Bethany James thrives on the game of poker. Heck, gambling is in her blood as her father was involved in one of the cheating crews in Las Vegas until his murder years ago. She's been searching for his identity but now her contact with Oracle wants her to follow up on the mysterious "A" who is plaguing Athena Academy... just as she is getting close. But this job has a different lure... not only could Bethany uncover information about A, but perhaps find out more about her father's murder. What will Bethany uncover in this high stakes game?
I absolutely hate poker, gambling, or anything related to those things so it's quite a surprise how much I enjoyed STACKED DECK. Bethany's spunkiness in the face of danger makes her likable even as she spouts off more knowledge of gambling than I ever wanted to know.
Those looking for a great action/adventure story with a feisty heroine will enjoy STACKED DECK but if you are looking for a romantic suspense, then this is perhaps not the book for you. There is a love triangle, a bit of an odd one, and yet Terry Watkins made it work. However, the focus of any of the Athena Force books is not on the romantic angle as there is not the traditional HEA. Instead, the stories focus on heroines who are strong even in the midst of chaos and emotional turmoil. Bethany is a superb heroine as Terry Watkins does a great job at providing a story that is both action-filled and concludes in a very thought provoking manner.
COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES
