I Bet You

I have so much love for this book!!! I’m not a sports fan IRL but boy do a love a good sports romance and Ilsa Madden-Mills gives us another great one with I Bet You. Ryker is a quarterback of their college team. He has the reputation of being a player. Penelope is a writer and specifically, she wants to be a romance writer. She is the daughter of a former NFL player and because of the lack of relationship with him swears to never date a player. That is until Ryker enters her life. They really shouldn’t fit together but they do in the most of ways. This book has it all….it’s sexy, romantic, a little bit angsty, and a whole lot funny!

Slow burn to sizzling chemistry! Ilsa makes magic again in her latest Waylon University story, I Bet You. Ryker is a good guy caught in the fallout from a bad situation. Penelope is a daydreamer who never imagines a reality with Ryker. But truth is better than fantasy as they encounter a few obstacles to a happily ever after!

Ilsa kept up her theme so far in this series – super hot and not so jerk jock and super nerdy and peculiar heroine – and there is nothing not to love about it. Once again she wrote a super fun and cute story set in the college sports world. There is almost nothing I love more than that combo.

When it comes to her characters they are always so funny with just the right amount of angst in their lives. This time, the bearer of angst was our heroine with her relationship with her parents. I felt so much for her and I understood her fear when it came to jocks and especially Ryker but still she tried to show no weakness and she put herself out there.

Penelope is very headstrong, her sass is hilarious and it’s part of this book’s greatness. Ryker, just like Maverick had been, is your typical jock with a sweet heart hiding behind his social status. His sweetness and romantic side came as a surprise but were so welcome. You’ll fall for him, in no time, trust me, it was so easy. He is everything you want in a book boyfriend – sexy jock, sweet side, romantic, fun in and out of the bedroom – your typical alpha male goodness! Honestly couldn’t have loved these characters more! They had insane chemistry and where Ryker was, Penelope was on fire with her sass, I loved it so much. These two were so different from each other but they were meant to be and it was the best thing watching them go from ‘enemies’ to friends to everything else. Their story has its ups and downs, other people and secrets in the mix but it was the perfect story and I devoured it.

One thing I do have to complain about is not enough Maverick, Ryker mentions him a bunch of times but he only actually makes one appearance and my heart wasn’t satisfied. I wish he had appeared more *sigh*. But other than that this book was super great and I can’t wait to see where Lisa takes it. I kind of want a Blaze and Charisma book, it sounds like it would be fun too. Charisma seems a bit crazy and quirky herself and Blaze seems like another good guy hiding behind his jockness. I honestly wouldn’t mind if this series went on forever. Give me all the sweet jocks and nerdy girls.

I finished this book in basically a day, once I started it I could barely put it down. I kept picking it up any time that I had some down time and of course ended up staying up until after midnight to finish it. The chemistry and interaction between Ryker and Penelope just dragged me in. The slow reveal of their personalities and how much they actually had in common, and how their differences also complimented each other was so well written. But of course as I’m investing my time in these two characters and falling in love with them I’m also squirming in my seat just waiting for it to all fall apart. Wondering who was going to reveal the secret and how it will be dealt with. While I was asking myself these questions Ilsa did an amazing job with the side characters and the side story. It was all interwoven so well that you knew when the catalyst happened between the two main characters the side characters were going to play a big part in helping them cope. And the added bonus was that another relationship actually ended up starting to mend. These small little things actually had me tearing up. I am so glad that I got a chance to read this book, I loved every minute of it.

6 Hearts

I Bet You is the second book in the Hooking Up series by the ever-so talented, Ilsa Madden-Mills. It can be read as a standalone novel but I did met Ryker in I Dare You. I liked him then have totally fallen hard for him today.

Penelope hates Ryker. The cocky jock with jersey chasers all over him. He seems to think he is God’s gift to football and women but all she sees is a douchebag. A sexy one who she can’t get out of her head or her journal. A-. She doesn’t do football players. She especially doesn’t do quarterbacks. So, why does she feel a zing every time they touch? And when he kisses her…sparks fly. She shouldn’t want to kiss him again. She shouldn’t trust him. Especially when he says he will get her the man she is crushing on. Why would he do that? They aren’t friends. He didn’t even notice her until she called him out last semester.

Ryker and Penelope’s relationship is well…complicated. He confuses her. She intrigued him. What they both are is awkward when it comes to them being in the same room. But at the same time they feel at ease. Maybe because they know they won’t go there with each other. She is crushing on a guy who gets excited about mechanical pencils. And Penelope is not his type. But, you know what they say about how opposites attract. Can he prove to Penelope that he is not like all the others? And if he does, will it be too late?

I am in LOVE with this book!! The characters are addicting along with their story. I haven’t laughed out loud so much while reading in a long time. I want to read her journal. They are f- hilarious with their banter. Banter full of flirt, swoon, and attitude. They are both strong characters in their own ways. I loved them as enemies, friends, and lovers.

Overall…it’s my favorite Ilsa book to date! I read it in one sitting. I didn’t want it to end even though I was swiping my iPad like a crazy person. I had to know what they were going to say or do next. I also enjoyed the supporting characters. I am really hoping for the next book to be ______’s story.

P.S. I Vampire Bill. And I Penelope’s clothes!

Quotes:

“For a writer, you seem to be at a loss for words. Do I make you speechless, Penelope?”
I scoff. “No.”

So, if I shave my chest hair off and toss on some glitter lotion, you’ll be into me?I burst out laughing.
Maybe.
Done.
OMG. Stop teasing me. I’m giggling.
Who said I was teasing?

“You only put that stuff on when you’re nervous.”
“Not true.”
“Don’t even try with me.”

Great story about a ‘player’ who doesn’t want to be a player, and actually has some regrets about his playboy past… and of course the girl who helps him realize it. Neither have had the best role models when it comes to affairs of the heart, and while he doesn’t let it hinder his perusal of her, she uses it as a defense to push him away. His star athlete title doesn’t entice, in fact it only adds to her defense.

Both of these characters are lovable, but both have faults. They are smart and strong and confident, yet also have a vulnerability about them. They aren’t overly complicated, but complex enough to make them interesting. The side characters also bring a little (or a lot) of something to the story, and a few even help make the story as good as it is.

There are many laughs, a few steamy scenes and a couple tear inducing scenes. This is one of those books that while sex is the undercurrent throughout the book, it’s not the main focus between the characters. (Of course he is male, so always thinking about it.) lol I like that it’s a sexy read without being filled with the act itself. (Not that I have anything against those books.) 😉

It’s well written and easy to read. Flows smoothly. It is book two in the series, but each can be read as a stand alone without issues.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book (given by the author)…

This is Ryker’s (Maverick’s best friend) story. In my opinion, reading I Dare You first will make this book more enjoyable, but you don’t need to read it to follow along.

As you can tell from the title, a bet or I should bets are heavily involved in this book. Ryker, as you know helped out his friend, Maverick, during a crisis and there was some fallout they all experienced. Which in part leads into how we meet Penelope since she was part of the reveal that led to the fallout.

I won’t give too much away, but this must be said, Archer is a MAJOR BUTTMOLE; to quote one of my favorite movies, “up his ziggy with a wahwah brush.”

I did love Penelope and Ryker from the beginning and there was never a moment I didn’t understand/relate to them. Did Ryker mess up? Big time. However, I loved his persistence and his very romantic side (think Edward in Twilight aka Mr. Sparkles).

Also the side characters were hilariously awesome, although Blaze did get on my nerves at times.