The VIP Doubles Down is the third and final book in this trilogy that I couldn't get enough of. You had three rich men (all of whom started with nothing and became rich because of their hard work and dedication to their careers). This book features Gavin Miller, a multimillionaire best-selling author who has a major case of writer’s block. If he doesn’t write the next book in his blockbuster mystery thriller series, he may end up in early retirement, including the end of his series being adapted to the big screen (or taken over by a ghostwriter). Gavin is also in major pain because he’s so stressed out. His agent recommends a physical therapist to help him relax so he can write easier. Gavin is dead set again it, until he meets the woman who will not only mend his body but his heart- Allie.

Allie is in dire straights. After divorcing her actor husband who dropped her for bigger and better things, she needs employment, and fast. She is struggling trying to get her business of the ground. But when she is offered a position with Gavin, she is over the moon. She loves Gavin’s books, so much so, she knows every character and book by heart. When she meets Gavin, he’s less than receptive to her. But she won’t be undaunted. Because she’s so good with her hands, Gavin hires her, but only for a limited time. But then then he finds out she knows everything and anything about his books, he hires her as his personal assistant. She’s his own personal bible who can help him get the creative juices flowing so he can write again.

Even though at times Gavin comes across as surly and has a bit of an ego because of his fame and fortune, Allie connects with him, as he does with her. But there is one major problem for these two, especially for Allie. Gavin is very attracted to Allie and wants a sexual relationship with her. Allie realizes if she crosses that line, she has to quit working for Gavin. But Gavin is a sly guy and is a very tricky, so much so that Allie falls for his seduction. Soon Allie has given up being Gavin’s physical therapist, but will stay on to help him write his book. But then a blast from Allie’s not so distant past shows up, making Gavin suspicious and second guessing Allie, which could ruin their new found happiness.

The VIP Doubles Down is the hottest book of this trilogy. Gavin is this cranky, yet smoldering type who is frustrated by so many things, stemming from his issues with his dead father and his step-mother who never accepted him as an author, even though he’s a successful one. Because he can’t come to terms with his own past, he risks losing a lot, and not his fortune. He risks losing the love of a good woman- Allie, who has been dealt a lot of bad cards mainly because of her immature and selfish ex-husband.

Both characters have some interesting quirks, which seems to help with their chemistry for one another. Nancy can write one heck of a love scene. There are many here. Allie is plucky and very independent. Gavin is set in his ways, and ends up relying on Allie too much, which leads to some big misunderstandings before they can have their HEA. But the outcome here is satisfying and leads to many sighs and smiles.

Nancy has written a very enjoyable contemporary romance trilogy that has a nice spin on the millionaire hero trope, and the women who walk into their lives and turn it upside for the better.

A must read for any romance reader.

This was another great book with amazing characters and a wonderful and very romantic story. When Grumpy Gavin turns into this much more human (and very lovable) happy camper, he has already taken us - and Allie- on a roller coaster of emotions. This book had it all. I cried, I laughed, I sniffled, I was furious, I giggled and - well, I might even have swooned a bit.

It all started with a wager - but it didn't end there and, to tell the truth, the wager was never important anyway. Letting go and finding love was. Getting rid of something as despicable as a writer's block was (DEFINITELY!).
And they did and I loved to see Allie and Gavin, whose chemistry is amazing, right from the start, fall in love and help each other realize how special they are and how good they are for each other. Oh, it's not Gavin's wealth or his celebrity but , well..., his snark, maybe? Or his....okay, he is pretty gorgeous and pretty amazing, so that might be a part of it. But most of all, it is their deep love for each other that makes them special and that makes them reach their goals.

This was the first book by Nancy Herkness that I read but not the last. I'm really looking forward to exploring her other books!

This is the final book in the Wager of Hearts series. We have gotten to see Gavin in the previous books of this series and not sure that I liked him much before this book. Don’t get me wrong, I still didn’t like him at the beginning of this book, but then we get to see another side of him and my opinion of him changed. We meet Allie, a physical therapist, when she is brought in to help Gavin with his issues, but Gavin doesn’t want to admit the truth about this pain and the role that it plays with his writers block.

I loved the chemistry between Gavin and Allie and how it sparked Gavin’s creativity again, but things never go smooth. Will things from the past get in the way of their happily-ever-after?

