3/5

I wonder how new books are chosen for libraries. I picked this one up pretty much at random and find it is the epitome of a ‘happily ever after’ story with nothing in it to disturb the reader. A simple, dull plot with a lot of it to do with poker and ending up with romance but no indication of any developing relationship. New in 2016, it looked unread until I read it – no wonder. ( )

Somehow I managed to totally lose this book shortly after it arrived..I'd won it in an Early Reviewers giveaway, so this review isn't exactly "early, as I just found the book again yesterday!! I'm quite glad I did. It was an interesting, quick read into the life of Kat, a hardened, single professional poker player whose best friend commits suicide, leaving behind a young boy and a request that Kat become his guardian while his father is unable to take care of him. While at times the book wasn't particularly well written, and as a whole it was a fairly predictable read, it nonetheless tugged at my heartstrings with likeable-yet-flawed characters and piqued my curiosity about the inside world of professional poker and the people who inhabit it. ( )

I think it might have helped if I knew something about playing poker. That's what the epic game of the title refers to: a poker tournament that starts with 1000 players and winnows it down to one who wins one million dollars. The player we are following is a young woman named Kat. She makes her living by playing poker and she doesn't want any other complications in her life. Then her best friend dies and Kat is asked to be the temporary guardian to her son. Poker and children don't really go together as Kat knows because her father was a poker player. For her friend and for a short while she figures she can manage to look after the boy. Once his father has picked him up she can go back to playing poker. But maybe she wants more?

This was a quick read (I guess that's why it is published as a Rapid Read by Raven Books) and it was okay if rather predictable. Plus there's that lack of knowledge about playing poker that meant I didn't grasp everything in the card games. ( )

A rather strange book, but addicting; you have to keep reading, The start of the story is not quite what is expected, but lures the reader in with its unexpected changes of direction.A lonely young lady, Kat, raised by an addictive poker player father begins to realize there is more to life when her best friend Jodie, possibly her only friend, dies and leaves her 10-year-old son David to be raised by her until his father is able to come from England to get him.

In the midst of training for an epic poker tournament, this is not going to help her win, or so she thinks. Life is often full of surprises and the life Kat is about to embark on is no different. This is a very unique book, not like any other I have read in the past. There are many elements to the story which bring about changes in Kat's lifestyle. A fast read, short but sweet and full of energy. I really enjoyed it. ( )