Review of ‘Bet against me’ by Fiona Riley

Since her debut novel ‘Miss Match’ was published in 2016, I’ve read all of Fiona Riley’s books. I enjoyed her first series ‘Perfect match’, and was excited to start with ‘Bet against me’, book one of her ‘High Stakes’ series. I loved it and can’t wait to see what’s coming in the next installment.

Trina Lee and Kendall Yates are luxury property realtors working in competing companies, both very ambitious and extremely good at what they do. But there’s just one place at the top and neither of them is willing to be second best. When their respective employers decide to bet who will sell more properties in one of the most expensive buildings in Boston, both women jump at the chance to win the bet. If only a pesky mutual attraction wouldn’t get in their way…

This was an entertaining, fun, and hot novel and a very promising start of the ‘High stakes’ series. I admit that I wasn’t a fan of Ms. Riley’s previous book ‘Not since you’ but with this novel, I’m happy that she’s back to writing what she does best: hot and sweet romances with lovable characters and superb chemistry.

This is an enemies-to-lovers romance with the setting of the cutthroat Boston luxury real estate environment. Even though the bet story sounds a bit extreme for the real world, Ms. Riley has researched the business well and it works in the plot, at least to an unknowledgeable person like me. There is a good amount of detail about the real estate business and the fierce competition in that high-end market. I enjoyed reading about it a lot.

Ms. Riley’s readers know that her books feature likable characters with great chemistry between them. This book has it in spades and, as usual, the author delivers pent-up sexual tension and hot intimate scenes. Even though both leads come across as jerks at the beginning, the story slowly reveals their human and lovable side and show why they are made for each other. I wasn’t that invested in the subplot of Kendall’s past but it makes sense in the context of the story and helps to see the character in another light.

Overall, another entertaining, fun, and hot romance by Ms. Riley. I can’t wait to see what’s next in the series. 5 stars.

ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.