Double Down (All In Duet, #2)

Double down – to strengthen one’s commitment to a particular strategy or course of action, typically one that is potentially risky

Double Down begins right where Even Money left us. Bell in her suite, Dario mourning over the loss of Gwen and practically forcing Bell out of the suite and Vegas.

Bell ends up back in Dario’s home state of Louisiana and we are introduced to Laurent. I absolutely was intrigued by him, I want to know more of his story (because I’m sure he has a great one). As much as a dislike Robert Hawk, I did enjoy reading things from his point of view and from Claudia’s. It was nice to get into their mindset at times.

This book started out fast paced and towards the end did kind of slow down a little, but it was nice to see some happiness and signs of a drama and stress free relationship between Bell and Dario. Of course, that was rather short lived. Watching Bell and Dario’s relationship continue to grow was sweet. They are both so broken, but despite that overcome a lot and love each other unconditionally.

“Just love me through the cracks.”

I loved that we got some more of Meredith, Rick and Lance. I loved the interactions between Rick, Lance and Dario and I wish there was more of that.

I was hooked and couldn’t put the book down, however, I felt that there were still some unanswered questions at the end. Maybe, that means the story of Bell, Dario, their friends and their enemies will continue in the future.

Just like Vegas, this story of full of excitement. Murder, kidnapping, explosions and steamy sex scenes. It will have you on the edge of your seat, it may make you shed a tear and it will make you smile.

Great author. Great story.

In this second book of the duet, Bell and Dario are already a couple, but what makes this book riveting is that they get more involved, more passionate about each other, as they deal with the aftermath of Gwen’s murder. As events occur and their union comes into danger, Dario becomes more devoted than ever to keep Bell safe.

After the murder of Gwen, Dario takes several drastic steps to protect Bell from the authorities and from his father-in-law’s wrath. He’s convinced that the proposed victim was Bell and the murderer killed Gwen by mistake because they are similar in appearance and Gwen was in Bell’s suite. He’s also convinced that his father-in-law is responsible for the actions against Bell.

There’s a real huge production of police and FBI agents, all working together to capture Gwen’s murderer. There’s a psycho killer on the loose and Dario is convinced that they may go after Bell, so he utilizes all his resources to protect her.

The action started a little slowly and mostly dealt with sorrow and guilt. As events develop, the suspense ratches up and the danger to Bell climbs up. Bell and Dario deal all through the book with the guilt that their love affair caused Gwen’s loss. Dario has to deal with the loss of his best friend, a woman he swore to protect; and now he has to protect the woman he loves from an unknown danger. Bell hovers between her typical independent spirit, and her desire to bow to Dario’s need to protect her.

This book was riveting from start to finish. I liked that it started slow and then picked up speed and suspense until I was literally biting my nails and reading. There’s a surprise at the end that didn’t make me so very happy. I felt it was inconclusive and left some plot lines open, unless there’s more related books in the future, in which case I will be a happy reader.

Double Down is the second book in the All In Duet, and picks up right where Even Money ended. We have Dario and Bell both caught between a rock and a hard place. Dario is grieving for the loss of his best friend, and Bell is grieving the loss of the man she loves. Both characters are being hunted, and Dario is scrambling to keep Bell safe from the monsters.

I am always afraid to read sequels, as I always build up the story in my head. Double Down was a great read, and I was more than happy to read it, but I felt some points should have been elaborated on a bit more. Towards the end there were some very big things left unsaid, so I am going to pray that there are more books coming based on secondary characters.

This book was a quicker read than the first one, and while the first book was heavy on angst, this book gave priority to the mystery that surrounds Dario and Bell, Both the characters didn’t waver in their love for one another, and the sex scenes were obviously hot as hell. But what endeared me the most was their vulnerability towards each other, and how they didn’t have any problem expressing it.

Dario and Bell were perfect for each other.

Alessandra Torre really knows how to capture my full attention with her suspenseful books.

If you thought Even Money was one thrilling ride, then you haven’t seen nothing yet!

Dario and Bell have many obstacles they need to get through and that’s still to be seen if they can even fix all the bad that revolves around them in order to be able to get their happily ever after.

I can guarantee you that this duet will definitely have you on your toes and make you keep double guessing what’s going on. I love the way Alessandra Torre always weaves her suspenseful stories that will keep you completely at the tip of your toes.

You definitely want to pick up this duet

After that cliffhanger ending of Even Money, I really wasn’t sure which direction Alessandra was going to take this book. It could have gone a couple of different ways, and I have to say I was torn as to what I wanted to see happen. Would Dario and Bell spend most of the book apart while Dario tried to fix everything that had happened? Would they come together and be a unified team against the forces working so hard to pull them apart?

Alessandra writes great romantic suspense!! She takes Bell and Dario on a journey full of twists and turns, the underlying thought being: have these two been together long enough to say their relationship will stand the trials and tribulations ahead of them? The uncertainty of what lies ahead, the dangers they know they still have to face, is it worth staying together when being together is what caused this whole chain of events to spiral out of control in the first place? Both of their lives were on a completely different trajectory before they met, and now their lives as they knew them are gone. Do they want those lives back, or is the love they feel for each other strong enough to forge ahead on a brand new path?

