I am going to give a spoiler alert because I would have liked one (chuckle). There is non-romantic good sex in this story and not betweeen Ty and Karla. Matter of fact for at least half of the book one of the main characters is actually partnered with someone else. I think this is a huge spoiler, but a necessary one if you are looking for a straight romance (evil chuckle). I would not have chosen to read this book if I had known because I like the unrealistic idea of one woman to one woman, but then…I would have missed out on a good fiction story.

Cade Haddock Strong tackles what happens after the glory in this sports tale. Karla has spent her entire life skiing, training to ski, eating to ski, curbing her entire life to ski. Then she does not make it to the U.S. Ski Team. That’s okay because there is a backup plan as she is going to go to college and ski for them. Then in an instant all of that changes. What happens after you can’t compete anymore? I love sports and the dedication and training that goes into any sport. I kind of relate to the feelings Karla has as I am disabled Veteran who used to do biathlons. Strong nails the emotions and frustrations that Karla experiences. I love her personal growth story.

Then on the flip side we have a young woman who has gone through some trying times to suddenly win the lottery for lots of money. Ty goes through her own journey, but it is not as dramatic as Karla’s. I do have to say that I absolutely love her ski house and would live in it full-time, forget that “it’s only a ski house”. Holy sugar Strong’s description had me ready to make a deal with the devil to live there too.
The supporting characters are fantastic. I would love to read Sarah’s story. I can already picture the opportunity especially if she gets the promotion. Never mind she is like the best friend a girl could have - especially she didn’t once ask for anything after Ty won the lottery. She still insisted on paying her own way. You go girl. Love her. Val and Theresa are like the couple you want to find if you ever move because they can throw a party.

I received a free copy of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

This book has a great premise and promise but it never really comes together in the way that it could have. Ty's character and origin story are very well done, and they she deals with winning the lottery and the panic it induces is very well written. Similarly, Karla's reckless youth is clearly laid out for us and it takes a while for her to become a sympathetic character - don't get me wrong that really works in this context. Where this book falls down, however, is when the two meet and fall in love. I can't really put my finger on it but it just doesn't work, maybe it's the deceit, or the inability to communicate but something about the pair of them made me want to knock their heads together!

Overall this is a very good book but it could have done with a bit more polishing.

This was an enjoyable book to read. The main character, Ty, wins a major lottery, and interesting times ensue for her. Who hasn't fantasized about winning a lottery? What would you do with the money? Who would you trust with that information? The story follows Ty as she deals with these issues. She makes some good choices, and some not-so-good choices. And, as with all Bella books, there's a romance, and a happy ending. I really liked the information about the nitty-gritty aspects of dealing with a winning lottery ticket - getting a honest financial adviser (Ty lucked out with having a friend who did this work), getting a safe deposit box for the ticket, having the ticket validated, etc. When I win the lottery, I will keep this information in mind!

This is my first time reading a Cade Haddock Strong book, and I must say if they are all as good as this then I shall be looking for more

What I really loved about this book is that it starts at the beginning for both Ty and Karla, its not a story of they meet and flash back it actually starts at the beginning and you get to read the their story as they move along.
There are many layers to this sweet story which is well written and kept me keen

Would I recommend..... Yes, the author has hit the jackpot on this one

The book opens with Ty winning the lottery jackpot and a share of over $500 million dollars. We get to know her through a bit of a caper in how she should claim the ticket and keep her new found wealth hidden from those that would want to steal it from her.

Karla is on the US skiing development team, but has to walk away from her dream as she can’t afford to continue to train. She’s planning on going to college to study nursing and compete on their ski team.

The two main characters don’t meet until 25% of the way into the book - so by the time they do meet we know both of them quite well. I did start to get a little bit impatient as to how their lives were going to come together, but it did give the storyline an organic feeling.

The book isn’t full of excitement and mainly revolves around college life, skiing and hiding lottery winnings. There are some brief sex scenes and a couple of action moments, but at its heart this narrative is just a sweet coming together of two people who like each other. There are additional characters that add some interest to the storyline and whilst there aren’t major points of excitement I didn’t find the book boring either.

I thought the premise was interesting and I’d definitely be interested in reading more by this author.

I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

'ARC generously provided by both NetGalley and The Publisher in exchange for a honest review'

**'Enact a repetitive, obsessive and iterative application of preference when telling your story..'

There are a number of books where one goes, wow! these are those that we'll definitely reread many times over because they are well written and very good -- then there are those where after reading them, they are stashed away and forgotten. Well, i think 'JACKPOT' is one of those books that falls in the latter category --- because the premise seems so charming in the beginning but the overall context never came together to make it a decisive page-turner.
To characterized each main and secondary character in great detail would not benefit this review because i think it might take away from the depth of what the storyline is really about and not what minor role each character contributes in a particular paragraph. All i can say is that every supporting cast had their own part to play whenever Ms.H.Strong chose some sort of timely interaction with either of the two main characters (Ty & Karla) by being funny, giving advise or being friendly. Ty, who has this calm unbreakable optimist demeanor -- considers herself as a broke and downtrodden person that's trying to make ends meet while working as a bartender -- before getting lucky by winning the lotto then everything changed. While Karla is dealing with having to accept that her wish would not come true for her to make the USA ski team anymore and that she needed to drastically changed her lifestyle and think about her future plus deciding on what she really wanted out of life. Then in quite an unusual way, both met while registering for nursing school which led to this healthy friendship at first.
During the storyline's progression, readers will become aware of a peculiar form of their unlikely bond -- which showed each trying their best to learn from each other; that there are both people and things in life that they will try to keep, then there are those that they will need to let go -- but it won't always be as easy to know the difference upfront.

Additionally, I also believe simultaneously that few readers might notice that "JACKPOT' is peppered with a slew of keen insights into the logistics and maddening upheavals of winning any huge lotto with all it's wherewithal at the forefront. Even certain paragraphs do seems incisive and touchingly real at times.
Okay but still readable!

What would you do if you won the lottery became multimillionaire that’s the question Ty ask herself when her life changes when her lottery ticket is the winner.

As Ty freaks out she goes into hiding because she doesn’t want anyone coming out of the blue trying to get what she has. Ty tells her best friend Sarah that she won she helps her find someone who has her best interests at heart. Ty lost her way when her parents died but now she has the means do what she always wanted to become a nurse and to help people.

Karla is angry at the world she couldn’t fulfill her dreams of being on US ski team so she decides to go college at UMV where she can still ski but because of her cockiness she gets injured but she can still ski but racing at the level she was at she won’t be able to do.

As Ty and Karla meet through Karla cousin Val they hit off and become friends but Ty is drawn to Karla but Karla is seeing someone as they both study to become nurses will they both help each other find their way.

This was a good read. It’s crazy how people only want to know you because they want something out of it I like that Ty have a support system who didn’t ask for anything but was there to guide her.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.