Review: Ace of Diamonds

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Ace of Diamonds by Alta Hensley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nick...will you end up like Gatsby?  Completely used up and thrown away?  This book should not be read as a standalone.  It should be read in the order written.  I am a little surprised there are only three books in this series.  I guess I thought this because there are four suits in a deck of cards.  We went from Spades to Hearts, now to Diamonds.  The Clubs receive no love.  This conclusion for Lyriope and Nick is satisfying and brings the romance to a close.

First, I find it amusing after I posted on Facebook to the author about Nick being Gatsby, in this book, Nick is compared to Gatsby.  Second, I am very relieved to state that Nick does not end up like Gatsby.  Third, Lyriope is still a TSTL character and this book continues to demonstrate her lack of maturity and her dysfunctions. 

Lyriope's narrative for as a jaded middle age woman is both troublesome and annoying.  She tends to place herself in the worst of situations that make zero logical sense.  She is the quintessential damsel in distress who will always be a victim.  Nick has signed up for a life of getting her out of messes and protecting her.  Lyriope is so afraid of being like her mother.  News flash, "honey, you are like your mother, just a bit less ruthless and a ton more naive."  I cannot fathom why Nick is attracted to her at all.  I am with Cora.  Lyriope is a mistake for Nick but he seems happy to make this mistake.  I guess she is his "favourite mistake". 

Loathsome character aside, the train wreck that happens is hard not to watch.  I keep flipping the pages to see how much worse it can get.  Are there any surprises?  No.  Is it interesting?  Yes. Nick is blessed with good friends and employees who keep him from tipping over the edge. All of his friends will have their hands full keeping Lyriope from creating absolute chaos with her lack of impulse control.  Nick will need to rein her in and maybe his kinky side will help.

Why is this still a 3 star for me?  The kinky sexy is decent.  There are a couple of scenes that are erotically hot and a great tease.  Ms. Hensley can kick it up a notch when she wants to, in a story.  Lyriope's entry into the kink world is lovingly chaperoned by Nick.  There sexual chemistry is great and perhaps a foundation for them to build upon.  This erotic novel is recommended for kinky readers who like it dark and dysfunctional.  

* I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.