A Gentlemen's Wager

The story relates around Lady Bella Rushdale who finds her experiences with her groom becoming unsatisfying after discovering the new owner of her favorite tristing spot sunbathing naked. From her perch she observes him amusing himself and decides she wants to seduce him or have him seduce her. She finds herself attracted to the blond handsome landowner Lucerne Marlinscar. Upon formal introduction she is invited for a lengthy stay with some other guests at his newly renovated property.

This Bella decides will be the perfect opportunity to put her plan into place with Lucerne. Only to discover among the many other guests an attractive darkly handsome man Marquis (Vaughan) Pennerley also among the guests and with eyes for Lucerne as well. Bella suspects something between the two men but wants to prove to the Marquis Vaughan that Lucerne will choose her.

A great battle of wills between Vaughan and Bella begins for the affections of Lucerne. The tale is well written and you don't know who is a good or bad in the triangle.

Also, add in Louisa, Bella's friend who isn't experienced as her friend and isn't sure about the attentions being thrown her way by Vaughan as well as the man she's infatuated with Wakefield.

I don't want to give more away, but the story is wrought with intrigue and deception with so many twists and turns. The love scenes/sex is very graphic, but also emotional and you feel the emotions of uncertainty/pain/pleasure/vulnerability of some of the cast of characters.

Just thinking of this as an Erotic book is an understatement because there is an underlying story of forbidden love and unrequited love and the lengths people will go to have their desires for another come true.

What I liked about this book is that you could easily remove the graphic scenes from the book (although they are well written) and still have a very interesting book. I found myself concerned for the well beings of the characters and how the story would play out. I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would and am glad now that I bought it.

I hope Madelynne Ellis writes some more of this style of books. She turned what could be a bodice ripper into an intriguing erotic story that was worth the read and my money.


Put four idle young people into the same mansion ...   November 13, 2003
Rudolf Spoerer (Weston, FL United States)
and certainly the hijinx will be hot and heavy. Bella, our heroine is invited to stay some time at the mansion of Lucerne, a new worldly neighbour, then introduce a somewhat more repressed 'city' girlfriend, Luise, and mix it with Vaughn, a friend of Lucerne's, remove any kind of adult supervision and we get a sizzling hot erotic novel.

I love it, the fact that none of the players in this erotic novel work, allows them to enjoy a ride on the Yorkshire Moors, and of course break the monotony with intrigues, mind games, blustering challenges, and, best of all, hot, uncommitted sex. The pursuit, capture and ultimate surrender viginettes are somewhat short for some of our player but just as juicy nonetheless.....

The author manages to take us along a twisty plot that the reader must pay attention to if he/she wants to really enjoy the story. Bella on the other hand, our heroine doesn't have to pay attention at all since, even though she thinks she is the master of her destiny, is actually taken for a ride by Vaughn and Lucerne. And what a ride it is once she discovers that the two boys don't really need a woman to have their own fun .....

Is it the ultimate turn on for a woman to compete for her lover with another man? What if that lover is so hot she can't her hands off him either? Well at least they have a common ground to begin a relationship ... LOL

I really enjoyed the book, but fair warning, it's very hot but for an erotic book it's not light reading ......


Sexy, steamy and plenty of the good stuff!   July 24, 2003
Sascha (League City, TX United States)
A Gentleman's Wager is the story of Bella Rushdale's attraction to Lucerne Marlinscar, with sexy complications. Her rival for his affections, another man with whom Lucerne had shared intimacy with during earlier times.

I had a chance to preview this book before it came out on shelves and I was blown away by the amount of sex scenes that were well written. Madelynne Ellis's way of creating dynamic characters that people will remember is unbeatable. From Vaughn, the deviant of the threesome to Bella's heart tugging inner struggle once she's been given her choice, the reader is taken on a journey from all of the main characters.

This was the second erotic historical I've read and I enjoyed it. The back cover of the book says "A wonderfully decadent piece of historical erotica with a twist" and that it sure was.


Funny, sexy, thrilling read   June 18, 2003
Don?t take anything at face value. Like the intriguing characters within, this book refuses to conform to the stereotypes of its genre. You may think at first that you?re reading a historical bodice-ripper with the usual cast of rogues and gentlemen, but it?s far too smart to live down to your expectations. There?s a great story of love, lust, deception and obsession, some brilliantly witty dialogue that certainly made me laugh out loud and enough historical detail, description and mood to really bring the book alive. But what really kept me reading was the depth, complexity and humanity of the characters ? from the enigmatic, alluring and wicked Vaughan Pennerley to Charles Aubury, the lecherous squire with the soul of a poet. I really found myself caring what happened to all of them, and when each gets their moment of redemption you get a real feeling of warmth.

For a historical novel, it?s written in a modern enough style to make it completely accessible. The heroine is headstrong but likeable and easy to identify with, the story moves effortlessly along, and I loved the way that it plays with the images and set pieces of historical romance, but always with a unique kink.

Major plus point: this is great erotica, and Ellis?s writing manages to be sensual rather than mechanical or just toe-curling like a lot of its peers. Also, every scene has its place in the narrative, rather than being crudely pasted in as an obligatory shag-every-ten-pages. If you?ve read much Nexus/Black Lace, you?ll know what I mean. Also, this book will really appeal to you if you?re at all male or female bi-curious, but it?s not essential. There?s a good mix for everyone.