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Throwaway Card
Hugh Lafoux managed to survive the Civil War, but came out of it scarred for life and with an intricately crafted metal leg. Since the war ended, he’s wandered aimlessly, looking for the next card game and easy sex. He boards the Bayou Belle in Saint Louis, expecting a nice easy ride down to Memphis. But he runs afoul of Big Al Shank, the owner of the Belle, and ends up beaten and thrown overboard into the dark river.
Former slave Cotton Freeman spends most of his time hunting alligators along the Mississippi River near Memphis, Tennessee. While looking for larger gators north of town one night, Cotton unexpectedly fishes a man out of the water. As Cotton nurses Hugh back to health, they realize a mutual attraction, and their love grows. But when Big Al Shank returns to destroy them, love might not be enough to win the battle.
Former slave Cotton Freeman spends most of his time hunting alligators along the Mississippi River near Memphis, Tennessee. While looking for larger gators north of town one night, Cotton unexpectedly fishes a man out of the water. As Cotton nurses Hugh back to health, they realize a mutual attraction, and their love grows. But when Big Al Shank returns to destroy them, love might not be enough to win the battle.
- GenresM M RomanceSteampunk
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 12, 2015
About the author
A.J. Marcus
133 books34 followersA.J. Marcus grew up in Texas. He’s always had a fascination with cowboys, comic books and the great outdoors. He started writing in high school and at times spent more time writing than he did reading, and he’s a voracious reader. Maybe it was growing up in Texas, but his love of rugged men showed up even before he realized what was going on. He likes his men manly, hard, tough and caring, men with hearts, and other parts, as big as Texas.
A.J. currently lives near Colorado Springs, Colorado with his loving partner and several horses. The men here are still men.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/AJ-Marc...
A.J. currently lives near Colorado Springs, Colorado with his loving partner and several horses. The men here are still men.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/AJ-Marc...
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 12, 2015
“We shall overcome...We shall live in peace...We'll walk hand in hand...Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, We shall live in peace someday.” ~ Mahalia Jackson---We Shall Overcome
When Hugh Lafoux is beaten nearly to death and thrown overboard from the riverboat where he's been cheating at cards, he figures this is it for him. The last thing he ever suspects is that he has a knight with dark skin and blond hair. Cotton Freeman rescues Hugh from drowning and takes him home to nurse him back to health. Neither of the men expect the attraction they both feel. Although it seems unlikely, if not impossible, for them to have a life together, they are determined to find a way to make it work; but first, there's the matter of dealing with the riverboat owner, Al Shank, and ensuring what happened to Hugh will never happen to anyone again.
Cotton is near the docks hunting alligators when he hears a commotion. He sees a man being beaten, then thrown in the river. Cotton has reservations about getting involved, but he's a good, upstanding man who values life. He knows if Hugh stays in the water very long he will either drown or the gators will get him. Cotton believes no one should die like that and fights the gators off and rescues Hugh. Cotton knows he's in really bad shape and enlists the help of Miss Casandra, who had taken charge of a local when the owners didn't come back after the Civil War and is always ready to help everyone in need. She's also the nearest thing they have to a doctor.
Hugh is grateful to Cotton for saving his life and nursing him back to health. He surprises Cotton by not holding the attitudes of many white men he's met by being fair and open-minded, even respectful. This puzzles Cotton, but makes him happy at the same time. Hugh is surprised by his attraction to a black man, but is willing to explore it. Hugh's good treatment of him only makes Cotton wish for more personal contact, which after while he gets as well as gives. Hugh is introduced to Cotton's friends, most of whom are black, but there's a camaraderie which is exceptional for post-Civil War times. This attitude is mostly due to Miss Casandra's teachings about love and equality and her belief some day black and white people will live together in harmony. Miss Casandra also wants to teach Al Shank a lesson for all his cruelty by ruining his business. She, Cotton, Hugh, and others plan on sinking his riverboat. It's a huge undertaking which requires considerable strategy and timing, but it is possible.
This is story is an unusual mix of alternate post-Civil War history, romance, and steampunk. There are steam-driven inventions including a boat and an intricate metal leg which Hugh was fitted for when he lost his leg during the war. There are also progressive attitudes such as equal rights and cooperation of the races, not generally present at the time; but there are also black people being murdered indiscriminately and even a lynching, which would fit the time period more appropriately. Both main characters are unique and admirable, as well as sexy and loving. There are several supporting characters who are also memorable, involved in the action. If you enjoy alternate history, steampunk, romance, and idealism, flashbacks, and southern dialects, you may like this book. Thanks, A.J., for reminding us we need to look beyond a someone’s skin color and into their hearts to see what kind of person they are.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
When Hugh Lafoux is beaten nearly to death and thrown overboard from the riverboat where he's been cheating at cards, he figures this is it for him. The last thing he ever suspects is that he has a knight with dark skin and blond hair. Cotton Freeman rescues Hugh from drowning and takes him home to nurse him back to health. Neither of the men expect the attraction they both feel. Although it seems unlikely, if not impossible, for them to have a life together, they are determined to find a way to make it work; but first, there's the matter of dealing with the riverboat owner, Al Shank, and ensuring what happened to Hugh will never happen to anyone again.
