Trick Roller

Seven of Spades, Book 2

By: Cordelia Kingsbridge

Narrated by: Wyatt Baker

Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

It’s the height of summer in Las Vegas. Everyone believes the serial killer Seven of Spades is dead - except Levi Abrams and Dominic Russo - and it’s back to business as usual. For Levi, that means investigating a suspicious overdose at the Mirage that looks like the work of a high-class call girl, while Dominic pursues a tough internship with a local private investigator. The one bright spot for both of them is their blossoming relationship.

But things aren’t so simple. Soon, Levi is sucked into a dangerous web of secrets and lies, even as his obsession with the Seven of Spades intensifies. Dominic knows that Levi isn’t crazy. He knows the Seven of Spades is still out there, and he’ll do anything to prove it. But Dominic has his own demons to battle, and he may be fighting a losing war.

One thing is certain: the Seven of Spades holds all the cards. It won’t be long before they show their hand.

©2018 Cordelia Kingsbridge (P)2019 Riptide Publishing

Best series ever!

There are times I wish I could time travel.... Now is one of those times. So where would I go?

That's easy. I would travel far enough into the future where the rest of this fantastic series had already been turned into audio. Obviously, in this future it's a done deal that all of the books would have been turned into audio.

So by this you might already have guessed that I absolutely loved this book. I was hooked from the first to the last explosive sentence. To the point where I listened to the entire thing all in one go. Real life be damned, I had to know what happened next.

Trick Roller could possibly be read as a standalone but I wouldn't recommend it. It's a continuation of everything that took place in Kill Game. Levi is still investigating the Seven of Spades on the DL, even though his boss closed the case and ordered him off it.

This book has a great balance of the intense suspense, the hunt for the Seven of Spades and the other bad guys in this book. The heat and tension smouldering between Levi and Dominic. The tender moments, the funny ones, the ones that makes you mad and want to yell at the stupid people for not seeing what's in front of them (not Levi and Dominic). It was all perfectly balanced and paced, it felt natural, never forced.

I wished this book was longer, twice so. Not because the plot or characters felt under developed or unfinished - well the plot isn't finished but that's because we're only in the beginning of the series. It didn't feel lacking in anyway. I want it to be longer because I had such a great time listening and I just wasn't ready for it to end.

Levi and Dominic has such a great chemistry, I love them both. Both together and as individuals. They feel credible, I love how they are flawed, have struggles and that things aren't magically resolved. That alone will make me love a book.

Wyatt Baker did a wonderful job narrating this book. He sucked me right in from the start and told this suspenseful tale about love and murder and the hunt for an elusive serial killer. He captured the feel and essence of the book and made me feel it all, the thrill of the chase, the heat between Levi and Dominic, the banter, the exasperation of not being believed. I was there and I loved it.

I can only hope that the rest of the series will be made into audios, because this series is quickly turning into one of my all-time favourites.

A copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review for Love Bytes.

Great Series!!

Loving this series so compelling. I love the mystery and Levi and Dominic’s relationship! The narrator also does a great job! On to the next book!

more more more

I want the next one to be out already I love these book they area so good they keep u one your toes I still don't know who the killer is

Thrilling!!

Oh, baby! Yes! That ending was just so, so, so lip-biting, hair-tearing amazing! Right now I don’t know if I can do this book justice. I went back and read KILL GAME again before picking this one up. And I was blown away by how good the first book was, and delighted that I could follow it with this one.

Three months have passed. The Seven of Spades killer is supposedly dead. Dominic and Levi have been taking things slowly, but they turn up the heat for us from the get go.

Here we get to see some personal demons popping up for both men against a backdrop of murders in Sin City. Gahhh....it was good!! Will you hate me if I stop writing this review?

The writing was great, the cases all interwoven, I couldn’t put it down, and Levi has a size kink.

If you haven’t yet started on this series, I don’t know what to say other than: start it now! You won’t be able to put it down!

A fantastic performance by Wyatt Baker—I cannot wait until the rest of the series comes out in audiobook!!

Couldn’t turn it off!

The second book in the series kept my attention the whole day. The set up of the first murder was quick and it just kept up on a roll. I really enjoyed Levi’s connection time the runaway girl and how he was able to help her. Now to buy #3!

enjoyed it - solid 4.5 stars

Would I listen to it again: yes
Did the story keep me engaged: yes
Was I invested in the characters: yes

📖 Story comment: Good pace, likeable characters, intersting plot - great next instalment.
I like the deepining relationship between Eli and Dom and the layers of their personalities. The case Levi and Martein are working in this instalment was intersting, and the story moved along at a good pace - I was impressed by the way the Seven of Spades re-appeared "with a bang" right at the end!

🎧 Narrator comment: I enjoyed Wyatt Bakers narration, his style reminds me of the old "Dragnet" Radio drama's - he has good timing, and it's easy to tell the characters apart, overall I enjoyed it and would happily listen to it again.

