Just to put it simply, I loved Candace Haven's Bet Me to Stay. The characters of Cassie and Liam were both great. But we can not forget about the steam this book generated.

Thank you netgalley and entangled publishing for letting me read this title. I found myself enjoying this one a lot! Both main characters were relatable. The dynamic between both of them was great!

I was unable to download this book correctly and therefore I am giving it four stars to align with the average it has received.

This was okay for me. While the writing wasn't bad, there wasn't a whole to the story. It's a quick read, and although I don't mind (in the least), steamy times for the main characters, this book didn't have a lot of plot to go a long with it. I liked Liam and Casey okay, but there just wasn't enough there for me to root for them. The big "secret" that Casey has was just meh to me. It really wasn't as bad as what the lead up would make you think. They do get their HEA, and the last part of the book was very sweet. This was a first for me from this author, but I would give her another read.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.

Bet Me to Stay is by, new to me author, Candace Havens, and I loved every moment of it. This book was the perfect blend of romance, humour, and just enough drama to make it enjoyable, but not bog down the story.

The writing style just flowed, quickly switching between the POV of our two main characters. Character development was on point. Liam is almost the perfect book boyfriend. I liked that he admitted (to himself) that his view to have a 'casual fling' was in trouble from nearly the first moment. As much as he tried to talk himself out of it, he did not try to deny his feelings or try to sabotage the developing relationship unconsciously. Both characters accepted, on some level, what was happening, and it was refreshing not to have either of them self-sabotaging the relationship's development.

Casey was a lovely character. She too recognised what was evolving, but she wouldn't allow herself to accept it. Her history with her family, how they treated her, and the secrets that she was keeping from Liam, left her too insecure to embrace it. However, I didn't find this annoying, as I do in many similar scenarios. I think because there were very practical reasons (and ones not overly exaggerated) for her hesitation, with her lack of self-confidence and self-worth being significant factors.

What does have me scratching my head though, is this book's categorisation as being an erotic romance or erotica. I'm the first to admit that the fine lines between book genres and types often eludes me. However, while there are some hot scenes, and these are very well done, I have read more graphic scenes in books categorised as regular romances. To me, a true erotica story reminds me of my old Stargate SG1 fan fiction days (I’m probably showing my age here!) with the tag PWP (plot, what plot?) that signified an erotic story with very little substance.

In my most humble opinion, Bet Me to Stay just had too much heart to be classified as erotica. I know that tag along would stop many people from reading the story, thinking it's little more than a 'good time story', and that's a real shame.

Bet Me to Stay is one of those stories that stay with you, long after the book is finished. I've read it twice in the last six months, and I enjoyed it just as much the second time as I did the first. It is a beautifully crafted story packed with emotion, humour, and more than a little heat.

I’d highly recommend any reader of contemporary romances ignore the category tags and give this one a chance. I don’t think you will be disappointed.

BET ME TO STAY by Candace Havens is a contemporary Rom-Com that takes a look at two brothers and their very different dating habits. Marvelous Must Read!

Ahhhhhhh Bet Me to Stay was just such a wonderful book and I just thoroughly enjoyed myself. I didn’t want to put this book down. I just fell in love with this wonderful story and it’s wonderful characters. I will most definitely be reading more stories from this wonderful author.

Hands down, the steamiest book that I have ever read.
Candace Havens has written such a fun, sexy book about a man and a woman, a bet and misunderstandings. But while the love story is cute, this book is all about the intimate scenes. It sizzles off the page and demands to be read again and again.

Expect the unexpected. Everyone has heard writers should write from experience. I can see a bit of the publishing world expecting writers to step up and move onto more sex in their romance novels. So, when our closet novelist is told to spice it up she needs to write from experience. I found the book cute and sexy. A bit on the light shade of gray.

Keep your fan handy and crank up the AC, you’re gonna need it because Bet Me to Stay is one seriously hot read!

The setting is simple, Liam bets his brother he can’t keep it in his pants for a month and in exchange, he has to date for the same amount of time. Casey is in desperate need of some sexy time inspiration as the new book she’s writing totally sucked in the hotness department. Perfect timing means Casey walks in Liam’s pub at exactly the right moment, and as soon as she is sitting at the bar their chemistry comes alive.

Neither of them is looking for a relationship but their attraction is too powerful to just ignore, so they enter into an agreement. Liam will… keep enriching Casey’s sexual knowledge for as long as they have fun together. No matter how good they are together though, when they’re both keeping secrets shit is bound to hit the fan eventually. And everything they’ve shared will be in jeopardy.

Casey starts off as a mixture of shy innocence and naughty vixen. She was funny and smart but had a few self-confidence issues in the beginning. Fortunately, Liam helps her out with that.

