Cover Image: All In

All In

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"All In" was overall just an okay story for me. It didn't grab me as much as I thought it would and it definitely has a few pacing issues.

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I was attracted to the title of the book because I’m a poker player, and I must admit that I overlooked the fact that it is a Christian novel. I haven’t really read any Christian books before, but I actually still really enjoyed the story. The author has an engaging and interesting writing style and I became invested in the main character early on, before I even realised the kind of book I was reading. I would recommend to anyone.

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This book is really well written, but, it just didn’t grab me like I had hoped it would. I found it to be somewhat slow in some parts for me, so I would read a few chapters, then switch to another book, and go back to it. I kept hoping it would hook me at some point, and that just never seemed to happen.

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I wasn’t at all sure what to expect with L.K. Simonds’s novel, “All In.” The cover made me curious, was this a hustle? Why the gambling picture? If so, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read it. Still, I checked out the first page and liked what I saw, so decided to give it a try. I’m glad I did.

Cami Taylor is an author who lives in New York and who is as empty and hopeless as we come. In the first few chapters, she goes to a shrink in order to forestall the inevitable breakup with her boyfriend. She’s afraid of commitment to the extent that she won’t allow anyone past surface level, nor will she consider going to the next level with Joel, and his big family. She doesn’t want to be hurt, though she can’t admit it. Hey, I get it: life is tough. In the end, “All In” holds no punches, even when showing how meaningless is casual sex. Indeed, for Cami, everything is meaningless.

Meanwhile, Simonds—well in the background—works magic. This is a well-written book about what happens when a lost soul meets kind souls, the kind who see and take the time for men and women in need, in multiple ways. Of course, our Cami must hit rock bottom, and she must open her heart up to others. Exactly how this all happens, is well worth the read. Complex and full of interesting characters and events, “All In” is the first “gritty faith” novel I’ve read. I actually think I like it even better than other faith-based novels. In the end, it comes across as more truthful.

Thank you to the author and publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Well Done.

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Sometimes We Need the Ugly to Embrace the Beautiful
When I read the synopsis for All In, I was. All in. I pictured a book pretty much like I got. The synopsis is spot-on without giving away the whole plot, either.

I didn’t like Cami at first, and I don’t think I was supposed to. However, like I was supposed to, I did feel sorry for her. I even wanted to pray for her.

Told in first-person present tense (and better than most with that style), the story keeps you engaged as you almost plead with her to give up a life that from the outside, looks soooooooooo empty. Seriously, I just ached for her. Ached.

L.K. Simonds can write… and well. She kept me riveted to pages of a life that shouldn’t have interested me. It did, because, as I said, Simonds made me care about Cami—even when I didn’t like her.

This isn’t your typical Christian fiction. In fact, I suspect many Christians (and a significant number of my readers) wouldn’t enjoy this book. It’s raw, real, and shows a side of life we like to pretend doesn’t exist. I feel a little like Jack Nicholson right now—like I should warn that the book reaches… “deep down in places you don’t talk about at [church].”

She addresses irresponsible and selfish sex. Blatantly. She doesn’t pretend it’s anything but what it is. We aren’t treated to details that don’t belong in our minds, but Simonds does leave no doubt in those minds of exactly what and why what happened… did. From recreational sex with just anyone in the past to one-night-stands and seduction, it’s all in here and yet, I don’t feel like I’m soiled for reading it.

That takes skills.
Drugs—why and why not. How. The desperation. The reasons people go after them and why they shouldn’t—all without preaching. Not even once.

Excessive alcohol, cigarettes smoked like nobody’s business, deception, blatant lies… they’re all in here without apology… I hope I don’t give away spoilers when I say, but not without redemption.

A few things I must mention. There are a few words in All In that many readers will object to. Yes, they’re what the character would have said. No, I don’t think they should have been included. Yes, I’d still buy the book knowing they were there. They weren’t gratuitous on the part of the author—just on the part of the character. And in some English-speaking cultures, they aren’t considered foul words. Just throwing that out to give an idea of which ones they might be.

No, I’m not writing them down. 😉
Additionally, I cannot say what it was without giving away plot points and stuff, but I will say that the author believes things I do not. As a result, there are a few things near the end (they are alluded to in the last third of the book or so) that I disagree with theologically. However, they aren’t pushed. I can’t decide if I like what she did with that or not. Part of me wishes she hadn’t… another part… I don’t know. I’m torn.

Recommended to people who aren’t afraid to deal with “edgy” fiction, people who love deeply redemptive stories, and who need a beautiful picture of the mess God has cleaned out in their hearts.

And, I’m going to make an unexpected recommendation for certain teens. If you’ve got a teen who cannot see the dangerous path they crave for the glittering lights covering it, this might be a realistic eye-opener. It’s not preachy, but it does wrap a dose of Biblical medicine on every page.

Do not regret requesting a review copy, grateful for the free one I received, and this one I’m keeping. Not only that, I think it might make my top books of 2019.

I think All In is an important book.

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This book is a fast and easy read. I completed this book in one sitting. The first two chapters captured my attention and kept it through to the end. You can tell the author took the time to research to develop the main character’s storyline fully. Cami’s interaction with her therapist seems both comic and realistic. I enjoyed how the author allowed the reader into the mind of the main character. The author hits a lot of key points in the novel during the unfolding of the plot. The plot thickens with Cami getting results from her latest physical that was requested by her therapist. She gets some test results that change the trajectory of her life leading her to contemplate the life she has lived thus far. The author uses Kate, the stranger who says they’re related, to show Cami what compassion looks like and guide her to God. This Christian based novel dives into the relief of finding God when you’re at your weakest. In the Bible it discusses that God does his best work when you are at your weakest. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says “9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” As Christian, I enjoyed the fact that the author allowed the character to fall apart and then find Christ. It was an exceptional part of the novel for me to see Cami transformed and essentially healed physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I like how the author did not dramatize the depiction of her coming to God and releasing full control. I am not going to tell you the results of her test results but reading it was like “Woah.” I’ve never read a novel that describes parts of my life and no one talks about that in novels often.

I thoroughly enjoyed the entirety of this novel and the baseline it was crafted on. I did feel a few areas of the novel could have been developed more such as I wanted more from her story with Joel and more at the ending. I do hope there is a second book so we can see how Cami progressed after coming to God. If you’re looking for a Christian influenced novel that focuses on recovery, self-realization, self-forgiveness, and spiritual growth then this is your novel. I read this book in one sitting and could not put it down until I finished it.

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Note - 4.5 stars

“Oh, no, I’ve always believed in God. It never made any sense to me the way some people think the world just happened, just pulled itself together. Things always seem to be going the other direction, you know? Falling apart.”

My initial disclaimer that I am mentioning again is that I do not read book synopses when I’m reviewing a book. It is my process where I allow the story to unfold for me with each turn of the page. All I really knew about All In is that it had a Christian theme. The story itself I am thoroughly spellbound by.

For L.K. Simonds’s breakout novel she has done a spectacular job with the tough subjects of illness and religion spiraling around her main character, Cami. Cami’s illness is not something that is ever going to go away completely, but All In handled this touchy topic in a profound way. It reminded me of my own personal dealings with a man named Alan who died after getting the same diagnosis. Simonds interjects the religious aspects impeccably.

Cami is truthfully a character that is unforgettable and somewhat relatable. The entirety of her not-so-short life is one that is well-lived, yet self-destructive. As the story progresses Cami thinks she does not need anyone and yet as the story evolves, her walls break down and what she finds, in the end, is love and redemption.

While I question many of my own beliefs around God, All In did leave me inspired to read Corinthians.

Another moment of honesty: before I left for a weekend trip to New Mexico with a friend, I got a text from a family member who said she was going to pray for me. I was about 100 pages into the book when the text came. After finishing this story I kind of sat in stunned silence wondering not of the connection – but marveling if there is a God, an all-knowing power beyond what I can ever comprehend.

