Can we talk about how sometimes you just need a book that feels like three margaritas and a sequined dress on a Friday night? Because that's exactly what this was for me.
I was in the middle of a logo design that was absolutely fighting me—like, the client wanted "modern but classic, bold but subtle" (pick a lane, Karen)—and I needed something to drown out my frustration. Ace delivered. Is it literature? Nope. Did it make me feel things anyway? Absolutely.
The Chemistry Is Chef's Kiss
Look, here's the thing. Frankie Love knows exactly what she's doing. This book is shameless in the best way. Ace is over-the-top alpha—owns a casino, mafia ties in his past, the whole deal—and Emmy Rose is trying so hard to stay away from exactly his type. The tension between them? Electric. I was designing a wellness brand's color palette while listening to some very not-wellness-appropriate scenes and honestly? The contrast was hilarious. That same guilty-pleasure energy is what I loved about In a Dark, Dark Wood—completely different genre, but both books know exactly what they're doing with tension.
The dual narration with Joe Arden and Mitchell Maxine really works here. Arden does that low, gravelly thing that makes Ace sound like he's perpetually three seconds from pinning someone against a wall (which, accurate). And Maxine gives Emmy this edge—she's not just the damsel, she's got her own darkness with her sister in a coma and a past she's running from. The way they trade off POVs kept me from getting bored during the slower setup chapters.
(Yes, Frida was judging me from the windowsill the entire time. No, I don't care.)
When the Feelings Snuck Up on Me
Here's what surprised me—I actually got emotional. Not ugly-cry emotional, but there's this moment when Emmy's talking about her sister, about not knowing who hurt her, and suddenly the book has actual stakes beyond the bedroom. Abuela would've rolled her eyes at the spicy parts but she would've been invested in Emmy's sister mystery. That telenovela energy is real.
The pacing drags a tiny bit in the middle—there's some casino business stuff that felt like filler—but the emotional beats land when they need to. At under 8 hours, it doesn't overstay its welcome. Perfect for a few design sessions.
Now, I'll be real: some of the accents felt a little inconsistent to my ear. Nothing that pulled me out completely, but I noticed it. And the plot? Pretty predictable if you've read any alpha-romance before. You know where it's going. But sometimes that's the point, right? You're not here for the surprise ending. You're here for the journey. The very steamy journey.
Your Vibe Check
If you want something deep and literary, this ain't it. If you're easily offended by explicit content, definitely skip. But if you want a fun, fast, Vegas-set romance with a hero who's basically a walking red flag that you root for anyway? This is your book.
Mitchell Maxine's narration especially grew on me—she brings this vulnerability to Emmy that balances out how over-the-top everything else is. And Arden? I mean, the man knows how to narrate a romance scene. My heart. MY HEART. (And also other organs, but we don't need to discuss that.)
The bonus epilogue was a nice touch—gave the story some closure that I didn't know I needed. And now I'm eyeing the rest of the Las Vegas Bad Boys series because apparently I have no self-control.
Pour Yourself a Margarita and Press Play
This is a rainy Sunday book—or in my case, a frustrating client project book. Sometimes you just need to escape into something that doesn't require brain cells but still makes you feel something. Frankie Love gets that assignment.
