Last Bets

by Mary Carroll Moore

Escape to paradise. Find trouble instead!

Last Bets, by award-winning author of the bestseller, A Woman's Guide to Search & Rescue, is a fast-paced suspense novel that will appeal to fans of The Queen's Gambit and The White Lotus. In Mary Carroll Moore's must-read new book, female ambition and morality collide in the darkness of a gambling underworld on the idyllic, exotic island of Bonaire.

As a child, Elly Sorensen's gambler father drafted his daughter to use her paranormal gift of second sight to help him win big at gambling tables. After nearly getting killed back then, Elly vowed never again.

Now she secretly uses her visions to paint portraits with startling authenticity. Celebrities seek out Elly for her rare talent at capturing their essence. She's at the height of her artistic career.
Then Elly's estranged husband suddenly dies, leaving her with massive debts that must be paid right away. To quickly make the amount of money she needs, Elly flees to the Caribbean island of Bonaire to finish a commission for a wealthy man.

There, she meets Australian teenager and kindred spirit Rosie Ryan. Rosie's father also uses his daughter to scout information that nefariously helps him win at gambling. Rosie reminds Elly of her sister Lily, a girl she failed to rescue long ago.

Rosie's emotional needs and deceptions, along with a deadly hurricane racing toward the island, draw Elly back into the gambling world to win the fast money she desperately needs.

Even though Elly can barely rescue herself, will she use her paranormal powers again? Can she fully trust the grifter, Rosie? Underestimated by the men around them, what would happen if Rosie and Elly teamed up to conquer forces they never imagined? Will they fight for a future that promises real freedom?

Genres: Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

Published April 21, 2024

About the author

Mary Carroll Moore is the Amazon-bestselling and award-winning author of three novels: A Woman's Guide to Search & Rescue (2023), Last Bets (2024), and the PEN/Faulkner-nominated young adult novel, Qualities of Light (2009). Her writing has been featured on NPR and in the New York Times. She received her MFA from Goddard College and has taught throughout the US and abroad at various writing schools and universities since 1998. Her writing-craft book, Your Book Starts Here, won the New Hampshire Literary Awards “Reader’s Choice” award.

Before moving into fiction, she worked as a chef, a cooking-school owner, a cookbook author, and a syndicated columnist for the Los Angeles Times. Her first cookbook won a Julia Child/IACP award. Over two hundred of her essays, stories, and articles have appeared in magazines and literary journals.

She lives in New Hampshire with her family.

Reviews

[Nursebookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

TITLE: LAST BETS
AUTHOR: Mary Carroll Moore
PUB DATE: 04.21.2024 Now Available

Last Bets, by award-winning author of the bestseller, A Woman's Guide to Search & Rescue, is a fast-paced suspense novel that will appeal to fans of The Queen's Gambit and The White Lotus. In Mary Carroll Moore's must-read new book, female ambition and morality collide in the darkness of a gambling underworld on the idyllic, exotic island of Bonaire.

THOUGHTS:

Mary Carroll Moore’s impressive writing grapples with a heartwrenching story of two women, an unlikely friendship - set in the exotic Caribbean island of Bonaire. The high stakes world of gambling is certainly front center but in its heart is the friendship, the complex dynamics, and the beautifully nuanced characters both human and elemental.

I was completely entertained - Moore certainly writes with big emotions and deep understanding of broken people that are yet still very human and relatable. Fantastic read!

[Debbie Rozier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous!! This book has drama (both family and non family), an exotic locale, action, and betting on backgammon.

It has a supernatural element as the main character, Elly, has a few gifts that help her as an artist and playing backgammon.

There is an impending hurricane which definitely adds an eventful element along with all the other facets of the read .

There is a teenager named Rosie who is an integral character in this book and I LOVED how we see her growth as well as her friendship with Elly.

I read this book in one sitting!

[Booksandcoffeemx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-paced, intriguing and beautifully written!
This book has a bit of everything to keep you engaged until the end, gorgeous location, art, gambling and paranormal elements with an intriguing plot. I read it in one sitting.

Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this tour invite.

𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘀 by Mary Carroll Moore releaswd April 21, 2024.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcof...

