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Leaving Las Vegas #3
Wild Card
Las Vegas showgirl Gina Malloy isn’t looking for trouble when she walks in on a shady backroom deal, but when the bullets start flying, she grabs the bag full of stolen loot and hits the road out of town. Of course, she didn’t count on the bad guys tailing her, or the sexy detective who comes to her rescue.
Detective Gabriel Finn is no one’s knight in shining armor. A former priest, he just wants to drag the witness’s butt back to town. Instead, he gets a tough as nails woman who’s all grit and heart. When a pair of thugs take a shot at her, he decides the best way to keep her safe is to stay out of Las Vegas and launch his own investigation.
Take one long-legged showgirl, a former priest turned detective, and a couple of mafia thugs. Mix carefully. The results should be explosive.
Series order:
Leaving Las Vegas Book 1: Leaving Las Vegas
Leaving Las Vegas Book 2: All In
Leaving Las Vegas Book 3: Wild Card
Detective Gabriel Finn is no one’s knight in shining armor. A former priest, he just wants to drag the witness’s butt back to town. Instead, he gets a tough as nails woman who’s all grit and heart. When a pair of thugs take a shot at her, he decides the best way to keep her safe is to stay out of Las Vegas and launch his own investigation.
Take one long-legged showgirl, a former priest turned detective, and a couple of mafia thugs. Mix carefully. The results should be explosive.
Series order:
Leaving Las Vegas Book 1: Leaving Las Vegas
Leaving Las Vegas Book 2: All In
Leaving Las Vegas Book 3: Wild Card
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 21, 2016
1 person is currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Aleah Barley
8 books131 followersAleah Barley is a writer of humorous (she hopes) contemporary romance. After living all over the United States, she recently moved to Motor City with a fluffy Maine Coon Cat who is constantly trying to appropriate her computer. She is hard at work on her next book.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 12, 2016
I received an eARC, from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
This is book three in the "Leaving Las Vegas" series by Aleah Barley.
This was a different kind of romance book for me I thought.
Gina Malloy was a showgirl/stripper type of heroine who just happens to witness a crime in action... not to mention that she ended up with the stolen loot.
Detective Gabriel Finn used to be a priest and now his a hard time, lonely detective. Gabriel is on the hunt for Gina and he also is trying to help protect her.
But there is a lot of attraction going on!
Really great read that hooks you in!
https://www.facebook.com/sally.mae.39...
http://sissymaereads.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/17091...
This is book three in the "Leaving Las Vegas" series by Aleah Barley.
This was a different kind of romance book for me I thought.
Gina Malloy was a showgirl/stripper type of heroine who just happens to witness a crime in action... not to mention that she ended up with the stolen loot.
Detective Gabriel Finn used to be a priest and now his a hard time, lonely detective. Gabriel is on the hunt for Gina and he also is trying to help protect her.
But there is a lot of attraction going on!
Really great read that hooks you in!
https://www.facebook.com/sally.mae.39...
http://sissymaereads.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/17091...
April 5, 2016
Hot and downright sinful is what comes to mind with this delicious book. I'm not sure what the author was thinking when she paired a stripper/exotic dancer with an ex-priest, smokin, hot Detective. But lucky for us she made it work in a beautiful way with a story that was both captivating and fun.
The story is sweet and simple. But the author takes the time to add some great elements like suspense, murder, and some unscrupulous activities that you will have to read to find out all about it.
Plenty of heat, some humorous conversation, with a few twists along the way, this story is one that you enjoy from start to finish. Quick and easy to read and thoroughly entertaining as well.
The story is sweet and simple. But the author takes the time to add some great elements like suspense, murder, and some unscrupulous activities that you will have to read to find out all about it.
Plenty of heat, some humorous conversation, with a few twists along the way, this story is one that you enjoy from start to finish. Quick and easy to read and thoroughly entertaining as well.
April 17, 2016
It is always refreshing to have a main character that is wild! We often read stories with bad boys in them, but a bad girl as the main character, that is pure pleasure. What could be happening when an ex-priest turned cop must protect a showgirl? I will give you a hint: pure entertainment. To be totally honest, I was a little worry when I picked up this book, each time that we have polar opposite it can easily become cheesy. I have to praise the author because she kept it real. It was not over the top and the story was believable (I never thought I would say that!!!).
Gina is a showgirl that had seen better years, she is getting close to 30 and she knows that she will have soon to find another job. Having forgotten her wallet she went back to her work and she overheard a conversation that was up to no good. The only thing she knew is that there was a bag with 50k in it and she decided to take it and she ran with it. Soon she discovered that it might not have been her wisest move and that’s when Detective Finn comes to her rescue.
Gina has a tormented past and she is living by her own rules. She is not the type of girl that believes in fairy tales. She has to make it happens by herself. She has no issues with her actions, whether it was when she was working in striptease club or taking the money and run with it. Taking time to reflect about her life was never an option, she was in surviving mode. Getting older as a showgirl is something that was always in the back of her mind. With little education and no other experiences than dancing, her future seems uncertain. She is not fond of the police, but Gabriel was there at the right time. She has no other choice than deal with it. We see are witnessing her growing and some of her dreams emerging. Little by little, she let herself have some hope for her future.
Gabriel is constantly questioning his actions. He is torn between his faith and his desires. He is always following the rules and he rarely asked questions about them. When his boss asked him to take on Gina’s file, he went for it, even though it was unofficial. Authority seems sacred to him, having been a priest he was drilled this way. Nonetheless, at some point in his priesthood life he stood up and did what was morally right to him. This decision that he made jeopardize his vocation and he decided to leave and became a policeman. We can feel his hurt and understand why he is now determined to follow orders. He doesn`t want to have that type of situation occurring to him again. When Gina entered his life, it was like a breath of fresh air. He did his best to hold on to his beliefs and refused let go of his carefully built world. Ultimately, he got out of the rules world and get back to his heart little by little.
