One Good Hand

One Good Hand
Rowan McBride
Loose Id LLC
ISBN: 978-1-59632-603-3
Fiction, Erotic Gay Romance, Paranormal, Novella
Reviewed by Shannon Frost

Professional card shark Ace Donovan is a man who literally lives by the cards dealt him, and though he’s at the top of his game at the moment, he knows all too well how quickly that can change. He’s won many interesting things playing poker, but nothing as interesting as the mysterious, handsome man who’s put into the pot in a high stakes game. Not interested in owning another person, Ace offers the man his freedom, money, anything to get him to go, but the man refuses to leave him, insisting that he now belongs to Ace. Having nothing else to call him, Ace names the man Spade and takes him home believing Spade will soon come to his senses. What happens instead is that with each moment he spends with Spade, Ace finds his attraction and feelings for Spade growing. But when Spade reveals the truth behind himself days before Ace must face Angelo Zavala, the man who once took everything from him, Ace must decide if he cares enough for Spade to keep him at his side or if he will take the risk of losing him in an all or nothing game.
Written from the first-person perspective of Ace Donovan, from the very first page it’s easy to get swept away in this charming and touching character’s voice, who has the authentic feel of a person who truly does make his living playing cards. At novella length, the story is short enough to breeze through in a few hours and in that time, it will give readers a tale that’s tightly written, fun, sexy, heartfelt, has a bit of edge and is topped off with engaging characters. The mystery behind Spade stays exactly that until it’s revealed and when it is, it’s not just a surprise, but a well thought-out unique concept as well. Author McBride has certainly dealt readers a winning hand with this one, because all who pick it up are sure to enjoy it.