Saturday, April 18, 2015

The Bet by Rachel Van Dyken ~ Review

Source:  Purchased the audio book.

"I have a proposition for you." Kacey should have run the minute those words left Seattle millionaire Jake Titus's mouth. It's been years since Kacey's seen her childhood friend Jake, but the minute Jake mentions his ill grandmother, Kacey is ready to do anything for the sweet old woman. And if that means pretending they're engaged for her sake-so be it.

But Kacey wasn't counting on Jake's older brother Travis still being there. She calls him "Satan" for a reason: she's never forgotten the way he teased and taunted her. Yet when they meet again, Travis's gorgeous smile is a direct hit to her heart . . . and Kacey's more confused than ever. As the days pass, only one thing starts to become alarmingly clear-she never should have accepted Jake's deal . . 


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17560674-the-bet

http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/The-Bet-Audiobook/B00MI4DC2O
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DB7RCD2/http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-bet-rachel-van-dyken/1114941152


Review...


Since I listened to this one, I'll start with the narrator.  I didn't really care for her.  Her voice inflections made the book seem childish.  There were three points of view in the book and I would have loved to have some guys doing Jake and Travis's POVs.

This book is quite unique, at least it was for me.  It reads like a romantic sit-com.  Everything that can go wrong, does.  Every opportunity is interrupted.  Every comment misinterpreted.   Don't get me wrong, it was quite amusing but it felt fiction.

Jake and Travis grew up with Kacey.  She's the girl next door.  They're brothers.  As the younger brother, Jake was the best friend to Kacey.  They had their moments of more in high school and again with the "incident" but it hadn't worked.  Travis is the brother who loves her and can't show it.  He chases  her in a very little boy way.  Spiders, snakes and rocks are all involved.  She calls him Satan.  But she doesn't always notice how much he's there for her.  

When Jake needs to smooth things over with the press, he thinks a fake engagement to the one girl he should love is the perfect plan.  He's not good enough for her but he thinks he should love her.  Problem is that he's an a$$ and she's not what he needs at all.  But thinking of his poor sick (NOT) grandmother who's always been there for her, she agrees.  Too bad Travis (aka Satan) will also be there.  

Yeah, these characters do have a childish charm to them and they really are still pretty young but I love them.  Of course, Travis is my favorite.  (I actually wanted to drop-kick Jake the first time he...never mind). Travis is a sweetie who has been in love with Kacey since he was eight and made a bet with his younger brother.  Even though he has a terrible way of showing his feelings, Travis did so many sweet things I was a pile of goo for him.  

Kacey is struggling with the death of her parents and the "incident".  She needs to work through it all and Grandma has a plan.  And no one should ever get in the way of Grandma's plans.  She's a riot, really.  

While these characters and this story really felt like a work of fiction, I found is amusing and entertaining.  Giggled some and swore once or twice.  It's a fun read.



            

2 comments:

  1. I enjoyed this one as well, but agree that when I read it, it felt like fiction. I'm glad you enjoyed it! Travis was my favorite too :)

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  2. I liked this read, but thought some aspects were a little too childish for grown adults. And I'm with you, Jake was an A$$!!

    Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace

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