prove why she needs to stay in London. Her aunt agrees to support her on the condition that Penny gets rid of the animals, she gets a new wardrobe and she must appear in the society pages. Wouldn't be too difficult you think? Well due to a disastrous incident in her come out season she doesn't really do the ton. Gabriel agrees to help her rehome the animals and a series of unique encounters bring them together but will it be enough to break Gabriel's belief in the class divide 'he wasn't born one of them and doesn't belong'?

Penny is assisted by characters that featured in Tessa Dare's other novels, Emma and Ash, Alexandra and Chase as well as Nicola (whose story I hope gets written so I can enjoy reading about her happy ending) and the blending of the characters is really well done. You get the impression that they are a friendship group, admittedly brought together by the ladies, but who would stick together and support each other through everything

I enjoyed this book, it was well written and the story flowed. I really liked reading about Penny, she is the kind of society lady that I would aspire to be, I'm not going to fit in so I will make life my own

Things are never boring between Penny and Gabriel and their story is full of surprises as well as some oh so forbidden encounters

Tessa's writing brings the reader closer to the characters and the lives they are living; they seem real and their lives are believable. It's also not all about the ballroom which is different to many other books so it gives you the chance to see the other side of London. There is also a good split in the voices between Penny and Gabriel so there is a balance and understanding of what is happening in the characters minds which for me works really well

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a historical romance with a twist, it's not your conventional romance but once you start reading you will be hooked!

I would like to thank netgalley and Mills and Boon for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed it, but found it a little soppy.

They call him the Duke of Ruin. To an undaunted wallflower, he's just the beast next door.
Wealthy and ruthless, Gabriel Duke clawed his way from the lowliest slums to the pinnacle of high society. Lady Penelope Campion never met a lost or wounded creature she wouldn’t take into her home and her heart.
Penny’s brother Bradford is threatening to remove her to the country so she strikes a bargain with her Aunt Caroline & Gabriel. Gabriel will help her find homes for her menagerie but the more time they spend together the more their attraction grows.
There’s so much I adored about this book. I loved Gabriel & Penny from their first meeting until the epilogue they were both a joy, their banter & attraction had me chuckling & sighing. It was great to catch up with Alex & Emma, I also can’t wait for Nicola’s story, the book was very well written & flowed really well but it didn't sell itself as a regency novel, it could have been an Georgian, Victorian or even Edwardian setting all that was needed was a few tweaks to clothing. Maybe I'm being picky as otherwise this is definitely a five star read but for me a Regency novel has to be true to the period
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I received a free ebook version of this from Netgalley. Thankyou to both Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this! My review is still honest.

I was so, so excited to be approved for this title I can't even explain! I love this series-they're some of my absolute favourite romances and this had been on my Amazon pre-order for months. I spent a very enjoyable evening last night absolutely devouring this in one sitting and can't recommend this series enough.
If you like historical romances that don't make you want to rip your hair out or hate all of the love interests, this is it. I love the regency setting, but hate the misogynistic ideas that so often come with it. Penelope, like Emma and Alexandra, are strong, independent women who know their own minds and won't compromise their own morals even for love. The love interest, Gabe, is grumpy and rude, but also respectful and has such a sweet heart. I loved seeing all the animals in this one specifically, and I love that side to Penelope's character. The romance was swoon-worthy, sizzling and the book compulsively readable, well written and as always with Tessa Dare's writing, very, very funny.
But-and there is a but-I think it is my least favourite out of the series. That's not to say by any means that I didn't like it, but I do think it is a little weaker than the first two for two main reasons. The first is that it was a little more insta-lovey than the other two, and I personally prefer a slow burn. The second reason is to do with one of the plot points, and so I'll hide it with the spoiler tag: <spoiler> I feel very strongly that to include sexual abuse in a story, it has to be written well, and unfortunately for me, this particular plot point felt sort of tacked onto the end. It didn't end up feeling sincere. </spoiler>
On the whole though, yet another brilliant romance read from Tessa Dare. They're wonderful, mindless, butterfly-giving little gems that I think deserve a whole lot more hype.

I don't usually like books where the heroines are all about animals, I find they too easily lapse into caricatures of themselves. But in this case Penny has good reason for her rescuing and care of abandoned animals. I liked the parrot best! I also liked Gabe, Duke of Ruin. He too had a past that was shaping his future and I thought the two of them made a great match. I really enjoyed reading their adventures, it was lovely to see their affection for each other growing into love. A good read.

