The Gamble

by LaVyrle Spencer

Book Overview

A story of honesty and humor for anyone who has ever lived and loved from New York Times bestselling author LaVyrle Spencer. Agatha was the picture of primness and propriety, but her green eyes could... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• ISBN: 1568657161
• ISBN13: 9781568657165
• Release Date: January 1984
• Publisher: Jove Books-The Berkley Publish
• Length: 465 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Scott reminds me of Rhett Butler

This another wonderful book by LaVyrle Spencer. Her descriptions put you right in the midst of the 1880's frontier town of Proffitt, Kansas. Scott owns the Gilded Cage Saloon which happens to be right next door to Miss Agatha Downings millinery shop. (She is also his tennant, because he owns the building.) Agatha suffers from a physical disability. She has convinced herself no man could ever want, or be attracted to her. She lives her life independently and makes her own way. This is no small feat for a woman in 1880. Agatha and Scott are drawn to each other almost from the start. His lifestyle intrigues Agatha and repells her at the same time. Scott is always gracious and mannerly to all women, but he has an attraction to Mz. Downin' as he calls her, for which he can't explain. This book takes you on an exciting and titillating ride which you never want to end. I highly reccommend this book. If you like to get to know your characters well and then enjoy a sizzling romance between the two, read this book. I've given nothing away of the story in this book, I hate it when reviews do that.

Outstanding

There are very few romance novels out there that rise above the usual formula, that have less than perfect looking characters, and that have real depth to them. Thank God for Lavaryle Spencer. She never gives us the obvious love at first sight scenario, which I personally find to be a bore, but instead gives us two people who build a relationship on firmer ground. The Gamble, starts out with Agatha Downing trying hard to run a respectable business, while next door Scott Gandy has just opened a saloon. Agatha is a staunch prohabitionist, and isn't afraid to tell Gandy exactly what she thinks of him. The two clash at every turn, but this isn't one of those stories where the characters become attracted to each other and forget about their differences. It's only in understanding the other's situation better and becoming friends in their own right that they began to be attracted to each other. It's a quality story superbly told. I can't recommend it enough, and I am a very picky reader.

Accepting your life, caring for others, learning to love.

I have read this book several times, and never cease to be moved by the story. It became bigger than life to discover that Waverly Plantation does in fact exist as is located in MS. Not in as grand a manner as portrayed in the book, but every bit as elegant, and filled with the "spirit" of the original builder and owner, Colonel Young who built it in the 1850's and was restored to it's magnificence by the Snow family in the 1960-70's. Read a very touching story based on respect, friendship and most of all a beautiful love that developes based on that respect and friendship. The Gamble reminds us of a time when honor existed and love was meant to last a lifetime.

Wonderful, memorable, poignant , luscious love story.

I loved this book. The elegance of the author's description of places and people, interwoven with historical events, brings it all alive. The characters become real. In fact, I cannot stop thinking about "Gussie's" and Scott's happiness, not to mention Willy's. I would love for Lyvyrle to write a sequel. It grieves me that she has decided to quit writing because I have only just "found" her. I have read, besides Gamble, Endearment and Then Came Heaven...and absolutely have loved all three. Maybe after the author has some time off, she will hopefully reconsider. I love the way Lyvyrle develops her characters and their love story. And it is wonderful that she allows her characters to have such insight (and thus gives us insight at the same time). And I love the fact of waiting until marriage for the ultimate sex act, but at the same time evolving the couple sexually. The "awakening" of Agatha, for example, profoundly relit my pilot light! I plan to read all of Spencer's books and probably reread a good many of them! Please don't quit, Lavyrle -- there's got to be many sequels to write.

This one will leave you breathless!

When I first started this book I could not imagine how Scott and Agatha could ever be together and still keep it believable, or that I could even like Agatha's character. Maybe I just didn't believe a man like Gandy could fall for someone with her many imperfections. Because I am a big Spencer fan I kept reading. By the time I had finished this book I was completely in love with Scott(no big suprise) and Agatha now seemed as beautiful to me as she was to him. I felt their pain and joy as if it were my own. I had cried,laughed out loud and everything in-between, when I was done I sat and stared into space, speechless, in awe and immediately began to read it again. The magic of Lavyrle Spencer is that her characters don't jump into bed and start shouting I love you the first day they meet, she gives them (and the reader) time enough to make their love real and believable. Her characters are very often just average or even flawed in the looks department, helping us to remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This is in my opinion the best of Spencer and that is saying much when you know the quality of her work.