Hard Gamble

Caldwell Brothers, Book 1

By: Colleen Charles

Narrated by: Zac Aleman

Length: 6 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

After my father's tragic death, I swore I'd never fall in love.

I'm the golden boy of Vegas. The head of my family. Every woman wants me, and every man envies me.

Nothing cracks my cool veneer.

Until I fall into the hypnotic depths of her eyes.

One breath.
One look.
One touch.

Before I even know her name, she consumes me. Thaws my frozen heart. Exposes my black soul to the light.

My conscience screams at me to leave her alone. She's innocence incarnate and I'm the guy who intends to steal it. But the devil always wins, and I can see her as the mother of my children.

A future I never thought I deserved hovers right at my fingertips.

Until someone else wants what belongs to me. A vicious mafia kingpin. If he can't have her, he vows to turn her against me.

Underestimating me is his fatal mistake...I'll do anything to protect what's mine.

Anything.

And I won't fight fair.

Hard Gamble is a full-length steamy romance novel from USA Today best-selling author, Colleen Charles, and narrator Zac Aleman, featuring a compelling cast of characters with a mafia villain you'll want to throat-punch. It's the first audiobook in the spell-binding Caldwell Brothers series.

©2017 Second Wind Publishing, LLC (P)2019 Second Wind Publishing, LLC

Great listen!

The narration for this book really brought the book to life. The story was well written and Nixon and Marcella were a great match. Dante is a “great” villain. I am excited to hear about the rest of the brothers and Dante in the future.

The narration really made me feel like I was listening to a new character each time which can be hard to accomplish with just one narrator. It pulled me in and I couldn’t stop listening.

I would highly recommend!

A real gem!

Hard Gamble is a wonderfully written, slightly dark romance with a touch of mafia story by Colleen Charles. Nixon Caldwell sits atop the Armonico, the casino he built as a legacy to his father. Even though he's a very wealthy man, his life is rather colorless and full of anger. He is certain that one man is responsible for the death of his father. That man is Dante Giovanetti. a ruthless mafioso who controls with a firm grip nearly everyone involved with the casino industry. Nix is sure of one thing. Sometime, somehow, Dante is going to get what's coming to him. Working at the Armonico is Manuel (Manny) Castillo. Because of his gambling addiction, he's stolen all of the money his sister, Marcella (Cella) has earned as a maid in the Heartbreak Hotel. Now she can barely afford food or the rental for their trailer. Unlike her brother, Marcella has goals for her future. She wants to go to college and pursue a degree in physical therapy. But, even if she receives a scholarship, she has to turn it down because there is no money for books and other necessities. On her way home one day, Marcella is accosted in the street by a group of thugs and it changes her life forever. One afternoon there is a near-fight going on down on the street below the Armonico. From his office, Nixon spots Marcella and immediately knows that she is going to be his. Not so fast! Although their attraction sizzles, it's not going to be that easy. A highlight is Lincoln Caldwell, Nixon's youngest brother. He was born with cerebral palsy and needs a physical therapist to work with him. With Cella's background as a para for a physical therapist, Nixon knows she'd be perfect and hires her. Linc and Cella have a unique and special relationship. I couldn't help but smile at how much they adore each other. Just when Nix thinks there might be a future with Cella, Dante comes between them. There has to be a way for them to find their happy ending! The pace is perfect and the ending is perfectly done. A real gem of a story!
The narrator, Zac Aleman, does a fabulous job of bringing the story to life. He has an expressive and well-modulated voice that he uses to give each character its own personality. Very well done!

A Hot & Steamy Vegas Romance

This was a wicked good book! Entertaining, engaging and intense, this book had me from the prologue and it just never let me go. This book features a gripping story line and complex characters. The chemistry between Nixon and Marcella is so hot and their attraction is as strong as gravity. I simply loved these two. They are opposites in many ways and yet they share some deep similarities. Skillfully written and cleverly crafted with plenty of steam, drama, suspense and emotions, this book is a five star winner! I am very excited to see what happens in future books in this series.

A true pleasure to the ears!

It's always a pleasure reading a Colleen Charles book. Listening to the audiobook just cements how remarkable and creative of a writer she is. Hard Gamble was fantastic to read and equally fantastic to listen to. I canot wait to download the next book in the series. They are that good!

Hard Gamble

Loved it. I wasnt sure how I would I would like it, I dont read many books about Vegas/gambling/mafia. I was pulled in immediatley and couldn't stop listening. Story was entertaing and the narrator,Zac Aleman, was a excellent. Can't wait ti start the next Caldwell Brother book.

Absolute Scorcher

An awesome first book in the Series and my first audio book. Absolutely fantastic storytelling, great characters, and great narrator choice. Especially love Dante. Can’t recommend this one higher - loved it and am moving straight on to Book 2.