The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare is the third instalment in her Girl meets Duke mini series. Lady Penelope Campion, the strong minded and independent heroine lives alone with her menagerie of pets which include a goat, hedgehog and a dog. Her first season was a disaster, culminating with her hedgehog falling out of pocket during a ball! She is happy to live as an eccentric recluse but her Aunt has warned her that her brother is going to bring her home if she doesn’t get rid of her animals and return to the Ton.

Gabriel Duke owns and is renovating the house next door. He knows he will get a better sale price with an aristocrat living next door so doesn’t want her to leave although he would be quite glad to see the back of the menagerie. The pair cook up a plan to help her get her name in the society papers and regime her beloved animals. The chemistry between the two is palpable but there is a slight shift in the tone of the book as Penny’s childhood secret is revealed.

I have enjoyed reading the whole of this series. The heroines are unusual in the fact that they know their own noses and are prepared to stand up to the heros rather than just being simpering, virginal waifs in need of a strong man to whisk them away. There is also a send of continuity in the series- characters don’t just disappear once their stories are told but reappear, however briefly, in other novels. There is also humour - the animals, vegetarianism and interaction between the characters is fun and can bring a chuckle from the reader. I am not the greatest fan of historical romance novels but I really enjoy these.


I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley.

This was an easy story to read as it flowed really well.

The characters are quite strong, if not at times a little bit silly" in places but it didn't spoil the story.

The story was well planned out and I really enjoyed it once I got in to the story.

The plotline was well developed and it is 4 stars from me for this one, I thought it was a really enjoyable story and one that I will be highly recommending!

I am not ashamed to admit that when Netgalley turned me down for this I nearly went online to beg. But no, I gathered up my tattered pride and reminded myself that I only had to wait until mid August to get my hands on Tessa Dare's third in her Girl Meets Duke series. Just a few weeks. But, I was heading over the Atlantic to RWA and I really, really, really wanted it for the plane. And so I did something worse than begging. I hinted. And a copy wended its way to me immediately. I had no pride but I had my book. But then I forgot my kindle and didn't have it for the flight after all, and some would say that served me right.
Luckily it was worth both the wait and the humiliation. Penny lives alone apart from her menagerie of animals including a goat, a hedgehog and an otter. And that's exactly the way she likes it. Her disastrous first season long behind her, she is relieved to stop being a wallflower and to become a slightly reclusive eccentric, mixing only with her three close friends. So when her aunt warns her that her brother is determined to take her back to his home, Penny begs her aunt to help her change her brother's mind. Her aunt will only help on two conditions; Penny is to re enter society and she is to get rid of her animals.
Her new neighbour is none too pleased when he hears of Penny's predicament. He is all in favour of her losing the animals but he needs her to stay in London, in her house specifically. Gabriel Duke knows how to make money, and he knows he'll sell the house he is renovating at a bigger profit if there is a bone fide member of the aristocracy living there. So he offers to help her find homes for her animals and to help her get her name into the papers. Of course his reasons are purely mercenary, nothing to do with Penny herself.
There are a few things you can always count on with a Tessa Dare book; the protagonists know they are too damaged to really let anyone in, the attraction is scorching hot, and they are very very funny. The Wallflower Wager is no exception. I am here all day for a novella in which Chase and Ash bicker whilst running errands. Penny and Gabriel are a heartbreakingly damaged couple who have to learn to trust in order to heal and to free themselves from their pasts. Book 4 is nicely set up too - unfortunately I am going to have to wait a whole year before that!
Highly highly recommended, even if you have to beg to get your hands on a copy!

I really enjoyed the two previous novels in this series so was rather disappointed that this one was not as enjoyable for me to read. I am sorry to say that the heroine was quite irritating and the hero just not interesting enough for me. The plot was good but some of the scenes were just too far fetched to be possible and I just felt it was a missed opportunity to create a novel to match it’s predecessors. I shall hope for better things in the fourth novel.

Such a vivid story
5 stars

The last time I read a Tessa Dare book I wrote that I couldn’t understand why this woman wasn’t on my auto-buy list. Now I’m wondering why I don’t have a shrine to this woman and her writing. It’s just so. Damn. Good.

