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Beaufort Poker Club #2
Wild Card
It’s crazy how three seconds can change your life.
For Steve Pelham, those three seconds happened in a doctor’s office. His wife—the girl he had been madly in love with since elementary school—was given a terminal diagnosis. Years of being dragged through an endless cycle of betting on science and miracles to save the love of his life? Useless.
Nine months later, he finds himself taking a statement from the surviving passenger of a fatal car accident in the very same hospital where he lost his wife.
Erica Shaw’s three life changing seconds happened on her first day in Beaufort, North Carolina. After losing her fiance in the blink of an eye, she finds herself face to face with one grumpy cop.
Detective Jerk Face had resigned to the routine of sleep, eat, and work for the rest of his life. When a new girl in danger turns Steve’s life upside down, he’s forced to decide whether or not loving someone is a risk he’s willing to take again.
Sometimes there’s no way to know what the right move is when you’re handed a wild card.
The Beaufort Poker Club series is meant to be enjoyed in order. Start with book one, Poker Face: a steamy enemies to lovers romance!
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Slow Burn? Oh yeah! Steamy? Of course! Feels? Buy tissues in bulk. A grumpy cop with a penchant for telling it like it is. A good girl who has a serious aversion to four letter words. Adult kickball tournament? Watch a group of hunky first responders throw down like they’re in middle school. This is a story of redemption, forgiveness, and second chances.
For Steve Pelham, those three seconds happened in a doctor’s office. His wife—the girl he had been madly in love with since elementary school—was given a terminal diagnosis. Years of being dragged through an endless cycle of betting on science and miracles to save the love of his life? Useless.
Nine months later, he finds himself taking a statement from the surviving passenger of a fatal car accident in the very same hospital where he lost his wife.
Erica Shaw’s three life changing seconds happened on her first day in Beaufort, North Carolina. After losing her fiance in the blink of an eye, she finds herself face to face with one grumpy cop.
Detective Jerk Face had resigned to the routine of sleep, eat, and work for the rest of his life. When a new girl in danger turns Steve’s life upside down, he’s forced to decide whether or not loving someone is a risk he’s willing to take again.
Sometimes there’s no way to know what the right move is when you’re handed a wild card.
The Beaufort Poker Club series is meant to be enjoyed in order. Start with book one, Poker Face: a steamy enemies to lovers romance!
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Slow Burn? Oh yeah! Steamy? Of course! Feels? Buy tissues in bulk. A grumpy cop with a penchant for telling it like it is. A good girl who has a serious aversion to four letter words. Adult kickball tournament? Watch a group of hunky first responders throw down like they’re in middle school. This is a story of redemption, forgiveness, and second chances.
396 pages, Paperback
First published July 13, 2021
413 people are currently reading
2949 people want to read
About the author
Maggie C. Gates
24 books2,267 followersMaggie Gates writes raw, relatable, romance novels packed full of heat and humor. Maggie calls North Carolina home. In her spare time she enjoys daydreaming about her characters, jamming to country music, and eating all the barbecue and tacos she can find! Her Kindle is always within reach due to a love of small town romances that borders on obsession.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews
June 23, 2025
Steve & Erica’s book was a tough read, with a lot of grief to be had, but their story was also so beautiful.
📖 Wild Card by Maggie Gates
📚 book 2 • Beaufort Poker Club series
⭐️: 5/5
🌶️: open door, several scenes
Steve is still grieving the loss of his wife the day he meets Erica.
Erica meets Steve at the scene of the accident that takes the life of her husband.
They both help pull each other out of the darkness, and are exactly what the other needs to move forward.
read if you love:
💔 grief/love after loss
🏠 neighbors
🚔 law enforcement mmc (cop)
🌳 small town
🫶🏼 found family
💞 dual 1st person pov
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍
📖 Wild Card by Maggie Gates
📚 book 2 • Beaufort Poker Club series
⭐️: 5/5
🌶️: open door, several scenes
Steve is still grieving the loss of his wife the day he meets Erica.
Erica meets Steve at the scene of the accident that takes the life of her husband.
They both help pull each other out of the darkness, and are exactly what the other needs to move forward.
read if you love:
💔 grief/love after loss
🏠 neighbors
🚔 law enforcement mmc (cop)
🌳 small town
🫶🏼 found family
💞 dual 1st person pov
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍
April 19, 2024
4 stars - RTC
(im trying to remind myself i dont need to feel guilty for not writing reviews yet bc its supposed to be fun and its not that serious)
(im trying to remind myself i dont need to feel guilty for not writing reviews yet bc its supposed to be fun and its not that serious)
June 15, 2024
One chapter in I could tell this book would wreck me and put me back together again. It did and I loved every minute.
