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Texas Hold Him
As if losing the war to the Yankees hadn't been bad enough, Lottie Mason now needed $15,000 to keep her ailing father out of prison. The only place she could think of to get that kind of money was a riverboat poker tournament. Problem was, she didn't know a thing about playing cards.
Dyer Straights may have been the best cardsharp in New Orleans, but the true goal of this hardened gunslinger was vengeance, not profit. He didn't have time for a beautiful belle who wouldn't take no for an answer. So to scare her off, he upped the ante with a proposition: He'd give her the lessons she was so desperate for. And if she won the jackpot, she'd owe him one naked night in his bed. He didn't realize she couldn't afford to refuse.
As the cards are dealt and the seduction deepens, the two find they're taking a gamble on a lot more than a good hand and a one-night stand --- they're betting on a lifetime of love.
Dyer Straights may have been the best cardsharp in New Orleans, but the true goal of this hardened gunslinger was vengeance, not profit. He didn't have time for a beautiful belle who wouldn't take no for an answer. So to scare her off, he upped the ante with a proposition: He'd give her the lessons she was so desperate for. And if she won the jackpot, she'd owe him one naked night in his bed. He didn't realize she couldn't afford to refuse.
As the cards are dealt and the seduction deepens, the two find they're taking a gamble on a lot more than a good hand and a one-night stand --- they're betting on a lifetime of love.
294 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 2009
39 people are currently reading
642 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Cooke
23 books17 followersI started writing fiction at the age of forty-five. It wasn’t easy for me since my formal training is in science education. Lab reports are written very differently than novels or at least they’re supposed to be, though some of my students never fully understood that concept.
I made it my goal to be published by the time I retired from teaching. It took a lot of work and dedication, but four weeks after I taught my last day in the high school, I received “the call” from Leah Hultenschmidt of Dorchester Publishing. An extremely exciting day, that was. My agent took over the negotiations while I spent a great deal of time squealing.
Always having had a love for all things historical, it seemed only fitting that I fell into that genre. So now I write in my two- story Victorian home on our seventy- acre farm in Ohio. I have a Maltese who provides literary critique and a husband who provides inspiration. Each of my heroes has some part of my husband’s personality, which may be why I love them so much. I have two grown children, both of whom have made me very proud, and I have a new grand daughter who shares my rocking chair with me.
It’s tough duty, but someone has to do it.
I made it my goal to be published by the time I retired from teaching. It took a lot of work and dedication, but four weeks after I taught my last day in the high school, I received “the call” from Leah Hultenschmidt of Dorchester Publishing. An extremely exciting day, that was. My agent took over the negotiations while I spent a great deal of time squealing.
Always having had a love for all things historical, it seemed only fitting that I fell into that genre. So now I write in my two- story Victorian home on our seventy- acre farm in Ohio. I have a Maltese who provides literary critique and a husband who provides inspiration. Each of my heroes has some part of my husband’s personality, which may be why I love them so much. I have two grown children, both of whom have made me very proud, and I have a new grand daughter who shares my rocking chair with me.
It’s tough duty, but someone has to do it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
December 5, 2011
New Orleans, 1870. Charlotte (Lottie) Mason is under the gun to get money and get it fast to pay off the blackmailer threatening to expose her crippled father for the crime of murder. She hears about the big bucks that can be won in a game of cards aboard the river boats and decides that's her best bet to raise the money she needs and she hires on as a waitress and hopes to convince the notorious gambler Obediah Straights (Dyer) to teach her the ropes.
"She had told her family she would be away for about a week visiting an old friend. That should be plenty of time to learn a simple card game and win the money she needed to protect her father. Now she just needed a pseudonym to protect her family from any scandal her gambling might cause."
Dyer's a hard drinking, hard lovin' kind of man, yet Lottie's innocent naive nature just seems to charm the pants right off of him and he agrees to teach her the ropes, but with a price attached at the end. The rest of the story continues with their flirting and card playing, silly attempts at humor (I'm assuming they were intentional), as well as a mystery surrounding Dyer and the murder of his wife and son. I don't need to tell you more, but you should have most of it figured out before the big reveal. I'll just leave a few quotes so's you can decide if this is the book for you or not.
"He'd intended to scare her with his kiss, but instead she'd melted against him like butter."
"Why, isn't that the cutest thing?" she said from over his shoulder. "All your cards match."
"Perhaps she needed to explain things a little more slowly. He seemed to be having trouble keeping up. "You see, a king and a queen rule a country, so it makes sense they would be powerful cards, but there's no such thing as a jack, is there? Shouldn't that card be a duke card?"
"Perhaps you should invent a new deck with numbered pink butterflies and God cards."
There's more, but you get the idea. It's all a very silly story in a wall paper setting, and definitely not my cuppa tea - but from looking at the positive reviews there are plenty who enjoy it - to each their own. Glad I got it free, and glad it was short enough to blow through quickly and move onto the next book.
"She had told her family she would be away for about a week visiting an old friend. That should be plenty of time to learn a simple card game and win the money she needed to protect her father. Now she just needed a pseudonym to protect her family from any scandal her gambling might cause."
Dyer's a hard drinking, hard lovin' kind of man, yet Lottie's innocent naive nature just seems to charm the pants right off of him and he agrees to teach her the ropes, but with a price attached at the end. The rest of the story continues with their flirting and card playing, silly attempts at humor (I'm assuming they were intentional), as well as a mystery surrounding Dyer and the murder of his wife and son. I don't need to tell you more, but you should have most of it figured out before the big reveal. I'll just leave a few quotes so's you can decide if this is the book for you or not.
"He'd intended to scare her with his kiss, but instead she'd melted against him like butter."
"Why, isn't that the cutest thing?" she said from over his shoulder. "All your cards match."
"Perhaps she needed to explain things a little more slowly. He seemed to be having trouble keeping up. "You see, a king and a queen rule a country, so it makes sense they would be powerful cards, but there's no such thing as a jack, is there? Shouldn't that card be a duke card?"
"Perhaps you should invent a new deck with numbered pink butterflies and God cards."
There's more, but you get the idea. It's all a very silly story in a wall paper setting, and definitely not my cuppa tea - but from looking at the positive reviews there are plenty who enjoy it - to each their own. Glad I got it free, and glad it was short enough to blow through quickly and move onto the next book.
August 31, 2011
"All in? Hell, he's give her his left nut to get all into her. Or at least he would if she did'nt already have it.
~Dyer"
I absolutely loved this book. This is outside of my favorite genre (Paranmormal Romance) but, it was free for my Kindle so I downloaded it a few weeks ago. It was'nt until a friend started reading about it and gushing over it, that I decided to read it sooner than I originally planned.
Texas Hold Him is a delicious little page turner that had me swooning more than Lottie's poor old Aunt. Set in New Orleans jsut after the Civil War. Lottie Mason's once "Well to do" family is now struggling not just to make ends meet but to also raise enough money to fend of a threatening blackmailer.
Lottie, the otherwise proper Southern Bell, takes it upon herself to raise the money by any means possible. Even if it's a little unlady like. She lands her self on riverboat with some of the most notorious gamblers around. She quickly sees that if you play your cards right, there's big money to be made.
Enter Dyer Straights (LOVE his name btw!). Master card player, gorgeous, intimidating, a huge chip on his shoulder and catches the eye of every woman he comes in contact with. He has a past, a dark one, with one goal in mind. Revenge.
When Lottie tries to hire him to teach her to play poker, he turned her down flat. Ever the persistent one, Lottie won't give up. And so the "dance" begins.
Dyer is the perfect male lead. Mysterious, brooding, just charming enough to where you want to give him the benefit of the doubt while waiting to learn more about his character. He oozes sex appeal and has a certain vulnerability that just forms the character perfectly.
Great read.
~Dyer"
I absolutely loved this book. This is outside of my favorite genre (Paranmormal Romance) but, it was free for my Kindle so I downloaded it a few weeks ago. It was'nt until a friend started reading about it and gushing over it, that I decided to read it sooner than I originally planned.
Texas Hold Him is a delicious little page turner that had me swooning more than Lottie's poor old Aunt. Set in New Orleans jsut after the Civil War. Lottie Mason's once "Well to do" family is now struggling not just to make ends meet but to also raise enough money to fend of a threatening blackmailer.
Lottie, the otherwise proper Southern Bell, takes it upon herself to raise the money by any means possible. Even if it's a little unlady like. She lands her self on riverboat with some of the most notorious gamblers around. She quickly sees that if you play your cards right, there's big money to be made.
Enter Dyer Straights (LOVE his name btw!). Master card player, gorgeous, intimidating, a huge chip on his shoulder and catches the eye of every woman he comes in contact with. He has a past, a dark one, with one goal in mind. Revenge.
When Lottie tries to hire him to teach her to play poker, he turned her down flat. Ever the persistent one, Lottie won't give up. And so the "dance" begins.
Dyer is the perfect male lead. Mysterious, brooding, just charming enough to where you want to give him the benefit of the doubt while waiting to learn more about his character. He oozes sex appeal and has a certain vulnerability that just forms the character perfectly.
Great read.
