Good Hands

by Maggie C. Gates

Statistics professor Amelia Hawthorne never expected to find herself in a rundown Atlantic City casino. But here she was, counting cards to help pay off her brother’s debt under the watchful eye of the mysterious Judah Greear.

The last thing Jude wanted to do was kidnap the hot brainiac, but orders were orders. Especially when they came from legendary mob boss John Valentine.

Now, Jude must choose between duty and desire. Will he protect the girl who sees past the tattoos and mugshots or save himself?

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Forced Proximity, Suspense, He Falls First, Military Fiction, Enemies To Lovers

442 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 2, 2026

About the author

Maggie Gates writes raw, relatable, romance novels packed full of heat and humor. Maggie calls North Carolina home. In her spare time she enjoys daydreaming about her characters, jamming to country music, and eating all the barbecue and tacos she can find! Her Kindle is always within reach due to a love of small town romances that borders on obsession.

Reviews

[Megan Coggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie Gates is my favorite author for a reason.
This was so good!

Where do I start?
She’s a statistic professor and he’s a casino bouncer man.
But he’s a former navy seal. Little hidden identity action.
He’s hot and tattooed.
Little broody/grumpy x sunshine action

It’s romantic suspense.
And trust me you don’t see the twists all coming at you.
She turns into a card 🦈
There’s chloroform and they go on the run.

There’s a one bed cabin situation.
She’s a virgin.
So we’ve got good girl x bad boy.

The one liners in this were too good 🤣🤣🤣 that was me cackling.

OMG I want to reread this and go back and try to pick up clues. Cause the plot was weaved beautifully.

And the cameos! If you’ve read Maggie Gates, you’re gonna be shouting “I KNOW THEM!”

Catch me shouting from the rooftops for everyone to read this.
Ate and left no crumbs.

Arc review ✨

[Amity Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Maggie Gates book and this will absolutely not be my last! This had me hooked from the beginning and just kept sucking me in! I loved the romance aspect with all the added suspense!! This one kept me on my toes & absolutely hit me with some twists!!

Jude & Amelia were everything! He is the ultimate grump who underneath it all found a soft spot for Amelia. & She is just a lovable, strong FMC who is always there for everyone. These two together were navigating some wild situations, but I absolutely loved the character growth they both had through their story!

This one gave me so many swoon worthy moments, tension, secrets, and emotional depth that had me feeling for these characters! This one was definitely a fun & wild ride that will keep you hooked! Highly recommend!

Thank you Maggie & @theauthoragency for this early copy!!

[Camii · Rating 4 out of 5]

"No pasará un día sin que me despierte pensando en cómo protegerla y servirla por encima de todo lo demás"

Es el primer libro que leo de esta autora y la verdad es que me gusto bastante además fue entretenido de principio a fin y tuvo bastantes sopresas inesperadas que me hicieron sentir ¿Engañada?

Amelia tiene una vida bastante tranquila y solitaria, ella trabaja como profesora de estadística y nunca tuvo una relación sentimental porque no se sintió atraída por nadie pero su vida da un giro cuando su hermano gemelo se mete en problemas con gente peligrosa y para ayudarlo decide usar su facilidad con los números para ganar dinero fácil en los casinos, pensando que sería fácil pero todo se complica cuando conoce a Jude seguridad del lugar quién le advierte que se aleje de allí porque esta en peligro y ella obvio no le hace caso y nuestro hombre días después la secuestra para protegerla porque tenía ordenes de matarla.

La relación de ellos fue muy linda. Ella fue secuestrada? Sip, pero el siempre fue amable con ella e intento que este los mas cómoda posible porque el la secuestro para ayudarla a estar segura y no quería que le hagan daño además desde el primer momento en que la vió ambos se sintieron atraídos y el con sus advertencias intento alejarla porque sabía que ella se estaba metiendo en problemas con gente peligrosa y no quería que se arriesgue por culpa de su hermano que parecía que solo la estaba usando para salir de apuros. Ambos tuvieron mucho crecimiento estando juntos y tenían bastante cosas en común, Amelia siempre fue una mujer que se preocupaba por todo el mundo y ella nunca era su propia prioridad y con Jude todo cambio porque ella se convirtió en su prioridad y el daría su vida solo para hacerla feliz porque ella era el sol que iluminaba sus días desde que la conoció y la amaba como nunca nadie lo había echo antes ♥️. No me esperaba lo del FBI y toda la investigación y me dejo muda eso 🧍🏻‍♀️. En fin ameeeee

[The Romantic Rush Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Hands was such a fun, addictive blend of romance and suspense. Maggie Gates took a statistics professor counting cards in an Atlantic City casino and paired her with a broody, tattooed casino bouncer who is definitely more than he seems, and I was hooked.

Amelia is counting cards to help pay off her brother's debt, which lands her squarely in the middle of a dangerous situation. Enter Jude. The casino's watchful bouncer, former Navy SEAL, professional grump, and the absolute best kind of overprotective hero. From the start, there's this underlying tension that neither of them are fully in control of what's happening around them, and that constant sense of danger kept me turning pages.

Jude was easily my favorite part of this book. On the surface he's intimidating, guarded, and carrying plenty of baggage, but underneath all that? Completely gone for Amelia. Watching him slowly lower his walls and fall harder and harder for her was everything. And Amelia is the perfect match for him. She's intelligent, capable, compassionate, and far stronger than anyone gives her credit for.

The romance and suspense are balanced so well here. The chemistry is fantastic, the banter had me laughing more than once, and the twists genuinely caught me off guard. Once the story hit its stride, I could not put it down (it did take a minute for me to get into it, but once I did I was hooked). Between the secrets, the danger, the emotional stakes, and the swoony moments, this was an incredibly entertaining ride. If you love romantic suspense with high stakes, great tension, an overprotective hero, and a romance that develops alongside the action, definitely pick this one up.


What to Expect:
🖤Romantic Suspense
🖤Grumpy x Sunshine
🖤 Former Navy SEAL Hero
🖤Statistics Professor Heroine
🖤Good Girl x Bad Boy
🖤Overprotective Hero
🖤Forced Proximity
🖤 One Bed Cabin
🖤Virgin Heroine
🖤On the Run
🖤Hidden Identity
🖤 Casino Setting
🖤 Twists & Secrets
🖤Great Banter
🖤High Stakes Danger
🖤 Slow Burn Tension

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Good Hands completely pulled me in from the very first chapter and never let go. This was my first Maggie Gates book and now I fully understand the hype because WOW. The mix of romance, suspense, tension, and emotional depth had me absolutely glued to the pages.

Judah and Amelia were SO good together. Judah is that perfect broody, overprotective grump who acts tough but slowly becomes completely gone for her, and I ate it up every single time. Meanwhile Amelia is strong, caring, resilient, and the kind of FMC you instantly root for because even while everything around her is spiraling, she never stops showing up for the people she loves.

What really worked for me was how layered this story felt. It wasn’t just romance thrown into a suspense plot — the twists, secrets, and emotional stakes all actually mattered and kept building throughout the book. There were multiple moments where I genuinely did not know what was coming next, which made it impossible to put down.

And the chemistry??? SO much tension. The banter, the protective moments, the emotional vulnerability underneath all the chaos… it all worked so well together. Watching these two slowly trust each other while navigating everything happening around them made the romance hit even harder.

This book gave me:
🖤 grumpy x sunshine vibes
🖤 protective obsessed MMC
🖤 emotional tension
🖤 suspense & twists
🖤 forced proximity energy
🖤 swoony moments mixed with chaos
🖤 banter + chemistry for DAYS

Such a fun, emotional, addictive read and definitely one of those books that keeps you thinking about the characters long after you finish.

[Jordan Vogel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was WILD!