The chemistry between both characters is magical. Alternating between their points of views we were able to get their emotions and their hopes. They are total opposite in their reactions: one is always listening to his boss, respecting the laws, and cherish traditional values. The other is a free spirit, acting on impulse and say things like it is. This story is a perfect illustration that when we are growing as a person when we are in contact with someone that is different than us.
In the end, it all worked out for the best and it is a great read!
*I was gifted this book by the Jeep Diva in exchange for my honest opinion
Gina is a showgirl that had seen better years, she is getting close to 30 and she knows that she will have soon to find another job. Having forgotten her wallet she went back to her work and she overheard a conversation that was up to no good. The only thing she knew is that there was a bag with 50k in it and she decided to take it and she ran with it. Soon she discovered that it might not have been her wisest move and that’s when Detective Finn comes to her rescue.
Gina has a tormented past and she is living by her own rules. She is not the type of girl that believes in fairy tales. She has to make it happens by herself. She has no issues with her actions, whether it was when she was working in striptease club or taking the money and run with it. Taking time to reflect about her life was never an option, she was in surviving mode. Getting older as a showgirl is something that was always in the back of her mind. With little education and no other experiences than dancing, her future seems uncertain. She is not fond of the police, but Gabriel was there at the right time. She has no other choice than deal with it. We see are witnessing her growing and some of her dreams emerging. Little by little, she let herself have some hope for her future.
Gabriel is constantly questioning his actions. He is torn between his faith and his desires. He is always following the rules and he rarely asked questions about them. When his boss asked him to take on Gina’s file, he went for it, even though it was unofficial. Authority seems sacred to him, having been a priest he was drilled this way. Nonetheless, at some point in his priesthood life he stood up and did what was morally right to him. This decision that he made jeopardize his vocation and he decided to leave and became a policeman. We can feel his hurt and understand why he is now determined to follow orders. He doesn`t want to have that type of situation occurring to him again. When Gina entered his life, it was like a breath of fresh air. He did his best to hold on to his beliefs and refused let go of his carefully built world. Ultimately, he got out of the rules world and get back to his heart little by little.
The chemistry between both characters is magical. Alternating between their points of views we were able to get their emotions and their hopes. They are total opposite in their reactions: one is always listening to his boss, respecting the laws, and cherish traditional values. The other is a free spirit, acting on impulse and say things like it is. This story is a perfect illustration that when we are growing as a person when we are in contact with someone that is different than us.
In the end, it all worked out for the best and it is a great read!
*I was gifted this book by the Jeep Diva in exchange for my honest opinion
April 11, 2016
I loved this book! It is perfect. The story is good, it's well-written, and full of romance, thrill, as well as some mystery & intrigue. I enjoyed reading it and will recommend to all readers. I hope you like it as much as I did. ;)
Gina unintentionally stumbled across something she wasn't supposed to know at all. Not only that but she was also foolish enough to thing she could deal with this situation on her own. Now she is in big trouble. There are people who want her dead. Not knowing what else to do she leaves town, ran away, hoping to get far away from all the drama going on in Las Vegas...
Gabriel is on leave when he is called back to work and find a show girl. He thought it was a waste of time. What a girl like her would know about the situation at hand. But soon enough he found her, as well as a lot more. Things at police department might not be as crystal clear as they ought to be. Now he couldn't take her back or she would be killed. Not knowing what else to do he decided to go back to Chicago. The only thing that mattered was to keep her safe...
On the road, running from death, soon the two of them formed an unlikely bond. There is also an attraction, not to mention explosive chemistry between the two. So get ready for a thrilling read...
Gina unintentionally stumbled across something she wasn't supposed to know at all. Not only that but she was also foolish enough to thing she could deal with this situation on her own. Now she is in big trouble. There are people who want her dead. Not knowing what else to do she leaves town, ran away, hoping to get far away from all the drama going on in Las Vegas...
Gabriel is on leave when he is called back to work and find a show girl. He thought it was a waste of time. What a girl like her would know about the situation at hand. But soon enough he found her, as well as a lot more. Things at police department might not be as crystal clear as they ought to be. Now he couldn't take her back or she would be killed. Not knowing what else to do he decided to go back to Chicago. The only thing that mattered was to keep her safe...
On the road, running from death, soon the two of them formed an unlikely bond. There is also an attraction, not to mention explosive chemistry between the two. So get ready for a thrilling read...
September 3, 2022
2.5 stars
He might have been a priest—once upon a time—but he definitely wasn’t a saint.
This had a whiff of the movie Bad Boys. She's an ex-stripper now showgirl who witnesses a dirty cop deal that goes bad and cop ends up dead. She steals the bag of ill gotten goods, she doesn't know what is in the bag just that it is valuable.
I hear you, why would you take the bag??? This is why none of you will ever be rescued by a former priest turned detective!
The guy is mostly why I'm writing up this quick review, he's a 37yr old virgin and since that is like a white whale to some of you romance readers, ALERT!
Irish Catholic oldest brother was priest for most of his life but ended up beating a man to a veg state (he managed to grow up boxing somehow in all this) when he found out the man was abusing his son. So he decides to drop the robes and become a cop.
There's danger with a, kind of, shored up action plot, a couple points that didn't make sense, and of course the sexual tension. She's funny and chaotic, there's sex scenes.
Nothing to take seriously but yeah, a 37yr old male virgin. Have at it, friends!
He might have been a priest—once upon a time—but he definitely wasn’t a saint.
This had a whiff of the movie Bad Boys. She's an ex-stripper now showgirl who witnesses a dirty cop deal that goes bad and cop ends up dead. She steals the bag of ill gotten goods, she doesn't know what is in the bag just that it is valuable.
