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Bets & Blades
259 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 3, 2026
About the author
Colleen Charles
167 books1,191 followersAfter 26 years in Corporate leadership at a Fortune 500, I discovered people within the organization lacked integrity. I’d always known deep in my soul that I was trying to fit a square peg in to a round hole since I’m the typical creative type. I miss my staff but I don’t miss the corporate world. It’s been said that the Universe will let you know if something isn’t right for you. The first time, it will hit you with a pebble. Then a brick. Then a boulder. Let’s just say that I got flattened. When my fifteen pound toy dog, Nigel, was threatened, I knew it was time to say goodbye.
It’s true.
Here’s what I found within the first thirty days of being free. Writing stories from my heart that readers love means more to me than working myself in to an early grave for people who only care about their bottom line.
My heart has never been more full and my soul has never been more satisfied.
I’ve never worked so hard in my life but it doesn’t even feel like work. It’s worth it. All of it. Because it’s about the joy that’s found within the journey. The highs and the lows because I get to write stories for all of you.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading, enjoying and recommending the stories that I write. When you share my work with others, nothing is more rewarding. Your word of mouth is my very best friend … that, and your reviews. There is nothing more important to me than all of you.
I love to hear from my readers and answer all communications personally. You can find me at:
It’s true.
Here’s what I found within the first thirty days of being free. Writing stories from my heart that readers love means more to me than working myself in to an early grave for people who only care about their bottom line.
My heart has never been more full and my soul has never been more satisfied.
I’ve never worked so hard in my life but it doesn’t even feel like work. It’s worth it. All of it. Because it’s about the joy that’s found within the journey. The highs and the lows because I get to write stories for all of you.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading, enjoying and recommending the stories that I write. When you share my work with others, nothing is more rewarding. Your word of mouth is my very best friend … that, and your reviews. There is nothing more important to me than all of you.
I love to hear from my readers and answer all communications personally. You can find me at:
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April 6, 2026Thoughts:
1. Did NOT need to know that the sex with Tristan's last ex was amazing. Who the frack cares? It has no bearing on THIS story. Lemme guess...Minerva is 100% virgin. Or, if not, it's been crap with any partner. Add in how Tristan states how hot said last ex was, not to mention an actress, and a heroine that gets mocked for her lack of curves and you've got a recipe for an annoying plot. The blurb tucked me in. I'm only at the start of chapter two and getting grossed out. ETA: She is not a virgin. Thankfully. However, any specifics regarding her sexual past are not given, though something is alluded to without being clarified. Clarification would've been appreciated.
2. Viktor is a tool. "I feel like she has the potential to be librarian hot. If you don't want her, I call dibs." And then Tristan points out that Viktor is married. What an ass. ETA: Okay? So Viktor does love his wife and isn't actually a cheater. But some of the things he says? Not cool for a married man.
3. It was said once, toward the beginning, that Kepler, Minerva's ferret, is blind. Yet, when Tristan builds him a playground of sorts, he plays with the various parts of it without hesitation. Uhhhh...
4. If the phone is muted, the other party can't hear you.
5. I want a ferret.
6. I'm glad I pushed through. Other than my first thought, which I still find unnecessary, I loved it.
1. Did NOT need to know that the sex with Tristan's last ex was amazing. Who the frack cares? It has no bearing on THIS story. Lemme guess...Minerva is 100% virgin. Or, if not, it's been crap with any partner. Add in how Tristan states how hot said last ex was, not to mention an actress, and a heroine that gets mocked for her lack of curves and you've got a recipe for an annoying plot. The blurb tucked me in. I'm only at the start of chapter two and getting grossed out. ETA: She is not a virgin. Thankfully. However, any specifics regarding her sexual past are not given, though something is alluded to without being clarified. Clarification would've been appreciated.
2. Viktor is a tool. "I feel like she has the potential to be librarian hot. If you don't want her, I call dibs." And then Tristan points out that Viktor is married. What an ass. ETA: Okay? So Viktor does love his wife and isn't actually a cheater. But some of the things he says? Not cool for a married man.
