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Dr. Cecilia Ashby is forced to disguise herself as a man in order to practice medicine in a small Southern town after the Civil War. When she stumbles across an injured gambler in an alley one night, will her ruse get the better of them both? Especially when she finds herself attracted to him.

Gambler James Lawrence has played his last hand and finally has enough cash to buy back his family’s plantation that the carpetbaggers took from him…until he’s blindsided, robbed and left for dead. After an interesting stay with the town doctor, he finds his stolen earnings in the hands of the young thief and his sister, Cecilia Ashby, now residing on his plantation.

James and Cecilia both want the plantation, but do they want a long lasting love even more?  Battling deceit, betrayal, and disguises, the two must confront their biggest challenge yet – themselves.

REVIEWS

5-Hearts!!! Fireworks are exploding every time James and Cecilia get near each other. Ms. Campbell does a fabulous job of building the sexual energy between the two. Your heart bleeds for James as you are given flashbacks of the lost of his family’s plantation. And your modern mind rebels against a time when a woman wasn’t accepted as a doctor. Queen of Hearts gives you an engaging, thrilling, and romantic read. The story is able to sizzle without being overly graphic. James and Cecilia battle against each other for the same prize without even knowing it; allowing the reader to a secret chuckle as you try to figure out each characters next move. There is a great protagonist that you can love to hate. Add in the mystery of who attacked and stole from James and there is not much more you can ask for. I will definitely be looking for more books from Ms. Campbell. ~~ Helen / The Romance  Studio

5-Books!!! For fans of Shakespeare and The Old South stories complete with plantations and sugar cane fields, Queen of Hearts has it all. I originally wanted to read Ms. Campbell’s novel because the blurb reminded me of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and CBS’s Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. Ms. Campbell takes some already explored plotlines and then puts her own unique spin on the novel. Ms. Campbell draws the reader in with sympathetic characters and beautiful Louisiana scenery. The thing I loved most about the heroine is that she’s refusing to allow a male society keep her from doing what she loves. This story begins strong and keeps the reader until the end, delivering a satisfying conclusion. Don’t miss out on this wonderful story. A+++ job, Ms. Campbell. ~~ Long And Short Reviews

4.5 Wings!! I found Queen of Hearts by Phyllis Campbell to be a fast enjoyable read, with fun characters, including a memorable saloon harlot, a too-nice sheriff and a thwarted suitor. The world-building was stellar. You could smell the horses and crushed sugarcane and sneeze at the dust on the streets. I totally sympathized with Cecelia’s predicament. Her can’t-be-in-two-places-at-one-time dilemma and the constant costume changes made me laugh, even as I chafed at the injustice of a woman being “inferior” to a man. James Lawrence was a great hero – very moral. The chemistry between the two of them was wonderfully electric. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and gladly give it 4.5 as a highly recommended read! ~~ Renee / Classic Romance Revival

RECOMMENDED READ!! Ms. Campbell has once again written another page-turner.  This book takes you back to the days following the Civil War and the struggles the southerners faced to save their land and homes.  It shows how the world has changed regarding female doctors. In those times, people were not ready to accept that women could do the same job as men. You will feel as though you are joining in a poker game, sitting in a saloon.  You can almost hear the piano playing and the saloon girls dancing.  Ms. Campbell has a way of making you feel like you are indeed part of the story as you feel the sexual tension grow between Cecilia and James.  As always, Ms. Campbell earns her title as the Queen of Sexual Tension.  This is another keeper for your bookshelf. ~~Sherry / My Book Cravings

5-Cups!!! Queen of Hearts is a mesmerizing read and captivated me as soon as Cecilia entered the picture. I absolutely loved the theme of this book. The story had me on the edge of my seat until all the loose ends were tied up. Phyllis Campbell encapsulates the sensations of her characters, and the soothing chemistry she creates between James and Cecilia, is like slow moving lava, it really simmers. James certainly showed that chivalry is not dead and exhibits a true gentleman in all areas. This extraordinary book reads like a vintage wine, excellent. ~~Cherokee / Coffee Time Romance

5-Angels!! Phyllis Campbell pens a great historical romance. It has everything needed to move the story along. It has a strong heroine, a handsome, sexy hero, a troublesome brother, a devious man interested in the heroine, and an almost murder mystery. The plots moves quickly and keeps you guessing who is involved in the attempted murder of James. I love the way Cecelia is able to fool the townspeople into thinking she is a man, and the confusion James feels when he thinks he might “like” Doc Copeland. All the characters’ personalities, secrets, and motivations are different than the many historical romances that take place on a plantation. I would like to see Hank overcome his gambling addiction and meet a woman of his own. It would also be a pleasure to watch Belle Grove be restored to its former beauty and filled with rambunctious children.~~ Fallen Angel Reviews / Chris P

5-Blue Ribbons!  Within the pages of QUEEN OF HEARTS you will find another spicy and romantic love story by the talented author, Phyllis Campbell. Phyllis Campbell pens a tale of treachery, mystery, hope and a powerful love story. The mesmerizing characters are woven into a suspenseful plot that will have you reading it all in one sitting just to find out the who, what and why. I laughed out loud at the wittiness and grabbed tissues to dry my eyes from the powerful ending. This charming tale has many twists and turns that will have you guessing incorrectly who the culprit really is. I would never have guessed who the villain was and it left me shocked to my toes. I highly recommend QUEEN OF HEARTS to everyone who loves to read a romantic historical with lots of hot passion that will singe the fingertips. ~~Billie Jo / Romance Junkies

5-Hearts!!  Phyllis Campbell lures her reader back to the Wild West where women are not always looked upon for their talents in a world where men rule.  That’s why her heroine is dressed as a man when James meets her.  Cecilia is a strong woman, fighting for respect and recognition.  James is a gambler with honor and pride.  Ms. Campbell has the talent to keep her readers in suspense until the very end and injects lots of twists and turns to surprise her readers.  In her indomitable form, Ms. Campbell also keeps the sexual tension very high.  The pages sizzle and spark with the mounting tension between James and Cecilia.  The reader is on tenderhooks waiting for the final consummation which is delivered with passion, romance and sensuality.  This reviewer sighed with satisfaction.  Ms. Campbell proves again that she can write a well rounded story with two characters that the reader will care about and with a great plot that is exciting and thrilling.  This reviewer had a wonderful time reading this great story and can only highly recommend you all to run out and buy it now! ~~Val/Love Romances

4-Bookmarks! “Queen of Hearts” by Phyllis Campbell seemed vaguely familiar when I started this read.  I found that Ms. Campbell’s twist of Cecilia being known as Doctor Lee Copeland being very suspenseful.  I was kept in waiting to see when this would be discovered by the others.  The discreetly written romance in this novel is tastefully done.  I found this to be more of a romance than a western although it is set in the west in 1875.  I did not see this as a historical western as the author has dubbed it although she has kept it in the western setting and was right on the money with her historical facts for that time.  I look forward to reading more from this author and recommend this read to romance readers.  Suspense and romance make a fine mix for this author! ~~ Anastasia Cassella – Young / Mindfog Reviews

Brushing the dirt off his clothes, he strode toward the house. Excitement built in his chest, anticipating when he’d rest his lonely eyes on Cecilia again. Strange how seeing her brightened his day. It was more than that. He wanted to make her smile, laugh, just so he could hear her angelic voice. She was interested in him, almost as much as he was in her. More times than he could count, her cheeks would bloom a pretty pink whenever he caught her sultry glances.

He stepped through the back door to the kitchen. Cecilia and Anna-Mae’s laughter rang through the room, lifting his heart. When he stepped in the room, both women turned and looked at him. Once again, Cecilia’s cheeks darkened, which made her eyes sparkle.

