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.

I received a complimentary copy of All In from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In the beginning, I really hated Cami, quite an ungrateful, self-loathing, and oppositional character. I almost quit reading the book because she irritated me so much. At the point when I nearly put it down, something interesting..a bit like karma...had finally happened in her life to keep me engaged. Overall, I am glad I finished the book because I did appreciate the intended message of forgiveness and self-improvement, which I would have missed had I not finished it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Reader beware – All In premise reads like a mystery and a mystery it is not. Read the tag “Religion & Spirituality” and take heed. Don’t fall for the edgy contents of the first half of the book. Because two thirds in and it’s full judgmental prose. Oh wait, it was judgmental all along the writer just finally changed topics.

All In starts as a writer writing about a writer writing about New York and life. From the first page, the self-indulgence was painful. I wonder myself, if the actual writer has ever lived in New York and truly just lived. Having been here 8 years, it’s not the kind of wasteland that destroys people that’s described in these pages. That alone put me on my guard and raised my defenses in regard to this book. I’m not a fan of stories that go out of their way to put a place down, especially in ways that they clearly don’t truly understand the place to begin with. I was already mid book by the time I saw the “Religion & Spirituality” tag, a tag that takes a while to kick in, however, once it does, it does so with gusto. It does put in a bit of perspective to the “big bad city” theme that the author keeps circling around to.

The self-indulgence of All In, however, is pervasive and painful. The narration is such that the main character thinks she has a way with words, that hers are incredibly important, when in reality she speaks and sounds like any teenager trying to sound older than themselves. That way in which one tries to sound self-assured and confident, but they still don’t really know what those things mean. And that is what the main character is, childish and requiring great growth at the start of the story. She’s spends pages upset that Joel doesn’t think she’s letting him in, when her response is to get dressed and walk away and stew on it by herself.

All In is the story of a deeply unhappy woman, who doesn’t care if she becomes any happier. The author toes at ptsd reactions and therapeutic issues, while the character avoids them at all turns and fails to grow...UNTIL, the author gives her HIV and it's clear she must be cured by God of her slutty ways. I'm sorry, at this point the book became nothing short of insulting to actual people with illnesses and to be honest, the intelligence of Christians.

I don't mind a good Religion & Spirituality genre book, it's not my first pick, but I'm not a hater. This book however, goes out of it's way to say that God will cure your illnesses, while giving a wink and a nod "sure science". What I would hope is that the author thinks carefully about the people she could hurt with this book - not just physically with bad pseudoscience religiosity, but emotionally. People are better than what this book makes them out to be.

This review is scheduled to be posted on Thursday September 19th. Links will be added to this review at that time.

An incredibly well woven story of hope, pain, emotion and redemption. Seamlessly told by the author this book was so very real, there were times I felt like a voyeur in Cami's life and the trials she faces as we get a front and center seat in her personal journey that runs from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows and back again. It's a story of surrender and a deep longing for something other than.
It is captivating, beautiful and often painful, as you watch her make her way through her life and along the way is met with people who help her get to where she, in her heart deeply desires to be.
It's a story of belonging, becoming and beginning again. Absolutely breathtaking.
I cannot wait for this authors next book. This is a stellar read, her style and development are perfect.

arc from NetGalley and publisher

Title: All In
Author: L.K. Simonds
Publisher: Morgan James Fiction
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"All In" by L. K. Simonds

My Rationalization:

I will say I really enjoyed this read by L. K. Simonds even though it was not meant to be a pleasant or a comfortable read. When you are dealing with 'Human Immunodeficiency Virus' nothing can be said to be great about that!

This author really gives the reader something very important to think about during the realistic read. Yes, we will find Cami quite a mess but her road to redemption was a class act to follow with a storyline that will keep you quite engaged as you are turning the pages to see what was coming next.

Now when I said this was beautiful what I meant by that was how well this author delivers the story for all to understand. This was a read in how the story was so captivating and well written all the way to the end with descriptions that are simply amazing to read along with some very interesting characters. And I loved how the author presented this story in the t-person present tense. I will say as I read through the story I found it quite a tear joker for me with what was going on that the church visit. I especially loved this part of the story!

I will say the main reason I loved the read was because I was brought up in a church with both of my parents being ministers and I realized what was happening to Cami sounded so very real to me. Yes, it was raw and could have been something that could have happened. Yes, I do believe this could be exactly what can happen as we go through our daily lives with those who are having 'recreational sex with just anyone from ones past to one-night stands and seduction.'

By the end of the read, I do believe a lesson was learned whether it was a miracle or not. Definitely, it
is for you and you alone to decide to note that it is not for us to decide what is a horrible sin but let God show them the love and therefore letting God do the work of changing their lives as it was in the story. Now, I will also add I believe this novel will benefit the adult in the room rather than the teens, with the truth smacking us in the face with it as we see how Cami journeys to the correct transformation that for her she did not expect to happen. I can only leave the reader saying thank God Cami surrounded herself around the right people [Kate] as she was beginning to spiral out as the story brings us though 'the relationships, struggles, self-discovery, to final redemption!' Yes, again I loved the read.

