To Vegas and Back- Perfect title.
919601
Suzanne Krauss writes an autobiographical account  about her family, resilience and strength. Suzanne's story is a hard one to imagine, but she tells it in a way that you know it will all work out.
986046
Very good movie. Great cast & story. Makes me want to visit Vegas again.
1968375
You can't ask for a better mystery set in Vegas! Loved the character dynamics and the plot! If you want a great story with some pretty interesting characters and going ons, this book is for you. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to others!
3332264
Good story. Enjoyable read. Took it on a weekend trip to Vegas and nearly completed it. There are a few inexplicable blunders by some main characters that are a little hard to swallow, but overall, I liked it.
1613071
I can't recommend this book enough.  A great piece of Vegas fiction with interesting characters and an entertaining story line.  I only wish it would have lasted longer.  Thanks for the super book Brian and I hope you're working on another.
4638583
This novel is a good read.  It has something for everyone.  The fast moving story is full of mystery and suspense.  It shows realistically the highs and lows of a couple's adventures and struggles while trying to make it in Las Vegas; to surrive long enough to earn some money so they can eventually leave LV and pursue their dream of buying a home in the country away from the big city.  They bring honor with them, but have to deal with the people who do not share their values while on the other side of Vegas.
4460623
We stayed at this location when visiting Vegas last November. The resort played this DVD constantly, and I could not get enough of it. I purchased two DVD, one for me and one for my sister in law.
1176664
Fasten your seatbelts, pack some snacks, and get ready for the funniest, sexiest road trip you've ever taken. Why? Because you're traveling Route 66 with billionaire conservationist Connor Gibson and media heiress undercover, Charlize Beckett. Attraction, chemistry, secrets and more fuel every stop on this journey. As a reader, I got to enjoy the road trip without packing a bag, snoozing in the car, or pumping gas. But I got great destinations that meant something to the characters, great interactions between Connor and Charlie, and, frankly, a great big valentine to taking a risk on love! HIS MILLION DOLLAR RISK is absolutely risk free. You're gonna love it.!
4803575
When the novel begins, we meet June, who seemed to me very much a free spirit, but also somewhat lost in terms of what she wanted in life. The year is 1960 and June ends up in Las Vegas where she and her husband, Odell Dibb, run the El Capitan hotel where the showroom The Midnight Room hosts the most popular singer in Vegas...one Eddie Knox. Let's just say June manages to stir up quite a bit of drama at the hotel and in her personal life and I loved reading about it. The author writes in such a way that I was completely drawn into June's life. Her writing style flows and is so engaging that I felt that I was a fly on the wall...privy to everything going on in and out of the casino.

I have to say the setting...Las Vegas in the 1960's to present day... was a character unto itself and I absolutely loved reading every detail about the casinos and life on and around The Strip.  I remember visiting Vegas as a kid when there were still coins clinking non-stop out of the slot machines just like in the book. I've since visited Vegas every summer for the past 15 years and while the sounds in the casino have changed (paper has replaced coins), the vibe, lights and action of the casinos and The Strip sure haven't. Laura McBride captured all of this brilliantly.

Following June's section, the timeline jumps to 1992 and we meet Honorata, a Filipino girl who reluctantly (and somewhat bitterly) ends up in Vegas but whose luck may be changing. Then, there's Coral, a Vegas native and music teacher who longs to find her own kind of happiness. Finally, in the last section, beginning in 2010-present we meet Engracia, an immigrant woman from Mexico with a tremendous broken heart. The beauty of how these very different women's lives connect lies in the author's tremendous storytelling ability. There wasn't a time that I wasn't completely engaged with the story and intrigued about how the ladies' lives would intersect. That being said, I was definitely more invested in June's story and to a lesser extent Coral's. I really wished there wasn't such a huge time gap between when we first read about June and when she makes another appearance. She was the character that I was most connected to and compelled to understand and there just wasn't enough of her, in my opinion. I never really connected with Honorata and Engracia wasn't in the story nearly as much as the others so I didn't feel like I knew her as well. In the end, while I hoped for a little more 'wow' with the final scenes, I was very happy with how the author chose to end it. If you like vivid settings and charismatic characters, I encourage you to pick up this book.  This is truly top notch writing and storytelling and all I can do now is impatiently wait for Laura McBride's next novel!
551573
When her flight is cancelled and Jules Bloom is left stranded, she bumps into Dexter Elliott. She  dated his brother in high school. In fact they are both headed to her ex-boyfriend's wedding. They decide to get a drink and catch up which leads to them getting married. Las Vegas will do that to you. What happens next is a fast paced and romantic adventure. Jules is a free spirit who lives for her art. She's kind and loving. I liked her laid back attitude. Dexter is a driven workaholic who is attached to his cell phone. He is constantly on the go. These two have nothing in common. Or do they? Their chemistry is powerful. I enjoyed their easy banter. They complimented each other. I wanted them to realize they needed each other. Dexter's family may have meddling down to an art form but I liked them. The setting was beautiful and tranquil. It highlighted the characters. I enjoyed Ophelia London's writing. It combined romance with heartbreak to give this couple a HEA.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.
3949111
What happens Vegas is sometimes for the best.  When Dahlia wakes up I. stranger's bed, she wonders what happened the night before.  She can't remember.  Neither can Tyler, who she wakes beside.  Dahlia soon finds out exactly who Tyler is...her boss.  Funny things happen throughout and you will find yourself laughing along.  The magic. between these two is almost palpable.  It is also very sweet.  I like how story progresses and what his father does when he retires.  I can'tskip mentioning her parents.  It almost reminded me of when we 'met the Fockers' in a great movie, lol.  The ending so tender, but the adventure is the true journey.

