Casino Queen

Cara Bertola’s Casino Queen had me hooked from page one! Bertola’s experience working at Casinos as a dealer helps her develop the world of gambling. She introduces us to the world of Native casinos and gives us so many interesting aspects of casino life. From all the people it takes to keep track of the thousands of dollars that flow through the tables, slots, and other games, to the ties the casino has to the tribe and the local community, we learn the important connections and roll the casino has in so many lives. In the midst of this world, Bertola guides us through and develops a mystery that keeps up on the edge of our seats!
Caroline Popov, our hero, is a tall, beautiful woman with a broken heart who is more concerned about the running of her casino than herself. Her failed marriage is the backdrop to every decision she makes. Through flashback and back story, Bertola weaves a picture of a woman who had no choice but to leave when all she wanted to do was stay in the loving arms of her husband. Alone and on her own, she makes her way in the cutthroat world of casinos and gambling.
As the manager at the Night Hawk Casino, she is the boss, and as the boss, she must navigate the fine line between friend, family, and manager because the casino acts as one large family, and it employs people who are family, which can create unique problems as we find out. At the Night Hawk Casino, some of the employees steal and extort their colleagues, and even though their schemes are smart and slide under the radar of previous managers, When Caroline arrives, she notices, and she stops the stealing.
Bertola develops scene after scene where security and cameras are called upon to expose card sharks and double-dealing dealers with Caroline at the head of the sting. To state the obvious, she makes enemies, and her life is threatened. Her mentor and boss, the enigmatic and handsome John Tovar, worries about her, while admiring her skill at managing her staff and exposing and catching criminals, patrons, and employees alike.
Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, Mojave Dessert backdrop provide another layer to the complex plot and Bertola’s master storyteller skills meld the story with the setting creating tension and tone in this dessert wonderland. A casino sponsored half-marathon is the event that brings all the players together, and readers will delight in the tension and action-packed conclusion to this riveting story.
Cara Bertola’s Casino Queen delivers on all fronts, and readers of mystery/romance will love this book. And the best news is that Casino Queen is book one in the Night Hawk Casino series! This book is highly recommended and is definitely a five star read!

Easy to read. Would have liked more details in the scenery at the casino. Being a casual blackjack player, I always enjoy the large amount of stimulation present and the ambience. The author actually did point out players like me in the beginning and it is very true! About halfway through, I wasn’t sure which direction the book was going. Was this a thriller, drama, or something else? It describes casino life and the happenings within, which is good for those who have never stepped foot in a casino or don’t know much about it. In fact, it may have been well more appealing to those other than occasional/frequent players. I will say that I do appreciate that the events are palpable and could have happened in real life. There is a pleasant surprise at the end which is cute. After reading the authors note, I have a greater appreciation towards the story. If I would have read that first, I think I would have valued the read more.

Will be posting on Amazon, Goodreads and Instagram within one week of this feedback given.

Casino Queen
Night Hawk Casino Series
by Cara Bertoia
Pub Date 16 Mar 2022
The Wild Rose
General Fiction (Adult) | Multicultural Interest | Mystery & Thrillers



I am reviewing a copy of Casino Queen through The Wild Rose and Netgalley:



Caroline Poppov is alone , heartbroken, and deeply in debt ends up in glamorous Palm Springs, California where Native casinos have just opened, offering employment to thousands. Caroline manages to land a job at the Palm Oasis Casino where she is mentored by the charismatic tribal chairman, John Tovar.




Caroline is embraced by Casino Culture and works her way up to casino manager of the Night Hawk, in the High Desert town of Joshua Tree, where she finds herself responsible for managing multicultural team members, satisfying the demands of often unique guests, and growing revenue while rooting out corruption.



While rediscovering her inner strength , she learns you have to gamble like your life depends on it, because sometimes it does.



I give Casino Queen five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, The Wild Rose Press, Inc and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.


A satisfying story that held my attention from the start.

A unique story. I selected this book for several reasons, casino life, mystery, and curiosity. Cara Bertoia knows her way around a casino. A look at casino Whales, Georges, and the challenges her protagonist, Caroline, faces while establishing a working relationship with her crew are exciting and enlightening. I enjoyed the pace of Bertoia’s prose, not hurried but slowly drawing the reader into casino life. However, I found the mystery ran second to world-building. Fortunately, the unexpected twist at the end did justice to the story. Nicely done, Cara.