This book can be read as a standalone, but I think that you will like this book more if you read this series in order.

Book provided by Netgalley for an honest review.

A perfect ending to a fantastic series. The VIP Doubles Down takes an interesting spin on the Cinderella twist. It’s very subtle, but quite enjoyable to see some similar elements of the two stories explored in this manner.
Gavin has long been my favorite character. His gruff nature and tendency to get under the skin of the other billionaires has certainly entertained over the course of the last two books. I knew his story and the woman who claims his heart were going to be fantastic. I enjoyed the previous two books in the series and the formula works very well in this one as well. Wealthy business seeks the love of an everyday woman who cares for him and not his money or status. The women are all strong, feisty, and take no BS from their wealthy lovers.

Gavin Miller is the third member of the triumvirate of billionaires and Bellwether Club members who agreed to a “wager of hearts.” Luke Trainor, CEO of Trainor Electronics, is the first to find true love (The CEO Buys In); Luke Archer, super-star NFL quarterback, is next (The All-Star Antes Up). But Gavin Miller, the resident cynic of the group and author of the immensely successful Julian Best spy series, is no closer to finding true love than he was five months earlier when the wager was made. Gavin is also still suffering from a severe case of writer’s block. He has missed his original deadline and his extended deadline. Although Gavin has grown wealthy enough off the success of the Julian Best books and the movie franchise to have no financial worries, he knows other people are invested in his character’s continued success and maintaining control of his character is a matter of pride, professional and personal. Stress from the situation plus his father’s death and a broken engagement have left Gavin angry, depressed, and increasingly prone to seek solace in alcohol as well as suffering physical pain. Jane Dreyer, Gavin’s agent, decides that she can at least do something about the physical pain, so she hires physical therapist, Allie Nichols, to treat Gavin.

Allie desperately needs the work. Once upon a time, she believed in fairy tale endings. She married her high school sweetheart, and the two of them left West Virginia for New York City with big dreams. But their dream of Broadway success for her husband turned sour, and so did their marriage when disappointment made him emotionally abusive. A divorce has left Allie with limited financial resources, and being fired from her job, thanks to appearances by her drunken ex at the rehab facility where she was employed, means that she is struggling to pay rent on her tiny apartment.

Gavin is not pleased that his agent has sent a physical therapist. At first, he refuses treatment, but when even the minimal therapy that he allowed proves efficacious, he rehires Allie. But the sparks that fly when Gavin and Allie are together involve far more than the machines that are part of her trade. When talking with Allie, a major Julian Best fan, about his books prompts Gavin to write the first words he has written in months, he declares her his muse. Allie is making Gavin feel alive again, and their attraction to each other is growing stronger. But Allie is too ethical to remain Gavin’s physical therapist if they become lovers. Can they make the professional and personal work together if she becomes his assistant and in-house Julian Best expert?

I generally avoid billionaire books, but I was intrigued by the combination of a business executive, a superstar athlete, and a successful writer. I enjoyed the first book, loved the second one, and eagerly anticipated the third. For much of the book, it met all my expectations. Gavin’s character as a bit of a jerk with some redeeming qualities was established in the earlier books, so his curmudgeonly qualities are expected. He becomes considerably more sympathetic as more of his past is revealed. Allie’s sunny nature is offset by her very real concerns about her livelihood, and I liked her from the beginning. I’m not a reader who thinks a genuinely good character must be a dull one.

The VIP Doubles Down can be read as a standalone, although any discerning reader will be aware that the other stories exist. However, I read it as part of a series, and I applaud the ways Herkness smoothly wove Nathan and Chloe and Luke and Miranda into this story. The dinner scene was one of my favorites, and having Tim and Claire Arbuckle (Take Me Home) among the dinner guests was a nice surprise. I hope Herkness gives us more of Dr. Ben Cavill. I find him a most appealing character.

Unfortunately, about half-way through, the story loses some of its power. The emphasis on evidence of Gavin’s wealth seems overdone. And while I expect a Herkness book to have a high level of sensuality, I would have preferred fewer sexy scenes and more story in this one. Readers who prefer more sizzle in their romance than I do may disagree. My disappointment was not enough to ruin the book for me. The grovel scene and the epilogue are definite pluses.

Overall, the novel offers engaging characters, an interesting take on writer as protagonist, and a satisfying conclusion to a solid series.

Reviewed by Janga for The Romance Dish

Gavin Miller, the billionaire author of a bestselling thriller series, struggles with a grim secret: he hasn’t written a word in more than a year.

Writer’s block is killing his spirit and jeopardizing his contracts with his publisher and his Hollywood producers. Prodded by his agent, Gavin reluctantly agrees to see Allie Nichols, a sassy physical therapist tasked with treating the novelist’s severe neck and shoulder pain—and maybe his writer’s block, too.

The tempestuous Gavin and no-nonsense Allie soon find themselves entangled in a steamy affair that sparks Gavin’s creativity again. But their manipulative ex-lovers and Gavin’s lingering childhood scars threaten their happily ever after. Can Gavin and Allie find their way to love when the stakes are high and the obstacles are overwhelming?

This was a great ending to a excellent series! I have truly enjoyed reading this series and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a great series to read! I look forward to reading more from Nancy!

To further compound his losing battle with writer's block famous author Gavin Miller finds himself in need of help for the debilitating neck and back pain he has developed. Newly divorced PT Allie Nichols is in desperate need of work and jumps at the chance to do a house call. When Gavin and Allie meet the instant power of their attraction sets them on a course to steam through emotional blockades and expose wounds that only love and Allie's healing touch can cure.

Behind the wall of "snark" that Gavin Miller built to seclude himself and close himself off from the emotional pain of love there was a really good guy. Ms. Herkness did a superb job at conveying the depth of Gavin's loneliness and his craving for someone who not only cared but who could can get through his defenses. Of all the characters in the Wager of Hearts series Gavin was the most mysterious with his solitary prickly persona. Allie got that Gavin's bravado did not come from his means but his abilities making the loss of his abilities traumatic and key to how their relationship progressed. As Allie steered her way through Gavin's complicated issues even while dealing with her own set of problems her tenacity and optimism toward Gavin was touching. In return Gavin's transformation by his feelings for Allie was wonderfully carried out, fumbles and all. Nancy Herkness' perceptive writing brings to life characters that readers will cheer on and invest themselves in. The VIP Doubles Down has it all including a nice big helping of Pie!

A group of billionaires betting on finding true love? I’m all ears… euh eyes! This third installment in the Wager of Hearts series is the story of Gavin Miller and Allie Nichols. Gavin is rich, sexy and a famous bestselling author to boot. But what could be worse for an author than suffering from writer’s block? Gavin feels the weight of expectations on his shoulders, and it doesn’t help. His agent is convinced that he needs a physical therapist to break through his block. Gavin doesn’t have the same opinion as her, but he accepts a trial with Allie Nichols.

Allie just got through a difficult divorce, and has recently lost her job. It’s definitely not love at first sight between her and Gavin, but she desperately needs the money and she is a huge fan of his books. Her sass and passion for his stories and his characters help him break through his writer’s block. She remembers details about his stories that he has forgotten and she makes his characters come alive. She could be the muse that will save his literary career and help him move on.

I felt for Gavin, he may be rich and famous but he is incredibly lonely and so afraid of getting hurt. His bossy and controlling attitude is only a façade masking his despair, he is gentle, caring and genuine. But he grew up in a loveless home and doesn’t know how to express his feelings in real life. Allie is recently divorced and was emotionally abused by her ex-husband. She needs time to build a relationship based on trust and deep feelings.

This story was well-written, with sweet, engaging characters, vivid descriptions and funny interactions. Nancy Herkness has delivered a convincing version of the billionaire trope. This book was impossible to put down. It is the third in a series, but, no worries, it can be read as a standalone. Nancy Herkness did an excellent job of introducing characters from the two previous installments.

Meeting Gavin in the first two books I felt that I was not going to like him very much as he is a very honest guy and says what he feels, no matter how it makes anyone feel. He is an author that has a severe writers block and needs to get out of it.
Allie is a physical therapist hired by Gavin's agent to help with his writers block. She desperately needs this job and will do almost anything to keep it, however she will not step over the line of ethics.
The story shows a different side of Gavin especially when we learn his background, however you can't change everything about someone and his honesty can be his downfall.
I thought this was a great story, and a glad I read the rest of the series in order. It gives you more of an idea of the surrounding cast of characters in the book.

** I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

I sincerely enjoyed reading Gavin's story! I couldn't put it down. Allie was sassy and didn't put up with Gavin's snark. Reading about these wealthy guys falling for these down to earth women was awesome if a bit fantastical.

The VIP Doubles Down is a good conclusion to this series about 3 men who made a wager on finding love. Gavin is the last of three friends (Luke and Nathan being the other 2) and probably the most resistant to finding love. He's grumpy, cold, and suffering from writer's block and physical pain in the shoulders and back. He's a damaged man thanks to his childhood, and to a less than loyal ex fiancée, and it has really affected him. When he meets Allie, a physical therapist his agent has hired to bring him some pain relief, he at first dismisses her, thinking she won't be able to really help him, but when he wakes up the next day after their initial appointment and he realizes some of his pain is gone, and he actually wrote some words on his very late manuscript, he asks his agent to bring her back.

Allie is such a sweet, strong woman and brings some light to Gavin's grey world. She not only helps him with his pain, but she becomes his muse and allows his creative brain to come alive. Of course, it's soon that they're falling for each other, their attraction is too strong for them to have resisted each other for long. Gavin's damaged psyche wreaks a little havoc in their relationship, though and hurts Allie unnecessarily. Thankfully, Nancy Herkness doesn't seem to be fond of a lot of angst, because she allows our two lovers to get past his major, major misstep with Allie with not much angst or OTT drama. Don't let that make you think that The VIP Doubles Down is fluff, or lighthearted, because it's not. Both Gavin (especially Gavin) and Allie are well developed, complex characters with substance and strong emotions and feelings.

I am going to miss this series, it's been a wonderful ride with these three men!

The VIP doubles down is the third and last book in the wager of hearts series, the first two were wonderful but this one I felt was an even better story even though I didn't think the other could be beaten! Gavin an extremely rich and successful author has severe writers block and is suffering from neck and back problems causing much pain. His agent hires Allie a physical therapist to help ease his pain hoping that will help to get him writing again. So develops an extremely 'hot' relationship between them, the dialogue is sparkling and witty and at times past wrongs come back to haunt them leading to some very emotional scenes. A great book that kept me thoroughly entertained, this book will be loved by all readers. Thanks for letting me read this book help my stay in hospital that much better so many thanks and have left a review on Amazon.uk

A fun, sexy read, without too much depth. I enjoyed it. Recommend as a vacation read.

What a sweet romance this turned out to be.

Allie has recently lost her job as a physical therapist and is recruited to help Gavin, a writer suffering from back and neck ailments as well as a severe case of writer’s block. Gavin doesn’t want anything to do with her but after their initial meeting and the relief he experiences, he relents and has her return. He soon comes to understand that she offers more than physical relief, she has become his muse and he finds the words flowing again.

Ms. Herkness affords the reader the ability to experience the relationship from both points of view in prose that flows without issue. Secondary characters from the previous books add to the dimensions of the main characters rather than stealing the show. Unfortunately, there are those characters that have their own agendas which have nothing to do with the happy ever after of the hero and heroine. Added to that was some uncertainly on Allie’s part as well as fear on Gavin’s and we have just enough angst to keep it interesting.

No need to read the first two books in the series, but I wouldn’t mind doing so.

ARC provided for honest review

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2X0IL5W53UYOH/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

I loved the chemistry between Allie and Gavin. From the beginning of the series, I knew Gavin was my favorite hero. So I freely admit to being harder on his book than the other two. A must read for all Herkness fans.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the third in the series, and I would recommend that you read them in order; I have just spent a very pleasurable weekend reading all three (and not doing a lot else, to be honest!).

We are left with just Gavin Miller, the author with writer's block as a single man. He has become incredibly stressed by his lack of word production, missing deadlines and feeling the responsibility for the movie crews waiting on his next blockbuster. He is also in physical pain from being hunched up, so finally agrees to see a physio, very reluctantly. Allie Nichols, newly unemployed thanks to her drunken ex-husband, needs this private job to work, so she persists through Gavin's animosity to her ministrations. Then he realises that maybe she is his muse, amongst other things.

The progress of their relationship also gives us a chance to catch up with Nathan & Chloe and Luke & Miranda, which works well. Again, there are issues which need resolving before they can be together, but it is a satisfying conclusion to the series.

Thank you Ms. Herkness, for a lovely set of stories.

I love this series. It's fresh, it's funny and I want more.

4.5 Stars

The VIP Doubles Down is the third and final book in Nancy Herkness’ Wager of Hearts series. The series focuses on three billionaires who meet in an exclusive club and end up betting valuable possessions on finding true love. The men are all at a low point in their lives and really truly want to find women who love them for them and not what they can buy or do for them.

While this is the third book, it can be read as a standalone. I however, have read the two previous books (The CEO Buys In and The All-Star Antes Up) and went into The VIP Doubles Down with a severe disdain for Gavin Miller. The billionaire writer is annoying, condescending, grouchy, irritating, and just an overall pain in the butt. I was pretty sure I was going to loathe this story and that Gavin had absolutely no redeeming qualities. I could not have been more wrong.

I found The VIP Doubles Down to be very different from the two previous books. The differences start with the way the story opens up, continues on with the amount of sex involved, and ends with the emotional carnage involved. Nancy definitely saved the best for last. But hey, that's not to say that Gavin is my favorite hero of the series. That title belongs to quarterback Luke Archer. But Gavin was full of surprises. I didn't expect his story to be so emotional or for him to hide years of pain behind his money and snarkiness.

With Gavin seeming to be a miserable man, I couldn’t imagine what woman could possibly take him on. Turns out, Allie Nichols was just what he needed. This physical therapist not only worked to heal Gavin’s body so his mental well-being improved, but she also worked to heal his soul.

I love that Nancy gives readers a look into what it’s like to be a writer. She provides humor when needed, but doesn’t take away from the story. She has written several heartbreaking moments, but also manages to put in heart-warming times. I love that in the end three billionaire strangers who have nothing in common end up being the best of friends who truly care about each other.

Now, if only I could convince Mrs. Herkness to write a story about a certain private doctor with me as his heroine, I would be a happy girl.

I have thoroughly enjoyed Wagers of the Heart series by Nancy Herkness. I met Nancy at RWA2015 but had never read any of her books. When I decided to read The CEO Buys In, I fell in love and found the wager between the three men intriguing. Needless to say, I was immediately pulled in. I could not wait for the second book in the series and fortunately, I received an ARC from the publisher for that I as I did for The VIP Doubles Down, thanks go to the publisher. Let me say up front, I would have gladly paid to read both these books!

Allie Nichols’ life has taken a downward turn. She’s out of work because her ex-husband would not leave her alone at the rehabilitation center. When she is offered a change to help Gavin Miller, her favorite author, she is excited, but it turns out the sessions were his agent’s idea.

Gavin is having the worst case of writer’s block imaginable, and it has caused severe pain in his shoulders. When the physiotherapist his agent hired shows up, he wants nothing to do with her, but the feisty woman convinces him to allow her to use electrical stimulation on him. Although he sends her away after the treatment, within fifteen minutes, his pain is reduced and he calls her back for more sessions.

Imagine his surprise, to discover that not only does she relieve his pain, she stirs his muse. Perhaps he can benefit in more than one way from his time with Allie, and her energetic personality and beauty certainly calls to him on a personal level. When things heat up, he begins to wonder if he just might have found the woman of his dreams.

The VIP Doubles Down grabbed me from the first page and held my attention until the last. Ms. Herkness’ writing style flows smoothly and her pacing is excellent. I enjoyed getting a glimpse of the other characters from the other books in this series. I also loved Gavin’s housekeeper and driver.

Allie’s character has lots of fire to match her red hair. Her determination to hang in there when Gavin practically closes the door in her face had me rooting for her from the start. I loved her down home West Virginia attitude. Her genuine desire to help others, even her deplorable ex-husband touched my heart. Although, her lack of guile and inability to see through his manipulations gives her plenty of grief later in the story.

Gavin’s character is tormented by more than writer’s block and physical pain. His late father’s refusal to see his success eats at him, and the abandonment he feels from his mother’s desertion when he was a child, keeps him locked in the past. While normally his cantankerous behavior would be a turn off, the lost little boy he keeps hidden, called to me, so I fell in love with him anyway.

I loved The VIP Doubles Down, and I will miss these characters, but If I know Ms. Herkness, she will manage to give them cameo appearances in her future books. If you like emotionally-charged romances with complicated characters, then you will love this book. While this one is easily read without reading the other books in this series, I do recommend reading them as well. Happy reading!