Shoot the Moon

December 1, 2017

Gr 9 Up-Tate Bertram is a scoundrel who splits his time between college and running an illegal gambling ring-until he's busted. Tate is also, supposedly, in recovery for gambling addiction. With his secret out, the teen's family cuts him off; except his aunt Nora who offers him an internship with her political campaign. The high-pressure internship and his college course load begin to wear on Tate and he falls back into bad habits. Fans of the Jane Austen-inspired Seeking Mansfield will find this a darker story but still full of engaging characters and all the ensuing drama. Watson adeptly shows the pull and trap of addiction. The highs and lows of a dependence on gambling, (or any other vice), are eloquently brought to life in the story. This is an excellent choice for teens who like to read character-driven tales with a lot of drama. The intrigue is as rich as the cast of characters. VERDICT A thrill ride full of romance, mystery, and high-stakes gambling. Tate Bertram wouldn't have it any other way. Purchase where the previous book is popular.-Meaghan Nichols, Archaeological Research Associates, Ont.

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2017
Watson's novel may not break the bank, but it's by no means a losing hand.Tate Bertram's life is complicated to say the least: he is a gambling addict who won't admit to a problem even when he's busted by his brother after nearly dying during a confrontation over gambling debts. Luckily, Tate's wealthy parents paid off his debts--the first time. When Tate gets in trouble again, though, they turn to tough love. Thankfully there's Tate's politician aunt, who's running against her brother-in-law, a man who may have mob connections. Watson's plot will keep readers interested--her narrative twists and turns wildly as Tate lives his life of privilege, matches wits with his fellow intern/housemate/childhood friend/love interest, the Bulgarian-born Alex (adoptive daughter of the political rival, no less!), and uncovers a political mystery--even if the somewhat stilted dialogue throws in the occasional speed bump. Tate and his family are white, but Watson adds hints of diversity in half-Irish, half-Brazilian Finley, another love interest (introduced in Seeking Mansfield, 2017), and a few other secondary characters. The diversity falters, though; like many good-looking white guys, this book is all about Tate. The gambling subplot is handled well and provides Tate with some much-needed flaws as he walks the line between believable and idealized-character-trope territory.Faults aside, Watson's plot is snappy, and she manages to keep Tate likable through all of his highly unlikable moments. (Fiction. 14-19)

COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 1, 2017
Grades 7-11 Don't call Tate a gambling addict. The savvy college kid just likes running illegal card rooms because it's so profitable and the rush of being there is such a kick: fingering the deck he keeps in his pocket is soothing, and dashing off to buy scratch-off lottery tickets relieves tension. In this companion novel to Seeking Mansfield (2017), bad boy Tate takes center stage, leading us on a wild journey into the depths of addiction, evoked with such intensity that readers may find themselves short of breath along with him. When not gambling, Tate manages his classes and works on his aunt's campaign for attorney general, an escapade that brings him face-to-face with Chicago's inner circle of corrupt political and business leaders, as well as beautiful Alex Wolf, the candidate's niece on the other side of the family. Despite overwrought subplots and overdone gambling scenes, Tate's characterization dazzles in this high-action drama. The complicated family scenario will be clearer to those who know Watson's earlier title, but this can stand alone.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)