The Notorious Dashing Viscount by Dorothy Sheldon

“If risking my heart means winning yours, then it is a wager I am willing to take.”

Lady Isolde Belford, known throughout the ton as the “Ice Queen,” has built an impenetrable wall around her heart. Haunted by the secrets of her past and determined to protect her heart, Isolde has resigned herself to a life of solitude. But when a chance encounter with a charming rake sparks an unexpected connection, Isolde begins to question everything she thought she knew about love and happiness.
Lord Clayton Henley, a bold Viscount, has spent years perfecting the art of the rake. With a string of broken hearts and scandalous liaisons to his name, Clayton has sworn off the idea of love, content to indulge in the fleeting pleasures of the ton. But when a scandalous wager challenges him to melt the heart of the infamous “Ice Queen”, Clayton finds himself drawn to the enigmatic beauty who hides a world of pain behind her icy facade.
As the wager propels Clayton and Isolde closer together, they find themselves caught in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Isolde struggles to reconcile her growing feelings for Clayton with her fear of vulnerability, while Clayton grapples with the realization that his pursuit of Isolde has become more than just a game. With each passing day, the stakes of the wager grow higher, forcing them to confront their deepest desires and the consequences of falling in love. In a world where reputations are fragile and hearts are easily broken, Isolde and Clayton must decide if the chance at true happiness is worth risking everything they’ve ever known.