I hear you, why would you take the bag??? This is why none of you will ever be rescued by a former priest turned detective!
The guy is mostly why I'm writing up this quick review, he's a 37yr old virgin and since that is like a white whale to some of you romance readers, ALERT!
Irish Catholic oldest brother was priest for most of his life but ended up beating a man to a veg state (he managed to grow up boxing somehow in all this) when he found out the man was abusing his son. So he decides to drop the robes and become a cop.
There's danger with a, kind of, shored up action plot, a couple points that didn't make sense, and of course the sexual tension. She's funny and chaotic, there's sex scenes.
Nothing to take seriously but yeah, a 37yr old male virgin. Have at it, friends!
April 11, 2016
**4.75 Stars**
Note to self: Always make sure you don't leave anything behind when you clock out for the day. Yeah, Gina learned that lesson the hard way. After finishing her nightly performance, she's a Vegas showgirl, she realizes she has to go back and get her wallet. Normally, no big deal...normally. This is not one of those normal times as she witnesses something she shouldn't, involving someone who should uphold the law, not break it. *clue clue* Too bad she can't just cover her eyes and say "I didn't see nothing." What's a girl to do now? Run like heck.
Note to self: When the boss orders you to take a vacation, due to injury, make like Finn and decide to make the best of it. Well, he tried until getting called in to track down a missing showgirl named Gina. Oh come on, they have to meet somehow and this way makes complete sense. ;-) Psst. Did I mention Finn is a former priest turned cop? Talk about a big difference in professions. Although, if you think about it, both hear confessions and both tend to see people at their best and their worst. Both make you want to pray when you see them coming. *I had to, people. I had to. I could've mad a naughty reference instead, but I was trying to behave.* So maybe they aren't so different after all.
Just as Gina is in danger the hottie she was eyeing at the gas station magically appears and rescues her. Ha, of course it wasn't magic. He was following her...it's Finn.
As they go on the run to keep Gina safe, Finn realizes she's more to him than just a witness, but he doesn't think he's worthy of her due to an incident from his past he feels deems him a bad person. Gina, on the other hand, doesn't feel she's good enough for Finn due to her history, even though it feels so right to be with him.
Will Finn be able to keep Gina safe? Will Gina's eyewitness account put the bad guys away? Will Finn and Gina realize exactly how high up the corruption goes? Will they come to terms with their pasts and go after what they both want...a HEA with each other?
I highly recommend this book. It was a great story with two characters seemingly from opposite ends of the spectrum, yet completely perfect for each other. The twists and turns were interesting to discover and it was lovely to watch their story unfold as they found their forever love.
On a side note, there was one part, very miniscule all things considered, that I could've done without, but it did make complete sense based upon the situation. This is purely a personal preference and in no way detracted from my enjoyment of the story.
**I received a copy of this book from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Note to self: Always make sure you don't leave anything behind when you clock out for the day. Yeah, Gina learned that lesson the hard way. After finishing her nightly performance, she's a Vegas showgirl, she realizes she has to go back and get her wallet. Normally, no big deal...normally. This is not one of those normal times as she witnesses something she shouldn't, involving someone who should uphold the law, not break it. *clue clue* Too bad she can't just cover her eyes and say "I didn't see nothing." What's a girl to do now? Run like heck.
Note to self: When the boss orders you to take a vacation, due to injury, make like Finn and decide to make the best of it. Well, he tried until getting called in to track down a missing showgirl named Gina. Oh come on, they have to meet somehow and this way makes complete sense. ;-) Psst. Did I mention Finn is a former priest turned cop? Talk about a big difference in professions. Although, if you think about it, both hear confessions and both tend to see people at their best and their worst. Both make you want to pray when you see them coming. *I had to, people. I had to. I could've mad a naughty reference instead, but I was trying to behave.* So maybe they aren't so different after all.
Just as Gina is in danger the hottie she was eyeing at the gas station magically appears and rescues her. Ha, of course it wasn't magic. He was following her...it's Finn.
As they go on the run to keep Gina safe, Finn realizes she's more to him than just a witness, but he doesn't think he's worthy of her due to an incident from his past he feels deems him a bad person. Gina, on the other hand, doesn't feel she's good enough for Finn due to her history, even though it feels so right to be with him.
Will Finn be able to keep Gina safe? Will Gina's eyewitness account put the bad guys away? Will Finn and Gina realize exactly how high up the corruption goes? Will they come to terms with their pasts and go after what they both want...a HEA with each other?
I highly recommend this book. It was a great story with two characters seemingly from opposite ends of the spectrum, yet completely perfect for each other. The twists and turns were interesting to discover and it was lovely to watch their story unfold as they found their forever love.
On a side note, there was one part, very miniscule all things considered, that I could've done without, but it did make complete sense based upon the situation. This is purely a personal preference and in no way detracted from my enjoyment of the story.
**I received a copy of this book from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
April 11, 2016
Showgirl Gina Malloy witnesses a shady deal going down after hours at her place of employment and when bullets start flying she can’t resist grabbing the bag that’s apparently worth 50000$ while running out the door. She quickly realizes that this wasn’t the best decision when she sees strange men ominously waiting for her at her door. She has no choice but to get the hell out of dodge and hopefully outrun the criminals that are now after her.
Former priest and now Detective Gabriel Finn is tasked with bringing Gina back to Las Vegas as a witness but ends up rescuing her from being shot by the thugs that have been following her. These circumstances and the contents of the stolen bag make him want to take Gina as far away from Las Vegas as possible until he can figure out what’s going on.
Can a sinner and a former saint help each other in more ways than one on this road trip?
Wild Card was a quick and entertaining read. The writing is good and Aleah Barley knows how to make her characters relatable. I got to know Gina and Gabriel sufficiently well to start to care for them.
