Double or Nothing

Double #2

by Meg Mims

A mysterious explosion. A man framed for murder. A strong woman determined to prove his innocence. October, 1869: Lily Granville finds herself in more trouble when her guardian announces her engagement to a hand-picked suitor. But she is in love with Ace Diamond, the Texan renegade who saved her life on the journey to California -- a man her uncle is determined to keep away at all cost. Ace is just as determined to prove himself worthy of Lily's hand -- but is framed for murder after a dynamite explosion. Will Lily be able to save him from the hangman's noose?

Genres: Westerns, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Western Romance

282 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2013

About the author

Award-winning author MEG MIMS writes historical western mysteries and sweet romance novellas. She also writes cozy mystery (both series and novellas) as MEG MACY with rescue cats and dogs.

Meg is also one half of the writing team D.E. IRELAND along with another award-winning author, Sharon Farrow, for the Eliza Doolittle & Henry Higgins historical mystery series. Book 1, Wouldn't It Be Deadly, and Book 3, Get Me to the Grave on Time, were both Agatha Award finalists for Best Historical Mystery. Book 2, Move Your Blooming Corpse, and Book 4, With A Little Bit of Blood, round out the series.

Meg's western historical mystery, Double Crossing, won the prestigious Western Writers of America Spur Award for Best First Novel of 2012. The sequel Double or Nothing won the 2013 Laramie Award for Western Mystery. Meg has also written short stories in several anthologies for the Western Fictioneers.

Meg loves history, lighthouses, mysteries, gardening, and animals. She lives in SE Michigan.

“Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do.” H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Meg has been reviewing books for years on Goodreads, and now is interested in hearing what YOU think about her own.

Reviews

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

With some beautifully descriptive scenes of 19th century California and realistic mining details, this historical mystery was topped off with a light, yet sweet romance between Ace and Lily.

Read full review in the 2013 June issue of InD’tale Magazine.

[ASC Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Double or Nothing is a fabulous book! It's a mystery with suspense and excitement. There are Bible verses throughout which I loved, and even though this is a sequel it is a stand alone. I have not read the first book in this series and sometimes this can be a problem, but not with this series. Double Crossing is mentioned just enough to make me want to read it, but not referenced enough to make me feel like I absolutely have to read it to make sense of Double or Nothing. Sometimes the way Lily just lets things happen to her without trying to prevent or stop them bothered me, but this is true to the time the book is set in. Ladies where taught to follow and not argue at every turn, though this does not in any way mean that Lily is not a strong female character. When she finally stood up to certain other characters I was very happy! LOL! Fast paced and greatly intriguing! This shows God's provisions even (if not especially) in times of turmoil bringing about ends that are for His perfect plan. Meg has written a really good mystery and, (WARNING possible spoiler alert!!!) while I'm not sure I liked who certain bad guys turned out to be, it make for a GREAT twist that I only figured out right before Lily did!!! Some of my copy needs a little more editing, but you can figure out what typos were supposed to be from the structure of the sentences. I also love the fact (and this goes back to what I know from the first book) that killing isn't taken lightly. Be it a friend or bad guy, killing is still a hard blow and difficult thing to deal with. I think this is a GREAT book that is a MUST READ!!! :)

My song choices are: "Done" by The Band Perry, "Amazing Grace" by Judy Collins

1 Corinthians 10:31, Luke 6:36-37

~ASC

[ASC Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Double or Nothing is a fabulous book! It's a mystery with suspense and excitement. There are Bible verses throughout which I loved, and even though this is a sequel it is a stand alone. I have not read the first book in this series and sometimes this can be a problem, but not with this series. Double Crossing is mentioned just enough to make me want to read it, but not referenced enough to make me feel like I absolutely have to read it to make sense of Double or Nothing. Sometimes the way Lily just lets things happen to her without trying to prevent or stop them bothered me, but this is true to the time the book is set in. Ladies where taught to follow and not argue at every turn, though this does not in any way mean that Lily is not a strong female character. When she finally stood up to certain other characters I was very happy! LOL! Fast paced and greatly intriguing! This shows God's provisions even (if not especially) in times of turmoil bringing about ends that are for His perfect plan. Meg has written a really good mystery and, (WARNING possible spoiler alert!!!) while I'm not sure I liked who certain bad guys turned out to be, it make for a GREAT twist that I only figured out right before Lily did!!! Some of my copy needs a little more editing, but you can figure out what typos were supposed to be from the structure of the sentences. I also love the fact (and this goes back to what I know from the first book) that killing isn't taken lightly. Be it a friend or bad guy, killing is still a hard blow and difficult thing to deal with. I think this is a GREAT book that is a MUST READ!!! :)