I'm not going to lie, the first 50%, I had a hard time getting into it. But things seriously picked up about halfway through, and then I couldn't put it down! It was unlike anything I've ever read, and I'm still thinking about the story, Amelia, and Jude. So much action and so many twists and turns- it was a super fun read.

She's a statistics professor who ends up counting cards at a casino in Atlantic City to help pay off the debt her twin brother owes to one of the area's most notorious mob bosses. And he is the "problem solver", working for said mob boss.

The MMC does call the FMC "little fox"... which I didn't love lol, and since it took so long for me to get into, that is why I rated it 3 stars. But I do think others will really enjoy this!

- Romantic Suspense
- Bad Boy x Good Girl
- On the run
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Former Navy SEAL MMC
- Hidden identity

Thank you to The Author Agency for the advance copy!

[The Sewist's Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐ 5
🌶️ 3
🥵 Spicy Chapters: 23, 24, 27, 29, 33, 40, 45
❤️‍🔥 Swoon Factor: 3
👫 Judah + Amelia
📚 Tropes/Themes: Morally gray, romantic suspense, forced proximity, protective MMC, Mafia romance, he falls first and harder, forbidden romance
👀 Dual POV 1st person
💔 Content warnings: murder, violence, stalking, kidnapping, PTSD,
🎀 Special editions: none

Well this book wasn't on my radar until my bestie strong-armed me into reading it...and damn I'm so glad she did.

I read this in 2 sittings, staying up until 2am because I just could NOT put it down. I mean, I enjoyed the one book I've read by Maggie Gates (Dust Storm) and at first I was just kinda "well, it's enjoyable but not life changing" about Good Hands but I did not expect this one, it was so so good.

It's a perfect blend of romance, action and suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat. Definitely did not see that ending coming AT ALL

Even at his most murdery I still had the heart eyes for Jude with his grumpy, tattooed, cinnamon roll down bad self falling so hard for Amelia. And she was badass but still sweet and realistic.

It was so swoony too the way Jude loved and took care of her 😩

It's clear I need more Maggie Gates books in my life. I'm not sure if this one is going to be a series, maybe with Joel? But I'm here for it 💯

[Megan | Megan.Reads.Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVEDDDDDDDDDDDD this story so much! Thank you to Maggie Gates + her team for the ARC! These are my honest thoughts.

Maggie Gates. Wow, this book was nothing like I was expecting + everything my little heart needed it to be! Can I nominate Jude for book boyfriend of the year??? Because... I will!

Amelia will do literally anything to protect her brother (he doesn't deserve her), including spending her time and summer break to win enough cash to buy him out of a sticky situation. From the moment he lays eyes on her, Jude's protecting her. But the first time she sees him, she knows he can see right through her. But for Joel, she perseveres! And it works! She counts cards in a dingy casino in Atlantic City, and she wins! BUT, when the criminal casino owner puts some of the pieces together, he calls on his muscle, a.k.a. Jude, to get rid of the problem.

And that's where the adventure truly begins. Jude "strategically relocates" Amelia to a safe house in LITERALLY THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, and he tries his best to protect her. They both keep their secrets, and they're both very analytical people, so that adds an element of fun to this story. They're trying to out-think each other. But the forced proximity eventually becomes too much for them both, and when they finalllllly give in, it's explosive. So good. Truly.

AND THEN, the adventure continues, but I want you to read the story so... I won't keep going :)

READ IF YOU LOVE:
- a down bad MMC
- a virgin professor FMC who is too smart to sleep with someone she doesn't have feelings for
- a card counter (her)
- former navy seal turned the muscle for the mob boss (him)
- bad boy x good girl
- he falls first
- grumpy sunshine
- on the run
- forced proximity
- "strategically relocating"
- hidden identity

[autwenreads · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really tried with this one, but it just wasn't working for me.

I never fully understood the concept of the story, and even at 35%, I was still pretty confused about what was going on. I kept reading hoping things would click, but unfortunately they never did.

I also didn't feel any connection to Amelia or Jude. Usually the characters are what keep me going, but I felt pretty detached from both of them and their story.

Sadly, this one wasn't for me, so I'm calling it quits at 35%. Hopefully other readers will enjoy it more than I did.

Thank you The Author Agency and Maggie C. Gates for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Jennie (goodvibes_and_happiness) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I say I devoured this, what I mean is I unhinged my jaw like a snake and gobbled it down. You’re probably like oh you must have been up till at least midnight finishing this. Welp you would be surprised to learn I went to bed at 10:30.

This is the very first book where I fell head over heels for a kidnapper with an abundance of red flags. Like bashes peoples knees with baseball bats level red flag. The main thing I will say about this book is nothing is as it seems. I wholeheartedly trusted the author to turn the book around.

This was the best romantic suspense I’ve ever read and I was on the edge of my seat the whole book and I now consider this the gold standard for romantic suspense.

If you like the Bourbon Boys series by Victoria Wilder and if you ever watched the movie 21 and was like what would this be like if it was spicy and a romance then you will love this book.

Our FMC was so bad*ss and has a PHD in math and is a boss at counting cards 🤭 she had such an internal strength that was also so bad*ass.

Our MMC was as Emily described him to me earlier in the book as a golden retriever in a dragons body and having finished the book I can say this is glaringly accurate. Also he was just so hot and brooding that I didn’t care that he was a kidnapper. I was just like more of him please.

The ending had my jaw permanently on the floor and I had to keep telling myself it had a happy ending.

The spice was some of my favorite part and this was a virgin FMC.

If you want a book you can gobble down I recommend Good Hands by Maggie Gates.

[juls🎀 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Q: Znacie twórczość Maggie Gates?

[ARC REVIEW]

„Good hands” to książka Maggie Gates, której strony jeszcze nie znacie.

🃏 Bad boy x good girl
🃏 Grumpy x sunshine
🃏 Former Navy Seal MMC
🃏 Hidden identity
🃏 Dark romance

Amelia pewnego dnia znajduje swojego brata pobitego w swoim mieszkaniu. Nie chce jej powiedzieć, co się stało, aż wymięka i przyznaje, że jest winny pieniądze nieodpowiednim ludziom. Dużo pieniędzy. A jako że Amelia jest geniuszem, ma fotograficzną pamięć i wykłada na uniwersytecie, brat prosi ją, aby wykorzystała swoje umiejętności w kasynie. Na miejscu szczególnie wpada w oko jednemu z ochroniarzy. Ale wpada mu w oko nie dlatego, że czymś się wyróżnia, a tym, że mężczyzna doskonale wie, kim ona jest. I zrobi wszystko, aby więcej nie pojawiała się w tym kasynie.

Autorkę znam z jej kowbojskich romansów (które polecam z całego serca tak btw). Wywaliło mnie z kapci, kiedy zaczęłam czytać i zobaczyłam, że ta książka jest daleka od słodkich romansów. Ta książka jest pełna krwi, hazardu, mroku i niebezpiecznych ludzi. Maggie ponownie mi udowodniła, że potrafi idealnie się wstrzelić w mój gust romansowy. Judah z jednej strony musiał ścigać brata Amelii, żeby oddał pieniądze, pobił go itd., a jednocześnie dbał o to, żeby kobiecie nie stała się krzywda. Wiedział, do czego jest zdolny jego szef i chciał ją chronić. A Amelia? Geniusz w ludzkiej postaci! Jest profesorką na uniwersytecie i ma niesamowity dar fotograficznej pamięci! Mnie samej taka by się przydała😅

[SelkieReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my fourth book of Maggie’s but my first with a suspense and life or death action.
I loved Mia, there’s just something about a woman who’s still a smart ass even when kidnapped and in danger! Which let’s face it, would be me as well. RIP my husband’s patience ☠️
I’ll be honest, I don’t know too much about gambling, casinos or counting cards but I feel like Maggie gave me just enough info to give me the vibe without forcing my brain into mental gymnastics to trying and figure it out 😂 I’m all “all in on black” kinda gambler who is more interested the whiskey than games. I’ve spent a week in Vegas TWICE but only gambled $40 total!
So, take it from me, you do not have to be an aficionado to enjoy this book!

[Julie Booklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect mix of suspense, tension, and romance. A story that was layered as well as the characters. A statistics professor and a bouncer. Our bouncer is just following the bosses orders, she is counting cards to pay off her brothers’ debt. AND our bouncer is a former SEAL. She is sunshine, and he is a broody grump.

There are twists and turns, romantic suspense, secrets, a one bed cabin, and a good girl, bad boy. There are emotions at stake, and the build up had me not wanting to put the book down. This book lives up to its hype and more.

Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I loved this so much. Loved everything about this. Jude & Amelia were perfect. This was fast-paced & kept me on my toes. Fun & easy to read, flowed so well, the character development was great & I loved Amelia so much! Also, Maggie described Jude as a burnt marshmallow & that's literally the perfect description for him with Amelia. He is a goner for her & I ate it up.

If you love romantic suspense, let this be your next read.

[Cortney Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Add Good Hands by Maggie Gates to your TBR immediately! This book had everything I love suspense, romance, humor, an overprotective hero, fantastic banter, and a storyline that kept me guessing until the very end.

I absolutely loved Judah and Amelia. Their relationship felt so raw and real, and watching it be built, tested, and ultimately fought for made every page worth it. The layers in this story added so much depth, and I found myself completely invested from start to finish.

The Maggieverse just keeps getting better, and I already can’t wait to see what comes next.

[Becky Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie has done it again!! Absolutely devoured this book and would read again in a heartbeat

[Ashley Weidemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stayed up late to finish this book.

I NEVER do that anymore.

That’s how good this book is.

I know I’ve said it before but the DEPTH to Maggie’s characters is top tier. The suspense and twists and turns in this book had me whisper-screaming “what the fuck?!” at my kindle, especially the end of part one.

The relationship dynamics at play were also fascinating and something I’ve never read in a book before, which added a whole new layer to the story.

10/10 I already want to read it again.

Thank you so much to The Author Agency for this ARC!

[Aina · Rating 5 out of 5]

6✨⭐️

I swear Maggie puts something in her books! I was hooked line and sinker by the end of the prologue and I couldn’t stop until I finished it! One of my new favorites in the Maggie Verse!

I absolutely LOVED IT! It was perfect, Good Hands was one of my most anticipated reads and it exceeded every expectation I had!

Jude and Amelia were everything! I absolutely adored Amelia, her tenacity, her bravery and her heart makes her an amazing character, but her brains?!?? WOOOW she is a powerhouse!!

And Jude?!?! I WAS SCREAMING at every line! He is mysterious, sweet and the perfect amount of grumpy! I love how protective he was, but at the same time knew that Amelia had it! The way both of them believed in each other was beautiful. Their connection and chemistry was out of this world.

And omg I was on the edge of my seat every single page, the way Maggie built up the tension was insane!

“What Saves Us” is my favorite book by Maggie, but this has definitely entered my top!!

I have to mention Cole! I know she has said it’s not his time yet….but the day we get his book (if we get it 🤞🏼) you will hear me scream from excitement!

If you love romantic suspense, with incredible characters and an incredible addictive story, this book is for you!

🩷 Romantic Suspense
📖 Bad boy x good girl
♥️ On the run
🐈‍⬛ Cat & mouse
✨ Grumpy x sunshine
🃏 Card counter x casino bouncer
🫶🏼 Forced proximity
🌸 Former Navy SEAL MMC

Thank you so much to Maggie Gates for the opportunity to read the ARC, all thoughts are my own!

[Spinster Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything I didn't know I needed in my life. It was sweet, swoony, funny, spicy, intense, exciting, clever, twisty & turn-y, and had characters who stole my heart & soul from their first words. It made me laugh out loud, kick my feet, swear, giggle, gasp, cry, and clutch my heart. Cannot wait to re-read!

Amelia is a math genius professor.

Jude/Judah is a casino bouncer.

They meet because her brother got into debt with a very bad man, so she starts going to his workplace to count cards & win money. He tries to get her to stop. She shows him he is not the boss of her (regardless of how her body *responds* to him). Things happen. He proactively relocates her. They end up in a cabin. Where *things* happen. And it just gets more exciting & interesting from there!

Amelia is an immediate favourite. I loved her mind and how logical she was. She gives too much of herself to people and while it would have been nice for the circumstances to be different, I am glad she learned to ask for what she wants. To set boundaries. To stop fighting for people who would never fight for her. She is so fun & vibrant and she deserves people who see that.

Judah is stunning. He is oh so pretty, incredibly sweet, marvelously funny, clever, and a writer of poetry. He falls so hard for his girl. And he wants nothing but good for her, even if that means no him.

Separately they are brilliant. Together they are almost more than a mere mortal can handle and I am here for it. Amelia & Judah are special and I am so thankful Maggie shared their story with us.

Maggie is one of my favourite writers and I do not know how she manages to write such stunning characters every single time but without fail she does it. The depth, layers and complex emotions she writes are impressive & intense. I am in awe of her & her skill.

I received this as an ARC and am grateful beyond grateful. This had zero impact on my review.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved every Maggie Gates book I’ve read and this one was no exception! This book had it all. There’s banter, he falls first, forced proximity, hidden identity and it’s a romantic suspense.

Amelia was intelligent, witty and such a badass. She only had one person left and she was going to do everything in her power to protect him. I hated how her friends made her feel before and after her kidnapping. She deserved so much more and I was so happy that Jude was able to get her to see that.

Oh, Jude. He was a grump, but Amelia made him want more for the first time. This man gave up everything to protect her and her brother. I loved how he was always there for Amelia, whether it was to warn her, protect her or just be her friend.

I loved Amelia and Jude, both together and individually. I loved how they both had so much depth. We got to see them both being happy and scared and we also get to see them at their lowest. We get into their heads and learn their true feelings about their lives. I thought they were perfect together and they were so cute.

I really loved this book. I definitely did not see the twist towards and had to reread it because of how much I was not expecting it! I loved the pacing of events.

Overall, I would 100% recommend this book. It was an easy 5 star read for me.

Thank you Maggie Gates and The Author Agency for the ARC for an honest review.

[Nicole Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Hands pulled me in immediately with its unique setup and emotionally charged romance. The combination of casinos, mob politics, forced proximity, and a highly intelligent FMC made this such an engaging read from start to finish.
Amelia was easy to root for. She’s a statistics professor forced into a dangerous situation while trying to help her brother, and I loved how capable and intelligent she remained even while navigating a world completely outside her comfort zone.
Jude was exactly the kind of morally gray MMC I enjoy reading. Beneath the tattoos, criminal reputation, and intimidating presence was someone deeply conflicted between loyalty and desire. His growing protectiveness toward Amelia created so much tension throughout the story.
Their chemistry developed naturally, and I especially appreciated how the emotional connection grew alongside the attraction. Amelia seeing past Jude’s reputation and Jude slowly letting himself care about someone added a lot of emotional depth to the romance.
The casino atmosphere and criminal underworld elements kept the pacing tense and engaging, while the quieter emotional moments balanced the story really well.
If you enjoy mob romance, forced proximity, morally gray love interests, and emotionally charged tension, this is definitely worth picking up.

[Kennedy (kennedysnextchapter) · Rating 5 out of 5]

one MILLION stars. my mind is blown. this might be my top book of 2026.

