Kindle Edition Download to your Nook (eBook) Download from Apple iTunes (eBook) Download from Smashwords (eBook) Amazon Category:  Western Publisher: HunterCat Publishing ISBN-10:  0994735006 Type: Fiction Pages: 286 Copyright: May 14, 2012 ISBN-13: 9780994735003 Price: $0.99 (eBook) With two ruthless criminals out for his blood, and two women after his heart, danger and romance converge for gambler Curt Prescott. He’s got to play his cards right or risk losing everything. By award-winning author Chad Strong… The dusty streets of Victoria are abuzz with whispers of Curt Prescott’s legendary skills with cards, his name known to more than just those who frequent the smoky saloons. But for Curt, poker is more than just a game — it had been his ticket out of the poverty that had consumed his childhood. And with his beautiful girlfriend Del by his side, he feels unstoppable. Until a new preacher and his zealous wife arrive in town, he determined to redeem lost souls and she to purge Victoria of all those who refused to abandon their wickedness. As the townsfolk turn against Curt and his way of life, he finds himself at odds with the law and forced to make an unlikely alliance with a notorious criminal. But things only get more complicated when Del, consumed by her own jealousy, pushes Curt to publicly shame the preacher’s idealistic daughter, Mary, to discredit the whole family. Caught in a dangerous game with the highest stakes, Curt soon realizes that there’s more to Mary than meets the eye. And as his feelings for her grow, Del’s bitterness threatens to tear them all apart. With everything he holds dear hanging in the balance, Curt must use all his cunning and skill to outplay his opponents and come out on top. For fans of westerns and historical romance, “High Stakes” is a must-read tale of love, betrayal, and high stakes action. Don’t miss out, grab your copy now!        Excerpt Mary grasped Curt's arm. "This is wonderful. I'm having such a good time." “I’m glad.” He took the hand that grasped his sleeve and knitted their fingers together. Mary smiled and squeezed his hand. He felt that tingling sensation again. They walked another half-mile to a place where the banks were less steep and the trees fell away for a small grassy meadow. The sun was high in the western sky and warmed them the instant they stepped into the open. The meadow was still surrounded by dense forest, still very private. “Shall we sit awhile?” Curt asked her. She nodded and they sank down onto the thick, soft grass, facing the creek. Mary drew a deep breath of the sweet spring air and hugged her up drawn knees. “Feeling better?” he asked, leaning on his left hand and propping his right elbow on his right knee. “Yes, much.” She smiled at him. “I feel as free as a bird.” “I’m glad.” He beckoned her eyes with his. “I’m enjoying myself too, Mary. I really enjoy being with you.” She blushed, and bit on her lower lip. He chuckled softly. “I wish you didn’t embarrass so easily. It makes it hard for me to tell you how pretty you look sitting there, with the sun shining in your hair.” The intensity of his stare drew her eyes to his and locked them there. He lifted his hand and touched her hair. She stiffened, and held herself frozen. He leaned over the inches between them and placed a soft kiss on her temple. He heard her sharp intake of breath. “Are you afraid of me, Mary?” he asked, his breath fanning her ear. “N-no. That’s silly.” She hugged her knees tighter. He dipped his head and placed another kiss on her cheek. Her eyes ran away from his. “Mary. Mary, look at me.” She bit on her lip again, then released it as she met his eyes once again. Holding her captive with only his gaze, he pressed a brief, warm kiss to her lips. She stiffened again, holding her breath, and did not exhale even after he’d drawn away. He cupped her cheek with his palm to keep her face toward him. “That was nice,” he said softly. She shivered, at last breathing out, and he sensed that one more kiss would send her running from him. He sat back but held her hand firmly in his. He could feel her anxiety in her rigid fingers. Gently, he stroked them, until at last she relaxed and met his eyes once again. There was uncertainty in them, a little fear, too, but there was also a small spark of awakened desire. He believed she was as close to wanting a man as she’d ever come. In time, she would want him beyond all reason, and she would surrender to him. And the spark he saw made him wonder if there was more passion hidden beneath her shy, quiet exterior than he had so far given her credit for. He was definitely going to find out.

by Jill MacKenzie, InD'Tale Magazine
"This is a well thought-out, layered historical, with evocative and vivid descriptions of life in the thriving, yet still lawless, nineteenth century Canadian town. High Stakes is a historical that can be enjoyed by both male and female readers ... a thoroughly enjoyable story and an incredibly accomplished first novel."―

by Kathleen Rice Adams, Texan, Voracious Reader, Professional Journalist
"The author does a number of things well in his debut novel ... an excellent job of capturing a time (1877), place, and society largely overlooked in the western genre ... The author also blends elements from several subgenres extremely well. The novel meets all the qualifications to bear the label "western historical romance" quite well ... (Men, by the way, can read this one without endangering their man cards. Did I mention the gunfights, knife fights, and fistfights?) ... High Stakes is a quick read. And it's fun. The ending, balanced on a thin line between expectation and surprise, shines."

by Norman K. Archer, Victoria, BC Historian
" ... a great writing style and an excellent plot ... For readers captivated by this turbulent period and allured by a story that tugs at the heartstrings, High Stakes is a must-read."