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Know when to show your hand...and when to hedge your bets. Special Delivery, Book 2.Randy Jensen can't stand to just sit by and watch as a mysterious man throws money away on the roulette wheel, especially since Randy's got his own bet going as to the reason this guy is making every play like it's his last day on earth. The man's dark desperation hits Randy right in the gut. Half of him warns that getting involved is a sucker's bet, and the other half scrambles for a reason—any show more reason—to save the man's soul. Ethan Ellison has no idea what he's going to do with himself once his last dollar is gone—until Randy whirls into his life with a heart-stealing smile and a poker player's gaze that sees too much. Randy draws Ethan into a series of wagers that leads to a scorching kiss by midnight, but he isn't the only one with an interest in Ethan's vulnerability. Soon they're both taking risks that not only play fast and loose with the law, but with the biggest prize of all: their hearts. This book has been previously published and has been revised from its original release.
Warning: This story contains high-stakes poker, gangsters with a weakness for kittens, foursomes, and kinky consensual sex.
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The second book in the Special Delivery series, but I read it last, which I think messed up the reading experience, honestly. I said I thought that might be the case when I reviewed the third book in the series, and I'm even more sure of it now. My experience with romance series before has been that the characters from previous books might pop their heads in to later books and that reading them in order enriches while reading them out of order does not confuse. But in this series the characters from the first book are very much part of the emotional arc of books two and three, and I should have read them in order. I've given a half star "back" to my rating for this one above my gut feeling because I think many of the problems I had with show more the story were my fault for reading out of order.
All that said, this is Randy and Ethan's story. Randy works part time in a Las Vegas casino and spots a man on the monitors at the roulette table he's sure is down on his luck and down to his last dollar. On a bet, he intervenes, and he and Ethan find an emotional connection immediately. Eventually Randy's boss at the casino maneuvers Ethan into a job putting the casino back on its feet. All manner of emotional fallout, poker playing, and out-maneuvering the Vegas gangsters of old ensues. I got a little restless midway through with the maneuvering, but I probably would have been happier to sit still for it if I weren't expending so much energy trying to piece character stuff together out of order or remember what we know already about certain people but what we don't (because I'd already read book three). Recommended if it sounds like your cuppa, but read 'em in order! show less
All that said, this is Randy and Ethan's story. Randy works part time in a Las Vegas casino and spots a man on the monitors at the roulette table he's sure is down on his luck and down to his last dollar. On a bet, he intervenes, and he and Ethan find an emotional connection immediately. Eventually Randy's boss at the casino maneuvers Ethan into a job putting the casino back on its feet. All manner of emotional fallout, poker playing, and out-maneuvering the Vegas gangsters of old ensues. I got a little restless midway through with the maneuvering, but I probably would have been happier to sit still for it if I weren't expending so much energy trying to piece character stuff together out of order or remember what we know already about certain people but what we don't (because I'd already read book three). Recommended if it sounds like your cuppa, but read 'em in order! show less
I won this book in a Facebook competition and am very glad I did as it introduced me to a new (for me) author and one who made me want to read every one of their books.
Heidi is also one of those authors that makes my efforts feel inadequate. Then I look at how long they have been writing and I take heart.
Double Blind is actually a sequel to "Special Delivery" but is quite capable of being read as a stand alone. In fact it wasn't until I finished it that I decided to search and see if Sunshine and Mitch had their own book. I must admit I skipped a lot of the poker detail as I'm not a fan. Vegas itself also has never been on my "must visit" list and now I've read this book, I feel I can safely leave it off. I much preferred reading about show more the outdoors in "Special Delivery".
Heidi writes great sex scenes and a lot of them. So if you want a hot read....
* * * *
It's now six months on and I've re-read "Double Blind" and "Special Delivery" in the right order. Not that the books didn't work as stand alones but you definitely get more out of it that way. I also didn't skim the poker parts this time ;)
In a way, the poker and the cards are integral to this book, so my initial rating of 4 stars wasn't really fair. The wonderful character of Crabtree has a parable about men based on what type of card they are:
Then Ethan, as his ability to "read" people grows, realizes Crabtree is bluffing about who he is.
Double Blind is full of opinions, but this is what makes it feel real IMHO. Guys sitting around and talking about their feelings never rings true to me, but guys stating their opinions (whether their audience wants to know or not) makes them more like real men not CWD.
It's a pleasure to revisit Sam and Mitch and watch their relationship grow. It's even more of a pleasure to get to know Randy better. Heidi has created another wonderful character there.This paragraph sums up Randy for me:
Finally, I always try to work out what an author has added to the m/m world by writing her book. This quote of Ethan's sums that up for me:
Worth a second read if you've already read it, and a first if you haven't. show less
Heidi is also one of those authors that makes my efforts feel inadequate. Then I look at how long they have been writing and I take heart.