May 3, 2023
Big let down
I absolutely fell in love with the first book in the series I was so excited to get to book two. Honestly the book was a complete let down compared to the first. I did not like that Erica moved on so quickly from losing her fiance. The writer should have either had Erica be single from the start or have it have taken place at least a year after his death. It legitimately just rubbed me the wrong way how someone can claim to be so in love and start moving on three months after his death. Because I enjoyed book one so much I'm going to attempt to read a book three. Hopefully it redeems itself. But this one is a thumbs down for me
I absolutely fell in love with the first book in the series I was so excited to get to book two. Honestly the book was a complete let down compared to the first. I did not like that Erica moved on so quickly from losing her fiance. The writer should have either had Erica be single from the start or have it have taken place at least a year after his death. It legitimately just rubbed me the wrong way how someone can claim to be so in love and start moving on three months after his death. Because I enjoyed book one so much I'm going to attempt to read a book three. Hopefully it redeems itself. But this one is a thumbs down for me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2021
Wild Card: A Second Chance Romance (Beaufort Poker Club Book 2) is available now in paperback, ebook, and on Kindle Unlimited!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
♥️A grumpy cop with a penchant for telling it like it is
♠️A good girl heroine who has an aversion to four letter words
♦️A band of meddling,matchmaking friends.
♣️Adult kickball tournament? Watch a group of hunky first responders throw down like they’re in middle school.
♥️Redemption, forgiveness, and second chances.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙋𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙡𝙪𝙗 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧. 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙤𝙣𝙚, 𝙋𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙧 𝙁𝙖𝙘𝙚: 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚!
It’s crazy how three seconds can change your life.
For Steve Pelham, those three seconds happened in a doctor’s office. His wife—the girl he had been madly in love with since elementary school—was given a terminal diagnosis. Years of being dragged through an endless cycle of betting on science and miracles to save the love of his life? Useless.
Nine months later, he finds himself taking a statement from the surviving passenger of a fatal car accident in the very same hospital where he lost his wife.
Erica Shaw’s three life changing seconds happened on her first day in Beaufort, North Carolina. After losing her fiance in the blink of an eye, she finds herself face to face with one grumpy cop.
Detective Jerk Face had resigned to the routine of sleep, eat, and work for the rest of his life. When a new girl in danger turns Steve’s life upside down, he’s forced to decide whether or not loving someone is a risk he’s willing to take again.
Sometimes there’s no way to know what the right move is when you’re handed a wild card.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
♥️A grumpy cop with a penchant for telling it like it is
♠️A good girl heroine who has an aversion to four letter words
♦️A band of meddling,matchmaking friends.
♣️Adult kickball tournament? Watch a group of hunky first responders throw down like they’re in middle school.
♥️Redemption, forgiveness, and second chances.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙋𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙡𝙪𝙗 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧. 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙤𝙣𝙚, 𝙋𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙧 𝙁𝙖𝙘𝙚: 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚!
It’s crazy how three seconds can change your life.
For Steve Pelham, those three seconds happened in a doctor’s office. His wife—the girl he had been madly in love with since elementary school—was given a terminal diagnosis. Years of being dragged through an endless cycle of betting on science and miracles to save the love of his life? Useless.
Nine months later, he finds himself taking a statement from the surviving passenger of a fatal car accident in the very same hospital where he lost his wife.
Erica Shaw’s three life changing seconds happened on her first day in Beaufort, North Carolina. After losing her fiance in the blink of an eye, she finds herself face to face with one grumpy cop.
Detective Jerk Face had resigned to the routine of sleep, eat, and work for the rest of his life. When a new girl in danger turns Steve’s life upside down, he’s forced to decide whether or not loving someone is a risk he’s willing to take again.
Sometimes there’s no way to know what the right move is when you’re handed a wild card.
December 15, 2023
It’s official I’m moving to Beaufort, I am going to crash Monday night Poker Club, I’m going to sit at the bar at Jokers and have a drink, and I’m definitely going to love watching everybody find their way to their forever.
Steve thought he had already found his forever, but that ended up not being the case. Grief is hard, it’s hard to read, but Maggie has given these characters such depth, by showing us their insecurities and their vulnerabilities and making their pain real and honest, which in turn makes us care for them.