[Heidi Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last Bets is an engaging and gripping story about love, friendship, betrayal, and the rebuilding of lives amidst storms. Set in an exquisite tropical island, the incredible characters will touch your heart, including the wild and impulsive Rosie, the tender-hearted, clairvoyant artist Elly, and the handsome electric Trevor. This is the third Mary Carroll Moore book I’ve read and I found it to be fast-paced and brilliantly written—her best yet! I only hope there is a soon-to-come sequel with the same characters.

[Joyce Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd novel I’ve read by this author and I recommend her if you’re looking for a good read. Here’s why:
- She writes beautifully and clearly.
- Her stories are original and the plots are engaging. I really Do want to know what happens next.
- Dialogue and the characters are believable and likable.
- Pacing is the right tempo to keep the reader hooked.
- Her real gift, in my view, is setting. She has a talent for putting you there. A tropical island during a hurricane creates a setting that is almost a character in the story. The setting can be an essential part of the story that pulls the reader in…that’s what a successfully written setting can do. A teenage girl adrift in a wild ocean…it doesn’t get more tense than that.
- The suggestion of danger – not just from the weather - creates a tone of action, tension and a want of safety. The fear the reader feels as the story reaches its crescendo, is balanced by the knowing that because Moore is a pro, the conclusion will be satisfying and realistic. It is…5 stars!

[Becca Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far, this is a fast-paced and interesting story that really moves. The high-risk, wealthy culture of the gambling world on this island contrasts beautifully with the aspects of nature that are so appealing, like the scuba diving and the ocean. Both narrators, Elly and Rosie, have to be so careful to do what's right in their individual worlds, but in different ways. Rosie's growing up, she doesn't fit in her father's world, yet she has to try. Elly's world has fallen apart and she's trying desperately to find a reasonable way to get her life back. I also like how the writer shows the very human confusion that goes on for both narrators, Rosie's because of her age, and her need to be approved of, and Elly's because of her paranormal abilities that make her so ill. I can see how people can make bad choices based on the fact that they are not supported. I'm so involved in these characters' lives, I don't want the book to end. It's a good book, I like it very much.

[Lisa Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second book by this author and I enjoyed it as much as the first. The story is well-crafted and her writing style draws you in and immerses you in the story right from the beginning. The setting is the beautiful island of Bonaire and I loved her descriptions of life there. The characters are memorable and I liked how down to earth and real they were, coping with their life circumstances and each other. I don't play backgammon so it was interesting to learn more about the game as well.

I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Deonn Bunnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This requires a tee shirt that reads Please do not disturb while I am reading ‘Last Bets’
by Mary Carroll Moore.
I had to remind myself to breathe.
I was immediately surrounded by the richness of the island of Bonaire. Tension, danger and beauty emerge soon after the story begins and each character is interesting in brilliant and unique ways. A big storm moves this story along as they all lean in with each other on this tiny island for a last dive, a first crush, a last bet and so much more. Having finished reading I miss everyone and long to check in on them. This was a smooth and exciting story , I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend it with a ‘do not disturb’ tee shirt.

[Christy Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a real page turner from cover to cover! The island setting was captivating and storm and scuba diving scenes had me on the edge of my seat. Although I’m too risk averse to gamble, the high stakes backgammon games were fascinating for me. Elly and Rosie were memorable characters and I loved the bond they developed.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. It read so easily at a perfect pace and kept you wanting to read. The characters especially Rosie and Elly just catch your attention and you wait to see how they develop and what will happen. Great ending and looking forward to a sequel!

[Atina Diffley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not want to leave these characters when this story ended! Or the glorious tropical island . . . I particularly loved the scenes of painting. They are described so vividly, I could see the intense colors.

[Jean Hey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Carroll Moore brings island magic to this compelling novel about two women burned by past mistakes who find that the only way out is to gamble for their future. A must-read story of inter-generational friendship and paranormal powers.

[Mary Skillings · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a fun read. I stayed up way too late racing for the last page! It also had depth and layers...some thought provoking situations. Great character development -- the people in the story felt real to me. Another reader pointed out how Moore introduces us again to people who are experiencing paranormal abilities; something more and more people in our real world are also experiencing. I appreciated that.