Double Blind is actually a sequel to "Special Delivery" but is quite capable of being read as a stand alone. In fact it wasn't until I finished it that I decided to search and see if Sunshine and Mitch had their own book. I must admit I skipped a lot of the poker detail as I'm not a fan. Vegas itself also has never been on my "must visit" list and now I've read this book, I feel I can safely leave it off. I much preferred reading about show more the outdoors in "Special Delivery".
Heidi writes great sex scenes and a lot of them. So if you want a hot read....
* * * *
It's now six months on and I've re-read "Double Blind" and "Special Delivery" in the right order. Not that the books didn't work as stand alones but you definitely get more out of it that way. I also didn't skim the poker parts this time ;)
In a way, the poker and the cards are integral to this book, so my initial rating of 4 stars wasn't really fair. The wonderful character of Crabtree has a parable about men based on what type of card they are:
We divide the deck into numbered and face cards, and so we divide the types of men.This then becomes what is in essence an Ugly Duckling story in which a number of characters change. Sam's wings unfurl as he's removed from the smothering protection of Mitch and Randy. Randy changes once he relaxes because he knows Ethan understands him and is there for him and as for Ethan... I’d love to see this in a movie with the scared, incomplete Ethan, trapped in his tiny world gradually “coming out” not out of the closet but out of his narrow existence. Blooming into a confident, sexy man. At the start he’d be the type of guy you wouldn’t notice in a crowd, but under Randy’s and Crabtree’s direction, he gradually finds who he can be. It’s scary for him. It’s not put on. It’s right. Tentative to confident. Out of control to in control and controlling others. Being a fish to being a number card, to a face card to an Ace. Turning to Randy for reassurance and comfort when he stops moving ahead and teeters on the brink.
Then Ethan, as his ability to "read" people grows, realizes Crabtree is bluffing about who he is.
Double Blind is full of opinions, but this is what makes it feel real IMHO. Guys sitting around and talking about their feelings never rings true to me, but guys stating their opinions (whether their audience wants to know or not) makes them more like real men not CWD.
It's a pleasure to revisit Sam and Mitch and watch their relationship grow. It's even more of a pleasure to get to know Randy better. Heidi has created another wonderful character there.This paragraph sums up Randy for me:
So Randy launched into high court jester mode. He made loud noises about how good the food smelled, and he made so many rude comments about Sam’s body and what he wanted to do with it that Ethan started to look at him askance. He was saved from having to explain that one by Sam’s finally noticing the second cat, and then Randy made all kinds of wry remarks about cat litter and scratches, and when Ethan started to explain about the clicker, engaging Sam, Randy turned his focus on Mitch, poking at his cooking until he snapped at him. Randy teased him back, goading and mocking and anything he could think of until all the damn spiky energy was redirected, and finally everyone was either glaring at him, or arguing with him, or waiting for him to piss them off again. In short, it was a lot fucking better.Randy, the consummate poker player who finally finds someone who can read him, who wants to read him and understands he's not a Joker but in reality an ace like himself. I loved the way once Ethan understood what Randy was doing, he took over the reins and worked out a less confrontational way to fix the situation. And a highly charged sexual one at that!
Finally, I always try to work out what an author has added to the m/m world by writing her book. This quote of Ethan's sums that up for me:
being here, playing here, and working here has taught me more about life and the risks we take—that we need to take—than anything else I’ve encountered yet.It's a book about the need to read people, to see who they really are and what they need. The tells are all there if we learn to look for them.
Worth a second read if you've already read it, and a first if you haven't. show less
I won this book in a Facebook competition and am very glad I did as it introduced me to a new (for me) author and one who made me want to read every one of their books.
Heidi is also one of those authors that makes my efforts feel inadequate. Then I look at how long they have been writing and I take heart.
Double Blind is actually a sequel to "Special Delivery" but is quite capable of being read as a stand alone. In fact it wasn't until I finished it that I decided to search and see if Sunshine and Mitch had their own book. I must admit I skipped a lot of the poker detail as I'm not a fan. Vegas itself also has never been on my "must visit" list and now I've read this book, I feel I can safely leave it off. I much preferred reading about show more the outdoors in "Special Delivery".
Heidi writes great sex scenes and a lot of them. So if you want a hot read....
* * * *
It's now six months on and I've re-read "Double Blind" and "Special Delivery" in the right order. Not that the books didn't work as stand alones but you definitely get more out of it that way. I also didn't skim the poker parts this time ;)
In a way, the poker and the cards are integral to this book, so my initial rating of 4 stars wasn't really fair. The wonderful character of Crabtree has a parable about men based on what type of card they are:
Then Ethan, as his ability to "read" people grows, realizes Crabtree is bluffing about who he is.
