Dealer’s Choice

7 Stud Club #7

by Christie Ridgway

“A sizzling combination of heat and heart.” Barbara Freethy, #1 New York Times Bestselling AuthorHart Sawyer had it all…and lost it on one tragic deal of fate’s cards. As he learns to live with his grief, he also thought he’d learn to live alone for the rest of his life. Then, he finds himself locked away with caterer Sophie Daggett, the little sister of one of his best friends. With the unforeseen proximity an unexpected passion arises, complicating his vision of his future and putting at risk Sophie’s vow to find a man whose heart can be hers alone.Enjoy the 7-Stud Club! Seven poker night buddies who are very good with their hands…and are about to lose their hearts! Only great risk leads to great reward…The 7-Stud Club All In (Boone & Gemma)No Limit (Eli & Sloane)Ante Up (Cooper & Willow)Slow Play (Maddox & Harper)Wild Card (Rafael & Erin)Smooth Call (Shane & Delilah)Dealer’s Choice (Hart & Sophie)About the AuthorUSA Today Bestseller Christie Ridgway is the author of over 70 novels of contemporary romance. All her books are both sexy and emotional and tell stories of heroes and heroines who learn to believe in the power of love. Christie is a six-time RITA finalist and has won best contemporary romance of the year and career achievement awards from Romantic Times Book Reviews. A native of California, Christie now resides in the southern part of the state with her family. Inspired by the beaches, mountains, and cities that surround her, she writes tales of sunny days and steamy nights.

Genres: Contemporary

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 18, 2022

Reviews

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

All good things come to an end, and so has this wonderful series. This is one of those series, that now that it is finished, I will re-read straight through. Things have come full circle, back to Hart Sawyer, whose fiancee died in front of his eyes from a brain aneurysm two years earlier. Hart has been lurking in the background, going through the motions of life, while the rest of his friends have all found their other half. Meanwhile, also in the background has been little Sophie Daggett, who has had a crush on Hart since she was a kid, but she is Cooper's little sister, so he has always thought of her as such. She has decided to stop moaning over him and move on, while he suddenly starts to wake up and notices that she has grown up. Should he, the last of the Sawyers of Sawyer Breach start over somewhere else, leaving all his friends behind? Does he have anything left in him to offer a woman or the courage to risk loving again?

I can not think of a single book written by Christie Ridgway that I have not enjoyed. Wonderful characters, that the reader would like to befriend and believable plots . Bravo!

I read an ARC provided by the author's Facebook review group. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dealer’s Choice by Christie Ridgway just might be my favorite story of her 7-Card Stud series. It is a wonderful, sizzling story focusing on family, friendship, overcoming grief, sizzling chemistry, and magnetic attraction between Sophie Daggett and Hart Sawyer. Hart lost his fiancée two years ago; while he still attends the card games, he is still grieving and is lost. He is now has to decide whether to stay in Sawyer Beach, named for his ancestors, and continue to run or shake things up by starting over, somewhere else, and selling the company. Sophie had crushed on Hart, best friends with her brother, since she was a kid. Now the multi-talented and caring woman tried to find someone else to fill that hole of being wanted and loved with other men. After being accidently locked together in a shed, Hart notices Sophie, really notices her, as more than his friend’s little sister, that they share a connection, magnetic attraction, some major chemistry, and suddenly he is feeling alive once again; eating, winning at cards, and feeling positive about life. Spending time with Sophie, an unexpected passion arises within Hart, complicating his vision for his future and putting at risk Sophie’s vow to find a man whose heart can be hers alone. It takes a major, grand gesture for Sophie to forgive Hart for hurting her, for his confusion about his life vision, for proving that he truly loves her.

Ms. Ridgway is a wonderful story teller who wrote an emotionally rich and moving story filled with sizzling chemistry, clever banter, and endearing characters that is definitely not to be missed. I truly enjoyed watching the relationship between these two grow and seeing Hart return to the land of the living and falling for the delicious Sophie, who is truly his match. I highly recommend Dealer’s Choice to other readers and will miss reading about this group of friends.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have waited for Hart's story from the very first book and I am so happy to see he has finally got his HEA. And it just so happens to be Sophie, his best friends little sister.

