Cover Image: Risking It All

Risking It All

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Gemma and Nathan are childhood sweetheart, Nathan always on the trek of a get rich scheme manages to get himself on the wrong side of Alfie, the local gangster.

As the debt of £500 soon reaches £5k and then escalated to £10k, Alfie insists Gemma joins “the team” to pay off Nathan’s debts. With nowhere to turn, no money or possessions worth any value, Gemma has no choice.

Alfie enlists Gemma to help steal valuable jewellery all the while switching it for a fake in high end jewellery stores, will Gemma get caught? What will happen to Nathan? Will
the debt ever be cleared?

An easy to read loveable gangster thriller, I couldn’t help but like Alfie and wish Gemma would dump Nathan and be with him. Not quote edge of your seat Thriller Killer but a good read.

Was this review helpful?

I’d like to thank Aria and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Risking It All’ by Stephanie Harte in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Gemma’s husband Nathan is addicted to gambling and when he needs money fast he approaches the local East End gangster, Alfie Watson, who lends him £500. But Alfie keeps increasing the amount owed to him until Gemma and Nathan are reluctantly recruited into his gang in an attempt to earn enough money to pay him back. Gemma shows her ability to swap expensive jewellery for fake copies in Harrods high-class jewellery shops but the chances of being captured get higher when Nathan is involved in stealing diamonds. Gemma and Nathan are trapped in a nightmare of having to steal for Alfie and no possibility of getting away so will they ever be able escape from his clutches?

‘Risking It All’ is undoubtedly an interesting story and easy to read but I wouldn’t class it as the serious thriller I was expecting, more a light-hearted escape from reality. Alfie’s a gangster who proves that he likes to shed blood when people go against his wishes, but I was surprised that not once did Nathan or Gemma complain about him increasing the money they owed. The three characters tell the story in alternate chapters so we get to know the story from each viewpoint but it feels to me that they’re playing at being notorious criminals and the author brings the book to a such a quick and unsatisfactory ending that I felt disappointed.

Was this review helpful?

Gemma and Nathan find themselves embroiled with the local gangster Alfie Watson after Nathan stupidly borrows money from him,the couple become more and more involved in Alfie's criminal empire as he forces them to commit robberies for him so they can pay off their dept. As they travel around europe Gemma becomes ever closer to Alfie and with Nathan's gambling threatening to get out of control she makes a huge mistake.Risking It All is a decent enough thriller but i felt it was to long and some pages were just repeating themselves,also some of the story lines were a bit unbelievable for me although i do know it is fiction ! A decent enough thriller a 3 star read for me.

Was this review helpful?

This is my first read by this author, I will be looking up other titles.

This has been an interesting read, Nathan BorrowS money from gangster Alfie. His wife only finds out when she comes home to find blood on his face and on the walls.

This is definitely one that caught my attention. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Was this review helpful?

Gemma has to commit to the Gangster Alfie Watson
Nathan has to get his own back to win Gemma as she is his wife
But can he get his own life back as he fights with Alfie
I had an ARC

Was this review helpful?

Gemma and Nathan are childhood sweethearts. They love each other dearly. One day Gemma comes home to find Nathan with blood on his face but also on the walls. Gemma knows that he may be in trouble as Nathan has a gambling problem. He is always losing money, they lost their home and had to go and live and work with Nathan’s mother Rosa at their restaurant.
Gemma finds out that Nathan has borrowed money from local gangster and nasty piece of work Alfie. Nathan borrowed £500 but when they try and pay it back the amount doubles to Gemma’s dismay. Then Alfie asks tells them to help pay back the money Gemma must do a job for him. Steal some jewellery but thinking that one job is enough to pay back the money. Alfie threatens them and they start a life on the run spanning over Europe. Living a life of luxury as they go.
This is the first book from Stephanie Harte and this will not be my last. I love a good gangland crime novel and this one doesn’t disappoint. This is a gripping page turner, great characters and story line. I highly recommend

Was this review helpful?

