Photo credits: Michelle Maria
Edited by Vaishali
Title: ‘All In: A Vegas Reverse Harem Romance'
Author: Cassie Cole Series: Standalone Publisher: Juicy Gems Publishing Year of Publication: 2019 Version: e-book kindle app Genre/Themes: New Adult, Reverse Harem Romance, Suspense, Erotica, polygamy Review...
‘The royal flush of kisses, rare and extraordinary.’ Bryce is a blonde bombshell - a gambler and an ex-poker addict Xander is a country singing musician, who comes from humble beginnings Eddie is an ex police office, now a securing guard, with a dream he is trying to reach Sage is a singer, paying her dues until the day when it will all be worth it
Four aspirants who want to rob the Russian mafia, and four hopefuls that I wanted to succeed!
What could conceivably go wrong?
“I’m in,” I said without hesitation. “I’m all in.”
“Me too…Whatever comes next, count me in.” “And me,” Eddie said…” “I’m out,” Bryce said. I whirled on him. “What?” “Just kidding. Of course I’m in. oof!” he grunted as I poked him in the ribs.' ‘All in’ by Cassie Cole is another reverse harem standalone by the fun author herself. If you enjoyed her ‘Triple Team’ military romance, then this would definitely give you what you are looking for. Cassie Cole’s stories are a pleasant interruption from the kind of stories that require mental dedication. They are upbeat, buoyant, action-laden with gorgeous leading men. ‘Three flavours of excitement that intermingled with the larger excitement of the casino heist.’
Sage Parker is a sprightly, ambitious woman living in the gaiety of Las Vegas’s bright, fast-moving lifestyle, surrounded by dazzling nights and rowdy people, it’s only a shame that that this aspiring singer is still waiting for the spotlight to shine on her. Sage works more than one job, waitressing at various casinos to build up her shrinking funds with barely full hands. Surviving on little money and spreading herself thin is the only option she has, especially when her dreams are so big but also financially cumbersome.
‘She deserved to win things like this, to have a few moments of excited jubilation. She hadn’t had enough wins in life.'
Working at a lavishly equipped, extravagant, newly opened casino - The Volga – with a horrible boss and handsy clientele, Sage knows first-hand what it is like for a woman to deal with the degradation of her job, but her dreams are far more important to let anything get in the way…men included. Sage, however, breaks her long-held ‘no dating’ rule after having a one night-stand with her handsome card-dealing colleague Bryce, completely unexpected but nothing she regrets… and perhaps this Bryce might even be worth dispelling Sage’s ‘no commitment’ boundary.
“Be a darling and fetch my dress?” I heard him laugh. “So I have to do the nude catwalk but you’re exempt?” “Only if you’re a gentleman.” “Unfortunately for you…I’m a feminist. I believe in perfect equality among men and women. I’d hate to reinforce the patriarchy power dynamic be fetching your clothes.” “Oh come on!”
Bryce Blackman had no intention of bringing Sage back to his apartment, her saw her as the right woman for a precise excursion that he and his two friends – Xander and Eddie - are planning. Once approaching Sage, they expose her to the true crooked business that is the Volga – run by the Russian mafia, this corrupt corporation is using debased operations to surreptitiously launder money. It’s dirty money , and Xander, Bryce, and Eddie want to get their hands on it. After agreeing to go All In, Sage is lost in the excitement of being a conspirator with her three new accomplices…but she also insistently needs the considerable disbursement they will receive...if they actually pull it off that is.
“Oh yeah,” Eddie said. “He’s going to go all John McClane on their asses.” “Yippee Ki-yay motherfucker,” Xander said. He swung his eyes to me. “Don’t tell me you haven’t seem Die Hard.” “Afraid not.”
Dealt with a hand of a rough financial condition, budgetary matters always on her mind, money would only do wonders for her life…but these three tempting men might also do wonders for her desires, each of them drawing something different from her, and she them. Sage forms relationships with each while trying to avoid her appetites for them, but the problem is she doesn’t want to.
“You could have just texted to ask where I lived,” I said He grinned his boyish grin. “Now where’s the fun in that?
This being my second Cassie Cole novel, her books seem to follow a similar formulaic pattern, with variations of character and completely different plotlines, but a similar structure which didn’t disfavour me or the story in any way - though I must say that the men in this story were a bit cliché. I enjoyed it as much as 'Triple Team', and though Cassie Cole’s writings are fun-filled action tales and excitingly suspenseful, she always makes sure to flavour them with relevant modern themes and important topics underlying the main plot; in this case sexual harassment, and the objectification of women. What Sage’s life is like as a female expected to dress and act in a particular manner because her job deems she do so, the violation she experiences as a woman working and serving boisterous and overly amorous men, inappropriate behaviour and scraping away at someone’s dignity because you have the authority to, or just because you can. What Sage accepts, even accepting what her job entails because she needs money.
‘But this wasn’t the first time I’d been violated like this. As a woman, I knew it wouldn’t be the last.'
The initial chapters of 'All In' were attention-grabbing enough, moderately slow-paced during segments as the story built up to its main event, permitting room for the characters to find their place, and understand their place with Sage, but the last 40% of this book was greatly done, anticipatory, and I kept wondering if I could even trust any of Sage’s comrades. With less focus on emotional dilemmas and internal labours, ‘All In’ is fast-moving book which made me fly through with equal amounts of speed even though I am a slow reader. This story is about moving forward, risking the ire of the Russian mafia should plans go askew – as well as their own lives and the excesses of success when you going up against the oligarchy.
“…you guys gave me a real shot at a better life. That’s all I’ve ever wanted."
Devising, strategising, and making love, these four main characters have their own professional and personal struggles, skimming across their stories briefly, while the main focus is the heist in question. The heist itself was well-done, planned throughout the book, but when it came to the day itself, everything seemed fraught, and I wanted so badly for these characters to flourish in this criminal act!
“…What’s the plan? Bop ‘em on the head like little bunny foo foo?” “Little bunny what now?” Eddie said. Xander frowned. “You’ve never heard that nursery rhyme?” “Sing it for us,” I teased “I don’t remember it either."
Mentally arduous books are good for the mind, but light-hearted, undemanding books are a great comfort for those times when you just want something playfully unchallenging while still keeping you on your toes. They elicit an energising ambiance but just in a different way, and that’s what reading Cassie Cole’s stories are like.
‘Parting truly was sweet sorrow.’
‘All In’ is a Vegas themed modern romance with multiple partners. The romance is fast-paced coinciding with the frequency of the plotline itself. I have seen this type of premise exercised across spectrums of action movies, and while film and literature are obviously different mediums, the outplay of 'All In' had the style and substance of an action movie. A written story, simultaneously holding the accents an action film would have. I could easily imagine this playing across my television screen. I would definitely recommend Cassie Cole’s books for a more than happy pick-me-up!
…And when I saw ‘All in’ , I was most assuredly All In ‘Three sets of eyes looked at me with pride. Bryce’s crystal blue gaze, a hint of excited laughter in them. Eddie’s serious green eyes, trying his best to stay reserved even though he wanted to jump for joy. And Xander’s dark eyes which watched me from across the kitchen island, full of music and fun. “To Sage,” 'I stared at him. “What golden idol?” “You know, the one from the beginning of Raiders of The Lost Ark,” His eyes widened. “Don’t tell me you haven’t seen it.” “I’m not into science fiction.” All three of them sputtered. “Science fiction?” Bryce demanded. “It’s an action movie!” Eddie said.' I gave this book 4 stars -
P O T E N T I A L C O N T E N T W A R N I N G : Swearing, sex scenes, MFMM menage scenes and sexual harassment. One of the main character’s also has a gambling addiction.
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M Y R A T I N G S Y S T E M: ★ - 1 star: I did not like the book ★★ - 2 stars: The book was okay ★★★ - 3 stars: It was a good, solid read ★★★★ - 4 stars: A great book ★★★★★ - 5: A phenomenal read --------------------------------------- THIS PART MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!
S O M E C O N C E R N S:
1) I noticed some misplaced punctuation and spelling errors. 2) I was wondering whether there was some kind of crossover with ‘Triple Team’ because one of the poker players in the last tournament has the last name ‘Ellersby’ which is Juliana’s (from ‘Triple Team’) last name. And they also mention her wearing a conductor’s hat which what Gregory always wore?... 3) We find out that Bryce’s reason for planning this heist was to chase his addiction by wanting more. In his narrative he says he is ‘terrified’ of what he might do next, implying that his conflict is still strong and ongoing. But this point isn’t addressed further. He obviously has a problem, but I would have though this plotline would lead somewhere, only it didn’t. We don’t learn how he manages himself, what makes him decide to stop chasing his habit and settle down after the heist. He does nothing, leaving the reader standing at the far end of a point from A to B, without anything in between.
W H A T I L I K E D:
1) The film references! 2) Bryce was my favourite love interest, second being Eddie, then Xander
F A V O U R I T E Q U O T E S:
“What’s wrong with country singers?” he said with no small amount of offense. “Nothing,” I said innocently. “I’m sure it takes a lot of talent to write a new song about your pick-up truck, drinking cans of Budweiser around the bonfire with the boys, your best pair of blue jeans, your hunting rifle. Oh, and your tractor! Can’t forget the tractor.” “I never thought it was a mistake. I was just being a dick.” “I hope you’re not expecting me to disagree with you,” I said. ‘Every emotion ran through me in that instant. Rage that he thought he could do that. Embarrassment that it was happening out here in front of everyone. The crippling violation of having my body unexpectedly touched by someone who had no business touching it, and the guilt that followed. Like it was my fault.’ “We will. I believe in the power of a positive attitude.” “Will a positive attitude magically make your money return?” “If we use that attitude to win it back, absolutely!” ‘You see, that’s the thing about gambling. It’s not just the rush of whatever act you’re doing, whether it’s playing cards or yanking on a slot machine lever. It’s the ever-shifted goalposts of addiction.’
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R E L A T E D P O S T S : ● Book Review: 'Triple Team' by Cassie Cole ● Book Review: 'Sealed with a Kiss' by Cassie Cole ________________________________________________ L E A V E A C O M M E N T A N D L E T' S T A L K A B O U T
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