Steve and Erica’s story isn’t always happy, but it is beautiful. Watching two broken people heal and become stronger because of each other is what all good stories are about.
I’m two books into this series and I simply cannot stop. And I’m not going to, thankfully this series is complete and I don’t have to! If you haven’t started this series, just do it, you aren’t going to regret it!
Steve thought he had already found his forever, but that ended up not being the case. Grief is hard, it’s hard to read, but Maggie has given these characters such depth, by showing us their insecurities and their vulnerabilities and making their pain real and honest, which in turn makes us care for them.
Steve and Erica’s story isn’t always happy, but it is beautiful. Watching two broken people heal and become stronger because of each other is what all good stories are about.
I’m two books into this series and I simply cannot stop. And I’m not going to, thankfully this series is complete and I don’t have to! If you haven’t started this series, just do it, you aren’t going to regret it!
May 29, 2024
Uau!!! Can I start by saying that I love the Poker club group 😍 they are different people with different personalities that somehow mesh together.
“Community is a powerful thing. People from all walks of life get together to support one another just because it’s the right thing to do”
This book starts when Steve loses his wife to cancer ( which we already knew from book 1),
My heart broke and I had to control myself not cry when he would say
“Let yourself feel it
Honestly this book was all kinds of emotional, it was like Maggie wanted to make you feel the pain through the pages!!
“The day that Heather died, I died too. Every day since, I’ve felt like a ghost just going through the motions—get up, get dressed, go to work, repeat. Life moved on, but I didn’t. I couldn’t.”
But when Steve’s pain wasn’t enough in comes Erica that had a car accident and lost her Fiance !!! Maggie insists on breaking our hearts and making us cry 😅😅
But it all gets better when Erica moves in to the Houseboat and her and Steve became friends and help each other through grief and it was beautiful to read
“It’s like God gave me a life preserver in the middle of a storm, and it was you.”
“Your body is built to do amazing things and you look so goddamn beautiful doing them.”
If the quotes don’t convince you to read this book I don’t know what will
“Community is a powerful thing. People from all walks of life get together to support one another just because it’s the right thing to do”
This book starts when Steve loses his wife to cancer ( which we already knew from book 1),
My heart broke and I had to control myself not cry when he would say
“Let yourself feel it
Honestly this book was all kinds of emotional, it was like Maggie wanted to make you feel the pain through the pages!!
“The day that Heather died, I died too. Every day since, I’ve felt like a ghost just going through the motions—get up, get dressed, go to work, repeat. Life moved on, but I didn’t. I couldn’t.”
But when Steve’s pain wasn’t enough in comes Erica that had a car accident and lost her Fiance !!! Maggie insists on breaking our hearts and making us cry 😅😅
But it all gets better when Erica moves in to the Houseboat and her and Steve became friends and help each other through grief and it was beautiful to read
“It’s like God gave me a life preserver in the middle of a storm, and it was you.”
“Your body is built to do amazing things and you look so goddamn beautiful doing them.”
If the quotes don’t convince you to read this book I don’t know what will
July 13, 2021
ARC REVIEW
4.5 Stars for Erica and Steve!<3
I mean you can't go wrong with this author. She has sentiment that goes beyond most HEA authors that delve with broken and flawed characters (very similar writing to C. Kingsley and L. Score but, like these authors, stands unique to her own persona). It's like reading an episode of FRIENDS where you root for all the characters, get pissed at them at the same time, forgive them through development, etc., only way more realistic and it's not in an obnoxious city. I LOVED her first book in this series, "Poker Face", so obviously reading the second was a must.
The main characters, Steve and Erica, have had very recent traumas and their healing is the epicenter. They are two broken people finding their way back to themselves through each other.
However, the energy between them is AMAZING. They are an imperfect couple that you cheer on!
Steve is an angry and bitter soul in the beginning but one that turns back to his true self through the light of Erica. He steps up in BIG ways. Also, he's a protective, sexy, dirty-talker. That's always an A+ in my book. Just give him patience, though.
Erica is a bit timid in the beginning but it's because she's trying to navigate her own grief. With Steve's help and a great crew of secondary characters, she finds her footing and her true colors start to show. She becomes a no shit taker and though her emotions always seem to get the best of her, it's because she is sensitive and in-tune with her emotions. Being sensitive is nothing to be ashamed about.