This is the third book in the Girl Meets Duke series - and I’m loving how we managed to get a lowborn hero in the series because he’s Gabriel Duke. Fear not - you don’t have to have read the first two books to understand and enjoy this one, even though both our couples from the first two books do appear in this one. I have read the first two books and all this book did was remind me of how brilliant - and hilarious - those first two books in the series were and make me want to go back and re-read them!

This time, Lady Penelope “Penny” Campion is our heroine. That’s Lady Penelope with the menagerie of animals living in her home. And the same Lady Penelope who makes the most god-awful sounding, experiments in finger sandwiches.

Gabriel Duke is a boy from the streets who’s made good. Very good. Oh, and he’s also turned into a man with a very bad reputation. But what a man! Anyway, when he moves in next door to Penny, he realises that having aristocracy next door will drive the price of his home up when he decides to sell. But only if she rids herself of her pesky pets.

Luckily for him, Penny also needs to find her pets new homes after a bargain with her aunt will take her out of hiding and back into society. So from the first, our hero and heroine forge a tentative friendship and are working towards the same goal. And I can’t tell you how wonderful that interplay is. Penny is finally free to be herself while Gabe realises that there are some people in the world - some people in the aristocracy - that are actually good people. They are honest with each other. Themsleves with each other. And it's kinda great.

It’s so subtly done - I really couldn’t tell you if their love was an instant thing or a slow burn. The chemistry just sizzled and I loved how Penny and Gabe were with each other. They were soulmates finding each other - and finding out that happiness was all they had ever wanted or needed. Gah - it pierced my heart! Do they make men like Gabe in this day and age?

There’s a secret of Penny’s that gets teased throughout the book and finally revealed in the last third of the book. At that point, the love story takes a very slight back seat for what is, or could be for some, uncomfortable or upsetting. It’s not done in much detail but perhaps read yourself some spoilers if you’ve got specific triggers.

I liked the fact that the sex in this book was more of two consenting partners who were all in from the get go. Penny was taking control of her life and I liked that it was her who pursued Gabe and propositioned him! It was an adorable about-play for an unlikely pairing. And that’s without mentioning the delicious build-up to said sex. That first encounter in the inn? Damn near set my Kindle afire!

With any Tessa Dare, not only are you getting a vivid romance with rich characters and hot sex - you’re also getting a huge dose of humour. It's laugh out loud funny without being silly. But having said that, Ash and Chase’s bickering and back-and-forth was delightfully childish and I couldn’t get enough. I hope to read more of them in the future - hopefully with Gabe’s no-nonsense attitude thrown into the mix.

Nicola is the final friend in the four and I cannot wait to read her story. A massive tease was dropped in this book… and then nothing. Nothing. Damn you Tessa Dare - I need more right now!

I feel like it's a bit of a betrayal to note a few American turns of phrase in the book. Hardly surprising but a little jarring to my British ears, especially in a Regency book. But it's only a few tiny slips rather than anything horrific!

If you love Tessa Dare’s writing or you’ve never read her before, and like a smart and sassy historical romance, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Give it a try. I hope you love Penny and Gabe (and Bixby, Delilah, George, Marigold etc etc) as much as I did. 5 stars.

Having loved the first two books in Tessa Dare’s Girl Meets Duke series, I couldn’t wait to dive into this and see what delights lay in store for the group’s very own Dr. Dolittle, Penny.

“They called him the Duke of Ruin.”

With a rags to riches background and bit of a reputation to go with it, Gabriel Duke isn’t exactly Mr. Popular and he and Penny waste no time in bringing us witty repartee and chemistry as they grow closer whilst wrangling Penny’s menagerie of pets, who themselves create plenty of giggles along the way.

“I beg your pardon. Marigold is not that kind of goat.”

Throw in a bromance between Ash, Chase and Gabe that was just perfection and The Wallflower Wager—although not my favourite of the series which largely came down to Penny and Gabriel’s relationship feeling less developed than previous couples—was a charming, steamy, hilarious and thoroughly enjoyable addition to the series.

4 - "You've met your match..." Stars!

The third book in the Girl Meets Duke series finally gives us animal lover; Lady Penelope Campion’s story. Paired up with the Duke of Ruin as Gabriel Duke is known behind his back, this self-made man is not one to be welcomed into polite society eagerly, especially as he as made most of his fortune from bringing down nobles who have fallen on hard times.

"You are anything but calming…"

"You’re not particularly cuddly yourself."

