Break Even

Coogan's Break #6

by Hope Malone

She needs a lucky break if she’s avoiding living in her car. He’s stuck running one of the family’s smaller casinos. Could a relationship be a gamble that pays off for both of them?

DONNA

I honestly thought moving to Coogan’s Break would prove to be my lucky break.

Leaving San Francisco was a given thanks to my ex. It was so much easier to uproot myself than deal with restraining orders and things that went bump in the middle of the night—usually Bryan, drunk and attempting to break in.

Three months in and I haven’t come close to landing a job that pays a living wage. Instead, I’m working as a cashier for a guy who thinks state taxes are optional. It’s with trepidation that I enter the casino at Maddigan’s Resort and Spa. While I'm hoping for a small payout, could it be Liam Maddigan who proves himself my ultimate jackpot?

LIAM

I can’t believe my old man has me relegated to the backwater that is Coogan’s Break.

I know why I’m here and that's because dad said it was time for me to grow up, leave my playboy lifestyle behind and settle down. He might even have mentioned grandchildren.

I’ve been here just over two months and it’s killing me. Then I spot Donna Wilder. There’s something about the way she’s perched on that stool. As if the next coin in the slot will magically turn things around for. Could it be life is about to get interesting AND I can keep the old man off my back while I'm about it?


If you like your stories short and steamy, you’ll love Liam and Donna's story. This is a curvy woman; opposites attract standalone romance. There’s a guaranteed HEA with no cheating and no cliffhangers.

124 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2022

About the author

Hope's love affair with romance began with a teenage binge-reading marathon through Barbara Cartland's entire collection, before graduating to spicier titles that made her blush and kept her turning pages well past midnight. From schoolgirl crushes and pop star posters covering every inch of her bedroom walls to now, when the walls are pin-free but she only needs to close her eyes to see her ideal man, Hope has always believed in the power of a good love story.

Hope believes everyone deserves love and that heroines come in all shapes and sizes - because real women have curves, attitude, and the power to bring any alpha male to his knees (and while he's down there...) She also likes to believe there's a welcoming town like Coogan's Break for all of us, where the girls love their curves and the guys are hotter than hell, where opposites attract and sparks fly from the very first meeting.

In Hope's world, love is steamy, fast, and utterly irresistible - just the way the best romances should be.

Reviews

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Chance for Happiness . . .

Donna Wilder had to move away to avoid her drunk ex who won’t leave her alone. She is tired of his break-in attempts and harassment. So she goes to Coogan’s Break to find a job and start over. She hasn’t been lucky in finding a good job yet, just barely getting by.

Donna heads into the casino to try her luck for even a small win. And she meets Liam Maddigan. Liam’s dad wants him to settle down and find someone to fill his life with happiness. Instead, Liam is bored being in this little town. But seeing Donna, he starts to understand what his dad has wanted for him. Will he and Donna connect? Will they use this chance meeting to maybe fall in love? This may be the new start that each of them hoped to find. Grab your copy and see what the future holds for them.

[Raecharmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donna is starting over at Coogan's Break because she is trying to get away from her ex. She goes to the casino one night and starts winning good. However, she gets held up by Liam. Liam stops her not because he thinks she did anything wrong but because he is drawn to her. After she goes to leave, she misses the shuttle and Liam follows her to give her a ride. When he sees where she works, he knows he wants to help her. Liam offers her a job and a place to stay after seeing where she lives. Will something more happen between them as they live and work close by? Can they be together?

This is a great story that once I started it I couldn't put it down. This is a well written and very entertaining story. This is a book for any book lover.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has given us a wonderful story that pulls us into the lives of Donna and Liam and does not let go. She is hiding from an ex, while he is trying to stay out of the limelight. However, whatever they have planned is thrown out the door when photos surface with them in a compromising position.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bookloversouthaus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC. This was a nice quick palette cleansing book. It had spice, MMC protecting the FMC, Fake marriage turns HEA. I really liked this story and its always nice to read a curvy girl get her happy ending.

[Cesilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Anne Blyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read with a happy ending.