“’Aftanoon, Missah James.” Anna-Mae wiped her hands on her apron. “What kin I do for ya?”

He switched his gaze to Cecilia. “Samuel told me we had a barber in the house. Best one around these parts.”

Anna-Mae laughed as Cecilia’s face flamed.

“You need a haircut?” Cecilia asked.

“I do.” He ran his fingers through his hair, lifting it slightly above his head. “Either that or a tie to keep it out of my eyes and off the back of my neck.”

She smiled. “I could give you a trim. Go out back on the porch and I’ll fetch my scissors.”

He grabbed a chair and headed toward the shaded porch. The more he thought about Cecilia being that close to him, threading her fingers through his hair and her bosom being so close to his head, his smile stretched. He must maintain control, or he’d have her in his arms, kissing her until he had enough.

He chuckled. Why did he think he’d never be able to get enough of that woman?

He sat, tapping his boot on the wooden floor, impatient to smell her lilac scent and feel her touch.

She walked out of the house carrying a folded towel over her arm and holding a pair of scissors. Today she wore a dress that opened more at the throat, giving him a glimpse of her cleavage. The material hugged her breasts and waist perfectly. The blue color matched her eyes, and when she smiled, they glimmered.

As she walked behind him, she draped the towel over his shoulders. The heat from her body touched him before her fingers did. As he’d suspected, lilacs surrounded her, making him breathe deeply.

“How short do you want it?”

“Enough to keep it out of my face while I’m workin’ in the fields.”

It seemed like hours before she touched his head. Maybe because he held his breath in anticipation. Once her fingers ran through his thickness, he nearly groaned aloud in pleasure.

Cecilia said nothing as she clipped away. He closed his eyes and concentrated on every stroke of her fingers against his scalp and on his neck. The whisper of her breath caressed him, too, and he wondered if she breathed as heavily as he.

He’d had haircuts many times in his life, but this was the first time he noticed how slowly it went. Did she enjoy it as much as he did? Could that be the reason she took her time? He certainly hoped so.

When she moved in front of him, he had to open his eyes. He parted his legs for her to move closer, which she did, hesitantly. His throat dried, and he quickly swallowed.

He glanced up to her eyes, but they stayed on his hair as she cut. This gave him leave to study her shoulders, the skin on her chest with a hint of moisture coating it, and especially her breasts lifting up and down quickly.

He grinned. Yes, she was certainly excited. His staff thickened, making his trousers very uncomfortable.

Her breasts stood within inches of his mouth. What would she do if he leaned into her and rested his face against her bosom? Even kissed her pointy nipples straining through the material.

Bunching his hands by his side, he held his breath. He couldn’t go with his urges. Not now. He couldn’t seduce her this soon, even as badly as his erection throbbed against his thigh.

She stopped clipping, but her fingers continued to run through his hair. How long could he stand this torture before pulling her to his lap and kissing her endlessly?

Cecilia cleared her throat. “There, I think we’re done.”

Her voice came out deep, seductive. Silently, he cheered that their closeness had affected her, too.

She took a step back to move away, but tripped on his foot. Before she fell to the floor, he grasped her around the waist, holding her still. The scissors fell from her hand and clinked on the ground as she held onto his shoulders. Her gaze met his and locked. No longer did her eyes resemble the light color of the sky.  They had taken on the hue of a dark sapphire gemstone.

He licked his lips, and she copied him. Slowly, he moved his hands up her waist toward her perky breasts. Her breathing became labored, matching his exactly.

Lowering his gaze, he fastened on her breasts again. What he wouldn’t give to have one in his mouth right now.

Just as his hands neared, he moved both thumbs underneath her curves in a gentle sweep. The grasp she had on his shoulders tightened as a small moan escaped her throat. He wanted to push his face into her, devour her completely. Would she allow it? If she did, could he stop his passion beyond that point?