Lottie Mason is all out of options. Her father is now in danger of going to jail and his fate is in the hands of a blackmailer who wants more money then she can put her hands on. After the war her family was left pretty bare bones as were others in the south and she picked up on what could be her only hope. Word was that gambling on a riverboat in a high stakes tournament could solve her dilemma. Sounds promising only there are a bunch of problems, first is getting passage on the riverboat, second is finding this cardsharp named Dyer Straights and third getting him to teach her how to pay poker. These are just a mere taste of what lays ahead of once she gets aboard but she is up for the challenge. So what if this gentleman cardsharp, questionably a gentleman, who is out to prove that Lottie has definitely bit off more then she can chew if she hopes to win much less even enter the tournament. But something about Lottie entices Dyer and he belligerently decides to give her private lessons in his cabin no less. Now no true lady would be caught in a man's cabin unescorted, but with the life of her father hanging in the balance Lottie decides that being a lady is overrated. The lessons Dyer has in mind for Lottie include much more then poker and the question is will she be a willing student for all he has to offer. The stakes are high in the game between Dyer and Lottie and the grand prize will surely be more valuable than the cash at stake.

What can I say about this book. Sum it up to say that by page 40 I was hooked and in love with so many of these characters that I couldn't put the book down. Lottie was easy to love. Cooke wrote her with an amazing sense of humor and wit that laughing out loud was the by product. The interaction and relationships between the characters and the poker tables jumped off the page and you felt like you were right there rooting for your favorites. Easily one of the most entertaining reads in a long time. Enjoy.