#Review: All In by Amanda Carlson - 4 Wine Glasses

Title: All In 
Series: Sin City Collectors #5
Author: Amanda Carlson 
Format: ebook, 145 pages
Published: November 17th 2014 by Amanda Carlson, Inc.
ISBN:139780990392811
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Source: Author
Reviewer: Linda
Rating: 4/5

Welcome to Vegas. Home of the Sin City Collectors. The job description is easy: Bring the offending supernatural in to the Boss and don’t ask any questions. 

Ginger Elliot is a succubus on the run. She’s in danger of being Collected, but her first priority is to find her brother. Even though she operates the biggest spy network in the supernatural world, it may not be enough to free her from the crimes she’s been accused of committing. It doesn’t help that she hasn’t fed in months, and keeping her deteriorating condition from the sexy shifter who’s accompanying her is getting trickier by the hour. 

Luke Jones is on a mission to save the succubus he’s fallen for—not only from her brother—but from herself. The two have been on the incubus’s trail for weeks and finally have him backed into a corner. Luke knows the succubus is in trouble, but he has no idea how to help her. In the end, letting go of his painful past is the only way he can save her.


What’s Collected in Vegas, stays in Vegas...

*All Sin City Collectors Novellas are stand alone paranormal romance novellas, each with their own set of characters and happy endings, and are all set within the world of the SCC. Our goal is for you to sit back and enjoy the ride as each author presents their unique story. Places and characters will overlap, so be sure to look for your favorites and stay tuned for more novellas!

Linda's Thoughts:
"That tree--" she motioned toward it again "-- is the equivalent of a demon's wet dream in the natural sense."
"I hear what you're saying, but I'm having a hard time believing it. How can a tree be seen as seductive?"
"Why wouldn't it be?" Ginger said, "Anything can be seductive if you see it in the right light. Haven't you taken the time to notice all the beauty around you today? This place is absolutely breathtaking!"
"I see it, and the scenery is nice, don't get me wrong, but it doesn't come close to giving me a stiffy." He grinned at his joke.
She crossed her arms. "Then you're not appreciating it enough. Nature should be... stiffy inducing."
...  "And just so you know, that was one of the best lessons I've ever had. Wolves don't notice much past their noses, so that kind of beauty is lost on us."

ALL IN by Amanda Carlson is another great addition to the Sin City Collectors series!  The Sin City Collectors is a continuing novella series by Amanda Carlson and Kristen Painter.  ALL IN is Amanda's third addition in this fantastic paranormal saga set around Las Vegas, but it's technically the fifth installment when you include Kristen's contributions.  These novellas can all be easily enjoyed as standalones, but catching up with prior favorite characters in each installment will increase your pleasure.  Regardless, you will definitely want to read this novella in one sitting.  Much of this tale takes place in scenic Great Basin National Park in Nevada, a stone's throw from Las Vegas. 

Ginger Elliot, our heroine, is a stunningly beautiful, smart sex demon with a need to digest raw emotion. Ginger has self-loathing issues believing that her kind are nothing more than parasitic leeches, siphoning energies from a host. Sex demons needed to recharge at least weekly to stay healthy; She'd gone 6 months. She runs Dossier, an underground spy organization, specializing in buying and selling secret information. She had drawn the attention of the Sin City Collectors when the Sumerians, an organization of lawless, greedy incubi consumed with stealing power, had set her up to fall. She was resolved to clear her name and save Damien, her estranged brother who had been drawn in by the Sumerians, before she succumbed to starvation. She knew how Luke felt about sex demons and was determined not to take advantage of him. 

The Sin City Collectors agency wanted Damien brought in for questioning, and Luke Jones, a werewolf and our hero, was on the job. Once Louie Fiore had learned that Luke was already busy chasing down Damien and keeping company with Ginger, he'd accepted Luke's application and added him to the payroll. Luke's family had been devastated by a sex demon so Luke would not succumb to his attraction to Ginger. But... if he could put aside his stereotypical prejudices, could true love emerge? 

The characters shined. Both the hero and the heroine were genuine and relatable. They were working together tracking Ginger's estranged brother, Damien. Ginger was determined to rescue him; Luke wants to bring him to justice.  Luke was beyond amazing. He's strong, caring and endearing. Ginger was strong-willed and her identity issues have been shaped by her past. She believed that pain or pleasure was a sex demon's curse. She has so much to offer if someone could knock down her barriers and unlock her heart. Does Luke hold the key?

Following please find a few of my favorite quotes illustrating the fireworks you'll be treated to when you pick up this book:

His tip hit her core, both of them yelling. She bucked upward at the touch, her hands clutching his shoulders. "Holy shit!" Luke cried. He breathed hard through his nose. "That as... I'm not sure... I think I might lose it..."
---

"... What's happening inside me is hard to explain." He kissed the tip of her nose. "When I'm with you something immediately builds inside me, kind of like a balloon inflating slowly. It feels fantastic. Especially since I know that whatever accumulates is going straight back to you. It's this ... perfect circle," he mused. "One we create just between the two of us."
---

"My thighs and hips are on fire. I don't know where I end and you begin."

One of my favorite moments in the story is when Ginger explained to Luke how she and her kind view the world. (See the teaser quote preceding my review.) Her description served to open Luke's eyes bringing home the sensuality inherent in nature.

Amanda's writing is top-notch, as always. The characters are likeable and well-drawn. The story is well-plotted, teeming with humor, heat and suspense. ALL IN is a can't-miss, must-read for fans of the series. I highly recommend ALL IN to anyone who delights in tales of romantic paranormal suspense!  I can't wait for the next installment!