A dark romance that does feature elements of "cheating" as the hero is married while also trying to get with the heroine. The marriage is one of convenience, but may rub certain readers the wrong way. That said, those who LOVE angst and erotic romance will eat this one up.

This amazing story is set in the Las Vegas milieu where gambling rules, casinos abound, and the king of the streets is named Dario Capece. What he wants he gets. His influence is legendary, his temper and retribution will make you fear to look in his eyes.

Bell is a student working the tables at a private gambling establishment called The House where the elite come to spend time at their favorite pass time. She makes good money, enough to pay for her studies and her living expenses. She has no boyfriends, no commitments, and she likes it that way. Sex is a bodily function without entanglements and that suits her fine.

Briefly meeting Dario at her place of work sets off a series of events that will change both her life and Dario's. The repercussions were unpredictable but they both should have known better. As they begin an exclusive relationship, they both know this can not develop into anything more. The attraction is off the charts and they both are willing to risk everything to spend intimate time together.

Please note this is a duet. You will not have to wait very long for the conclusion which is due to release this month on June 18th. Another masterpiece by Alessandra Torre that will leave you gasping for more.

I am voluntarily reviewing this book. Thanks to the author for sharing a copy with me.

I loved Even Money it was sexy and mysterious read. I really enjoyed reading about Bell and Dario’s Love story. One think that bothered me was that it was an sta-love story for me. I am intrigued to continue reading the second installment

Even Money by Alessandra Money is the first book of a duet. The story is about a Vegas cocktail waitress Belle who meats Dario a powerful business man. I won’t ruin anything else, because you have to read it. I will say stalking ensues. I well written story that leaves you wanting more.

I wasn’t expecting this type book when I began reading it. The storyline was very intense, the sex was uber hot, and Bell and Dario were such a fascinating couple. Set in the gambling Mecca of the world, Las Vegas, with a great cast of supporting characters and surprise twists around every corner. This book goes in my recommend pile!

Bell, was a character that I loved... in the beginning, then I lost a little, but then she redeemed herself.
Dario, was someone who bothered me, but then grew on me.
I really did enjoy this story and the second book Double Down as well. I thought the plot was interesting and kept me engaged. I was far more interested in knowing more about Dario and Gwen at cretin points in the book. We did get the full story and I was really vested in their "marriage." It was believable and made my heart heavy for poor old Gwen. I was really happy to see that she did love "Ranch hand Nick," see everyone was happy.
Now, with Bell's past and it being mentioned many times, when she felt uneasy, I was left saying 'GIRL, WHY ARE YOU NOT LISTENING TO YOUR GUT?" I just thought since she had this "feeling" why did she ignore it. Of course, we are readers and we pick up on it, because we are getting the entire picture and have to wait on the character to "get it."
Dario, was truly a gentlemen, he treated Bell with respect and let he know right from the start that he was married and the reason for his wedding. I believed him, I really did, he married Gwen, for her protection. Dario and Bell, has amazing chemistry , sparks and super sexiness!
The supporting cast were FANTASTIC. I loved Lance and Rick, they were hilarious and so fiercely loyal to Bell. Bell's roommates were fun to read about. Meredith and Bell, had me cracking up!
It is a dark read at times, kidnapping and rape are discussed, many times. I didn't mind the darker side of this story, as it was not a constant conversation.
The story did get a bit wordy at times, but other than those few things, I did really enjoy it.

This book started just a bit slow for me but man did it pick up speed and the ending, ahhhhhh! In case you couldn't tell by my ramblings you should read this book, it is a well thought out, well written work and I now have to go read Double Down! #EvenMoney #NetGalley

Oh my god what a ride! I was completely and utterly hooked right from the start. A terrific story of suspense, this first book of the duet has set it up for an epic conclusion. So many Twists and turns, how will it play out? I can’t wait to read the conclusion to Dario and Bell’s story!

4.5 Stars!!!

"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."

What the what?! OMG... what just happened?! This book! It sucks you in and spits you out with a bang! Just when I thought I knew how it all was going to go down, those last few words! Holy hell, things are about to get craaazy! I’m so nervous! What is going to happen now? Oh my heart. It broke for Dario. From the moment he was introduced in this story, I was captivated. I knew there was no way Bell could resist such a stunning, powerful man. I loved the sexual tension and the chemistry between them. Who knew loving someone could end so badly? All I know, is that this is a MUST READ for fans of romantic suspense! I highly recommend!

"He was handsome, but it wasn't even his looks. There was something between us, and I stepped back in hopes it would fade. It didn't."

♥ Review by Lys

*Book 2, Double Down, to be released June 18. I am counting down the days!

Reviewed by Sharon Thérèse

A curious title which meant nothing to me until Torre’s narrative put me in the picture, and then it made a lot of sense. You double your original bet on a good card well-knowing the next one to come could make it or break it, and that is exactly what her protagonists did. A risky move when one is already in danger of losing it all. The story takes off exactly where it left us; on a cliffy so desperately huge it left my heart racing and had me counting the days for the release of Double Down. Fortunately for those who had read Even Money, the wait for the gripping conclusion in the All In Duet was only a couple of weeks.

Dario and Bell’s relationship is a torment in itself. They question themselves, guilt of one kind or another consumes their very souls and being truthful with each other when they’re up against someone totally lacking in humanity is a crucial point I had to take into consideration. Loving like they’d never loved before, in their eyes it was what had to be. Mine too! However, not everyone was of the same opinion.

Torre’s writing is extremely visual and easily imagined on the big screen. All the involvement from different sources; the doubts sowed and accusations presented, make for a real page-turner. No-one is exempt until the truth is revealed; well, someone might be but I’m saying no more! What I would have liked more of though is the culprit. I thought their ending or comeuppance for a better word, a tad rushed and even wondered if just maybe, Torre would consider writing a spin-off throwing more light on this individual’s future plans. Plans which certainly leave food for thought and left me reeling not from shock, but hanging in suspense.

There are new characters in this story who I liked a hell of a lot. At times I had to reread Laurent’s jargon, but I adored him just as much as Rick and Lance who I’d had the pleasure of meeting in Even Money. Loved their leg pulling, their crazy nerdy ways and their devotion to Bell that never wavered for a minute.

How loss and self-reproach is dealt with so elegantly, how two people try to overcome an ordeal such as is theirs is without a doubt, worthy of reading. The story told in first and third person from different points of view is exceptionally well done. And the perfectly measured pace kept this reader glued to the pages from the very beginning to an exploding finale of emotions. Ooh, and I haven’t mentioned their abounding passion…one-click and you’ll see for yourselves how Dario and Belle steam up your screens. You’ll either be grabbing for your fan or putting the aircon on high! Bravo Torres!

I read this book in less than 4 hours!!! It is a great book and awesome characters. Bell has had a rough life. She seems to be doing very well for herself, she is going to college and is a waitress at a private casino. The story is AWESOME. The plot is good. This author takes you on a road with bends and turns and love. This is the first book in this series and am already ready for The next one. Loved it!!!!

I received this ARC from the publisher at my request via Net Galley for my honest opinion. Thank you Net Galley!!!

What a story! It’s dark and delicious. And the ending...OMG. I can not believe how it ended with that cliffhanger. I liked how these characters were developed. Dario met Bell at her work place and both experienced a pull towards each other that couldn’t be denied. Dario is a king in Vegas owning several casinos. This was achieved with the help of his wife Gwen. They’ve been married for ten years and developed a powerful empire in Vegas. But they are married in name only. Details with their arrangement is told throughout the story. I can’t really say too much else because it would spoil the book. But there is danger waiting for Bell. How will Dario handle all that goes down? Bring on book 2!!! Great romantic thriller

4 1/2 Stars! Come and play with the elite of Vegas!

Bell is a waitress in a Vegas Casino that's just off the strip. It's the casino that you go to if you don't want to be seen, so all the high profile Vegas elite come to play here. Dario is the owner of several casinos in Vegas and he has his eye on the small casino where the elite go. While checking the casino out, he meets a waitress that doesn't back down from him and this intrigues him. He soon becomes obsessed with her, but he's a married man with a mistress and a waitress on the side. What lengths will he go to have the beautiful Bell?

This book is a little different from the regular romance and it captured my interest from the very first chapter. It pulled me into the Vegas life as told through the very rich and then the struggling worker. There is a twist at the end that I just didn't see coming and made my jaw drop to the floor. I can't wait for the 2nd book in the duet.

I received an ARC courtesy of Select Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

Bell knows to turn away, she knows that walking up those stairs will change her life forever - but she walks up them anyway. This journey will take her on a path that she never envisioned and put her life in more precarious positions than she ever thought imaginable.

Dario runs Vegas, he gets what he wants, when he wants and turns away anything that has run its course. He knows he shouldn’t be waiting for Bell to walk up those stairs, but he waits anyway - turning his life on its head and setting in motion events that he will soon regret.

This story was a little harder for me to love because of a few taboo topics. I thought they were handled with out care and unfortunately it took a little away from the overall enjoyment. I have loved every one of Torre’s novels and still give this one a 5 star rating because her storylines are unique and her writing is captivating.

I was gifted an ecopy of this book from Select Publishing through NetGalley for an honest review.

I was highly anticipating this book because I usually am with this author and the theme of a Vegas story with a bit of suspense just seemed like something right up my alley. But then I started reading it and quite frankly it rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe it was my mood?

The heroine is young cocktail waitress who catches the attention of one of the most ruthless businessmen in Vegas. I don’t want to give spoilers away but there are a few things that helped this book not convince me. First, there’s an age gap between the main characters, the hero being older, as well as different social standing which causes for some questionable power dynamics. Age gaps have to be done properly for me to be ok with them and in this case it felt off from the very beginning. There’s also another detail about the hero’s life that I wasn’t a big fan of but it’s a big part of the story. I’m going to be totally vague on that, sorry, but it wasn’t my biggest problem.

I think the fact that the power dynamics are off and the heroine never came across as someone with a lot of common sense started me off on a path of not loving this book. Then there’s the fact that when it comes to the romance I didn’t buy it… at all. But if you’re insta-love you will probably be all over it. Dario’s obsession with Bell from just one look and a couple of words didn’t ring true for me and I never got that feeling to go away.

There is a suspense plot in this duet but it’s not as heavy on the suspense in this first installment. That definitely kicks into high gear at the end of this book and leaves you with a cliffhanger which will have you wanting to read the next one soon. Good thing it’s releasing shortly. I will probably read it at some point to know what happens next.

The thing I’ve come to realize with Alessandra Torre’s books is that I really enjoy her suspense, whether it’s the storylines in her romance or her suspense books. But I generally struggle with the romance connection. This was no different in that and if it wasn’t for the curious (and little OCD) side of me I probably wouldn’t read the next one.

Passion, intrigue, and a wonderful supporting cast make Even Money an excellent romantic suspense novel. As is clear by the the fact that it's #1 in a duet, this book does have a major cliffhanger! I can't wait to read the conclusion!

I loved that Bell has plenty of sass and an iron spine, and she and Darion worked really well together. Both have their issues, past and present, but they're figuring out how to make it work. I'm generally at least relatively adept at guessing plot twists, and I pieced together many of those within this book, but could never guess them quite completely, creating the perfect balance for me. I love trying to solve the mystery and feeling like I at least somewhat know what's happening, but also don't want to be able to predict everything.

I didn’t know what to expect when I picked up Even Money. I’ve been a fan of Alessandra Torre for years – especially of her romantic suspense. And I’m not even someone who likes suspense. So naturally I was looking forward to this one, despite knowing very little about it. If you’re at all familiar with my reviews, then you know that I don’t even read the synopsis of a book before I read it.

Let’s start with the negative stuff first, shall we? Not that it’s even really all that negative. I would say that for the first forty to fifty percent of this book, I was kind of skeptical. There was an insta-love type connection and I’m not normally a fan of that. Their initial connection seemed to be based on… well, nothing. Bell and Dario’s first interaction wasn’t much of anything, and the next thing you know he’s obsessed with her. However, I do have to admit, that I think we’ve all been there, haven’t we? Most likely it was as teenagers, but I’m sure you can remember the feeling of being infatuated with someone to the point that they consumed your thoughts. So I’m kind of letting this one slide.

Once I moved past that, I was really captivated by this story. There are some aspects that seem a little dramatic and Godfather-ish, but it’s also possible that I’m just very naïve in my suburban life bubble and oblivious to this level of power and crime. So I’m letting that one slide a bit too. Plus, it’s fiction, you know?

But moving past those things I initially had to reconcile, like I said, I was captivated. The chemistry between Bell and Dario really builds, and I got sucked in by the intrigue and mystery of what was to come.

I know that a lot of people don’t like cliffhangers, but I don’t necessarily mind them. I think it’s like any good television show – a good cliffhanger builds suspense and anticipation. This one definitely accomplishes that. I’m already dying for the next book. But kudos to Torre for knowing that a lot of readers take issue with this, and as such, decided to release them very close together. Very smart move.

I really liked Even Money, especially the last half of the book, and I am highly anticipating Double Down. I’m curious how I’ll feel about them once I’ve read the second book, but in the meantime, I’m recommending if you’re a fan of romantic suspense. And even if you’re not, I urge you to give Torre a try.

This is Bell and Darios book! Bell is a high end cocktail waitress at a high end casino, Dario owns a different casino but one evening in her casino and he has to have her! He sets her up at one of his suites but she won't move in there and continues to try to keep away! They don't really have sex but it's still really hot!! They do a lot of other fun and naughty things lol actually in the beginning of this book I almost stopped reading I just couldn't get into it?! But I'm so glad I stuck with it!! It's definitely a great read!! I can't wait to read the next it kinda ends in a cliffhanger but the next book is coming really soon!! So stick with it! It definitely gets better!! Don't miss out on this one!! Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!

this was such a great read it gave me the insta lust sort of feel and I just love those stories.
I devoured this one and now am hanging for the part 2 of this duet.

This is definitely a book that moves fast and yet leaves you wanting more. Bell Hartley has demons in her past that leave her unequipped for a normal relationship. She is perfectly happy with things as they are, but is quickly turned inside out by Dario Capece. It is difficult to get a good read on either of them since so little is really given up front. As thing unfold, you begin to see little bits of the people they are and who they could become. Dario's marriage and father-in-law quickly becomes the focus of the story. Robert Hawk is absolutely terrifying in his ruthlessness and unpredictability. The last line of this story will have you holding your breath for Double Down!