Double Blind is full of opinions, but this is what makes it feel real IMHO. Guys sitting around and talking about their feelings never rings true to me, but guys stating their opinions (whether their audience wants to know or not) makes them more like real men not CWD.
It's a pleasure to revisit Sam and Mitch and watch their relationship grow. It's even more of a pleasure to get to know Randy better. Heidi has created another wonderful character there.This paragraph sums up Randy for me:
Finally, I always try to work out what an author has added to the m/m world by writing her book. This quote of Ethan's sums that up for me:
Worth a second read if you've already read it, and a first if you haven't. show less
Heidi is also one of those authors that makes my efforts feel inadequate. Then I look at how long they have been writing and I take heart.
Double Blind is actually a sequel to "Special Delivery" but is quite capable of being read as a stand alone. In fact it wasn't until I finished it that I decided to search and see if Sunshine and Mitch had their own book. I must admit I skipped a lot of the poker detail as I'm not a fan. Vegas itself also has never been on my "must visit" list and now I've read this book, I feel I can safely leave it off. I much preferred reading about show more the outdoors in "Special Delivery".
Heidi writes great sex scenes and a lot of them. So if you want a hot read....
* * * *
It's now six months on and I've re-read "Double Blind" and "Special Delivery" in the right order. Not that the books didn't work as stand alones but you definitely get more out of it that way. I also didn't skim the poker parts this time ;)
In a way, the poker and the cards are integral to this book, so my initial rating of 4 stars wasn't really fair. The wonderful character of Crabtree has a parable about men based on what type of card they are:
We divide the deck into numbered and face cards, and so we divide the types of men.This then becomes what is in essence an Ugly Duckling story in which a number of characters change. Sam's wings unfurl as he's removed from the smothering protection of Mitch and Randy. Randy changes once he relaxes because he knows Ethan understands him and is there for him and as for Ethan... I’d love to see this in a movie with the scared, incomplete Ethan, trapped in his tiny world gradually “coming out” not out of the closet but out of his narrow existence. Blooming into a confident, sexy man. At the start he’d be the type of guy you wouldn’t notice in a crowd, but under Randy’s and Crabtree’s direction, he gradually finds who he can be. It’s scary for him. It’s not put on. It’s right. Tentative to confident. Out of control to in control and controlling others. Being a fish to being a number card, to a face card to an Ace. Turning to Randy for reassurance and comfort when he stops moving ahead and teeters on the brink.
Then Ethan, as his ability to "read" people grows, realizes Crabtree is bluffing about who he is.
Double Blind is full of opinions, but this is what makes it feel real IMHO. Guys sitting around and talking about their feelings never rings true to me, but guys stating their opinions (whether their audience wants to know or not) makes them more like real men not CWD.
It's a pleasure to revisit Sam and Mitch and watch their relationship grow. It's even more of a pleasure to get to know Randy better. Heidi has created another wonderful character there.This paragraph sums up Randy for me:
So Randy launched into high court jester mode. He made loud noises about how good the food smelled, and he made so many rude comments about Sam’s body and what he wanted to do with it that Ethan started to look at him askance. He was saved from having to explain that one by Sam’s finally noticing the second cat, and then Randy made all kinds of wry remarks about cat litter and scratches, and when Ethan started to explain about the clicker, engaging Sam, Randy turned his focus on Mitch, poking at his cooking until he snapped at him. Randy teased him back, goading and mocking and anything he could think of until all the damn spiky energy was redirected, and finally everyone was either glaring at him, or arguing with him, or waiting for him to piss them off again. In short, it was a lot fucking better.Randy, the consummate poker player who finally finds someone who can read him, who wants to read him and understands he's not a Joker but in reality an ace like himself. I loved the way once Ethan understood what Randy was doing, he took over the reins and worked out a less confrontational way to fix the situation. And a highly charged sexual one at that!
Finally, I always try to work out what an author has added to the m/m world by writing her book. This quote of Ethan's sums that up for me:
being here, playing here, and working here has taught me more about life and the risks we take—that we need to take—than anything else I’ve encountered yet.It's a book about the need to read people, to see who they really are and what they need. The tells are all there if we learn to look for them.
Worth a second read if you've already read it, and a first if you haven't. show less
Wonderful character arcs. Also this book is SCORCHINGLY hot (I'm looking at you, chapter 16). And if the romance or plot don't appeal to you, I have to say it's worth a read just for the sheer wonder of watching a bunch of grown-ass men continuously lose it over kittens (with zero question or threat to their masculinity).
