Ante Up

Jessie Clayton’s suffered a lot of loss in her life and now she’s got a problem....a big, male problem named Wade Hampton.

Jessie has the poker hand of her life when Wade calls for her to put up or shut up; he’s calling her bluff. When the pot becomes too rich for her blood, she bets the only thing she has left worth anything - a night of her company. She should’ve known he was a professional gambler just by looking at him, and now she must pay the piper.

Wade is astounded, aroused, and amazed at the bounty brought to him by the cards. Lady Luck is sure looking out for him this time. He’s admired Jessie from afar and from up close, and his body is practically crying out to have her. Once he does, he is determined to become the kind of man that can claim her forever. So he leaves her.

Ante Up is an electrifyingly erotic peek at the life and times of a female gambler in the Old West, and what happens when she meets her match. For a short story (heck, for ANY story), Marianne LaCroix packs a solid punch of attraction, lust and love into these 24 pages. I loved the blatant eroticism of the characters, as well as Wade’s desire to be redeemed by the love of a good woman. You’ll enjoy this jewel of a story!

Reviewed by: Michelle