A Chip and a Chair by Cordelia Kingsbridge

It's time to lay all the cards on the table.

Detective Levi Abrams and PI Dominic Russo are reunited and more committed to each other than ever, but they can’t truly move forward with their lives until the serial killer who’s been tormenting them is behind bars. When a secret burial site is discovered in the desert with the remains of the Seven of Spades’s earliest victims, that goal finally seems within reach.

But just as the net is tightening, the neo-Nazi militia Utopia launches their master plan with a devastating act of terror that changes the landscape of Las Vegas forever. As Levi and Dominic scramble to prevent the city’s destruction, they’re opposed by treacherous forces that propel them toward catastrophe. In the end, Levi’s fate may rest in the hands of the very killer he’s been hunting.

The race to save Sin City is on, and these players are going for broke. No matter how hopeless things seem, as long as they’re together and they’ve got a chip to play and a chair to sit in, they’re still in the game.

Book 5
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars
M/M Thriller
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Loved the ending of this story. It's fast paced and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

We have a bomb threat, a bomb explosion, and targeting of high level officials to send Las Vegas in to a tizzy.

Levi is still reeling from trying to figure out who the Seven of Spades killer is, but so happy that he and Dominic are back together. Dominic is still struggling with his addiction to gambling, but he's getting stronger every day. Showing his weakness (or his perceived weakness) to Levi is difficult for Dominic.

When a white supremacist group starts targeting Las Vegas, because Levi is a hated person by the group, it invites Seven of Spades right to their doorstep.

So, racing against the clock that belongs to bombs to blow up Las Vegas, Levi comes face-to-face with his taunter. It was a surprise and an amazing one at that. I did want something more from their interactions. Their interaction was less than what I was thinking it would be.

Anyway, the conclusion is well written and Levi and Dominic get to see whether or not they are strong enough to stand the test of time.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆☆
In the fifth and final instalment of Cordelia Kingsbridge’s Seven of Spades series, Levi and Dominic have their relationship back on track but the hunt for the Seven of Spades continues.

I’ve had a prime suspect in mind since about book two. Early on in A Chip and a Chair, the characters discuss their top suspects and my suspect wasn’t on the list and the list included a person I hadn’t even considered. When the killer’s identity was eventually revealed I made such a loud exclamation of shock that my husband came in from the other room to see what was wrong. I’m happy to say my prime suspect was innocent and other theories I had were wrong. I loved that I was so surprised. It is great that after years of reading and watching crime shows and reading murder mysteries that I can still be shocked. It was thrilling.

But this story has more going on than our serial killer. Neo-Nazi group Utopia are causing havoc in Vegas and between them and the Seven of Spades, this story is full of tension, action and excitement. I was on the edge of my seat and I was repeatedly shocked by revelations and events.

A Chip and a Chair is a sensational book and a perfect ending to the Seven of Spades series. It was even better than I imaged it would be. This is one of the best series I've ever read and I know it is one I’ll re-read again and again.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
It’s over! This is the long-awaited finale to the Seven of Spades books and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. After four books, I was no closer to guessing the identity of the Seven of Spades than I was at the start of book one.

It’s difficult to comment more on this story without revealing any spoilers. The pace of this last book is frantic. At the start of the book, the city of Las Vegas is caught between escalating violence from a white supremacist group and the Seven of Spades’ twisted vigilante justice. There were a few moments where I wanted roll my eyes at some of the extreme terrorism but when I readjusted my perspective and considered some of the recent events in the US, the scenarios didn’t seem quite as unlikely.

The identity of the Seven of Spades is revealed halfway through the book and I have to admit I had a complete WTF moment where my brain scrambled to catch up. Without spoilers, the big reveal works, and I love that circumstances force Levi and Dominic to work with the Seven of Spades for the rest of the book.

The last half of the book is wonderfully twisted. Morality blurs into shades of grey as Levi, Dominic, and their allies race against the clock to save their city. They need the Seven of Spades and Levi finds his personal moral code seriously compromised at times. This is an exciting read and it’s a wonderfully satisfying conclusion to a fabulous series.

