Street Smart — Tara Taylor Quinn

Las Vegas is about escape. But the teenage runaways who end up there too often find a world far worse than the one they left behind. A world of prostitution, of danger and fear. One of these runaways is Autumn Stevens, whose half sister, Francesca Witting, comes to Vegas to search for her.

Francesca meets Luke Everson, ex-marine and head of security for the luxurious Bonaparte Hotel. But Luke doesn't know whether his relationship with her is real or as illusory as everything else in this neon city. He's not even sure it matters. He's consumed by work -- investigating a scam in the hotel's casino. He's also trying to adopt a child, because he wants a family without the "claustrophobia" of marriage.

Francesca eventually tracks down her sister -- and learns that there's an unexpected connection, an unknown connection, between Autumn and Luke.

And despite everything, finding love with Luke is the biggest dream Francesca has.