From Publishers Weekly
When Portia St. Claire's half-brother gambles away the family estate, leaving them penniless, she sets off in search of a wealthy family friend, the Earl of Walgrave, from whom she hopes to secure a loan. Unfortunately, although Walgrave proves elusive, Portia has repeated, disturbing run-ins with handsome and notorious rake Bryght Malloren. Poor, plain and past the usual age for marriage, Portia recognizes that the well-connected Bryght is out of her league; moreover, she despises him as a gambler who, she suspects, contributed to her family's ruin. To her chagrin, she finds him strangely compelling. And Bryght, increasingly captivated, sets himself the difficult tasks of proving to her that they are truly soul mates and that he is not the rogue she thinks him. But circumstances and various scheming associates continually conspire to thwart Bryght's efforts. Beverley's latest fast-paced romp through 18th-century London is tremendous fun, and the hero and heroine are likable and satisfyingly complex. The chemistry between them is compelling, and the well-constructed plot keeps the pages turning. This is romance fiction at its best. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
"Lucky in cards, unlucky in love" was how Lord Arcenbryght, the worldly scion of the wealthy Malloren family, cynically viewed himself until the night he was accosted at gunpoint by a daring, fiery-haired innocent who turns his life upside down-and who soon learns herself what the phrase "to dice with the Devil" really means. Although occasionally too stubborn, the heroine is well matched to the determined and surprisingly "heroic" lord; the pair eventually fall neatly into place within the Malloren family. Intricately plotted, fast-paced, and delightfully wicked, this book details the bawdy, risk-loving decadence of mid-18th-century Georgian England; it is the second in the Malloren series, following the award-winning My Lady Notorious (Avon, 1993). Beverley, a well-known writer of Regencies and historical romances, sits in the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame.Kristin Ramsdell, California State Univ. Lib.-HaywardCopyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Literary Times
Portia St. Claire hates gaming and gamesters. Gaming has led her brother Oliver to lose their estate-- and unless he can raise the money, Portia and her family will be forced to leave their home. Even though she is angry at Oliver, she stands by her brother and accompanies him on his journey to find a way to save the family's estate. First, they travel to the house of the Earl of Walgrave, hoping he will offer his assistance. Instead, Portia meets an unlikely intruder-- Bryght Malloren-- and he is intent on retrieving a letter from the house, despite Portia's threat to kill him. When it becomes apparent that the earl is not returning to the house, Portia and Oliver set out for London, hoping to find him there. The one person Portia doesn't want to see is Bryght Malloren. Ever since the unlikely encounter, Bryght has not been able to forget Portia. True, she's just a country girl and no great beauty, but she was brave and honest, qualities he hasn't seen in the women he knows. When he runs into her in London, he forgets his plans to marry for money and begins pursuing Portia. When he finds out the extent of Oliver's debts, he takes it upon himself to help Portia-- who is reluctantly willing to give up her virtue in order to save Oliver from being maimed. Despite her wild attraction to Bryght, Portia resists his advances because he is a gamester-- even if he always wins. She finds herself caught in a trap that involves several people ready to see her married to Bryght for all the wrong reasons. As she takes chance after chance, Portia wonders if maybe she's as reckless as the gamesters she dislikes. In this game, the stakes are high and the winners will get the best prize of all-- love. Jo Beverley does a splendid job of creating unforgettable characters and setting the stage for sensual passion! Take a chance on love with Jo Beverley's Tempting Fortune! Entertaining from beginning to end! The historical details lend authenticity to this romantic tale! Three cheers for Jo Beverley! She knows how to captivate readers with interesting plots and memorable characters! She just keeps getting better and better!Kristina Wright -- Copyright © 1994-97 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved

ANNOTATION

A scandalous new romance of Georgian England by the bestselling author of Forbidden. In this seductive story of sin and redemption, an impoverished lady must mount the auction block to offer her virtue to the highest bidder in order to save the brother she loves.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly - Cahners\\Publishers_Weekly

When Portia St. Claire's half-brother gambles away the family estate, leaving them penniless, she sets off in search of a wealthy family friend, the Earl of Walgrave, from whom she hopes to secure a loan. Unfortunately, although Walgrave proves elusive, Portia has repeated, disturbing run-ins with handsome and notorious rake Bryght Malloren. Poor, plain and past the usual age for marriage, Portia recognizes that the well-connected Bryght is out of her league; moreover, she despises him as a gambler who, she suspects, contributed to her family's ruin. To her chagrin, she finds him strangely compelling. And Bryght, increasingly captivated, sets himself the difficult tasks of proving to her that they are truly soul mates and that he is not the rogue she thinks him. But circumstances and various scheming associates continually conspire to thwart Bryght's efforts. Beverley's latest fast-paced romp through 18th-century London is tremendous fun, and the hero and heroine are likable and satisfyingly complex. The chemistry between them is compelling, and the well-constructed plot keeps the pages turning. This is romance fiction at its best.

Publishers Weekly