[Marilyn Goncalves · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an interesting fast paced book with an appealing plot line and intriguing characters.
Set on an island with the gambling world as a backdrop this book weaves in some paranormal powers and two women coming together to break away from the past for a better future. The character development is awesome. This would make the perfect weekend read

[Larhken Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the quirky characters, the painting process details, and the story evolution. The Caribbean setting took me back to time in the tropics, a very welcome break from rainy, cold, overcast Northern California winter. Appreciated the end, and the set-up for possible sequel(s). Thank you!

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary has done it again by writing two fantastic strong woman. Both of the POVs are relatable for all generations.

I particularly loved the beautiful descriptions of the island and all the diving. This book is the perfect beach read for while you are at the beach or dreaming of it.

[RACHEL · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read, filled with lovely language. A lighter read than I would normally pick for a mystery but the author was able to paint a world that seemed both real and magical at the same time.

Thank you to Goodreads as I won a copy of this book in a giveaway.

[D E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary’s Best So Far!

I enjoyed Mary’s two prior novels, as well as her nonfiction book on writing. Her most recent, “Best Bets,” surpassed my expectations with rich characters, settling, and intrigue. A very rewarding read.

[Tracy Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A paranormal gift and a gambling underworld. What could go wrong? I found myself cheering for the women as they navigate desperation and friendship, conflicted by doing what is right and personal gain. I especially liked seeing the process of painting through the painter’s eyes. This author gives us an experience of seeing art being created. Awesome ending too.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An artist falls in with high-stakes gamblers in this gripping story set on Bonaire in the Caribbean. Moore’s beautifully vivid and nuanced writing paints a setting infused with color, mood, and intensity of emotion—on land and beneath the ocean. As the barometer plummets from an approaching storm, the artist finds herself in increasing danger. Highly recommended!

[Sarah W · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved how there were multiple things going on but didn’t feel chaotic. Between the gambling, diving, and painting it made for a fast paced read. I loved the two POV and how they had similar interests but completely different backgrounds. The paranormal aspect was done really well. Elly had consequences to using it so I think it showed more of her character and how determined she was in her pursuits. I loved the suspense that came with the diving and the weather. When weather is a big part of the plot it is always a plus for me. Another great book by this author.

Thank you @marycarrollmoore and @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy.

[Mary Skillings · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book which held me from beginning to end. Some suspense and mystery, some quirky and chuckle worthy moments. I think Mary captured the angst of a teenage girl quite realistically; she's my favorite character. Strong, sassy, but also fragile and vulnerable.

[Nan Araneo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the way the author described the Island of Bonaire.. I could feel the heat and the bright light of the blinding sun. The buildup of the storm was so exciting, and connected with the emotions of the characters in the story. The clouds, wind, wild ocean and underwater descriptions were so beautifully and boldly painted.. as important as the personalities of the people living there

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

An uplifting page turner about what happens when two artistic women, one of whom has a mystical power, go up against the gambling establishment and try to free themselves from the legacy of their fathers. Set on an island known for its scuba diving, Mary Carroll Moore vividly captures what it feels like to be underwater as well as the natural beauty of the reef.

[elena j. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last Bets by Mary Carroll Moore is a sharp, addictive blend of psychological suspense and slow-burn emotional drama the kind of novel that slips you into paradise only to show you the shadows waiting beneath the sun.

At the center is Elly Sorensen, an artist with a secret past a childhood marked by a gambler father who used her clairvoyant gift as his advantage at the table. After barely surviving that world, she’s built a quieter life, channeling her visions into uncanny, soul-deep portraits that have made her a sought-after painter. But when her estranged husband dies and leaves her buried in debt, she’s forced back into the currents she once escaped landing on the postcard-perfect island of Bonaire, where danger is as close as the heat.

Moore’s strength is the emotional layering: the push-pull between power and vulnerability, ambition and fear. When Elly meets Rosie Ryan, an Australian teenager trapped in a similarly exploitative father-daughter dynamic, the story sharpens into something more intimate. Rosie becomes both a reminder and a reckoning the echo of Elly’s sister Lily, the girl she couldn’t save. Their fragile connection part mentorship, part mirror becomes the emotional engine of the novel.