Cotton is near the docks hunting alligators when he hears a commotion. He sees a man being beaten, then thrown in the river. Cotton has reservations about getting involved, but he's a good, upstanding man who values life. He knows if Hugh stays in the water very long he will either drown or the gators will get him. Cotton believes no one should die like that and fights the gators off and rescues Hugh. Cotton knows he's in really bad shape and enlists the help of Miss Casandra, who had taken charge of a local when the owners didn't come back after the Civil War and is always ready to help everyone in need. She's also the nearest thing they have to a doctor.
Hugh is grateful to Cotton for saving his life and nursing him back to health. He surprises Cotton by not holding the attitudes of many white men he's met by being fair and open-minded, even respectful. This puzzles Cotton, but makes him happy at the same time. Hugh is surprised by his attraction to a black man, but is willing to explore it. Hugh's good treatment of him only makes Cotton wish for more personal contact, which after while he gets as well as gives. Hugh is introduced to Cotton's friends, most of whom are black, but there's a camaraderie which is exceptional for post-Civil War times. This attitude is mostly due to Miss Casandra's teachings about love and equality and her belief some day black and white people will live together in harmony. Miss Casandra also wants to teach Al Shank a lesson for all his cruelty by ruining his business. She, Cotton, Hugh, and others plan on sinking his riverboat. It's a huge undertaking which requires considerable strategy and timing, but it is possible.
This is story is an unusual mix of alternate post-Civil War history, romance, and steampunk. There are steam-driven inventions including a boat and an intricate metal leg which Hugh was fitted for when he lost his leg during the war. There are also progressive attitudes such as equal rights and cooperation of the races, not generally present at the time; but there are also black people being murdered indiscriminately and even a lynching, which would fit the time period more appropriately. Both main characters are unique and admirable, as well as sexy and loving. There are several supporting characters who are also memorable, involved in the action. If you enjoy alternate history, steampunk, romance, and idealism, flashbacks, and southern dialects, you may like this book. Thanks, A.J., for reminding us we need to look beyond a someone’s skin color and into their hearts to see what kind of person they are.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
November 26, 2015
Hugh Lafoux is a former Civil War solder turned card shark doing very well for himself on the riverboat casinos on the Mississippi. But when the owner of one of those boats suspects Hugh of cheating, he has him roughed up and thrown overboard. To Hugh's fortune, he is discovered by Cotton Freeman, a former slave turned alligator hunter, who carries him home and plans to help nurse Hugh back to health. It isn't long before the too begin to feel a mutual attraction and decide to explore what that might mean. It's not as easy as all of that, though. Hugh is supposed to be dead. And even though Cotton is free, it doesn't mean everyone in the area feels things should be that way. Will Hugh and Cotton--and their love--be able to survive?
I'm always appreciative of historical fiction that makes it easy to feel immersed in another place and time. In Throwaway Card, A.J. Marcus has definitely created a story that does just that. Things are very different for Hugh and Cotton than they are today. But in this novel, not only do readers get a story of the time that reads and feels authentic, but they also get one that shows the parallels that make their story almost timeless. The things we want, the obstacles we face, and the power of love might manifest in different ways throughout time. But they're still there. They're always there.
I'm always appreciative of historical fiction that makes it easy to feel immersed in another place and time. In Throwaway Card, A.J. Marcus has definitely created a story that does just that. Things are very different for Hugh and Cotton than they are today. But in this novel, not only do readers get a story of the time that reads and feels authentic, but they also get one that shows the parallels that make their story almost timeless. The things we want, the obstacles we face, and the power of love might manifest in different ways throughout time. But they're still there. They're always there.
August 13, 2016
A great historical romance set in an alternative history that successfully combines steampunk with a Post-Civil-War Old South. It's a fast-paced intriguing story with a well crafted plot and two endearing and very unusual protagonists (They couldn't be more dissimilar!). All the characters in the book, some tragic and some unlikeable, are well built and vivid. Recommended!
June 22, 2015
A.J. Marcus never disappoints me. Whether it's wildlife or historical, he does an incredible job.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews