Gambler's Gold [Mass Market Paperback]

Lydia Seaton is the main force behind managing her family's southern hotel in this post Civil War novel. Enter Nick Brown, the Pinkerton Agent who is attempting to discover the culprits behind the latest vandalism to railroad property. The attraction between Lydia and Nick is almost immediate but is marred by the fact that Lydia is technically married though her husband disappeared four years before. Matters become complicated as Nick isn't really just a Pinkerton Agent, and Lydia has more than a few secrets of her own.

Light has penned an enjoyable novel complete with a heroine who is more than a simpering southern belle. Lydia has spark and intelligence as well as a wonderful sense of family loyalty. Her younger siblings are well-established supporting characters who add much to this novel with their quirky behavior. Nick is almost too good to be true, a hero who stays on to woo Lydia, though she has rejected him repeatedly. The attraction between the hero and heroine was a little too instantaneous, but overall this is an enjoyable read.

Gambler's Gold isn't just a fast-moving, light-hearted romp filled with zany characters. Nor is it just a mystery with twists, turns and a surprise ending. It's all those things and much more. Lyddie Seaton has her hands full with her trouble-magnet siblings, but her problems are compounded when Pinkerton agent, Nick Bennington, comes to town. Lyddie doesn't know if she can keep things under control--especially with the handsome Nick around, and soon she starts to fall for him. Too bad Lyddie is hiding some pretty serious secrets. But then, Nick has a secret or two of his own. It's a treat to read how Lyddie and Nick overcome the obstacles to their love, many of which are created by Lyddie's own family. Gambler's Gold is a winner.

From the moment Pinkerton Agent Nicholas Barrington arrives in town, Lydia Seaton's whole world starts spinning out of control and doesn't stop until she lands in his patiently (well, most of the time anyway) waiting arms. There are just a few minor problems with getting this budding relationship off the ground.

For one thing, her sibling twins, Bobby June and Billy Fred, don't like the agent and want him gone. Of course, the fact that they're the reason he's in town in the first place doesn't help. Derailing a train IS a pretty serious offense you know. Her oldest sister, Hortense, and younger sister Molly, both add power to the punch with their off-beat personalities. And grandmother Seaton is keeping more and more to herself since 'the incident', leaving the burden of it all on Lyddie's shoulders.

Nick isn't so innocent himself. Using an alias, his reasons for being in town go beyond finding out who derailed the train. He's out to avenge his father and get back what is rightfully his. Finding Gentleman John's gold is the perfect revenge. He just doesn't count on getting emotionally involved with Lyddie and her wacky family.

Of course, Lyddie has a few skeletons in her own well. I mean closet. Like her husband, who the town believes deserted her on their wedding night to find the gold. With all this coming between them, how on earth will these two ever get together????

I giggled and laughed at the antics of these characters and anxiously turned pages to laugh some more. What a delightful read this was. While there may not be many surprises, there are loads of laughs, delightful characters, and a wonderful love story. If you enjoy Rebecca Paisley and/or Jill Barnett, you'll love Tori Light.

GAMBLER'S GOLD is our first glimpse of the talented Tori Light, and I expect it won't be the last. Her introduction to romance fans couldn't have had a better start, and I'm anxious to see what else she can turn into gold. She also writes as Victoria Darkwood.