May 23, 2012
This is a great book, full of sass and humor. Set in the Restoration along the Mississippi River. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it, esp if you're looking for an American historical. So much fun!
September 6, 2011
I loved this Historical Romance by Lisa Cooke set in the old west. It was so much fun to read and as soon as I read page one, I was drawn in by the rich characters, great actions, fantastic humor that made me laugh out loud. I loved the sexual tension that at times sent shivers all the way to my toes and I was so sad to see it end.
Lisa's writing brings the characters to life and you feel as if they could be real. I loved the situations that they found themselves in while on the river boat and ate the book up. There is real chemistry between Lottie and Dyer and they throw each other off balance and it is so fun to see. Especially as Dyer tries to teach Lottie the fine art of poker.
There were tons of unexpected twists and turns, great, witty, natural dialogue, and tons of great fun! I couldn't put this book down, I felt like I was watching a movie and couldn't get enough. I immediately was hooked and loved how Lisa draws you into the character's heads and you really care about them and their problems.
I am a huge fan of Lisa Cooke and would recommend her book in a heart beat. As matter of fact I can't wait to get my hands on her next book!
Lisa's writing brings the characters to life and you feel as if they could be real. I loved the situations that they found themselves in while on the river boat and ate the book up. There is real chemistry between Lottie and Dyer and they throw each other off balance and it is so fun to see. Especially as Dyer tries to teach Lottie the fine art of poker.
There were tons of unexpected twists and turns, great, witty, natural dialogue, and tons of great fun! I couldn't put this book down, I felt like I was watching a movie and couldn't get enough. I immediately was hooked and loved how Lisa draws you into the character's heads and you really care about them and their problems.
I am a huge fan of Lisa Cooke and would recommend her book in a heart beat. As matter of fact I can't wait to get my hands on her next book!
September 25, 2011
This was the Book of the Month read for my medieval/western romance group. A fun read that was predictable and sometimes corny, but I really enjoyed it and give it a solid 4 stars. I just loved the hero and heroine, they were funny together with sizzling chemistry and the sexual tension was very hot, but I would classify this book as mild in the sex scene department. I usually like more, but it worked in this story because the H&h were such perfect matches for each other. It was your typical naive, damsel in distress who is always in over her head and the hero needs to swoop in to save the day, even though he fights against it - his gentlemanly, honorable ways just find a way of showing themselves.
There was a little other woman theme, that I wish would have been exploited more to add the jealousy and heart breaking moments. The resolution to the conflict was sort of done quickly and I was a little confused about all the different gamblers that appeared throughout the book. I don't know that they were developed deep enough to warrant being in the story and therefore my confusing them began. This was a very enjoyable book and I found this appealed to me more than Through a Dark Mist which was last month's read. Texas Hold Him was a much lighter read though, but the romance in it was wonderful.
December 21, 2011
Charlotte who goes by the alias, Lottie Mace, must come up with the $15,000 demanded by a blackmailer in order to save her ailing father's life. Dyer drowns his pain in gambling and drinking on gambling boats while he searches for his family's killer on stops. When a certain Lottie Mace comes to him for gambling lessons so she can win the $25,000 prize at a big tournament, he is intrigued enough to help. His protective instinct soon kicks in and he can't help but be as invested in Lottie winning as she is herself.
Though this cute read isn't perfect, the banter and romance between Dyer and "Lottie" makes it worth the read. I kept thinking the plot would be predictable and would go a certain way but I was pleasantly surprised each time. The flirting and banter might have gone on too long as it seemed the ending was a bit rushed. The actual tournament wrapped up so quickly that if I had blinked I would have missed it. Also, the ending concerning the blackmailer and the murderer was wrapped up pretty quickly as well and we went right back to the romance. It was fine with me but it felt like a tease. I thought the plot was unique and it kept me interested and "Lottie" and her adventures ended up growing on me.
Read this if you are looking for a cute romance. If you intrigued about the gambling or action part of the plot, just know that it is a tad underdeveloped.
Though this cute read isn't perfect, the banter and romance between Dyer and "Lottie" makes it worth the read. I kept thinking the plot would be predictable and would go a certain way but I was pleasantly surprised each time. The flirting and banter might have gone on too long as it seemed the ending was a bit rushed. The actual tournament wrapped up so quickly that if I had blinked I would have missed it. Also, the ending concerning the blackmailer and the murderer was wrapped up pretty quickly as well and we went right back to the romance. It was fine with me but it felt like a tease. I thought the plot was unique and it kept me interested and "Lottie" and her adventures ended up growing on me.
Read this if you are looking for a cute romance. If you intrigued about the gambling or action part of the plot, just know that it is a tad underdeveloped.