Filled with all the banter, one liners and general verbal sparring I have come to expect from this author, this book didn’t disappoint in those aspects. It is however a lot shorter than its predecessors, and although advertised at 380 odd pages going on the time it took me to read it I would say it’s actually around the 200 page mark, and that to me made a massive difference in relation to the author bringing depth and development to the characters. This one leapt into the sexy-times pretty quickly, and for me read more like contemporary than historical in that regards.

"You deserve good things. Promises. Tenderness. Love. Everything you’ve ever dreamed…"

"Lately, all my dreams are of you."

Still a great read, but for me it was over far too quickly and lacked the roundness of its predecessors.

"I’d sell my soul for a Penny…"

ARC Generously provided, in exchange for the above honest review.

I have been waiting for months to read the final installment of Girl Meets Duke and this was everything that I had been hoping for. Unconventional heroine, smoking hot hero, compelling romance, steamy sex scenes. I inhaled it in one sitting, and will definitely be going back for a reread.

I hate to say this because I thoroughly enjoy reading Tessa Dare's books - but this wasn't really her best in terms of plot (there wasn't any to speak of) and characterisation ( I had to suspend a lot of disbelief when considering the leads). But it was still enjoyable to read. It was pacey and fun and is probably just right for reading on holiday. I guess for me it's a bit like the Curate's egg.

What if you really really don’t want to be married and are waiting out your Seasons until your parents are too bored to keep paying for them? But you would really like to keep every sad or hurt animal that you find. Especially kittens - lots of them. And will even go so far as to rescue a man!
But then your parents decide to do something about you? Send you away... because you are not really trying to get a husband are you? Or will you try?
I like this style of fiction - always have since Georgette Heyer times and these series of novels are only reminding me of her but with a small diversion towards modern times - the heroines are less missish and more feisty and not afraid to have sex with their suitors.
I am also, always a sucker for stories with cute animals and hedgehogs in pockets are the best yet.

The Third book in the Girl Meets Duke series.
After a long wait, the next book in the series has arrived. This book follows animal-loving Penny’s romantic adventure.
Reclusive Lady Penelope Campion lives quietly on Bloom square with her collection of rescued animals until two events shake up her life. Firstly her brother demands she moves back to the family country home and secondly the new owner of the house next door. Penny makes a wager with her aunt, that if she can get rid of the animals and appear in the society pages she can stay in London.
Gabriel Duke, has bought the house next door with the view to sell it at a profit. A profit which will greatly increase if he can keep the daughter of an earl living next door. He therefore decides to help her win her wager.
Another excellent story for Tessa Dare and well worth the wait. Penny is another strong and independent woman which is unusual for a regency heroine. Gabe is likewise an unusual hero, being a self-made man rather than an aristocrat with inherited money. The previous characters are still very much involved in the story and I loved the scene with the men and the goat. There are also hints as to Nic’s story which is next to come.
As with the previous books in the series, I couldn’t put it down and am eagerly awaiting the final book.

When it comes to historical romance, for me, no one beats Tessa Dare and this is definitely one of her best. It sparkles with all of Dare's usual humour and wit and the romance is hot, hot, hot. I started this on my way home from work one Thursday evening and had the whole thing finished that night. It was exactly the break from reality I needed after a long a stressful day.

This is the third book in the Girl Meets Duke series so there are some familiar faces from the previous books but it could easily be read as a standalone. If you are familiar with the series, this is the Penny book we've all been waiting for (well that I've definitely been waiting for). Penny is such a wonderfully unique character I think it would be hard not to love her. She may be a Lady but she avoids society preferring to stick to her close friends and the various wounded and wild animals she has rescued and brought into her home.

Gabe also makes for a suitably dashing hero. He may have come from the slums and have a reputation for ruining the aristocracy but he's surprising sweet and protective of those around him. He may be gruff and rude at times but he's incredibly honourable and very conscious of the importance of reputation.

Put them together and they are the perfect match. There is some wonderful banter between them and their chemistry is amazing. They just seem to compliment each other so well. If only they could overcome the usual obstacles that get in their way.

Speaking of obstacles my only slight niggle with this book is that I felt these were resolved a little too easily. I won't go into details due to spoilers but things that were supposedly major impossible challenges to be overcome were sorted out in a couple of pages.

Who really cares about little details like that though when a story is this much fun to read. I just wish Dare would write faster so I could have the next book now.