Pulls you in from the first sentence and has you instantly obsessed with the story and what's happening with the characters which are amazing and you just want them to get what they deserve. Would recommend

I enjoyed this one more than the first one and I can't wait to read Nate's book! This had a lot of action and suspense and plenty of romance. Both the characters were likable and although the romance was pretty instant it didn't drive too crazy.

I love the relationship between the brothers and the interactions with the three of them are really well written. Although it does crack me up how many people they tell they are undercover FBI agents to. I thought the suspense built at an excellent pace and I liked that once Lauren learned to defend herself she became more self confident. I think the one thing that really bothered me about Lauren was that she was so willing to walk away from Court. I can understand the first time somewhat but the rationale behind he's in danger and I don't want to get hurt makes no sense. She's already in love with him so if something happens to him she's going to be hurt anyway. I've never met anyone who lost a spouse and said wow if I'd have know they were going to die I never would have married them. It's a ridiculous thought process. But I digress - overall Lauren wasn't my favorite female character but I liked her enough and I thought she grew throughout the book. I really liked Court and I was rooting for the two of them.

The abusive spouse plot wasn't anything new but it was well done and I enjoyed the overall plot. Overall an enjoyable book but Nate stole the show for me again in this book and I'm really looking forward to his book!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars
M/F Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Lauren Montgomery is free and living life how she wants. Despite having an ex-husband who is more than evil, she has pushed past it and moved on in her life. Her one regret is that she was unable to love Court Gentry, the love of her life whom she met during her spring break trip, just after her divorce.

Court is a cowboy, FBI agent, and all around smooth talker. He does dirty talk well, fights bad guys, and can't get Lauren out of his head.

When Lauren and Court find each other again, they need to figure out whether or not they can handle each other's pasts. Court needs to make sure that Lauren's protective streak when it comes to her friends and family is okay with him and Lauren needs to learn to trust Court and his brothers.

When the worst happens and Lauren's ex-husband is released from prison, it will take all of Court and his brothers' tools to fight and keep Lauren alive. I loved how fast paced this story was and the chemistry between Lauren and Court was off the charts.

I can't wait to see what happens next!

King of Clubs is leaps and bounds better than the first book of the series. It's action packed from the opening pages and doesn't quit. Granted, there are a few events that a think a vigilant FBI Agent would have made sure didn't happen (taking a shower while the pizza delivery is expected, with the events that followed) but it's easily forgiven with a book that keeps interest going in its entirety.

There was a family surprise I definitely didn't see coming. I can't wait to see how that pans out.

The focus was on Lauren and Court, and her mobster-stalker-abusive ex-husband, not as much on their personal business that is a front for their FBI sting. That worked nicely.

Lauren and Court experienced insta-love 6 years ago and never got over it. This is a love story that isn't realistic, but it is sweet.

***4 Stars***

From the moment Lauren and Court met in Jack of Hearts I knew they’d be getting their own book one day and after reading the epilogue I knew I’d definitely be diving into their story and I wasn’t disappointed. It was all kinds of sweet, smexy and angsty goodness with a good dose of suspense that kept me turning the pages until the very end.

I loved Lauren from the moment I met her in JofH. She was vivacious, kind, caring and I she’s a cat lover. But after finding out about the hell she lived through I couldn’t help but admire her strength and determination to take charge of her own life and live it on her terms. Court is all kinds of protective, smexy alpha male with a code of honor a country mile wide. His childhood was less than loving, but his brothers kept him on the straight and narrow and helped to mold him into a man anyone would want at their back.

Talk about an angsty push and pull second chance at love story. Court and Lauren definitely put me, and themselves through the wringer. I understood where they were both coming from and why they did and felt what they did, but they really needed to get over themselves because the connection they had was something that you don’t find every day. Thankfully they do let go of the past and I loved watching as they got reacquainted with each other and finally move forward with their lives.

Though there were times that I felt the story dragged a bit, I enjoyed watching as everything unfolded and how it was all resolved in the end. I loved spending time with Alex and Madison and I’m definitely looking forward to Nate’s book as well as seeing what happens when Kinsey finally reveals herself to Nate, Court and Alex!

The Gentry brothers....3 sexy as sin motorcycle bar owners who are also secretly undercover FBI Agents. After the drama of Alex and Madison, Court and Lauren are thrown together in the midst of the action. It turns out that years before they had a whirlwind romance that was a story for the ages.

When Lauren is finally free from her abusive ex-husband she decides that her one chance at happiness is NOW. Meeting Court and spending a week in paradise with him is a dream come true. Until reality crashes in like a nightmare and Stephan, her ex-husband, finds her and tries to exact his revenge. With him now in jail, she has to keep Court alive by never seeing him again and ensuring that Stephan never knows the week they spent together. But when her best friend marries his brother....the rabbit hole begins to open up beneath her and threatens to swallow her whole.

It's not so easy to fight the future she desires when her past is coming back to haunt her...and him. Lauren has the inner need to do it all herself and protect those she loves. Opening her heart to Court again could break her spirit but she has no idea of what he's capable. He would protect her with his everything!!

Court could never understand why the one woman he wanted forever with disappeared without so much as a goodbye. When his soon to be sister in law's life is threatened, he's sent in to keep her roommate and best friend safe. Lo and behold fate has stuck him with the one that got away. Court knows she has secrets, and he knows that he can suss them out. But how to do so while trying to win her heart all over again?

Court and Lauren have the inexplicable fiery romance I've missed. There's years of love lost between them and secrets that if they would just ell one another they could figure it all out. Throw in the possible escape of her Russian (possibly mafia!) ex-husband and his creepy stalker brother....oh they are NO match for the Gentry brothers. The action was spot on and never exactly what I expected. Can't wait for the final Gentry brother!!

Court Gentry and his brothers are FBI agents that own a biker bar as there covert operations head quarters. Six years ago he met the girl of his dreams Lauren Montgomery and they were inseparable. When she returned from vacation she was met by her abusive ex husband who threatened to kill any man who touched her, she then felt she had to cut Court from her life in order to keep him safe, little did she know he was an FBI agent.

When Court and Lauren reunite after her best friend marries his brother there is an undeniable spark between them but Court keeps himself guarded as she caused him so much pain. When Laurens ex husband is released from prison he makes a plan to come after her and claim her again.

Can Court let his guard down and risk his life to help save the woman he loves?

This was a great book that keep me reading late into the night. I am excited to see what else is in store for the series.

*** Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review. ***

Court Gentry was in love six years ago to a women by the name of Lauren Montgomery. They had one week together and when she returned from her vacation her ex-husband who would not let her go beat her almost to death. The police arrived and saved her and her ex is in prison for six years. Now thinking that she will never see Court again she is shocked to see him when he shows up at her book store and finds out that he is her partners’ brother in law. Running scared because of her ex’s brother showed up and has told her he will be coming for her she tells Court it’s been great seeing you. In the middle of the night she is thinking that she is sneaking away from him and before she gets on a bus for New Orleans he tells her to get in his car. What she does not know yet is that Court and his two brothers are FBI agents and our operating an under bar for the sting operations. Now they have focused their attention on her case since her ex has ties to the Russian Mafia and is wanting to kidnap her and take her to Russia. Along the way Court and Lauren must work out the past to see if they still want to have a future, and does she even want to be with an FBI agent. There is a lot going in this book but the author makes it all work and overall it is a good story. The outlining characters help make this story work especially her sister, father, and then his brothers, and of course Morgan.

This book has the ultimate Alpha so if you love strong men, you will love this book. Court Gentry is the sexy FBI agent who loves only a few things in life, his brothers, his job, and his motorcycle. He learned a hard lesson years ago when he loved a woman too but she didn't just break his heart, she hardened it.

Now, that woman, Lauren Montgomery is back in his life after seeing her at his brother's wedding. They decide they can handle a casual relationship but chemistry like theirs is hard to fight. When Lauren's ex-husband gets out of prison to seek revenge on Lauren, will Court be able to protect her and his heart?

I liked the idea of the first book in this series better than I did the execution, so when I saw this one, I was interested. And, that interest paid off in this book.

Court and Lauren were together a number of years ago, and they had a relationship that was ended by the threat of another person. As you do when you have something taken from you against your own choice, you don't let it go as easily as you do when it is by choice.

When they see one another again, there is an instant recognition, and Court wants to see where they are again, Lauren is less interested. Some time passes from this first re-introduction, and they are in the same place, with Court interested in moving forward together and Lauren reluctant to pursue any relationship. Court has no idea why. The reader knows the secret of Lauren's abusive ex.

I liked the idea that they both had secrets that they had to let one another in on in order to move forward.

I liked Court and Lauren and I liked their relationship with one another. There was an appeal to the idea that they were still drawn to one another, and to the idea that the threat of her ex stopped her from being with him, and that the threat of what could happen to him at work could also keep them apart.

The characters were likable, and I thought the plot was pretty good, although I thought too much time was spent with the stuff with the ex and that could have been used to develop their relationship.

I recommend this book.

Sandra Owens has written a sequel that is just as romantic and suspenseful as the first in King of Clubs (Aces & Eights, Book 2). The danger feels real and the good guys (Undercover FBI) stick together to conquer the bad. This is a page-turner, can’t-put-it-down read with its second chance romance between brother, Court and Lauren Montgomery. It is a well-structured story with an abusive ex, that still has humor and sizzling romance. There are twists in the story that revs up the danger and suspense.