Having said that, the whole book felt a bit rushed. Reading the book blurb I was expecting more story than what it is talking about since usually book blurbs give you just a glimpse of what’s to come. Instead, the blurb describes about 80% of the plot, which means everything except the ending. This felt a little thin for me story wise. The whole time I was reading I was waiting for something more to happen - I expected an 'explosive' story after all. Unfortunately, nothing overly exciting or unpredictable every happened.
Thinking back there where about four action scenes in the book but they were spaced so far apart that any suspense fizzled out pretty quickly for me.
The sizzle between Gina and Gabriel was definitely there but it wasn’t 'explosive' either. Also, in my opinion, Gina was the damsel in distress too often for a ‘tough as nails woman’.
Maybe I just went into this novel with too high expectations since the blurb is so good.
If you want to read a short but entertaining road trip book with mild action and a pretty typical romance storyline that won’t get you too involved, grab Wild Card – maybe for a rainy Sunday afternoon.
____________________
I received a review copy from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley.
Former priest and now Detective Gabriel Finn is tasked with bringing Gina back to Las Vegas as a witness but ends up rescuing her from being shot by the thugs that have been following her. These circumstances and the contents of the stolen bag make him want to take Gina as far away from Las Vegas as possible until he can figure out what’s going on.
Can a sinner and a former saint help each other in more ways than one on this road trip?
Wild Card was a quick and entertaining read. The writing is good and Aleah Barley knows how to make her characters relatable. I got to know Gina and Gabriel sufficiently well to start to care for them.
Having said that, the whole book felt a bit rushed. Reading the book blurb I was expecting more story than what it is talking about since usually book blurbs give you just a glimpse of what’s to come. Instead, the blurb describes about 80% of the plot, which means everything except the ending. This felt a little thin for me story wise. The whole time I was reading I was waiting for something more to happen - I expected an 'explosive' story after all. Unfortunately, nothing overly exciting or unpredictable every happened.
Thinking back there where about four action scenes in the book but they were spaced so far apart that any suspense fizzled out pretty quickly for me.
The sizzle between Gina and Gabriel was definitely there but it wasn’t 'explosive' either. Also, in my opinion, Gina was the damsel in distress too often for a ‘tough as nails woman’.
Maybe I just went into this novel with too high expectations since the blurb is so good.
If you want to read a short but entertaining road trip book with mild action and a pretty typical romance storyline that won’t get you too involved, grab Wild Card – maybe for a rainy Sunday afternoon.
____________________
I received a review copy from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley.
May 21, 2016
Title: Wild Card - Leaving Las Vegas 3
Author: Aleah Barley
Published: 4-11-2016
Publisher: Entangled Publishing LLC / Ignite
Pages: 164
Genre: Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense
Sub Genre: Romance; Action & Adventure
ISBN: 9781633755819
ASIN: B01D8FKYS6
Reviewer: DelAnne
Reviewed For: NetGalley
My Rating: 4 1/2 Stars
.
What do you get with a sassy tough Las Vegas Show Girl with a heart of gold and a former priest who has seen too much and is now a tough as nails detective and put them together on the run from thugs and a behind the scenes controller? The answer is an explosive story that will have your heart racing from equal parts romance and thrilling suspense all in one story "Wild Card", the third book in Aleah Barley's Leaving Las Vegas Series. Which can easily be read as a stand-alone book.
Through no fault of her own, Gina Malloy stumbles upon backroom deal gone wrong. When the bullets start to fly Gina grabs the money and runs with the shooters right behind her. Detective Gabriel Finn is assigned the task of bring Gina back to Vegas, no problem, easily done. Then he meets the Witness and finds a beautiful strong willed woman who doesn't trust him and doesn't go anywhere she doesn't want to Gabe realizes things don't always go to plan. Hiding Out he starts his own investigation. Can he keep them alive long enough to unravel the mystery of who is behind those trying to kill them.
Strong characters, a fast moving story, a touch of romance and a fight to stay alive. What more could you ask for? "Wild Card" will keep you involved from beginning to end. This is great book for lovers of mysteries, romances or action and adventure, it is suitable for all. My rating is 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
Barnes and Noble link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wild-...
GoodReads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The Reading Room link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
Author: Aleah Barley
Published: 4-11-2016
Publisher: Entangled Publishing LLC / Ignite
Pages: 164
Genre: Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense
Sub Genre: Romance; Action & Adventure
ISBN: 9781633755819
ASIN: B01D8FKYS6
Reviewer: DelAnne
Reviewed For: NetGalley
My Rating: 4 1/2 Stars
.
What do you get with a sassy tough Las Vegas Show Girl with a heart of gold and a former priest who has seen too much and is now a tough as nails detective and put them together on the run from thugs and a behind the scenes controller? The answer is an explosive story that will have your heart racing from equal parts romance and thrilling suspense all in one story "Wild Card", the third book in Aleah Barley's Leaving Las Vegas Series. Which can easily be read as a stand-alone book.
Through no fault of her own, Gina Malloy stumbles upon backroom deal gone wrong. When the bullets start to fly Gina grabs the money and runs with the shooters right behind her. Detective Gabriel Finn is assigned the task of bring Gina back to Vegas, no problem, easily done. Then he meets the Witness and finds a beautiful strong willed woman who doesn't trust him and doesn't go anywhere she doesn't want to Gabe realizes things don't always go to plan. Hiding Out he starts his own investigation. Can he keep them alive long enough to unravel the mystery of who is behind those trying to kill them.
Strong characters, a fast moving story, a touch of romance and a fight to stay alive. What more could you ask for? "Wild Card" will keep you involved from beginning to end. This is great book for lovers of mysteries, romances or action and adventure, it is suitable for all. My rating is 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
Barnes and Noble link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wild-...
GoodReads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The Reading Room link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
April 8, 2016
Although I would have never paired these two characters together for a story, Aleah Barley found a way to make it work. A showgirl and former priest, now detective, definitely make for an interesting story!
Gina is a showgirl that is just working to provide for herself when one night she happens to be in the club that she is working at later then normal. She comes upon a heated discussion between two men and in the end ends up witnessing a murder. When Gina decides to take a piece of the evidence that she thinks can get her some money, the chase is on for her. Gina slips away with her evidence but has no idea what she has or how much it is really worth. Gina is determined to make it on her own though.
When Detective Finn is put on light duty because of injuries he received in a shoot out, they assign him the task of finding Gina and keeping her safe. Finn thinks that this is going to be an easy job and he will just bring her back so they can question her. What Finn never took into account is that Gina is a strong willed, independent woman that is outspoken and willing to do what she has to do. When Finn and Gina meet, you can tell that there is an attraction there. Finn just doesn't act upon it immediately, but Gina is not shy at all, she is a showgirl after all. When she advances on Finn, he has to remind himself why he is there. When Gina and Finn get time to talk on their adventure, Finn tells her that he is a former priest and that shocks Gina! Will the priest be able to keep up the good boy persona while he is on this assignment? You have to read this story to find out what happens with Gina and Finn!
There was action along with adventure for these two that kept the story line moving right along. The characters were well developed and came with their fair share of baggage that they had to work through in the story. All together this was a great read that kept your interest the whole time!
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion by Netgalley and Entangled Publishing! Thank you!
Gina is a showgirl that is just working to provide for herself when one night she happens to be in the club that she is working at later then normal. She comes upon a heated discussion between two men and in the end ends up witnessing a murder. When Gina decides to take a piece of the evidence that she thinks can get her some money, the chase is on for her. Gina slips away with her evidence but has no idea what she has or how much it is really worth. Gina is determined to make it on her own though.
When Detective Finn is put on light duty because of injuries he received in a shoot out, they assign him the task of finding Gina and keeping her safe. Finn thinks that this is going to be an easy job and he will just bring her back so they can question her. What Finn never took into account is that Gina is a strong willed, independent woman that is outspoken and willing to do what she has to do. When Finn and Gina meet, you can tell that there is an attraction there. Finn just doesn't act upon it immediately, but Gina is not shy at all, she is a showgirl after all. When she advances on Finn, he has to remind himself why he is there. When Gina and Finn get time to talk on their adventure, Finn tells her that he is a former priest and that shocks Gina! Will the priest be able to keep up the good boy persona while he is on this assignment? You have to read this story to find out what happens with Gina and Finn!
There was action along with adventure for these two that kept the story line moving right along. The characters were well developed and came with their fair share of baggage that they had to work through in the story. All together this was a great read that kept your interest the whole time!
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion by Netgalley and Entangled Publishing! Thank you!
April 13, 2016
This book was a little different than what I expected. The character traits for the H/h were not something I would expect, but somehow it worked. To be honest, I was a little annoyed at Gina in the beginning....she did not make a smart move in the beginning of the book, but I guess if she had the plot would have been drastically different. Gina was not the typical heroine, she was snarky, had a checkered past, but still came off likeable, even after she made stupid mistakes. Finn was a likeable hero, even though I did find it hard to believe his beliefs still ran strong even after moving to Las Vegas and that after 37 years, he was able to give them up in a matter of days. So, if I suspend belief and take every thing at face value, I liked him too. The one thing I didn't enjoy was the repetitive "he doesn't like me" and "I am not good enough for her". I like the H/h to have a little more confidence that they are good enough. The romance hand about an "R" rating to me, not as steamy as I generally read, but it fit with this book. The suspense was about a "PG13". I think there could have been a little more grit in the suspense. The twist at the end was interesting, but I had it pegged. Now the BIGGEST issue I had, was the shooter's name at the beginning of the book was "Donovan" however, at the end of the book it was "Dasher". That through me for a loop. I don't know what I missed or how that happened but either I missed something in the plot or there was an error in the book. When I got towards the end, I had to double check to make sure that I was not missing something and I went back to the beginning to check. Also, Gina heard the name "Donovan" at the beginning, why didn't she tell Finn this? How did this plot point go away? That was my biggest issue. Subtracting one star for confusing plot (Donovan/Dasher), subtracting one star for repetitive inner dialog of "He doesn't like me" and "I am not good enough for her". 3 star, okay read. I will look into reading another book by this author to get another feel for her.
April 22, 2016
Rating: 4 Quills 
Heat Level: 2 Flames 
This book is a quick and exciting suspense with a lot of heat added in!
The set up for this is great. A wrong-place-wrong-time moment and a split-second bad decision sends Gina on the run from both thugs and dirty cops. Finn is on leave after a gunshot injury but he is sent to find Gina because his captain believes she may have seen something, but he doesn't want to pull the investigation from the murder of a police officer. There are a few great action scenes, but most of the story takes place with them on the road.
The attraction between the couple is instant. It's a bit convenient that a man that had not too long ago left the priesthood has unmatched bedroom expertise, but that doesn't mean that these scenes didn't make my Kindle run hot. The tension is unbelievable.
My biggest con with this one is the confusion when reading created by the name of the shooter in the first scene not being the name of the guy identified as the shooter later. I'm not sure if I missed something or if this issue is because I had an ARC copy which may or may not have been fixed before publishing.
Heat Level: 2 Flames This book is a quick and exciting suspense with a lot of heat added in!
The set up for this is great. A wrong-place-wrong-time moment and a split-second bad decision sends Gina on the run from both thugs and dirty cops. Finn is on leave after a gunshot injury but he is sent to find Gina because his captain believes she may have seen something, but he doesn't want to pull the investigation from the murder of a police officer. There are a few great action scenes, but most of the story takes place with them on the road.
