Professional poker player Carla Wilson’s luck runs dry in Tucson, leaving her with nothing but an SUV running on fumes and a deed to the Tumbleweed Bus Stop and Diner in small-town Texas. Her plan to sell the café and move on seems simple enough—until she meets the motherly cook who rules the kitchen with an iron skillet and the sunny waitress who treats her like a sister.

Then there’s Jackson Armstrong. The ex-military heir of a wealthy oil family has green eyes that make Carla forget her cards and a smile that suggests he’s playing for keeps. With a pair of matchmaking senior citizens and the café’s morning regulars cheering from the sidelines, Carla’s wandering soul begins to feel at home.

Now she’s discovering everything she never knew she needed—true friendship, a place to belong, and a love worth going all in for. Maybe Lady Luck knew exactly what she was doing from the start.

~Standalone~

This is a no-spice romance with either closed doors or fade-to-black scenes. Tension and kisses might be involved 🙂

Title:  The Wild Card
Series:  Standalone
Author:  Carolyn Brown
Published:  December 9, 2025
Publisher:  Montlake
My Rating:  4.5 stars

In my experience, you just cannot go wrong with a Carolyn Brown novel, and The Wild Card proves that to be true once again.  If this is your first time reading this author, well, you are about to add another favorite author to your list.  Her stories are heartfelt, realistic, emotional, and full of characters that leap off the page and into your heart.

Carla may have thought that her luck had run dry, especially after she ignored her gut and kept on playing… and lost just about everything, aside from that deed to a diner in some small town in Texas.  She’ll crawl into town on empty fumes and discover something she’s rarely felt… connection, a place to (maybe) call home, and people who will matter, especially Jackson.

I loved everything about The Wild Card.  It’s well-written, with a full hand of emotions that will have you chuckling one minute and holding back tears in the next.  The secondary characters shine as much as Carla and Jackson do, and this town is full of quirky but lovable, dependable folks that you’d be proud to call neighbors.  There are a few surprises in store for you – and no, I won’t give them away – but you’re in for a treat with this one.  If you love a good, solid story with romance, found family, connections, and a sense of belonging, then you’ll love The Wild Card by Carolyn Brown.  I’d not hesitate to recommend this one, and encourage you to check out her backlist.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This title is available at Amazon