Also Available in the Seven of Spades Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

For reviews & more info, check out our Kill Game post.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

For reviews & more info, check out our Trick Roller post.

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

For reviews & more info, check out our Cash Plays post.

Book 4
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

For reviews & more info, check out our One-Eyed Royals post.

Cordelia Kingsbridge has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh, but quickly discovered that direct practice in the field was not for her. Having written novels as a hobby throughout graduate school, she decided to turn her focus to writing as a full-time career. Now she explores her fascination with human behavior, motivation, and psychopathology through fiction. Her weaknesses include opposites-attract pairings and snarky banter.

Away from her desk, Cordelia is a fitness fanatic, and can be found strength training, cycling, and practicing Krav Maga. She lives in South Florida but spends most of her time indoors with the air conditioning on full blast!

Connect with Cordelia

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Blog  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of A Chip and a Chair (Seven of Spades #5) by Cordelia Kingsbridge to read and review. Veronica reviewed her personal copy of the book.

One-Eyed Royals by Cordelia Kingsbridge

Spoiler Alert! The following blurb contains spoilers for Cash Plays, book three of Seven of Spades.

Shattered by their devastating breakup, Detective Levi Abrams and PI Dominic Russo find themselves at war right when they need each other most. While Dominic is trapped in a vicious cycle of addiction, Levi despairs of ever catching the Seven of Spades. The ruthless vigilante’s body count continues to climb, and it’s all Levi can do to keep up with the carnage.

When Levi’s and Dominic’s paths keep crossing in the investigation of a kidnapping ring with a taste for mutilation, it feels like history repeating itself. Thrown together by fate once again, they reluctantly join forces in their hunt for the mastermind behind the abductions.

But the Seven of Spades hates sharing the spotlight, and they have an ace in the hole: a new batch of victims with a special connection to Levi. Their murders send shockwaves through Las Vegas and change the rules of the game forever.

The Seven of Spades has upped the ante. If Levi and Dominic don’t play their cards right, they’ll end up losing everything.

Book 4
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars
M/M Thriller
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Levi is on the case again for the Seven of Spades killer. But he's also hot on a trail of a new mystery when a blast from his past knocks him back and off the cases. His fury is difficult for him to contain and when he is struggling, despite their differences, Dominic comes to be by his side.

Dominic is still struggling. He knows that he is, but denial has a strong place in his life right now. When his case and Levi's case throw them together, anger sometimes wins out. They never struggled in their physical connection, but Dominic knows that he's burned most of the bridge he had with Levi.

This is a fast-paced continuation of the story and it did not disappoint. I am so excited for more. Without giving anything away, I'll say that this has twists and turns that you can't see coming. It can be read in one sitting – which it was for me, because I just couldn't put it down!

Pick this up and read it today! Make sure you've read the previous books in the series, as it will be much better.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
I love this series but I’m not quite sure I was ready for this book. Between Levi and Dominic’s messy and emotional break up, the Seven of Spades’ escalating violence, and Dominic’s struggle with addiction, this definitely isn’t an easy read.

In this fourth book, Levi and Dominic are both at absolute rock bottom in their personal lives. Both men are self-destructing and even when they need each other, they struggle to work together. This is the grittiest of the books, but I like that we get to see real growth in both men – and in their relationship.

Like the previous books, this one moves quickly and the overarching plot continues to get even more complicated. The mind games get more twisted and the violence gets more graphic in each book and there were a couple of scenes in this one that pushed my tolerance for gore. I really enjoyed the complexity of this story and I love how it moved the series forward.

I’m torn about where this series is going. I’m ready for the Seven of Spades case to end in the next book – but I really don’t want to say goodbye to Levi and Dominic yet. I’ve come to love them both and I really love their friends, family, and colleagues. The Vegas setting continues to work beautifully.

Also Available in the Seven of Spades Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

For reviews & more info, check out our Kill Game post.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

For reviews & more info, check out our Trick Roller post.

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

For reviews & more info, check out our Cash Plays post.

Cordelia Kingsbridge has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh, but quickly discovered that direct practice in the field was not for her. Having written novels as a hobby throughout graduate school, she decided to turn her focus to writing as a full-time career. Now she explores her fascination with human behavior, motivation, and psychopathology through fiction. Her weaknesses include opposites-attract pairings and snarky banter.

Away from her desk, Cordelia is a fitness fanatic, and can be found strength training, cycling, and practicing Krav Maga. She lives in South Florida but spends most of her time indoors with the air conditioning on full blast!

Connect with Cordelia

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Blog  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of One-Eyed Royals (Seven of Spades #4) by Cordelia Kingsbridge to read and review.

Cash Plays by Cordelia Kingsbridge

In this game, the stakes are life or death.

The Seven of Spades is back with a vengeance — the vigilante serial killer has resumed their murderous crusade, eluding the police at every turn. But a bloodthirsty killer isn’t the only threat facing Sin City. A devious saboteur is wreaking havoc in Las Vegas’s criminal underworld, and the entire city seems to be barreling toward an all-out gang war.

As Detective Levi Abrams is pushed ever closer to his breaking point, his control over his dangerous rage slips further every day. His relationship with PI Dominic Russo should be a source of comfort, but Dominic is secretly locked in his own downward spiral, confronting a nightmare he can’t bear to reveal.

Las Vegas is floundering. Levi and Dominic’s bond is cracking along the seams. And the Seven of Spades is still playing to win. How many bad hands can Levi and Dominic survive before it’s game over?

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆☆☆
Cash Plays is book #3 in the Seven of Spades series and I can already say this is going to be one of my favourite series ever! I am totally and completely in love with Dominic and Levi. Their relationship becomes more serious and Dominic gets to meet Levi’s parents when they come to town. Levi’s parents are good value with big personalities. But as the story goes on, problems arise between them when work sends Dominic on a downward spiral, and even though I knew Dominic’s troubles were coming, it still killed me.

The relationship issues combined with Levi’s search for the Seven of Spades killer, a gang war in Vegas, and Dominic’s hunt for a missing college student combine to make a gripping story that I loved every minute of, even when my heart was being squeezed uncomfortably when our heroes where doing things that were clearly not going to end well. There is plenty of action in the story and I have to say I hope at some point this series is made into a movie because I’d love to watch Levi’s fight scene brought to life.

Three books into what will be a five-book series, I have a few ideas about who the serial killer might be, but I think they might be too obvious. I want to go back and re-read the series so far before the release of One-Eyed Royals in September (book #4), to see if I’ve missed any obvious clues. Also, I’m totally enamoured with the series and I just want to read it over and over again.

A tip for readers impatiently waiting to get your hands on Cash Plays or any future books in this series, if you pre-order these books directly from the publisher (Riptide Publishing), they give you access to download the book 48 hours before the release.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars
M/M Thriller
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

WHEW! This is a nail biter and mostly because you can see the train wreck coming and there is nothing you can do to stop it!

If you're new to these books, make sure you start at the beginning, as you'll not want to miss anything that leads up to this one.

Dominic and Levi have a great relationship. They just click and even though there are some darker aspects to Levi's personality that he doesn't like to talk about or acknowledge, Dominic is able to keep Levi level headed.

Levi's still being stalked by the Seven of Spades serial killer, but now, with the FBI involved, he has to be content with the agent thinking he's capable of becoming a serial killer and hitting on his boyfriend. While Levi is having a difficult time coping with the murders, the gangs of Vegas gearing up for an all-out war, and his own personal feelings about his tendencies and what he's capable of, Dominic is nowhere to be found. Levi is just doing his job as best he can, but without Dominic to help level him out, Levi is kind of drowning.

Dominic is now a PI. One of his first solo cases is searching for a college co-ed who seems to have disappeared. What he finds is a situation that not only tests him professionally, but also tests him on a deeply personal level. He finds himself in a situation that not only he's unable to walk away from, but it sucks him right back in whenever he thinks he can try to remove himself.

This is an emotional read and even though you know what's happening, you can't help but be sad when things do hit the fan. Will Dominic and Levi find level ground again? Is the killer as close as he seems? I cannot wait for the next book as I believe more questions will be answered and hopefully more will be asked. I am anxiously waiting to read book four.


Sarah – ☆☆☆
The third book in the Seven of Spades series takes readers into the gangster underbelly of Las Vegas.

This isn’t my favourite book in the series. I enjoyed the action scenes but I’m not sure the book really pushes the series forward. We don’t get much closer to the identity of the Seven of Spades and Levi and Dominic’s relationship is in an uneasy holding pattern that I found frustrating. After all of the character and relationship development in the second book, I was disappointed to get pared down versions of Levi and Dominic in this book.

I finished the story feeling like it was way too short – but at over three hundred pages, it really isn’t. I just missed the more intellectual side to the investigation into the identity of the Seven of Spades and I was hoping for more of Levi and Dominic’s personal and family life.

I’m still hooked on this series but I’m hoping the next book is more like book two.

Also Available in the Seven of Spades Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

For reviews & more info, check out our Kill Game post.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

For reviews & more info, check out our Trick Roller post.

Cordelia Kingsbridge has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh, but quickly discovered that direct practice in the field was not for her. Having written novels as a hobby throughout graduate school, she decided to turn her focus to writing as a full-time career. Now she explores her fascination with human behavior, motivation, and psychopathology through fiction. Her weaknesses include opposites-attract pairings and snarky banter.

Away from her desk, Cordelia is a fitness fanatic, and can be found strength training, cycling, and practicing Krav Maga. She lives in South Florida but spends most of her time indoors with the air conditioning on full blast!

Connect with Cordelia

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Blog  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Cash Plays (Seven of Spades #3) by Cordelia Kingsbridge to read and review.

Trick Roller by Cordelia Kingsbridge

It’s the height of summer in Las Vegas. Everyone believes the serial killer Seven of Spades is dead—except Levi Abrams and Dominic Russo—and it’s back to business as usual. For Levi, that means investigating a suspicious overdose at the Mirage that looks like the work of a high-class call girl, while Dominic pursues a tough internship with a local private investigator. The one bright spot for both of them is their blossoming relationship.

But things aren’t so simple. Soon Levi is sucked into a dangerous web of secrets and lies, even as his obsession with the Seven of Spades intensifies. Dominic knows that Levi isn’t crazy. He knows the Seven of Spades is still out there, and he’ll do anything to prove it. But Dominic has his own demons to battle, and he may be fighting a losing war.

One thing is certain: the Seven of Spades holds all the cards. It won’t be long before they show their hand.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars
M/M Romance, Thriller
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Levi and Dominic continue on with their newish relationship. This is a relationship that is full of potential. They are kind and gentle with each other and, despite their obvious differences in personality, they simply mesh.

Dominic struggles with his addiction and despite being sober for two years, the constant temptation is there. When he is helping Levi with the Seven of Spades case, Dominic comes to a few realizations about his addiction – he needs to be careful in his new endeavor, but he doesn't want to give it up.

Levi is still considering the possibility that the Seven of Spades killer is still alive and well. While working a case, it becomes more and more clear that someone else is pulling strings in the department. Even his partner isn't convinced that Levi is correct and so there is tension in that relationship.

This story was less about Levi and Dominic's relationship and more about the people surrounding their lives. Everyone is a potential target and when things start to become more suspicious, both Dominic and Levi must ensure that everyone around them is safe. What little we see of the relationship in the book and the quick interruption of Levi's first love were minor in terms of what I felt was the heart of the story. It seemed that this was more about Levi needing Dominic's support and Dominic knowing that Levi would do anything or everything to make sure that Dominic wouldn't let him drown in his addiction ever again.

The book most definitely ends in a cliff hanger and I can't wait to read the next one!


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆☆
So it is three months on from the end of the Seven of Spades case. Levi and Dominic have been dating and taking things slow so Levi can deal with his breakup from Stanton. On the professional front, Dominic is interning to become a PI and Levi and Martine are investigating a murder.

I was pulled into this story from the very start and with so much going on I was never bored. I didn’t want to put the book down even when I had to – I just wanted to stay with the story. I love the way the romance is developing between Dominic and Levi and I’m pleased their love story isn’t being rushed. I also loved following Levi and Martine’s murder investigation and trying to figure out who did it.

Trick Roller is an exhilarating read. All through the book I felt like the story was leading up to something and wholly wow was it ever! When I finished reading Trick Roller, my heart pounding and I was on a book high for hours. I can’t wait for the next book, Cash Plays, which is due out on 30 April.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
I love this series! In this second book, Levi and Dominic are finding their feet as a couple. Levi is investigating a new murder while Dominic trains as a private investigator. But the Seven of Spades hasn’t forgotten them, and things quickly get complicated when their cases overlap.

There isn’t quite as much action in this second story, but it is still fast paced and exciting. I found the investigations easier to follow this time. I liked the way that the overarching Seven of Spades case plays against the current investigations in this book. So far, neither of these books has been a cliffhanger but the Seven of Spades remains a constant threat – and a source of vigilante justice.

Three months on from the first book and Levi and Dominic are a committed couple. There is less romantic angst here and I really enjoyed the character and relationship development as Levi and Dominic settle into each other.

After two books, I am completely hooked on this series. I love the mix of action, suspense, and romance and I really love both Levi and Dominic.

Also Available in the Seven of Spades Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

For reviews & more info, check out our Kill Game post.

Cordelia Kingsbridge has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh, but quickly discovered that direct practice in the field was not for her. Having written novels as a hobby throughout graduate school, she decided to turn her focus to writing as a full-time career. Now she explores her fascination with human behavior, motivation, and psychopathology through fiction. Her weaknesses include opposites-attract pairings and snarky banter.

Away from her desk, Cordelia is a fitness fanatic, and can be found strength training, cycling, and practicing Krav Maga. She lives in South Florida but spends most of her time indoors with the air conditioning on full blast!

Connect with Cordelia

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Blog  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Trick Roller (Seven of Spades #2) by Cordelia Kingsbridge to read and review.

Kill Game by Cordelia Kingsbridge

Homicide detective Levi Abrams is barely holding his life together. He’s reeling from the fallout of a fatal shooting, and his relationship with his boyfriend is crumbling. The last thing he’s prepared for is a serial killer stalking the streets of Las Vegas. Or how he keeps getting thrown into the path of annoyingly charming bounty hunter Dominic Russo.

Dominic likes his life free of complications. That means no tangling with cops — especially prickly, uptight detectives. But when he stumbles across one of the Seven of Spades’s horrifying crime scenes, he can’t let go, despite Levi’s warnings to stay away.

The Seven of Spades is ruthless and always two moves ahead. Worst of all, they’ve taken a dangerously personal interest in Levi and Dominic. Forced to trust each other, the two men race to discover the killer’s identity, revealing hidden truths along the way and sparking a bond neither man expected. But that may not be enough to protect them.

This killer likes to play games, and the deck is not stacked in Levi and Dominic’s favor.

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars
M/M Thriller Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

This is the first book in the series and I was not disappointed. It is fast paced, has a lot going on, but comes together in a way that doesn't seem predictable.

Levi is trying to get over his officer involved shooting (OIS) and knows that despite his feelings, he still has a job to complete. Even with his OIS hanging on him like a guilty weight, when there is a string of murders all linked with a common MO, Levi and his partner race to figure out who will be next and why.

Levi's personal life is somewhat in disarray. His partner of a few years... well, let's just say that I really disliked Levi's partner and thought he was a whiny toddler who simply wanted what he wanted and didn't really care about Levi the way a true partner should. I also thought that Levi's parents were somewhat annoying and not truly necessary in the story.

Dominic is a recovering addict, ex-Ranger, and now he's a bounty hunter. He loves his job and knows that it allows him to feel a similar rush that his addiction allowed. When his path crosses Levi's again, he appreciates the packaging and knows that if it were a different time and place, he would be all over Levi.

I thought that the mystery in this story was fantastic and loved feeling like I was racing against the clock. I can't wait to see what happens next and whether or not Dominic's friends will become a more integral part of the next books.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
This year I'm all about books that mix crime solving and romance and Kill Game was right up my alley. Detective Levi Abrams and bounty hunter/bartender Dominic Russo inhabit the same world when we meet them. Levi is in a long term committed relationship that is starting to fall apart. Dominic is single and his big Italian family is keen to see him settle down. Dominic gets caught up in Levi's investigation in the Seven of Spade's killer when he discovers one of the victims.

Kill Game is a well paced story. We get time in Levi and Dominic's personal lives as well as their professional lives. I feel like we are just only getting to know them and that there is still plenty more to learn about these two as people.

The criminal investigation is intriguing and doesn't get bogged down in too much detail. For me finding the serial killer was just as exciting as the slowly developing relationship between Levi and Dominic.

This is the first book in the Seven of Spades series and when Kill Game came to a close, there was still so much more to know and I can't wait to see where this series goes. So I don't forget the release, I've already hit Riptide Publishing to pre-order book #2, Trick Roller.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
Oh wow! This is a fast-paced thriller that I read in a single sitting. I couldn’t put it down. The story is familiar – a slightly maverick police detective hunts a cunning serial killer – but it is the brilliant characters and the perfectly paced plot that make this story special.

I loved the characters. Levi, an obsessive Las Vegas police detective, leads the hunt for the Seven of Spades killer with the help of his partner, Martine. At first, Levi feels a little too familiar. He is a great cop, but his personal life is a mess. But it is the details that make him special. He isn’t maudlin or self destructive in a Harry Hole/Kurt Wallander kind of way – he’s just a bit lost and a bit trapped. I loved his slightly lax Judaism. His slightly stifling parents. His surprising Krav Maga skills. He is a character I want to know better and I’m so glad he has his own series.

Like Levi, Dominic is an equally complicated character. He’s a bartender and a bounty hunter. He’s a reformed gambling addict who lives in Las Vegas. He’s a former Army Ranger and we only get to see a glimpse of his skills when he starts working with Levi. Again, I found Dominic fascinating and I can’t wait to see him develop with the series.

I don’t want to give any of the story away, but I love the way this first book unfolded (though I was furious with the cliffhanger ending). Readers flip from Levi’s official investigation to Dominic’s more flexible personal investigation. I loved their different approaches and I loved the way their skills complemented each other. The story is perfectly paced – it doesn’t slow and my attention didn’t waver.

I loved this book so much – but I’m still a little annoyed that I have to wait for at least another book before I can know the identity of the Seven of Spades...

Cordelia Kingsbridge has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh, but quickly discovered that direct practice in the field was not for her. Having written novels as a hobby throughout graduate school, she decided to turn her focus to writing as a full-time career. Now she explores her fascination with human behavior, motivation, and psychopathology through fiction. Her weaknesses include opposites-attract pairings and snarky banter.

Away from her desk, Cordelia is a fitness fanatic, and can be found strength training, cycling, and practicing Krav Maga. She lives in South Florida but spends most of her time indoors with the air conditioning on full blast!

Connect with Cordelia

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Blog  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Kill Game (Seven of Spades #1) by Cordelia Kingsbridge to read and review.

Can't Hide from Me by Cordelia Kingsbridge

Running into your ex is hard enough without a dangerous stalker in the mix.

Charles Hunter’s team is on a mission to extract an unidentified ATF agent from an undercover job gone wrong. All they’ve got to go on is the rendezvous location — until Charles recognizes the ex he hasn’t seen in years. Their “simple rescue mission” is about to get a lot more complicated.

For Ángel Medina, adjusting to life after his cartel nightmare is hard enough without confronting memories of a failed relationship. All he wants is a fresh start. But when a violent stalker lashes out from the shadows, Ángel realizes his nightmare is far from over.

As the stalker’s obsession escalates and bodies start dropping, Charles and Ángel are thrown together in a desperate search for the culprit. Tempers flare and old passions reignite, drawing them back into the same turbulent relationship that once ended in disaster.

But the stalker isn’t letting go — and the next strike might hit straight through the heart.

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angie – ☆☆☆☆☆
Once I started this book I didn’t want it to end, but then I kept putting it down so I could make it last. There is so much chemistry between Charles and Ángel and you can feel it the entire time. The sex was super hot too! The anger and tension was a bit much at times, but it is like that in real life too so it wasn’t an issue for me. With all the crap happening, I honestly didn’t know “who done it” until I was reading it and then I was thinking “are you kidding me?” Poor Ángel couldn’t catch a flipping break!!! I loved the book and would like to see additional books about the secondary characters, this might be a re-read book for me in the future.

Characters: Well written and believable
Sex: Yes, so hot!
Religious: No
Would I recommend to others: Yes
More than one book in the series: Not sure
Genre: M/M
Would I read more by this author: Yes


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
Charles and Ángel are ATF agents who are brought together after two years apart when Charles and his team extract Ángel from an undercover assignment. Charles and Ángel have a history that has left each of them angry. They are thrown back together for work, and even with unresolved issues hanging between them, they can't keep their hands off each other. This book gives us some very hot scenes.

Ángel's stalker is gets more brazen as time goes on. While a few red herring were thrown up, I thought it was obvious who the stalker was and I was a little disappointed that I was right. But it made sense and the final chapters of the story are thrilling, on the edge of your seat stuff. I thought briefly we were going to get a cliffhanger and I was getting nervous, but the story ends really well.

I do love reading books that combine a crime story with romance and Can't Hide from Me is excellent and just what I want. If the author writes more stories like this, I'll be lining up to read them.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
I’m pretty sure there isn’t a single moment of realism in this book but undercover ATF agents, a dangerous drug cartel, and a crazed stalker make for an exciting story. Hunter and Ángel are complex characters and I enjoyed unravelling the long, complicated and often ugly history between these two men.

Hunter is a relatively straightforward closeted alpha male federal agent. His team is entertaining even if the team members aren’t entirely believable as federal agents. Ángel adds interest to the story. After a long-term undercover operation, his cover is blown and his loyalties are highly questionable. I loved the way he was written – I was drawn to him, I wanted to like him, but I found it almost impossible to trust him.

This isn’t a hearts and roses romance. The sex between Hunter and Ángel is hot but neither man is relationship material. Their history is ugly and their current relationship isn’t much better. While not much fun, the relationship is at least believable until a sticking plaster happily ever after is slapped on at the end of the story.

The suspense element of this story plays out better than the romance. Even though I guessed the identity of Ángel’s stalker early on, the tension in this story builds from the beginning with a tangle of subplots that kept me guessing all the way through. Again, this is entirely fictional and I had to suspend my disbelief at the start before I could enjoy the story – but I did find myself caught up in the action and loving the drama.

Cordelia Kingsbridge has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh, but quickly discovered that direct practice in the field was not for her. Having written novels as a hobby throughout graduate school, she decided to turn her focus to writing as a full-time career. Now she explores her fascination with human behavior, motivation, and psychopathology through fiction. Her weaknesses include opposites-attract pairings and snarky banter.

Away from her desk, Cordelia is a fitness fanatic, and can be found strength training, cycling, and practicing Krav Maga. She lives in South Florida but spends most of her time indoors with the air conditioning on full blast!

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Can't Hide from Me by Cordelia Kingsbridge to read and review.