Guest Review: Gambler by Eryn Blackwell

From the moment he set eyes upon the beautiful Regina, Draven McCormick wanted her for his own, preferably in his bed. He never dreamed her husband would gamble her away. Draven hasn’t made The Southern Belle into the most well-loved gambling establishment in Galveston in 1887 because he let chances pass him by.

Regina has learned most men lie, but Draven commands her trust as he awakens her passion. She’d lost all hope until the night her husband lost a card game to the gambler, a man who instructed her in the art of pleasure. And for the pleasure Draven offers her, she’d give almost anything.

It is well known historically that in 19th century America, the mail-order bride phenomenon was well established and most common among western men. Miners, ranchers, pioneers whose wives had died from illness or the rigors of the life needed wives to mother their orphaned children and to help care for the homesteads or ranches, or just a woman who would consent to be a wife—not a lot of women out west in those days. It is also known historically that a vast majority of those “marriages” weren’t even legal—only secured by a piece of paper the husband handed to the “lucky lady” at the time she arrived by stagecoach or train. These women were often used and abused until they either ran away, suffered in silence, were sold to brothels or lost in a gambling game.

Such is the situation in this “Quickie” short story. Regina had only been “married” to her husband for three months and now, to cover his gambling debts, he is offering his wife as payment. Draven has been riveted to her since she walked into the saloon so when she is offered, he accepts her complete with her “marriage license.” Draven is a retired Texas Ranger whose father had owned and operated The Southern Belle for a number of years before his death. Now Draven has come to Galveston to take over his father’s business and to take up residence in his house.

Regina had agreed to become a mail-order bride in the hopes that she would be able to bring her younger sister Marie to Texas after only a few months with her husband. Their parents had died a few years back and now were living with an aunt and uncle—an uncle who wanted bedroom benefits for all his trouble with his nieces. Unfortunately, Regina’s husband just wasn’t interested. In fact, he couldn’t wait to gamble his wife away so he could find someone else.

This is an interesting story that is well told in spite of its short length. You get a surprisingly complete picture of Regina’s scumbag husband and the author does a very good job in helping the reader to know a great deal about Draven and Regina. Their love scenes are pure sizzle but there is also the evidence that these two people are lonely and looking for someone who will care for them. The story is very entertaining and will fit into a busy schedule without a major commitment of time. I liked it a lot and think it is worth the effort to read.

I give it a 4 out of 5 rating.

You can read more from Judith at Dr J’s Book Place