Gambling on Love by Nancy Fraser and Patti Shenberger

The Civil War is over and the 13th amendment has been passed. Now Felicity Beaumont is trying to get her father's illegally indentured workers north to St. Louis.  To do this she has sold off some of her deceased mothers silver and fripperies.  She chopped off her hair and dressed to look like a boy of 15 or 16.  She has arranged with Jake McCade, the owner of the gambling river boat to take them.  Unfortunately a storm tears up the boat and Felicity is knocked out.  This is when Jake finally realizes that the young man is indeed a rather striking young woman.  When Felicity’s father finds his daughter and his “property” missing he goes looking for them.  He catches up to them and has Jake arrested for theft and kidnapping.  He and Felicity are forced to marry or he will go to jail.  Can a marriage between a southern lady and a man who prefers the sights, sounds, and smells of a gambling boat work?  It will take Gambling on Love.

This is a smart, sexy historical novel.  Well told with a good feel for the times.  The chemistry between Jake and Felicity is fun romance at its best.  I stayed up late reading this because I just couldn't put it down.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book goes on sale May 20^th .