It took me a little bit to get into this story but since I’ve read this author many times before, I knew it wouldn’t disappoint. Although this story is heavier than some of her other rom-coms, I actually liked it more. I love stories where you can really see the characters finding themselves. I also adore second chance romances. They are my favorite trope. This story was well written and the character growth on point. Keep’em coming Tawna Fenske!

Just a Little Bet by Tawna Fenske follows Kayla and Tony on a journey of self improvement of two exes while on a road trip.

Kayla bets Tony the reason he always fails at relationships is because he's a commitment-phobe, however Tony thinks it just because he's just a lousy boyfriend. So, Tony joins Kayla on her road trip taking pictures of old forest fire locations and while they are in these different locations, he also meets up with his exes to find out what failed in their relationships. Some ex girlfriends were nice and had real insight for him, others were a little crazy who offered nothing but criticism. Also worth noting is that Kayla is also reading a self help book during this time. Sometimes she reads to Tony, but mostly she is just enjoying it herself and doing things the book suggests.

Self help books are not for everyone and certainly are not my kind of thing, which meant this book was not really great for me since it focused so much on the self improvement aspect. Sure, it helped Kayla and Tony to open up and finally admit their feelings for each other, but it felt a little weird to me that this was the premise of a friends-to-lovers romance book.

Tawna has a great writing style that is clear and concise, however this book was just not for me. It just didn't really have anything pulling me in. 3/5 stars

What an interesting premise to a book! To talk to past relationships and discover what went wrong. I think that takes a very open and mature person to do it. And made better by doing it with your best friend. I loved the dynamic of Kayla and Tony's friendship. You could feel their closeness, the deep care and humor between them. And when they finally admitted their true feelings, swoon!!! But they had to go through some pretty deep baggage to get their healing and renewed look at what they had. Thanks to some dear friends and family members who helped inspire them. I gotta admit I had tears in my eyes after a few speeches given to both Tony and Kayla.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher through Netgalley.

Friends-to-lovers, a bet and a road trip?! Count me in. Tawna Fenske is a new-for-me author, but after reading the blurb I couldn't help but jump at the chance to read the story.

Both Tony and Kayla were great characters to get to know. I enjoyed learning about both characters' disastrous dating history. Although Tony could come across as commitment-phobic, within a manner of pages you came to understand that there was a lot more to him and his failure in relationships.

I especially enjoyed seeing their bond as friends grow into something more. On the surface, it looked like they had different views of what they wanted in a relationship and that's why they didn't work out in the first place. But as the story progressed and the author delved into more of their stories, you could definitely see how right for each other they were. Of course, as Tony and Kayla continued on their road-trip, their connection and chemistry kept on building.

JUST A LITTLE BET is the second book bit the Smokejumper Series, but it can be read as a stand alone. All in all, a fun friend-to-lovers read with the right combination of banter and emotions to make it a great read.

Full of laugh-out-loud moments, emotional soul searching and so much steamy goodness! With the second book in her quickly becoming addictive Where There's Smoke series, Tawna Fenske continues to delight her reader with her signature sass and a slew of characters to fall in love with. I'm so looking forward to more in the series!

Kayla is a fun character. She's tough and sassy in her own right, but she's loyal and loving to those around her. I adored her connection with Tony.

Tony is a doll. We knew even before we knew all of the details of his past that he was putting up walls when it came to relationships. He thinks he's just a bad boyfriend, but Kayla thinks he's afraid to commit.

I highly recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who enjoys a lot of humor and feisty characters with their romance. You'll laugh, smile and enjoy the feel-good moments getting to that HEA.

I loved this so much! Best friends, Tony and Kayla set out on a road trip to discover why Tony can't commit in a relationship. As the miles pass, their friendship takes a steamy turn while crazy exs, family drama and an adorable dog made me want to read faster and faster. I loved their friendship as well as the very emotional back stories of the main characters. This was one of my favorite books of 2020! I'm looking forward to the next in this series!

This was an enjoyable read. It had an interesting mix of tropes. Like a second chance and lovers to friends to lovers and forced proximity all rolled into one. But all were handled so smartly. It was refreshing to read how the hero and heroine could acknowledge they have come a long ways since their initial relationship and were ready to try again while both still working on themselves individually. Although I felt this was really just the heros journey. It didn't seem like the heroine made any efforts at all besides reading a book. But overall a great read

Tony and Kayla had dated for a hot minute, but their dating life ended after about a month, like most of Tony’s relationships. However, they agreed to remain friends and they really did. When Kayla needed to spend some time on the road taking photographs for a new coffee table book she was creating, Tony agreed to hit the road with her. They even placed a bet on their trip. Kayla dared Tony to meet up with his old flames on the trip, so they could find out why their relationships ended.

