A Small Town Gamble

Love in Harmony Valley #13

by Melinda Curtis

A small town romance with quirky characters about the healing power of unexpected love from USA Today Bestselling author Melinda Curtis.

It's hard to start over.

But single mother Annie Raye is determined to make it work. Step one, move back home to Harmony Valley. Step two, apply to jobs outside of California where hopefully no one will discover her ex-husband is a convicted embezzler.

And sometimes you can't be completely honest.

When Annie finally lands a job, she packs up the car and shows up for work, only to be told that she can't have the job until she passes a background check conducted by a tall, handsome stranger who doesn't seem to realize she's no trouble. No trouble at all.

But the past has a way of catching up to you.

And when Annie's unexpectedly does, she has to make a choice about her future, about who she wants to be, where she wants to be, and who she wants in her life.

Fans of movies with Las Vegas twists, like Oceans Eleven, or Hallmark movies where the city life isn't all that its cracked up to be will love this fun, heartwarming romance with a happily ever after.

196 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2024

About the author

Prior to writing romance, award-winning, USA Today Bestseller Melinda Curtis was a junior manager for a Fortune 500 company, which meant when she flew on the private jet she was relegated to the jump seat—otherwise known as the potty. After grabbing her pen (and a parachute) she made the jump to full-time writer. Between writing sweet romance and sweet romantic comedy, Melinda finds time to bond with her husband over home remodeling projects. She recently came to grips with the fact that she’s an empty nester and a grandma, concepts easier to grasp than jet-setting on a potty.

Sign up for her newsletter on her website to receive two free reads.

Reviews

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melinda Curtis is my go-to author for books that are light and sweet rom-coms with a little drama and plenty of laughs. This book was perfect for a break from the suspense and thrillers that I usually read and did not disappoint me with a plot that rolled along quickly and with plenty of fun along the way. The characters were quirky and relatable, especially single mother Annie and PI Sam. Both are intent on completing a goal and the fact that their goals slightly collide makes for hilarious interactions between the two. The author weaves a subplot masterfully into the main plot and has the two story lines merge together in a believable way. This is one of the most entertaining books in the series, and it can certainly be read and enjoyed as a standalone. Harmony Valley books are favorites and this one has climbed rapidly to the top of my list of books to recommend.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book via BookFunnel. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, this was such a good book. I couldn't put it down. I started it late last night, woke up early this morning, worked 8 hours, and finished this book well before bedtime! I enjoyed the dynamics between Sam and Annie and the love Annie has for her daughter and her cousin Jill... who just so happens to be married to someone's best friend...

[Julia David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a great series. I love the small town and the characters. Annie is trying to rebuild her life after her ex embezzled from his company. She lost everything and had to move in with her grandmother in Harmony Valley. All she has left is her daughter. She should get a great job that pays well, but no one wants to hire her because of her ex. When she finally gets a job offer in Las Vegas, she is sure that she is finally moving up. When she gets there, they say she hasn't passed the background check. She was exonerated when they first thought she was helping her ex and it should not have shown up on her background. Sam is the PI who checked her background, and he thinks he knows her type. She will not get that job if he has anything to say about it. Annie confronts him and keeps bugging him. She won't leave him alone and he won't help her. As they go on an adventure, they really get to know each other. Can two people who have a lot of baggage get together? Both are stubborn and won't give in. Can they make it work?

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Complicated Past
Annie might be a small town girl but this story plays out in the big bad city of Vegas. Bad luck has followed her since her husband was arrested and imprisoned but with a new job in Vegas things might be turning around, until suddenly she loses her job before she can begin. Furious but attracted to the PI who did her background check, over the course of several days secrets on both sides are disclosed and seen in a new light. Loved this story and cannot wait to read the romance of the secondary characters coming next.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[MaryEllen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annie and Sam are working at cross purposes from the start. Getting in the way of her fresh start is her complicated past... and trying to prove to Sam she's no criminal while hiding important bits of information from him.

Poor old Sam also has his best friend acting strangely and keeping secrets.

This story was so much fun to read! There were surprising twists at several points and, of course, a HEA.

This is my voluntary review of a copy I received from Booksprout.

[Debra Floyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness this book riveted me. Couldn’t put it down. This book is excellently written.

The characters are so relatable and just draw you into their lives. This is a must read book!

[Candy Laine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annie and Sam have both let their respective pasts rule their lives. Till Jill refuses Annie a job cleaning toilets and Vince gives Sam a boring job to do background checks. Things come to a rather interesting start.

