Hard Gamble (Caldwell Brothers Book 1)

A gambling addict brother, a criminal lord who thinks to own her, the heroine has lots of problems when a man enters her life on a white horse. The story is easy to read and will keep your attention although at times you can’t help but feel the woman is a little too easy to come to wrong conclusions and several negative situations are little contrived. Still the story is entertaining and fairly steamy and romantic.

Nixon and Marcella is like a modern day Cinderella story, only better!!! What a great start to an incredible series! This is a must read series for romance lovers!

Nixon and Marcella’s story kicks off this series that you HAVE to check out!!! Nixon is the oldest Caldwell brother, left to take care of his family after the passing of his parents. Marcella has experienced loss as well but doesn’t have the fortune that Nixon has to support her. Marcella’s brother has a gambling addiction which is how they meet. Nixon is obsessed with Marcella after seeing her for the first time. He hires her to work with his younger brother and their time together helps to thaw his hard heart. Marcella is a beautiful, independent, and feisty woman who brings light into Nixon’s world. Unfortunately a rival seeks to destroy Nixon and his relationship with Marcella as well. Can they survive secrets and betrayal? Will their love conquer all? I LOVED their story and I can’t wait to read about the other brothers and characters from this wonderful world that Colleen has created!

I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

This book was just an okay book for me. I didn’t really care for the heroine too much, she just seemed so very wishy washy to me. It was just okay.

Oh my goodness… I hope the rest of this series is this hot! Marcella is stubborn, refusing help as she keeps bailing her brother out of his gambling troubles, preferring to do things herself. She makes Nix feel things he thought were long hidden. Of course, when she won’t accept his help, he intervenes anyway, but you just know that his deception is going to backfire on him. Groveling will be involved to get him out of this doghouse. I love that Nix’s mom named her sons after presidents, although it’s a shame that he got stuck with a dud. Favorite side character – Lincoln, Nix’s younger brother with CP, is such a sweet little boy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book; it sucked me at the the very beginning, never letting go of my attention.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I received an ARC from the author thru Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving my review. This is the first book in the Caldwell Brothers series and is about Nixon and Marcella. He is the oldest brother who has taken on everything since losing his parents. She is the youngest but has still sacrificed and taken on everything because of her brother and losing her parents. They may have several differences but their strengths are very similar. Nixon never imagined having these kind of feelings for a woman but she has brought him to his knees. Marcella has to trust her heart and him. I thought that this was a good book with characters that were strong and drew you in. There is heartache, drama, danger, family, lust and love in their story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Hard Gamble is book one in the Caldwell Brothers series. Nixon Caldwell is the eldest brother of five. Nixon mom died during childbirth due to complications with his baby brother Lincoln. Nixon mom and dad were high school sweethearts and after she died it broke his heart. His dad started making careless mistakes and loss the will to live and commit suicide. As the eldest he was force take on the responsibilities of raising his siblings. Nixon parents love story was epic he grew up seeing that. Nixon saw what love did to his dad and it did him that’s why he never let any woman get close to him. This is the reason why he’s alone and single. He ‘s a workaholic and he’s driven by revenge to take down his enemy Dante Giovanetti because he is also a contributing factor to his dad’s suicide. Nixon is a twenty nine years older self made billionaire and owner of the Armonico casino in Vegas. He’s considered the most eligible bachelor in Sin City. He’s driven, handsome and calculated. Nixon Is a broken man his heart is a black hole. He has zero interest in women until the day he was coming back from visiting his parents graveside and got back to the Armonico witness a commotion. He saw the silhouette of Marcella at his casino arguing with her brother Mason about money. In the instant he saw her he was transfixed he couldn’t even think. It was only one thing on his body that twitches to life, the part that had been dead for years. Her curves tempts him in way that he never felt before. He was fascinated even though he didn’t want to be. He asked Troy Cass his second in command to find out everything that he can about her.
Mason Carson is a twenty one year old. She lives with her older brother Mason Carson in rundown double wide trailer. Mason is a dealer at the Armonico he’s also has a gambling problem and constantly spends up his money and the money that Marcella works to pay rent for the lot. She loss both of her parents to a terrific car accident. Marcella is smart she graduated at the top of her high school class with a full ride National Merit Scholarship and she was awarded several other scholarships as well as need based federal grants. She even got into Hunter College in Philadelphia. However, she declined then was forced to drop out of the Las Vegas local community college just shy of few months from graduating all because of Mason gambling addiction and she was short on funds. Marcella was hard working, proud and doesn’t believe in a handout. Nixon was blown away by her strength and grace and he wanted to take care of her.
She was is latest obsession and he was determined to make life better for her. He was willing to let her working at his casino because he knew that her working conditions at the Heartbreak hotel is substandard. He wanted to have his fill on her so he blackmailed her brother to get her to work as Linc para so he could near her. Their chemistry is lightning. Nixon is attracted to Marcella but he had to play it cool so he doesn’t scare her off and Marcella thinking that he can’t have feelings for someone like her. She got tired of his indifference towards her and dismissal and throw his papers off his desk to get a rise out of him. They acted on their attraction and it was steamy, intense and frenzied. Hard Gamble was well written, fast pace, and filled with drama. The story was filled passion, revenge, deception, revelations, healing, love.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

loved it !!! hated it !!! a good start for a new series !!! love Nixon !!! Marcella not so much ! this is a story about revenge and addiction, the ups and downs attraction/love…it was funny and heated… hopeful the next book will be better.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I thought this story was wonderful. I loved the story line. I loved the characters. I thought the disabled little brother was so sweet. I thought her older brother was completely useless. I loved the underlying drama. I loved the pride in the two main characters and how they fell for each other. This was a great story and I look forward to reading more books by this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

The chemistry, sweetness, and twists in plot kept things interesting. Add in drama and passion and you have a good read.

I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.