The Wager by Rachel Van Dyken

The Bet, Book 2

Synopsis: Lose a bet, lose your heart…

What is it about a junior-high crush that can send an otherwise intelligent woman into a tailspin? TV reporter Char Lynn wishes she knew. Jake Titus is too rich, too handsome, too arrogant: a trifecta that once lured Char into the best night-and worst morning-after-of her life. Now they’ve been thrown together in a wedding party. It’s awkward, but survivable . . . until Jake stops acting like a jerk, and starts acting like the man she’d always hoped he could be.

If watching your brother marry your best friend is weird, being attracted to your best friend’s other best friend is downright bizarre. Unfortunately for Jake, Char hasn’t forgotten how he once tossed her aside. Worse still, Jake’s already-nutty grandma is even crazier about Char. Cue meet-cute shenanigans and all manner of meddling, and somehow, Jake’s falling. For Char. Now all he has to do is make her believe it . . .

Review: After finishing the first volume I was eager to get into this sequel. It must be said that after all that had happened, I was curious to see how it would be for Jake in this story.

We follow the adventures of Jake and Charlotte, Kacey’s best friend. Like for Kacey, Jake has behaved very badly with Charlotte and the wedding is gathering them together now, especially since they are both best man and bridesmaid. However, their reunion is far from simple and it is even more funny to attend all this. Besides Nadine, the grandmother will turn them crazy, and that’s saying little!

I had another great time with this story. Jake and Charlotte are a real pleasure to follow. They are going to have to do a lot of things for the wedding, many of which are orchestrated by Nadine. The two characters will have to tame each other and it’s not easy at first, since Charlotte hates him after all he has done and we understand it perfectly! Yet little by little, they will evolve and change in contact with the other for our greatest pleasure. Grandma is even more present than in the first volume and I loved to see her so much here! This is a really great granny and her ideas are sometimes completely crazy (but that’s also why we love her, right?). Besides, I was also delighted to see Kacey and Travis and some chapters are even from their point of view, so what more can we ask for?

It was a very good read once again and I must admit that I can not wait to read the third volume on Beth and Jace now!

The Bet by Rachel Van Dyken

The Bet, Book 1

Synopsis: “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 . . .

Review: I heard about Rachel Van Dyken many times but this is the first novel that I discover of her and I must say that I am conquered! I did not really know this series but the synopsis seemed to offer a very good reading!

We discover Kacey, a young woman who is struggling to rebuild her life. When her ex and former best friend comes to her to make a proposal, she has a hard time saying no and yet she knows that it can only end badly. His grandmother is sick and she would like to see her again, that’s why he thinks it would be perfect for her to come pretending to be his fiancé. Despite her reticence, Kacey accepts for Nadine that she loves more than anything. It will not be an easy game to do especially when she has to resist Jake. But on top of that, Jake’s brother, Travis, is there, that boy who always tormented her when she was younger and she hates him since. But Travis has become a very handsome man and he himself does not seem insensitive to the charms of the young woman.

I really had a great time with this novel and I was really curious to see how the story was going to end. The situation is really not easy and I sometimes really wanted to slap Jake regarding his behavior. However, I connected easily to Kacey, we understand her doubts and insecurities. Her exchanges with Travis are often very funny to see and I enjoyed seeing them evolve together. Did I tell you about Nadine? This grandmother is great and very funny. She brings a big touch of freshness to the story with her eccentricities and I can not wait to see her again in the sequel!

You’ll understand, it’s a very good first volume and I’m curious to read more!