Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for To Win a Wager by Grace Hitchcock, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: To Win a Wager
Series: Best Laid Plans #3
Author: Grace Hitchcock
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: October 20, 2026
Genre: Regency Romance
A Regency-era enemies-to-lovers romance set in the magnificent Scottish Isles
Tess Hale has always been taught to fend for herself, but she never needed to until the night bounty hunters come knocking. It's 1813 in Great Britain, and Tess's best laid plans crumble when her father sends her alone in the dead of night to an island cottage to escape them. She finds herself in a world of warring clans she didn't know existed.
After a decade as a spy separated from his clan, Jamie Malcom has a duty to fulfill as next in line as chief—but his absence means he must earn his people's loyalty. He pursues a treasure stolen from his clan long ago, and it leads him straight to Tess.
As Tess grapples with her past, Jamie vows to protect her future—but lies revealed shatter the trust they had been building. For purposes beyond themselves, they are thrust into a marriage neither of them wanted . . . at first.
In the finale to the Best Laid Plans series, Grace Hitchcock invites readers to the sweeping Highlands and beautiful Scottish Isles with a romance guaranteed to delight.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Kregel | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub
Excerpt
They needed to stay hidden. They also needed shelter, a fire, and time for her to rest and calm down. At last, the desired island came into view, the uninhabited one nearest Dornoch. Being a future chief had required him to memorize maps of the hundreds of islands surrounding Scotland.
His shoulders burned from rowing, thanks to the lack of wind. He could only imagine how she was feeling. She had not given up her oar until an hour ago, when the shaking had begun. She was quite strong for a lady . . . though in his upbringing and in his line of work, he had not spent much time with them apart from his sisters and a few childhood friends. His work for the Crown was dark—t oo dark for any woman, even one from the clans.
Jamie’s clan dwelled on a remote isle off the port of John o’ Groats. Balls, where ladies were present, were only for Christmastide, when the clan leaders gathered. The only reason to attend such balls would be to procure a lady’s hand whose family wished for a title and were willing to pay for the privilege. Jamie did not wish to procure a lady’s hand, at least, not until he became chief, at the very earliest.
No. He would not marry for many years if he had any choice in the matter. He had become accustomed to working alone, making hard choices alone, and he had done a great many things that had earned him dangerous enemies. Those enemies would not hesitate to use his bride against him or to harm her as punishment. Perhaps after the war was over, when all settled down, he could allow himself the comfort of sharing his life with a bride and securing an heir for the next generation. For now, he wanted only to guard his own back while he earned the clan’s respect after years of being away.
He glanced down at Tess, still unsure if the path he was headed down was the Lord’s will, or simply himself believing that circumstances were indicative of the Lord’s direction. It was difficult to tell. He wished he could have packed his Bible on his person so he could seek an answer once they landed.
His faith was all so new to him, but he had a longing to follow the Word of God now etched in his very soul. But it was nearly impossible to completely disregard his desire to be accepted by his clan again. Just because Jamie knew his worth in Christ did not mean the wish for approval from the clan was necessarily kept at bay.
He did feel the twinge of guilt that while yes, he was aiding Tess, he was doing it for himself, for the alliance, for his seven half sisters. For the entire people who depended on Jamie to preserve peace. It required him to ignore the growing turmoil in his belly.
I can still fulfill my side of the bargain of keeping her safe even while helping the clan. Surely, once she understands what’s at stake, she will agree that this is the best course of action. I’m not just doing it for myself.
Promising children of warring clans in marriage to bring peace was an old practice. He himself had been raised with duty on his shoulders since he could walk. He knew his time to marry could well come sooner than he’d like, given his grandfather’s health was the reason for this trip. His best friend, Hugh, on the other hand, was not aware of his impending nuptials to Tess. Yet. He will accept it when he finds out. He was always tenderhearted even while training for the guard. He never wished harm on anyone. And he’s mentioned quite a few times of wanting a large family as a boy. A marriage could give him that.
A marriage would mean children. But now that Jamie was getting to know the lady, her marriage to one of his clansmen did not sit well with him. It’s not as if I could claim her, not with the danger I would bring to a marriage. Nay, Hugh is the safer option than Philanderer Evander. I simply must convince Hugh that this is the right thing to do for our clan.
He and his cousins knew the duty of securing peace for the clans for the next fifty years and more was their responsibility. Mayhap all would be well and Tess would fall in love with Hugh and they would hopefully be blessed with children to continue the peace. It had never been a burden to know the future . . . until now. If Hugh refused though? Jamie could not imagine the gentle yet fiery lady beside him wed to his first cousin. Evander was Jamie’s opposite in every way.
More in This Series
About the Author
Grace Hitchcock is the award-winning author of the Best Laid Plans series and other historical novels and novellas. She holds a master's degree in creative writing and a bachelor of arts in English with a minor in history. She lives near New Orleans with her husband, sons, and daughter. Connect with her online at gracehitchcock.com.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a signed copy of To Win a Wager, plus print copies of To Catch a Coronet and To Kiss a Knight, and a bookmark!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 20, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 27, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
Title: Meriden Park 