Also, I am very fond of the secondary characters. These characters are REAL. I am so excited for their stories.
I love it. I hope you love it.
***A note: Everyone grieves in their own way in their own time. Respect these characters even if you don't grieve in the same way they do.
4.5 Stars for Erica and Steve!<3
I mean you can't go wrong with this author. She has sentiment that goes beyond most HEA authors that delve with broken and flawed characters (very similar writing to C. Kingsley and L. Score but, like these authors, stands unique to her own persona). It's like reading an episode of FRIENDS where you root for all the characters, get pissed at them at the same time, forgive them through development, etc., only way more realistic and it's not in an obnoxious city. I LOVED her first book in this series, "Poker Face", so obviously reading the second was a must.
The main characters, Steve and Erica, have had very recent traumas and their healing is the epicenter. They are two broken people finding their way back to themselves through each other.
However, the energy between them is AMAZING. They are an imperfect couple that you cheer on!
Steve is an angry and bitter soul in the beginning but one that turns back to his true self through the light of Erica. He steps up in BIG ways. Also, he's a protective, sexy, dirty-talker. That's always an A+ in my book. Just give him patience, though.
Erica is a bit timid in the beginning but it's because she's trying to navigate her own grief. With Steve's help and a great crew of secondary characters, she finds her footing and her true colors start to show. She becomes a no shit taker and though her emotions always seem to get the best of her, it's because she is sensitive and in-tune with her emotions. Being sensitive is nothing to be ashamed about.
Also, I am very fond of the secondary characters. These characters are REAL. I am so excited for their stories.
I love it. I hope you love it.
***A note: Everyone grieves in their own way in their own time. Respect these characters even if you don't grieve in the same way they do.
June 22, 2024
Romance, suspense, a lesson in grief. Truly this book has everything. My vision was blurred by tears so many times while reading this. Never read a book with so much growth in characters before. This whole town is great. Steve and Erica are incredibly precious but also the strongest people on Earth. Love them. Love the whole poker club, can’t wait to read more. Love the Austin Hale moments - I still think it’s silly that I read his book before I even knew this series existed. The way that miss gates crafts a town???? Exceptional
June 10, 2024
I liked this book okay! It wasn’t my fav book with a pregnancy trope it, and honestly that whole ordeal is still growing on me. I loved the see the found family aspect for Erica, she deserved it. I wish we’d gotten more development of their separate grief journeys outside of their romance—I feel like they were pushing themselves to heal solely to fix their relationship which sounds like a bad idea imo.
July 13, 2021
This was just so sweet - but also damn sexy, don’t be fooled. I’m so glad Steve got his story after how sad he was in Poker face.
Full review to come, this series is just delightful.
♣️ Small town romance
♣️ Grumpy sunshine
♣️ Steamy - this book has a phrase that make me blush every single time I read it. 🥵
Steam rating: 🔥🔥
Full review to come, this series is just delightful.
♣️ Small town romance
♣️ Grumpy sunshine
♣️ Steamy - this book has a phrase that make me blush every single time I read it. 🥵
Steam rating: 🔥🔥
May 14, 2024
I am NOT okay. I have not cried this much to a book in a HOT minute. I was mad at the coupling at first but oh my how good it turned out to be. The plot, the message, the family, just everything about this book, even my least favorite trope, was so well done. She had a plethora of guardian angels to survive that and I’m pretty sure I know who was leading it <3 oh wow.
April 13, 2024
my hormonal ass made this a fucking cry-fest. it takes a village❤️😭
September 16, 2024
i understand Erica was going through a lot but i swear she cried every chapter. it got to the point i was skimming large sections because it felt like the same thing every other chapter
June 4, 2022
I absolutely loved the story between Erica and Steve. It was heart wrenching and beautiful all at once.
July 13, 2024
Oh I ate this book up!!!
I was hooked from the first chapter, I stayed up until 3 am reading this book
very emotional and real, this couple went through a lot in order to end up together, it was a beautiful journey to read
I need to read the next book asap!!!
I was hooked from the first chapter, I stayed up until 3 am reading this book
very emotional and real, this couple went through a lot in order to end up together, it was a beautiful journey to read
I need to read the next book asap!!!