The attraction between the couple is instant. It's a bit convenient that a man that had not too long ago left the priesthood has unmatched bedroom expertise, but that doesn't mean that these scenes didn't make my Kindle run hot. The tension is unbelievable.
My biggest con with this one is the confusion when reading created by the name of the shooter in the first scene not being the name of the guy identified as the shooter later. I'm not sure if I missed something or if this issue is because I had an ARC copy which may or may not have been fixed before publishing.
April 18, 2016
Showgirl Gina came across something she shouldn’t have While she was leaving her job as a stripper. WOW, what a fantastic start. She sees a crime happen and finds something from that crime. She goes on the run after hearing a dirty cop get murdered.
Detective Finn from the LVMPD who is on leave gets brought in to find Gina. Finn is on leave and his captain knows Finn can find Gina since she was the last person seen leaving the club. As the story progresses, we find out Finn is a former priest and being a cop he comes down on the side of the law and doesn’t feel for the lawbreakers. Yet when he finally meets Gina, and knowing what she took, he wants to get her far away from LV and hide her until he can wrap his head around what to do for her and how to make things safe and sound in order to bring her home.
Gina doesn’t know what to think of Finn and she finds him fascinating and dangerous. The temptation, the sexual tension was HOT and I loved the romance factor along with the suspense/action and there is a twist in the story. I am not going to give it away but the ending was good. But the story seems rushed. I wish it was paced somewhat smoother and not as confusing as it was at times. Still Finn and Gina were a hot couple and I loved their chemistry. The bad guys were reveled and the romance was great. I think this is a good read.
My rating: 4.0 stars ****
**I was given an ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review***
Detective Finn from the LVMPD who is on leave gets brought in to find Gina. Finn is on leave and his captain knows Finn can find Gina since she was the last person seen leaving the club. As the story progresses, we find out Finn is a former priest and being a cop he comes down on the side of the law and doesn’t feel for the lawbreakers. Yet when he finally meets Gina, and knowing what she took, he wants to get her far away from LV and hide her until he can wrap his head around what to do for her and how to make things safe and sound in order to bring her home.
Gina doesn’t know what to think of Finn and she finds him fascinating and dangerous. The temptation, the sexual tension was HOT and I loved the romance factor along with the suspense/action and there is a twist in the story. I am not going to give it away but the ending was good. But the story seems rushed. I wish it was paced somewhat smoother and not as confusing as it was at times. Still Finn and Gina were a hot couple and I loved their chemistry. The bad guys were reveled and the romance was great. I think this is a good read.
My rating: 4.0 stars ****
**I was given an ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review***
July 2, 2016
I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
First off, this slipped through the cracks in my TBR pile so the review is later than I would have liked.
A solid three and a half stars. This reads like a bad sort of joke about a Vegas showgirl and an ex-priest turned cop.
Gina forgets her purse one night and goes back to the nightclub where she overhears a man and a police officer discussing a bag of 'something' which is worth at least $50000 maybe three times that much. As she escapes she grabs the bag and hears the man shoot the dirty cop.
Detective Finn is on leave from LVMPD after being shot twice. His captain calls him in and asks Finn to find the last person known to have entered the club - Gina.
This had shades of the 1940s gumshoe films (you know the ones starring Humphrey Bogart), especially some of the slightly more purple prose. And yet I really liked it. Gina and Finn were engaging characters and I felt we had some real depths revealed in what was a pretty short novel. It's not literature but it was fun, had a good pace, a well-thought out plot and didn't take itself too seriously.
If a fast-paced novel about a smart-talking showgirl and an ex-priest sounds like your sort of book then step right up. I'm off to read the two previous books in the series!
First off, this slipped through the cracks in my TBR pile so the review is later than I would have liked.
A solid three and a half stars. This reads like a bad sort of joke about a Vegas showgirl and an ex-priest turned cop.
Gina forgets her purse one night and goes back to the nightclub where she overhears a man and a police officer discussing a bag of 'something' which is worth at least $50000 maybe three times that much. As she escapes she grabs the bag and hears the man shoot the dirty cop.
Detective Finn is on leave from LVMPD after being shot twice. His captain calls him in and asks Finn to find the last person known to have entered the club - Gina.
This had shades of the 1940s gumshoe films (you know the ones starring Humphrey Bogart), especially some of the slightly more purple prose. And yet I really liked it. Gina and Finn were engaging characters and I felt we had some real depths revealed in what was a pretty short novel. It's not literature but it was fun, had a good pace, a well-thought out plot and didn't take itself too seriously.
If a fast-paced novel about a smart-talking showgirl and an ex-priest sounds like your sort of book then step right up. I'm off to read the two previous books in the series!
April 11, 2016
Not sure what happened here, but I felt things were too rushed at times, and the characters made little sense other times.
We have Gina and Finn here. Gina was a witness to a murder and Finn was given the job to chase after her and find out what she knew.
The first thing that made no sense at all to me, was Gina’s idea to take the bag… I just, what? Even when she needed the money, what was inside was obviously illegal, so why risk it and even think the bad guys wouldn’t notice. No sense at all.
I also never understood why Finn’s mom treated him like he didn’t exist anymore, when she never really blamed him for what happened. Why torture him like that for years?
The story moves rather fast and even though there were some pretty exciting moments here and there, it just wasn’t enough for me to fall in love with these characters. Way too fast ILYs, even when I felt the character who needed the HEA the most was Gina (God, I wanted to hug her), so I was happy she had that. :-)
There is a little bit of everything in here, just not enough for me to love it. I’d still check another book in the series if there is one.
*Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange of my honest opinion*
We have Gina and Finn here. Gina was a witness to a murder and Finn was given the job to chase after her and find out what she knew.
The first thing that made no sense at all to me, was Gina’s idea to take the bag… I just, what? Even when she needed the money, what was inside was obviously illegal, so why risk it and even think the bad guys wouldn’t notice. No sense at all.
I also never understood why Finn’s mom treated him like he didn’t exist anymore, when she never really blamed him for what happened. Why torture him like that for years?
The story moves rather fast and even though there were some pretty exciting moments here and there, it just wasn’t enough for me to fall in love with these characters. Way too fast ILYs, even when I felt the character who needed the HEA the most was Gina (God, I wanted to hug her), so I was happy she had that. :-)
There is a little bit of everything in here, just not enough for me to love it. I’d still check another book in the series if there is one.
*Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange of my honest opinion*
March 24, 2016
This was definitely a different kind of pairing...a former priest and a former stripper ( well, maybe not so former). I never would have put these two together, but in a weird sort of way it worked. Gina was super tough and blatantly sexual on the outside, but kind of wounded and lonely on the inside. Likewise, Finn had a tough detective's exterior while harboring extreme feelings of guilt and also loneliness. The similarities end there. Finn is a total rule follower and compete innocent. Gina doesn't mind coloring outside the lines a bit. She also quit being innocent a long time ago. When a murder throws these two together and on the run, Finn isn't quite sure what to do with Gina, but he knows he wants to do something. He decides he is going to protect her no matter what because she touches something inside him despite their differences.
It was fun watching Gina shock Finn with her bold behavior and words. He managed to surprise her too at times. There were several suspenseful moments and a nice slow burn of chemistry between interesting main characters.
I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.
It was fun watching Gina shock Finn with her bold behavior and words. He managed to surprise her too at times. There were several suspenseful moments and a nice slow burn of chemistry between interesting main characters.
I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.
April 11, 2016
Finally took time to read one from this author because of having a interest in doing so for a while now. Detectives will get my interest in a minute so when I read what about I was in. She gets you interested right away with a mix of what is going on and humor. Gina is the one who will get it started but forgetting something will be after all said and done something she does not do again I think. She hears something she will be forced to run from plus picking up something left behind other than what she came for. Gabriel will be sent in to bring her in but soon will be on the run with her with good reason. He is also not your average detective with a former occupation that lends some color to two characters that really carry this story. Being a showgirl will come in handy too when they need the funds at one point with him starting to really see beyond the title. It has a fast pace, drama and a different light on romance because of the characters. Couple of twists are in it to keep the intrigue with when if not there you might of wondered. Enjoyable characters these two were that make it worth the time with the entertaining story.
October 10, 2016
*** This ARC was received from Entangled Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***
Gina is a down on her luck dancer who hopes for more but doesn't expect it to actually happen. She accidently witnesses something bad and grabs the goods on the way out. She then does the only thing she can think of, run.
Finn is a good cop with what he thinks is a disgraceful past. Willing to do anything to get back to work after being on medical leave he jumps at the chance to chase down a witness even though he believes he isn't very well suited for the job. As soon as he starts talking to Gina he believes there is more going on than he thought.
Together they get to a safe place and realize that the evidence she snagged is a lot more important than first believed. After being estranged from his mother for years, just showing up asking for helps reconnect them.
This is a good story about finding that one person who just fits and fighting to make sure you get to keep that person.
Gina is a down on her luck dancer who hopes for more but doesn't expect it to actually happen. She accidently witnesses something bad and grabs the goods on the way out. She then does the only thing she can think of, run.
Finn is a good cop with what he thinks is a disgraceful past. Willing to do anything to get back to work after being on medical leave he jumps at the chance to chase down a witness even though he believes he isn't very well suited for the job. As soon as he starts talking to Gina he believes there is more going on than he thought.
Together they get to a safe place and realize that the evidence she snagged is a lot more important than first believed. After being estranged from his mother for years, just showing up asking for helps reconnect them.
This is a good story about finding that one person who just fits and fighting to make sure you get to keep that person.
April 1, 2016
This book is okay. It moved quickly and there weren't any lulls but it was just okay.
Gina is a showgirl who has accidentally witnessed a murder and then taken evidence that one of the people were buying. Finn, the LVMPD who is also former priest Father Finn is charged to find her and keep her safe. Which he tries to do. For them to be on the run there wasn't very much action and certainly the woman, Gina, got the most physical abuse. She saved the day by stripping to get them away Las Vegas while the officer, Finn, was more of a first and last act hero. I hate doing reviews that are not good but this was just not what I expected and less than I wanted and I am drawn to much stronger alpha male characters.
Be sure to read this and give your own opinion. Everybody likes different stuff.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Gina is a showgirl who has accidentally witnessed a murder and then taken evidence that one of the people were buying. Finn, the LVMPD who is also former priest Father Finn is charged to find her and keep her safe. Which he tries to do. For them to be on the run there wasn't very much action and certainly the woman, Gina, got the most physical abuse. She saved the day by stripping to get them away Las Vegas while the officer, Finn, was more of a first and last act hero. I hate doing reviews that are not good but this was just not what I expected and less than I wanted and I am drawn to much stronger alpha male characters.
Be sure to read this and give your own opinion. Everybody likes different stuff.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 11, 2016
Wild Card is part of the Leaving Las Vegas series but I read it as a stand alone with no issue. I loved Finn's character, I loved his history, how tortured he was about something that no one held against him. He was so conflicted, so by the book and yet so protective and willing to bend the rules for Gina.
Gina was a strong woman that could take care of herself as evident by her back story. I didn't completely understand her motivation for getting involved in the situation in the first place, but her character was sassy and brazen. She made for a nice contradiction to Finn.