There are a couple of “I did not see that coming!” Moments that had my jaw dropping. The suspense had me flipping the pages to see what direction the story would go next. The sexy times between Bell and Dario had my pulse racing. I loved the secondary characters, hopefully they’ll pop up in a future book some day. This book ends with what I would call a happy for now ending, with a couple of plot points not quite finished, so I’m hoping we’ll get more of this story down the road sometime.

If you love romantic suspense, you need to read this duet!

***I received an ebook copy from the author at no cost***

Oh my word. Alessandra Torre wrapped this series up perfectly with Double Down.

I have to start by saying I was relieved as all get out when I opened the book. The first one ended with an insane cliffhanger, and I was seriously itching to get started on this book. Double Down is packed with all sorts of action, and romance and suspense, and I loved it. Alessandra kept me guessing throughout the story. I would foolishly believe I had everything all figured out, then things would head off in a completely different direction, and I loved that! I love it when authors keep me guessing about things.

I read this book so fast because I literally couldn’t put it down. I craved more and more, I had to know what was coming next. This is a testament to Alessandra’s writing abilities, because she had me glued to my kindle like it was a lifeline.

Dario is amazing, just as much so as he was in the first book. And the chemistry between him and Bell is insane. He’s so protective of her, and his personal took on a whole new light in this book. He really showed up for Bell and it was amazing to read about. There’s so much passion and intensity between these two. The heat is there and the connection is there and Alessandra did a great job of crafting the romance alongside the suspense.

This author is a total genius when it comes to romantic suspense. She knows what she’s doing and she does it well. Double Down is fast-paced, filled with twists and turns, and all kinds of hot. You have to read the first book in the series, Even Money, to truly understand the book and be able to follow the story. But, if you’re looking for some good suspense with a sexy and dark hero, and a fierce, independent female, then this is the series for you.

Five stars to this novel!

3.5/4 stars

Ummmmmm you know when you read a book and you know it’s well written, well paced packed with all kinds of suspense, action and hot scenes but as a reader you feel a disconnect with the characters that stops you getting fully absorbed, I’m sad to say that is how this duet has been for me.

I just didn’t feel it with Bell and Dario as a couple for some reason and it was a distraction for me as a reader. Yet the sex scenes between them are hot as hades.

That said this is a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat as the author takes readers on many twists and turns, some predictable maybe but you can never be sure with this author. And the conclusion to this story is not what I was expecting. I loved the bad guy in this story, and there are some great side characters that I would like to see more of even if this is a duet not a series.

Double Down is a great read if you love romantic suspense books that keep you guessing. Give it a go because I think it was me not the book.

This is the second book of a duet and therefore it is essential to read the first book, Even Money, first.

Intense!!

I think my favorite characters in this book were Laurent, Lance and Rick. They are bad-ass!

The connection between Dario and Bell is so strong that being apart seems to wreck them as they deal with the aftermath. When together again, it’s passionate, explosive.

She’s hiding out in his childhood town. Introduce Laurent and Septime. She’s a Cajun Amazon and he’s as loyal to his friend and as Cajun as can be.

Meanwhile, in Vegas, all hell breaks loose. Shocking and yet not. *fist pump*

Not just one psychopath, but two!

He’s all in and going to get them the future they’re dreaming of. She just wants to be together.

Remember! Psycho number two on the loose! Danger follows Dario and Bella at every turn. Batshit crazy, I tell you!

Friends come up big in Double Down! Guns,bullet proof vests, rocket launchers and attitude! Add in hummers and SUV’s filled with ex-military and you’ve got a party! (Well, a search party). They’re going after Bell and that crazy bitch! I absolutely love their friends!! The kind to take a bullet for you or help you bury a body. Yesssss!

The ending? A HEA and a trip far, far away. A new career. And cray-cray herself rotting and plotting.

The sexy suspenseful ending in the All In Duet opens at full speed. The story picks up with the cliffy that emerged in Book 1. Grief and sadness along with anger and questions come full circle.

Dario and Bell and their relationship…….they have found each other in a sea of impossibilities. But what they feel can’t be denied and whatever the craziness of their lives throws at them, they remember that love. I loved that the author kept that reminder in the story because there was lots thrown at this couple.

Deaths, FBI, Whys, Guilt, and Love…… all these things swirl in this story. The story stars out fast pace but does do a little slow down. The extra characters, Meredith and Laurent, were great. I wished there had been more of Rick and Lance but when present, they are full guns blazing.
Dario and Bell, their commitment and their love are what triumph in the story. So many obstacles, so many evil deterrents, but so much passion and desire to overcome and survive.

I hope that this isn’t the end for Dario and Bell. I would have liked an extended Epilogue, somewhat farther out in their relationship. I want more of their love and to see what the future has planned for them in Sin City.