{"id":962,"date":"2019-04-29T21:00:42","date_gmt":"2019-04-30T04:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/?p=962"},"modified":"2019-04-29T13:24:32","modified_gmt":"2019-04-29T20:24:32","slug":"wicked-wager-by-beverley-oakley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/2019\/04\/29\/wicked-wager-by-beverley-oakley\/","title":{"rendered":"Wicked Wager by Beverley Oakley!"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-A-AdLCGbxeU\/XKAqmytqJaI\/AAAAAAAARzg\/_juDPSfj0wIEyRPLqISwIX5IKEzbxW-LgCK4BGAYYCw\/s1600\/WW%2BBO%2BBanner.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-A-AdLCGbxeU\/XKAqmytqJaI\/AAAAAAAARzg\/_juDPSfj0wIEyRPLqISwIX5IKEzbxW-LgCK4BGAYYCw\/s640\/WW%2BBO%2BBanner.jpg?resize=640%2C242&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"640\" height=\"242\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: purple; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif; font-size: large;\"><b>Wicked Wager<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #38761d; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><b>By Beverley Oakley<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #38761d; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><b><br \/>\n<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #38761d; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><b style=\"background-color: white; color: red; font-size: large;\">&#x2665;&#x2665; GiveAway &#x2665;&#x2665;\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"background-color: white; color: red; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">Beverley is giving away a signed print copy of <em>The Duchess and the Highwayman<\/em> during the tour. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Remember there is a chance to enter everyday so be sure to follow the Blog Tour. You may find the tour schedule and locations here\u00a0<\/span><a style=\"background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;\" href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/XTRwwr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/goo.gl\/XTRwwr<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #134f5c; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><b>About Wicked Wager:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-mw2tNQiW8Sk\/XKBWUsjUM8I\/AAAAAAAARzs\/dgIpNyiUyUgk6HDHTwrgWd3gE4BMYYg6QCK4BGAYYCw\/s1600\/Wicked-Wager-800x1200.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-mw2tNQiW8Sk\/XKBWUsjUM8I\/AAAAAAAARzs\/dgIpNyiUyUgk6HDHTwrgWd3gE4BMYYg6QCK4BGAYYCw\/s320\/Wicked-Wager-800x1200.jpg?resize=213%2C320&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"213\" height=\"320\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><span style=\"color: purple; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><b>Can innocence survive the machinations of a malevolent society beauty and a charismatic rake?<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><span style=\"color: purple; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><br \/>\n<\/span> <span style=\"color: purple; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">Two weeks before her nuptials to her cold, harsh cousin, virtuous Celeste Rosington finds herself in the arms of notorious libertine, Lord Peregrine.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><span style=\"color: purple; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><br \/>\n<\/span> <span style=\"color: purple; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">The unexpected encounter is, at first, shocking, but as Peregrine\u2019s charm weaves its magic, becomes a welcome distraction from Celeste\u2019s troubles. Isn\u2019t she already the subject of whispers due to her involvement in the mysterious disappearance of a wealthy plantation magnate? It was a role orchestrated by her demanding husband-to-be in which Celeste had failed spectacularly.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><span style=\"color: purple; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><br \/>\n<\/span> <span style=\"color: purple; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">Nevertheless, Celeste has no intention of sacrificing all of her scruples for a man she knows is only toying with her. One kiss from handsome, charismatic Viscount Peregrine will surely be enough to give her the strength to fulfil her marital obligations?<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><span style=\"color: purple; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><br \/>\n<\/span> <span style=\"color: purple; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">But what if one kiss is not enough?<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><span style=\"color: purple; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><br \/>\n<\/span> <span style=\"color: purple; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">With her reputation in the balance, Celeste must navigate the treacherous waters of envy, intrigue and deadly secrets, unaware she\u2019s the unwitting pawn in a wicked wager between a ruthless society beauty and delicious, dissolute Lord Peregrine.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><span style=\"color: purple; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><br \/>\n<\/span> <span style=\"color: purple; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">Could Peregrine really be a party to such perfidious plans? Will his reckless charm be the final undoing of a young woman once respected for her virtue and piety?<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><span style=\"color: purple; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><br \/>\n<\/span> <span style=\"color: purple; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">Or will Peregrine discover that true love is more powerful than greed and ambition in time to save Celeste from the terrible fate that otherwise awaits her?