Rosalind Schuyler thought she was going to have a nice life with her loving father and her handsome fiancΓ©, David. Then her father passes away and David suddenly breaks off the engagement, leaving her in the care of a guardian who demands she marry creepy Nicholas Lennox, who proves to be a murderer and after her family fortune. Altering her appearance to that of a man going by the name of Frank Carstairs, an extremely good poker player, Rosalind flees her guardian. She takes to the waterfront because everyone knows she's afraid of the water and wouldn't look for her there. If she can stay hidden until her 25th birthday, a whole year away, then she can claim her inheritance without a husband.
Very handsome Hal Lindsay makes his fortune as a river boat pilot. Even though he comes from a wealthy family, he refuses any help from them. Due to his upbringing, Hal also refuses to marry and have children, sure that he'll abuse his children like his own father did and his father's father did.
While at a poker party, Hal's offer to give Frank a ride back to town proves to be Rosalind's worst fear -- he's recognized her for who she really is. However, Hal offers to help her flee one of his greatest enemies, Nick Lennox. With the river boat completely booked, Hal comes up with a plan for "Frank" to become his cub. That way a cot can be placed in his room for appearances, while he shares his bed with Rosalind at night.
With Hal's sister, Viola, her husband, William, in addition to his parents on this trip, Rosalind and Hal take every precaution to keep her identity a secret. Everything is working out wonderfully until Hal and William hear Lennox is in the area. They have to go after him and port in Omaha on a hunch he'll be there. When Hal says he and Rosalind are going to wed before they conduct their portion of the search, Rosalind bolts thinking Hal is just like the others and after her money. Her only hope is to ruin Lennox on her own and get Hal and William what they want. She does so in a friendly game of poker.
Hal comes to realize that what he feels for Rosalind is love. But he has no way of finding her to explain that he wants her for his wife, not for her money.
This is a great story, very romantic and suspenseful. With Rosalind on the run, I expected her to get caught by Lennox at every turn, or to be recognized for what she truly was. For much of the story, my heart was pounding, and I couldn't breathe due to anticipation of what was going to happen next. I highly recommend THE RIVER DEVIL.
Decorated Union Navy war hero Hal Lindsay is a riverboat
captain who has built an empire around his Missouri River
steamboats. Yet deep inside him lurks the pain of a dark,
vicious past β one that has him determined never to marry
and have children. It's far better to live alone, finding
carnal comfort in the arms of women who will do anything as
long as the price is right β women with nothing at stake,
like the sensual innocent currently masquerading as an
experienced gambler aboard his boat, the Cherokee Belle.
For once, Hal wants more β much more β and that is a very
dangerous thing.
Rosalind Schuyler is appalled to be unmasked by Hal - and
frightened as well. The prominent New York railroad heiress
is in disguise and on the run to escape marriage to a man
who would kill to gain her fortune. Now it seems she's in
danger of a different kind. For Hal Lindsay is like no man
she's met before. One minute, he's kind as a brother,
hiding her from those searching night and day for her. The
next, he's a pure masculine animal, taking her to his bed
and beyond what she thought were the limits of her desire.
Everything he does, she wants more of, but what she wants
most, she knows he can never give...
No excerpt available.
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