For readers who are looking for something to read that is a gritty and refreshingly real story that does not propel religion with every turn of the page but makes you question religion for the better – then check out All In.

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I found All In by L.K. Simonds was an excellent book that showed how one person, Cami, lost her way in life and her journey brought her from drugs, sleeping around, and keeping at arm's length to finding Christ and finding an honest and fruitful balance to her life. All In demonstrated that no matter how lost in the dark one is, there's always light and God at the end of the tunnel if we're willing to work for it. I loved how read this book was and that no matter what, faith in oneself and Christ/God will always raise you up and bring you joy and hope. Thank out NetGalley for introducing me to a new author. This was my honest opinion.

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"What's it like to want all the right things?"

ALL IN by L.K. Simonds is a literary wonderland of metafiction, symbolism, and imagery. Cami Taylor is almost 30, hails from Phoenix, lives in New York City, and is writing her second novel on the heels of her first bestseller. Cami is like everyone else on the planet. She is both ordinary and unique. She is a successful author, an only child of parents who were not young when she was born, an ex-blackjack dealer, and promiscuous. She currently loves Joel and enjoys their relationship, but unlike him, she is not ready to attach those strings. What's a girl to do? Cami warily heads into therapy but without the open-minded conviction that it will do any good.

Cami Taylor is also an agnostic. Her spiritual journey throughout ALL IN may not fit the mold of the standard Christian Fiction or imitate what many Christians have experienced in their own journey, but her sojourn is a valid one—slow and subtle before becoming completely chaotic and frenetic. L.K. Simonds brilliantly illustrates through Cami that there certainly must be more than one road to Damascus. Cami's experience is raw and laden with wreckage and heartache, but it is hers and hers alone and thus beautifully authentic.

When a distant relative contacts her and wants to connect, Cami reluctantly agrees. Kate is an older cousin who is warm and inviting, and she is an integral part of the overall story. When Cami receives some life-shattering news, she retreats to Dallas, Texas, and into Kate's welcoming, unconditional embrace. While Cami is the protagonist here, Kate must not be overlooked for what she represents. She is a wife and mother, but she also epitomizes the very essence of Christianity—faith, hope, love, tolerance, patience, mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Moreover, Kate embodies the dichotomy of the biblical Martha and Mary in that she both serves and listens. With Cami, Kate easily knows when to advance and when to retreat, always with open arms and gentle hands that soothe, guide, and catch Cami when she dramatically falls and steady her when she rises from the ashes.

The dynamic Christian conversion story is weaved throughout this highly entertaining novel, and the ending may catch readers off guard and leave them wide eyed and filled with whatever emotion they are willing to receive—wonder, skepticism, acknowledgement, disbelief, or perhaps even hope.

For a debut novel, Simonds knocks it out of the literary park. The pacing is moderate, and the prose lures you into Cami's edgy existence. While all the characters are intricately portrayed, Cami is, of course, the main attraction. She is agonizingly flawed, cynical, and often infuriating, yet she is also touchingly vulnerable, especially when her internal protective barrier begins to crumble, and her proverbial path to spiritual enlightenment becomes illuminated.

If you appreciate evocative literary fiction that sparks conversation, debate, and maybe even some self-reflection, then ALL IN by L.K. Simonds is the perfect book for you.

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ALL IN does not have not your typical Christian fiction protagonist. Successful author Cami Taylor is not sweet, nor gentle. She has hard edges, smokes, drinks, and is emotionally detached. On the surface, actually, she’s a pretty unlikeable character – and as this book is billed as Christian fiction, it didn’t mesh with my expectations right from the start.

I was intrigued.

Author L.K. Simonds drops tidbits all around that provide insight on WHY she is so detached, jaded, and (dare I say) emotionally damaged, and when her boyfriend suggests therapy – and Cami actually goes – we get the hint that she really doesn’t want to be this way either, and I was drawn even further into the story.

“When I examine the situation in the cold light of day, I see precious little to look forward to as far as relationships go. Apparently, the road to happiness must be traveled in vehicles I loathe: Sacrifice. Compromise. Surrender.”

The plot maintains a moderate pace as the story unfolds, and Simonds does an excellent job of developing the world that Cami lives in. The strength of the book, however, was its characters. Each one provides an opportunity to reveal a little bit more insight into Cami, and each is well crafted. Kate is very much everything that Cami is not – gentle where Cami is all sharp edges, forgiving and open vs guarded. Her scenes with Sam – however brief – are impactful and a turning point for her.

“Oh man! What I wouldn’t give to believe something that wonderful. I wish I had such a safety net to catch me as I’m falling, as I’m falling even now. Some belief – I don’t care what, it doesn’t matter – into which I could trust myself to plunge without harm. But I’m a skeptic tottering on the edge of a dark, bottomless pit, with no safety net, no lifeline, and nothing below to break my fall.”

Cami’s relationship with her faith does change and grow as the book progresses. I loved how her connection starts with words – as a writer, she first connects with the flow and the beauty in a bible passage, and it draws her in and provides her with peace. The manner in which her faith progresses was another area that diverges from my usual experiences with Christian fiction – this is no gentle series of God reaching through. Staying consistent to the book, her journey is explosive and abrupt.

Cami gets dealt a pretty terrifying, life-changing blow midway through the novel, and her response to it was in line with her character. However, as the story reaches its culmination, it goes in an unexpected direction (no spoilers) and I was admittedly initially a bit disappointed with the way it was handled because it felt like the easy way out. Or, perhaps, because the author HAD dragged me in, I was hooked, and things kind of spun out in a direction that I couldn’t connect with.

But, this is the author’s tale, not mine, and the path Cami travels is reflective of the charismatic church that Kate worships at. It was difficult at the onset to separate out my differences in faith with those in the book, and how I felt about the direction it took. Also, while some books either gently edge around faith, working it in seamlessly or are in your face and preachy, this story comes from a place of total lack of faith at all and then turns a corner and punches the gas, hard. It’s not a smooth progression – it’s jarring and overwhelming, reflective of Cami’s journey.

However, this book is ultimately about one woman’s journey – one that is wrought with jagged emotion, raw and real. It was refreshing to see Christian fiction depicting a fully flawed, complicated, imperfect person on their path to faith. It is a powerfully written tale.

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All In reminds me of a coming-of-age story, but it’s not. As a matter of fact, the main character has already been “around the block” more times than most. However, this story is more about self-discovery in the face of adversity.

This story is labeled as Christian Fiction - and that is certainly true, particularly near the end - but it is nevertheless a story that can and will raise emotions in a reader. Although slow in the beginning, Simonds finds a nice pace around the middle of the book, and she continues that through the end of the story.

**Meet Cami - All In’s Main Character**

Cami is definitely not a mild-mannered protagonist that will melt your heart. Actually, it’s likely that some of her life choices and mannerisms will clash with those often found in main characters. But that’s precisely what makes Cami such a marvelous protagonist.

Cami is flawed in so many ways. She’s a successful author, currently working on her second novel, but her personal life leaves more to be desired. She seems to have it all, but is it really what she needs? After a breakup with her boyfriend, she seems to question what she wants in life and how to attain it. She then gets some life-altering news, and she has a very difficult time accepting it.

Along Cami’s journey, she meets Kate. A distant relative, Kate is the complete opposite of Cami. She seems to have life all figured out. When she offers Cami refuge from her life, at Kate’s Dallas home, Cami eventually accepts. Cami’s time in Dallas changes everything.

I think Cami is a main character I won’t easily forget.

**Technically Speaking**

This book was very well edited. I didn’t note any SPAG errors.

Cami’s character arc, as you can imagine, is huge. (But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to predict where it goes. You might be surprised.) This character arc - the changes in Cami - really drives the story.

I’d love to tell you more about how this story made me feel, but I couldn’t do so without dropping spoilers. I will say, though, that it definitely moved me.

This is a great story, and I highly recommend it.

