Guest Review: WITS & WAGERS by Amy D'Orazio

ABOUT THE BOOK

"I love Elizabeth Bennet, and I shall do whatever it takes to win her, against any man–relation, friend, or foe, depend upon it." Fitzwilliam Darcy, feeling overwhelming despair at the finality of Elizabeth Bennet’s rejection at Hunsford, decides he must accept the fate that duty has dictated to him. His cousins Colonel Fitzwilliam and Viscount Saye are aghast at Darcy’s decision and do their best to thwart him, with cajolery, threats, and bribery, all failing to move him. At last, the colonel suggests a daring one last chance to reunite Darcy and Elizabeth, and one last opportunity for love. But nothing is as it seems in this battle of wits, where the stakes are true love. Everyone has their wagers placed, waiting to see whose plan for happily ever after will prevail.

Wits & Wagers by Amy D'Orazio published October 9, 2023

OPENING LINES

Colonel Fitzwilliam pushed open the door to his elder brother’s bedchamber. Saye’s dog, Florizel, growled from his cushion at the side of the room, but Fitzwilliam ignored him in favour of shaking the man-shaped lump beneath the coverlets. “Go ‘way,” the lump mumbled.

Guest Review by Sophia Rose:

Wits & Wagers is the latest from the pen of Amy D’Orazio, offering a sparkling comedy of manners in a variation of Jane Austen’s beloved Pride & Prejudice. While the tale dives into the middle of the Pride & Prejudice timeline shortly after Fitzwilliam Darcy’s disastrous proposal at Hunsford, the body of the story will appeal to long-time Austen fans and newbies alike, the way it draws in readers to understand the scenario and the characters as the story paces out. In essentials, this madcap plot of a certain gentleman’s cousins as they bring about a second chance for him with his lady love delightfully spirals out of control when others become involved.

Amy D’Orazio’s short novel is a standalone, but like many stories in her backlist, there are welcome, familiar elements: her engaging writing style and her original creation, Lord Saye, Darcy’s irrepressible cousin whose wit and schemes tend to steal the scene. Wits & Wagers is light and mischievous, making it a quick, entertaining read. I appreciated that the angst was low, and the romance was smart.

I'd wager those who delight in the old-style Regency romps and sweet romances will love this one!

Wits & Wagers by Amy D’Orazio

Historical Romance

Publisher: Quills & Quartos

Published: 10.9.23

Pages: 210

Rating: 4.5 stars

Amy D'Orazio, author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amy D’Orazio is a longtime devotee of regency romance and historical fiction. She began writing her own tales to amuse herself during hours spent at her kids' sports practices and the like and soon discovered a passion for it. By far, however, the thing she loves most is the connections she has made with readers and other writers in various forums! Amy currently lives in Myrtle Beach with her husband and daughters, as well as three Jack Russell terriers who often make appearances (in a human form) in her books. Connect with Amy via Facebook.

ABOUT SOPHIA ROSE, REVIEWER

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, piano-playing, and gardening. Road trips and campouts, museums and monuments, restaurants and theaters are her jam. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, baseball, cats, Scooby Doo, and chocolate.

As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing. In 2012, she submitted her first book review and is currently an associate reviewer.

Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience many wonderful books, authors, and narrators. Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance. Sorry, no horror...or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby. Connect with Sophia via FACEBOOK GOODREADS TWITTER