For the Love of Cards: Ace of Hearts

by Shelly Dickenson

Should Nikkie go all in on a new career in acupuncture, or risk it all?



Nikkie Matthews thought she had it all - a career as a massage therapist and a loving boyfriend named Arthur. When a passion for poker deals her a new hand, she finds herself at a crossroads.



Will the cards fall in Nicole's favor? Or is she destined to fold?



Living pay check to pay check, an opportunity arises at the Sunrise Coast Casino. Sure, the job title of "Massage Girl” wasn't her ideal career path, but the money was great. A budding relationship with a charismatic poker player named Jimmy threatens to throw her off course



Nikkie must play the cards she's been dealt, navigating family expectations, romantic relationships, and expanding her healing talents, while pursuing her dreams.



Feel the complexities of her relationships with characters like Melanie, Jimmy, Arthur, and Jessica, as their bonds evolve and motivations shift. This raw, emotional page-turner explores the intersection of passion, adversity, and self-discover while capturing the essence of the casino industry and poker community.



Will Nikkie play her cards right and discover what matters most? Or will life deal her a losing hand? Find out in this riveting tale of a woman pursuing fulfillment, independence, and success on her own terms.

Genres: Romance

381 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2024

Reviews

[Zee's Bookish Haven · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the Love of Cards: Ace of Hearts starts with our heroine in the middle of a poker game. But soon we follow Nikkie in a journey where she starts finding her passion in massage therapy and we find how she even got into poker.

From living from paycheck to paycheck to then becoming a massage girl at the Sunset Coast Casino, Nikkie goes through self doubts and conflict throughout her entire journey.

It is filled with tense and emotional moments that makes you route for Nikkie all the way.

I have received a free copy on BookMuffin from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review

[Romina ❀ Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙧, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚.”
𝙏𝙖𝙮𝙡𝙤𝙧 𝙎𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙩.

ੈ✩‧₊˚𓆩♡𓆪ੈ✩‧₊˚

Exhilarating. Everything about this had me on my toes.
The sheer emotions that went through my body, just from reading about poker should be analyzed and studied.
I loved this book, so fast paced, addictive, and realistic. Nikkie made her mistakes, and she is a character with flaws, but that’s exactly why I like her.
And that ending?! My gosh. I need the second one!
Thank you for providing me this ARC!

[Sarah Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a book I would have normally read but the cover drew me in. I never knew poker had a whole community and I didn’t know getting a massage in a casino was a possibility. There was some moments where I felt second hand embarrassment from Nikki in particular and had to skim some paragraphs to get through it. Besides that, the plot was easy to follow and kept me entertained. Nikki is a character full of flaws but it is realistic. I especially love her friendship with Jessica. If you like poker, I do recommend this book.

Thank you Goodreads for this giveaway.

*I won this book in a goodreads drawing. This is my honest review.*

[Mabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kind of took a path and read all of these small author books and this was one of them. Strange book. I almost didn’t finish it but when I did I kinda regretted it.

[Amanda Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read. There is a lot of character development at the main female character faces the complexities of life, love, dreams, and family. It shares glimpses of the intriguing world of poker. I look forward to see what else Shelly Dickenson publishes.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than a rollercoaster!

For the Love of Cards: Ace of Hearts is a thrilling exploration of risk and self-discovery in a high-stakes environment. Nikkie's journey from a mundane paycheck existence to the electrifying world of the Sunset Coast Casino draws readers in with its vibrant characters and unpredictable twists. The narrative skillfully blends romance, intrigue, and the anxiety of living on the edge, painting a vivid picture of the gambling underworld.
The author deftly captures Nikkie's struggle to balance her ambitions with the dangers that come with them, making her quest relatable and engaging. This book is a rollercoaster ride filled with tension, excitement, and heartfelt moments, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the last deal is made.

[Laura Shubert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an entertaining and easy read. The main character was very relatable and the book left me hoping her journey continues into great things.