King of Clubs by Sandra Owens is a first-rate suspenseful romance. It will make you believe in happy endings no matter how bad it can look in life,

Court and Lauren met six years ago they had met during spring break and had six nights together. They had fallen hard in that time. Then Lauren ends things abruptly with just a phone call. It was the hardest thing Lauren had ever done but it was for Court’s safety. What Court doesn’t know is Lauren had been married and just got her divorce from her abusive ex that had already put her in the hospital and her ex Stephan was put in jail. Stephan threatens to kill any guy who Lauren gets involved with. When Lauren returns home from her time with Court Stephan nearly kills her as he believes Lauren is still his and does not accept the divorce.. Six years later Court is asked to watch over his sister in law’s best friend who happens to be Lauren. Court is still hurt and upset over what happened six years ago but he had not known Lauren had been married to a very abusive Russian hockey player On meeting Lauren again Court is afraid of being abandoned again and Lauren is scared and wants to run. . Court wants to help Lauren but she fears for his life. Her ex and his family are crazy. What Lauren doesn’t know is Court and his brothers are undercover FBI agents. Court and Lauren must now trust each other as well as his brothers to get Court and Lauren out alive. When Stephan is released from prison it takes Court and his brother to keep Lauren safe.
I liked this book and felt it had a good plot. But if the brothers were undercover FBI agents why did they tell so many people as that could easily blow their cover and get them killed. I loved the action and the suspense in this book. This kept my attention from beginning to end. I felt bad when Court is so hurt and feeling abandoned from Lauren when she really was only trying to protect him. I loved the relationship between Court and his brothers. I loved Lauren and Court together and wanted Court to work through his issues for Lauren. I loved the characters and the twists and turns in this story and I recommend.

This is the second standalone book in this series and it is action-packed! Full of suspense, action, romance -- didn't want to stop reading once I started! Would definitely recommend if you like romantic suspense.

As always, Sandra Owens did not disappoint. The story held my attention from start to finish.

A Must Read!! Fantastic book! This is the second in the series but it's completely standalone, I didn't read the first book and still loved this one. (I will be going back to read the first book now).

Court Gentry and. Lauren Montgomery are hot and sexy together. They have issue they have to overcome, and they take us on the journey. Fate has brought her back together after years apart, but is their connection strong enough to get over the obstacles?

The store line is fantastic, the Characters you couldn't ask for better and the pace of the story was perfect...all together this is one book you do not want to put down. I loved it!

I thought it was nice. It's my first book, as far as I can tell, by Sandra Owens. She wrote a lovely story, definitely one that tore my heart up a little. I'd read another book by her. The danger, the love, the regrets...all of it felt really real to me.

My first foray reading Ms. Owens’ books and I very much enjoyed the story. There is a lot of emotional baggage going on – yeah, gotta love the angst. I thought the way the characters were written was very realistic especially their interactions and reactions to each other. Brothers always sniping at each other but always with love. Fantastic. A small issue with the heroine, I do not think I have ever read about a person who cried or teared up so much. Buck up, girl! Some emotion is okay, but not every other sentence. Definitely will read this author again. In fact, looking forward to Nate’s story.

Whereas in Jack of Hearts the Gentry brothers won me over, in King of Clubs I fell in love.
Court Gentry is an amazing hero. He is as alpha as they come, with a strong protective strike. He has inner depth, deep feelings, he is vulnerable, considerate, kind, generous, and hardworking. Sexy beast of a cuddly bear describes his complex character well, he is sensual as well as romantic, passionate and sincere.
Court's heart has been broken twice, by his mother and by Lauren Montgomery. To trust Lauren again is not going to be easy, but to turn his back on her when she is in danger and in need of help, that would be unthinkable.
Lauren's ex-husband did his best to break her, to destroy her will, mind, and heart. She would rather sacrifice herself, than let her ex hurt those she loves, including Court.
Lauren is the perfect match for Court. She is independent, feisty, caring, loving, protective, family oriented woman who loves life and laughter, until she is nearly broken by the monstrous ex-husband and his family.
The battle of accepting the past, forgiving the hurt and daring to love and live in the moment is palpable with Lauren and Court in the story. They have an uphill road ahead of them with many obstacles in the way, both physical and mental. But they are willing to work on those obstacles while I was rooting for them to find a way home to each other.
I loved how Lauren and Court talked and worked on their issues, their fears, and hopes for the future. The story gives a more in-depth look at the brothers' past, their childhood, and the troubling abandonment by their mother, and the abuse they faced in the hands of their father. The story demonstrates great character development and growth, the whole cast filled with characters I want to spend time with, to get to know better.
The suspense in the story is intense, the constant present danger giving the tale an edgy and skittish vibe. The tangible threat in the air lurks around, the kind that sneaks up on you on the death of night. Every time you think they are safe, something sinister lay in wait for them.
The story is well built with a great balance of romance, danger and action, as well as the past still haunting in the minds of the brothers. The story comes to a satisfying, very pleasing full closure with Court and Lauren yet leaves an intriguing teaser about things to come and left me a bit worried about the oldest brother, Nate. I can't wait for him to find peace of mind and happiness like his brothers now embrace.
With a heartfelt family bond, an ardent romance, and disturbing, traumatic malice with constant threat and vulnerability, the author binds a story that was easy to get lost in, submerge in and forget your surroundings. Aces and Eights is a series that I can highly recommend!
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side