Hart has known great heart ache after the passing of his fiancé due to an aneurysm. He never thought he could find love again or even thought he wanted to. Then comes along Sophie in all her cuteness and a dark shed that leads to a kiss out of this world that makes him change his mind, maybe. Can he be the man that Sophie needs in her life? Will his grief be too strong that he can never move on? Can Sophie be the one that can show him love is in his cards after all?

Sophie has had feelings for Hart ever since they were young and had always crushed on him. She never thought that those feelings can turn into something more. That a kiss in a dark shed could lead to so much more. Sophie thought she could keep her feelings from getting too serious but she couldn't stop that if she could, she falls hard and fast.

I am so excited to see Hart and Sophie find their way to each other, but I am sad to see the series come to an end. This was one of my most favorite series to date!

[Sharon Grow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hart Sawyer lost the love of his life two years ago; will he ever feel alive again? Sophie Daggert has loved Hart for years, but maybe it is time to let go and move on with her life. She along with his friends in the 7-Stud Poker Club has watched as he has grieved for Kim. When Hart finds himself locked in a shed with Sophie, Cooper’s little sister…at least he has always seen her as Coop’s little sister, but now she seems different. They share one kiss and he begins thinking of her in a totally different way. She gives so much of herself to her friends, her cooking classes, her part time catering and her work at Henry’s coffee shop. Why has he never seen her as a desirable woman? Is Hart finally going to get a second chance at love? Will he be able to convince her that she is not “second best”, but the woman he whole heartedly loves? Hot romance, updates on previous characters and a beautiful love story! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation from the author. (by paytonpuppy)

[Mary Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was both sad & excited to read this book. Sad, because this is the final book in Christie Ridgway’s great series about 7 poker playing friends in the fictional town of Sawyer Beach. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading ALL of them, but I was excited to finally, finally get Hart & Sophie’s story. Hart has been a shell of his former self, not really knowing how to go on after the death of his fiancé. We’ve watched him in all the previous books, trying to be happy for his friends as they all find their true loves while knowing he’d already lost his. And we’ve watched Sophie, the “little sister” of the group, wishing he could see her as something more than a friend. You certainly can read this book as a stand-alone, but I think you’ll enjoy it even more if you know all the other people involved. Of course we all knew these two would end up together eventually…but the story of how that happens is just awesome - great writing, characters and a big grand gesture for a happily ever after. I loved it!

[Melanie Holden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the last book of the 7-Stud Club series. Hart Sawyer has had a difficult time the last two years. He was engaged to Kim and just before the wedding she died very suddenly. He has been grieving ever since. Hart attends poker nights but can’t seem to find his way out of the grief. He is just numb. Sophie Daggert is Cooper’s younger sister. She and Hart have known each other since they were children but Hart doesn’t realize Sophie has had a crush on him for many years. After Kim died Sophie has wanted nothing more than to have Hart notice her as someone other than his friend’s little sister. She knows he has to go through the grieving process before he can notice someone else. Unfortunately, Hart is entertaining the idea of selling his business and moving away from Sawyer Beach. I loved all the characters in this series of books and this was definitely a fitting end.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dealer’s Choice (7-Stud Club Book 7) by Christie Ridgway is the story I have been waiting for in the 7-Stud Club series. A combination of second chance at romance and little sister to friend story I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. After two years, Hart Sawyer knows that a change needs to be made. Grieving over his late fiancée has stopped him from having any kind of real emotional life. It is time for healing to start but how to do it. This is his new story.

Well-written story with all the emotions for the characters and for me as the reader. I loved how all the couples from the previous books made appearances which helped to move this couple along. Worth the wait and a lovely ending to the series.

The publisher/author gave me a complimentary ARC of the book which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Anne Kulasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Hart is the last of the 7-Stud Club to find his HEA and he finds it with his best friend's not so little sister, Sophie. Hart lost his fiancée to a brain aneurysm right before their wedding and he's been trying to find his way out of his grief. Sophie has had a crush on Hart since a teenager which only grew stronger as she got older. She has always been there for Hart and now even more. With her help, she gets Hart to start living again and they find they cannot deny their intense chemistry any longer. Their connection is so hot it is combustible! This is a beautiful story of friends to lovers and HEA's. I highly recommend reading this book, you will not be disappointed. I'm sad to say goodbye to this series, but I cannot wait to see what is to come next.
I received an ARC copy, and this is my voluntary review.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the final book in the 7 Stud Club. Hart Sawyer lost his fiancée two years ago. He attends the card games but is still grieving and is lost. So now he is at a crossroads- sell the company and start over somewhere else? Or stay in Sawyer Beach named for his ancestors and continue to run the family company. He begins to see Sophie, his friends’ sister, in a new light and they have some hot chemistry. Weddings continue to go on and Hart and Sophie are thrown together. It takes him awhile but Hart finally gets it and a “messy, possible embarrassing gesture” happens which was swoony! Sorry to not read about these couples again. If you haven’t read the series, start it! Recommended! I received an arc for an honest review.

[Jennifer Artiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect ending to the 7-Stud Club series, with Hart and Sophie finally getting their HEA. Two years earlier, Hart lost his fiance in an auto accident shortly before their wedding, plunging him into a deep depression. Sophie had always had a crush on him, which had grown to love as she grew up. With the rest of the club members married or engaged, they are both feeling on the outside. He thinks moving away will help, and she takes on more and more projects to stay busy. He finally realizes running away won't fix anything and that Sophie is his true home. Highly recommended. I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ridgway left a very emotional book to wrap up this wonderful steamy and romantic series. I have waited for Hart's story since almost the first book and it was so worth the wait! Him being on the sideline as each of his friends found love was made so much worse by the heartache of him having lost his fiancee shortly before their wedding.

Sophie is such a sweet character. She has loved Hart from a distance for a long time and has finally decided she's got to move on because he still hasn't shown the least interest in her...until he does.

Lots of sizzle and tons of heart in this story. When Hart loves, he loves big!!!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

[Julia David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been waiting for Hart and Sophie’s story. How is Hart ever going to get over the death of his fiancée? Sophie had finally decided that she needs to move on and then all of a sudden Hart is paying attention to her. Hart can’t resist Sophie but knows that she needs someone who will give her his whole heart. He isn’t sure he has that in him anymore. Sophie has decided she will take Hart as he is and for as long as he wants her. He is thinking of moving away, so Sophie knows there is a shelf life on their relationship. Will Hart realize that he can give his all?

[Tina Todd shobe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hart has been struggling attempting to go through the motions of life while living with grief since he lost his fiancé Kim. Amy, has loved Hart forever and is finally realizing that there is no future there and needs to also move forward and discover what else life could offer her. Being locked in a shed together could change both their futures forever for the better if they're willing to take the risk.

This is a wonderfully written heartwarming story. I loved revisiting and catching up with the members of the 7 Stud Poker Club.

[Christyg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for a wounded hero and Hart is the epitome of this. He and Sophie were destined though, and the change of their long-time relationship was a joy to read. I enjoyed every minute of this book and was sorry to have it end. Christie Ridgway writes great characters and I feel connected to each one. I'm already looking forward to her next book. I received an advance copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've read the others in this series you've seen Sophie pining away for Hart, she's had a crush on him forever but he's her brother's best friend. Hart lost his fiancé tragically, his life went out of him too he was just existing until Sophie brings him to life again, but he doesn't know if he can match her vitality, she deserves everything. I have enjoy each read of this series, great friends, loyalty and healing.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love a good best friends sibling storyline and this is the book I've been waiting for in the 7-Stud Club series.
Sophie has waited a long time for Hart to see her as more than a "little sister". Now that he has, their chemistry is hot enough to burn the house down. These characters both deserve the best and it's about time they get their happily ever after.
I read an advanced copy of this book

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dealer’s Choice is my favorite of the 7 Stud Club stories. Anyone who has read the whole series has known of the tragedy that occurred to Hart’s fiancé. Hart has been lost in his grief for a long time while Sophie has been in love with him for years. When he finally sees her as more than a friend, he starts to overcome his sadness. Sophie was my favorite character. She knows what she wanted and went for it, even if it meant only having Hart for a short time. A great ending to a great series!

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was sweet, steamy and fun. It held my interest and I didn't want to put it down. This book can be read as a standalone story, though it is book 7 in the 7-Stud Club series. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad to see the series end, but Hart and Sophie’s story was an amazing ending! I can’t believe Hart really thought moving away would do anything for him! Sophie was afraid to let her crush continue and wanted to keep busy to get over it. Wrong move on bothering their parts. I’m so glad they figured out how to move on but still cling to where home really is.