Title:  A Gentleman’s Game
Series:  Romance of the Turf #1
Author:  Theresa Romain
Genre:  Historical, Regency Romance
Published:  February 2, 2016
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Casablanca
My Rating:  4 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Cover Description:

Suave Nathaniel Chandler can just as easily talk himself into a willing lady’s embrace as he can broker a business deal. But no amount of charm is sufficient to cloak a chilling, recent discovery: every one of his award-winning racehorses has suddenly and mysteriously fallen ill.

Determined to discover the source of the problem, Nathaniel searches for all possible explanations. His suspicions fall on the alluring Rosalind Agate, his father’s new secretary. But for the sake of both their livelihoods – and his recent attraction – Nathaniel sets aside his suspicions. Instead, he decides to use Rosalind’s wit and her wiles as key components of his investigative team.

As the upcoming race draws near, Nathaniel and Rosalind must use every trick up their sleeves to not only catch the culprit, but also satisfy the desire that burns between them.

Read on for my thoughts on A Gentleman’s Game.  No true spoilers, promise.

It’s worth noting that there is a prequel to this series entitled The Sport of Baronets, which involves Hannah and Bart in the mystery of a stolen colt who was to race the week following the snatching.  While some may not think a prequel is necessary for the enjoyment of a series, in this instance having read The Sport of Baronets first did allow me to “get” some mentions within A Gentleman’s Game.  It really comes down to opinion and preferences, but I did want to toss that information out there for those who do enjoy the set up that prequels offer to a series.

I expect world building in the first story of a series, and the introduction of secondary characters who may or may not matter to the rest of the series.  I was not disappointed with the results for A Gentleman’s Game.  We are given a taste of horse racing in the Regency era, and I don’t know that it truly isn’t all that different at the base than its modern day equivalent.  Whether done on paper or on the computer, horse breeders put together two horses with valuable attributes in the hopes that their offspring will have both of those desired traits making them a spectacular race horse.  That really is pretty basic.  As is the fact that there will always be those who plan to win by cheating or elimination of the competition, that is unfortunately human nature no matter what the era.

And perhaps that is exactly what is happening at Nathaniel’s family horse breeding establishment, where he houses several talented and valuable racehorses.  It might be put down to chance or dumb luck when one or two horses become ill, but when it seems almost the entire stables are affected by this illness – then you must start looking for an outside influence and purpose.  And suspicions fall upon the newest member of the household, Rosalind, his father’s new secretary.

Rosalind has her secrets and her purpose for taking the position – but harming the horses was not one of them.

A Gentleman’s Game has several interesting layers.  The coldness of Nathaniel’s father drives much of his son’s reactions throughout his life.  And some questionable decisions as well.  Rosalind is certainly a mystery in many forms and it was engaging to watch her true self emerge.  While I enjoyed this story, I have to admit that it did not pull me in as some of Ms Romain’s other works.  And that is not fair, I know, to compare one story to another – but the feeling of some element, some “thing” missing was there for me.  I have every intention of following the rest of the series… and perhaps it was simply that I didn’t connect as well with Nathaniel or Rosalind.  It was an entertaining story that I enjoyed – yet, perhaps there was just a little too much mystery going on.

*I received an e-ARC of A Gentleman’s Game from the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  That does not change what I think of this novel.*

Available in paperback and for the Kindle