Roberta 'Bobbie' Richardson isn't interested in romance, only in saving the business her father built from the ground up. She used to trust people, though something of a tomboy. Her experience with her ex-husband changed her. She put up with his adultery, but when he started embezzling from her business he was history. She is now deeply in the red, and has to juggle to be able to make ends meet. She decides to hire on another mechanic, though only a part time one, as that is all she can afford. Then back into her life walks in Justin Hastings. As a young woman, she had idolized him, and dreamt of them one day marrying and starting a family. At the graduation prom, her dreams had appeared to become true. For one month, Bobbie and Justin were inseparable and did everything together, except go 'all the way'. Justin always stopped things before they got that far, leaving Bobby bewildered. Without even a hint of his intentions, Justin signed up for the Marines. Bobby was shattered, and left on her own. Now he is back, and is willing to help her out in the garage – in exchange for her marrying him. Seems he needs a wife to win custody of his daughter, but why has he chosen her? And will she agree to his deal – and keep her heart and emotions intact?

Justin Hastings is desperate to gain custody of his daughter from her snobbish grandmother. In his ex-mother-in-laws eyes, he is not good enough for her family, and never was. But now his ex-wife is dead, and he regrets having spent so little time with his daughter as a result of his job with the Marines. For two years, he has been fighting to get his daughter back, but the wealth of his former mother-in-law has thrown up barricade after barricade. His lawyer has advises him that were he to have a traditional home, with a wife, he would be better equipped to gain custody of his daughter. For some reason, the only person he can think of is Bobbie. But would she be willing to agree to a marriage of convenience, even with the offer of his mechanical skills? Is convenience all there could ever be between them? Why is it that Bobbie bears a strong resemblance to his wife and daughter? Does he desire her for her resemblance to them, or was he drawn to his deceased ex-wife because of her resemblance of Bobbie?

All or Nothing is a delightful tale of two people with a past, trying to build a better future together. Each needs the other. Bobbie needs Justin to help her get her auto mechanic shop back in the black, and Justin needs Bobbie to help gain custody of his daughter. A traditional family home could sway a custody hearing in his favor – so long as they can keep it quiet that Bobbie can't cook. The attraction between them is strong, but their past remains as a wall between them. Justin seemingly doesn't realize the effect his signing up for the Marines had on Bobbie, and Bobbie wavers between wanting revenge for his rejection of her all those years ago to wanting to ravish him. Just how will things work out between them? All or Nothing has a plot that is sure to keep your interest, and bring out all your sympathies. Can't go without a villain? The ex-mother-in-law makes a perfect specimen. Need passion? There's plenty of that between Justin and Bobbie, though their sexual interludes are not described in graphic detail. Need humor? Bobbie's lack of, err…domestic and cooking skills are sure to get you chuckling. All or Nothing is a great tale, with everything added and nothing lost – and demonstrates superbly that everything needs to be worked at, be it a relationship, a business, a friendship or whatever.

Reviewed by: Elizabeth