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Final Days #2
The Gamble
It only takes a moment for everything you've built to come crashing down around you. Fucking roaches. Rich, connected, and powerful, my family had the means to survive the apocalypse, yet I seem to be the only Alcaraz left standing to protect my family's legacy and raise my niece. Every single day is a struggle, fighting zombies and internal monsters that threaten to tear me to pieces. When the only place we could possibly call home falls under attack, my men and I are thrown together with an attractive stranger and his quirky family. Despite everything my men were trained to do, it’s one short, a-dork-able nerd named Benny who might be our salvation. He might be mine, as well.
Benito We thought we could survive there, hiding in that little house. We were wrong. Four men rush into our lives just in time for everything to fall apart. Together we can fight our way to The Gamble where they've promised is space for my family and I. With my heart, and my family on the line, I entrust this stranger with everything that I hold dear. Hopefully he doesn't rip it out and eat it like the undead monsters walking the earth. The Gamble is a part of the Final Days MM romance multiauthor series. Each apocalyptic book can be read as a standalone, but there are more thrilling zombie tales to enjoy so why not grab them all?!
Benito We thought we could survive there, hiding in that little house. We were wrong. Four men rush into our lives just in time for everything to fall apart. Together we can fight our way to The Gamble where they've promised is space for my family and I. With my heart, and my family on the line, I entrust this stranger with everything that I hold dear. Hopefully he doesn't rip it out and eat it like the undead monsters walking the earth. The Gamble is a part of the Final Days MM romance multiauthor series. Each apocalyptic book can be read as a standalone, but there are more thrilling zombie tales to enjoy so why not grab them all?!
130 pages, ebook
Published November 4, 2022
18 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 13, 2022
I absolutely love a good zombie/apocalypse story and I really wanted to like this book. There are definitely some good elements but I was, overall, a bit disappointed.
First of all, it's not a romance and that was fine with me. Although the author does scatter small romantic elements throughout, it's really more of a survival story than anything else, and that was ok. The problem that I ran into is that everything is rushed and ultimately doesn't feel truly complete. Sporadic tidbits are thrown out, that could have been elaborated on and made to enhance the story, and instead, just serve perk up your interest and then go nowhere. The two main protagonists, Cris and Benny, are rather two-dimensional. You don't really get a true feel for them as individuals and when the romantic element between them is introduced, it actually kind of defies even the "instalove" trope. It's almost like it was an afterthought to add a little tenderness and humanity to the characters, but it just fell flat. I just couldn't believe in it, so to speak. The apocalyptic scenario was handled a bit better but still fell short of the mark. The side characters, which could have added additional weight to the story, were unrealized and frustrating, because I really wanted to know more of their backgrounds as well. Finally, the ending was just this giant hole of nothing! No completion. No clues as to the future of this group of survivors. It was shoved at the reader and then it just fizzled out into ... nothing! I was left with an enormous list of questions with no answers. I think that there was potential here, it just doesn't quite make it. I'd love to see this reworked and expanded but as it stands I'm left more disappointed than not.
First of all, it's not a romance and that was fine with me. Although the author does scatter small romantic elements throughout, it's really more of a survival story than anything else, and that was ok. The problem that I ran into is that everything is rushed and ultimately doesn't feel truly complete. Sporadic tidbits are thrown out, that could have been elaborated on and made to enhance the story, and instead, just serve perk up your interest and then go nowhere. The two main protagonists, Cris and Benny, are rather two-dimensional. You don't really get a true feel for them as individuals and when the romantic element between them is introduced, it actually kind of defies even the "instalove" trope. It's almost like it was an afterthought to add a little tenderness and humanity to the characters, but it just fell flat. I just couldn't believe in it, so to speak. The apocalyptic scenario was handled a bit better but still fell short of the mark. The side characters, which could have added additional weight to the story, were unrealized and frustrating, because I really wanted to know more of their backgrounds as well. Finally, the ending was just this giant hole of nothing! No completion. No clues as to the future of this group of survivors. It was shoved at the reader and then it just fizzled out into ... nothing! I was left with an enormous list of questions with no answers. I think that there was potential here, it just doesn't quite make it. I'd love to see this reworked and expanded but as it stands I'm left more disappointed than not.
November 8, 2022
The Gamble is part of the multi author book series, Final Days. I definitely wouldn’t classify this as a romance but a bloody good horror story!! I really like Benny and Cris. Cris’s family has been totally eradicated except for his niece and a group of friends. They are living in a casino until they’re overrun and have to run for their lives. They meet Benny and his family living in a quite neighborhood where all the other houses are crumbling down. Cris talks the family into going back to the casino to live out their days. This was sooo freaking good, reminded me of the walking dead! Overall, a fantastic addition to the Final Days series!! Well written with pacing that engaged me and kept me flipping the pages!
November 3, 2022
This book is part of The Final Days series and this was the last book on my list. I enjoyed the zombie apocalypse that is happening and how everyone is striving to survive. Cris owns the Gamble and tries to keep everyone going and having to keep zombies out of the hotel/casino. Benny is staying with his parents and best friend. When Chris and his friends come into the house when one of their party was hurt, they meet. The chemistry is off the charts for both. Benny and his parents decide to join the group to go back to the Gamble and the story shows how they travelled to get there. Enjoyed and hope there is more in the series.
I received a copy of this book for my review.
I received a copy of this book for my review.
October 6, 2025
Rating: 3/5 🌟
Spice: 2/5 🌶️
Heroes: Benny and Cris
Spice: 2/5 🌶️
Heroes: Benny and Cris
November 5, 2022
Not a usual reader of zombie themed books but I did like this one. Cristobel is the castaway member of his mobster family who is shunned for his Male desires. After the zombie apocalypse he pools his talents with other men to fight off the invading hoards. This group comes across a family that has been successfully defending their home but recognize the futility of it. Cristobel concedes his attraction to the family's eldest, Bennie, who feels the mutual attraction. This is a slow burn age gap ( but not by much) with a HFN ending. Military jackasses are present who do revenge acts against Cristobel and his group cap off the antagonists. There is a sad element when one of the secondary characters is tragically lost, a heart-breaking element for this reader. This is a series of four books, "Final Days", with The Gamble being the 2nd one. This is my voluntary review for the ARC I received.
November 15, 2022
2nd in multi author series
The Gamble refers to the casino stronghold that Cris’s family owned prior to the zombie apocalypse.
Benny is the guy living out the apocalypse with his parents and a friend.
On the run from a horde of zombies Chris’s group breaks into Benny’s home not knowing it was occupied.
So they meet and kind of fall into Insta love. I don’t know, they kept referring to Benny as an older guy, maybe mid to late 30s? But in dialogue and thought processes Benny he comes off as much much younger.
It felt like the author just kept throwing different things on the spur of the moment oh I’ll just add this.
Penny‘s mother sounds like a combination of June Cleaver, Rambo, Cheech and Chong with some Julia Child and the organic gardener?!?!?
None of the characters felt flushed out, there were many good moments but as a whole the book did not feel cohesive. But I read it all and it was an okay couple of hours.
The Gamble refers to the casino stronghold that Cris’s family owned prior to the zombie apocalypse.
Benny is the guy living out the apocalypse with his parents and a friend.
On the run from a horde of zombies Chris’s group breaks into Benny’s home not knowing it was occupied.
So they meet and kind of fall into Insta love. I don’t know, they kept referring to Benny as an older guy, maybe mid to late 30s? But in dialogue and thought processes Benny he comes off as much much younger.
It felt like the author just kept throwing different things on the spur of the moment oh I’ll just add this.
Penny‘s mother sounds like a combination of June Cleaver, Rambo, Cheech and Chong with some Julia Child and the organic gardener?!?!?
None of the characters felt flushed out, there were many good moments but as a whole the book did not feel cohesive. But I read it all and it was an okay couple of hours.
October 26, 2022
This book, while having romantic elements, is NOT a romance. That doesn’t make is bad at all, just manage your expectations going in.
With that being said, Benny and Cris were actually kind of sweet. Cris is really trying to keep his rag tag group of misfits safe. After one suffers an injury, they happen to come across Benny and his family, who ultimately help them. This is a story of survival, ingenuity and creativity. How they’ve all survived and continue to thrive in the zombie apocalypse is really cool. Cris contends with a not so great past and Benny is learning that the future isn’t what he thought it was.
Not everyone comes out the other side unscathed. There are some really heart wrenching moments in this book. We get a fairly decent HFN, as Luther wants to expand to more stories in this universe. This book kept me intrigued and I’d love to read more going forward.
With that being said, Benny and Cris were actually kind of sweet. Cris is really trying to keep his rag tag group of misfits safe. After one suffers an injury, they happen to come across Benny and his family, who ultimately help them. This is a story of survival, ingenuity and creativity. How they’ve all survived and continue to thrive in the zombie apocalypse is really cool. Cris contends with a not so great past and Benny is learning that the future isn’t what he thought it was.
Not everyone comes out the other side unscathed. There are some really heart wrenching moments in this book. We get a fairly decent HFN, as Luther wants to expand to more stories in this universe. This book kept me intrigued and I’d love to read more going forward.
October 30, 2022
I am not a huge fan of the zombie apocalypse genre but I figured “why not?” when I heard about this multi author series. It was a good book. This is not a romance though so just be aware. I mean yes there is romance here but it is more about resourcefulness and survival, with a bit of love and lust thrown in. The characters are really what made this book for me because I did like Cris and Benny. If you have any kind of an aversion to blood, gore, and death, you might want to just skip this series though because you can’t have a book about zombies without it. Fighting for survival really brings out both the best and worst of people.
November 13, 2022
Part of the Final Days multiauthor series, The Gamble felt like the shortest of the four books and I felt things could have been fleshed out more and slowed down so I could really get a feel for the characters and the setting. I didn't feel I had a proper handle on any of the characters. The lead characters Cris and Benny could have been so much more than the instalove/instalust than they were.
Saying that for a quick zombie read it provided plenty of action and danger not just from the zombies, but from the power-hungry bad guys too. I hope down the track there is a cure for the zombie apocalypse and everyone gets their happily ever after.
Saying that for a quick zombie read it provided plenty of action and danger not just from the zombies, but from the power-hungry bad guys too. I hope down the track there is a cure for the zombie apocalypse and everyone gets their happily ever after.
November 13, 2022
Unexpected and so good
The author got me good with this one! This is the second in a multi-author release of standalones set in the same post apocalyptic world. And while I knew this one was a standalone, and obviously was going to be different than the first (which I also really enjoyed), I was still not prepared! So it got me in the best way! My favorite books are the ones that jerk me out of a false sense of security, so five stars for that!
If you like post apocalyptic books that feel completely plausible, keep you on the edge of your seat, and with a dash of romance thrown in, this book is definitely the book for you.
The author got me good with this one! This is the second in a multi-author release of standalones set in the same post apocalyptic world. And while I knew this one was a standalone, and obviously was going to be different than the first (which I also really enjoyed), I was still not prepared! So it got me in the best way! My favorite books are the ones that jerk me out of a false sense of security, so five stars for that!
If you like post apocalyptic books that feel completely plausible, keep you on the edge of your seat, and with a dash of romance thrown in, this book is definitely the book for you.
November 5, 2022
Cristobal is trying to keep himself, his niece, and his men alive with the world falling apart around him. When they meet up with Benny and his family, he realizes that this is what he needs to keep going forward. This isn't your typical romance but it is an amazing story that keeps you invested in what will happen next.
November 7, 2022
Loved It ❤
Absolutely loving the final days series loved the cabin and I loved this the Gamble different stories but are amazing Cris and Benny brought together to fight of zombies and stay alive to make it to safety to protect family and friends to make it to somewhere safe brought closer together the chemistry between them on he's loved it. ❤
Absolutely loving the final days series loved the cabin and I loved this the Gamble different stories but are amazing Cris and Benny brought together to fight of zombies and stay alive to make it to safety to protect family and friends to make it to somewhere safe brought closer together the chemistry between them on he's loved it. ❤
March 5, 2023
Interesante, amo este tipo de Romance BL con tramas de zombies o paranormal, un libro ligero y sencillo. Un mundo pos apocalíptico muy bien hecho pero deja algunos vacíos en ciertas cosas y el final avanza muy rápido.
De ahí en fuera tiene un equilibrio entre zombies Romance y 🔥🔥🔥
De ahí en fuera tiene un equilibrio entre zombies Romance y 🔥🔥🔥
June 27, 2023
short story
Maybe it’s me, but this story felt short. Nothing felt impactful and I couldn’t really get into the character’s feelings or motivations. They are decent characters, but they are also pretty one note. I should probably read the other books now.
Maybe it’s me, but this story felt short. Nothing felt impactful and I couldn’t really get into the character’s feelings or motivations. They are decent characters, but they are also pretty one note. I should probably read the other books now.
May 18, 2025
a ver me gustó siento que es mejor que primero seguro me encanta la pareja principal es hermosa me gustó la muerte de Jason me dolió me gustó más que el primero pero tampoco tanto o sea el otro era más repetitivo este es más diferente me gustó
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2022
good story.. good characters and writing.. well written and action filled.. fun story to read.
February 13, 2025
Benny and Cristobal
I love this take on an apocalyptic world. Where good and evil aren't black and white, you learn just what you can truly be.
I love this take on an apocalyptic world. Where good and evil aren't black and white, you learn just what you can truly be.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews