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2.0 out of 5 stars
Don't gamble with this book, August 3, 2003
This review is from: Casey's Gamble: Raising Cane, Book 1 (Harlequin Superromance, No 1122) (Mass Market Paperback)
CASEY'S GAMBLE (Harlequin Superromance) by Eve Gaddy CASEY'S GAMBLE is the first in a trilogy of books called "Raising Cane", featuring a family centered in Louisiana on a sugar cane farm. This first book introduces the characters of Casey and Jackson Fontaine, a sister and brother that help run the farm with their parents, Duke and Angelique. Casey is the heart of the sugar cane business in the family, and her love of the farm shows. In the first chapter, she meets Nick Devlin, a good friend of her brother's, and also a successful businessman. His current project is a riverboat gambling casino, which he has just sold to a local businessman and is helping out with its grand opening. Casey and Nick are very attracted to each other, but Casey sees nothing but trouble from him. He seems to be a rogue and a lady's man, and after a disastrous relationship, she wants nothing more to do with men, or so she thinks. Her aunt Esme, Duke's sister, is not very happy that Nick has entered into Casey's life, and she smells trouble. In the meantime, problems are brewing on the farm. While Duke and Angelique are away on a romantic getaway, one thing after another happens, accidents that seem to be more than just coincidental, and the lives of the Fontaines are put in danger. When Casey and Jackson hear of a horrible accident involving Duke and Angelique, there is no doubt that something is wrong, and that someone is out to ruin the family. Despite the interesting setting and story line of CASEY'S GAMBLE, I had a very hard time with this book. The writing lacked something, and the characters were not very believable. They acted out of character in more than one scene, and I found myself wanting to drop this book and start over with another. I hope the 2nd novel is a lot more promising than this first book in the "Raising Cane" trilogy. Usually I am not disappointed with the Harlequin Superromance series of books, but CASEY'S GAMBLE was one of those rare instances in which I wished I had not picked up this book.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific debut to an exciting new trilogy, April 18, 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Casey's Gamble: Raising Cane, Book 1 (Harlequin Superromance, No 1122) (Mass Market Paperback)
When Duke and Angelique Fontaine leave for a second honeymoon, they turn sugar plantation Bellafontaine over to their son Jackson and daughter Cassandra. Almost immediately following their departure, however, disaster strikes when a kitchen fire threatens the lives of family members. Evidence suggest arson. Coincidentally, when Casey phones her brother to tell him of the fire, he is only minutes away with friend Nick Devlin. Nick arrives in Louisiana to get his former riverboat casino ready for the grand opening. A rake, a rambler, and a gambling man, Nick certainly does not fit the type of man Casey needs in her life, as her family so quickly points out. But lurking physical danger as well as danger to the heart continues to provide opportunity for the chemistry Casey and Nick share to rage out of control. Eve Gaddy's CASEY'S GAMBLE begins the exciting new trilogy Raising Cane, to be followed by THE SECRET DAUGHTER by Roz Denny Fox in May and JACKSON'S GIRL'S by K.N. Casper in June. Once again Gaddy demonstrates an amazing ability to weave complex characterizations and passion into an enthralling tale readers will find impossible to put down. Once burned, now twice-shy Casey will only win her heart's desire if she can apply the same determination she has to successfully run Bellafontaine to her love life. Nick likewise faces tremendous challenges and risks if he is to find the way to his well deserved happily-ever-after. With a rich secondary cast that provide humor and surprising twists, CASEY'S GAMBLE is a must read, coming highly recommended.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Louisiana made right!, April 4, 2003
This review is from: Casey's Gamble: Raising Cane, Book 1 (Harlequin Superromance, No 1122) (Mass Market Paperback)
Welcome to Bellafontaine! Duke and Angelique Fontaine go on a second honeymoon and leave their two children, Jackson and Cassandra, to run the family's Louisiana sugarcane plantation. Trouble starts immediately with a suspicious kitchen fire that threatens the lives of precious family members, and that is just the beginning of Casey's worries as she is plunged into more harsh incidents she must face in her father's abscene. And she also has to battle her attraction for her brother's friend, Nick Devlin, whom has come for a stay at Bellafontaine while he is working to get his former riverboat casino operational for the grand opening. Casey has sworn to never become emotionally involved with a man again after she was jilted before her wedding day by her ex fiancee. However, Nick is an attraction she can not fight for long and even though their passion for each other is extreme, Nick refuses to put his heart on the line after the horrible childhood events that had shaped his life. It is an emotional tug of war to the end!
CASEY'S GAMBLE is the fascinating first book in the "Raising Cane" trilogy by three talented authors. I became absorbed in this story right away, with the struggle of the family's fight to save their much loved home and livelihood, to the fascinating secondary characters that add just the right flavor to this southern story. Casey and Nick's passionate romance is told so beautifully and the second installment in the saga is set up quite nicely, leaving a reader very eager to visit Bellafontaine again very soon. CASEY'S GAMBLE is a quaranteed winner!
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