August 2, 2011
This was a fun book! I loved the hero, Dyer Straits, and the way he kept trying to hold onto his macho swagger despite his growing feelings for Lottie.
And Lottie was a sweet and determined heroine, trying to learn how to play poker while resisting Dyer's advances.
If you like Southern belles, riverboat gamblers, high-stakes poker games, and a relationship with a slow, steamy burn, then this book is for you.
Because of its fun romance and lighthearted action, this story reminded me a little of Maverick, the movie with Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster and James Garner.
Definitely a good read.
And Lottie was a sweet and determined heroine, trying to learn how to play poker while resisting Dyer's advances.
If you like Southern belles, riverboat gamblers, high-stakes poker games, and a relationship with a slow, steamy burn, then this book is for you.
Because of its fun romance and lighthearted action, this story reminded me a little of Maverick, the movie with Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster and James Garner.
Definitely a good read.
August 15, 2011
Some readers are complaining that this book was unbelievable fluff. That's what I liked about it. I don't always want a deep, serious story. There's a lot of humor in this book and I love the banter between Dyer and Lottie. I read this during a weekend vacation when I was looking for something fun and enjoyable to read and this fit perfectly.
May 12, 2009
This book just kept surprising me. I read it on the long flight to Mexico, and it's a page turner. While the plot might've been contrived...riverboat gambler meets southern belle virgin... It wasn't! It was fresh and unique! I look forward to Lisa Cook's next book.
September 29, 2011
Nice quick historical romance. Picked this up for free on the Nook and was very happy with it. The romance was great, the characters were sweet, and it was worth the download. Loved the fact that is also taught a mini poker lesson inside the book.
January 12, 2012
I really liked this book! I've just recently started reading historicals and this time period definitely piqued my interest. I am a huge Gone With the Wind fan, so the pre war and post war times fascinate me. I loved these characters...the main characters, and also the secondary characters.
October 17, 2009
Entertaining quick read set on a gambling boat headed for St. Louis. Quick-witted characters and a nice warm romance.
September 1, 2015
I really liked this one. There was a lot of banter between these two that it made me never want to get to the end. Also things weren't drawn out like normal. It was a nice refreshing read.
September 11, 2011
First time reading this author and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Dialog was funny and frequent and the chenistrty between H & h was great! Will definately be looking forward to more by Lisa Cooke!
October 8, 2011
Sometimes what you need to get your mind off worries beyond your control is a period romance novel. What can I say? I'm a girl.
October 17, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. Made me smile and laugh a lot. Just the right combination of sweetness, romance and comedy!
October 21, 2011
very good book,I loved it from start to finish.I'm not a fan of love stories but i love how their romance happen slowly and naturally. will recommend to everyone that love a good old texas romance.
August 28, 2024
a book i reread at least once a year and will never stop
September 25, 2010
The characters and story were predictable. I didn’t see the reasons for relationships to develop.
STORY BRIEF:
The New Orleans Mason family lost their land and wealth due to the Civil War and carpetbaggers. Harold was a confederate soldier who suffered a stroke and lives with his daughter Lottie in a small house. A blackmailer tells Lottie he saw Harold commit a murder and will tell the authorities unless Lottie gives him $15,000. Harold’s mind is too weak to remember or defend himself, and Lottie fears he will go to jail. She hears about a gambling tournament four weeks away and gets a job as a waitress on a riverboat. She wants to hire Dyer, a riverboat gambler, to teach her to gamble. She hopes to win the national tournament and pay the blackmailer with her winnings. Dyer refuses at first but after a couple of days he agrees to teach her. Dyer’s wife and son were killed seven years earlier. He is hunting for the killer.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
The plot and mechanics were contrived. There was too much telling, not enough showing. The events and interactions weren’t believable enough for me. For example, Newt was Dyer’s friend. Newt meets Lottie for the first time, briefly speaks with her, and from that moment on he acts like her big brother. On page 79, Newt says to Dyer: “Just remember, a girl like Lottie wouldn’t do what she’s doing without a damn good reason.” (Newt doesn’t know her reason.) Dyer says “She doesn’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell of winning that tournament.” Newt says “Don’t underestimate her. She has more determination than any lady I’ve ever met.” Dyer says “Determination is one thing, but we’re talking about mastering poker with enough skill to beat some of the best players in the country.” Newt says “I wouldn’t put it past her.” I didn’t buy it. There was no history between Newt and Lottie for Newt to be able to form these opinions. A similar situation happens with Sally, another waitress on the boat. She has just met Lottie but makes statements about Lottie that sound as if they’ve been friends for years.