Voluntary review of ARC.
3689215
Sunshine and Whiskey is not a masterpiece but it is certainly a lot of fun. Winning the lottery at 27 sounds like a dream, and if I were going to follow that dream, it would be pretty close to how this book pans out. A cross-country road trip, struggling through friendships and relationships, and a whole lot of drinks paid for out of virtually endless funds is a plot that provided an escape from the chilly, gray winter here in New England, and it was the exact escape I needed.
322010
Great read with an awesome line up of characters.  I wouldn't be surprised if this all really happened to the author.  :)  at least a girl can hope right?  The plot kept me guessing, I was talking out loud to the characters, to my husbands amusement.  The story was well written, kept me turning pages, and had me pretty invested in the main characters.  I don't know why a few people didn't like it, but to me, this is an good old fashioned romance story.  The kind you find on your moms shelf, with super well worn binding and pages lovingly turned.  I really was reminded of my first few experiences with a romance story and it was pretty neat to go back to the old style of just pure romance.  Throw in a little intrigue and a few well placed fibs and you got yourself a realistic story.  :)  Who wants to go to Vegas now?
1198382
This almost reminds me of the time I was looking forward to the west Hollywood special cheap Sunday beer bust only to notice on newspaper stand that it was Monday. Yes folks, this kind of drug induced alcohol related amnesia can happen given the right cosmic dust. Four buddies celebrate bachelor party in Las Vegas to discover expensive royal flat is into total mayhem complete with baby, animals, destruction, and missing unaccounted for partner who happens to be the groom. Many disarray pieces lay strewn about with only telltale clues from casual witnesses who happened to be there as well as quickie bride, victims of crime, and stolen articles. If anyone has seen the legendary comedy flick "It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world" then you know the unstoppable pace to this one as the three out of it buddies try to piece their whereabouts' and solve the mysteries of telltale leftovers and disappearing vehicle, plus missing buddie. A great romp of who did it, and why it happened as they gradually backtrack their drunken stupor steps, with a satisfying ending of tell all phone photographs after the mysteries have been solved for a pleasant closing credits roll.
4426750
What happens in Vegas is no longer privy to the big shots of Vegas.  Castleman has torn aside the curtain to reveal a world of lavish temptation that we could all only wish for.  The dynamic between the chess masters on either side of the table will only leave you gasping about the dimension of life the majority of us will never experience in this emerald city of Nevada.  Happy ending is an ambigious term when teamed with the ebb and flow of castles of chips. The fact that the pit bosses have not purchased every copy of this title amazes me!!!! Read on and bring your bank account.
Neil L. Siegel
Elizabeth Sturm Library
Truckee Meadows Community College
Reno, Nevada
3969219
Magan Vernon delivered a snap shot of how unpredictable Las Vegas could be in this short novella. It was sexy and witty the entire ride. I enjoyed the connection Wild Wes and Valerie shared, even though it was a bit random. I feel that is part of the draw though and gives the story a true Vegas vibe.

Valerie Wilder had no idea what laid ahead on her business trip to Las Vegas. After a Hot Abs contest and far too many drinks, she finds herself in quite a predicament. Should be an easy fix, right?

Considering this novella was only 50 pages, I think a lot was accomplished and quite well. The transitions were bumpy at times but overall I enjoyed this story.

Dive right into this tasty treat and discover how complicated a short stint in Sin City can be.
4765322
I love this book! Just finished tonight: a relaxing - yet invigorating - read. I traveled to places I've been before, like the Tetons, and loved the descriptions; taking me back to my own memories. And, I traveled to places I haven't yet been, making a mental list of must-sees: Mackinac Island, Michigan; Fallingwaters, West Virginia; Bend, Oregon; Red Lodge, Montana... I traveled America with this trio, and I feel like I was there. Filled with American pride just by reading.
Discussion of traveler's intuition is right on. But, this is so much more than just a travel book. The personal touches are fantastic. Especially Dana's innocent journal entries, her love of anything horses, and her sweet selflessness. In the end, I too, was happy to be home. And happy to call America home.