[Barbara Selman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this crazy far fetched story. I started one day and finished it up the next.

[Cath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book fourteen of the Love in Harmony Valley series and the main characters are single mother Annie Raye, who is looking for more work to keep it all together after moving back to Harmony Valley, after her husband got imprisoned for embezzlement and her career choices in finance in California were shot, and Sam Knight, a Private Investigator and Bounty Hunter. His best friend Vince Patrizio visits him and asks him to run some background checks on possible new employees for a business he has invested in, Slotto Gambling Machines, Vegas and he has an interest in one in particular, that he has recommend for a position, but doesn’t say who. He and Vince met on their first day as Marines and Sam saved Vince’s life in an attack on the Embassy they were guarding, leaving Vince with a limp, but Sam with lots of guilt and refuses to carry a gun because of what he did that day. He can’t forgive himself and so hasn’t carried on his father’s legacy, working to track teenage runaways, instead doing high risk bounties and basic PI work. Vince has a background of being raised in a family of gamblers, with his grandfather Aldo owning a few casinos and is trying to avoid the expectations that came with it. Aldo turns up days later with a job of his own he wants Sam to undertake. One of his casinos is being taken by card counting sharks and he wants Sam to try and find out the identities of the gang members, so he can deal with them!

Annie has an interview with Slotto Gambling Machines and shortly afterwards gets offered the position as CFO, and so packs up her things and gets ready to move back to Vegas, a place she spent quite some time in as a child, with her gambler of a father! Her best friend Jill tells her to make sure she stays away from Vince, casinos and her father. Her new employer has arranged some temporary accommodation for her, but first she has to sign her paperwork and so needs someone to look after her daughter Maddy, whilst she does that. The only person she knows in Vegas is her father unfortunately, someone she hasn’t seen in years and whose current abode is not exactly in a nice place! She needs this job to rebuild her reputation and has to take what help she can. Her daughter is exactly like her as a child and loves to count everything and anything she sees. Her own father had used her ability to have her make him money at the casinos, using her counting ability to have her count cards and play at the casino tables! After one casino boss caught them and accused them of stealing money from him by card counting, and had her father beaten up and banned from his casinos, with Annie made to watch, she has never stepped in a casino since.

Annie arrives to sign her paperwork, only to be told she had failed her background check, and they could no longer employ her! Apparently, her arrest record for aiding and abetting her ex-husband was still on her record and hadn’t been removed when she was found to be innocent! She spots an invoice for Sam on his desk, so decides to chase him and get him to correct his report, so she still has a job. She threatens her new boss with being sued for taking back her job offer and leaving her out of pocket from relocating and gets some time to correct her background check. Annie’s father Brett had forgotten all about his team’s card counting schedule, all in aid of one of their friends who was suffering from cancer and needed experimental treatment he couldn’t afford. He was supposed to have turned up for one of team’s shifts at a casino. Jill has secrets of her own, that she and Annie have shared to each other, and she gets the shocking news of the death of someone from her past, which also comes with an unwelcome visitor! Annie tracks down Sam, but he refuses to do anything about her background check, believing her to be exactly what he found and not wanting his friend Vince to be hurt by her hire. She gives as good as she gets when she confronts him and accuses him of not doing his job thoroughly, which he denies, even though he hadn’t taken long on it! He gets called away for his second task, and Annie follows along, soon ending up back in the very casino she swore never to enter again and in order to help him does something she swore not to do ever again. He still won’t help her in return, but her presence is certainly rubbing off on him.

There is an amusing yet sad episode when Sam follows Annie back to her fathers and his PTSD strikes and Annie ends up looking after him, to his embarrassment. Vince wants his grandfather to retire, as he is still old school and won’t agree with the modern changes Vince wants to bring to the business. He soon finds that Sam’s case is linked to his past and warns Sam not to trust his grandfather. There are lots of interlinking parts to the storyline, with Jill and her son’s past and Vince’s part in keeping her safe back then. She will soon need him again, after a certain someone dies, and Vince would always be there for her, if only she would notice that! Annie’s disappointment in catching her father playing cards in a casino again, soon changes when she finds out what he and his friends are actually up to. Aldo wants a rematch with Annie, but her father Brett will try to take her place, knowing what happened to him cannot be repeated on her. All their pasts have become interlinked with the present, with lots of twists and turns bringing secrets to the fore and changes to lives for the future. A realistic touch of romance between Annie and Sam, which comes despite their misgivings about each other and a lovely ending. Loads of touches to movies and Vegas, as well as friendships in small towns.

