Title: Holding Aces (The Kingdom #1)
Author: Nikki Groom
Release Date: May 29th 2014
Genre: Adult contemporary romance
Blurb
They say that time heals all wounds.
But mine are set in so deeply, they’ve taken on a life of their own, lurking in the shadows at every turn and haunting my thoughts.
The girl I once was has been replaced by a stranger.
I don’t even know who I am anymore.
I run.
And I hide.
Pretending to be someone I’m not…
Until I meet Denham King.
My burst of color in an otherwise grey world.
And for the first time in my life, I find myself running towards someone instead of running away.
But fate can be cruel,
and I can’t escape my past.
Can I?
**Holding Aces is part one of a two part Adult Contemporary Romance series that contains mature sexual content and language and is not intended for readers under the age of 18.**
Buy the Book
AMAZON US- http://amzn.com/B00KLO4M9U
AMAZON UK- http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00KLO4M9U
B&N- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/holding-aces-nikki-groom/1119618503
KOBO- http://tinyurl.com/qjtsjj6
IBOOKS- http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id882792678
Review
False Name. False Life. False Sense of Security. For the past 18 months, that’s how Arianna has lived. As Natalie Jamesson, she thought she could escape her abusive past, and for awhile, she was able to pull it off until her self preservation wins out, and she finds herself running again. Unlike last time, she asks her old best friend, Lottie, for help, and Lottie tells her to head to Las Vegas and go to The Kingdom Hotel and Casino. As Ari hides out in the extravagant hotel, she’s able to reconnect with her mom and her best friend, which gives her a small sense of security for the first time in a long time, but there’s still a big part of her that worries that while her visible wounds may heal, her internal scars will always keep her second guessing every choice she makes. Ari doesn’t know if she’ll ever be able to move on from her abusive past; her negative thinking consumes her and prevents her from thinking her life could ever change for the better, but when she meets Denham King, it’s going to become his personal mission to heal Ari’s mind and her heart no matter how cautious she may be.
Denham King is the owner of The Kingdom Hotel and Casino; he exudes confidence, power, and sex. He wants Ari, but he also knows that he has to handle her with care because he knows about her past. The last thing Ari wants to do is jump into another relationship; she’s too broken and needs time to regain some confidence, but that doesn’t stop Denham from offering his help, and he doesn’t take no for an answer. The attraction between Ari and Denham is definitely there, but no matter what Ari’s body wants, she’s hesitant to give in, anticipating Denham showing his true colors and not actually being the caring and considerate man he appears to be. Each day that Denham treats her like a princess and takes care of everything she needs, though, her resolve slips and soon, Ari’s ready to give into the passion that smolders around them. Will Denham turn out to be just like the past two men in her life, or could he be exactly what she needs to move past her scars and heal?
Overall, I enjoyed Holding Aces. Both Ari and Denham are interesting characters, and the storyline kept me interested. There are a few twists that I would have liked to have seen further developed, but not knowing didn’t cause any gaps in the story. I also would have liked to have gotten a bit more back story on Denham, but hopefully, as his and Ari’s story continues, readers will gain further insight into how he became the man he did. I struggled with the whole insta relationship because Ari repeatedly said she needed to get herself back on track and take care of healing; I would have liked to have seen their connection slowly develop. She’s not even divorced yet and heading into a new relationship with a man she doesn’t even know; I didn’t feel like it fit Ari’s mental state, but maybe the saying “the heart wants what the heart wants” applies to how she feels about Denham, and she was only delaying the inevitable. I’ll warn you, this one ends in a cliffhanger, so be ready to impatiently wait to see how it all turns out.
I have to say for a debut text, Nikki Groom’s writing is solid. She definitely understands the craft, and as she continues to grow as a writer, the few concerns in Holding Aces will not be a factor in her upcoming stories, and I can’t wait to see how her stories and her writing evolve.
A copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
3.5/4 poison apples
Excerpt
“Good afternoon, Mr. King,” I say with a genuine smile in my voice.
“Ms. Jamesson.” He nods, his smug grin stretches across his cheeks and gives me the ‘I know you were checking me out’ look. “How are you finding your stay?”
“I’m enjoying it very much, thank you.” His eyes haven’t left mine and the corners crease making his handsome face softer. “I wanted to say thank you for breakfast this morning. It was very thoughtful of you. Extravagant, but thoughtful.”
“Good, I’m glad you enjoyed it. Will you be visiting the casino this evening?” He nods his head towards the casino doors.
“Oh, I don’t know. It’s not really my thing,” I say nervously with a shrug of my shoulders.
He leans ever so slightly towards me and his voice lowers to a soft growl. “And what exactly is your thing, Ms. Jamesson?” My heart rate spikes at the way his eyes burn into me, and my mind races with images of what my ‘thing’ could be. Every image involves him in one way or another, and I have no idea how he manages to do that to me.