Neither expected anything romantic out of the trip, but the more time they spent together, the more the old feelings came back. Tony eventually realized that the only significant relationship he had ever had was with Kayla. However, scars from a very painful upbringing still weigh very heavily on Tony, and Kayla desperately wants to marry and have children like her sisters. Will she be willing to take a chance on Tony, and will he be able to heal enough from the past to be what Kayla needs?

"You're a good friend, Kayla. The best friend I've got." This is coming from Tony. Yes, her best friend. But there was a time Kayla thought they would be more. They tried, but it didn't last long. Kayla's theory is that Tony is a commitment-phobe.

Tony is happy to have Kayla as his best friend. Sure, there was a time he thought they may last. But with the fact he sees no future with anyone, it was a passing thought. He loves spending time with Kayla. Any time, all the time.

When the opportunity comes for Tony to accompany Kayla on a road trip, he's more than happy to be her travel companion. Little did he know that it would turn into a bet. Then turn into sharing more of himself than he ever had. It's hard not to become more invested in this "friendship".

Tony and Kayla digging deeper into themselves and really analyzing why things haven't worked for them in the past makes a great story! I love the characters and their chemistry.

A road-trip to remember…

I love this author’s ability to bring characters to life! Their foibles, their strengths. Their empathy. Their stumbles. Tony and Kayla were ex-lovers. Best friends. Bet experts. Neither has been able to find a meaningful love after they broke up so when a bet has them pondering why, well, hang onto your seat belt for a life-changing ride…

The chemistry between Tony and Kayla never stopped, I think, buried under a friendship neither wanted to lose. There was still attraction though and their unconventional quest and close proximity meant laughter and a lot of soul-searching. At times light-hearted and others deliciously heart-pangy, page by page this story quickly moved to my "going to reread often" bookshelf...

This is a fun, best friends/second chance romance.

Romances never seem to work out well for Tony Warren or his best friend, photographer Kayla Gladney - not even dating each other worked for them. After one more relationship ends in another friendship and Tony drinking a load of shots, he agrees that whilst the two of them are off touring so she can photograph past burn out sites they'll take the opportunity to ask some of his ex-girlfriends just why their relationship ended. Will it prove he's a terrible boyfriend or a total commitment-phobe? However, as the journey progresses, the heat between the two of them grows . . . .

This is a story of a journey, both a physical one around the burn sites and another to the past and developing awareness of its impact on present day attitudes and behaviours. It is a family drama, one which includes secrets, abuse, developing self-awareness and going for your dreams. Much is inspired by a book Kayla reads and it helps them both open up to each other and to love. However, a call about his Mum may change all that forever . . .

This is a great addition to the series and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The revelations are moving and explain such a lot - but I'm not going to tell you what they are, you need to read the book for yourself to discover them! I'll definitely be looking out to read the third book in the series when it becomes available!

Thanks to Entangled and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

Good friends-to-lovers/second chance story. Tony and Kayla were a couple for a short time before they decided they were better friends than lovers. Since then, they have become best friends, sharing movie nights and romantic woes. After yet another break-up, Tony drinks a bit too much and confesses to Kayla that he wants more from his life but doesn't know how to get it. He's convinced that he is a crummy boyfriend, while Kayla thinks he's afraid of commitment. Kayla has a similar problem. She is a successful photographer, but she also wants a husband and kids of her own. None of her love interests have worked out either. Her sister gave her a self-help book to help Kayla figure out how to stop sabotaging herself.

Kayla has a road trip planned to photograph old burn sites for a book. As a smokejumper, Tony worked many of the fires that she wants to document and had girlfriends there too. Kayla suggests that Tony accompany her and visit some of his ex-girlfriends to find out which it is. They have a small bet going as to the reason he's so unlucky.

I enjoyed seeing the development of the relationship between Kaylan and Tony. The night that Tony got drunk and she took him to her place to sleep it off, something shifted a little in their friendship. There was a new awareness of each other that both were determined to ignore rather than risk their friendship. The trip started with snacks and general conversation, and Kayla reading out loud from the self-help book. I liked how each chapter that she read from tied in somehow to what they experienced that day.

Early in the book Kayla acquires a pup she names Fireball, who provides some comic relief when things start to get a little dark. Fireball also instigates a scene that brings out Tony's deeper, caring side that he often keeps hidden. As the trip continues, and they meet with several of his exes, Tony takes more ownership of his mistakes. I liked his determination to change his ways. The more time that he and Kayla spend together, the more the sparks of attraction between them build. And with the attraction comes deeper feelings.