March 18, 2024
Wild Card - Maggie Gates
* Book Rec * MUST BE READ IN ORDER
“𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝑮𝒐𝒅 𝒈𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒅𝒅𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
Book 2 in the Poker Club series had a lot more heart and feels and I was here for it! Steve and Erica both experienced a tragedy and found peace in each other. Steve wasn's always a grump, but after his loss he became a hermit and let no one penetrate his walls...enter Erica. She was new to town and all alone and now Steve's neighbor 😏 You already know where that's going
“𝑮𝒐𝒅𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒏,” 𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒅. “𝑨𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒍 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏’ 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒍.”
I don't want to say to much because this IS an interconnected series that needs to be read in order, but PLEASE do it. You won't regret it. The spice, banter and story are always SOLID.
“𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈?”
“𝑻𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏’ 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝑰 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏’ 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄.”
👮🏼Forced Proximity
🍺Small Town
👮🏼Grief/Loss
🍺Grumpy/Sunshine
* Book Rec * MUST BE READ IN ORDER
“𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝑮𝒐𝒅 𝒈𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒅𝒅𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
Book 2 in the Poker Club series had a lot more heart and feels and I was here for it! Steve and Erica both experienced a tragedy and found peace in each other. Steve wasn's always a grump, but after his loss he became a hermit and let no one penetrate his walls...enter Erica. She was new to town and all alone and now Steve's neighbor 😏 You already know where that's going
“𝑮𝒐𝒅𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒏,” 𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒅. “𝑨𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒍 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏’ 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒍.”
I don't want to say to much because this IS an interconnected series that needs to be read in order, but PLEASE do it. You won't regret it. The spice, banter and story are always SOLID.
“𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈?”
“𝑻𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏’ 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝑰 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏’ 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄.”
👮🏼Forced Proximity
🍺Small Town
👮🏼Grief/Loss
🍺Grumpy/Sunshine
November 24, 2022
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“Life is short. You only get a certain number of days on this earth, and that number is way too fuckin’ small to skip ice cream.”this right here!! You can never skip ice cream
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“Life is short. You only get a certain number of days on this earth, and that number is way too fuckin’ small to skip ice cream.”this right here!! You can never skip ice cream
July 14, 2021
Honestly, I didn’t think it was possible for any of the other Beaufort Poker Club couples to steal my heart the way Luca and Maddie did in Poker Face, but my love for Steve and Erica has surpassed that of Luca and Maddie. In a nutshell, Maggie Gates has delivered a steamy, emotional, intense, second chance romance that had me bawling one minute and laughing so hard trying to catch my breath the next.
Wild Card by Maggie Gates is the second book in the Beaufort Poker Club series. It is a standalone HEA, but the series is best enjoyed in order. Wild Card is a small-town, slow-burn, second chance romance about redemption, forgiveness, healing, heartbreak, and the possibility of two once-in-a-lifetime loves. Steve Pelham lost his wife to cancer and for the past nine months has been a grumpy cop who tells it like it is. One fateful day Steve is present at the accident and subsequently the hospital in which Erica Shaw’s fiancė passed away because of injuries sustained in the accident. Erica is new to town and must start her life anew alone in a small town where she knew no one. Erica and Steve deal with their grief in different ways, but soon realize the similarities in their lives. Their attraction to one another leaves them confused but wanting. Mix in a series of mysterious crimes, a bunch of meddling friends, and two grief-stricken individuals and you get the masterpiece that is Wild Card.
This book was everything and more I wanted for Steve’s HEA. After seeing him lose his partner of twenty-plus years in Poker Face, I wanted nothing more than Steve to get this chance at a HEA. Erica and Steve have been through similar losses and their strength really shines in this book. They both come to feel comfortable exposing their vulnerability to each other and they understand each other on a level the other Poker Club members don’t because of their shared grief over the loss of their partners. I loved the portrayal of Steve and Erica and the changes in their characters after they came into each other’s life. This book is gut-wrenchingly emotional and Maggie Gates has written this steamy, spicy love story so beautifully; she makes you feel all the feels for this couple. All the characters, even the secondary ones, are well crafted in a way that makes you want to know their stories now. I can’t wait for more of this series and the next glimpse into this loveable group of friends!
Rating: ALL THE STARS!!!! (But seriously 10/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)
Wild Card by Maggie Gates is the second book in the Beaufort Poker Club series. It is a standalone HEA, but the series is best enjoyed in order. Wild Card is a small-town, slow-burn, second chance romance about redemption, forgiveness, healing, heartbreak, and the possibility of two once-in-a-lifetime loves. Steve Pelham lost his wife to cancer and for the past nine months has been a grumpy cop who tells it like it is. One fateful day Steve is present at the accident and subsequently the hospital in which Erica Shaw’s fiancė passed away because of injuries sustained in the accident. Erica is new to town and must start her life anew alone in a small town where she knew no one. Erica and Steve deal with their grief in different ways, but soon realize the similarities in their lives. Their attraction to one another leaves them confused but wanting. Mix in a series of mysterious crimes, a bunch of meddling friends, and two grief-stricken individuals and you get the masterpiece that is Wild Card.