They barely know Lottie, yet Newt and Dyer decide to help her by joining card games to get rid of the competition so she can win. Dyer also pretends to lose as a way to give money to her - more than once. I had trouble believing this. I didn’t see her doing anything to earn that kind of relationship.
There was nothing special or different about the characters. Dyer has slept with many women, but for some unclear reason once he sees Lottie, he has no interest in other women. In summary, this was a cookie cutter story. The characters and story were predictable. Nothing surprised or delighted me. I was also disappointed that Lottie was stupid and predictable in the ending conflict with a bad guy.
DATA:
Story length: 294 pages. Swearing language: moderate. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 2. Total number of sex scene pages: 11. Setting: 1870 New Orleans, Mississippi River, and St. Louis, Missouri. Copyright: 2009. Genre: post Civil War romance.
STORY BRIEF:
The New Orleans Mason family lost their land and wealth due to the Civil War and carpetbaggers. Harold was a confederate soldier who suffered a stroke and lives with his daughter Lottie in a small house. A blackmailer tells Lottie he saw Harold commit a murder and will tell the authorities unless Lottie gives him $15,000. Harold’s mind is too weak to remember or defend himself, and Lottie fears he will go to jail. She hears about a gambling tournament four weeks away and gets a job as a waitress on a riverboat. She wants to hire Dyer, a riverboat gambler, to teach her to gamble. She hopes to win the national tournament and pay the blackmailer with her winnings. Dyer refuses at first but after a couple of days he agrees to teach her. Dyer’s wife and son were killed seven years earlier. He is hunting for the killer.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
The plot and mechanics were contrived. There was too much telling, not enough showing. The events and interactions weren’t believable enough for me. For example, Newt was Dyer’s friend. Newt meets Lottie for the first time, briefly speaks with her, and from that moment on he acts like her big brother. On page 79, Newt says to Dyer: “Just remember, a girl like Lottie wouldn’t do what she’s doing without a damn good reason.” (Newt doesn’t know her reason.) Dyer says “She doesn’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell of winning that tournament.” Newt says “Don’t underestimate her. She has more determination than any lady I’ve ever met.” Dyer says “Determination is one thing, but we’re talking about mastering poker with enough skill to beat some of the best players in the country.” Newt says “I wouldn’t put it past her.” I didn’t buy it. There was no history between Newt and Lottie for Newt to be able to form these opinions. A similar situation happens with Sally, another waitress on the boat. She has just met Lottie but makes statements about Lottie that sound as if they’ve been friends for years.
They barely know Lottie, yet Newt and Dyer decide to help her by joining card games to get rid of the competition so she can win. Dyer also pretends to lose as a way to give money to her - more than once. I had trouble believing this. I didn’t see her doing anything to earn that kind of relationship.
There was nothing special or different about the characters. Dyer has slept with many women, but for some unclear reason once he sees Lottie, he has no interest in other women. In summary, this was a cookie cutter story. The characters and story were predictable. Nothing surprised or delighted me. I was also disappointed that Lottie was stupid and predictable in the ending conflict with a bad guy.
DATA:
Story length: 294 pages. Swearing language: moderate. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 2. Total number of sex scene pages: 11. Setting: 1870 New Orleans, Mississippi River, and St. Louis, Missouri. Copyright: 2009. Genre: post Civil War romance.
January 30, 2016
Aww, this was just a really cute book. I thought the title was adorable in a corny sort of way and the premise was enough to get me hooked. I didn't know crap about about poker when I started playing poker and I still don't, but I think listening to Dyer's lessons helped me understand a bit more. I loved the romance. I thought it was realistic and there was enough sexual tension between Lottie and Dyer to keep things interesting. There one or two sexy scenes, but they weren't at all graphic. The book focused more on their chemistry, so there was no issue with the book veering into plotless smut territory. It was just a clean, cute, post-Civil War romance novel. Aside from the romance, there's blackmailing and a search for a murderer. I knew from the beginning who the baddie was, but it didn't hinder my enjoyment at all. The story might have been kind of predictable. However, it's good if you want a cute romance book that doesn't get too heavy and has a happy ending.
The characters were all colorful. Lottie was very courageous and I liked how she was a strong woman that would do anything to help her family. She was even willing to work on a gambling boat to try to save her father. At times, I thought she went a little crazy when it came to playing poker. Maybe it was just the high of the risk, but she seemed like she was on the verge of having a gambling addiction. Dyer was lovely as well. I liked him from the minute he answered the door shirtless with his pants unfastened. He's this hot-shot, confident, gambler, but there was more to him than this ladies man seducing bar wenches. Dyer was a man with a tragic past, someone who's whole life consisted of finding out who murdered his wife and son and getting his revenge. The situation was horrible and it had me feeling for his pain. Lottie and him were really cute and I liked how Dyer was always going on about how she had him by the balls. He seemed so digruntled by her, like she was a nuisance, but he couldn't keep away from her.
The secondary characters were fun as well. I loved reading about all the sleazy gamblers aboard the boat. I even enjoyed reading about that stupid ho Mimi, though she pissed the hell out of me the entire book. Newt and Sally were also interesting together. They were always looking out for Dyer and Lottie and for some reason, I felt some spark between them as well. I'm still unsure what's up with their relationship. It was hinted at that Sally loved Newt or vice versa, but it was never out right said if they loved each other or were just really close friends. I'm going to take it that Sally and Newt lived happily ever after together at his ranch.
The characters were all colorful. Lottie was very courageous and I liked how she was a strong woman that would do anything to help her family. She was even willing to work on a gambling boat to try to save her father. At times, I thought she went a little crazy when it came to playing poker. Maybe it was just the high of the risk, but she seemed like she was on the verge of having a gambling addiction. Dyer was lovely as well. I liked him from the minute he answered the door shirtless with his pants unfastened. He's this hot-shot, confident, gambler, but there was more to him than this ladies man seducing bar wenches. Dyer was a man with a tragic past, someone who's whole life consisted of finding out who murdered his wife and son and getting his revenge. The situation was horrible and it had me feeling for his pain. Lottie and him were really cute and I liked how Dyer was always going on about how she had him by the balls. He seemed so digruntled by her, like she was a nuisance, but he couldn't keep away from her.
The secondary characters were fun as well. I loved reading about all the sleazy gamblers aboard the boat. I even enjoyed reading about that stupid ho Mimi, though she pissed the hell out of me the entire book. Newt and Sally were also interesting together. They were always looking out for Dyer and Lottie and for some reason, I felt some spark between them as well. I'm still unsure what's up with their relationship. It was hinted at that Sally loved Newt or vice versa, but it was never out right said if they loved each other or were just really close friends. I'm going to take it that Sally and Newt lived happily ever after together at his ranch.
February 7, 2012
Free download for my Nook. I liked this one, though the likelihood of any woman in this era taking such a chance as this heroine did seems really tiny. She's being blackmailed, and her father is the one at risk should the blackmailer reveal whatever secrets he holds. It's generally hard for me to sympathize with a heroine who can be blackmailed, but this was easier for me to take because she's not the one in danger. She doesn't know if what the blackmailer "knows" is actually fact, but she can't ask her father because he's not really what he used to be and isn't a reliable witness — he's very ill. All she knows is that he's in no condition to be prosecuted and imprisoned — whether or not he actually did the deed that the blackmailer claims he did.
Still ... you give in to blackmailers, and they can control you forever.
But anyway, so she sets out to make some money to appease the bad guy, and the only solution she can come up with is to gamble. Yes, gamble, and she doesn't even know how to play the game. She leaves home on a riverboat casino for a few weeks, and she has bargained with the hero so that he may teach her how to play and win at poker. Again, not what I would choose to do in her situation — surrendering to a blackmailer and then trying to get money by gambling, that's just an opportunity to make the situation worse.
So ... the believability of the book is meh, but the story itself, how the hero and heroine relate to each other, how their relationship progresses, is actually pretty good. Very entertaining.
In other words, I liked it enough to overcome the somewhat shaky and clichéd premise.
Not bad.
Still ... you give in to blackmailers, and they can control you forever.
But anyway, so she sets out to make some money to appease the bad guy, and the only solution she can come up with is to gamble. Yes, gamble, and she doesn't even know how to play the game. She leaves home on a riverboat casino for a few weeks, and she has bargained with the hero so that he may teach her how to play and win at poker. Again, not what I would choose to do in her situation — surrendering to a blackmailer and then trying to get money by gambling, that's just an opportunity to make the situation worse.
So ... the believability of the book is meh, but the story itself, how the hero and heroine relate to each other, how their relationship progresses, is actually pretty good. Very entertaining.
In other words, I liked it enough to overcome the somewhat shaky and clichéd premise.
Not bad.
March 22, 2013
I really liked the characters, Lottie and Dyer, a lot, which should have meant 4 stars, but there were just too many implausibilities and such in the plot for me to rate it that high. The characters were people I cared about; the backstories were important but didn't overshadow the present, and the secondary characters were present enough -- and flesh-out enough -- to feel a real part of the story but didn't take the focus away from the hero & heroine.