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;\">Genre: Georgian Historical Romance<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #134f5c; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><b>Buy Links:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><b>Amazon US:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2Wz1Mtx\">https:\/\/amzn.to\/2Wz1Mtx<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><b>all eBook formats:\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/books2read.com\/u\/49WoqW\">books2read.com\/u\/49WoqW<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><b>Paperback: <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2Wz2jM3\">https:\/\/amzn.to\/2Wz2jM3<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><b>Large Print paperback: <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2WA22bI\">https:\/\/amzn.to\/2WA22bI<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b><span style=\"background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">~&#x2665;~&#x2665;~&#x2665;~&#x2665;~<\/span><span style=\"background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">&#x2665;~<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #134f5c; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><b>Excerpt:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #38761d; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">The last of the applause drifted away and for a few seconds the shrill cries of the orange sellers held sway. Rising from his ironic bow for the benefit of his companion, Lord Peregrine held back the red velvet curtain that had afforded them privacy so that Xenia could pass through and join the throng of theatre goers descending the sweeping staircase.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #38761d; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><br \/>\n<\/span> <span style=\"color: #38761d; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">He saw that she had fallen into conversation with a club-footed general whose more than interested eye swept appraisingly over Xenia\u2019s abundant assets, and once again Perry felt again the familiar heating of his loins that only Xenia could inspire with a mere incendiary glance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #38761d; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">The contours of her sack-back gown, adorned with a row of bows the length of her stomacher, recalled the more lascivious of those thoughts he\u2019d entertained for the past decade: what it would be like to undress her, layer by layer by layer. He could only imagine how many layers there might be, but the prize would be worth the exquisite torture of restraint. He\u2019d not revealed quite how much her proposition tonight had taken him by surprise, and the fact he\u2019d agreed fuelled him with an odd combination of conflicting sensations: raging lust tempered by the knowledge that he\u2019d just sunk to depths of moral depravity that might make even his uncle squirm in his grave: seduce an innocent on the eve of her nuptials.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #38761d; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><br \/>\n<\/span> <span style=\"color: #38761d; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">Except that Xenia maintained the young woman\u2019s ingenuousness was a ploy. Still, Miss Rosington retained her standing in society as a paragon of virtue. What right had he to assume otherwise, just because it was convenient?<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #38761d; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><br \/>\n<\/span> <span style=\"color: #38761d; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">He was diverted by a squeal to his left. Xenia was moving ahead, caught up by the crowd, her head bent to absorb the admiration of her club-footed general. Peregrine meanwhile found himself unable to continue, due to the fact the young woman in front of him had snagged her skirts on what appeared to be a nail or splinter protruding from one of the supporting beams. No one could move until she\u2019d freed herself, and as Peregrine was directly behind her it was incumbent upon him to act the gentlemen and so enable the rest of the pulsing crowd to forge ahead.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #38761d; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><br \/>\n<\/span> <span style=\"color: #38761d; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">\u2018Please be careful, sir, it\u2019ll tear and it\u2019s the first time I\u2019ve worn it,\u2019 the young woman warned as he took a handful of stiff silk in one hand. \u2018It\u2019s my finest.\u2019 She twisted her head round to address him.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #38761d; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">As her lips parted, revealing a set of near perfect small white teeth, and her worried blue eyes bored into his, Peregrine felt a jolt of something unidentifiable plummet like a stone to the pit of his stomach. No, further than that, for without a doubt his groin was reacting with something akin to roiling hunger. And, surprisingly, with an intensity that exceeded the dull throb of ten years of wanting Xenia like a frustrated schoolboy.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #38761d; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><br \/>\n<\/span> <span style=\"color: #38761d; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">Close to, Miss Rosington was exquisite, her pale white and rose-blushed skin far more lustrous than when seen from a distance through opera glasses. Her powdered coiffure, dressed to fashionable heights, accentuated high, rounded cheekbones; and with growing excitement he followed the sweep of her graceful neck to a bosom that was rising and falling with surely greater rapidity than fear of what peril her gown might face. He liked to think that was so, as her candid look met his and the connection between them seemed like the sharp tug of some inner cord, forcing him forward, his hand brushing hers, nestled beneath a froth of silken furbelows, as they both reached for the undamaged silk petticoat, now released.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #38761d; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><br \/>\n<\/span> <span style=\"color: #38761d; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">\u2018No harm done,\u2019 he murmured as she drew herself up, her companion, the black-eyed viscount to whom she was affianced, returning to claim her, drawing her away with the barest of thanks.