Kayla sees a link between life and the fire sites that show new growth and wonders if it could be the same with her. Tony finds himself wondering "what if..." but his history makes him believe that he can't have it. Just when it looks like he might take a chance, that history comes roaring into his present. I ached for Tony and the pain he had to face. I wanted to shake him for pushing Kayla away, but I also understood that it was something he needed to confront. I liked the conversation between Tony and his brother and how it gave Tony the courage he needed. I loved the scene at his childhood home and the difference it made to his feelings about himself. While Tony faced his past, Kayla had some significant revelations of her own. A timely phone call from her mother helped her realize that she was harder on herself than she should be. I loved her mom's statement: "We're family. Awkward comes with the territory."

The ending was fantastic. I loved Tony's sweet, awkward apology and their acknowledgment that a relationship takes work. Perfect isn't possible, but owning up to mistakes and doing better is what counts. The epilogue was awesome, from the description of the exhibition (I LOVED the "Bloopers and Bonus Shots) to Tony's surprise for Kayla.

Tawna Fenske is a new-to-me author. I love finding new authors that I am able to connect with their writing and want to come back for more, and this author certainly falls into that category. I was told recently that her books were “so fun,” and that helped push me into reading this story. And I’m so very glad I did. While this book is labeled a rom-com, I have to say that it actually is a little more heart-wrenching than I imagined it would be. It deals with the weighty subject of abuse and highlights just how much emotional abuse affects those that fall victim to it. However, there are many light, laugh-out-loud moments as well.

NICUnurse’s Rating: My friend that told me Tawna Fenske’s books were fun did not lie, and now I feel like I’ve missed out on too much hilarity. I’ll be hitting her backlist post haste! If you like your rom-coms with a touch of reality thrown in, Just a Little Bet is going to be right up your alley. It’s a friends-to-lovers, second chance romance, as well. Her writing flows really well and even though this book is technically part of a series, it’s truly a standalone book as she does a really amazing job incorporating her previous characters and their backstories into this one without making you feel like you’ve missed an integral part of the previous story. And the hero and heroine are kind of badass and adorable all at the same time. And their chemistry is unmistakeable. I have to admit, though, that I struggled to fall into the story until about halfway through chapter two for some reason. It really could have been just me. But once they started talking about the bet, I was a goner. From that point on, it was really hard to put it down. Like I said, I enjoyed this author’s writing style a lot and plan to read a lot more of her books from now on, and I think you should join me in doing just that!

I give Just a Little Bet by Tawna Fenske 4.5 out of 5 stars!

Favorite Quotes:

What woman wouldn’t want a chance to tell a guy how he screwed up? … If an ex came to me and asked me to list all the ways he’d messed up, damn straight I’d share. Hell, I’d build PowerPoint presentations for some of them.

“Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat— everyone screws up. Your doctor screws up. Your hairstylist screws up. Your accountant screws up.” “I can’t decide if this is reassuring or terrifying.”


My Review:

While still a humorous romantic comedy at its core, considerable family drama, angst, and delicately handled issues of domestic abuse were also found on the pages of this insightfully written missive. I was enthusiastically rooting for Tony and Kayla and intrigued by the premise of visiting ex-girlfriends to unravel the underlying causes of relationship failures and following the not so woo-woo advice of a self-help guru. It was entertaining, smirk-worthy, and deliciously steamy between Tony's angsty bouts of self-doubt. I’m ready for more sexy smokejumpers in my life and already looking forward to the next installment.

Let me preface this with this book is not really about smokejumpers even though it's a smokejumper book. So don't be disappointed. This book is more about growing as a person. It's about learning to trust others, but mostly yourself. And it's about respect; for others and for yourself. This is actually a very well written book of self discovery and learning what your own needs and desires are. Very well done, Ms Fenske, very well done.

Just a Little Bet is the second book in the Smokejumper series but can be read as a standalone. Tony & Kayla are best friends that were lovers previously. After several failed relationships they embark on a road trip, armed with a self- help book and a series of meetings with ex-girlfriends and find a second chance at love. Per her usual style Tawna Fenske pairs great characters, romance, humor, and great dialogue
I was provided an advance reader copy. All thought and opinions are my own.

A fun, flirty romance you can bet on! Just A Little Bet is filled with witty banter, romance and will warm your heart full of laughter. This story is hilarious and filled with one outrageous moment after another, keeping you enthralled with each page. I adore a feel-good friends to more romance and this one truly hit the mark!

A great friends to lovers story. Kayla and Tony have history, but it is other history they are researching. It was an entertaining story. Add in a cute pup named Fireball and I would recommend this book to any friend.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley for my voluntary, honest review.

Tawna Fenske is a new to me author and I can’t believe it took me this long to read one of her books.

Tony & Kayla’s story was everything! I loved it beyond words. They had witty banter that was just so good.

Just A Little Bet is one of the best books I have read this year! I highly recommend.

I love books by this author and this story did not disappoint. The description makes it sound hilarious and it is at points, but it also is romantic as they go on a road trip together to discover why relationships didn't work out for him. Great story.