Johnny’s having a bad day. The worst, actually. A sales rep for a food-service company, he’s at the top of his game and usually enjoys his job. But today, he just lost out on his company’s prestigious sales award (the bad news delivered by his smug, egomaniacal boss), he’s trying to rebound from losing two key accounts, his customers won’t pay, and to top it off, he catches his long-term girlfriend cheating on him in his own bed. So when his worst customer, a world-class, sleazy jerk named Bernie Jacks, yanks Johnny’s business at Mother’s Café, Johnny reaches his boiling point. Bernie accidentally leaves a bag full of cash unattended, and Johnny knows it’s time to take the money and run… To Vegas! With a plan to wash the stolen money by betting on everything from sports to blackjack, and with Bernie and his behemoth mother soon on his trail, Johnny embarks on an adventure in Sin City full of loudmouthed Vegas partiers, a sage, mysterious gambler, bickering tourists, sweet waitresses, a drunken bachelorette party, an annoying pop star, Russian mobsters, and an escort with a heart of gold. Can this pissed-off, cheated-on, mistreated regular guy pull off the ultimate win—and get away with it? Will the Vegas trip land Johnny in more hot water, or will his brush with stolen money leave him with a clean start? When the cards are stacked against you, sometimes the only play you have left is to Double Down Double Down is a comedy but not in the gut-busting laughter vein. Its comedy is more subtle than that and author Bruce Wessell has painted a scenario that each and every one of us has possibly wondered about from time to time.The supporting cast characters were all well-drawn, almost to the point of caricature, with the Russian Mafia guys and Bernie's Mother (the Mother of all Mothers). I liked the writer's style, which flowed effortlessly from one amusing situation to the next. The action is fast-paced and the comedy subtle but funny. Johnny is on a winning streak and it seems no matter what he does, he will come up smelling of roses. This was a fun read and one I enjoyed very much. As a debut novel, it is well presented, well written and engaging. ***** Five- Stars: Readers Favorite Book Reviews A deftly crafted and thoroughly entertaining read from first page to last, "Double Down" showcases author Bruce Wessell's genuine flair as a novelist for narrative storytelling and the skilled creation of memorable characters. An inherently riveting, 'page turner' of a read, "Double Down" is very highly recommended, especially for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. Midwest Book Review/Reviewers Choice "The novel captures the essence of Vegas perfectly - there's plenty of danger and seamy characters, but there's also the potential for a big win like no other. Wessel has chosen the centerpiece of his dramedy wisely. Johnny is a likable underdog who makes you root for him even when he's making mistakes. Double Down is a solid Vegas adventure driven by fun, well-conceived characters, and fantasy fulfillment about going no holds barred in Sin City." Self-Publishing Review ★★★★ "Double Down by author Bruce Wessell is a laugh-out-loud novel filled with hilarious hijinks, stolen money, and a Las Vegas adventure." R. Read Independent Book Review Bruce Wessell's Double Down is a fun read that shows life is always full of surprises. The attention to detail and vivid descriptions will keep readers interested from beginning to end. It is also fast paced with very little lag between storylines. A delightfully dark-humor read! Entrada Publishing "Wow, haha okay... I don't even know where to begin becauseso much happens and I don't want to give anything away... "Double Down" by authorBruce Wessell is one of the most original and just flat-out fun and raunchygood novels I've read in a while."---(4-5 stars) TabithaParks - Goodreads; Barnes & Noble; Indie Book Reviewers I was intrigued from the first pages of "Double Down" by Bruce Wessell and myinterest never faded for a moment! I enjoyed the creative and strong charactersand plots that continued to build with tension and shock and surprise. Justwhen you think you know what's happening, something comes along to throw a wrench in it" (4 stars) SherrieWarner- Goodreads; Barnes & Noble; Indie Book Reviewers " Double Down" by Bruce Wessell is one of themore different, and fun, books I've read in long time! " Stephan Beacher-Goodreads; Barnes & Noble; Indie Book Reviewers "The good part was that this is an engaging novelthat captured my attention from the start and never once let it go. Each scenewas riveting, imaginative, and very well described .If you like creative, flawed, complex and deviouslycomedic/dramatic fiction that is also fun to read, you'll enjoy this one." --JohnGoldman- Goodreads; Barnes & Noble; Indie Book Reviewers " Double Down" by Bruce Wessell was really good! The characters are good... and bad... even t