3. It was said once, toward the beginning, that Kepler, Minerva's ferret, is blind. Yet, when Tristan builds him a playground of sorts, he plays with the various parts of it without hesitation. Uhhhh...
4. If the phone is muted, the other party can't hear you.
5. I want a ferret.
6. I'm glad I pushed through. Other than my first thought, which I still find unnecessary, I loved it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2026
🤧Oh my goodness, i HONESTLY did not expect to like this book. But this is SO GOOD!!!
And there is a cute ass ferret in the story, who just about stole my heart 😭🩷
*️⃣Inexperienced fmcXExperienced MMC.
Regarding sexual pasts, FMC wasnt a virgin, but, she was very reserved and inexperienced and had body image issues. MMC wasnt into hookups, but, he has been around, not too much, last girl he broke up with , a danvcer, moved to LA for her acting thing.
*️⃣Neurodivergent FMC.
*️⃣26/Not mentioned.
*️⃣Story set in Vegas.
*️⃣PLOT- FMC is thrown out by her evil rich father after she refuses to marry the guy, LUCA, his father has chosen for her, she is very smart and wants to go for PhD in Biomed. Engg but daddy dearest refuses and forces her to get a boob job, just like her evil sis Frankie, so she would look like a 'woman' on Luca's arm.
She turns away and marches out of her house and never looks back.
Her godfather, Dante, helps her get a job, he owns this Ice Skating team and assigns, Minerva (yes thats the FMCs name) as the assistant to one of the player, Tristan.
*️⃣PAST- FMC has body image issues cause she is ...flat... all around. She has been bullied by her mom, sister, dad and potential arranged-fiance, Luca, for looking like a boy. Throughout the book, she is unsure, lacks confidence, stutters and speaks over other people sometimes, is socially awkward. (she is neurodivergent)
🖤MMC is very very sweet. I honestly was blown away by his sweetness.
*️⃣The Good-
We HAVE to talk about the cute partially blind ferret, KEPLER, cause... that lil guy STOLE THE SHOWW!! The FMC is mother to a cute ferret...who... wait a sec.. WEARS GOGGLESS!!
🖤Loved the family-like relationship that all the team-mates and their wives have with each other.
🖤Loved the FMC a lot, she is a lot to take in, unlike what you read in most books... she is a wallflower, but at the same time, nerdy and cute.
🖤She designs this stat system for the team , she knows all this cool biology stuff, helps Tristan track his metabolism, diet plans, vitals etc etc... helps him perform better...she's exactly what Blake Crouch writes about in his books lol.
🖤I also, worshipped Tristan throughout the book. He is possessive and very protective of Minerva, but at the same time, he isin't one of those Macho men you see in insta-love books, he is very ... emotionally stable and attuned with his feelings. We literally get an inner-monologue of him talking about his family memmbers, individually, how he misses 'em , what he likes about 'em. He is emotional, vulnerable, sweet, cute, funny, not selfish with orgasms, talks about his feelings, asks for consent EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.
🩷DREAM GUY RIGHT HERE!!!!
*️⃣HEAT- 9/10.
🖤There is this one scene where Luca calls and Tristan picks up the phone while he is... inside Minerva and... its very voyeristic, and sexy and i loved it.
🖤Use of Sex Toys ive never even heard before. (clit stimulators and stufff)
🖤Lots of refreshing, new, dirty talk.
🖤He gets turned on when she talks science. (MY KINDA GUY 🤧)
*️⃣Epilogue- They get engaged and exchange ILYs.
And there is a cute ass ferret in the story, who just about stole my heart 😭🩷
*️⃣Inexperienced fmcXExperienced MMC.
Regarding sexual pasts, FMC wasnt a virgin, but, she was very reserved and inexperienced and had body image issues. MMC wasnt into hookups, but, he has been around, not too much, last girl he broke up with , a danvcer, moved to LA for her acting thing.
*️⃣Neurodivergent FMC.
*️⃣26/Not mentioned.
*️⃣Story set in Vegas.
*️⃣PLOT- FMC is thrown out by her evil rich father after she refuses to marry the guy, LUCA, his father has chosen for her, she is very smart and wants to go for PhD in Biomed. Engg but daddy dearest refuses and forces her to get a boob job, just like her evil sis Frankie, so she would look like a 'woman' on Luca's arm.
She turns away and marches out of her house and never looks back.
Her godfather, Dante, helps her get a job, he owns this Ice Skating team and assigns, Minerva (yes thats the FMCs name) as the assistant to one of the player, Tristan.
*️⃣PAST- FMC has body image issues cause she is ...flat... all around. She has been bullied by her mom, sister, dad and potential arranged-fiance, Luca, for looking like a boy. Throughout the book, she is unsure, lacks confidence, stutters and speaks over other people sometimes, is socially awkward. (she is neurodivergent)
🖤MMC is very very sweet. I honestly was blown away by his sweetness.
*️⃣The Good-
We HAVE to talk about the cute partially blind ferret, KEPLER, cause... that lil guy STOLE THE SHOWW!! The FMC is mother to a cute ferret...who... wait a sec.. WEARS GOGGLESS!!
🖤Loved the family-like relationship that all the team-mates and their wives have with each other.
🖤Loved the FMC a lot, she is a lot to take in, unlike what you read in most books... she is a wallflower, but at the same time, nerdy and cute.
🖤She designs this stat system for the team , she knows all this cool biology stuff, helps Tristan track his metabolism, diet plans, vitals etc etc... helps him perform better...she's exactly what Blake Crouch writes about in his books lol.
🖤I also, worshipped Tristan throughout the book. He is possessive and very protective of Minerva, but at the same time, he isin't one of those Macho men you see in insta-love books, he is very ... emotionally stable and attuned with his feelings. We literally get an inner-monologue of him talking about his family memmbers, individually, how he misses 'em , what he likes about 'em. He is emotional, vulnerable, sweet, cute, funny, not selfish with orgasms, talks about his feelings, asks for consent EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.
🩷DREAM GUY RIGHT HERE!!!!
*️⃣HEAT- 9/10.
🖤There is this one scene where Luca calls and Tristan picks up the phone while he is... inside Minerva and... its very voyeristic, and sexy and i loved it.
🖤Use of Sex Toys ive never even heard before. (clit stimulators and stufff)
🖤Lots of refreshing, new, dirty talk.
🖤He gets turned on when she talks science. (MY KINDA GUY 🤧)
*️⃣Epilogue- They get engaged and exchange ILYs.
February 12, 2026
This hockey romance is such a lovely and heartwarming read. It combines a neuro-spicy, wonderfully nerdy heroine with an absolute cinnamon roll of a hero—and the result is just pure sweetness.
The female main character is refreshingly different. She’s smart, a little awkward in her own charming way, and very much shaped by the expectations and influence of her parents. Watching her slowly liberate herself, step into her own strength, and claim her independence is one of the most satisfying parts of the story. Her journey feels genuine and empowering.
And then there’s the hero. He is truly the definition of a cinnamon roll—supportive, kind, patient, and endlessly adorable. Instead of trying to “fix” her, he simply stands beside her, cheering her on and giving her the space and encouragement she needs to grow. Their relationship feels balanced and healthy, built on mutual respect and affection.
The hockey backdrop adds a nice dynamic energy to the story without overshadowing the romance. At its core, this book is about two people growing—individually and together.
Overall, it’s a very lovely hockey romance with strong character development, emotional warmth, and a relationship you can’t help but root for. If you love supportive heroes and heroines finding their voice, this one is definitely worth reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The female main character is refreshingly different. She’s smart, a little awkward in her own charming way, and very much shaped by the expectations and influence of her parents. Watching her slowly liberate herself, step into her own strength, and claim her independence is one of the most satisfying parts of the story. Her journey feels genuine and empowering.