I was drawn to the characters from the first moment, but Lottie never sees her blackmailer? And all he does is threaten to ruin her father? Really? I'm no historian, but I'm pretty sure he would have done a lot worse just to show her he was serious about the threat. The plot was implausible, but it progressed smoothly so I could live with that. The location was the Deep South, yet other than an occasional "y'all" you would't know it from the speech patterns, but I could live with that also. The time frame was right after the civil war, but other than the nominal references to Yankees and Confederates it could have been set in any generic American "past", which would have been fine withe me as well. But all that together prevented me from giving this a 4-star rating instead of a 3-star.
If I have to choose, I'll take great characters and poor plot over great plot and poor characters, but for a historical romance I just wish there had been more "history" involved.
I was drawn to the characters from the first moment, but Lottie never sees her blackmailer? And all he does is threaten to ruin her father? Really? I'm no historian, but I'm pretty sure he would have done a lot worse just to show her he was serious about the threat. The plot was implausible, but it progressed smoothly so I could live with that. The location was the Deep South, yet other than an occasional "y'all" you would't know it from the speech patterns, but I could live with that also. The time frame was right after the civil war, but other than the nominal references to Yankees and Confederates it could have been set in any generic American "past", which would have been fine withe me as well. But all that together prevented me from giving this a 4-star rating instead of a 3-star.
If I have to choose, I'll take great characters and poor plot over great plot and poor characters, but for a historical romance I just wish there had been more "history" involved.
August 14, 2011
I wish there were a mechanism to split stars in this ranking system. I'd love to give an extra half star for this story of a naive young woman who decides to raise money by joining up with gamblers on a riverboat in post-Civil War America. I enjoy that period of history, and Ms. Cooke did a credible job of capturing the resentment of the Southern people toward the victorious Yanks. (As a northerner living in southern Virginia, I can tell you I've been called Yankee more than once....and I'm not sure they were kidding!) :-) The love scenes were well done (for those who like their scenes spicy but not cringe-worthy graphic), and the characters were likeable.
It's "believability" that keeps me from adding an extra star to my ranking. I simply don't buy the original premise that sends the heroine off on her journey. And that's a problem. I also don't buy the hero's actions at the end of the book (the "black moment" in their relationship). I don't think enough of his story was conveyed for the reader to "get it" on more than an intellectual level. It's that emotional attachment that propels me, as a reader, from "liking" to "loving" a story, and it was missing in this story for me.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and would definitely read more of Ms. Cooke's works.
It's "believability" that keeps me from adding an extra star to my ranking. I simply don't buy the original premise that sends the heroine off on her journey. And that's a problem. I also don't buy the hero's actions at the end of the book (the "black moment" in their relationship). I don't think enough of his story was conveyed for the reader to "get it" on more than an intellectual level. It's that emotional attachment that propels me, as a reader, from "liking" to "loving" a story, and it was missing in this story for me.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and would definitely read more of Ms. Cooke's works.
November 13, 2016
For the most part, this book was cute. It takes place in the post-Civil War South. The main character, Lottie, needs to get $15,000 fast, so she decides to learn how to play poker. She also decides to ask the best poker player around to teach her. Shenanigans ensue.
I like the premise. I like that slavery is acknowledged, that the love interest fought for the North and that there's a little bit of Lottie working through what it means to own slaves (and when I say "a little bit" I do mean like maybe a paragraph). Lottie's got a lot of verve despite her naïveté, but not a whole lot of street smarts, and that's what really bugs me. She ends up needing to be saved a whole lot, and runs around thinking she's saving others when she's really just complicating things and endangering others. And she doesn't actually learn to play poker that well, but she's everyone's sweetheart, so everyone on the boat (unbeknownst to her) throws the games they play against her so she can make it to the big poker championship in St. Louis.
Overall, though, the story is cute, entertaining, and a quick read (I read the entire thing on a plane ride).
I like the premise. I like that slavery is acknowledged, that the love interest fought for the North and that there's a little bit of Lottie working through what it means to own slaves (and when I say "a little bit" I do mean like maybe a paragraph). Lottie's got a lot of verve despite her naïveté, but not a whole lot of street smarts, and that's what really bugs me. She ends up needing to be saved a whole lot, and runs around thinking she's saving others when she's really just complicating things and endangering others. And she doesn't actually learn to play poker that well, but she's everyone's sweetheart, so everyone on the boat (unbeknownst to her) throws the games they play against her so she can make it to the big poker championship in St. Louis.
Overall, though, the story is cute, entertaining, and a quick read (I read the entire thing on a plane ride).
May 21, 2010
Okay, so I've read to page 106. I don't like it, but I don't hate it either...since I'm now on my yearly Dark-Hunter series reread, I figured I'll let this one sit on my dresser for a few weeks.
Not sure if I'll end up finishing it or not, but either way I'll no doubt read one more chapter after my DH reread to decide if I'll finish or not.