My song choices are: "Done" by The Band Perry, "Amazing Grace" by Judy Collins

1 Corinthians 10:31, Luke 6:36-37

~ASC

[CoffeeTimeRomance andMore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily Rose Granville likes to sketch. When she tries to involve herself in her uncle’s mining business, she quickly learns not to interfere. After discovering that he intends to marry her to someone of his choice, Lily decides it is time to put a stop to his plans.

Years ago, Ace Diamond has taken money from Lily’s uncle and walked away, leaving the woman he loves behind. He has to find a way to defeat the malicious uncle who plans to destroy any happiness for Lily.

Lily remembers the three thousand dollars her uncle has given Ace. He takes it, leaves and she has not heard from him since. Years after, she wonders what has become of him. Does he still care about her? Ace has other things in mind. He wants to win Lily’s heart. When he returns to claim the woman he loves, they quickly learn her uncle will do anything to ruin her happiness, not to mention the recaptured love, if the two can’t stop him.

Double or Nothing is like a roller coaster experience. It carries the reader like a steady ride into the story, then bingo, it is off, fast and quick with twists and turns around every corner. The writing is tight, dialogue wonderfully constructed and well-developed characters who keep the audience engaged. Ms. Mims is an elegant storyteller. She incorporates a landscape the audience can visualize and crafts dialogue that can practically be seen on the player’s faces and conversations that grips the heart. This is a great tale of love and suspense.

Cherokee
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of this book makes me think of gambling, and I guess there are a few times it happens, but there is also Ace Diamond, and with that name it also brings up card games, etc.
The story takes place in 1869 California, and the author paints wonderful mind pictures of the area. Hilly San Francisco, and the poor horses going up those steep hills.
We catch up with Lily Granville, a young woman with a lot of tragedy and heartache in her past. She is now living under her Uncles thumb, but she also has a rebellious streak. Her Uncle is really unhappy with some of her choices.
Now this is the second book in this series, but you can read them separately, but don't miss the first one. This one is full of action from beginning to end. Lily has such a tender heart, and want to help with injustices.
On her wedding night, in their room, the police barge in...um, think I might have had a heart attack. Be ready for a few murders, wheeler dealers, and when you have the answers, beware! You probably don't!

I received this book through First Wild Card Publicity Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.

[The Book Breeze · Rating 4 out of 5]

That sequel, Double or Nothing (Astraea Press, 2013,$13.95), finds Lily beset by yet more perils. Her uncle turns out to be a cold-blooded schemer, not at all the genial gent Lily recalls from her childhood. Uncle Harry has already decided to marry Lily off to one of the old Spanish families, to consolidate a deal that will give him power and prestige to further his political career. Lily will have none of this, since her choice, like it or not, is Ace Diamond, the Texan who kept her safe during the trip West. Ace has given up most of his wild ways, and taken a dangerous but respectable job working with dynamite at the gold mines. An explosion leads to a death, and Ace is accused of setting off the blast. Lily must avoid the forced marriage and find evidence to clear her lover, before Uncle Harry's plots destroy them both. Lily and Ace make a good pair, and they deserve the happiness they eventually find... but there will surely be more adventures before they settle down!

This review was provided by Roberta Rogow for her column in the January edition of The Book Breeze

[Tamara Tilley · Rating 3 out of 5]

DOUBLE OR NOTHING by Meg Mims was an enjoyable read set in the rugged West.

A spirited and rebellious Lily Granville is not at all pleased with her Uncle Harrison and his heavy handed ways. When she finds out he has all but arranged for her future marriage, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Her love for Ace Diamond is undeniable and she intends on making it official once and for all. But, Lily’s joy is short lived. When police burst into their hotel room on their wedding night and whisk Ace away-accusing him of setting an explosion-Lily is left to her own resources to prove he had nothing to do with it.

DOUBLE OR NOTHING had good pacing, and rich characters. Ms. Mims kept the reader guessing by introducing side characters that were more than they seemed. DOUBLE OR NOTHING was a sequel to DOUBLE CROSSING, a novel I haven’t read. But DOUBLE OR NOTHING did just fine standing on its alone.

Book provided for review purposes.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily jumps into danger with both feet, in this old west tale of mystery and intrigue. She narrowly escapes death, an arranged marriage and finds herself in more trouble than before.

Bad guys are abundant and even the good guys, you don’t know if they are that good.

I enjoyed the author’s talent for pulling out the history in the making of dynamite in here and the fast moving pace of the book throughout.

This book does have some more descriptive romantic scenes with a little more info than I like to have, but overall was still a fairly clean book. The spiritual aspect of the book was very light, making this more simply historical fiction, rather than Christian fiction. I would have liked to read more about the mission work that was being done there in San Francisco.

This book kept me up reading until my eyes fell shut from sheer exhaustion, and I had to finish it in the morning.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading Double Crossing, but this sequel is even better. It had me guessing until the end.

The storyline continues seamlessly from the first book without being an afterthought or simply tacked on just to write another book. It is a complete story in its own right and could stand on its own merit. I loved that it continued the mystery from the first and built onto the character development started from Double Crossing.

All around, it was an enjoyable read that I had problems putting down in the middle.

[Carol Crigger · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I enjoy about the Lily and Ace adventures-aside from the sweet romance, the spot-on characterizations and the spirited action-is the history Ms. Mims works into the plot. In this follow up to her first book, Double Crossing, we have hydraulic mining methods all laid out in a factual manner, leaving the reader free to form his/her own opinion of the technique. Taken together, this is another delightful tale set in the Victorian West.

[Mirah W · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun western whodunit adventure. Fast-paced and enjoyable. I only wish there was more of Lily and Ace together, which I suppose was my only complaint about book 1, too. Maybe Mims will write another Lily and Ace adventure.

[Jess the Romanceaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5, full review to follow

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable sequel to Double Crossing. More later, when I've had some time to think about things.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

(review to come)

[Jacque Stengel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wild west adventure that kept me at the edge of my seat and glued to my kindle. Kudos Meg Mims. .. you did not disappoint again!

[Catherine Siemann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally! The Happily Ever After that was deferred at the end of the first book. I enjoyed Lily's narration, and Ace is an appealing hero, though I wish he'd been onstage for more of the book. The plot was nicely twisty and turn-y, and as it's not so much a romance as a romance/mystery/adventure, I'd be up for more with this pair.

I do wish the "anarchists" who are blamed for violence weren't just a category, but their motivations had been explored or at least explained. But that has as much to do with my own interests for the time period. Overall, a quick and delightful read.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book definitely needs to be read after Double Crossing. I had to read this to see how the whole story turned out.

I did not like book 2 as well as I did book 1. I did a lot of scan-reading in book 2. There seemed to be a lot of superfluous verbiage here--travelogue descriptions that did not seem to aid the story. Normally, scan-reading is an automatic two stars but I would call this 2.5 and then round up.

I did not like Uncle Harrison's mid-book shift in personality--Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It was too inconsistent with everything the author had written about him in books 1 and up to that point in book 2. It took my enjoyment factor way down.

[Paula Bothwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Double or Nothing - PG13
Sequel to *Double Crossing* (definitely read that one first)
Violence: a bombing and description of the aftermath, several murders
Language: nothing offensive
Sex: reminiscing of descriptive kissing
Very satisfying sequel to *Double Crossing* and I'm glad I read it.
Who is that on the front of the Kindle edition? Our H has dark hair!

[Christina]

Exciting story, but not as interesting as the first one

This story seemed to be a rehash of the same plot elements as the first book. A nice, easy read but didn't hold my attention.

[HiDee Ekstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! Hope there are more in the Double series!