Liam was what Irish guys dreams are made of. Broody, intense and sexy as all get out, he had a dirty mouth that paired with the accent was absolute perfection. The fact that he was in complete denial of what was happening between Casey and him (feelings, lots and lots of feelings) made me want to slap him upside the head a time or two, but I have to say the guy really knew how to make up for his mistakes.

Fun, engaging, with great banter and incredibly hot and naughty shenanigans, Bet Me to Stay was an absolute treat to read I enjoyed from top to bottom.

Really cute. Kind of reminded me of “She’s All That,” a movie from my childhood. I would totally red more from this author!

It was an okay story, not one that I would re-read. There was a basic plot much not much else. I thought much more would be made out of the only issue between them, especially since he' worried about losing part of the bar due to the women his brother dates. Everytime the issue is brought up the story turned to sex. I ended up skimming through the book.

A quicky and good romance by Ms. HAvens. I really enjoyed the interactions of the main characters. Good well developed plot.

If you’re looking fo a romantic comedy that gives you all the feels, makes you laugh out loud, believe in love and smile from ear to ear, then this is the book for you. Five romantic stars ✨ absolutely loved it. Can’t wait to read more by this author. Happy reading!!

This was a mediocre read for me. I generally like to have more conflict and emotion in my story. If you enjoy the focus of the story being sex over content, you will enjoy this. The characters are likable, and that's what kept me reading until the end. Also there was tremendous overuse of the f word, which had I known about, I wouldn't have requested to review it.

I received this book from the publisher for review.

I voluntary read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
3.5 stars

This is a fun little romance, with some cute characters. I wasn't completely hooked by it, but I never thought about giving up on it, so that's a plus.

One thing I really did like was that Liam, our main character meets Cassie when she is wearing baggy clothing-- she isn't great looking here and that's what he thinks, BUT he does start to be attracted to her because of their conversation. I was worried he would wait to start liking her until he saw her in better clothing, but phew~ we dodged a bullet there. After that, I found the couple to be really sweet. Of course, friends with benefits never works, and it barely worked long here before we see them wanting more from each other, without them even realizing it.

I think the thing that lowered the rating for me is that I thought this book would be about more than just sex, but there is just so much of it. Which is great if that's what you are into, but for me I prefer more story.

The ending seemed almost too easy and I didn't 100% like how the conflict was resolved. I believe public displays are undo pressure on the other to give in to the other.

A decent book and I heard that it has been edited and changed up some more, so if I ever get to reading it again I will see if I like it anymore. So please take my rating with a grain of salt.

This story is sweet and sexy. I really enjoyed this book. Liam and Cassie are such great characters. I had a hard time putting it Dow and was excited to get back to it. I was honored I was given a chance to read and review this book.

Got a bit predictable at times but still an amazing love story that has so so much humor to it! Cassie was outstandingly written, her wit really added so much to the story. Would definitely recommend.

Wow! I loved this one. Couldn't put it down and stayed up all night reading. One of my favorites this year!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Missing something
3 stars

I’ve never read Candace Havens before despite her having a large number of novels and being a well-loved author. Actually, I’ve just found out I have read her before but just forgot. Awkward! Anyway, it was the cover and blurb that pulled me in though - both are cute and sexy and had me anticipating a smart and sexy read.

But, for some reason - this book just didn’t work for me.

Our premise is simple: a man makes a bet to save his pub - he’ll date the first woman to walk through the door while his brother stays celibate. The woman in question is Cassie Meadows - a romance author without much experience to make her sex scenes sizzle. And so the two meet and form a mutually beneficial temporary arrangement.

I can get on board with the bet and the near virginal author looking for more experience. I just didn’t really like the way it played out. Things went far too fast for me to believe there was any kind of passion or spark between the pair. The lack of build up before they got together meant the sex scenes left me a little cold. If it was supposed to be insta-love, I could have got behind it - but it wasn’t.

Cassie was a nice enough character but for someone who had little to no experience, she sure didn’t act that way. She was bold and knowledgable, demanding and feisty and her dirty chat was second to none. Now I like a little filthy banter in a book - it’s properly my jam - but this felt forced and uncomfortable. Like when your mum swears. And it happened a lot. Cringe.

Liam, again, was a nice enough character. But he was “Irish”. Luckily he didn’t “fiddle-dee-dee” or wear a green suit but it was close there for a bit. Again - it missed the mark for me in terms of cuteness, sexiness and reality.

And now onto the sex. Yes, there is a lot of sex in this book. At times I felt it overshadowed the actual plot - which is pretty much just the build up to the reveal of the “big secret” (which I can’t really see was a big deal anyway!) As I said before, there was no sexual tension which left the scenes a little flat for me. And when the dirty talk became too much, I ended up skimming. And that’s a lot to skim.

This book was just missing something vital for me to give it more than 3 stars. Cute premise and the writing flowed - but I didn’t feel anything for the characters or in their interactions. Not one for me.