HaBO: Beware of Card Games in Romances

ETA: I published this entry yesterday, then took it down to fix something on it and forgot to put it back up. So if you were wondering what the hell happened, I goofed. Sorry about that.

Ever notice that nothing good comes of card games in romance novels? Either one’s virtue is bartered away, or one takes possession of something not worth possessing, or that is possessed by some other supernatural force. OR ALL THREE.

Mar is looking for a romance that featured the heroine winning in a card game – something I haven’t seen much of, honestly.

I’m trying to find a book that I read in the earlier part of this decade.
It’s a US based historical romance. The lead female character is a card
dealer on a steamboat. She gets involved in a private game where a young man
bets his property deed. Naturally, she wins. Well, she arrives to claim her
property, she has a letter from the man she won the land from….. and the
older and sexy brother is in residnece and refuses to leave. They even go so
far at one point to draw a line of chalk down the house to divide the
property.

Naturally there is sexual tension galore. The business of the property is
breeding race horses. As a gambler the female lead suggests increasing the
stud fees, there are disagreements about the business but, again they are
drawn to each other and eventually give in to their lust. And, the sex is
off the map…..

Epilogue of the book has them at a race – in the winners circle as the
owner/breeder of the winning horse. The two leads have married one another
and they are expecting a child. After all the hurrah, the female lead goes
into labor and delivers a healthy baby…….

I’ve no idea the title or author of the book. any ideas you have will be
welcomed. Thanks!

Taciturn squatters turned hot lovers? Aw yeah. Anyone remember this book?