So suspenseful! I felt like I needed to look over my shoulder while I was reading this book. It's like you never knew when things were going to change and at the hands of which character. This story is written by the POV mostly of the two main characters, Bell and Dario. But every once in awhile you get a surprise POV. I really enjoyed the mix of characters in this story. There are some really ugly ones along with fun, interesting ones. The mystery of the story kept me turning the pages. There is a cliffhanger, but it's manageable and we don't have to wait very long for the conclusion! This was a surprising change from the books that I have been reading

***I received an ebook copy from the author at no cost***

Alessandra has done it again with Even Money.

I was instantly hooked with this story. Bell works for her friends, in a sort of underground casino (The House) that they operate in Vegas. Dario Capece is one of the most well-known—and feared—men in Sin City. He owns multiple casinos and has a bank account with more than enough cash in it. The night he enters The House, he's there for business reasons only. But then he encounters Bell and soon they both find their worlds turned upside down.

The story in this book is so good. It has a ton of elements that I love, like organized crime, suspense, red hot sex, and a sizzling forbidden love. On the surface, Dario seems like a typical egotistical businessman, but that's not at all who he is. He has so much depth to his character. Alessandra did an amazing job when she crafted him. There's a whole side of him that doesn't see the light of day, but that comes out when Bell is around.

The forbidden love aspect of this story is so well done! Bell and Dario know they shouldn't be together. There's so many reasons why either one pursuing the other is a bad idea. But there's this pull between these two. They're like two planets orbiting around one another, just waiting for that moment when one breaks the orbit and smashes straight into the other. And as a reader, I was literally on the edge of my chair, unable to put my Kindle own, eagerly watching these two do this dance around one another and wondering when (or if) they'd finally come together.

This story kept me on my toes. The different elements, like suspense, romance, and a bit of angst, are balanced out, and the plot moved along so good. There were moments that totally threw me for a loop and I loved this cast of characters too. (The girls that Belle lives with are amazing!!)

This ends on a crazy cliffhanger, so now I'm waiting on pins and needles for the next book in the duet to come out. I can't wait to see what Alessandra gives us in the next installment!

Five stars to this novel!

Oh was this one hell of a read!

I always know to expect some great suspense when it comes to Alessandra Torre books. She knows how to capture my full attention to no end and I am always well satisfied with her twists and turns in her books. Now, we get a cliffy with this one since it's a duet and mind you, I'm sitting here impatiently awaiting for book no. 2.

Dario Capece is a very powerful and influential man in Las Vegas and normally what Dario wants Dario gets. Once he sets his eyes on Bell Hartley, a waitress at one of the casino's he is interested in purchasing, he is relentless in her pursuit.

Bell has a pretty sad past that has made her to steer away from relationships, she can do hook-ups and she can do one-night stands and she can do casual, but she can't do relationships -- until Dario comes in the picture, that is.

Bell knows that hooking up with Dario is not a good idea, he is dangerous and because he is dangerous, that means her life can be put to danger. She wants to stay away from him, but her pull towards him is just too strong and it doesn't help that he's there to woo her in, every which way he can.

Dario is a charming man, he may have his faults and he may have baggage, but he certainly knows how to get what he wants when he wants it.

The problem here is that now that Bell has pledged herself to this man, can anything good come out of this relationship or is she just walking into some seriously dangerous territory?

I am hooked -- I mean completely HOOKED!

I don't think I've ever read a book from Ms. Torre that I was not satisfied with and I love how she has those twists and turns that are so darn unexpected that have me reeling for days.

This was an excellent story that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

5 EVEN STARS!!

Even Money read like the city it was set in: sinful, thrilling and a little bit deviant. The pure magnetism between the main characters was palpable from the very beginning and only grew as the story went on. It felt nostalgic and beautifully poignant, two traits that made it easy to devour, and I was captivated from the get-go.

Most enchanting was the dynamic between Bell and Dario; how they had this hugely pivotal connection that became irresistible to ignore and yet they took their time exploring one another’s intricacies and heart. Bell wasn’t cowed by the wealthy man’s world, and that made her a character well worth exploring. Dario’s all-consuming and alluring nature was a huge part of him, but under that was a man that, without his empire, was just as hypnotic. Their coming together was explosively sexy and impossible to put down.

And I’ll tell you, it’s a good thing the second book in the duet is out later this month because that ending was brilliantly wild. Even Money is a thrill ride of a romance and I cannot wait for what comes next.

Even Money is the first part of the All in Duet. The story is fast paced, captivating, well written, and I read it all in one sitting, I couldn't put it down. The characters were likeable and well developed. Bell and Dario had such an intense attraction towards eachother, that I'm surprised smoke wasn't coming out of my kindle. I liked the secondary characters too. I can't wait to read the next part of this duet, so I can find out what happens.

Once again, Alessandra Torre has blown me away with her intensely romantic novels. I loved Even Money. I couldn't get enough when I was reading and I couldn't stop thinking about it when I was finished. This book is the epitome of romantic suspense and one that all readers should consider if they like the genre. Now, I don't want to say too much about the novel because I feel it's important that readers go in blind without preconceived notions, but I will say this. It's heart stopping and utterly delicious! I am so excited for the next book to release that I can barely hang on!

Readers, fans of the author, and those who love devilishly good novels that will keep you on your toes and melt the ever living hell out of your heart, this is the book for you!

Las Vegas is an emporium for sin…a mecca for sexual liaisons…a cornucopia for secrets and lies. People don’t call it Sin City for nothing, and in Alessandra Torre’s newest release, Easy Money, the main characters can’t help but partake, in varying degrees, of what the Entertainment Capital of the World offers, but while Dario Capece is a golden boy of Vegas – one who uses the city as his playground and rules his kingdom with both finesse and brute force – no one could have prepared him for Bell Hartley, and even though she seems to be one of many minnows that this whale could have fun with, it’s clear Bell becomes much more than a side piece to this married man and what that means for Dairo’s wife, his empire, and the man himself is a point of contention throughout the entirety of Easy Money, and readers and Bell would be wise to remember that potentially life altering idea.

There are a large amount of extenuating circumstances and obstacles that threaten to derail what seems to be building between Dario and Bell, and it’s those situations and outside forces that will leave readers on edge, wondering how anything can turn out well for either of them given Dario’s marital status, his sociopath of a father, and the fact that Bell has never wanted the complications that come with a relationship because she would rather revel in pleasure than deal with uncontrollable emotions. But the fact is that these two can’t stop the attraction and the pull between them, so finding a way together makes the odds of being found out in the house’s favor and that doesn’t bode well for Bell given the fact that she’s only just become a part of Dario’s life and he’s known and been with his wife for over a decade.

I want to be upfront and say that I’m not a romance reader who handles cheating in the stories I read; it’s usually a hard limit for me, so while the fact that Dario is a married man might not set well with readers, I found it easier to accept because Torre explains the situation quite well, showcasing Dario’s reasons for marrying his wife and exposing the reality of their marriage despite the fact that they have to make everyone else, especially one person, believe that no one or nothing threatens to unravel the tie that binds Dario and his wife together.   

I always go into reading one of Alessandra Torre’s stories by expecting the unexpected. Her plot lines never follow a straight path, which means that I can never seem to prepare myself for what’s to come. In Even Money, even though I figured out what would happen at the end before it got there, it was still interesting to see the way that Torre set everything in motion and what variables she had to ensure played their parts in order to put the pieces where they needed to be at the time they needed to be there.

With the events that ended book one, I can only speculate where Torre will lead Dario and Bell in Double Down, but I would bet that now that the stakes have risen and there’s still a wild card or two to play that going all in will either end up costing them everything or catching a windfall at the perfect time.

4 Poison Apples

I love Alessandra's writing and this book quickly sucked me in! Now, I first started reading it on the Radish app, but I never had a chance to get very far there. So I was excited to read the story in full, and I knew she had made some changes to it. I was lost in the world of Vegas poker, a waitress and a high-powered man. I enjoyed the twists and the turns this book held. I was enthralled with the characters and the sexual tension between them. She didn't want to give into him. She knew he was a forced to be reckoned with and he had never felt like this toward anyone else. GAH! I know I'm being vague, but I don't want to ruin this book for you. But, I will tell you to grab your copy now! It's soooooo good!

I’m going to try my best to not reveal anything that I feel will be too spoilery for anyone who has yet to read the book. And believe me, it’s tempting to post a tidbit here and there, not because I want to spoil the story for anyone, but so that you can better understand why I was all in—pun intended—with this series starter. Okay, yes, Dario is married and technically, there is cheating, but suffice it to say that you NEED to read the story in order to find out why I’m about to tell you that this isn’t your typical romance with infidelity in it. There’s this spark between them from the moment they’re within each other’s orbit, and from there, it’s stoked into the kind of fiery love affair that could burn everything around them. The sex is hot and the romance is sweet but not saccharine. Both Bell and Dario are independent individuals who like being in control, which is something they found necessary in order to survive in their respective lives, but once these two get together, they realize they can’t control everything or everyone. Romance, suspense, and a cliffhanger get you Even Money. Five stars! ♥

OMG This book was AMAZING! I am a fan of Alessanda Torre's and I can honestly say that I haven't felt this type book hangover since I read Black Lies a few years ago. Please be aware that this book ends with a cliffhanger and you will want to have book two, Double Down, handy so you can jump right in, luckily it comes out in a couple of weeks because my mind is still freaking out over it all. I need book 2 NOW!!!!

Dario is a charismatic man that has most women dropping to their knees for him but when he meets Bell, well lets just say she's not so easily swayed. I loved the sassy, independent, and strong female character that is Bell, she has been through hell and back and is taking control of her life. She uses men for sex and doesn't want a relationship with anyone...she is what most men would consider the perfect women.

Dario is married, I have to mention this because I know there are a lot of readers that will not read a book with cheating and will leave a negative review because of it. Dario's marriage is one of convenience and both he and his wife have extramarital affairs, there is a love of friendship between the two but not one of intimacy that most married couples would have, therefore I do not feel as if Dario is cheating on his wife especially since she knows about his lovers and he knows about hers.

Even Money has it all and then some, Alessandra Torre hits another one out of park with Dario and Bell’s story.

Mystery, intrigue, power, and money are at stakes in this amazing new book by Alessandra Torre! With Las Vegas in the background the story of Bell and Dario gripped from the start and I liked every part of it. There are some extra POVs thrown in for more suspense and while the book seemed small, there was one hell of a cliffhanger! I won't spoil but if you want something sexy, dangerous and full of stakes then this is for you!

Even Money (book 1) by Alessandra Torre is sexy, steamy, suspenseful, and all levels of dark –and I loved it!!! This is the story of Dario the alpha king of Vegas who comes with a secretive past and Bell the waitress who works at another Vegas hotel who was the “one” that caught his eye. Their eyes met and held. Let me tell you that from that moment when their eyes met, that moment was seriously HOT. From that moment on the story was additive, hot and held me captive until the epic cliffhanger ending. Bell knew Dario was off limits but something about him kept her coming back, just as Dario found something about Bell that made him super possessive of her and he knew it was better to walk away but he could, they both knew they should walk away but neither could. All they could do was fall for one another very fast and they held on for the emotional rollercoaster ride of their lives. Dario and Bell's romance was hot, intense, deep, erotic and passionate. You could feel their connection, their chemistry even when they tried to deny it or refuse it, it was there and it was deep. And the angst was also there. I don’t want to give the plot away but suffice to say there were several secondary characters that were determined to keep these lovers apart and that epic cliffhanger has me wondering on the future for Bell and Dario. OMG I didn’t see that ending happening. I cannot wait for book 2 to find out will they get their HEA or was this the final curtain call for them. What a fabulous and emotional read that will hit every note you look for in a romance story.


My Rating: 4.8 stars *****
“I received an advanced copy of this book from the author at no cost to me."

4.5 Stars

Bell Hartley can sense trouble from a mile away. Living and working in Vegas, she is used to navigating her way through men with money who always get what they want. But, when she meets Dario Capece, there is nothing she can do to keep the attraction between them from changing... everything.

Dario Capece is married, in name only. Having gone through many mistresses and flings, when he meets Bell, he knows immediately that she may be the one person who finally destroys the life he has painstakingly built with his wife...

But, he won't let that stop him in his relentless pursuit of her...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This was such a fantastic read! From the very beginning of the book, we are immediately immersed in the high stakes reality of the darker side of Las Vegas...

Bell is a Vegas transplant who has a job she loves and friends who are like family to her. When she meets Dario, not only does she sense how bad of a situation it would be to get involved with him, but she is constantly warned of the danger that always follows in his wake.

Dario is the King of Vegas, who already has a Queen at his side. Pursuing Bell is a bad idea, but once he meets her, he refuses to let her slip through his fingers. Offering her a lifestyle she could never even fathom on her own, it's only a matter of time before she gives in to him...

Neither of them want a relationship, but once they become involved there is no stopping the trajectory their lives are about to take...

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

Ominous, dramatic, and risqué!

Even Money is an edgy, sultry thrill ride that takes you on a journey into the life of Bell Hartley, a feisty college-student and casino waitress who finds herself inadvertently caught up in all the power, corruption, and violence of sin city when the dangerous, commanding, married Dario Capece sweeps her off her feet.

The prose is dark and seductive. The characters are consumed, possessive, and impulsive. And the well-paced, suspenseful plot is filled to the brim with twists, turns, surprises, depravity, sex and murder.

Overall, Even Money is another tense, intriguing, salacious tale by Torre that has just the right amount of romance and mystery to keep you invested and engaged from start to finish and a cliffhanger ending that will have you counting down the days until Double Down, All In Duet #2, releases in the later part of June.

Final Score - 5 I Need MORE Stars!

Even Money is Book 1 of a new Duet series by Alessandra Torre and my very first book read by this author. And what a baptism! This whirlwind romance between a fun loving, live by the seat of your pants cocktail waitress/college student and one of Vegas’ most powerful man, a casino/hotelier/ no nonsense businessman was the perfect foray for me into the writing style of Ms. Torre.

Dario Capece & Bell Hartley are two flawed and damaged characters. In a perfect world, it wouldn't make sense for them to be involved with one another, let alone know each other. Bell has heard of Dario around Vegas (who hasn't?) and knew he was off-limits. Unapproachable. Not meant to be anything other than an urban legend of sorts. Dario knows better, as he older, wiser, and knows how the game & rules and how they should be played. However, upon meeting Bell for the first time, for the first time in his life ... he's thrown out rules. He's found a woman who makes him possessive and reckless.

They both fall hard and fast, leaving neither with the option of walking away from the other. Trying to keep their distance and hands off each other proves difficult, especially with all of Vegas watching ... and one particular person who has a personal stake. Their affair leaves many people unhappy, both family and friends. Their is danger in them being together, especially when someone will go as far as murder to achieve their goal of total control over Dario.

This story is told in dual POV, between Bell and Dario. It is effortless and the perfect blend of suspense, romance, danger, intrigue. The hero is not someone to be messed with, yet neither is our heroine, as she can most definitely hold her own in the male dominated world of Vegas. The cat & mouse start to their relationship was beautifully written and worth the time it took for slow burn to escalate into them seducing one another. I love slow burn romances ... makes the final product all the more appetizing!

That shocking ending was brilliant and I'm still reeling from the repercussions it will have in Book 2. I cannot wait to see what happens next with Dario & Bell, nor can I wait to sink myself into another Alessandra Torre story. I am now a fan for life!

What happens when two characters with unconventional views on relationships, meet and become consumed with one another, despite all the risks?
This story, book one of a duet, explores those challenges.

Told in the third person, it took me some time to figure out who the main characters of this story were and what the overall theme would be. However, as you learn the backstories of Bell Hartley and Dario Capece, the uniqueness of their situation became apparent.

"Every man needs his wits around a tempting woman."

There were a number of things that surprised me about this story:
- Dario and his unique marriage to Gwen. This marriage is hardly traditional, more of a union on paper build on friendship. And that leaves him a opening to court Bell. But even given the circumstances of the marriage, it was interesting to see how some underlying issues came to play as Dario's feelings for Bell grew beyond the physical.

- There seems to be an insta-element to the story, particularly on the part of Dario, who senses his feelings toward Bell run deeper than attraction. Despite that, and despite the number of intimate scenes he shares with Bell, they wait longer than I expected to give in to their desires.

- Gwen's dad, Robert Hawk, is a horrible human, and given the hatred and fear that Dario and Gwen share about him, I wondered why they didn't do more to get out of his clutches. They seemed to let him control them at every turn, and it backfires spectacularly.

- Claudio and her mission. I didn't get this girl and why she would willing do as Robert ordered. Given what happens at the end of this book, I hope we learn more about her character in book two.

While I enjoyed the complexities of the relationship between Bell and Dario, and the potential risks of that relationship represented, I would have liked a heavier dose of tension. Claudia's mission fell flat at times, and while I loved the big twist at the end and how damaging it could be, I would have liked more heart-racing moments, given this genre.

With that said, I'm eager to see where this story leads. The risks have escalated and it will be interesting to see where the author takes the story. To be continued . .

It has been some time since I have written a review as I am reading a book. I generally read a few books and then go back and write reviews. But sometimes I find myself needing to write what I am thinking and feeling so I can make sure I am expressing how much I am loving a book. And I needed to make sure I expressed how much I loved Even Money by Alessandra Torre.

Some books you read, some you devour, and some consume you and then you have books by Alessandra Torre. I am not sure what it is about her stories, but they seem to drag you in and never let you go, even long after you finish them. Some are light and funny and others dark and twisted. Even Money was a wonderfully addictive combination of both.

Bell Hartley is trying to survive in the city of Sin. After a heartbreaking ordeal when she was younger, she knows she was not made for love. She goes to school, enjoys her job and loves her friends. She enjoyes enjoys casual sex as relationships are not on her radar. Dario Capece is the King of Las Vegas. He is powerful and a very controlled man who always gets what he wants, when he wants. But he also has commitments and promises he made and always intended to keep. But everything changes when he meets Bell.

Dario and Bell should have never been, but when they were alone, just the two of them, you fall in love right along beside them. I absolutely loved watching these two fall. The want, the need, the craving for each other, even as both realize pursuing anything more than a physical connection would be their downfall. They both have their reasons for keeping things casual and physical in the past, but their chemistry and connection is undeniable and combustible.

Then as we learn their individual stories, it seems even more impossible they could ever have a future. But for the first time, they feel, they want, and they desire. But what will be the cost if they move forward? Then the lies begin, the stalking and a life lost. How will it all end?

I cannot begin to express how much I loved this book. I was consumed by the characters and their journey. I wanted to learn what would happen and how it would all end, but at the same time I was scared with every turn of the page. And then we get that ending! Wow, just wow! I cannot wait to get the final book in the duet. Even Money by Alessandra Torre is a must-read, just be prepared for an emotional and gripping ride!

Alexandra & Vegas is a lethal combination. She's a master at writing intrigue and hot scintillating sex. What better backdrop than the Sin city itself
Bell Hartley is working her pretty ass off in High House with Lance & Rick, who're more like friends than bosses. High House is a hidden Gem, an unassuming and unadvertised Casino for High Rollers, Casino owners, politicians and billionaires who prefer low key, high end games away from the eye of competition and paps.
In steps Dario Capece.
"vegas was full of sharks and Dario Capece was a killer whale, one who you saw right before getting eaten"
He has Bell in his crosshairs now. And what he wants, he goes and gets.
She definitely feels the pull but there's a problem. He's rich, powerful, waynout of her league and married !!
"It had been sixty seconds of interaction. Less than a commercial break. As short as a hand of blackjack. Forgetting her should be easy. But in sixty seconds, a gun could be fired. A knife thrust. A bomb ignited. Sixty seconds could be nothing, or it could destroy a man"
To Gwen Hawk, beautiful and powerful co owner of his casinos and businesses. More interestingly, she's the daughter of much feared Robert Hawk, a man not to be messed around with.
"Robert Hawk, a billionaire with as many demons as dollars and the recklessness to turn those demons lose without provocation"
Bell wants to stay away, to protect her heart and her life, but their pull is much stronger and Dario has her hooked!
Some things in the story were like wowza! some simpler and few were mismatching.
The frustration of Dario being stuck in a situation of not his choosing, his craving for Bell and his need to control his surroundings are all penned well by Alessandra
" he was in one hell of a situation - pulled in different directions by 2 incredible women. One held his heart and his cock in her delicate grasp, the other held his heart and his past in her fist"
The buildup of dread and danger was pulse throbbing, sexual chemistry was shooting off the thermometer, there's few tender hearted moments as well and then there's a murder.
All in a pot boiler, bubbling and frothing to be blown up in the next book
4 Babysitter stars

WoW what just happened????? I need Book 2 NOW, pleeeeaaassseee!

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I suggest going blindly into EVEN MONEY. Just know its about a Vegas Heavy Hitter Casino Owner and a Cocktail Waitress both with similar upbringings.... This is a majorly addictive, seductive, and tantalizing romance suspense thriller that you will devour instantly!

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The main and secondary characters immediately sucked me into their Vegas High Rolling Status where I want to join them at the VIP tables betting on a pair of Queens playing blackjack....

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Alessandra Torre blew me away with this story, some aspects of the plot reminded me of MOONSHOT, which is another Top Read of mine. HIGHLY RECOMMEND this heavy hitting duet series because I AM ALL IN!

Sexy, trilling and forbidden!! Even Money sure puts all the SIN that Las Vegas has to offer in one book.

Cocktail waitress+ powerful Casino owner= Explosive combination

Dario Capece is the King of Las Vegas and gets what he wants. Bell Hartley is the cocktail waitress that catches his eye. Its instant attraction but forbidden. Dario pursues Bell relentlessly and it ends with a stunning, shocking cliffhanger that leaves you needing the second book ASAP. A must read!!!!