I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout, and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Patty Duplechin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a single mom, Annie Raye is staying in Harmony Valley with her young daughter, six year old Maddie and Glamma because of her husband’s embezzlement conviction. She’s looking for a job when she gets an offer to work in Las Vegas. She packs up and all but moves there. She goes to her father’s apartment even though she hasn’t talked to him in years. They have a history that’s hard to get past but she needs him to babysit Maddie while she does her job. Sam Knight is a veteran who was injured and now working as a PI and bounty hunter. He checks all the employees for his friend and brother-in-arms, Vince. He makes a report on Annie where she has a record, from her ex husband’s conviction and he denies her the job. They butt heads and the sexual tension is there. She helps him find card counters at the casino so he can correct her paperwork. She’s been cleared already. She needs this job. As she spends time with her father, Sam who has PTSD, she realizes that things can turn around. Will she get that job? Will her and her father make up. Vince is the man who married Annie’s cousin, Jill. They were friends in school and when she became pregnant for a wealthy young man. Vince married her to protect her child and then they went their own way. Between Sam and Annie, you get to meet the next couple who will be in the next story. I can’t wait. All these characters are wonderful. You meet several interesting people, which I loved. They all entwine. They all are willing to step in and help each other. I loved that. This is a wonderful story. A must read. I received this book for my honest review. I give it voluntarily

[Reader_for_LifeTLG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam and Annie - Another great addition to the series, this one made me laugh more than it should have given the reason for my humor. They both have PTSD but Annie can avoid the gambling world that scarred her at the tender age of twelve. Sam can't totally isolate himself from children, his military career giving him first-hand knowledge of how far zealots will go to further their cause. As their lives become increasingly intertwined as she dogs his heels to make him complete a reporting of her non-criminal status so she can get a better job, her sheer determination and gentle heart draw him in. Just one kiss and he is hooked but he still can't bring himself to trust the woman whose father is under the radar of a big-time Vegas casino owner. That can of worms is the reason for Annie's trauma.

Old wounds will be healed and new bonds formed on multiple fronts as relationships are changed. Annie and her dad get a second chance to be the family they lost years ago. Little Maddy helped a lot, taking to her grandpa with an unconditional love of which only kids and animals seem capable. Sammy (per Maddy) gets fixed, learning to cope with his condition and take steps to lead a life worthy of his dad. Even the Patrizio family (Jill, Teddy, Vince, Aldo) gets a HFN that will begin to help settle Jill's (Annie's cousin) problems from a run-in in her past. Life is challenging and each of the Harmony Valley couples rise to the occasion brilliantly to fight for the love they deserve. More please.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Julie Eichelberger-Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Small Town Gamble is the thirteenth in the Love in Harmony Valley series but can be read as a stand alone story, however I suggest reading the previous stories for the pure entertainment and delight. Annie Raye is a single mother who is trying to overcome past issues that were not of her making and is now hoping to land a job at a company in Las Vegas but is hindered by her unsubstantiated arrest record. Sam Knight is a former military vet and now works as a p.i. He is hired to run background checks on applicants for a company his best friend has invested in but when he rejects Annie, she refuses to allow him to end her potential job so she trails after him on his other job of trying to find card counters only to realize her father is one of the people Sam is looking for. As the two begin to work together, their pasts come to light and they help each other overcome the panic attacks that occur. Neither is looking for a relationship but both begin to have feelings, protective as well as romantic but must forgive the past to have a future. There are twists and secrets at every turn that keep this story so engrossing that you won't want to put it down. This is a wonderfully written story with comical and adorable secondary characters that add to the entertainment of the story.

I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher but all thoughts and feelings are my own.

[Valri Western · Rating 5 out of 5]

The past has a way of catching up with you and for Annie, that isn't a good thing. Her ex-husband and her father weren't good experiences for her in her life and both influence why she doesn't get a job she wants when she's down on her luck. She's a single mom and needs this job to support her daughter. Thanks to PI, Sam Knight, who uncovers things in her past and passes them on to her prospective employer, she doesn't get the job. She's furious enough with Sam to follow him all over town pleading her case! I loved this part! The dynamics between Sam and Annie were great. Sam has his own demons from his past in the military and they come to a head when he meets Annie's young daughter - who is totally adorable, by the way! This story takes place mostly in Las Vegas, not Harmony Valley, because Annie is trying to get a job there but that's where she reconnects with her father who was a gambler and that all comes to play throughout the story. Sam has a connection with that too as he's trying to shut down "card counters" in the casinos. It's an emotional story of father and daughter trying to reconnect - a man trying to deal with PTSD and also start a relationship - and a woman overcome her past. Great story!