And then there’s the hero. He is truly the definition of a cinnamon roll—supportive, kind, patient, and endlessly adorable. Instead of trying to “fix” her, he simply stands beside her, cheering her on and giving her the space and encouragement she needs to grow. Their relationship feels balanced and healthy, built on mutual respect and affection.
The hockey backdrop adds a nice dynamic energy to the story without overshadowing the romance. At its core, this book is about two people growing—individually and together.
Overall, it’s a very lovely hockey romance with strong character development, emotional warmth, and a relationship you can’t help but root for. If you love supportive heroes and heroines finding their voice, this one is definitely worth reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 11, 2026
Absolutely adored this next gen read! I loved the way Minerva and her big beautiful mind works, the way Tristan appreciated it was sweet and kinda sexy, and the green flags were flying everywhere as Tristan really sees Minera, goes out of his way to accommodate what she needs, and does it with nothing but the purest of intentions and a whole lot of love.
I am so into how much Minerva blossoms and grows in this book, from finally standing up for herself to making her own friends and figuring out what she wants to do rather than being forced to by her family, it's just all so heart warming and wonderful. Tristan is the perfect MMC for her, with his own big heart, his own little quirks, and this super cute way of seeing Minerva and consistently finding himself in awe of her and completely charmed by her sexy nerdiness and for the the first time ever I loved Dante, he was nothing but one hundred percent kind and supportive for Minera when she needed it most and when he confronts her dad, let's just say I am officially a Dante fan. Just another great and super solid read for the Venom Next Gen series and Colleen Charles.
I am so into how much Minerva blossoms and grows in this book, from finally standing up for herself to making her own friends and figuring out what she wants to do rather than being forced to by her family, it's just all so heart warming and wonderful. Tristan is the perfect MMC for her, with his own big heart, his own little quirks, and this super cute way of seeing Minerva and consistently finding himself in awe of her and completely charmed by her sexy nerdiness and for the the first time ever I loved Dante, he was nothing but one hundred percent kind and supportive for Minera when she needed it most and when he confronts her dad, let's just say I am officially a Dante fan. Just another great and super solid read for the Venom Next Gen series and Colleen Charles.
March 2, 2026
Mid series installment that works as a standalone
I jumped into this book recognizing that it was a mid-series story, for an author I've never read. I decided to take a hopeful leap because the synopsis and ad made me interested in Minerva and Tristan. It paid off!
This story is not typical for either the hockey genre or the Mafia genre. The author touches on both but the real focus is a neurodivergent FMC and the love her MMC can build with. It's a slower pace but the story is gentler than most so that pace works.
Both Minerva and Tristan are good solid humans, truly kind and thoughtful and conscientious. Minerva's softer tendencies make sense, or are made sensible by the author. Tristan's listening skills are a solid book boyfriend check mark.
The side characters are plentiful. Dante and Julie especially win. His nickname for the ferret is perfect. The rest of the crew all works quite well. Supportive, funny, intelligent and a little crazy, the whole crowd just works.
If you have more patience than I do, start from book one. If not, jump on in; you won't be overwhelmed with historic vague plot hints of bygone books.
I jumped into this book recognizing that it was a mid-series story, for an author I've never read. I decided to take a hopeful leap because the synopsis and ad made me interested in Minerva and Tristan. It paid off!
This story is not typical for either the hockey genre or the Mafia genre. The author touches on both but the real focus is a neurodivergent FMC and the love her MMC can build with. It's a slower pace but the story is gentler than most so that pace works.
Both Minerva and Tristan are good solid humans, truly kind and thoughtful and conscientious. Minerva's softer tendencies make sense, or are made sensible by the author. Tristan's listening skills are a solid book boyfriend check mark.
The side characters are plentiful. Dante and Julie especially win. His nickname for the ferret is perfect. The rest of the crew all works quite well. Supportive, funny, intelligent and a little crazy, the whole crowd just works.
If you have more patience than I do, start from book one. If not, jump on in; you won't be overwhelmed with historic vague plot hints of bygone books.
March 8, 2026
Minerva is a neurodivergent runaway living in a garage with a ferret, which is certainly a more interesting backstory than your typical hockey puck bunny. Tristan spends most of his time pretending he enjoys his own company until he finds a brilliant nerd in his orbit and decides to become her personal bodyguard. I appreciated that Minerva’s "big beautiful mind" was actually treated as an asset rather than just a quirky personality trait to be fixed. Dante showing a softer side by hiring her as an assistant was a nice touch for the series, though the family drama with her cruel father felt a bit like a standard villain-of-the-week trope. The forced proximity and slow-burn tension worked well enough, even if the "pure intentions" of the hero bordered on being a little too saintly for a professional athlete. It was satisfying to see Minerva finally grow a backbone and tell her toxic family where to shove it. While the plot follows the established Venom blueprint, the ferret and the genuine respect Tristan shows for Minerva’s boundaries keep it from being a total snooze.
February 10, 2026
Minerva Marino walked away from not only an arranged marriage, but also from her toxic family. She doesn't fit the description of a mafia daughter because she has goals and dreams of her own. When she runs from her "intended," Luca, she takes refuge at the home of her godparents, Dante and Linda Giovanetti. This is priceless to me because Dante is the owner of the Las Vegas Venom hockey team, a formerly arrogant, dastardly hotel owner who, apparently, has had a change of heart. Dante realizes that Minerva needs a job but it won't be in her field of expertise. She's trained as a scientist, much to her family's chagrin, but what Dante has in mind is the personal assistant to Tristan Dubois, the Venom power forward. They turn out to be the perfect pair because she fills a part of him that had been empty and he comforts and takes care of her when she feels overwhelmed. This is a particularly sweet and sexy story and a wonderful addition to the Venom Next Gen series.
February 8, 2026
Tristan and Minerva wrecked me in the best way. The emotional build-up and sexy tension were everything. This was such a sweet read with just the right amount of spice.
Tristan is the biggest green flag golden retriever hero. I loved how obsessed and protective he was of Minerva. Boy was down bad and I ate it up.
I love the neurodivergent representation we got with Minerva. She's a STEM girlie and brilliant. I really related to her character.
I also really enjoyed the other characters and found the family created in this book.
Tropes:
Hockey player + Assistant
Workplace
Forced proximity
Cinnamon roll MMC
Neurodivergent FMC
Obsessed/Protective
Found Family
Slow-burn
Dual POV
Book 6 in the Venom Next Gen series can be read as a standalone though characters are interconnected.
Tristan is the biggest green flag golden retriever hero. I loved how obsessed and protective he was of Minerva. Boy was down bad and I ate it up.
I love the neurodivergent representation we got with Minerva. She's a STEM girlie and brilliant. I really related to her character.
I also really enjoyed the other characters and found the family created in this book.
Tropes:
Hockey player + Assistant
Workplace
Forced proximity
Cinnamon roll MMC
Neurodivergent FMC
Obsessed/Protective
Found Family
Slow-burn
Dual POV
Book 6 in the Venom Next Gen series can be read as a standalone though characters are interconnected.
February 20, 2026
Book 6 already in the series and a series I love. I really enjoy the hockey romance and I know it isn't RH but when I'm not reading RH I still love sportsromance like any other. The story is about Tristan, the professional hockey and he wasn't supposed to meet Minerva. I love how the author portrays her as a neurodivergent. She is misunderstood and emotionally abused by her family. Now to come with a plan to help out Minerva and also for him to not feel alone. Great romance and I think my favorite so far.
March 12, 2026
Beautiful
I loved watching Mineva grow into herself and become a strong, intellectual and independent woman. She is a wonderful neurodiverent representation.
Tristan is a total green flag, he is all things good and absolutely perfect for Minerva.
This is full of heart, emotion, sweetness, growth, steam and romance. It’s a little hockey, a little mafia, a little nerdy and a little quirky and overall entertaining.
The characters are all amazing and relatable. It’s well paced and easy to read and a great addition to the Vegas Venom Next Gen series.
I loved watching Mineva grow into herself and become a strong, intellectual and independent woman. She is a wonderful neurodiverent representation.