This book was everything and more I wanted for Steve’s HEA. After seeing him lose his partner of twenty-plus years in Poker Face, I wanted nothing more than Steve to get this chance at a HEA. Erica and Steve have been through similar losses and their strength really shines in this book. They both come to feel comfortable exposing their vulnerability to each other and they understand each other on a level the other Poker Club members don’t because of their shared grief over the loss of their partners. I loved the portrayal of Steve and Erica and the changes in their characters after they came into each other’s life. This book is gut-wrenchingly emotional and Maggie Gates has written this steamy, spicy love story so beautifully; she makes you feel all the feels for this couple. All the characters, even the secondary ones, are well crafted in a way that makes you want to know their stories now. I can’t wait for more of this series and the next glimpse into this loveable group of friends!
Rating: ALL THE STARS!!!! (But seriously 10/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)
February 19, 2025
I'll be honest and say that for the first 30-40% of this book, I wholeheartedly believed it would be a 4*.
Maggie Gates writing is like crack to me at this stage, and I am o.b.s.e.s.s.e.d. I didn't quite understand Steve's behaviour, from hero to zero in his attitude towards Erica, and I struggled to see how Erica could be up and about and not totally consumed with grief. But as the story unfolded and I read more, I just fell in love with them both.
The writing style, the character development, the plot, and the continuation of the other characters' stories is all written so well and is so digestible that it really does make putting the book down, pretty damn hard.
So ultimately, we ended up at another 5* read! And I'm not mad about it. Considering there are quite a few central characters alongside the main MC's, I find it really impressive that Maggie Gates has written them all so well into the story lines that they don't overtake the book, but yet you want to know more and they really are integral to the book.
I loved Steve and Erica and I am so excited to get to know HJ and Isaac!!!
Maggie Gates writing is like crack to me at this stage, and I am o.b.s.e.s.s.e.d. I didn't quite understand Steve's behaviour, from hero to zero in his attitude towards Erica, and I struggled to see how Erica could be up and about and not totally consumed with grief. But as the story unfolded and I read more, I just fell in love with them both.
The writing style, the character development, the plot, and the continuation of the other characters' stories is all written so well and is so digestible that it really does make putting the book down, pretty damn hard.
So ultimately, we ended up at another 5* read! And I'm not mad about it. Considering there are quite a few central characters alongside the main MC's, I find it really impressive that Maggie Gates has written them all so well into the story lines that they don't overtake the book, but yet you want to know more and they really are integral to the book.
I loved Steve and Erica and I am so excited to get to know HJ and Isaac!!!
January 11, 2026
4⭐️/3🔥
I am really enjoying my time with the Beaufort Poker Club crew, and while I didn't love this one quite as much as the first book, it was still a solid read. This story deals with some heavy themes, as both Steve and Erica are grieving the loss of their spouses. We met Steve in book one and he is such a great character... he is protective and a bit brusque, and we all know I love a good grump!
Steve lost his wife to cancer a year before the book starts,(it happens in book 1) but Erica loses her husband in a car accident early on in the story. Steve is actually the police officer on the scene and at the hospital, which definitely adds to the emotional weight. I think Steve’s timeline for moving on made sense to me, but Erica’s felt a bit rushed for my liking since she is starting to have feelings before her bones are even healed from the accident. They do make a point to talk about how love doesn’t have a timeline, and I get that, but it just wasn’t personally my favorite. The Poker Club crew shows up to rally around Steve as he navigates this new relationship, and I loved that found family element!
🎧Audiobook Thoughts
Gabriel De Leon had a great voice for Steve, it was deep and grumpy which matched his personality perfectly. Sofia Willingham wasn’t my favorite for Erica, but overall the performance was okay and I enjoyed the listen for the most part!
🃏 Poker Club
👮♂️ Police Officer
🩹 Grieving Spouses
🖤 Grumpy Hero
🕵️♂️ Romantic Suspense
🫶🏻 Found Family
✨ Emotional Journey
I am really enjoying my time with the Beaufort Poker Club crew, and while I didn't love this one quite as much as the first book, it was still a solid read. This story deals with some heavy themes, as both Steve and Erica are grieving the loss of their spouses. We met Steve in book one and he is such a great character... he is protective and a bit brusque, and we all know I love a good grump!
Steve lost his wife to cancer a year before the book starts,(it happens in book 1) but Erica loses her husband in a car accident early on in the story. Steve is actually the police officer on the scene and at the hospital, which definitely adds to the emotional weight. I think Steve’s timeline for moving on made sense to me, but Erica’s felt a bit rushed for my liking since she is starting to have feelings before her bones are even healed from the accident. They do make a point to talk about how love doesn’t have a timeline, and I get that, but it just wasn’t personally my favorite. The Poker Club crew shows up to rally around Steve as he navigates this new relationship, and I loved that found family element!
🎧Audiobook Thoughts
Gabriel De Leon had a great voice for Steve, it was deep and grumpy which matched his personality perfectly. Sofia Willingham wasn’t my favorite for Erica, but overall the performance was okay and I enjoyed the listen for the most part!
🃏 Poker Club
👮♂️ Police Officer
🩹 Grieving Spouses
🖤 Grumpy Hero
🕵️♂️ Romantic Suspense
🫶🏻 Found Family
✨ Emotional Journey
May 31, 2025
I liked this book much better than the first one. And it dealt with the one thing that I felt was lacking in the first book, and that was the death of Heather. She had been Steve’s wife and the best friend who grew up with the Poker group. I had felt that her death had been glossed over in the first book. Understandably, the book was about Maddie and Luca’s relationship in book one, but I felt that her death was badly written.
Well, this book didn’t hold back on that because it was Steve’s story. And then combine that with the fact that Erica, the FMC, had also just lost her fiancé in a hit-and-run. So both of them were dealing with death. Steve’s was before the first year of Heather’s passing, and Erica’s was fresh.
I appreciated that the story developed at a slow pace. I also liked how the author wrote the sorrow on Steve’s end. His struggle was rough. Erica’s was very different because she went from having no support system to having all of the friend group there for her. I think that helped her a lot.
What really made me tear up a bit was the day count. You have to read the story to understand, but it stuck in my head when Erica talked about how many days she got to spend with Dominic and how she appreciated that. It gave Steve something to ponder.
I have high hopes moving into book three. I’m hoping it’s just as strong a story as this because I almost didn’t continue the series after book two.
July 13, 2021
First of all… five stars... again.
This is a truly beautiful book. I wasn’t sure how Steve’s story was going to pan out and, knowing a bit of history from Book 1 Poker Face, I was nervous. Very nervous.
But never fear! Maggie Gates nailed it again. Steve and Erica’s story is raw and uniquely intimate. Tragedy leads them to one another and their bond is something special.
I love how Steve’s character is so gruff and angry, yet we still see his soft and caring core the entire time. Erica is brave and strong and one helluva heroine. I’m telling ya, this is a special story with extra special characters. If you love a good small town romance series, this is for YOU!
Remember, this is book 2 in the series so if you’ve never visited this crew in Beaufort then start with Poker Face!
This is a truly beautiful book. I wasn’t sure how Steve’s story was going to pan out and, knowing a bit of history from Book 1 Poker Face, I was nervous. Very nervous.
But never fear! Maggie Gates nailed it again. Steve and Erica’s story is raw and uniquely intimate. Tragedy leads them to one another and their bond is something special.
I love how Steve’s character is so gruff and angry, yet we still see his soft and caring core the entire time. Erica is brave and strong and one helluva heroine. I’m telling ya, this is a special story with extra special characters. If you love a good small town romance series, this is for YOU!
Remember, this is book 2 in the series so if you’ve never visited this crew in Beaufort then start with Poker Face!
November 12, 2021
*PREPARE TO UGLY CRY!*
Ugh, I don't even know if I have the words to describe how I felt about this book. Steve and Erica's story was somehow both heartbreaking and healing. Watching them both struggle to deal with their feeling each other while simultaneously trying to mend their own broken hearts was beautiful. And the spice, oh man. Steve treats Erica like the curvy queen she is. It always awesome to see a heroin with some meat on her, I always love feeling represented. There are serious conversations about love and loss, with the fun and antics of the Poker Club.