“I…uh…” I seem to have lost the ability to form coherent sentences and I feel my face flush a little. He obviously finds my discomfort amusing as he’s looking at me with a sexy as hell grin plastered across his beautiful face and an eyebrow quirked as if he’s still waiting for my answer.
“I think the spa and salon would be more my thing. I’m not really a gambler. Anyway, I really need to be getting back to my suite, these bags are—”
“Please, let me take them for you.”
“It’s fine, I can manage, really.” I start to walk away, needing to get out of this space but not really wanting to. In the few encounters we have had, Denham King sends my mind into a spin, but he also makes me feel alive in my soul, and I’m not sure I’ve ever really felt that before. The mix of emotions is not productive to finding the solutions to my current problems. I really have to keep a clear head.
“You are a stubborn little lady, do you know that?” he calls out after me.
I stop and turn back towards him. He stands casually with his hands tucked into his pockets and wearing that smirk.
“And you’re very persistent, Mr. King. Do you know that?”
Playlist
Guest Post
Writing your first book is like being on the world’s biggest rollercoaster. It’s full of ups and downs, there are some really exhilarating times and there are others that make you want to be sick!
It’s not easy, and I never thought it would be. But, it fulfils my soul in ways I never imagined.
I never dreamt of being a writer, or aspired to be an author since I was small, although I did want to be a journalist while I was at school. I have always loved books and reading and when I found the online romance community it started an obsession that made me feel like I fit just right. I could waffle on all day about books I love, and characters that I’ve fallen in love with and no one would get bored and it meant hubby wouldn’t be falling asleep, dribbling on my shoulder at the mere mention of the words ‘book boyfriend’
So, I started to blog, and along the way I discovered that the authors I admire and consider my rock stars, are just normal (nearly), everyday people like you and I. They have families, jobs and commitments but write in their spare time because they can’t not do it. It’s in their veins. I thought how wonderful it must be to have such creativity flowing from them. I never understood when they would talk about the ideas that wouldn’t stop and the characters that actually speak to them. How cool would it be to have Jesse Ward whispering in your ear all day?!
Then one day, as I drove to my day job, a song came on the radio and a scene flashed through my head. Random, I thought. For the next few weeks, this scene got bigger, it morphed into a deep story and the characters started talking to me. It was like someone had switched something on in my brain. So, I started writing, and Holding Aces consumed the next few months of my life. When I wasn’t writing, I was thinking of plot twists and developing the characters in my head. It consumed me, and I’m not sure if I’ll ever be free of it and if I’m honest, I don’t want to be.
I never thought I would publish my story, I just knew I had to get it down. And here I am, with a story that I adore. It has a beautiful cover, that’s been professionally edited, proofed and formatted…and it’s published.
One word- Overwhelmed!
I don’t profess to be a literary genius or the world’s best writer. But if people read my story and enjoy the ride I take them on, then it’s a winner!
There have been tears along the way. I have been sick to my stomach with nerves, mostly the first time I let my fabulous betas read it. But it’s worth every minute.
I have learned so much from so many people and I learned a lot about myself too. The indie community is beyond supportive. There is always someone willing to help or offer advice.
So, to anyone wanting to write-Do it! It’s amazing.
But, don’t expect it to be an easy ride. It’s not!
Be cautious, but kind.
Remember anything negative you post on the internet can (and probably will) come back to bite you in the ass! Do not step on others to get to the top, there’s room for everyone!
Listen and learn.
Don’t lose yourself and don’t write to sell books. Write the story you want to write. I was told not to write my story with a cliff hanger. Well, I did just that!! I’m well aware that I will get slammed by some for it. It’s not for everyone. But, it was set that way in my head from the beginning and I don’t want to change it to appeal to the masses. I won’t compromise my story for the sake of popularity or sales. It’s MY story. Write YOUR story!
Find good, honest beta readers. They are worth their weight in gold. (Well, mine are anyway!)
Pay for professional editing, proofreading and formatting. If you can’t afford it, shop around. There are many editors out there that offer very reasonable rates. Editing is invaluable.
Reach out to the indie community and make lifelong friends.
Have FUN!
I am by no means a guru! But I’m always happy to chat and if I can help, I will!
Nikki
xx
About the Author
Nikki Groom is a hopeless romantic, lover of all things happily ever after and firm believer that love makes the world go around.
In her spare time, you will find Nikki laughing with her very treasured family, walking with her beloved dog in the hundred acre wood or curled up in a cosy corner with words and wine.
She lives in East Sussex with her husband and two children. Having turned her hand to many things over the years, Nikki is now proud to add ‘author’ to that list.
Having always been a dreamer, Nikki’s imagination stretches far and wide, which enables her to get lost in faraway places and imaginary people.
Nikki loves to chat, especially about books! You can find her here…
Facebook | Twitter | Email | Booktropolous Social | Goodreads
Giveaway!
Fairest Of All Book Reviews 