The Gamble by Kristen AshleyNina heads to Gnaw Bone, Colorado for a break from her life and fiance in England. She has rented a cabin for two weeks and when she arrives finds out that the owner of said cabin, Max, is currently there. Even though it doesn’t seem like it at the time, luckily he was there, as she ends up sick and needs someone to care for her.

I LOVE LOVE Nina, she is one of my absolute favorite heroines. Max is such a delicious hero, one of my favorite book boyfriends. (You might hear this a decent amount, cuz let’s be honest…I have a lot of book boyfriends). Max decides pretty quickly that Nina is the woman for him. They are both dealing with a lot of stuff, and don’t have the greatest communication in the beginning. Max takes away Nina’s car keys so that she has to stay and rest, giving them a chance to get to know one another. Nina quickly realizes that her engagement to Niles has been over for a long time and breaks it off with him. Both are dealing with grief in different ways and getting to know each other and their friends/family. In addition to the romance and multiple subplots going on in the town, you are also drawn into the underlying danger caused by a dark secret in Max’s past. The story is entertaining, well written and easily has you falling in love with all the characters.

Rating:

Hearts: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Sizzle: ✨✨

Standalone in a Series: Colorado Mountain series book 1

Genre:
Romantic Suspense
Small Town

Tropes/Themes:
Mature Couple
Instalove

Favorite Quote: “In my life, I’ve learned when to let shit go and when to fight. This, babe, what we got, I’ll fight for.”