Review: The Bet by Max Monroe

When it comes to life’s fun and games, always know:
The rules.
What’s at stake.
When to quit.

Wise words from . . . well . . . my fortune cookie. But wise words, nonetheless.

I just wish the Fortune Cookie People had considered how hard the whole “knowing when to quit” would be to carry out when a woman like me is gambling with her feelings.

Heart-palpitating, vageen-tingling, butterflies-in-my-belly feelings for a noncommittal, hot-as-sin player by the name of Jude Winslow.

After a crazy night where we were both pretending to be someone else, I’ve found myself immersed in the fun of the fling.
The thrill.
The irresistible charm.
The pleasure of being with a man like him.

Problem is, I’m positive he’s the exact opposite of husband material, and that is a serious issue for someone who is fixated on finding her happily ever after.

I know the rules and I know the stakes, oh wise Fortune Cookie.

Now I’d just like to know how close to self-destruction I have to get before I find the will to quit Jude Winslow.

Goodness knows, when your heart is on the line, you can’t ante up your bet with an IOU.

Author Note: The Bet is a full-length standalone romantic comedy and the first standalone book in the Winslow Brothers Collection. This book is chock-full of hilarious rom-com moments, but also, it’s spicy. We’re talking alllllll the sexy.

They were certainly not kidding about all the sexy, this book has some steam. Sophie and Jude are beyond hot, but therein lies the problem. Relationships are tough for Sophie because she’s too anxious about where it’s going to enjoy one. Jude isn’t a commitment guy, he just wants to have fun. Their attraction is overwhelming and they’re drawn to one another. It’s a perfect opportunity for her to relax and just live, so even though it’s totally not like her at all, she decides to live in the moment, at least where Jude is concerned. And have fun they do.

So much fun. Maybe too much, because they’re kind of addicted to one another soon. He makes the boundaries clear but the more time they spend together, the more those lines blur. Sophie finally starts to let her guard down because it seems like he’s feeling exactly what she’s feeling, so maybe this isn’t just a fling. Too bad Jude is loving every minute of this, right up until he realizes he actually loves Sophie, then he acts like a fool.

These characters were so much fun and not just the MC’s. Sophie is smart and funny, with a hilarious inner monologue. She’s equally at ease pretending to be the bride at a bachelorette party for her shy sister as she is hustling poker players in Vegas, so she’s a whole lot of fun. Jude is just the kind of outgoing, extremely self-assured playboy that might get under your skin except he’s so sweet and way too sexy not to love. Sophie’s relationship with her sisters was interesting but the Winslow family steals the show. If you have siblings, the banter is dead-on. Jude’s interaction with his siblings is exactly like Sunday dinner with my family so I loved every word.

Sophie and Jude’s story was fun to read and laugh out loud funny. I couldn’t put this book down and highly recommend it.