Born to Serve

Gambling for Love #1

by Caridad Piñeiro

Prince Alexander Ivanov is scrambling to save his reputation and his livelihood. One of the Russian Nights Casino’s hostesses has disappeared, and his business is suddenly under investigation by the FBI for associations with the mob and money laundering.
Special Agent Kathleen Martinez has no patience with rich, entitled aristocrats, especially one like Alexander Ivanov whom she believes is involved in the vicious human trafficking ring which she’d tried—and failed—to shut down two years earlier. With a second chance to bring him to justice, she goes undercover in the casino, but instead of facing the villain she expected, she finds herself battling a sizzling attraction to the man.

Now, forced to work together to trace the source of the illegal activities, the danger—and the passion between them—grows out of control, and they slowly begin to realize the biggest danger isn’t to the casino, it’s to their lives…and to their hearts.

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Romance, Contemporary Romance

352 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2012

About the author

Caridad Pineiro is a transplanted Long Island girl who has fallen in love with the Jersey Shore. When Caridad isn’t taking long strolls along the boardwalk, she’s also a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author with over a million romance novels sold worldwide. Caridad is passionate about writing and helping others explore and develop their skills as writers. She is a founding member of the Liberty States Fiction Writers and has presented workshops at the RT Book Club Convention, Romance Writers of America National Conference as well as various writing organizations throughout the country. You can connect with Caridad at www.caridad.com. You can also find Caridad on:

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Reviews

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Prince’s Gamble by Caridad Pineiro
Gambling for Love series #1. Romantic suspense.
FBI Special Agent Kathleen Martinez is determined to stop the illegal activities funneling through the Russian Nights Casino on the Jersey Shore. She tried once before but didn’t get the evidence needed. This time she’s going undercover. An employee is missing is and believed to be a victim of a human trafficking ring out of the casino.
Prince Alexander Ivanov swears he is innocent of any wrongdoing. He wants nothing to do with the Russian mob activities and he’s willing to work with the FBI to prove it. Neither he, nor Kathleen, expected the sizzling attraction between them. They will have to work around it to find the missing worker, whatever it takes.

Money talks as Kathleen goes undercover and Alexander finds himself picking out her clothes and jewelry.
Hearing his background on why he’s not involved and then meeting his younger sister cements Kathleen’s certainty of his innocence.
Time is of the essence in this suspenseful romance. I was impressed with how far both would go for this case.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Russian prince - the title is empty but the family seems to be wealthy - and his sister run a Jersey Shore casino. A female FBI agent who has experience in finding people traffickers, is sent to investigate this casino after allegations surface of money laundering and people trafficking.

The details of running the giant casino / shopping centre / hotel are well presented, though I would have liked to see more of the community outside it, which was later devastated by Hurricane Sandy.

While the romance is gradual in developing, because the special agent is treating the prince as a suspect, he is co-operating fully and is angered by the thought that someone is using his casino for ill deeds. We do get to like and respect him. Mainly the reason I am not giving this book more stars is that by starting a relationship with a suspect, the agent completely compromises the case and this seems entirely unprofessional and untypical behaviour for a woman whom we otherwise admire.

[Katie_la_geek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generally speaking I quite enjoyed this crime romance. The plot was nothing new and at times it was a little farfetched but I liked it.

What really made this book stand out are the characters. Kathleen is awesome and has everything I like to see in female characters. She is dedicated to her job and refuses to let anyone get the better of her. She is gutsy and brave and is not afraid to do the hard stuff needed in the pursuit of justice. I really liked her.

Alexander is a lot softer than Kathleen and wears his heart on his sleeve instead of closing himself off like her. He is just a proper nice guy who wants to make something of himself and protect his family. I really liked the romance between them and the sexual tension burned up the pages.

The Prince’s Gamble is an entertaining romance that I recommend to fans of the genre.

[Jennifer McCoy, YA Sisterhood · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Prince’s Gamble by Caridad Pineiro
eARC received from Entangled Publishing via Netgalley
Release Date: 2-12-2013
Reviewed by: Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say: Provacative and Steamy, but lacking memorability
I am a huge fan of romantic suspense novels, so I was looking forward to reading Caridad’s new book. This is the first book I have read by her, and although it kept my attention and entertained me, it mostly just fell flat.

I wanted romance that just blew me away, and while the steamy scenes were…well, steamy; the actual romance didn’t sell. I didn’t believe the attraction between Alexander and Kathleen. They met each other while Kathleen (FBI agent) was conducting an investigation, and supposedly, the attraction was immediate. However, it didn’t read truthful. I wanted to see them pine for each other, or atleast see them in situations where passion took over and they couldn’t control themselves. But all I got were bland statements like they “wanted” each other or the like. So, the attraction for me, was all speak and no show.

The action part of the story was well written. It kept my attention, and although predictable, it was still fast paced enough to be enjoyable. It was nowhere near on the level of the other romantic suspense books I have read, though. There was nothing that surprised me or kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering and waiting.

The most interesting character in the story was the Prince’s sister, Tatiana. She was just a minor character, but Caridad has set it up for her to have her own companion novel in the future. She was all attitude and spice, and I think I will enjoy reading more of her, and her love interest, Agent Roman. Agent Roman also captivated me. There was something secretive about him, and you know I like the secrets! I just wish I had felt this way about the main characters in this one. It’s just sad that I liked the minor characters more, especially when they had little to nothing to do with the main plot.

Overall, I was disappointed in this romance. It wasn’t that it was bad, in fact, there were many enjoyable parts, but it just wasn’t memorable. It’s not one that I will call my mom and sisters and tell them to read. If you like the slower romantic suspense, the ones with less guns and more talk, then you will probably enjoy this one. But, if you are like me, and are an action junkie, I would move on to the next one.

[Romancing the Book · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by: Nadene
Book provided by: Publisher
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book

First of all I must say I absolutely love romantic suspense novels and so when I read the blurb for The Prince’s Gamble I knew I had to read this book. This is my first time reading this author’s work and I was eager to discover how this story would develop. Unfortunately it did not have that WOW factor.

Alex Ivanov, the main male character, is a Russian Prince who owns and operates a casino in Las Vegas. He was from old money. Alex was hard working and was intent on proving that he did not need his family’s wealth to survive. He was a compassionate person and was always looking out for his staff and for those who were in need. Kathleen Martinez is a FBI agent who was hell bent on taking down Prince Alex Ivanov as she believed that he was somehow involved in human trafficking. Kathleen was a tough as nails female and she had no patience for the rich and famous as such she found her attraction to the prince quite puzzling. For some reason while reading about her I kept picturing Gracie Hart from the movie Miss Congeniality.

I felt that romance between Kathleen and Alex was a bit contrived. I believe that the path to their relationship could have been better developed. It went much too smoothly in light of the fact that they were both from different worlds. There was no insight as to how they were able to overcome their differences so that they could be together. The only thing that seemed to be going for them was the love scenes which were steamy and hot. The supporting casts were interesting especially Princess Tatiana (the prince’s sister) and Detective Peter Roman. It was obvious that there was a connection between these two and I hope that the author will give them their own story.

The storyline was good but it was severely lacking in suspense and as such did not leave me with that nail biting, on the edge of my seat feeling that is expected from this type of story. For me there were no twists to this story. The action was good which resulted in the story being fast-paced. The story was interesting enough to hold my attention from the beginning. The story was quite descriptive which made me feel that I was actually a part of the story and not just a bystander.

Overall this was an ok read. Although I was not completely impressed by this particular story I would still recommend it to readers who would find this type of story appealing.

[Julie G · Rating 2 out of 5]

I want to share an important note: Like Prince Alexander, Ms. Piñeiro is working to help rebuild the Jersey Shore. Proceeds from the sales of the book will be donated to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief fund ~ through March 1, 2013.

*~*~*

There isn't much I love more than losing myself in a good romance. Add in a little mystery or suspense, and I'm there. Unfortunately, despite its potential ~ Russian prince meets FBI agent with a vendetta against his family ~ I cannot say that The Prince's Gamble was a good romance or particularly suspenseful.

For me, the relationship between Alexander and Kathleen wasn't believable. I couldn't imagine them overcoming their differences, which were woefully underdeveloped, to be together. Sadly, even the steamy scenes were just ... so many words describing body parts. I simply didn't feel the passion.

As for suspense, I didn't - with the exception of scenes between Kathleen and Petrov - feel that, either. Again, so much potential ~ Russian mob, money laundering, human trafficking, casino, FBI ~ so little reward. There is no sense of urgency, no nail-biting gotta-find-out-what-happens-next intensity for which this imprint is famous.

Overall, the book reads as though word-count were the primary goal. Using ten words where three would suffice, it often uses those ten poorly. The writing is awkward, to this reader's ear: choppy, repetitive, stilted, and in need of judicious editing.

I believe that the story has incredible possibilities. All of the pieces are certainly there. But, with the exception of Tatiana and Peter, it simply fails to deliver anything memorable.

*~*~*

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary electronic copy of this book from the publisher . I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Melody May (What I'm Reading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted at What I'm Reading

For the past week I have been reading The Prince's Gamble by Caridad Piñeiro. I think I should share what the story is about and what I thought of the story.

Kathleen Martinez is an FBI agent who is called in to help find a missing hostess, Vanessa, from the Russian Nights. Prince Alexander Ivanov has no choice but to call in the FBI, because he has a fear that there might be more to the story and he needs the help.

Though this was a good read and the book description interested me. I personally had a hard with the book. However, I mean the writing was great, but just didn't grab me. I think I was looking for my suspense and nail-biting and I just didn't get it. I did enjoy the arrogance of the Prince and I did like Kathleen and her no-nosense attitude.

I don't think this book is for me. Or it might be I'm not really into suspense romance. However, I'm not going to cross off Caridad Piñeiro off my reading list, I think I might try something else. However, The Prince's Gamble might work you. So, if you are looking for something to read, you might want to try this out. Maybe I missed something. So, I leave you today and I hope you all have a great day.

Copy provided by publisher

[Star · Rating 3 out of 5]

FBI Special Agent Kathleen Martinez has no tolerance for the so-called elite of society after some were involved in a human trafficking ring she busted. She now paints them all with the same brush. This doesn’t bode well when she’s brought in on a case involving a Russian casino, a missing woman, money laundering, and Prince Alexander Ivanov. Prince Alexander is the one she believes was involved in her earlier case, so she’s not pleased to be forced to work with him. As much as they both try to deny the sparks between them and focus on the case, their (not-so-well) hidden passions may cause trouble for more than they realized.

I’m not sure if it was because 'The Prince's Gamble' is a relatively short story, but it seemed to me everything happened so quickly instead of a slow build-up. It’s my guess if an FBI agent had an attraction or potential relationship with a suspect or even a civilian assisting on a case, they’d be pulled off and a different agent would be put in charge. It seemed out of character for Kathleen to act in some of the ways she did during the latter half of the novel, but I liked her forthrightness and spunk. I liked most of the characters, especially Princess Tatiana (Alexander's sister), but they didn’t really stick with me after I finished the book. Overall, though, it was a sweet love story with some mystery as an undercurrent.

[My Book Addiction and More MBA · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE PRINCE'S GAMBLE by Caridad Pineiro is an exciting romantic suspense. A quick read full of passion and love. With a Russian Prince, the FBI, Russian mafia, money laundering,white slavery, prostitution, Las Vegas,casino,romance and love how can you go wrong. Follow, Special Agent Kathleen Martinez and Prince Alexander Ivanov on a fast paced,action packed adventure and danger. I love this author's stories and this was no exception. I can hardly wait to see if Peter and Tatiana will have a story of their own, in this high stakes adventure. A must read for anyone who enjoys fast paced action,intrigue,suspense and of course romance. Received for an honest review from the publisher. Visit the author's website,Entangled Publishing or My Book Addiction and More for more information on this title.


RATING: 4.5

HEAT RATING: MILD

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, My Book Addiction and More/My Book Addiction Reviews

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read several books by Caridad Piñeiro and she writes good cop. The Prince's Gamble is no different.

Russian Prince Alexander Ivanov has a missing hostess from his casino in Atlantic City, NJ. He has also discovered that someone may be using his casino to launder money. His honor and his business are at risk. The FBI in the person of Special Agent Kathleen Martinez is called in. She doesn't trust the hot Russian as far as she can throw him. As they work together to find the hostess and whoever is laundering money they find that people aren't always as you imagine them to be and in their case they may just be for each other.

This wonderful romantic suspense story is a quick intense story. The push pull of personalities and their responsibilities reflect a reality that is often missing from short romantic tales.

I was also humbled by Caridad Piñeiro and her pledge of her share of the profit from the sale of this book to the Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 stars (rounded to 4)

This was a quick, fun read with romance, action and some suspense. Both Kathleen and Alexander’s characters were well crafted with interesting histories and I loved the way they interacted with one another. The secondary characters of Princess Tatiana and Detective Peter Roman were great, and the groundwork that was laid out shows great promise for a future story about them.

Because of the way the timeline of the story was laid out, I did feel like the romance portion of the story was a bit rushed, which is why this didn’t quite get 4 stars from me, but other than that, Caridad Piñeiro always delivers a great book with interesting characters and great attention to capturing the location and atmosphere of the settings she uses. Another great read!

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piñeiro knows how to write a suspense novel. A somewhat tepid romance is eclipsed by the strong focus on the story line’s suspense and action filled scenes. Far from detracting from the plot, the sudden sexual tension between the characters instead enhanced the drama unfolding in this Atlantic City casino. Still, the ending… handsome Prince falls in love with hardworking commoner, was the stuff of fairytales, at least for this common Jersey girl.

Set in Atlantic City, NJ in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Piñeiro gives us a fast paced romantic suspense with engaging characters you can’t help but enjoy.

I was provided a copy of the book by BTS eMag for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review - all conclusions are my own responsibility.

[GONZA · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sorry but I didn't like it at all, I even didn't finished the book.

Mi spiace ma non mi è assolutamente piaciuto e non l'ho nemmeno finito

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND ENTANGLED PUBLISHING LLC FOR THE PREVIEW

[Jo-Ann Carson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sexy adventure. The suspense is tightly plotted keeping you on the edge of your seat, and the sexy romance is steamy. Pinerio did all this work and then she gave all the proceeds to victims of Hurricane Sandy. Pretty cool, heh.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable read from Caridad, loved Alexander! Very sexy & mysterious.

[Nadene (Totally Addicted to Reading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://romancing-the-book.com/2013/03...

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The FBI, Russian Mob, and slave traffickers. What more could you ask??? Oh, yes, a little love thrown in for good measure!!! I enjoyed the story and recommend the book.