To Win a Wager, by Grace Hitchcock, opens with Tess Hale hearing the sound of some unknown person in her family’s manor. Quickly, her Da is sending her away for her safety. He instructs her to go to Dover, get on a boat and head to Scotland. This is definitely not a game. Tess’s Da had been training her for years in self-defense and now these skills seem to be fully applied. Little does she know that the clansman Jaime Malcolm is close on her heels!
Jaime is intent on retrieving the treasure Tess’s father had stolen from the Malcolm clan. However, when he crosses paths with Tess, Jaime’s heart begins leading him in another direction. Before you know it Tess and Jaime are teaming up to find the treasure before a group of bounty hunter’s get their hands on it!
When Tess learns the truth of her family’s place among the clans of Scotland, she cannot believe it. This is an interesting tale to follow, as Tess and Jaime are chased all the way to their next destination. With every step they take, you will see hints of feelings developing between Tess and Jaime. Once Tess finally agrees to marry Jaime, to avoid a worse fate, you wonder how their lives will change. When Jaime grandfather suddenly dies from food poisoning shortly after the wedding, Tess is accused of being at fault and she and Jaime are suddenly on the run for safety!
You will not be surprised when they "land" at Tess’s friend’s home in London and you see Jaime reach out to his former undercover contacts for assistance. With the additional help, you wonder if Jaime and Tess will survive the turmoil. This is tale will keep you guessing all the way to the final page!
I received a copy from Kregel Publications for my honest review.