Hazard

Rockliffe Series, Book 5

By: Stella Riley

Narrated by: Alex Wyndham

Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Hazard: A game of Chance and Luck, made riskier when Fate is rolling the dice.

For Aristide Delacroix, the first throw summons shades from his past. A man he had met, just once, over a card-table... and the lovely girl indirectly responsible for plunging his life into catastrophe.

For Lord Nicholas Wynstanton, tired of waiting for Madeleine Delacroix to make up her mind, it slyly suggests he begin a whole new game with loaded dice; while for Madeleine, it devises a terrifying lesson in missed opportunities and the uncertainty of second chances.

And for Genevieve Westin, hoping widowhood will be happier than marriage, it brings a rude awakening - leaving a single, wild gamble as her only option.

A cardsharp turned businessman, a duke’s charming brother, a stubborn, razor-edged beauty, and a desperate widow.

Four players in a game of Hazard... all playing for very high stakes.

©2018 Stella Riley (P)2018 Stella Riley

Stellar Stella and Awesome Alex

What a delightful audio diversion! Apart from some minor challenges keeping track of the cumulative cast from prior books, this is another winner.

In Love

There is not a Stella Riley book that I have not thoroughly enjoyed. Her stories are full of wit, cleverness , and the storyline is always interesting and entertaining . The plot is well done and the narrator is fantastic. I recommend any book you wish to read by this author.

One of the Best Georgian Era Romances

Ah ... the Rockcliffe series! If this is the finale —- and I dearly hope it’s not — what a sweet, tender HOS of the last two romantic couples. Riley provides just enough historical context to make this world and its characters believably Georgian. The story has just enough fluff so as not to be overtaken by that context. Some of the phrasing and plot devices are photocopies of the previous books in the series, but that actually works well because Riley is a lovely writer whose imagination populated this community of friendships with hunky, honorable men. Best of all, the women who become their wives are not ‘by-the-book’ romantic heroines. In this male-dominant world, those women are all the more enjoyable because that masculinity isn’t overbearing. The heroes’ vulnerability is believable yet unexpected. And of course, Alex Wyndham is a FANTASTIC narrator. That French accent is DREAMY.

Too stubborn.

Although I enjoyed the story, this is the my least favorite of the series. Madeleine was a little too stubborn for me, and Nick too patient.

Another Great Book in the Rockliffe Series

I'm currently listening to this series for the second time and enjoying it immensely. This has been one of my favorites in the entire series as it covers a breadth of emotions. I laughed, I cried and experienced many other emotions in between. Alex Wyndham's performance of Aristide is swoon worthy. Many bookmarks were utilized.

More Please!!

This book grows on me, every time I've replayed it. I will admit that I originally preferred it in the written form but having only a few Audible books as yet, I find I like it better each time I have listened. As Mr Wyndham's interpretations have grown more familiar, they have settled into place. I still find some of his characters not quite as I imagined them, and he differentiates the individuals to an extent by age and type/position, but his general narration is excellent.
Having read the book first and the rest of the series as well - I've been an avid fan of Ms Riley's works for years and I was very glad when she resumed her writing career - I am pleased to say that she has continued to delight me with her characters and their stories and I hope she carries on with them. They have developed into friends with problems to be solved or assisted by other known people and the romances which are the raison d'etre are carried out with feeling.

A Darker & More Mature Entry

I've been blasting through the Rockliffe series and this title is perhaps my least favorite, though it's not a bad story.

All of the Rockliffe books, save for the first, have a mildly sexual focus to them as the leads struggle to fend off their desires prior to marriage. "Hazard" has even more focus on sex and its importance in marriage as one of our characters suffers from previous sexual trauma; it's also important to know that pedophilia is talked about within regards to a deceased background character. Honestly, I was shocked by Riley's decision to include such things in her book as the majority of the series has been pretty tame within regards to scandals and other similar things. That being said, Riley does her best to discuss the issue of the character's pedophilia without making it anymore sordid than needed and making it known how repugnantly this individual is viewed/remembered.

In terms of the romances at play, I found myself wishing that the book had either been made longer or the two stories focused on separately. The romance of Madeline and Nicholas has been brewing for the last couple of books and I really had hoped that the story would focus more on their relationship than it did. Nicholas has been involved in all of the Rockliffe stories, so it's a little disappointing to see his story minimized in this book - ah well, at least it's a happy ending for him.

Aristide and Genevieve make a sweet pair - being two people who were fond of each other years ago and now brought back together under different circumstances. Aristide is a character that I've enjoyed a good bit since his introduction in "The Player" and it was nice to learn some more about the mysterious businessman. Genevieve herself didn't stand out much to me as a character, as it seemed so much of her was based around her trauma and healing. She's not a bad leading lady, but I definitely preferred Caroline, Cassandra, and Rosalind to her.

