Now an Amazon Top Ten Bestseller: #1 Sports Romance, #1 New Adult Romance, #1 Romantic Comedy
WSJ bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills returns with an all-new swoon-fest of a novel about what happens when you look beyond labels and take a chance on love.Sexy Athlete: I bet you won’t . . . Penelope Graham: Burn in hell, quarterback.The late night text is random but Penelope figures out exactly … Graham: Burn in hell, quarterback.
The late night text is random but Penelope figures out exactly who “Sexy Athlete” is. And why she shouldn’t take his wager.
Ryker Voss.
Football star.
Walks on water and God’s gift to women.
Just ask him.
His bet? He promises Penelope he’ll win her the heart of the guy she’s been crushing on. His plan–good old-fashioned jealousy. Once her crush sees her kissing Ryker, he’ll realize what he’s missing. Sounds legit, right? The only question is. . . why is Ryker being so nice to her?
Penelope Graham.
Virgin.
Lover of sparkly vampires and calculus.
His mortal enemy.
Penelope knows she shouldn’t trust a jock, but what’s a girl to do when she needs a date to Homecoming? And Ryker’s keeping a secret, another bet, one that could destroy Penelope’s heart forever.
Will the quarterback score the good girl or will his secrets mean everyone loses this game of love?
EEEPPP!
A sexy star quarterback and a fake relationship? Yes please!
A great follow-up to I Dare You (though this can be read as a standalone), and a great predecessor to I Hate You. I loved that I thought I knew exactly where the plot was going, but was happy to be proven wrong. I’m officially addicted to Ilsa Madden-Mills’s storytelling skills. [Bonus points for all of the vampire references peppered throughout the narrative. So fun.]
5 You Were Meant For Me Stars!
Penelope Graham is a southern girl who grew up in the small college town of Magnolia, Mississippi. She’s a quirky bookworm who loves romance novels and everything twilight. She holds down two jobs, and goes to school full time as a senior at Waylon University. She hasn’t had a lot of experience with dating, but does know she isn’t interested in football players. She knows too well how they operate. Then she gets the attention of the most popular guy on campus, Ryker Voss.
Ryker is the golden boy of Waylon University. The captain of the football team, and the star quarterback for the Wildcats. He’s the hottest jock around and a total player. Ryker and his friends love to hang out at the restaurant she works at. When he begins to show interest in her, she is suspicious of his intentions. The football team is notorious for their betting shenanigans leading up to homecoming, and she doesn’t trust him. She doesn’t even like him, but she’s still affected by his good looks. He’s absolutely gorgeous, and she hates she can’t stop fantasizing about him.
There’s a bit of drama between them that results in an apology and some promises. They begin spending time together and soon can’t keep pretending they’re only interested in friendship. There’s a real connection between the good girl and the sexy athlete. Opposites attract and the fireworks between them can no longer be denied. As they get to know each other better Penelope realizes Ryker isn’t the person she thought he was. He’s not the arrogant womanizer who has to be the center of attention. He’s kind, funny, and she can’t help being drawn to him. Ryker can’t get enough of Penelope. Something about her is different. She’s genuine, beautiful, and her opinion matters to him. As they start to fall for one another will secrets ruin everything, or will love win?
I loved this enemies to lovers college sports romance! It has hilarious banter, fabulous characters, insane chemistry, and delicious football players. I couldn’t put this book down, and was completely consumed from start to finish!
I Bet You is a bit over the top, engaging, full of quirky characters and witty dialogue – all combined for a wildly amusing romantic comedy. We do have the required bit of angst, but considering the storyline, you can see it coming a mile away. But here’s the thing, whether you’re a fan of the predictable storyline or not, Ilsa Madden-Mills does it so well, that it’s still hard to put down. Penelope and Ryker have great chemistry, even when they’re driving each other crazy. Ryker is the perfect book boyfriend. He’s sexy, arrogant, a star athlete, and has more than his fair share of notches on his headboard. He also has a heart of gold that he hides behind bravado and BS. Our sexy football star meets his match with Penelope, who has no problem putting Ryker in his place. Our couple is surrounded by great characters – some just as lovable as they are, and some who are the very definition of those we love to hate. Ryker and Pen aside, I have to say my favorite character is Vampire Bill – no, this is not a paranormal romance, and other than several pop culture references, there are no vampires within its pages, but the other characters should be jealous because Vampire Bill got some of the best lines. Like laugh out loud and snort lines! All in all, another entertaining read from this author.
RYKER PENELOPE
What a pair! I absolutely loved I Bet You. I have been waiting for what seemed like forever and it was totally worth the wait. I was literally hooked from the moment I started reading and could not put it down. The spark between Ryker and Penelope created an amazing connection that kept pulling me in. I just love their personalities and the intense chemistry that was always hovering around whenever they were together! I was on edge to see how their romantic relationship will develop and I adored every moment of it. Ryker had me swooning with his sweet gestures and Penelope had me laughing with all her nerdy quirks. Loved it so much
Oh my nerdy heart is happy after finishing this one. Ilsa Madden-Mills has really found her stride matching those hot shot footballers with the sweet girls. I Bet You almost makes me want to be 21 and falling in love for the first time again. This isn’t your typical take on the star athlete and the quiet girl though.
Oh no, Penelope was no push over. She was quirky and vibrant and I adored her. She loved her pirates and vampires and wasn’t afraid who knew it. Her imagination ran wild, especially where Ryker was concerned. Now, while Ryker is the star of the football team, he’s also a good guy. It took a while to glean that fact but his actions and words proved it.
I enjoyed how enamored he was with Penelope. How his patience gained her friendship and trust. How he helped her see her strengths and not just what she deemed as her flaws. More than that though was how Penelope calmed him. Gave him something besides the game to focus on. But Ryker has a secret. And when that truth comes out in a very ugly, very public way, Penelope is left reeling.
Man, Ilsa Madden-Mills had my emotions up and down and back again. I laughed, I fumed, I cringed, I swooned. Ryker and Penelope’s journey was far from easy but it was theirs and they owned it. From ketchup to Twilight and pool balls to llamas, I Bet You had me hanging on every word and was a true delight to read.
Sweet and swoony, I Bet You is a sexy football romance with a ton of heart. Ryker Voss, the star quarterback from I Dare You is heartstoppingly gorgeous, cocky as only a star athlete can be, and completely captivated by a woman who appears to be his opposite in almost every way. Penelope is a smart and feisty aspiring author, slightly obsessed with dreamy vampires, and totally unaware of how attractive she is to Ryker. Their relationship starts on a bet, but soon becomes more than either expected.
Sigh…Ryker is daydream worthy… He’s written with heat and heart, and I couldn’t get enough! And Penelope, well, she’s an amazing heroine. I loved her quirkiness and her fire. These two are an inexplicable pair, but they work. Ilsa Madden-Mills gave them depth, so what could have been a light story turned out to be more. I loved it all!
Wow…Ryker and Penelope are a fantastic couple. They both seem to be dealing with a lot but together they slowly heal and comes to terms with their past. I Bet You is funny and has a serious side with past issues but I enjoyed reading and listening (love Kindles hand off feature) to it sooo much. Isla Madden Mills, author, created the perfect characters and background for Penelope and Ryker. I love reading books from authors like Isla Madden Mills who are able to write a book you can get lost into and can bring out emotional responses where the reader has a smile on their face or brings tears to your eyes. To me that makes me add them to my favorite authors list. This is the second book I have read from Isla and I have already put her in my list after reading I Dare You and I Bet you. I highly recommend both books and Isla as an author. I plan on checking out more of her books that are related to both books. Can’t really call it a series as they are all listed as stand alone (most series have a series name and list but these didn’t). Next two books that are related are I Hate You and I Promise You that I plan on listening and reading . I encourage readers to check out all four books from Isla. You (readers) won’t be disappointed, Happy Reading!!
Page turner! Enjoyed this book until the very end and I want more! On to the next in the series!!!
Enemies to lovers perfection. New Adult romance at it’s best.
Go grab Ilsa’s new book, I BET YOU! It’s a hot read that will keep you glued to the pages! She’s an amazing author and the sweetest person ever, so that’s THREE great reasons to get this book, now!
5 The Stakes Are High Stars!!!
Leave it to Ms. Mills to deliver a book that is swoony, fan inducing and full of laughter. That’s exactly what we get with I Bet You which is Ryker and Penelope’s story.
For his part, Ryker is the star college quarterback and can get any woman he wants so why get involved with Penelope who’s quiet, studious, somewhat shy and a virgin? For a bet of course!!! And so begins their journey from wanting one thing and ending up with something completely different.
Penelope decides to go along with Ryker and that he promises to help her get the guy she’s lusting after…but we all know there’s something behind this deal! But Penelope doesn’t know it and she’s all for getting her secret crush to notice her. I loved how quirky this girl is. She’s a very intelligent young woman and has a true aversion to getting involved with football players given who her father is…but that doesn’t stop her from having some oh so sexy fantasies about our boy Ryker!
These two keep each other on their toes that’s for sure. For his part Ryker has never encountered a girl like Penelope before and he’s kind of digging it! She certainly doesn’t treat him any differently than she treats anyone else and that’s eye opening for this guy! But there’s something he’s hiding and it just could be the end of their burgeoning friendship.
This book is everything I wanted their story to be. Their friendship turned love is a bit of a wild ride, but Ms. Mills has delivered a book that captured me with it’s sexiness and allowing her characters to ease their way into their HEA while delivering the just the right amount of angst so it’s not easy peasy to get to their forever love. This is a book that once I started it, I found it almost impossible to put down because I had to see what would happen next for these two. I’m thoroughly in love with both Ryker and Penelope!!
Ilsa Madden-Mills once again has delivered a completely addicting read that you won’t be able to put down. This book had it all. The playboy quarterback, the nemisis, pranks, comedy, budding friendship, budding relationship, misunderstandings, mistakes, heartbreak and more.
Both of these characters have more in common than they think. She refuses to have anything to do with football players and him being drawn to someone who is completely opposite of anything he would usually go for. She is feisty and doesn’t take his crap. He is for some reason wanting to help her. Time together and getting to know one another makes it hard for the chemistry between the two to be ignored.
Like most books things get complicated and hearts get broken and you will be eating up every page. I can’t wait to see what Ilsa Madden-Mills has in store for us next!
4.5 Stars
I really enjoyed the first book in this series and I loved this one just as much. I really liked the characters. It hits home that you have to look beyond the surface and labels to see whats laying underneath. I really liked Penelope. She’s a little quirky and I loved her bird a lot. I laughed quite often while reading this one. I gobbled this one right up. I liked how Penelope brings out another side to Ryker. A good one. I LOVED the epilogue in this one. It absolutely prefect for Penelope and Ryker. It’s not all smooth sailing for these two, but once they really get to know one another watch the magic blossom. One little secret could have it all crumbling. I highly recommend this one!
I Bet You by Ilsa Madden-Mills
This is book 2 on The Hook up series.
I really enjoyed this book, this was about Maverick’s best friend Ryker and Penelope story.
Ryker is the QB to his College Football team…..he is cocky because he knows he is the best. With a hot body, blond hair, and pearcing eyes he had all the girls he wanted.
Penelope was a super smart woman, working two jobs to pay her tuition, she wanted nothing to do with QB’s they couldn’t be trusted. She only had one thing she inspired to become, it was a romance author.
But a bet can change many things!
This book was written in the same style as ‘ I Dare you ‘.
It was emotional, the right amount of hotness, football, friendship, family discourse, and most importantly love and HEA.
Now I can’t wait for Charisma and Blaze, hea maybe???
Review:
College romances are like catnip for me. Especially ones about jock quarterbacks, and nerdy girls. No one can quite write sport romances like Ilsa, and while the story was a bit of a cliche itself, it was an amazing read.
Ryker Voss is is Waylon University’s star quarterback. He’s the golden boy, who walks on water, and can do no wrong in the eyes of his adoring fan club. He’s got a bright future ahead of him. Ryker Voss can have any girl he wants, but the one girl who holds his attention doesn’t want to give him the time of day.
Penelope Graham is a nobody. Atleast compared to Ryker Voss she is. She’s the quiet nerdy girl, who doesn’t like to call attention to herself, and most certainly not from famous quarterbacks. But that’s exactly what Penelope has done, due to a scathing editorial she wrote about a footbal fighting ring that took place a couple of months ago. She mistakenly thought Ryker was a part of it, and although she has tried to right her wrong, it’s too late. The quarterback has it in for her.
Or does he?
To Ryker Penelope is a contradiction. She is quiet and shy one moment, but when he annoys her she can be snarky and sassy. Ryker is enthralled by this girl, and its an age old story about the hot quarterback and the nerdy girl. He wants to spend time with her, and pick her mind. He goes out of his way to put himself in situations where she’s present. And everything seems to be going alright until Ryker does something stupid.
Something that comes to haunt him later in the story. He doesn’t make a bet, as much as he’s forced to make it due to a douchebag teammate.
As angsty as college romances can be, I felt like Ilsa didn’t exaggerate and situations. She didn’t make the angst detrimental to the story. What really surprised me was when I started crying reading about Penelope and her dad. Although I was angry at him, I felt like he tried to help his daughter our when she needed it. Parents are not perfect after all.
I also really liked the historical romance parts. And Vampire Bill was freaking hilarious!
I really enjoyed I Bet You. It’s a quintessential college romance, Ilsa Madden-Mills style.
4 stars.
I bet you can’t read any of Ilsa’s books and not fall in love with them! Seriously, she has to be one of my favorite authors. Her books completely suck you in and I feel like they’re over too soon because I can’t put them down!
Penelope is this tough, smart, funny, beautiful soul, inside and out. I love that she’s herself and that Ryker loves that about her, she’s genuine. Ryker…le sigh…he’s funny and charming and sexy and huuge! He’s like 6’4″ come on! Mind. Gutter. Ha! The banter between the two was cute and hilarious and electrifying. There’s no denying the chemistry between them, all while he’s helping her “get Connor”. Okay, so it took her a while to admit to Ryker that she felt something for him, but it was like “Hallelujah” when she finally did. Also…the pool scene…I laughed so hard.
Archer was… a douche, and he made my skin crawl because he was just a creeper and a douche…did I mention that already? I was glad when Ryker wailed on him…you know, karma and all. Aside from the d-bag, I enjoyed the other characters, Charisma and Blaze, and I even ended up liking Margo in the end. Funny how things turn out. Oh and I loved the whole Lord Ryker bits we get from Penelope.
Loved this book, though I knew I would. I’m ready to read more by this author and instantly fall in love with her characters! If you haven’t read Ilsa, what the heck are you waiting for?
#B2B Kristina
The anticipation for this book was so high I was a bit scared once I started reading that I’d be somehow disappointed. Let’s just say i worried for nothing.
This book had me glued to the couch until I read the words THE END. I loved how well they complemented each other’s personalities.
It was a thing of beauty to read how their relationship progressed from barely acquaintances to the forever kinda love. The banter between Ryker and Penelope was so funny;
« “Keep your eyeballs in your head, quarterback.” “Hard to do when you’re bent over.” “Try harder,” I snap.«
or banter with Penelope’s BFF;
“He’s a man. He reacted like a Neanderthal. Plus, dude, he’s never been in a relationship. He doesn’t know how to act. You’ve got to train him up right!” I love Charisma aka BFF 🙂
I didn’t think it was possible for Ilsa Madden-Mills to write better book than I Dare You but she did; simply AMAZING book 😀
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
*5 Stars*
ARC kindly received in exchange for an honest review.
I love, love, loved this story. I sped through it so fast, I just didn’t want it to end. Ryker and Penelope were the best kind of characters, and right from the start I could see that there was more to Ryker than Penelope originally wanted to believe. She starts to see that too, and as they begin their “lessons” to do with Connor, her self denial sets in.
I loved how Ryker was sweet and swoony but still a straight up caveman at times when it came to Penelope. And Penelope was just her normal old self, and that’s one of the reasons Ryker falls for her. She’s not a jersey chaser, she’s a straight up, give em hell, nerdy yet confident girl, and she has such a fun personality.
I also loved Charisma, Blaze and Vampire Bill, some of the secondary characters. I look forward to seeing who gets their own book next, as I’m enjoying this series so far. I also really really disliked Archer, but I’m certain I’m not the only one there. For a story that revolves around bets between players, I think this was all written and dealt with really well.
I definitely recommend this one, lots of fun, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll speed through it in no time!