The Next Best Thing To Paradise

Rating:
Summary: WOW! The truth at last and beautifully done.
Review: A superb book! I have been in the gaming industry for over 35 years and this book really tells it like it is. I usually find gambling related stories quite boring or too far away from the truth but this is right on target. I would recommend it to anyone interested in knowing what the customer does not see in the gaming world. I have worked in Las Vegas, Reno and Lake Tahoe and can easily identify with this story.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent read!
Review: Excellent! Could not put it down, until I, had the last word

Rating:
Summary: Living Life as a Casino Dealer
Review: Hi Readers -- I spent twenty years standing in high heels behind a blackjack table, smiling so the customers would think I was having fun. My shoulders ached, the smoke from all those cigarettes - and an occasional cigar - burned my nose, and the pit bosses stood behind me whispering obscene threats in my ear, making the job anything but fun. Whenever I meet new people and they discover I once worked in a casino, they immediately start asking questions. Most think of such a job as something glamorous -- kind of like being a movie star. You know, diamonds, fancy cars and all that. I wanted the rest of the world to learn what it's really like in the "green felt jungle." THE NEXT BEST THING TO PARADISE is the story of a naive girl from the Midwest who goes to Reno with her two small children to escape a bad marriage, and finds herself behind the elegant facade that is the gambling world. It's the thirty year story of her life as a dealer, with all of its friendships,fun,love,humor and tragedy; a life you may have heard about, but are not likely to experience. You'll remember the characters long after you finish the book. And then, if you have questions, you can e-mail me. I love to hear from my readers. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: A marvelous book - a real page-turner
Review: I found this book one I couldn't put down until the last page. It tells about the casinos (which I work in and see everyday) - but even so, I didn't know about many of the things in the book. The story is wonderful. It made me look at casino dealers in a new way. If you want to know what casinos are really like, get this book!

Rating:
Summary: Very enjoyable
Review: I had no idea all these things went on behind the scenes in gambling casinos. I was rooting for Katie from the first page, and wanted to warn her when she was making a wrong decision. The author hooked me with her descriptions and kept me turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next.

Rating:
Summary: Great reading!
Review: I live in Reno, so the places the author writes about made the book very real to me. It was wonderful reading - I highly recommend it for anyone interested in gambling. A real eye-opener!

Rating:
Summary: Finally -- a truthful book about gambling
Review: I worked in the casinos for thirty years and this is the first time I've read a book that tells the truth about the "gaming" business. A great book full of great characters - any woman who is thinking about becoming a dealer - and every woman working as a dealer - should read this book.

Rating:
Summary: What a true to life book!!!
Review: I, too, was a dealer at one time. Most of the books about casinos are written by those who don't really know what it's like inside. This is a true picture of a dealer's life - everyone who goes to Nevada - or anywhere - to gamble should read this. It's a real eye-opener.

Rating:
Summary: An Emotional Rollercoaster Ride !
Review: This book tells a fascinating story of a woman's journey through abusive relationships and the world of casino gambling. The story is very well written, and I found it difficult to put the book down until I had finished the last chapter. If you're planning a trip to Reno or Las Vegas you should definitely read this book before you go!

Rating:
Summary: Don't miss this exciting trip through the green felt jungle!
Review: This exciting book , give's you an insight to the world of gambling, and the people who stand on the other side of the table-- and how human they are. Loved it!