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #38761d; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><br \/>\n<\/span> <span style=\"color: #38761d; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">All over in a matter of seconds, and at what cost? For while silk skirts and dignity had escaped with minimal damage, Peregrine was the first to concede, as he watched her graceful back with pounding heart and aching groin, that a great deal of harm had indeed been done.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><\/b> <b style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><span style=\"background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">~&#x2665;~&#x2665;~&#x2665;~&#x2665;~<\/span><span style=\"background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">&#x2665;~<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #134f5c; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><b>About the Author:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-6rxeycssylM\/XKBvY8iDbHI\/AAAAAAAAR0E\/c93OUysdKlwwqy5iXAfKvs6k4TxIEG_9wCK4BGAYYCw\/s1600\/beverley-Oakley-author-pic.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-6rxeycssylM\/XKBvY8iDbHI\/AAAAAAAAR0E\/c93OUysdKlwwqy5iXAfKvs6k4TxIEG_9wCK4BGAYYCw\/s200\/beverley-Oakley-author-pic.jpg?resize=132%2C200&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"132\" height=\"200\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><span style=\"color: purple; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">Beverley Oakley is an Australian author who grew up in the African mountain kingdom of Lesotho, married a Norwegian bush pilot she met in Botswana\u2019s Okavango Delta, and started writing historical romances to amuse herself in the 12 countries she\u2019s lived as a \u2018trailing spouse\u2019 (in between working as an airborne geophysical survey operator, a teacher of English as a Second Language, and writing for her former newspaper).<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: purple; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><br \/>\n<\/span> <span style=\"color: purple; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">Her Scandalous Miss Brightwell series was nominated Best Historical Romance by the Australian Romance Readers Association. She is also the author of the popular Daughters of Sin series, a Regency-era \u2018Dynasty-style\u2019 family saga laced with intrigue and espionage.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: purple; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><br \/>\n<\/span> <span style=\"color: purple; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">Under her real name Beverley Eikli, she writes Africa-set romantic suspense, and psychological historical romances. <em>The Reluctant Bride<\/em> won Choc-Lit\u2019s Search for an Australian Star competition and her Regency tale of redemption <em>The Maid of Milan<\/em> was shortlisted in the Top Ten Reads of 2014 at the UK Festival of Romance.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: purple; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\"><br \/>\n<\/span> <span style=\"color: purple; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">Beverley lives north of Melbourne (overlooking a fabulous Gothic lunatic asylum) with the same gorgeous Norwegian husband, two daughters and a rambunctious Rhodesian Ridgeback.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0b5394; font-family: 'georgia' , 'times new roman' , serif;\">You can read more at <a href=\"https:\/\/beverleyoakley.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">beverleyoakley.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-PpyGY5OsSwo\/XKGHQnHLfKI\/AAAAAAAAR0Y\/11mguwQE3aIsO1RMhlL0quZ32gnqAQHQACK4BGAYYCw\/s1600\/Reviews%2Bby%2BCrystal%2Bbutton.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-PpyGY5OsSwo\/XKGHQnHLfKI\/AAAAAAAAR0Y\/11mguwQE3aIsO1RMhlL0quZ32gnqAQHQACK4BGAYYCw\/s200\/Reviews%2Bby%2BCrystal%2Bbutton.jpg?resize=200%2C200&#038;ssl=1\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p><a id=\"rcwidget_2b4ec9yv\" class=\"rcptr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.rafflecopter.com\/rafl\/display\/801c221b89\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" data-raflid=\"801c221b89\" data-template=\"\" data-theme=\"classic\">a Rafflecopter giveaway<\/a><br \/>\n<script src=\"https:\/\/widget-prime.rafflecopter.com\/launch.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wicked Wager By Beverley Oakley &#x2665;&#x2665; GiveAway &#x2665;&#x2665;\u00a0 Beverley is giving away a signed print copy of The Duchess and the Highwayman during the tour. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Remember there is a chance to enter everyday so be sure to follow the Blog Tour. You may find the tour schedule and &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/2019\/04\/29\/wicked-wager-by-beverley-oakley\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Wicked Wager by Beverley Oakley!&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4,3,1],"tags":[553,557,554,21,27,556,99,555],"class_list":["post-962","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-topics","category-general","category-uncategorized","tag-beverley-oakley","tag-duchess-and-the-highwayman","tag-georgian","tag-historical","tag-historical-romance","tag-rafflecopter","tag-reviews-by-crystal","tag-wicked-wager"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9wA33-fw","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/962","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=962"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/962\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":966,"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/962\/revisions\/966"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=962"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=962"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nomadauthors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=962"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}