Going All In by Alannah Lynne
Book #4: Heat Wave Series
Source: Purchase
My Rating: 5/5 stars
My Review:

Wade Neumann has spent the last year mending his broken heart. And by mending his broken heart, I mean he has been whoring about with a handful of women who expect just as little of Wade as he wants from them. Just one short year ago, Wade was a week before his wedding and looking forward to happily ever after. His fiancé on the other hand was snogging another man and not at all interested in marrying Wade. Needless to say, the wedding was called off and Wade was left to pick up the pieces of both his broken heart and his pride.

Callie Holden has spent two years trying to make a life for herself outside of her father’s shadow and without his money. While this wouldn’t be tremendously hard for most people, Callie has spent the vast majority of her life completely sheltered from everything except friends, shopping and, socializing. Sure, she has a college degree but she’s never had a job and never had to do anything other than spend money and generally enjoy her life. Everything changed for Callie when her father lost his damn fool mind and landed himself in jail. In that moment, Callie knew it was time for her to strike out on her own and with the help of her friends, she bought a home, a car and got herself an 8-5 job.

For the last year, Wade has done his best to avoid Callie Holden. During the one and only time they worked together, Callie treated Wade like the hired help, order him about and being generally disagreeable. As if to add insult to injury, Callie looks like his ex and she acts like the spoiled princess he “knows” her to be. Much to his great displeasure, a seriously hungover Wade has been ordered by the boss to work with Callie on another project. With avoidance no longer being possible, Wade sucks it up and meets Callie for what he assumes will be a hellish day. As my tiny little granny used to say, “Assuming only makes an ass out of you and me!”

Wade’s day with Callie may be filled with work but he is most pleasantly surprised by her demeanor. From the moment he walks in, Callie is kind, courteous and, willing to work every bit as hard as Wade does. Inexplicably, Wade finds himself not only enjoying Callie’s company but not wanting his time with her to end. What The actual F*%^ is that all about?? For Callie’s part, her time with Wade is a mixed bag as her mind, body and, heart war with each another. Her mind keeps wandering into lustful territory that her body seems to want to agree with but her heart is cautious. Callie has spent so long trying to become a different, better person that she doesn’t quite trust herself around a man as beautiful as Wade. Plus, there was that time a year ago that she treated him like the hired help 

After their surprising day together, Wade and Callie begin a slow and sultry dance around a relationship. Callie is fascinated by Wade, his sense of adventure, generally easy going nature and, smoking hot body that towers over hers. Wade is fascinated by how wrong he was about Callie, her willingness to try new things, her bold and courageous honesty and, her smoking hot body that fits so nicely next to his. In Callie’s new world view, she doesn’t care what her high falutin’ friends think about her new man, she is all kinds of broadening her horizons with Wade, she loves how she feels when she’s with him and, eventually she’ll tell him about her $30 million trust fund. What The actual F*&^ is that?? Part of the reason Wade trusts Callie is his clear understanding of how unlike she really is; she works hard for the money and the things she has and she appreciates the little things in life. Or, so Wade thinks.

The Bottom Line: This series just keeps getting better and better for me!! With “older” characters getting their day in the sun, I am digging everything about these reads. Callie originally appeared in Gavin and Sunny’s story and really didn’t make a great showing of herself. In fact, Callie was generally unlikeable the first time around. Going All In is a much better showing for Callie as she has all but become a totally new girl. Callie is really trying to make a new life for herself and Wade is the perfect addition to her new life. Wade’s distrust and general heartbreak have been a poison in his life for the last year and Callie is like an antidote. Once Wade truly sits down and faces his issues and deals with them, he is able to accept everything about Callie and work toward making a life with her. From the beginning, Wade and Callie are so clearly meant to be together and though they have some obstacles in their way, Lynne doesn’t drag the drama out for too long and this is one of the things I enjoy most about this series. There is just enough drama to make the story interesting but not so much as to feel like the characters are stuck in a never-ending cycle. The naughty bits in this read are quite delicious and that has everything to do with Wade and his experience and Callie and her innocence. In all, the Heat Wave is a perfect summer read series so load up your e-readers and rock on! ( )