Games Lovers Play

November 1, 2012
Late 1945 brings little change to day-to-day living in the UK, since scarcities of food, raw materials, fuel, and other basics continue. But Victoria's lavish reopening of her late father's Club Valletta, once an exclusive enclave for criminals and thugs, illegal gambling, and prostitution, certainly stirs brings more than a ripple of interest among local businessmenpotential club members with pent-up wartime yearnings for enjoyment. No shady dealings for Victoria, but Johnny Daniels, the secret son of gangster Big Pat Daniels, wants to muscle in on the action. He succeeds in charming her with his sexy good looks while posing as a construction contractor. Every bit as strong-willed as her father, Victoria may be less corruptible than some folks assume. The offbeat subject will hold readers' interest despite occasionally pedestrian writing as Tate provides a satisfying ending and suggests dark doings that could prove haunting.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)