What do you think?
Rate this book
Discovering Us #1
Stacking the Deck
Brooke:
I’m convinced happily ever after is a myth. Discovering my husband’s secrets has given me no choice but to take my daughter and start over. Unfortunately, that means living with my parents again. Just when I think life has stacked the deck against me, I run into Ryan. It’s been over a decade, but old feelings quickly reignite. The chemistry between Ryan and me is undeniable, and I’m left wondering if this is the way things were always meant to be.
Ryan:
After being a Marine for fourteen years, I move home to start a business with my brother. The last person I expect to walk through the door is the woman I let go. She’s the one I’ve never forgotten, and thoughts of her kept me going all these years. Now I have the chance to prove my worth to her, but will the odds be stacked against us?
I’m convinced happily ever after is a myth. Discovering my husband’s secrets has given me no choice but to take my daughter and start over. Unfortunately, that means living with my parents again. Just when I think life has stacked the deck against me, I run into Ryan. It’s been over a decade, but old feelings quickly reignite. The chemistry between Ryan and me is undeniable, and I’m left wondering if this is the way things were always meant to be.
Ryan:
After being a Marine for fourteen years, I move home to start a business with my brother. The last person I expect to walk through the door is the woman I let go. She’s the one I’ve never forgotten, and thoughts of her kept me going all these years. Now I have the chance to prove my worth to her, but will the odds be stacked against us?
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 27, 2018
25 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
C.L. Collier
30 books504 followersC.L. Collier is a USA Today Bestselling Author who lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She was raised in the Seattle area, and although she lives closer to Portland, Oregon now, she frequently visits the hometown she loves. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, watching her favorite sports teams, spending time with her family, or going to concerts. She likes her music loud, wine and coffee sweet, and her books steamy.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 1, 2022
Sweet Second Chance.
I’m a big fan of second chance stories and this one was just the right mix of painful and sweet to be engaging. If you’ve ever wondered “What if” when thinking of someone in your past, this one’s for you!
I’m a big fan of second chance stories and this one was just the right mix of painful and sweet to be engaging. If you’ve ever wondered “What if” when thinking of someone in your past, this one’s for you!
August 23, 2018
Original review: A Novel Glimpse
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.
Stacking the Deck is the first book in C.L. Collier’s new Discovering Us series. It’s a second chance romance between high school sweethearts, Brooke and Ryan. They haven’t seen each other since they broke up ten years ago when Brooke went to college and Ryan went to the Marines. Each went their separate ways. Brooke ended up married and had a baby. Ryan spent all those years traveling with the Marine’s. After an unexpected betrayal, Brooke has divorced and moved home to live with her parents. Ryan has also recently returned home to open a gym with his brother. When Brooke and Ryan run into each other for the first time in years, neither of them can deny the spark is still there between them.
This the fourth book C.L. Collier has written and it’s the fourth book of hers I’ve read. With each book I have enjoyed seeing her writing grow and blossom. Each book has been better than the last. I really enjoyed Stacking the Deck. The story felt real, like one that could be happening to someone I know.
Brooke and Ryan were great characters. Brooke was a strong woman. I was surprised by how she wasn’t mopey. Her life had exploded, and while she was upset about it, she was determined to make the best of things. I liked how positive her character felt. She took things at her own pace and did what was right for herself and her daughter. Ryan was a winner. He was basically perfect. Ryan had a few flaws, but they weren’t anything that couldn’t be overlooked. I especially loved how Ryan bonded with Brooke’s daughter. I loved what a great support system he was for Brooke and how he wanted to do things right by her and Ellie. Brooke and Ryan truly had something special together. I could feel the spark they shared.
This book wasn’t just a romance, though. It’s also the story of Brooke coming to terms with her ex-husbands unexpected betrayal and learning to move on. I liked the ups and downs she went through on her journey of reclaiming her life. I actually would have liked to see more of those moments. I am still curious about what went on between the prologue and the first chapter. I was interested in how she got through the tougher times. To go deeper into this, there were times Brooke was telling the reader about something going on or something she went through and it would have been higher impact for the reader if she was experiencing it in the story rather than telling about it. That is probably more a personal reading preferences than anything. I like to experience all the emotional stuff with a character while reading.
Overall, I truly enjoyed reading Stacking the Deck. It was a fun, sweet second chance romance involving high school sweethearts.
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.
Stacking the Deck is the first book in C.L. Collier’s new Discovering Us series. It’s a second chance romance between high school sweethearts, Brooke and Ryan. They haven’t seen each other since they broke up ten years ago when Brooke went to college and Ryan went to the Marines. Each went their separate ways. Brooke ended up married and had a baby. Ryan spent all those years traveling with the Marine’s. After an unexpected betrayal, Brooke has divorced and moved home to live with her parents. Ryan has also recently returned home to open a gym with his brother. When Brooke and Ryan run into each other for the first time in years, neither of them can deny the spark is still there between them.
This the fourth book C.L. Collier has written and it’s the fourth book of hers I’ve read. With each book I have enjoyed seeing her writing grow and blossom. Each book has been better than the last. I really enjoyed Stacking the Deck. The story felt real, like one that could be happening to someone I know.
Brooke and Ryan were great characters. Brooke was a strong woman. I was surprised by how she wasn’t mopey. Her life had exploded, and while she was upset about it, she was determined to make the best of things. I liked how positive her character felt. She took things at her own pace and did what was right for herself and her daughter. Ryan was a winner. He was basically perfect. Ryan had a few flaws, but they weren’t anything that couldn’t be overlooked. I especially loved how Ryan bonded with Brooke’s daughter. I loved what a great support system he was for Brooke and how he wanted to do things right by her and Ellie. Brooke and Ryan truly had something special together. I could feel the spark they shared.
This book wasn’t just a romance, though. It’s also the story of Brooke coming to terms with her ex-husbands unexpected betrayal and learning to move on. I liked the ups and downs she went through on her journey of reclaiming her life. I actually would have liked to see more of those moments. I am still curious about what went on between the prologue and the first chapter. I was interested in how she got through the tougher times. To go deeper into this, there were times Brooke was telling the reader about something going on or something she went through and it would have been higher impact for the reader if she was experiencing it in the story rather than telling about it. That is probably more a personal reading preferences than anything. I like to experience all the emotional stuff with a character while reading.
Overall, I truly enjoyed reading Stacking the Deck. It was a fun, sweet second chance romance involving high school sweethearts.
August 29, 2018
C.L. Collier is off to a great start with her latest series Discovering Us. Stacking The Deck is a fantastic stand alone story that kept me entertained for hours. You meet two fantastic characters in this story. Brooke and Ryan. They are reunited after a series of events and life circumstances has kept them apart for nearly ten years.
Brooke is starting over after having her world rocked and Ryan has returned home after serving his time in the Marines. The timing may not be right, but there is no way Ryan is going to let Brooke slip through his fingers a second time.
I can't wait to see what C.L. Collier has in store for us next.
Brooke is starting over after having her world rocked and Ryan has returned home after serving his time in the Marines. The timing may not be right, but there is no way Ryan is going to let Brooke slip through his fingers a second time.
I can't wait to see what C.L. Collier has in store for us next.
August 21, 2018
Thanks CL Collier for letting me read "Stacking the Deck" before it's release. It was such a fun, involved second chance book that I couldn't put it down.
The review is up at http://desireforlit.com/2018/08/20/st...
Myn
The review is up at http://desireforlit.com/2018/08/20/st...
Myn
December 13, 2018
I loved this book so much! I face hurts from smiling so much while I was reading it. I really like second chance romance and this book did not disappoint. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
August 28, 2018
Stacking the Deck is a story filled with love, betrayal, forgiveness. It takes us on Brooke's journey which she has to deal with learning to trust and love again. A touching second chance love story.
Want to read
November 25, 2023🎁 FREE on Amazon today (1/12/2021)! 🎁
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews