I enjoyed this book, though it wasn’t anything I couldn’t put down. I liked both main characters but I thought the relationship moved fast. I thought Lauren forgave Thea very very easily and Thea didn’t seem that sorry. I hadn’t even realised it was part of a series so you definitely didn’t need to read the first one first

It’s a Fiona Riley book so you can’t go wrong! I was surprised that the MC’s got together so fast but what can you do when there’s a connection? Lauren was an absolutely great character, the type of person that you want to be, smart, beautiful and rich. But most importantly, a good person. Thea, is a spoiled little brat, and got on my nerves throughout the book. Overall, the writing is superb. Now, let’s get to Ellison’s book!!!

I’m a big fan of Fiona Riley so when I see a new title from her I make sure to read it ASAP.

This was a lovely book. The MCs, Lauren and Thea, both have a good heart and are well intentioned. Also, the chemistry! These two were hot together.

The secondary characters were solid. We’ve already met Lauren’s colleagues previously and Thea’s mom and brother were a welcomed addition. They added some humor to the book.

I saw the conflict coming from afar, but that’s ok. Even though it was expected it was still well done. However, I probably wouldn’t have let Thea off so easily. I think Lauren was a little quick to take her back. I would have liked to see the end be a little bit longer.

I definitely enjoyed this one.

4 stars!

This book is the second book in a series following ‘Bet against me’ and can be read as a stand alone.

We meet Lauren, who some of you may remember as the best friend to Trina in Bet Against Me, and Thea who hook up at a bar in what was supposed to be a one night stand but then Lauren is brought in to consult on Thea’s family land that Thea does not want to sell even though her mother is absolutely exhausted.

I absolutely love Fiona Riley books, they’re good casual reads. In fact one of my favorite books is the second book in her Perfect Match series called Unlikely Match. Imagine how excited I was seeing the two main characters from that book make minor appearances in this one.

They weren’t the only ones however, we see small cameos from Riley’s other characters such as Kendall and Trina (the first book of this series) and Hayley and Emerson from her book ‘Media Darling’.

The cameos were delightful but added to a book that I felt was saturated with characters. I think with the exclusion of at least two newly introduced or cameo characters could’ve left room for more build up in Lauren and Thea’s relationship. There was barely any romantic aspect to it which made it hard for me to like their conclusion, the book focused more on their sexual relationship and that made it iffy to imagine them actually being happy long term after the ‘honeymoon phase’. The I love you’s were a bit rushed as well.

Regardless the book was good, lovely humor, likable characters and definitely chemistry between the characters but the ending is where it went a bit down for me.

Like it was a bit unrealistic for everything to work out the way it did in such a coincidental way. Also the sentimental value of the farm wasn’t really acknowledged, it seemed more like Thea wanting everything to work out how she wanted it making me disappointed at her character’s development.

After the way she treated Lauren her getting exactly what she wanted felt very unsatisfactory. Acceptance was definitely something I wanted to see her go through. While from Lauren I would’ve liked more personality.

So I do recommend this book because as I said it’s funny, sexy and if you like Fiona Riley books this has appearances from some of your favorite characters.

I cannot wait to read Ellison’s story!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in return for an honest review!

3 stars. Lauren Calloway is a realtor who is having a string of bad luck with selling properties. She needs a distraction and has a one night stand with a girl she meets at the bar. That girl turns out to be Thea Boudreaux, who Lauren is tasked with helping sell her family's farm. Thea had no idea how bad her family's dairy farm has been doing. She had no idea about the debt her mother has gotten into to and how they have not been able to survive after her father died. Thea learns the only option is to sell the farm, and she is sad, as she does not want to see if go, it is her only connection to her father. Lauren is trying to find the best option for the Boudreaux family and at the same time try not to get too involved with the tempting Thea.

I enjoyed this novel, it was the second in a series with realtor main characters. I enjoyed the first novel in the series, and I enjoyed this one as well. You do not have to read the first one to read this one, but the characters are in it, so you get more context about them. I enjoyed the dynamic between Lauren and Thea. I enjoyed that they could not keep away from each other and that they had good chemistry from the start. The novel had a good pace, although there was not a lot of tension between the two characters, as they seemed to hook up earlier on. Although, there is some tension between them. I would recommend this one. I like this author and her novels are pretty solid.

The beginning of this book is great, I enjoyed how Lauren and Thea met and the one night stand was very sexy and believable and liked how they met again at the farm I thought it was good fun. However, from that point I found the book to repetitive and both main characters were a bit flat going from normal conversation to sexual innuendo or sex to quickly without much build up. Even when they made up was very without a real discussion happening.

I didn't understand why Thea was so unfair with her mother who was really struggling with selling the farm but obviously had no other choice. Thea didn't propose any ideas or solutions to save it, just like I don't want yoiu to sell the farm because I lived ther, it felt very selfish to me and very child like.

The end was nice. It was obvious that Lauren was going to come up with an idea to save the farm so all was well closed.

I liked the secondary characters but I didn't read the previous book in the series so I don't think is completely necessary to read this one

Thank you for my advance copy of Bet on the farm in exchange for my honest review

This is my first experience with this Author and this genre, but I really enjoyed getting to know everyone, Thea and Lauren were my favourite, Lauren was a little quirky and funny. Now I really want to read the first book of the series (I just found out it was part of a series) I loved the act this book was based in Boston and on the family farm, I could picture both Boston and the Farm, and I really felt like I was there
It was interesting to see how this storyline played out, I hadn't realised all the young female characters were all lesbians, and it really did work., it was good to see they were all friends.

Lauren Calloway cant get a date, her newly lovestruck bestie is never around, and she just blew a major deal at her luxury real estate job. so, a one-might stand with an attractive seems like the perfect distraction and the immediate gratification she's lusting for.

Thea Boudreaux left her family's dairy farm escape the painful memories of her father's tragic death, but when her mother tell they're going to lose the farm to debt. Thea is devastated. Can she live with her father's legacy being torn down for luxury condos? Or can she still save it and honor her father's memory?

When Lauren's boss tell her about a lucrative land sale that could help her get back on track, she jumps at the opportunity. Never would she have bet her unforgettable onenight stand would be the person stopping her from making the deal of the century

Number 2 in the High Stakes romance series by Fiona Riley is well worth your time, even if you haven't read the first book yet you will quickly catch up with the characters. It was fun to see a little bit of the characters in the first book. but this one revolves around Lauren who has a very hot one night stand with Thea. Both women are hoping for something more though.
It turns out that Lauren is the real estate agent that has been hired as an consultant to advise Thea's mom on selling her farm, something Thea really doesn't want her mother to do, so now this adds an extra layer to their connection.
On the plus side: the banter is great, both characters seem fun, loving and are capable to communicate. And the sex scenes: very, very steamy.

I didn't like this book as much as I did the first one though and maybe it has to do with the number of sexy scenes (*gasp* too much sex??) it feels like their relationship gets serious really fast yet it seemed to me as a reader that they are very compatible in the bedroom but I lacked the emotional connection. Nevertheless it was an enjoyable read and I will keep an eye out for her future books.

***An ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. ***

This is the second book in the series. While I also read the first, I think this can be read as a standalone. The book centers around Thea and Lauren and features two plot lines. The primary plot is a an early one-night stand which develops into more between the two mains. There’s also a secondary plot to save Thea’s family farm.

There were some elements that worked well. Lauren was a bit quirky and unexpected, the banter between her and Thea was often fun, and the sex scenes were unpredictable and pretty hot. There were also some elements that didn’t work. The relationship felt rushed. While the chemistry was pretty good, a testament to the writing, it was hard to feel invested in the characters. Both mains were compelling though, so while I was eager to see them take each step in their relationship, instead of anticipation, I felt disappointed that they took the steps before I was ready. I would have preferred a slower pace so I could develop a greater connection to the characters and so their intimacy was more believable.

I enjoyed catching up with the characters from the previous book, Ellison in particular. I’m excited to see her story unfold in a future book.

I had mixed feelings about this book. Ultimately I think it was just ok, but didn’t quite click for me.
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun read... Great main characters, amazing chemistry. Some steamy scenes, great humor and witty banter. It's well written and easy to read. I recommend getting a copy..


I received an ARC via NetGalley from the publisher Bold Strokes Books Inc for my honest review.

..

I’ve read this author before and enjoyed her work but something about this book just didn’t quite connect for me.
The characters and story were fine and I’m not sure why I didn’t take to it the same way. There are plenty of sex scenes throughout of that’s what you’re hoping for and perhaps it will connect with other readers!

This book was an absolute joy to read. I didn’t realise there was a carryover of characters from Bet Against Me; a book I'm yet to read. Other than a slight head scratch at the beginning; I quickly caught up with who was who.

The story is told in third person and from both main characters’ point-of-view. They are both awesome leads. A number of side characters add depth to the story. Two that stayed with me were Avni and Jax.

There’s a lot of heat in this story, and it fits nicely into the ‘one-night stand to forever troupe’. As much as I love some sexy time, my biggest complaint would be the epilogue. I was ready to ‘see’ how they feared emotionally, not be treated to another sex scene. With that said, I guess it fit with the overall tone of the book.

Thank you to the publisher, Bold Strokes Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy.

Lauren Calloway is a real estate agent in Boston who meets an attractive stranger, Thea Boudreaux, in a neighborhood bar. They hit it off and have a peachy (pun intended), delicious one night stand at Lauren’s place. They hope to see one another again, but know they probably never will due to various circumstances.

Thea returns to the family dairy farm in Maine where her mother tells her that she must sell the farm which is mired in debt. A friend of the family is sending a real estate agent to assess the farm and the land in order to determine what value a sale could derive for the family. The agent is nine other than Lauren.

The remainder of the story describes how they try to save the farm. The story was enjoyable and I liked both of the main characters, their flirty bantering, and the steamy sex scenes. There was also diversity with the secondary characters including Jax, Faith, and Avani, 4 stars


I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a super fun read! I'd requested it based off the first two lines of the blurb, so I had no idea what to expect. Despite that, I really enjoyed this.

I will admit that I had a ton of problems keeping the characters separate in my head. I'm not sure if it's because their voices sounded the same, or if I just wasn't paying enough attention. It was a fairly large character cast, which makes me feel slightly better about my problems.

I really liked the main romance in this one. I loved how there wasn't unnecessary angst, and the miscommunication trope wasn't used. Both of those drive me crazy, so it was super refreshing to read a book without them. I loved how Thea and Lauren communicated, and how they worked for the best for each other.

I'm not sure if I'll reread this one, but I still really enjoyed it. It was light and fluffy, and fit my mood perfectly. Id recommend it!

Thanks to Fiona Riley and Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

I have to admit, I had mixed feelings about this book. For the most part, I found it an enjoyable read. The characters were by far the best part. They were both just fun and enjoyable to read about. The author did a much better job at making them more likable than the first book in the High Stakes Romance series.

For some reason this story line hit differently to me than most romance novels. There were almost two parallel story lines - one where the two main characters, Lauren and Thea meet and fall in love, and the other where the two main characters meet and have to work together to determine a way to save Thea’s family farm. There is obviously overlap in the two plots but the thing that separates this book from others is the love story seems to be pretty low angst and a little too perfect too soon in my opinion. There was a bit of a childish meltdown at one point when the two plots collide, but it was over with quickly and didn’t really add to, or take away from the story. The real cliff hanger in the book revolves around how Lauren, a real estate agent, could be creative enough to maintain Thea’s family’s livelihood.

And a side note pet peeve, almost all the women are gay. Why? If this is a reality I am totally living in the wrong parts of the world!

This book checks so many boxes for me and leaves me feeling happy. After passing a year of Covid seclusion it is wonderful to have a steamy, low angst, escapism, romance. Lauren Calloway sells luxury real estate in Boston. Her boss sends her to a friends dairy farm in Maine to see if she can assess the property and help the family avoid selling everything to cover debts. At the farm she finds Thea Boudreaux. They met the previous week at a bar and spent a fantastic evening together. They both were hoping it wasn't a one night stand. Thea works in tech in Boston but this is her family farm started by her grandfather. Her mother and brother have been struggling to keep it afloat after the death of her dad. She is hopefully Lauren can find some way to save the farm.

I love both main characters. Lauren is bold, charismatic and sweet and helps Thea drop her cautious ways and show her romantic self. Their flirting is epic and fun. And Riley definitely knows how to write steamy scenes with a good balance of humor and banter. I like that the angst moment is understandable and handled fairly quickly because as adults they can talk, apologize and move forward. There are several side characters that add to the story including BFF's, co-workers, family and friends. The side characters are diverse including gay, bi, non-binary and trans.

I read this as a stand alone but it is second in a series. I will look for the first, Bet Against Me, to get back in the characters world. I also will look for future books in the series and others by the author. Can't recommend this enough to my friends who enjoy sapphic romances. Thank you NetGalley and Best Strokes Books, Inc. for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Lauren and Thea met once at dairy farm they both frequently goes to this bar had one night stand that will caught them by surprise when it starts to turn into something more. Lauren is real estate agent who reunite with Thea when her family farm is in dire straits although she wants save her family farm she has her own work and life.

As they get to know each other and finds ways to save the farm they grow closer. I like both characters Lauren was quirky and honest who brought out Thea who is very cautious and more private. I did enjoy reading about the other characters from her books it’s nice seeing what they been up to.

I like how this author write her characters where you could feel the chemistry and the relationship is organic and not rush.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Even tho its not a second book but its kinda related to " Bet Against Me ". and I feel like the characters were better than that book (Trina), meaning i liked them both and Thea was understanding clam, sure she did make a mistake but that's not unrealistic " dramatic but not odd". Lauren was lovely charming and honestly funny. the interaction was great between them. tho I feel like sometimes there was a lot of "huh"at the end of each sentence.. Nevertheless, I love Fiona's writing and her creative way in making most of her characters come back even for short event.

I still love Ellision and really won't mind reading her story at all. thanks to the author and her team for the opportunity of free copy in exchange of honest opinion

This is a delightful light hearted story of Thea and Lauren. Thea’s family farm is in a dire financial situation and Lauren is sent to seek a way to save it. They’ve previously met and had a one night stand and are reunited.
Thea is upset about the possibility of losing the farm but has her own career and life. Lauren wants to help the family keep the farm as well as make it a successful again.
This was an enjoyable fast read and recommend it.

This was such a fun and sensual novel, I was quickly drawn into the story and throughly enjoyed every moment of it. Fiona Riley has crafted an engaging world with sexual and gender diverse characters. Her writing is evenly paced and very accessible creating a very enjoyable reading experience. Her world is filled with characters that feel like people you could meet on the street.

The novel focuses on the start of a new relationship between our main heroines-Lauren and Thea. What was potentially going to be a one night stand grows into something so much more than either of them expected. Both Lauren and Thea were strong and independent characters that had a lovely way of balancing each other out. Lauren is a bit quirky and goofy at times and this really helps to draw Thea, who is cautious and more private out of her shell.

The way Lauren and Thea flirt and banter with each other is so delightful to watch. Fiona Riley does a lovely job of balancing humor, disappointment, love and regret as Lauren and Thea learn to negotiate through the start of a serious relationship (which neither of them have really had). I love that this book is embodied with strong and independent women and non-binary characters who are so supportive of each other. I really enjoyed watching all these strong friendships, loving family relationships and supportive work environments be the structural foundation for all of the characters to dream big and work hard in order to accomplish their goals and desires.

I highly recommend this novel if you are looking for a love story between two independent women who desire, support and help the other as they learn to trust and love each other. I highly recommend this novel if you love stories that have strong and supportive characters that fill out the world. I highly recommend this novel if you are looking for a sweet story that is funny, touching and an absolute delight.