This story had the action to keep a reader interested and a quick romance that made the reader root for a happily ever after for Gina and Finn. The timeline was really fast paced and some of the events seemed a little unbelievable but overall the story was a good read. Definitely worth the time to read.
Gina was a strong woman that could take care of herself as evident by her back story. I didn't completely understand her motivation for getting involved in the situation in the first place, but her character was sassy and brazen. She made for a nice contradiction to Finn.
This story had the action to keep a reader interested and a quick romance that made the reader root for a happily ever after for Gina and Finn. The timeline was really fast paced and some of the events seemed a little unbelievable but overall the story was a good read. Definitely worth the time to read.
April 23, 2016
Gina Malloy is a Vegas show girl who is in the wrong place at the wrong time. She's a witness to a crooked deal and a murder. As she escapes she picks up a bag that makes her a killer's target. Now she's running for her life. Enter her knight in shining armor, Detective Gabriel Finn. Can he get her back to Las Vegas in one piece? Gina Malloy is a strong woman who has had a rough life. She's given up on love. Gabriel is a caring man who has always been a protector. He's a former priest. Now he hides from people and commitment. I love the role reversal. She's the bad girl and he's the innocent. I was hooked by this wild adventure. The ending took me by surprise. Aleah Barley wrote an exciting story filled with interesting characters. I lost myself in this romantic story.
March 29, 2016
Wild Card is the third book in the Leaving Las Vegas romance/suspense series. It is a well written and professionally edited novel.
The Hero, a former priest/current homicide detective, and the heroine, a former stripper/current show girl, are thrown together when she witnesses the murder of a corrupt police officer. She grabs some evidence from the crime scene and soon she and the H are being chased across the country by the bad guys. Of course, they get to know each other and are soon romantically involved.
If you take Wild Card for what it is: a sweet, simple love story with a suspense element then you will enjoy this story. If you are expecting a complicated plot you will be disappointed.
Wild Card ends with a HEA.
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.
The Hero, a former priest/current homicide detective, and the heroine, a former stripper/current show girl, are thrown together when she witnesses the murder of a corrupt police officer. She grabs some evidence from the crime scene and soon she and the H are being chased across the country by the bad guys. Of course, they get to know each other and are soon romantically involved.
If you take Wild Card for what it is: a sweet, simple love story with a suspense element then you will enjoy this story. If you are expecting a complicated plot you will be disappointed.
Wild Card ends with a HEA.
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.
September 13, 2016
I’m so happy to find a new-to-me author! This is a fun romance with suspenseful elements, but I’m still including it in my romantic suspense roundup because it was nice to read about different characters – an ex-preacher and a showgirl. Both characters are flawed, and both are vulnerable. HE is the virgin, which I found to be quite refreshing, because his character could have easily worked out a lifetime of frustration through a string of random women the second he left the cloth … but he didn’t. He was very human, and his flaws made him far more appealing than if he would’ve been placed upon a shelf like a shiny gem.
*This review was originally published on Heroes & Heartbreakers: http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com...
*This review was originally published on Heroes & Heartbreakers: http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com...
March 24, 2016
I loved this book! In it, we meet Gina, an aging Las Vegas showgirl....even though she's only 28 years old. She inadvertently witnesses a murder and takes a bag from the scene. By the time she gets home, thugs are waiting for her, so runs from Las Vegas. Along the way, she encounters Finn, a Vegas cop still recovering from being shot and who has demons of his own. He has been assigned by his captain to keep her safe. What follows is a fast paced romantic suspense that kept me turning pages as quickly as possible.
Fans of the genre will love this book. While it is part of a series, each book is a stand alone novel.
Fans of the genre will love this book. While it is part of a series, each book is a stand alone novel.
December 14, 2016
Wild Card is book 3 in the Leaving Las Vegas Series and the first one I have read by Aleah Barley .
The main characters are Gabriel, a former priest who now works as an homicide detective and Gina, a former stripper who now performs as a show girl. These two characters meet when she witnesses a murder, the murder of a corrupt police officer. He needs to protect her and they start being chased by the bad guys. While running away, they get to know each other and develop feelings.
This book is full of action, some suspense and great romance!
I received a copy by the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review
The main characters are Gabriel, a former priest who now works as an homicide detective and Gina, a former stripper who now performs as a show girl. These two characters meet when she witnesses a murder, the murder of a corrupt police officer. He needs to protect her and they start being chased by the bad guys. While running away, they get to know each other and develop feelings.
This book is full of action, some suspense and great romance!
I received a copy by the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review
April 10, 2016
An ex-priest turned Detective and an ex-stripper turned Vegas showgirl go on the run…What could go wrong? This novel was sweet and simple but also intense and suspenseful. While the story had some downright sinful scenes, it also had some adorably sweet scenes. I really enjoyed this novel. The characters were engaging and the storyline was captivating. I would give this novel a solid 4 stars. I liked the suspenseful and captivating story.
(ARC provided by NetGalley and Entangled Publishing in exchanged for an honest review)
(ARC provided by NetGalley and Entangled Publishing in exchanged for an honest review)
April 3, 2016
A simple enjoyable story. Of Gina, a Las Vegas showgirl. At 28 she's still dancing. Has not been easy. Going back for her wallet after 2 am was the means to get her fired. She stumbles upon a big 50K plus pay off. Going on in the back room. As she is trying to slip out , she grabs the bag of loot. Guess she didn't realize that bad guys would go after her. Then murder happens. Of which a straight as an arrow ex priest turned detective Wanting only to drag her back as a witness. Instead these two are on the run. Given book by Net Galley for my honest opinion of which I have given.
April 9, 2016
I love suspense books. This had me on edge of my seat. Wondering if they were going to be ok. And which cops were bad. I love the humor. Gina is good for Gabe. And vise versa. Super good book
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