[Michelle Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book and enjoyed our characters. It was definitely interesting to see how a card counter works and what length people will go to, to help someone in need. I always like to see how our main characters meet and Annie and Sam have an interesting first meeting especially when Sam knows right off the bat who she is, the plot really thickens when Vince is involved and we come to realize how small of a world it really is especially when Annie’s cousin Jill has an up close and personal connection to Vince who is friends with Sam. I really felt like we got two stories in one with this book with both Annie and Jill. I really wasn’t a fan of Brett, but he eventually grew on me and I’m sure that Aldo was a bad and scary person back in the day, I loved the scene with Jill, Annie, and Aldo especially when it ended up being a friendly situation between the three. At the end of the book, I was thrilled for Annie and her situation but sad for Jill until I realized that her story is coming next. I am a little concerned for her with her son’s grandparents but with Vince on the scene, they will be well taken care of. My favorite line in this book is, ‘Hobbits know the secret to a happy life.’ Great book.

[Lia Lorimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms Curtis notes in her introductory “Author Note” that she wants “every book to be a little different. Mission [certainly] accomplished!”
Cousins Annie and Jess, each with one child, have both left Las Vegas to move in with their ‘Glamma’ in Harmony Valley.
Annie is desperate to resume her financial career, but is considered ineligible by most companies after her ex-husband’s arrest for embezzlement. When she is offered a job in Las Vegas, an unexpected glitch upends her plans, resulting in her forced reunion with her alienated father when she needs childcare for her daughter, Maddie.
This book clearly demonstrates the author’s ability to manage and link several sub-themes in a single story as Annie attempts to persuade private investigator, Sam, to retract his decision to veto her employment. Unknown to her, Sam is a close friend of Jess’ estranged husband, Vince and the intriguing twists and turns included in this plot become increasingly complex before the characters find resolution.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[MK · Rating 5 out of 5]

First let me say i love this series. Second Sam Knight, PI, who has PTSD which I feel bad for seems to have anxiety attacks when he’s around Annie’s daughter Maddy who’s an angel I might add. You can not help but fall in love with the little girl. She warmed my heart especially one part I liked a lot.

Annie left Harmony Valley to start over, and getting this new job in Las Vegas would do just that. When she gets there she learns the job is no longer hers. She doesn’t get it. Then she finds out the truth. She’s sees the man who was at the casino. What has he done to her chance of getting this job? Sam Knight, PI.. knows all about Annie Rayne. When she approaches him she’s very determined to not let go, and wants answers. Whatever she tells him is out of his control. She can’t have the job. She’s royally mad about it.

Sam knows about Annie’s past, and just makes her an offer he hopes she can’t refuse. It is after he learns more things about her.

So much more to come. You want to read this book. You can read them in any order you want.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ann has to leave part of her part of her life in the rearview. As well as her convicted embezzling husband. Although he failed to mention to her anything about his extracurricular activities......it is still impacting her life. When she finds a new job, she packs up and high tails it out of there. Wanting to start a new and hopefully out of the reach of her husband's name recognition. When she arrives at her new place of employment, she is informed that they'll need a background check. A task that is handled by Sam Knight. Of course he rejects her application. But Ann is not about to accept that. She decides to follow Sam. Well one thing leads to another and then.......
Sorry, no spoilers here. Just grab this book, get in your favorite reading nook, grab some delicious wine, or your drink of choice. Then settle in and read this fantastic book. Or, if you haven't read the entire series you can start with book one. This can be read as a standalone.

[Michelle Dodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a clean romance. It is part of a series but can be read as a stand-alone.

Annie is trying to find a job but can't seem to catch a break since her ex-husband had embezzled funds while they were married. The only job she gets an interview for is in Las Vegas, a place she left a long time ago. She and her daughter are excited about the move. However, Sam, the person who does background checks, finds out about the embezzlement and even though she wasn't charged, does not recommend her. She tries to convince Sam to change her mind and in turn starts to help him. Can they get along? Will she get the job back?

This is a cute and clean romance with a few twists and turns. I like the side characters and how they add to the story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Megann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annie is trying to put her life back together after her messed up, no good husband was arrested and charged with embezzlement. Oh she was eventually cleared but when she moves back to Vegas to work in a company she is surprised to find that it is still on her record and that the person that needs to clear her for the job isn't ready to do that until she does a favor for him.
Then there is all the brouhaha about one of the main casinos which she has been banned from, the owners son and her best friend. So much going on in this book but easy to read and great feelings between people.
You will love it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing better for me – a book set around where I live! Sam and Annie...these two are perfect together! If they would only stop running long enough to figure it out. A very sweet story that deals with heartache for both of these characters. IMHO, that’s what makes them perfect for one another.

Annie’s 6-year-old daughter (going on at least 25!), Maddy, is a hoot. And more than a match for Annie (and her dad) to keep up with. Sam, too, has a lot to deal with in his past and it was heartwarming to see him find...IT... with Annie and her daughter. HEA – delivered! And how can I forget the “diabolical” senior citizens. Trust that they deliver some funny, and karmic, moments.

[Ineta · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was excellent reading - not just simple sweet small town romance. Loved the gambling theme and everything around that. Loved characters and their interactions.
Single mother Annie is desperate to find a job, but it’s not easy because of her past. When good opportunity comes to rebuild her life, she didn’t pass her background check. And this is how she meet private investigator Sam.
Loved Maddie’s counting, loved intensity and twists. It was also informative, while both - funny and serious. Loved story-line, so good, couldn’t put it down.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love small town romance with wonderful characters then this is the book for you. Melinda writes a great series. Annie is a small town girl who was forced to take a job in the big city of Las Vegas. Annie has been down on her luck since her husbands arrest and jail time but is hoping this new job will turn things around. Unfortunately she looses her job before she starts but on the plus side she is attracted to the cute PI who was running her background check for the job. Can Annie finally turn things around?

[Donise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will keep you entertained with the stories of two cousins, extended family, children, life threats, blackjack games, physical and emotional struggles and love. Their lives are tied to both Harmony Valley and Las Vegas, one for new beginnings and the other for bittersweet endings. Read this emotional story of two cousins trying to come to terms with their emotional pasts and make a brighter future for their children.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sunnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this series with the small town romances! The characters in the book were interesting characters and it was enjoyable reading. Things in their pasts weren't always good and sometimes the past comes to the present. As Ann and her daughter make a move to Las Vegas Annie tries to get a job there. Her ex-husband's past puts a shadow on her as Sam discovers his past during a background check. It's an engaging story that I am sure you will enjoy.
I received a copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Donna Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very informative. I never knew playing blackjack could be scary or dangerous. But, if you are a card counter, it can be detrimental to your health. I enjoyed reading Annie and Sam Knights' story. The story deals with PTSD which both characters must learn to deal with. I completely understand dealing with PTSD and finding ways to control the situation. Every day is a work in progress, never knowing what might trigger a flashback.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodness gracious, this was such a good book!
Not one of the books in this series has disappointed me. The stories flow so well and kept me captivated to the very last page and this book was no different.
The characters are realistic and engaging and there is a lot of humor weaved in among the serious topic of PTSD which keeps the story from becoming heavy & depressing.

I received a free copy of this book courtesy Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annie was desperate for a better job to support her and her daughter so she had to apply for a job away from Harmony Valley. This turned out to be a bad idea, she did get a chance to reconcile with her father but she didn't get the job. She met a private investigator that suffered from PTSD every time her saw her daughter but he did help to keep her father out of trouble. I enjoyed the situations Annie and her father get into. This story was very entertaining.

[Shannon Binegar-Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is trying to rebuild after a failed marriage and her husband’s embezzlement activities. He is a war hero with PTSD working as a P.I. On top of that there is her dad the gambler and the repercussions of a card game from when she was 12. Circumstance brings them together.
This is such a great story. I loved every bit of it. I am excited for Jill and Vince’s story next.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

[Jacqueline Johnston Cotton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this sweet, starting over, instant attraction story. This has an interesting and cute storyline full of hope, love and inspiration. The characters are charming, relatable and it's easy to understand why they do what they do. A very fun and entertaining book. Looking forward to the next one in this series. Loved it!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoy a new setting in Las Vegas seems to have plenty of opportunities for people who want to start over. Enjoy the characters as they make choices and decide to move on with their lives and try something new. There may be a few twists and of course there is always a good looking guy to deal with. Good read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.