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When I first read the synopsis for this book, I was instantly "all in." I love my fiction dark, swathed in danger, and that leads readers into the exploration of all the shades of gray that life has to offer within the safe confines of the book's pages. As a Christian myself, I was excited to see this story introducing "gritty" aspects that are not typically found within the genre and how it would navigate bleaker themes while keeping its audience in mind. This is a difficult read, but one that needed to be told. Life can be devoid of hope. People can experience a crisis of faith. And it's okay to discuss those concerns within the Christian fiction community in a respectful and open-minded way. Beautifully written and emotionally engaging, this is an example of the kinds of faith-based stories I would like to see more of; however, as long as you can remember that even within the Christian faith we all worship differently, the ending may seem less shocking and more of a direct acknowledgment to the miracles we believe are reflected in Christ's work.

"When I examine the situation in the cold light of day, I see precious little to look forward to as far as relationships go. Apparently, the road to happiness must be traveled in vehicles I loathe: Sacrifice. Compromise. Surrender."

For the most part, Cami's character is not very likable. As a debut bestselling author, she has a bit of a chip on her shoulder. She has commitment issues and intimacy is only a self-serving moment for carnal pleasure. While her future is primed for more novels, more money, more fame, more lovers, there is this lingering sense of loneliness and a lack of fulfillment that casts a shadow in the background. Though she admits early on that she needs to concentrate on feeding her soul, she has no idea what that means or how she would even know where to look for it. She is not a struggling believer or even someone looking to find faith, yet her slow progression to salvation is a testament to the religious narrative that proudly proclaims deliverance is never too late.

"I think people are the same no matter where you go. And frankly, a little undeserved kindness goes a long way to softening up the hard ones."

While redemption stories are always something to root for, I must say that Kate's character was the pièce de résistance to the awe-inspiring tale. As a distant relative, she enters Cami's life in an act of almost divine intervention. Kate embodies the spirit of Christ, modeling the idea of Grace that Christians should strive for every day. Exhibiting an aura of humility, connectedness, elegance, and charisma, she fully embraces the less fortunate with open arms, casts no judgments, or ever utters an ill word about anyone, even those who disappoint her greatly and frequently. She is not naive to the strife that affects the world, rather her confident and constant devotion is a direct foil to Cami's indifferent demeanor and flighty behavior. Her character and the relationship that is built with Cami is incredible to witness and every reason to give this book a chance.

You more than likely will step out of your comfort zone while reading this book; however, it might not be such a bad place to land. We all have different ways of looking at the world, and this story may put those views to the test. In much the same way that Cami eventually begins to look beyond herself and consider the perspectives of others, readers may have to open their minds a little to enjoy the uplifting message found by the end. This is raw. This is real. And it's definitely worth talking about.

Many thanks to Lone Star Book Blog Tours and the author for providing me with a free copy of the book. This is my honest and thoughtful review.

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4.5/5 STARS. It is a rare occasion when I know much about a book before I read it. With ALL IN, I knew there was some controversy over the book being categorized as Christian fiction – gritty, realistic, Christian fiction. Who wouldn’t be interested in exploring that? With my interest piqued, I read the book description and just like the book’s title, I was ALL IN.

“Manhattan lays out a daily smorgasbord of humanity. Old and young, rich and poor, bourgeois and Bolshevik…all together, they form a single living organism, a New York amoeba, shaping itself to the sidewalk container, shrinking from the overflowing wastebaskets and ubiquitous vendors.”

The strength of ALL IN is in the vivid descriptions of people and places. Author L.K. Simonds writes with panache; her use of figurative language and carefully selected word choices (she bussed his cheek) ensnare and hold captive the reader. Truly, Simonds’s sentences are some of the most well-written I’ve read in some time. The writing is cerebral, and sentences are heavy with meaning, each giving readers more insight into main character Cami’s mind and heart. But much is also said between the lines, and while the story is a page-turner, there is much to be gained by mindful reading.

“Jackie wasn’t just a dealer. She was a gambler too. Always laying it all on the line, hoping for the big payoff.”

The cover image of ALL IN, which also piqued my interest, is highly representative of Cami’s life, but it’s nuanced. Sure, there is an obvious connection: Cami took a job as a blackjack dealer in a casino in order to research and accurately write Jackie, the main character of her bestselling book. But it goes much deeper than that. In writing Jackie, Leona Camille Lingo becomes author Cami Taylor – who lives vicariously through her character, Jackie. Sound complicated? It is. Gambling is an apt metaphor for Cami Taylor’s life.

Readers need to be aware that ALL IN is not a book about a struggling Christian finding God: Cami is not a believer. She is self-aware, pragmatic even, about her lack of faith and self-destructive behavior and doesn’t worry about her soul. Does she sin? Well, yeah. She is human, and humans, whether they call themselves Christian or not, are sinners. Readers know Cami’s is a redemption story, and despite the divine intervention of having Kate dropped into Cami’s life, it takes the whole book to get there (seriously - to the final twenty pages). Truly, the book’s structure itself reflects the never-too-late religious narrative.

Regardless of one’s personal beliefs, I recommend readers be open-minded and remember that we all worship differently. Admittedly, the Pentecostal way in which Cami finally accepts Jesus Christ as her savior is outside my comfort zone. And while I believe in Jesus’ power to heal, I struggled to suspend my disbelief with how Cami’s conversion ultimately unfolded, and I think this could have been written a little differently to not alienate some readers.

For me, it took effort to step back here and not let the ending negate from the experience of reading the book. But step-back I did, and I am left with a book that I would easily recommend to others who can be non-judgmental about belief systems other than their own. The writing is stunning, the story is enthralling, and ALL IN is a powerful, realistic, story that gloriously builds to one life-changing, lifesaving, defining moment.

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All In delves into the human psyche and digs deep for the truth.  A truth that is revealed by the actions of Cami and those around her.

This is not your typical Christian fiction book, so if you are opposed to nitty gritty situations in your books, then you won't want to read this one.  BUT if you like to see how faith in God can change a person from the lowest depths to the highest levels, then you will want to read this novel.  Cami is the kind of character that many will be able to relate to because her life is not picture perfect.  She may have achieved success as an author, but something is missing.  It takes connecting with distant family and a life altering event before Cami realizes the destructive path she is on and if she doesn't change her life will not be what she wants.

I will admit that the first half of this book was slow and I wondered if Cami was going to find her way or she was going to keep floundering with her writing, her family, or her life.  But about halfway through the book, there is a revelation that changes everything and from that point on I was hooked on the book and had a hard time putting it down.  How was Cami going to handle this situation?  What about her new relationship with Kate (a distant cousin)?  How was she going to handle this news?

Chapter 23 is one of the best chapters, in my mind, because it centers around a discussion between Cami and Kate about faith, God, life, and the direction Cami is headed.  I could have quoted most of the chapter because I felt so much of it was poignant. I think it was also a turning point for Cami and Kate was instrumental in facilitating the new path despite Cami's reluctance to open her heart and life to others.  Cami hides so much of her life from everyone and, in a way, she is much like the character Jackie in her book.  Living life on the edge but without a real purpose.  Is what she missing faith and God?  Only Cami can discover that and it isn't an easy sell.

A large portion of this book is set in Dallas where Kate lives and Cami visits.  I was surprised to discover that Christ for the Nations Institute is a real place in Dallas.  It is a charismatic non-denominational church and I'm not sure I believe what was described in the book, but I can't say it couldn't happen either.  The bible is full of miracles so anything is possible.  The only question that wasn't answered is why Kate and her husband left one church for this one.  Kate tells Cami she will tell her later but I do not remember that being answered.

These are some of my favorite quotes from the book:

"...but it seems like you're kinda dead emotionally.  Your characters feel all kinds of things, but do you?  It's almost like you're putting up a front all the time."

"In the half hour or so between first light and daybreak, the desert holds its breath.  Nothing moves. Not air. Not cactus flower. Not thermometer. Then the sun, in full bloom, crests the lumpy red mountains, and the birds abandon their night roosts with trills as clear as the air itself. By noon, you can grill tortillas on any sunny sidewalk, but the early mornings are perfect."

"A mother bear's protective instinct. Actually, more like wolverine."

"There's only one reality. Any other ideas on the subject are just existential crap."

"There's a big difference between hoping something will happen and arranging your life in such a way that it will happen, inevitably."

"We're all one bad hand away from disaster."

"That's an important thing about fiction, not only telling a story, but helping the reader see and feel things. Maybe even understand things, they wouldn't - couldn't - otherwise."

"At the time I wrote the book, I thought she played it well.  I still believe she played it well, but I'm not so sure I should've let her walk away unscathed. The game always costs us something."

"Cami, the end of your story haunts me. It breaks my heart to think about a young woman who's determined to go after a life that will destroy her."

"I used to think life would all make sense one day and have, you know, a beginning, a middle, and an end. But it won't. It never will because there's just one day on top of another until you have a whole string of them, a lifetime of them."

"This is Texas, the weather here turns on a dime." 

Overall I really enjoyed this book, especially the last half and felt that the story concluded and closed all storylines with no unanswered questions (other than the one I mentioned above).  We give this 5 paws up.

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I buy all the Fiction and Romance titles for the library system where I work, including Christian Fiction ("CF"). CF readers know to expect certain things from that genre: character-driven and faith based to some degree, with no profanity, graphic violence or sex contained therein. These stories are sometimes referred to as "gentle reads."

All In by L.K. Simmonds is classified as Christian Fiction, but it does not fall within the expectations of the genre. And so long as readers know that going into this well-written and engaging novel, there shouldn't be too much of a shock to the system. The author's approach to the way God lives and moves in our world today is different in some ways from my own, so other than an ending that was not quite what I was expecting, I enjoyed watching a character struggle with life in an often inexplicable world and find some hope and redemption in the end.

Cami Taylor is an author living in New York City who has recently published a very successful debut novel. She is living the dream: has a nice apartment, a loving boyfriend, and is close to finishing a second book. All that starts to fall apart when her boyfriend pushes her for a commitment and she realizes she doesn't want the life he does. He accuses her of being closed off and removed in their relationship and encourages her to see a therapist to try to figure out some of her "issues." She doesn't appreciate that (who would?) but goes anyway.

The scenes with the therapist are very realistic based on my own experiences, and we get to know a little more about Cami through them. She was an afterthought to her parents life, spent a lot of time alone, and was wasn't nurtured. She learned early on not to depend on anyone and to seek satisfaction in her life on her own. And boy, has she! She has had many lovers and casual one night stands, and her moral compass is far from what one usually sees in this genre. The sex scenes are tastefully written; but the point of them is that we begin to see the negative effects Cami's lifestyle is having on her, both physically and mentally. When she receives a shocking diagnosis, she escapes to Texas to stay with a recently discovered distant relative who is an evangelical Christian. Through her interactions with multiple characters in the second half of the book, Cami comes to grip with the mistakes of her past and begins to want a different life for herself.

There a few places in the book that I did find unrealistic, but I cannot go into details without spoiling the story for future readers. And, as a Christian myself, I do have different beliefs about how God interacts with his creation in our contemporary world; so the ending was not as satisfying to me as the first 3/4ths of the book.

What kept resonating with me is this: life is messy; we can be very selfish; we make mistakes, daily, and are not always sorry for them. Yet God loves us in spite of ourselves, and created a way of redemption for us all. Cami Taylor personifies this in her behavior and thoughts, and I could relate to her because she is very human. Not all Christian fiction readers may enjoy this one for the reasons I mentioned at the beginning of the review. But I am glad I got to witness Cami's journey as, in the end, she went All In.

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I LOVED the premise that L.K. Simonds wrote her first novel about a young writer in the aftermath of her own breakout novel. It is hard to write a character like this and not be turned off with how stuck up and arrogant they are, but Cami was beautifully portrayed written right on that border of dislike that actually became a source of empathy towards her and was very realistically portrayed. My favorite part of this book was how well she was portrayed. As much as I loved Kate, Cami was just so gritty and real. I enjoyed the contrast between this strong independent woman and the fear she had in emoting. I loved her trouble past, her denial and bitterness, and her pessimistic views of the world. I loved the honest look into therapy and the internal dialogue in those first few sessions. She originally was only going to please others in her life and slowly realized she wanted to continue going for herself. It was very real wondering why you are there, thinking that you don't need this, and the awkwardness of those first few conversations.

