Review: 3.5 stars for a good book
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 11 2, 2012
This was a good story that I really liked until about 64% of the book. It kinda fizzled out then because there was no more conflict between Ivey and Gray. It was also weird that Gray's talking style changed from when they first met to years later - it became more gritty, foul, and short sentences. Is that realistic?There was one thing that  really bothered me - I HATED how the author used 'muttered' a lot when someone said something - he muttered, she muttered, etc. That and the endearment 'baby'. Maybe it's just me but using it so much was a turn-off.** SUMMARY / PLENTY OF SPOILER ALERTS **Ivey and her older brother Casey travel from town to town pool hustling, thanks to Ivey's talent. Casey is the who drains the cash and cares only for himself. In the town Mustang, Casey lingers because of some women and Ivey meets Grayson Cody who helps her with some bullies. They have a instant attraction the grows into love. Ivey decides to settle in Mustang and get a job which makes Casey very angry since he depends on her.Some town bullies pay Casey to get Ivey to run away with him, but not before she leaves a note to Gray that she'll be back when the danger is over. But the town bullies clean her place making it look like she skipped town. Three months later she comes back when everyone hangs up the phone on her and she sees Gray with a woman.Two years later Ivey is the star in a burlesque show in Las Vegas, where one night she sees Gray. He confronts her and calls her a whore.Five years later, Ivey is retired but manages the club and lives with her gay best friend Lash. She is Lash's beard, and they live together and "sleep" together because of Lash's Mother. One day she gets a call from Janie, a bartender in Mustang, asking for monetary help for Gray who is losing his ranch.She and Lash go to Mustang, pay Gray's debts. Gray confronts Ivey and they discover they've been played many years ago when she left. Ivey moves back to Mustang and into Gray's house. They realize that Buddy Sharp (the pool bully) is trying to destroy Gray - damaged crops, burned down barn, etc. The last straw is when Buddy finds Ivey's father and brings him to her hoping to use him to hurt her, but her father won't play his game and Buddy is arrested.The story ends that Gray and Ivey get married, Ivey and her Father build a relationship, Gray and his mother build a relationship, and they have three children.