The Henry Johnson Motel and owner Henry Johnson are both deteriorating through the years. When Cap Tanner shows up in Chestnut, NC, with a grand scheme to buy the property and turn it into a glitzy casino, several story lines take shape. Luck and connections put Tanner on a path to open his Pair-A-Dice Hotel and Casino. But there are numerous obstacles to confront. The cast of offbeat and flawed characters are memorable, but the true hero is the motel itself, which keeps on giving, secret after secret: bones, junked cars, moonshine, gold, cash.... The story, so unbelievable that it becomes quite believable, offers humor, love, and an unexpected ending. Along the way, readers might discover a craving for ice cream.