----

"Spotting Amelia Hawthorne sitting on the outskirts of the devil's lair should have been my sign to turn around and go back to work. She was the Eurydice to my Orpheus. I wanted to drag her away from this hell, but fixating on her would damn us both."

This is one of those moments where I just don't think there's anything I could say that would truly do this novel any justice - not in the phenomenal way Maggie writes, anyway. Dear reader, I just want you to know that I would recommend this book over and over again, with no reservations, and I hope that you pick it up as soon as you're able.

Going into it, I knew that fundamentally, I would like this book because there hasn't been a MG book I haven't loved. Couple it with a romantic suspense? Sold. I'll take two. I had no way to know that I would DEVOUR Good Hands, so much so that I stayed up until 3am binge reading because I simply could not put it down. Good Hands is filled with Hollywood movie level plot twists that kept me anxious (in the best way), tension that had me sweating (the drill scene? end me.), some big emotions about familial guilt, complacency, and trust that needed unpacking, and an ending that truly blew my mind.

At no point in time could I easily predict what was going to happen next, and I think that is truly the thrill of this novel. Take whatever you think you know about Jude and Amelia and throw it out the window, because Maggie Gates is a mastermind and she's gonna have your head spinning chapter after chapter. The only thing you can bet you know for sure is that Jude and Amelia are on the road (ha?) to lovers, and it's obvious. Judah Greear is down baaad for Dr. Hawthorne and it made me so giddy to watch that unfold.

I am so thankful to have received an early finished copy of this book from Maggie and an eARC from the Author Agency that allowed me to read this book sooner than I anticipated. Good Hands is living rent free in my head, even a week later. I will be re-reading before the year is over, especially when the audio is out!

[Shabby -BookBistroBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astounding sequences set at adrenaline pumping pace make this a thrumming read indeed. Girl pulled down by her wayward brother decides to commit crime, but hooks guardian angel in the form of navy seal and they go on a run of their lives.
Grumpy hero gets sunshine warmth and melts over this virgiin h snagged.but Maggie won't be gates if surprising twists and secrets didn't get revealed.
I really enjoyed the engrossing read with hefty flavor of spice
“4.5 stars for poker face”
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[Mags · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Good Hands is my first Maggie Gates book, but it certainly won't be my last. It was an enjoyable rollercoaster ride that ticked all the boxes, keeping me completely captivated throughout.

The story kicks off when Amelia, a statistics professor and card shark, finds herself kidnapped and on the run with Jude, a tattooed bad boy with a secret identity.

However, Amelia is no damsel in distress; she is strong, capable, and handles herself admirably. Jude, conversely, is quite the opposite—carrying heavy emotional baggage, loyalty struggles, and a unexpected softness. These contrasts were not only fun to read but were among the absolute highlights of the story. Both characters undergo significant emotional growth as they discover deep truths about themselves and those around them.

The suspense was another key element that kept me deeply engaged. The pacing was spot-on, packed with twists, turns, and action from beginning to end, leaving me fully absorbed in the plot.

Balancing just the right amount of romantic tension and thrilling detail, Good Hands was a delightful read that includes everything I love in a romantic suspense novel. I would happily recommend it to everyone.

My thanks to Maggie Gates & TAA for an early copy of Good Hands. All thoughts expressed are my own. 😊

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touch her and die / Forced Proximity / Card Counter x Security

This book was a perfect balance of lightheartedness, humor, suspense, and spice. It is a book unlike anything I’ve ever read. I’ve never heard a book where the concept is. She’s a card counter, trying to save her brother from being in trouble with the mob and the security/casino protector. Oh but the casino head honcho wants her dead so he kidnaps her so she doesn’t get killed. It’s such a funny quirky concept and the way that the characters react and act throughout the book is just so funny. Easily I fell into this book because of how smoothly this author wrote all of the tropes in and had the plot constantly moving. I really love the way that the story progressed. It wasn’t too fast nor was it too slow. I felt like the spice was in the right spots. The connection between the characters felt genuine and real. I loved how the male main character had this fierce protectiveness of her. And how their adventure in hiding when. At the end the twist was something I didn’t see coming. I had an idea of what it could be but I was a bit surprised with how the book tied itself up. It felt almost Beauty and the Beast Coded a bit and I was here for it!

[Jill (readinginpjs) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Maggie Gates for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

morally grey isn’t my fav color, but JUDE, damn 😮‍💨
he’s actually such a softie on the inside, as Maggie puts it - a burnt marshmallow 🥹

I love how quickly he falls for Amelia, and he’s really ready to burn down the world, and his own life, all for her.

Amelia is such an interesting fmc, a math girlie after my own heart! She’s so caring for everyone in her life, & also so strong - stronger than she even knows.

some fav moments/elements:
- he helps her practice speed counting cards with “distractions” 🤭
- he calls her “little fox” 🦊
- Amelia & Jude’s “special” day
- how she truly saw him for who he is, & never really feared him
- cameos from Maggie’s other books I LOVE

✦ tropes & more:
♥️ romantic suspense
♣️ bad boy x good girl
♦️ on the run
♠️ grumpy x sunshine
♥️ former Navy SEAL mmc
♣️ hidden identity
♦️ v!rgin heroine
♠️ dual 1st person pov

ebook | ⭐️: 5 | 🌶️: open door |

📖 Good Hands by Maggie Gates
📚 standalone
🖤: romantic suspense (mf)

[Sorcha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this and Maggie is one of my fave authors, so I was so excited!

This romantic suspense is a little different from the small town vibes from Maggie and I love that she took this on!

Amelia is a statistics professor, strait-laced and living a pretty quiet life. When her brother Joel gets himself mixed up with the wrong crowd, she uses her expertise to try to cash in at the casino to save him from a horrible fate.

Enter Judah… an ex Navy Seal turned enforcer with a mysterious background. The minute he spots Amelia, there’s no going back for him. There’s a kidnapping, a hide out in the woods, disguises and high rolling Vegas antics.

But for this unlikely pair, under extremely odd circumstances, theirs an undeniable connection that changes something in them both. I loved watching this story unfold and the fire between Amelia and Judah 🔥

Thank you to Maggie and The Author Agency for the early copy in exchange for my honest review 💖

[Sarah Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie Gates is one of my favourite romance authors so when I had the opportunity to sign up for an advanced copy of Good Hands I jumped at the chance and I was not disappointed!

Amelia is a professor at university who has spent her adult life studying for her phd in statistics and taking care of everyone else. Jude is former Navy SEAL who now works at a casino as the casino owner and mob boss right hand man. When Amelia’s twin brother gets into trouble and owes a lot of money to the wrong person Amelia risks everything to save him.

I absolutely loved every minute of this book! The suspense had me hooked. Amelia was so relatable in the fact that she always put others needs before her own. Jude was the ultimate tattooed, grumpy bad boy. I don’t want to say too much about the rest of the plot and ruin it for people but the one liners, the chemistry between these two, the suspense all made for a gripping read. Maggie has yet to write a book that I didn’t absolutely love and this is no exception. If you are also a Maggie fan like me you will also love all the cameos from some of our other favourite characters from other books!

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Hands is out now and a must read! Amelia is trying to save her twin brother’s mistake and find a way to pay back his debt. So with her eidetic memory, she turns to counting cards and dedicates her time to winning the money back. However, Jude is standing in her way. As a bouncer at the casino he is constantly trying to get her to leave for her own good. When she gets caught for counting he needs to decide to keep his job or save her life, so they go on the run.

[lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

i need more romantic suspense from maggie stat!! the twists and turns kept me on my toes! i love the character development of jude and ameila. i was swooning at their romance while they were on the run. and i absolutely ate up every single cole crumb i could get.

thank you maggie & the author agency for the arc! 🫶🏼