Meghan Quinn has quickly become a go-to author when I want rom-coms with a side of belly-laughs. Jessica Prince is a new-to-me author, so I was really intrigued to see how their co-written book worked out.
I can definitely say it was a success!
Gavin Saint is like the Sherlock Holmes meets Card Whisperer of poker. With one look he can sum up his opponents’ weaknesses and determine what cards they hold in their hand.
He’s been playing poker for most of his life and made a boatload of money doing it. However, nothing is challenging to him anymore and he is bored.
Until he meets Penelope Prescott, that is.
Penelope (Nell) is a struggling gymnast with hopes of joining a Vegas acrobatics show. In between auditions, she makes ends meet by being a cocktail waitress in the high-rollers suite at a hotel.
Nell is very headstrong, fiercely independent, and her unfiltered mouth gets her into trouble. Which is exactly how she meets Gavin.
I don’t think I have ever read a book with more stubbornness between the main characters. Nell gets under Gavin’s skin and he does anything he can to get a rise out of her.
I liked their banter and witty repartee, with the ‘chase’ being the best part. Nell wants nothing to do with Gavin, but he isn’t having it.
Plus, once they get together the heat level goes through the roof. Seriously steamy, which I was not expecting (in a good way, though!).
I also really enjoyed the secondary characters in Hustler. Nell’s roommate, Page, is just as funny if not more so than Nell.
Gavin’s friends, Scott and Graham, are just as funny and cocky as he is. Their conversations are priceless, by the way.
Well done, ladies!
Current score is…
Nell: 1
Ass-face: 0
God, I love winning. That is, until the dickhead opens his mouth again.
“Oh, Miss Prescott, I forgot to tell you, I love your taste in underwear.”
The wine I’d just sipped suddenly goes flying across the table, right onto Nick’s shirt.
“Oh, sh!t!” I shout, garnering unwanted attention from the people around us as I leaned across the table and dab at the offending stain with my napkin.
“I’m so sorry! I’ll pay for the dry cleaning.”
Nick clears his throat awkwardly. “He’s seen your underwear?”
“She looks fucking phenomenal in lace,” the bastard says. “And that thong…” he trails off with a moan, closing his eyes as he lifts his wine glass to his mouth and takes a sip. “I feel like I’m missing something pretty serious here,” Nick mutters.
“Those damned uniform skirts,” I smile manically, still rubbing at the stain that seems to be growing larger. “Can’t bend over an inch without them showing everything.” I sit back in my chair and shoot Gavin a look that explains, in great detail, the way I’m planning to murder him.
“Obviously, Mr. Saint lacks all gentlemanly decorum since he brought it up.” Nick pushes his chair back and stands. I have a sudden wave of panic that he’s bailing on our date, leaving with his feelings hurt and me alone with Gavin.
“Excuse me for just a minute,” he smiles politely. “I’m just going to go put some water on…this,” he waves at the front of his ruined shirt.
“Oh. Oh! Yeah, sure!” I answer, relieved he’s not bailing on me, although I know I’d deserve it. Once he’s gone, I turn to Gavin.
“You’re Satan, you know that?” I hiss. “Fucking Satan!”
“I’d say I just made your date more interesting, Miss Prescott.”
Current score…
Nell: 1
Prince of Darkness: 1
The fucker.
Thank you for the advanced copy of HUSTLER by Meghan Quinn and Jessica Prince. All opinions are my own.
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Jessica was born and raised in Texas--where she'll stay because she claims the cost of living in Texas excuses the god-awful weather. She is first and foremost a wife and mother. Because of those two things, she's also a self-proclaimed wino and coffee addict.
She's always been and avid lover of all types of books, but romances are her main favorites.
Jessica's husband likes to say reading is her obsession, but she likes to call it her passion...there's a difference.
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date published : May 24, 2022
pages : 316
I make my living as a hustler, and I’m great at it.
I don’t have a single tell and I use that to my advantage to manipulate any situation.
I’ve always known what a person is about to do before they’ve even decided.
That is, until I met Penelope.
I can’t get a read on her, and what’s worse, she doesn’t want anything to do with me.
Which only makes me want her more.
Now I’m in for the hardest hustle of my life.
Somehow I have to convince her she belongs with me.
Good thing I’m always up for a challenge.
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