Tristan is a total green flag, he is all things good and absolutely perfect for Minerva.
This is full of heart, emotion, sweetness, growth, steam and romance. It’s a little hockey, a little mafia, a little nerdy and a little quirky and overall entertaining.
The characters are all amazing and relatable. It’s well paced and easy to read and a great addition to the Vegas Venom Next Gen series.
February 7, 2026
This is book 6 in Charles' Venom Next Gen series. A great addition to the series that can easily be read as a standalone. Our main characters are Minerva and Tristan. Well written romance with a captivating and smooth flowing storyline that's well paced, great character and beautifully balanced with sweet and steam. Definitely looking forward to more from Charles!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 8, 2026
I felt a connection to both Min and Tristan, I loved seeing them get to know each other and the support and acceptance they had. Kepler was such a great character and I really liked seeing him and Tristan bond. This story was a little sad, had plenty of humour, family drama, good friends, connection, chemistry and love. I have enjoyed reading it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 12, 2026
This is a good addition to the next generation of the Vegas Venom hockey series. It can be enjoyed as a stand alone read but has connected characters. The story is about Tristan and Minera. He really sees her for who she is and she brightens his world up. This is such a good hockey romance that is sweet, touching, emotional and cute. I so loved the characters and enjoyed the plot tremendously. I especially love how the story develops between the characters.
February 6, 2026
Fun story. I loved Minerva and Tristan. I think that they had some cute interactions in the beginning and that grew into something truly special. The author does a good job of showing his desire for her. She also does a good job writing Minerva's anxiety. All in all, I was entertained.
I received a complimentary copy of this story and I freely left this review.
I received a complimentary copy of this story and I freely left this review.
March 23, 2026
Out of honesty i only got half way because it was just too slow pace for me personally
I have to say this book wasnt at all what i exspected, it wasnt your typical hockey romance or mafia romance, for me i felt the real theme of this book was the neurodivergent FMC.
However you do need alot of patience with this read as its extremely slow burn
I have to say this book wasnt at all what i exspected, it wasnt your typical hockey romance or mafia romance, for me i felt the real theme of this book was the neurodivergent FMC.
However you do need alot of patience with this read as its extremely slow burn
Review of advance copy
finally seen
Minerva and Tristan both know about the pressure of not being who you are but following the demands of what others expect from you, they are lucky they´ve found each other and it really annoyed me that some people think they have the right to interfere with other peoples´ lives
Minerva and Tristan both know about the pressure of not being who you are but following the demands of what others expect from you, they are lucky they´ve found each other and it really annoyed me that some people think they have the right to interfere with other peoples´ lives
February 27, 2026
I binged this hard!! Love the golden retriever guy meets the shut down nerd and falls and fixes everything. Also madly in love with Kepler definitely going to look up her other books!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 6, 2026
brilliant
Colleen Charles has done it again.
This story has all feels, ferrets as well as good and bad families.
I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Recommend to all
Colleen Charles has done it again.
This story has all feels, ferrets as well as good and bad families.
I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Recommend to all
February 11, 2026
I have never been interested in Hockey before, nor have I been a fan of Dante. But I think I've been converted into a fan of both. Well done Colleen!
February 19, 2026
Science meets ice.
I really enjoyed Tristan and Minerva’s story. Great research into the technical jargon. Dante to the rescue. I loved Kepler too. Thanks Colleen!
I really enjoyed Tristan and Minerva’s story. Great research into the technical jargon. Dante to the rescue. I loved Kepler too. Thanks Colleen!
March 25, 2026
loved it a lot
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2026
really good
I will say I wasn’t gonna read any more books by the author because I wasn’t thrilled with the way the story went in her last Book which was a me issue. I’m glad I decided to go ahead and read this one because I really enjoyed it. Can’t wait to see what the next book in the series brings.
I will say I wasn’t gonna read any more books by the author because I wasn’t thrilled with the way the story went in her last Book which was a me issue. I’m glad I decided to go ahead and read this one because I really enjoyed it. Can’t wait to see what the next book in the series brings.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews