Published March 26, 2013
Publisher: Forever
Format: e-book, purchased
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
Rating: 4 STARS
(From Goodreads) "I have a proposition for you." Kacey should have run the minute those words left Seattle millionaire Jake Titus's mouth. It's been years since Kacey's seen her childhood friend Jake, but the minute Jake mentions his ill grandmother, Kacey is ready to do anything for the sweet old woman. And if that means pretending they're engaged for her sake-so be it.
But Kacey wasn't counting on Jake's older brother Travis still being there. She calls him "Satan" for a reason: she's never forgotten the way he teased and taunted her. Yet when they meet again, Travis's gorgeous smile is a direct hit to her heart . . . and Kacey's more confused than ever. As the days pass, only one thing starts to become alarmingly clear-she never should have accepted Jake's deal . . .
The Bet was such a cute book! I enjoyed it immensely - it was just what I needed. It's a rare book where I love all the characters, including all the side characters. Kacey and Travis are an awesome couple with a great backstory. Travis' brother Jake is a deliciously douchey bad boy. Kacey's BFF Char was awesome. And then there's Jake's and Travis' grandma who completely stole the show. You know Betty White in the movie The Proposal? She was a lot like her.
Kacey, Jake and Travis were the best of friends growing up. Well, Kacey and Jake were BFFs - Travis was Kacey's constant tormenter. Years later, Kacey and Jake had an encounter that meant more to her than it did to Jake, and it changed their easy relationship forever. A few years later, Jake asks Kacey for a huge favor that will require her to spend a lot of time around him and Travis. Kacey sucks it up because she loves Jake's and Travis' family like her own even though she knows the time she will spend around Jake will be frustrating, infuriating and mostly unbearable. Turns out Travis provides her with distractions from her Jake problem. And spending more time with Travis turns out to be exactly what Kacey needed.
I read The Bet at the perfect time. I had just come off a few super emotional reads and I needed something less intense. It is funny and quirky and the banter between Kacey and Travis is so cute. It was much lighter than most of my NA reads, and I really, really appreciated that. Sometimes the heaviness just gets... well, too heavy. You know? It's good to know that NA books can be written without any of the characters having major issues.
I mean, yes - Kacey's parents died in a car accident, and she did appear to still have some hangups about that. But, hey - who wouldn't right? And, it wasn't the biggest focus on the story. It didn't affect her ability to form relationships or commitments. In fact, after a bit of a rough start, Kacey's relationship with Travis was so sweet. It proves that you don't need a tragic issue to bond two people together. A mutual respect for one another and a childhood friendship is enough to start the ball rolling.
I wanted to beat Jake within an inch of his life most of the time, which was actually satisfying because I was afraid there'd be this crazy love triangle with the two brothers. Thankfully, things didn't go down like that. The side character that made the biggest impression was Grandma. She meddles in everyone's business and works her special grandma mojo to help bring Kacey and Travis together. I just loved her so much.
I'm so glad I read The Bet. If you are looking for a new adult book that isn't too heavy on the sexy times (but not devoid of them) or the emotional turmoil, you MUST give it a try.
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