While "Hazard" was not as strong of an entry, it's by no means a bad book and I'm looking forward to finishing out the series on "Cadenza".

Stella has done it again!! Marvelous!!!

Another wonderful book in the Rockliffe Series by Stella. In this book, you have two love stories for the price of one. If you have read the previous books in the series, this is Aristide's, Madeleine's and Nicholas's stories.

Aristide Delacroix owner of a Sinclair's and his sister Madeleine will finally have their HAE's, along with Nicholas Wynstanton, Rockliffe's younger brother.

Before Aristide came to England to open his club he had a respectable position and was supporting his ill mother and his younger sister Madeleine. A young man who's only mistake was agreeing to help a distraught young lady deliver a message that her maid would give him. Which resulted in Aristide being beaten so badly by her brother's that he lost his position and was not present to comfort his young sister when their mother passed away. It took him weeks to recover and forced his younger sister to find ways to support them until he was well enough to work again.

Now he is a successful businessman with a wealth of good friends and the respect of those who matter to him. Attending a social function with his friends he cannot believe who is there. It's Genevieve, the woman who almost got him killed in Paris. He is introduced to her and there is no recognition in her eyes, she doesn't remember him! She has grown into a beautifully seductive temptress that he wants to bed. He has never felt this kind of immediate attraction before but knows he has to have her. She is a widow who may be open to having a love affair. Or so he thinks.

Genevieve is in deep trouble. Her perverted cruel husband is dead and he left her destitute with no hope of ever receiving any money anytime in the near future. Her older brother, a wastrel and a bully wants her to marry a man of his choice who will help him become more respectable. She knows that if she doesn't find a solution she will be forced into another miserable marriage.

When she meets Aristide again after so many years she doesn't recognize him at first, he reminds her that he used to work for her stepfather in Paris. She remembers him but doesn't know what happened to him. She liked him when they were younger and now he is a handsome man who she is drawn to him as a woman, which has never happened to her before. He is a gentleman who is being kind to her. She sees him at other social event and comes up with a plan. She knows it is mercenary, but if she can get him to marry her that will solve her immediate problem of staying out of the clutches of her brother. She vows to herself that she will do anything to make Aristide content and hopefully have an amiable marriage.

Aristide is surprised when she asks him to marry her. He knows he wants her but she must be told what her brothers did to him before he can decide if they have a future. He believes her when she says that she didn't know. Can they put the past behind them and have a mutually respectful marriage that will fulfill their desires and maybe turn into something that neither ever dreamed of?

Nicholas has been fascinated with Madeleine for a long time. She refuses to have anything to do with him because he is a nobleman and the heir to a Dukedom. She is the sister of a gaming club owner. Madeleine is adamant that she will not be his mistress, she knows she can't be his wife and wishes he would just leave her alone. She doesn't know how much longer she can hide her feelings for him. Nicholas is insulted that she assumes he is offering her Carte Blanche and she refuses to consider any other option. She is driving him crazy and his friends and brother are watching him make a cake of himself and laughing themselves silly.

When an enemy of Aristide's almost costs Nicholas his life, will they finally admit their feelings for each other or go on being miserable?

The title Hazard describes this book to a T. Taking chances and risking everything is scary and fraught with dangerous possibilities, but you can't know until you risk all for love and hopefully win the ultimate reward.

Another extraordinary addition to the Rockliffe Series. I love catching up with the characters in the previous books, it's like meeting up with old friends. I so adore Stella's love stories. Intrigue, witty repartee, historically accurate with handsome honorable men and strong lovely woman make her books a joy to read or listen to. Her heroes are larger than life and her villains are truly evil. Let's not forget that Alex Wyndham brings her characters to life and you lose yourself in his performance and forget that it is just one actor playing all the parts.

I highly recommend this book and all of the others in this series. Absolutely must reads.

I love this series!

I always enjoy a series where the characters continue and develop over the course of the books. In this one, 2 love stories intertwine. Alex Wyndham is wonderful, as always.

Amazing Sweet and Satisfying Book in the Rockcliffe Series

This book is so full of sweetness and love.
The trauma that Genevieve had dealt with was so lovingly handled and I didn’t realize they were reassurances that I needed to hear as well. I loved all of the sweet moments they had together as well as other couples in the series. I absolutely adore Nickolas’s character!!! And Alex Wyndham always does a beyond exceptional job!!! I’m excited to start the next one but don’t want it to end!