I have never read this author before but the book was fantastic I couldn't put it down and would defiantly recommend this author. Can't wait for the next book hope it's as good as this one

Was this review helpful?

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review -
She comes home to blood on the wall and Nathan looking like he has a broken nose.
Nathan has taken a loan out from Alfie - and why when he knows what dangerous person he is.
Will he ever be able to repay the loan? Will their life ever be free of Alfie?
Hop on for the ride of your life!

Was this review helpful?

This book was amazing. Had so many twists I didn't see coming. Couldn't put it down at all. Can't wait to read this author work again... Amazing

Was this review helpful?

A brilliant read. A new author for me but one I will be looking out for in the future. Gemma finds out her husband owes money to the towns Mr Nasty. No one in their right mind borrow money of Alfie Watson. Unfortunatly Nathan Gemma's husband didn't seem to have recieved that memo.
Once you owe Alfie Watson Money, that's it you belong to him and you pay back for as long as he decideds and in whatever way he sees fit. He's a nasty piece of work.
A brilliant gangland thriller that fan's of this genre will love. I can highly recommend it.

Was this review helpful?

A good read. I thought it was a bit simplistic for the first half and I struggled with guessing which character was narrating on some chapters. However the second half of the book picked up pace. Overall an enjoyable read.

Was this review helpful?

Alfie is a gangster and a nasty piece of work.

When Gemma comes home to find her husband Nathan with blood on his face and up the wall, she suspects he's in trouble, Much to Gemma's shock Nathan admits that he borrowed £500 from Alfie for a business venture.

When Alfie walks into their bedroom in the middle of the night with two gorillas she is terrified, Nathan admits Alfie forced him to give him his door key also because he was late paying Alfie back he now owes him £5,000. Gemma is terrified. Will they ever repay Alfie and still be alive to see the end of this.

This is a cracking gangland book which will keep you gripped to the last page, well worth 5 stars.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. xx

Was this review helpful?

This book was amazing. Had so many twists I didn't see coming. Couldn't put it down at all. Can't wait to read this author work again... Amazing

Was this review helpful?

This is without a doubt an author that must be watched! I kept on checking if I didn't accidentally take a book by Kimberley Chambers, this is just how good this was! It had all the elements of an entertaining, thrilling and gripping crime fiction read, and kept me entertained until the very end. Highly recommended.

Was this review helpful?

Having read Ms Hartes previous books I was delighted to hear that she has a new book coming out. When I read the blurb I realised that this book was a totally different genre to this authors previous books and I was very excited to have the opportunity to read it. This book is an excellent gangland crime thriller. It is fast paced and will keep you gripped right up until the final page. I highly recommend this book .

Was this review helpful?

I was really enjoying this book and stupidly looked at the reviews on here. The very first review by Amanda M was full of spoilers and I am so peed off as it has totally ruined the book for me 😡😡😡

Five stars for the book up until I read the spoilers.

Was this review helpful?

Really enjoyed this book from a new author, my favourite genre, and this didn't disappoint - until the end!
One minute the couple are on the run from a notorious gangster, 3 pages later they've been let off & the books finished! Felt like I had missed a chunk & left me disappointed, but will look forward to the next instalment.

Was this review helpful?

A new author for me but i must say what a great book it is a rollercoaster ride and very addictive you won't want to put this book down i can highly recommend.5*

Was this review helpful?

I very much enjoyed this book and a new author for me Gemma is married to Nathan . he is a bit of a gambler .he borrows money from a notorious Gangster Alfie but .its not all about the money for Alfie he has a past with the family and he wants revenge this book is a rollercoaster ride very gripping and addictive I so recommend

Was this review helpful?

I was gripped and booked from the beginning. I really hope another will follow this book! Awesome,these and thrilling. Thank you so much for my ARC. Highly recommend this book. A must read with no spoilers for me! Wow

Was this review helpful?