Gambling man Carson Fairfax, owner of The Gentlemans Respite, Denvers richest man and third son of a Duke, needs a wife by his side when his mother comes to visit. Katherine Tucker, socialite, snob and heiress, hardly seems his perfect match, but she is desperate enough to make a deal with the devil to get the money to pay off the mortgage on the family mine. So Carson gets a wife, but in name only. Theres one little problem: she wants Carson to sell the Respite. So he comes up with a scheme to satisfy her and hold on to his business. Add to this his parents arrival, a ruthless man who wants the mine, charges of murder and the fact that they fall head over heels in love and you have a wild ride. Several storylines and subplots merge and diverge in Linda Madls latest. Like many classic romances, there is more than one romance and plenty of conflicts between the lovers. But readers will not find any surprises, just a well done story and appealing characters. SENSUAL (Nov., 380 pp., ) Reviewed By: Kathe Robin