Thank you to NetGallery and Morgan James for the read and my voicing my honest opinion of the read.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC! I probably spent 90% of this book trying to figure out what the heck the purpose was. Is it an adventure, love, redemption, what?? I finally figured it out, but I watched a woman (who reminded me of the main character in Sharp Objects) just make terrible decisions and not care about herself or others at all. Then all of a sudden the purpose hits, and I just couldn’t buy it. The style was also very stiff and just strange. So I guess this book is Christian lit? Totally bizarre and thrown in too close to the end. I don’t get it. I didn’t care for it.
FYI adult novel with a lot of sexual situations and alcohol and drug use and profanity

Reflections From My Bookshelves
REFLECTIONS FROM MY BOOKSHELVES
All In by LK. Simonds
All In by LK. Simonds
Cami Taylor: a blackjack dealer, a bestselling author, and a fraud. Cami’s boyfriend, Joel, loves her in spite of her flaws. He wants to marry her, buy a house on Long Island, and raise a family–a life that’s a million miles from Cami’s idea of happiness. Her therapist suggests compromise and trust, but Cami bolts like a deer. She breaks off the relationship and launches on a new quest for happiness, not knowing that a nasty surprise waits around the corner. What follows is a fight to the death. Who will be the one left standing?





PURCHASE LINKS: Amazon: All In
My Review
When I first started this book I was not sure if I would like it. It is about a women who is living life to the fullest in today’s standards. Within the first five chapters is a sex scene that is not explicit but more discriptive then I liked. There was only one other. Overall, the book is clean in that regards.
I decided to keep reading and found myself more drawn into the story. Cami was an interesting person to get to know. Written through her perspective, I found it to be a fresh look at someone searching for Truth. Many questions even Christians struggle with were mentioned. She also is a writer and that was cool to read about. References to the book she wrote about a blackjack dealer is sprinkled throughout the boon. I found her to be realistic and relatable to readers.

This story has a wonderful redemptive message. It was a little more charasmatic then I’m used to but that is ok. The message of Christ’s love & forgiveness is clearly shown and that’s awesome.

I think the reader can learn along with Cami valuable truths.

I recommend this book to most everyone.

I received this book from the publisher to read and give my honest opinion. All thoughts are my own.

This ain't your mama's Christian Fiction book.
THANK. GOD.
As the person in charge of ordering Christian Fiction at my public library, I am sick of ordering silly and fluffy Christian Fiction novels that always seem to be trite and saccharine. (And with bonnets on the cover... what's up with that???)
This is a gritty novel that sucks you into Cami's carefully controlled and self-constructed world. I love the fact that Ms Simonds doesn't pull any punches (promiscuity, casual sex, alcohol and drug use and HIV/aids). I adore the fact that Cami is an accurate portrayal of humanity - excessive cynicism and all.
My favourite part though? The lyrical and gentle way that Cami gets exposed to the concept of Jesus, and how organically she is introduced to Him.
Now - the ending where it all wraps up neat and tidy in a shiny bow (healed of HIV, life together, new home in Texas with a great job) is a bit cookie cutter for me, but I find myself ruminating on Cami and how unabashedly honest Ms Simonds is with portraying her life.
Thank you for writing something so refreshing and new! I look forward to reading her next novel.

This book started out a bit different from most Christian fiction I am used to reading, or at least what I would consider Christian fiction. I guess, the fact is, the writing is truly a reality of the world we live in, however, I was quite uncomfortable reading various parts of the book that were a little more detailed than I typically find appealing. There was quite a bit of sex outside of marriage, a hook-up, drinking, smoking, etc.... and I was eager to see where the author was going with all this....

Cami was an interesting character. She honestly seemed like the typical woman in today's day and age. She had some serious emotional issues, stemming from growing up in a dysfunctional family, but she was working on addressing them. Those "issues" played out in her every day life choices. However, this book is also a tale of redemption. I think one of my favorite people in the book is Kate. She seemed to radiate peace and joy.

I would warn against younger teens reading this book due to content. As for recommending... if you are not opposed to reading a book that has pre-marital sex, alcohol, and a pretty liberal lifestyle broadcast on the pages, then you will probably enjoy it. If your views are very conservative, this may not be the one for you.

I received a copy of this book courtesy of the author and Celebrate Lit. I was not asked to review positively and all opinions are my own.

Oh my this book is quite the read. This is a tough book to review. Not that the book was bad on the contrary. it has a lot of depth and deep topics worth pondering on. This is a cautionary tale that shows that all decisions have consequences.

The MC, Cami, is self-absorbed and has a ton of issues she dealing (or avoiding) with. She is truly a flawed character. There was one point in the book that I just wanted to give her a purse whoppin’ and to tell her to get a grip. Yes she got on my nerves that much.

What I did like about this story was getting to see Cami mature and grow as a person throughout the story. Especially the last third of the story. Amongst the difficult issues going on in the plot, this story also touched on hope, compassion, and redemption.

The character are well written and the plot overall was well done. It’s the kind of story that was hard to put down once I had started it. I did enjoy delving into this one.

All this being said, I must warn. This is a more mature book (18+ audience) mainly because of the subject matter and issues discussed are tough topics. Though it is fairly clean (not squeaky clean though) and does not go into too many graphic details.

I still recommend this book and belief it should be on everyone’s TBR list, because it gives a realistic look into the lives and struggles a lot of modern people outside of the church deal with.

The biggest message that L.K Simonds expressed throughout her novel is that of hope, inspiration, and ambition. Throughout reading this book, I continuously felt myself rooting for Cami despite her many faults because it shows how you can always find what you need and fix what you don’t like with your life. In the last few years it has been my mission to achieve my goals and get our act together so it was so easy to relate with the character. The connection was real and before I knew it there I was immersed in Cami’s story and genuinely enjoying the roller-coaster ride.

All the many bumps in the road made the story entertaining because that is what real life is and as a reader it does leave an impact when you find yourself completely sucked into the character’s drama. Without a doubt this story is not for the light hearted and is a bit of a heavy read with real deep human issues at the forefront. Cami is a train wreck but as a reader it is easy to chuckle at her and love the personality of this troubled woman. She is very difficult to describe but when truly searching what comes to mind is admirable, strong, and stubborn. Cami does have a lot going for her with the attitude and the want to succeed. The struggle is one I know all too well. Loved seeing it play out in Cami’s mind. This kind of character is one you don’t forget easily.

L.K Simond’s has a very nice writing style, one that isn’t too quick and also doesn’t drag on. The book flowed smoothly and the dialogue fit well. One thing I hate sometimes when reading books for review or just because I love reading is when the author begins at a crawl but before the reader knows it, the pace is now at a full run with no room to think or breathe. It is off putting but the rhythm of this novel was extremely fluid and well done. The surprises and twist of the novel were pleasantly unexpected. Going into this novel I wasn’t expecting such a dark tale and absolutely couldn’t get enough!

My Thoughts on All In:
All In is a debut novel that hits it out of the park. Prepare to be captivated and not leave the pages of the book until you’ve devoured every word.

Okay, honest time. I started this book. And then I put it down and read another. It wasn’t that it wasn’t written well. Because it is wel written. It’s a really really good book once you get past the first few chapters.

Cami is very self-absorbed. And there are some words and scenes and things within the covers of this book that I’m not on board with. But, despite those, or because of them, this is still a wonderful book.

All In shares about the deep soul-saving redemptive love of God. It challenges us to look deeper and go deeper. While Cami matures and becomes less self-absorbed we get new ideas and new thoughts on her as a person but also on us as individuals and as followers of Christ.

Do I recommend All In as a good book? Yes, I do. But, I do want people to go into it with eyes wide open. There are some scenes that I truly think could have been left out. Words could have been left out(yes I’m talking curse words) and some activities like drugs/alcohol could have been left out. They’re in here though. Know this when you start reading.

I did not know this and that’s why I did take a break from the book. I came back, I restarted the book, and I finished the book. But while reading the book I did have to dig deep. It made me think and it challenged me. That is why I recommend it and think you might want to give it a read.

This is not one I would recommend for teens. In fact, my copy was a physical copy and I’m passing it on to other adults to read so that it does not stick around in my house for a teen to pick up. My teens are 14 and under and this is not something I want them reading at this point in their lives.

Gambling. All In shows you a parallel between life and cards. I’m not a card player. In fact, if it’s not solitaire chances are I have no clue what you’re talking about. This did leave me a little lost to the connection a few times, but I muddled through it.

So in conclusion. I’m not sure what genre I’d classify this book besides Christian fiction. I would classify it as an adult only book.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

This was a heavy read. Not in that it was boring or without merit, far from it, actually, but in that Cami’s character is so agnostic, and her behavior so deeply ingrained in acts that gamble her very life, made the reading uncomfortable.

Cami’s spiritual journey doesn’t quite begin until halfway through the book, and even once it does begin, it’s a plodding pace. Which it should be. Cami is not one who will be led to Christ through any old means, and her concerns take many pages to iron out. I don’t hold that against her.

What’s important is the journey itself. And what a journey.

This is not your average book, and that is a blessing.

Cami is dealing with a lot of problems relevant to today’s society. Combining a mixture of alcohol, drugs, and sex, along with the consequences of those three, into a Christian Fiction book could have gone horribly wrong. L.K. Simonds keeps your mind out of the gutter while forcing you to see the deep hurt within Cami.

Every decision has a consequence, as Cami is about to learn.

The truth hurts. While she might write herself a new story, only God can erase the pain harbored deeply in Cami’s soul. Cami is the type of character who breathes with real life. Her actions are heartbreakingly familiar and something I’ve seen in person.

While I might have had a few headbutts with some of the theology, I certainly don’t begrudge All In for the viewpoints expressed. We’re all allowed an opinion.

And although I cannot recommend this book for everyone as it would be too difficult for some younger readers to understand, if you don’t mind a little hard truth about the darker side of life, I encourage you to read this one.

I requested a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I am impressed by L.K.Simonds writing. This gal really knows how to quickly pull the reader into her story-world and keep him there until the very end.