Prim temperance advocate, Agatha Downing, is appalled to find out her building has been purchased by Scott Gandy, who plans to open the other half as a saloon. The majority of the book stakes place in the dusty cattletown of Profitt, Kansas where frenemies, Agatha and Scott, develop a relationship as they try to care for five year old orphan, Willy.

Much of the book was repetitive and slow moving. I enjoyed the secondary characters a lot and they added so much to the story. Like many novels of the 1980s, slavery is glossed over because Scott and his family were "good".

LaVyrle Spencer ended her career as a best-selling romance writer in 1997, when she was at the peak of her popularity. She was very successful in delivering a captivating historical novel to readers who wanted something sweet and romantic. The Gamble wasn't one of my favorite novels but I still appreciated revisiting a book that I enjoyed many years ago. ( )

Agatha es una joven sombrerera que vive marcada por una vida sombría y sin amor. Un accidente ocurrido durante la infancia la ha dejado lisiado, pero eso no le ha impedido luchar por una vida mejor. Las circunstancias la han llevado a convertirse en adalid de la moral y defensora de la Ley Seca. Scot, dueño de una taberna en la que el juego y el alcohol son el pan de cada día, oculta tras su vida de libertinaje un corazón destrozado y un espíritu apasionado, capaz de albergar una increíble grandeza…

This was a very fast read, perfect for a summer afternoon by the poolside or staying out of the heat. I enjoyed Scott and Gussie's story quite a bit. There were moments of humor, excitement, tragedy and of course, romance. All of the characters were well written, colorful, and true to whatever part the author wished them to play. Willie was one of my favorite characters as his plight became the catalyst that pushed Agatha (Gussie) and Scott together.

My only complaint? I felt that Scott was a little too stubborn, at least for my liking. He was a decent guy for all the bluster he threw around in the beginning, but I think he denied his feelings a little too long and hard. Then again, maybe I'm just in an impatient reading mood. Don't let that keep you from reading the book. It really is a sweet romance.

This is definitely one to reread. Considering this was originally published in 1984, this particular edition held up extremely well over time and doesn't have the strong bodice ripper attitudes of that era. ( )

Love. Love. Love. This book. Like Hummingbird, I've read at least one copy into destruction. ( )

I should review this. I have some strong opinions on it. Especially disliked her facile treatment of the post-slavery South. The whole "slavery wasn't so bad if your owner was a swell guy" and the whole "Mammy" thing with the old housekeeper made me angry. Add in a bizarre three-page-long scene involving horses mating and the brilliance of the preceding 300 pages just went up in flames. Just, no. ( )