It Runs in the Family: Betting on You

My sister Melissa is back on the blog to be a (semi) regular reviewer starting this month! Mel reads a lot of paranormal YA, as well as NA novels, so she'll be posting about books that I might not necessarily read (or haven't gotten to just yet). Please give her a warm welcome for her second official review for the blog! (Here's her first review for Every Day by David Levithan!)

The Bet by Rachel van Dyken

Series: The Bet #1

Publication Date: March 26, 2013

Source/Format: Bought || Kindle e-book

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.

The Bet was a thoroughly entertaining read. I don’t know if I’ve ever laughed and cried at the same time as much as much as I did with this one. If anything, I was literally smiling from page to page. 

+ The Story - It all started with a silly bet. Remember how as kids we were told that whenever a boy was picking on you, it meant that he loved you? This couldn't have been truer for Travis & Kacey. Even as grown-ups they couldn't let go of the silly notion, which led to a lot of amusing “accidents”. Besides, the more you hate the more you love, right? Between the seemingly harmless pranks played and witty banter exchanged, you'll find yourself painstakingly amused at how these two sworn enemies find love in each other. In fact, you’d be surprised to find that not everything “bad” in their history is as it seems. 

+ Titus Brothers - Both are equally attractive, and yes, either one of them would be the perfect catch - but the Titus brothers also have their flaws. On the one hand we have Jake - who acts like a complete asshat - but deep down is an absolute sweetheart. He's overwhelmed with the responsiblity of his family's company & legacy, the pressure breathing down his neck and forcing him to play his cards a certain way. And then there's Travis, who ends up having to clean up his younger brother's mess - and in the process falling in love (again) with the same girl he’s been picking on as a kid – the lovely Kacey. Both these boys will make you laugh, cry, and maybe want to throw something - but that's just the way I like 'em. 

+ Grandma Titus - Don't get me started on dear old Grandma Titus. She's probably my favorite character from the story by far. If you think at her age, she'd be done messing around, think again. Her grandchildren had to get their conniving capabilities from someone, and that just happens to be an old, wonderful, crazy woman! I wish I had my own Grandma Titus, and I'm sure you will feel the same way too. It's like she knew how things would play out from the very beginning and so as much as you think she's crazy, she's actually quite the fortune teller - and master manipulator, in a good way of course. We could all learn a thing or two from dear old Grandma Titus. 

+ The Perfect Lines: 

- Nothing made him more nervous than the look she’d just given him, as if he could singlehandedly save the world, cure cancer, and still be home for dinner, all within the span of twenty-four-hours. 

- “No I think you’re breathtaking.” Kacey flushed. “I think you’re life-altering.” She tried to pull away. “I think you’re uniquely, wonderfully…you” 

- It’s important to live and not get so hung up on the past. The past is called the past for a reason. If you are constantly looking behind you, your eyes aren’t on the road ahead. You don’t drive a car that way, so why would you live your life that way? 

Overall, I would definitely give this book *snaps* just because I didn't have any reason to put it down until the very end. It had the right amount of the swoonworthy, the funny and the downright crazy moments that make a good love story - and that's just what I need - an easy read, and an even easier book to love.