Lily Henderson’s greatest passion is knowledge. Christopher Farnsworth thrives on order and decorum. But Lily’s penchant for Suffragette rallies and logical reasoning soon clash with Christopher’s quiet, controlled ex-military lifestyle over a bowl of potato soup.

The two agree to a wager and love is the intended outcome. The premise? A suitable match by Easter. If he loses, he’ll attend Easter church services dressed in one of his aunt’s outrageously colored and beaded gowns. If she loses, she’ll ride, Lady Godiva-style, around the heart of Indianapolis.

The problem is neither Christopher nor Lily can find matches as good as themselves. Romantic sabotage is the order of the day. The original wager is forgotten when the only thing the pair gamble with is their hearts.

“I’d be willing to wager I can find you a suitable husband by Easter.”

She spun around so quickly her skirt twisted about her legs. “I beg your pardon?”

The man stood and made certain all eyes were on him before he continued. “I’d be willing to take any wager that says I can match you with the perfect man by the Easter holiday, six weeks from now.” He downed the last of his wine then rested the empty glass on the table. “I just assumed your problem regarding men is the simple fact you can’t find one good enough, but now I realize the problem also rests in your attitude.” He shrugged, a wicked gleam in his eyes. “Why not let me take that anxiety from you and do the dirty work.”

She frowned. “What does that mean?” She didn’t like the intense way his eyes held hers. It made her insides warm and faint tremors dance through her stomach, and reminded her of when she was a child and would swing on a rope from a tree limb in their yard. She glanced at Samantha, but from the amused half-smile on her friend’s lips, Lily knew she wouldn’t get much help in that quarter.

Christopher flicked an invisible piece of lint from his immaculate black suit coat. “Let me interview a few men, find their strengths and weaknesses, their likes and dislikes. I’ll put them through a screening process and once they pass the test, you can have a few outings with them.” He flashed a confident smile to her parents. “By Easter, I’m certain one of them will be to your liking.”

She lifted a brow. “You must have a high opinion of yourself to think I’d accept any man you endorsed. And I might remind you I’m not looking for a mate.”

He made her a mocking bow from the waist. “I have some experience in this arena. I have three younger sisters, all of whom are enjoying successful matches, thanks largely in part, to me.”

“That’s a fine idea! We should have thought about it before,” Mr. Henderson boomed. “A modern day matchmaker for our Lily.”

“But Father…” Lily stammered, turned an imploring glance at him.

“It’s certainly agreeable to me,” Mrs. Henderson rejoined. “Lord knows I’ve grown frustrated with getting the girl married from my own planning. But I would add one caveat to the wager. You must behave in a sensible and polite manner toward your matches as well as each other.” Her eyes sparkled as she leaned forward. “Lily has a terrible reputation for having a sharp tongue.”

“Mother!” Lily stamped her foot in frustration.

Christopher Farnsworth grinned. “Agreed.”

Lily hated him from that instant. Her competitive streak rose to the challenge and refused to be ignored. “Turnabout is fair play.” Her cheeks heated, whether from anger or Christopher’s gaze she couldn’t tell. “I accept your terms, as long as you agree that I return the favor.”

A gasp from Samantha filled the silence. “I don’t think that’s a very good idea, Lily. You don’t have many female friends, you know. How would you even find suitable candidates?”

“That doesn’t matter.” Lily advanced into the room, determination surging through her being. “I’ll take your bet and raise the stakes. I’ll match you with an appropriate woman before you can match me.” She grinned, pleased.

He tapped his chin with a long forefinger. “We need consequences to ensure an honest effort.” He snapped his fingers. “If you find the woman of my dreams, I’ll borrow one of my Aunt Zelma’s bead encrusted, be-feathered gowns and wear it to Easter service.”

The room erupted into snickers from the males and outright laughter from the women.

Lily ignored them all. She focused on the mocking light in his eyes and the arrogant set to his lips, determined to bring him to shame. “And if, by some miracle, you should find me a perfect man, I…” Lily chewed the inside of her lip as she wracked her brain for a suitable challenge. “I vow to ride around Monument Circle on a horse, naked like the Lady Godiva legend.”

Bedlam took over the stately, blue-papered Henderson dining room at her announcement.

“Lillian, you’ll do no such thing! We are a respectable household!” Mr. Henderson’s protest seemed to rattle the china in the cherry wood hutch on one side of the room.

She ignored her parent. “Do we have a deal?” she asked sweetly, savoring his speechless expression. She offered a high-stakes prize because she knew she would win the contest. How hard could matchmaking be?

Rating:

Reviewer: Val

Lily Henderson is all about knowledge. She has no desire to dress pretty just to impress a man. Christopher Farnsworth is all about having everything in order and promoting a presentable package. When Christopher meets Lily the fun begins. She accidentally has an incident with a bowl of potato soup and before anyone realizes what happens, an agreement is reached with hilarious consequences. The one problem is both Christopher and Lily are having trouble making good on their part of the bargain. The hilarious part is what happens next.

Winner Takes All was a seriously funny read. The situations Lily got into made me laugh and then the bet made me gasp as well as guffaw! The awkward moments with the aunt and the realization that things aren't quite going her way were perfect. Lily was a woman who was bound and determined to prove her point. She was a determined woman and failure was not an option. Christopher Farnsworth's character was straightforward and he was a "make things happen" kind of man. When you get two very stubborn people together, the outcome is not one to soon be forgotten. I had to laugh at Patience's character and the annoyance she causes Christopher Farnsworth. The secondary characters throughout Winner Takes All were magnificent! They really added to the book without taking over. I felt as though I was really taken back to the turn of the century. The dialogue as well as the imagery was fascinating and drew me in. Winner Takes All is laced with humor, wit and an outstanding plot line. I have never read any of Ms. Sookoo's work before but just reading Winner Takes All, I would consider any of her work an automatic add. I really felt as though I were a part of the story and enjoyed my time with the characters. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in an engaging humorous read.

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