I'm always nervous picking up a Christian fiction thinking I'm going to be drowned in religious references and hammered with an overwhelming evangelical presence and the author is going to forget to focus on the story. I've encountered that many times before and this was not it. This is the best balance of a great fiction intertwining with religious elements that I've ever read and the two actually complemented each other very well. Since the author focused so outstandingly on this story and its development having the small glimpses into religion actually made them stand out and made them have more of an impact.

I did feel like the book was running out of time though getting into the last few chapters to have this revival I had envisioned. I wish it would have ended at the dining room table with Kate and left the reader with all kinds of warm fuzzies and the ability to ponder all the possibilities of her future, but instead almost decided it for us and took things a little too far. The only thing that prevented this from being a perfect rating for me was almost everything after the dining room table in that last chapter or two when the story was extended into the church scene. That scene was a little too unexpected for me not really fitting in with the rest of the story. I was happy to see at that dining room table the title finally making an appearance, but I think the cover with that title seemed very deceiving. I almost didn't pick this book up because I know nothing about gambling and knew I wouldn't understand any references, but the title and cover are far from a good representation. Gambling is briefly mentioned being the subject matter or her first book, but it is a background element to what is really going on. All In is truly about tragedy, redemption, hope, and a selfless love that saves.

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What I think you should know:
All In is the story of Cami a novelist and her journey to accepting herself and Christ. Cami was running from love and commitment. Self destructive behavior was part of her daily life due to this the book discusses causal sex and frequent alcohol use.

My opinion of this book:
I had a very hard time reading this book, I had to walk away from it several times in order to finish it. It is very raw and honest about behavior that is not acceptable to me and while I love many people who engage in those behaviors Cami was a very hard character for me to relate to or sympathize with. I did however enjoy many of the supporting characters in the book. I also have an issue with the fact that makes it appear as though becoming a Christian is a magic switch that makes people forget about their past behavior and no longer struggle with it.

With all of that said I would try another book from Simonds if it did not have the same type of storyline.

I received a complimentary copy for this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

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All In by LK Simonds is a great debut novel. I had heard that there was some pushback on the novel being Christian Fiction, and I can see why it was different than some might have expected. All In is a gritty book, and the protagonist is not particularly likable. She has found "success" as a writer, has a loving boyfriend, and what many would see as a good life, but she keeps getting in her own way. Honestly, I worried that Cami would keep digging herself into a hole that she wouldn't be able to get out of. As Christian Fiction is not a genre that I often read because it can feel heavy handed, I also worried that it would not fit into the story. Kudos to LK Simonds, however, for finding a way to blend the grit and redemption into a detailed combination.

This was a somewhat difficult story to read because it shows a side of life that many like to pretend doesn't exist. I can see where it would be a turn off for readers looking for a more traditional Christian Fiction. Instead, LK Simonds addresses selfish motives and poor choices -- irresponsible and meaningless sex, drug and alcohol use and abuse, deception and desperation. But there is also redemption and forgiveness, caring for others with no ulterior motive, all tied together in descriptive language and excellent storytelling.

Good work by a promising author.

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This was an incredibly good book. It is a message of hope and is well paced. I cheered for Cami on her journey and feel that we have all been there in one way or another. Well done.
Many thanks to Morgan James Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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When I finished this book I say to myself “wow”. Cami has quite a life. A wild life. She is a writer and her book reflects her life. I really got involved in Cami character.

This book had me really involved and I was able to get things off my mind while reading it. Not very books does that. Lately it has been hard for me to keep my mind on the story. This book kept my attention.

This is one of those books that is hard to write a review. I have to be very careful not to give spoilers. I definitely recommend reading it.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit. This review is my own opinion.

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