Review: 2 1/2 stars.  Starts off sweet, then ehhh.
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 07 8, 2012
Warning:  spoilers in this review.This book really started off beautifully and I felt like the author made an attempt to write characters different from her usual.  I loved how the relationship of the male and female leads started, but then when she is misled into believing she needs to leave town, the story went south for me.  I expect a Kristen Ashley hero to have more confidence in himself, be smarter, and more faith in his girlfriend.  Granted the note was missing so he could be miffed at no word, but seriously, he should have been worried, particularly with her past, that foul play could have happened to her - if he gave it a seconds thought, he should have wondered what would make her do a 180 and start hustling again.I really, really hated that she became a stripper.  Not because of the profession, but it was just too much of a leap in the character's development.  Here is a girl who has only kissed one guy in her entire life and then becomes the talk of Vegas for her moves?  Come on.  It would have been a much more believable and likable development if her incredible pool playing talent turned into her competing on the professional circuit - I know, I know she doesn't want the publicity, but that could have been worked around if she dumps her brother or statue of limitations, something.  Or she owns a pool hall.  Something/anything that seemed like a more natural extension to her previous existence.  I know the author is trying to show how much she changes, but I think the permanent severing of her relationship with her brother, having money and taking up with Lash (one of the best parts of the book by the way) would be enough.  In a way, I wish Lash hadn't been gay and instead she had a brief, but happy happy marriage that turned into wealthy widowhood for her - that would have been a life altering experience and then she gets the call to bail out Mustang and because she's a wealthy widow she has the means and the opportunity to be available to the hero.It didn't make sense to me that in town that is so conservative the hero takes forever to propose marriage to her.  I think it should have happened a lot sooner.The HEA was a bit too over the top with every Cody family relationship being mended.I will continue to look for, buy, and read Kristen Ashley books, but have to say this one, along with "3 Wishes" is amongst my least favorite of her works.