It's rare, but sometimes a Book Pause does happen. Shocking, no doubt!
...
Pages Survived: 106
(May 21, 2010)
Nope. I changed me mind, LOL...While a Book Pause does happen, I guess it's a rarity that I'll pick it back up again. As such, this novel is being put on PBS and tossed into the DNF pile. Sorry, Cooke, I didn't hate your book, and nothing was overwhelmingly wrong with the story. Instead, I just didn't find it interesting enough to keep reading.
Not sure if I'll end up finishing it or not, but either way I'll no doubt read one more chapter after my DH reread to decide if I'll finish or not.
It's rare, but sometimes a Book Pause does happen. Shocking, no doubt!
...
Pages Survived: 106
(May 21, 2010)
Nope. I changed me mind, LOL...While a Book Pause does happen, I guess it's a rarity that I'll pick it back up again. As such, this novel is being put on PBS and tossed into the DNF pile. Sorry, Cooke, I didn't hate your book, and nothing was overwhelmingly wrong with the story. Instead, I just didn't find it interesting enough to keep reading.
October 10, 2011
★★★★✩ Finally finished reading this book. Between the delay of starting it (it was BOM for one of my groups), the lure of other books calling my name, and then a lingering cold, that in itself is amazing, LOL!
I liked this story. I used to only want to read about innocent young ladies and Lottie was fun to read about. The poker info was presented in such a way as to hold my interest, but not too overpowering for someone who doesn't care that much about cards. I enjoyed the scenes between Dyer and Lottie - the chemistry sizzled - a fun read and worth my time.
I'll seek out this author again.
I liked this story. I used to only want to read about innocent young ladies and Lottie was fun to read about. The poker info was presented in such a way as to hold my interest, but not too overpowering for someone who doesn't care that much about cards. I enjoyed the scenes between Dyer and Lottie - the chemistry sizzled - a fun read and worth my time.
I'll seek out this author again.
December 16, 2011
I downloaded this for free for my Sony e-reader.
Lottie finds herself the victim of a blackmail attempt. The only way to save her ailing father's life is to raise $15,000. After failing to make that much money materialize, she overhears a conversation about a poker player and decides poker is the only way to earn her money, but first she needs to convince Obediah Straights (or Dyer) to teach her how to play.
This was a fun, enjoyable read that didn't take itself too seriously. Dyer was a likable character, and even though some of the plot came across as too contrived, I still found it entertaining. The end of the book was a bit of a mess, but I don't want to reveal any spoilers here.
Lottie finds herself the victim of a blackmail attempt. The only way to save her ailing father's life is to raise $15,000. After failing to make that much money materialize, she overhears a conversation about a poker player and decides poker is the only way to earn her money, but first she needs to convince Obediah Straights (or Dyer) to teach her how to play.
This was a fun, enjoyable read that didn't take itself too seriously. Dyer was a likable character, and even though some of the plot came across as too contrived, I still found it entertaining. The end of the book was a bit of a mess, but I don't want to reveal any spoilers here.
August 19, 2011
This is was a fun read. When the hero spoke, I kept hearing Clark Gable's voice. I'm sure this is a reflection of my many viewings of Gone With The Wind and in many ways, Dryer reminded me of Rhett Butler. Gambler. Ladies' Man. Lover. The heroine was wonderfully determined to win $15,000 and her rationale for doing so made sense. No one would ever believe that a novice could learn poker and play with the big boys but that's what fantasy is all about. So let go of that and enjoy the ride of this book.
I would feel comfortable recommending this book to friends.
I would feel comfortable recommending this book to friends.
September 15, 2011
I was really suprised by this book - it was funny, really nicely paced, and original. It was a freebie and so I really thought it would be one I put down after the first chapter or so but I got hooked. It starts out like your typical bodice ripper of a historical with a kind of silly plot of "girl decides to hop on river boat and get hunky poker player to teach her how to play in order to save her father's life!" I think what suprised me most was the humor - I was giggling a lot.
August 9, 2016
This was actually not bad, not riveting but still fairly interesting and fun reading.
Lottie and Obadiah, otherwise known as Dyer, made a likable couple with secondary characters adding their weight to even out the story and give the reader a chance to digest the developing relationship between the couple as it unfolds.
The blackmailer who is the villain adds that extra element needed to keep a hint of mystery going as well.
Lottie and Obadiah, otherwise known as Dyer, made a likable couple with secondary characters adding their weight to even out the story and give the reader a chance to digest the developing relationship between the couple as it unfolds.
The blackmailer who is the villain adds that extra element needed to keep a hint of mystery going as well.
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