Wild Card

Wild CardBeaufort Poker ClubMaggie Gates

Dec 23

Written By Ally Talley

Beaufort Poker Club #2

By Maggie Gates

*Can be read as a standalone*

TheStory

On the heels of losing his wife to cancer, Steve Pelham responds to a hit-and-run in which an engaged Erica is rushed to the hospital. When her fiance doesn’t make it and she break down at the hospital, Steve has to restrain her in order to keep her from hurting herself or anyone else.

Without a plan or anywhere to go, Erica ends up renting a houseboat, which, to her shock, happens to be on Steve’s property. Being in such close quarters causes the two of them to bond and work through their loss and hurt together, ultimately finding comfort in each other.

TheReview

What a beautiful and tragic love story.

Erica is a straight-laced good girl and Steve is a grumpy little bachelor, just trying to get through each day without losing his mind. Their dynamic is EVERYTHING!

It is a slooooow burn. The two of them have so much trauma and sadness to work through, that the romance is just a slow developing bond happening. Maggie Gates does such a wonderful job of showing the MCs working through their grief. I’ve never loved stories where someone tragically loses a loved one and has to deal on-page because it is just such a difficult topic to read in my downtime. But I fell in love with every part of Steve and Erica’s journey.

Mixed in with all the connection and healing, there is also a fair amount of drama. There was even a complete twist that I did not see coming. To be fair, maybe if I hadn’t been so wrapped up in the main storyline happing, I could have seen it coming… maybe.

I know I’m only through two of the books in a six book series, but I have to imagine that this one is one of the best. It was really emotional which means it must have been written super well because I really felt like I was living through this with the characters. It’s a deep journey for sure. I loved it and I’m so happy knowing Steve is cared for and happy now with Erica.