Tipping the Odds

by Sharla Wylde

Reed Kincaid found his sister’s best friend, Samantha, impossible to ignore from the moment he moved to Spring Valley. Though Samantha tempts wild, erotic thoughts in him, her clean-cut persona convinces him she would never fit into his chosen lifestyle. His solution—forget Samantha, move back to Dallas, and manage the Haven, a BDSM dungeon where he has been a member for years.

Samantha Dixon, the local florist, loved Reed’s engaging smile and dedication to his sister the moment he moved into town. Three years later, the stubborn man still refuses to notice her assets, except for her famous double fudge caramel brownies. His unusual lifestyle intrigues her. She wants to know more. Her solution—temporarily move to Dallas and attend a beginner’s class at the Haven.

Something’s gotta give.

WARNING: This e-book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and may be considered offensive to some readers.

Genres: Romance

116 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2019

Reviews

[Alejandra Guerrero · Rating 1 out of 5]

Everyone, every single character, is manipulative AF. What Sam does feels very invasive and if this was a guy pushing a relationship with a woman the same way Sam is, he would be called out. His family should stop the obsession Sam has with Reed, but instead they feed it and help her manipulate her way into his bed. Then again, his family doesn't seem to know the meaning of boundaries. From the mother who paid the fees for her children to start training in the BDSM lifestyle ON THEIR EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY, because she liked it, her children's opinion be damned (and, let's face it, they weren't in a position to reject what their mother was pushing on them, at eighteen years old), to the sister who discloses her brother's personal information with her friend in order to help her manipulate Reed, to Sam who pushes herself on Reed until she wears him down and he gives in, to Reed, who, for most of the book, uses sex to manipulate Sam into leaving him alone, nobody is remotely likeable. Everyone was either trying to manipulate Reed, like the secretary who spreads rumors and tries to manipulate Reed into her bed (poor Reed, every woman around him was out to use him, no wonder he was so jaded), or helping his mother and Sam manipulate him, like his “friend” who purposefully pushes his buttons to get a favorable reaction to Sam. For people who live a BDSM lifestyle, nobody seemed able to assertively communicate, nor to respect clearly stated boundaries. And let's not get into his cheater of a father (he was married to another woman when he got the mom pregnant) who also manipulated Reed into working for him without telling him who he was (but he's portrayed as “nice”; like hell, he's a liar and a cheater). His son Caleb, though, is portrayed as unreasonable when he gets angry at his father for having another family and cheating on his mom for decades. These people are horrible, poor Caleb; he was the only sane character in this book.

[Elena J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tipping the Odds by Sharla Wylde is a bold, emotionally charged romance that explores desire, trust, and the fine line between control and connection.

When Reed Kincaid leaves Spring Valley to manage The Haven, a Dallas-based BDSM club, he tries to put Samantha Dixon his sister’s best friend out of his mind. But Samantha isn’t the type to fade quietly into the background. Beneath her sweet, small-town charm lies a fierce curiosity and a willingness to discover what she truly wants.

Wylde writes with both heat and heart, crafting scenes that are as emotionally resonant as they are erotically charged. Reed and Samantha’s chemistry burns slow and hot built on mutual challenge, self-discovery, and the courage to bridge two very different worlds. The result is a sensual, character-driven story that blends vulnerability with raw passion.

Perfect for readers who crave intensity, emotional stakes, and sensual authenticity, Tipping the Odds goes beyond surface-level seduction to explore what it means to surrender not just in body, but in heart.

Fans of Fifty Shades of Grey, Crossfire, and Club Shadowlands will find themselves captivated by Wylde’s confident storytelling, her fully realized characters, and her unapologetic embrace of passion in all its complexity.

[Yvonne Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

First time reading a story by MS Wylde and thoroughly enjoyed it
The characters were alive and relateable
It was great seeing the love that Samantha had for Reed and the lengths she was willing to go to prove it
This story does contain BDSM references in it so be aware, however it is tastefully done
It is an enjoyable story about love reconciliation, forgiveness and family
Great work
Get your copy today

[Arthur Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tipping the Odds

So what happens now with both Reed and Rose? They both have found the ones they want to be with but is that it? I know that there are 2 more brothers/sons that are now available for their own stories and now that Sylvia and Shawn have decided to legitimize their 30+ years relationship, test too adds to the flavors. Will additional stories be coming out to continue the suspense? I hope so.

[Georgia Keane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never lied to you

Reed and Sam <3
For such a short read, this was perfect. It showed the intricacies of the BDSM lifestyle, of a man that was holding onto some baggage and not wanting to get close to the woman he was in love with.
A strong woman that took matters into her own hands to make the moves to get him to finally see what he had been missing.
Short and spicy and sweet. (With a secret tattoo)

[Elizabeth Munro]

I found the plot a bit juvenile to start. Samantha’s behaviour to me felt like a naive 16yo.