These MCs are special. It's years since I read book 1 so my memories of the characters and their foibles doesn't extend much past 'kinky'. This doesn't really matter though; each character (including Sam & Mitch) grow, with their personalities being completely drawn.
I laughed out loud numerous times. The journey is fascinating. The setting is quite different from my usual normal. And the characters are really diverse as well. I loved that. (Crabtree was a puzzle but I nabbed him fairly early.)
My only complaint was the detailed poker/gambling descriptions near the beginning; but I can see this was necessary for HC to fully pen her story. (Parallels to the financial guff in The Girl With A Dragon Tattoo).
I laughed out loud numerous times. The journey is fascinating. The setting is quite different from my usual normal. And the characters are really diverse as well. I loved that. (Crabtree was a puzzle but I nabbed him fairly early.)
My only complaint was the detailed poker/gambling descriptions near the beginning; but I can see this was necessary for HC to fully pen her story. (Parallels to the financial guff in The Girl With A Dragon Tattoo).
This is the second book, after the excellent Special Delivery. I would read Special Delivery first, to help understand the dynamics going on. It was nice catching up with Mitch and Sam again, but this is definitely Randy's book.
Randy is a smart ass and a player man but he is not cruel, and loves the game of poker and gambling in general. So when he sees Ethan Ellison doing it all wrong, he feels compelled to step in. Little does he know how badly Ethan needs him and how low he has sunk. But they catch each other in Las Vegas magic, and learn about cards and fate and love. There were plot points that made no sense (Crabtree and the casino deal?!?) but it didn't matter, you enter into Heidi Cullinan's world and you are happy to be t show more here. It's intense and sexual and romantic and committed and all about finding the safe space in a dangerous world. I enjoyed it and rate it a keeper and will reread. show less
Randy is a smart ass and a player man but he is not cruel, and loves the game of poker and gambling in general. So when he sees Ethan Ellison doing it all wrong, he feels compelled to step in. Little does he know how badly Ethan needs him and how low he has sunk. But they catch each other in Las Vegas magic, and learn about cards and fate and love. There were plot points that made no sense (Crabtree and the casino deal?!?) but it didn't matter, you enter into Heidi Cullinan's world and you are happy to be t show more here. It's intense and sexual and romantic and committed and all about finding the safe space in a dangerous world. I enjoyed it and rate it a keeper and will reread. show less
Wonderful book. Full of Vegas, poker, bluffing, having your life fall apart and building it up again. The author swept me up into this world, and I enjoyed it despite it being the furthest thing from what I would enjoy in real life. I feel like I really got to see the pain of vulnerability and the excitement of falling in love from the perspective of both leading men. The book was nice and long compared to much m/m which gave the author time for all the character development you could wish for. Nor was the book one based around each chapter having a sex scene, which made a nice change from many m/m books available (although I'm happy to read those too, sometimes).
I figured that this book must be in a series, since it contains a show more committed couple as secondary characters, but this didn't make me feel like I was missing out on anything as I read Double Blind. This is the second book by Heidi Cullinan that I've read (the first was Nowhere Ranch, also excellent) but it won't be the last!
On a formatting note, my copy (from Fictionwise) had letters instead of what I assume should have been the symbols for card suits. It made reading some of the poker scenes a little weird (hey, look at my hand! It's 5e 3wAr 2wKq. WTF?) I haven't bothered to complain to Fictionwise because they have never replied to any other emails I've sent them with similar issues. show less
I figured that this book must be in a series, since it contains a show more committed couple as secondary characters, but this didn't make me feel like I was missing out on anything as I read Double Blind. This is the second book by Heidi Cullinan that I've read (the first was Nowhere Ranch, also excellent) but it won't be the last!
On a formatting note, my copy (from Fictionwise) had letters instead of what I assume should have been the symbols for card suits. It made reading some of the poker scenes a little weird (hey, look at my hand! It's 5e 3wAr 2wKq. WTF?) I haven't bothered to complain to Fictionwise because they have never replied to any other emails I've sent them with similar issues. show less
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Author Information
Heidi Cullinan is a LibraryThing Author, an author who lists their personal library on LibraryThing.
Some Editions
Series
Common Knowledge
- Original title
- Double Blind
- Original publication date
- 2010-04-09
- People/Characters
- Randy Jansen; Ethan Ellison
- Important places
- Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
- Disambiguation notice
- 2010 - Dreampsinner Press
2014 - Samhain Publishing
2017 - self publ.
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 111
- Popularity
- 289,260
- Reviews
- 11
- Rating
- (3.98)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 7
- ASINs
- 3