As a hurricane barrels toward the island, so does everything Elly has tried to outrun: old wounds, new temptations, the lure of fast cash, and the moral cost of using her psychic gift again. The tension rises like pressure in the atmosphere charged, unpredictable, and deeply human.

Readers who love The Queen’s Gambit, The White Lotus, or character-driven thrillers with a supernatural edge will find Last Bets irresistible. It’s a story of survival, power reclaimed, and the thin line between saving someone and losing yourself.

[Mary Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a painter, I've long been fascinated with how artists see life--and people--differently because of their training. It wasn't a far leap to imagine an artist who brought this unique kind of seeing into her portraiture via the special talent of visions about her subjects. Elly, the older narrator, is beset by these visions, which show her the portrait subject's past and change her own paintings right before her eyes--not always a welcome experience. What might happen if she got desperate enough to use this talent in other arenas, such as a "Queen's Gambit" style of play during a high-stakes game? She sees how to win, big. She needs the money, desperately. But how does she justify this within herself?

Rosie, the younger narrator, also faces moral dilemmas--her youth and wild nature push her unerringly towards trouble, mostly breaking into guests' rooms at the resort where she stays with her gambler father. When she's faced with a choice of telling the truth and causing trouble for someone else or holding a secret of what really happened, what will she choose?

These kinds of dilemmas are common to human experience; I explore them in this book, with unexpected results.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was easy to become immersed in this unique story.

Elly, a portrait artist, leaves the States for Bonaire, an island in the Caribbean. She’s looking for a safe harbor from some personal disasters. She meets a kindred spirit in young, wild Rosie, an Australian with some baggage of her own.

First, the setting was amazing; island life, scuba diving, and the brewing storm were thrilling. Secondly, the world of high-stakes gambling added excitement, building suspense and tension.

Elly and Rosie, both wonderful characters, bring forth many tender and thought-provoking moments. I loved that Elly was a clairvoyant, but it was hard on her. And Rosie was seeking approval. You see their need for love and support, which they find in one another – a great age-gap friendship.

All these elements are woven together seamlessly; I didn't want to set this one down.

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @marycarrollmoore for a spot on tour and a gifted book.

[Emma Laurence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Carroll Moore's best yet. Why?

The dynamic pace throughout. Engaging, captivating—with a tension that reminds me of watching, sometimes breathlessly, as a high stakes game plays out.

Female leads, Elly and Rosie, intertwine in an artistic and realistic way. An unusual love triangle unites them, and makes perfect sense given each woman's nature. Visual art as a metaphor for an emerging and evolving relationship is a brilliant choice. I adore multi-generational connections, in books and real life, and this one shines.

Fully alive and vibrant secondary characters support the leads. Each time they "step on stage," I'm glad to learn more of their stories and so appreciate what they add to the whole.

The Bonaire setting is a character unto itself, bright/dark, placid/moody, sparkling/dangerous.

Highly recommended.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

With more and more people becoming aware of their extra-sensory, paranormal or psychic abilities, an important question arises: what to do with this gift? Use it in service to others or for personal gain? Elly Sorensen is faced with this question, and it's an important one. Author Mary Carroll Moore broaches this topic without judgment.

Both female characters came to life for me. I want to text them to find out how they're doing now, and I wouldn't be surprised if either of them replied.

Finally, the ending was so satisfying and unexpected that I'd read the entire book all over again just to relive the feeling I had after consuming the last sentence.

[Miss W Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last Bets by Mary Carroll Moore is a captivating read set in a Caribbean Island.
This fast-paced story explores two womens lives with the backdrop of high stakes gambling.

Rosie and Elly both have different stories to tell, and I appreciate both of their narrations.

I was delighted to see the author bring in paranormal into Elly's story and how it affects her physically as well as mentally.

Both women have something to prove and sometimes that is too themselves and sometimes that is to another person in the case of Rosie and her father.

The characters are dynamic, well developed and complex.

This is a fast paced read that I really enjoyed.