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📌 Where does it fall on my personal scale? 8
• 1 not my thing • 2 didn't like the narration • 3 didn't keep my attention • 4 was good, but once was enough • 5 enjoyed it • 6 will listen again if i'm in the mood for the narrator [4⭐] • 7 goes on the "re-listen" list [4⭐] • 8 kept me up past bed-time [4.5⭐] • 9 recommended to family/friends [4.75⭐] • 10 own it in all formats [5⭐] • 11 keep a copy with me at all times [5⭐]

it just keeps getting better!

Levi has a new case. Dominic is interning as a PI. Both are moving forward with their relationship. Both are dealing with past violence and gambling addiction. Wow, that's a lot going on and this book doesn't even focus on the Seven of Spades until the end which literally made me jerk while driving my car! This is a fast paced book with a murder mystery that kept my attention. and I was quite surprised at who did it. The twist and turns were all key to the ultimate reveal. Of the two men, Dominic is one I related to the easiest, despite his ability to deflect with the not quite truth he needs to share with Levi. The ending was intense and just grabbed me by surprise when the Seven of Spades shows up, with a smoking gun and on a billboard. Book 3 is going to be a heck of a ride, and I'm definitely looking forward to it.

Exciting plot with the best relationship!

I'm obsessed with Levi and Dominic's emotionally mature relationship along with this crime series going on! loving it.

Trick Roller by Cordelia Kingsbridge

Trick Roller by Cordelia Kingsbridge

Chills. That’s what happened to me at the end of this book. Chills down the spine. Needless to say: cliffhanger. For the overall arc of the 5 books, not really for this specific case.

2nd book in the Seven of Spades series. Cop murder mystery format with M-M romance in Las Vegas, NV.

I listened to the audio version narrated by Wyatt Baker who did a good job with the varying voices. Maybe not so much the females but overall it was well done.

The Series is on a Roll! Strong Second Installment

The shadowy side of Vegas comes alive in a gritty romantic suspense series as a cop and an ex-Army Ranger training to be a private detective fight their personal demons, fight for a chance to be together, and fight to find the answers to the dark and hidden Seven of Spades serial killer introduced in the first book and new cases that have come their way.

Trick Roller is book two in the Seven of Spades series. It continues the story of Levi and Dominic begun in Kill Game. This is a series that has a strong series arc for both the romance and suspense elements so works better read/listened to in order.

It's three months after Levi and Dom survived a tough case and came together as a couple, but Levi is coming off a break up of a long-term relationship and struggling with his secret obsession while Dom still fights the demons of his gambling addiction. They are good together and for each other as they believe in and support each other. However, they are keeping secrets and the cracks are forming with all that is going on. This includes Levi's new case of a dead doctor out in Vegas for a medical convention and a man that its easier to find who liked him than the plethora of those who had reason to hate let alone kill him. Dom is working on his PI license and the classic cheating husband case is pushing him hard. Meanwhile, the Seven of Spades... the elephant in the room as quiet as they have gone in all these weeks continues to be an obsession for Levi even though it could mean his career if he doesn't let it go.

There was a lot going on in this second book, but I found it a strong sequel. I am one who enjoys when there is a deep and complex character-driven person or persons along with a cunning case. The author makes both these men fragile and flawed along with strong and capable so I enjoyed getting to know them further and seeing them work at a relationship that isn't easy and work at the situations their careers bring them. They take turns narrating in third person and I enjoyed getting to know both and appreciated the vast differences in how they saw each other and the world around them.

The surrounding cast is a diverse and eclectic group of friends, family, coworkers and neighbors that add to the background tapestry and have their own life stories rather than are merely place cards.

The romance was caliente. This pair might have some serious hurdles outside the bedroom and okay, they are still feeling things out being a couple in all ways, but they sure steam things up. They are opposites and their personalities can rile the other up without much effort, but it is also evident that they have a deep connection and major chemistry. It is obvious that there is more to come because things are unsettled.

That brings me to say that I thought the author shows what a great series author she is. What I mean is that some authors can string some stories in a series together and a reader can like some and love some, but not get into the books as a series whole. Where this author writes so that each series installment feels like the next piece of the story snapping into place and consistent with strength and story path with the book before it. I definitely look forward to what is to come.

Wyatt Baker was a first time narrator for me. I thought he narrated Levi and Dom well. I distinguished their point of view more from style than drastic voice differences. He got pace, tone, and the various voices and accents so that Trick Roller was a wonderful and smooth listening experience.

All in all, I thought this was a fabulous romantic suspense that grabbed my attention both toward the tracking down of murder, but also deepening my investment in the characters and their relationship. Those who enjoy spicy m/m gritty romantic suspense should check out this book/series.