Ugh, I don't even know if I have the words to describe how I felt about this book. Steve and Erica's story was somehow both heartbreaking and healing. Watching them both struggle to deal with their feeling each other while simultaneously trying to mend their own broken hearts was beautiful. And the spice, oh man. Steve treats Erica like the curvy queen she is. It always awesome to see a heroin with some meat on her, I always love feeling represented. There are serious conversations about love and loss, with the fun and antics of the Poker Club.
June 3, 2024
UGH
i totally thought it was gonna be steve and melissa but then when erica's pov popped up and she had just lost her husband it all made sense.
these two went on such a roller coaster oh my goodness. i was kinda mad that steve kept screwing things up but he was going through a lot so it only made sense that he was overwhelmed and didn't handle things to the best of his abilities. at least they ended up happy in the end.
the whole pregnancy thing was a shock but it also brought them a lot closer. it was good to see steve start acting like himself and i was thrilled that everyone accepted and supported their relationship.
also it is so clear that bridge is being abused and i seriously want to know what's going on between her and chase....
memorable quote
"I was about to suggest we call the police, but I'm pretty sure half of the department was standing on the beach acting like five year olds."
i totally thought it was gonna be steve and melissa but then when erica's pov popped up and she had just lost her husband it all made sense.
these two went on such a roller coaster oh my goodness. i was kinda mad that steve kept screwing things up but he was going through a lot so it only made sense that he was overwhelmed and didn't handle things to the best of his abilities. at least they ended up happy in the end.
the whole pregnancy thing was a shock but it also brought them a lot closer. it was good to see steve start acting like himself and i was thrilled that everyone accepted and supported their relationship.
also it is so clear that bridge is being abused and i seriously want to know what's going on between her and chase....
memorable quote
"I was about to suggest we call the police, but I'm pretty sure half of the department was standing on the beach acting like five year olds."
October 16, 2025
4 stars what the fuck???
i gave this series another chance even though i hated the first book. this book and book #1 are literally NIGHT AND DAY. i genuinely could not remember anything about book #1 because it bored me to fucking death but this book????
the amount of tears that were shed could fill up a god damn well. i love books that explore grief and loss and i think Steven and Erica were so well written. they were both so open and honest with their grief and i am such a fan.
i hope we get to see more of daddy steve in the next book(s) 😛
i gave this series another chance even though i hated the first book. this book and book #1 are literally NIGHT AND DAY. i genuinely could not remember anything about book #1 because it bored me to fucking death but this book????
the amount of tears that were shed could fill up a god damn well. i love books that explore grief and loss and i think Steven and Erica were so well written. they were both so open and honest with their grief and i am such a fan.
i hope we get to see more of daddy steve in the next book(s) 😛
July 1, 2021
ARC Review
I just loved the latest edition of the poker club. The loss experienced by Steve and Erica is openly discussed but it’s their strength and vulnerability that shines through. A heart warming slow burn love story that makes you fall in love with the characters and go on the journey with them.
Was another page turner from Maggie C Gates that had me up till 3am finishing it and making me want to be part of the Beauford Poker Club!
I just loved the latest edition of the poker club. The loss experienced by Steve and Erica is openly discussed but it’s their strength and vulnerability that shines through. A heart warming slow burn love story that makes you fall in love with the characters and go on the journey with them.
Was another page turner from Maggie C Gates that had me up till 3am finishing it and making me want to be part of the Beauford Poker Club!
April 14, 2022
I never thought that any book would be better than Maddie’s story.. but omg i’m just speechless. This book was so fricken good. Steve being all grumpy and Erica being all shy and sweet. I loved their story, i loved watching their love grow for each other. This book was super emotional at some times and the ending had me in tears. They deserved each other. Now onto the next book:)
June 26, 2024
I went back and forth of my rating for this one.
A small town tragedy turned love story; so cute!
But the main male character while he’s supposed to be a “jerk”, I genuinely didn’t like him until the last 50 pages.
Also there was another underlying plot line that unfolded at the end, felt out of place. It either needed more attention throughout the story or to be cut out.
A small town tragedy turned love story; so cute!
But the main male character while he’s supposed to be a “jerk”, I genuinely didn’t like him until the last 50 pages.
Also there was another underlying plot line that unfolded at the end, felt out of place. It either needed more attention throughout the story or to be cut out.
September 14, 2021
This book is a bit heavier with deep situations, specifically death and pregnancy. I love the characters and their interactions. I love how Maggie wrote about a woman that is not of Caucasian background. I highly recommend this book. It made me cry, laugh and get horny.
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