After a bet with his brother, Liam O’Connor has to date the next woman who walks into the pub. And he’s all in, because his pub is on the line. What he didn't expect was Cassie Meadows, who at first glance with her big glasses and bulky sweater looks like a woman who has many, many cats––but her wit and smile make him wonder what’s underneath her bulky armor.

Cassie Meadows aka sweet romance author Cassie O'Brian is about to lose everything. As in, her writing career is going down the drain because she can’t write the sexy stuff that’s selling these days. She needs inspiration in the worst way. That’s when she walks into the wrong pub at the right time. Sexy owner Liam is just what the writing doctor ordered. Her whole body is feeling inspired–-and when he makes a proposal she can't refuse––she’s all in. Oh, hell yes. Best. Sex. Of. Her. Life. Thanks to Liam, she's about to write a best-seller.

But having an erotic romance alter ego is nothing compared to the real secret Cassie is hiding—and that one could destroy everything.

Title: Bet Me To Stay
Author: Candace Havens
Series: /
Pages: 193
Genre(s): Contemporary, US
Hot Buttons: /

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I’ve never read Candace Havens before despite her having a large number of novels and being a well-loved author. Actually, I’ve just found out I have read her before but just forgot. Awkward! Anyway, it was the cover and blurb that pulled me in though - both are cute and sexy and had me anticipating a smart and sexy read.

But, for some reason - this book just didn’t work for me.

Our premise is simple: a man makes a bet to save his pub - he’ll date the first woman to walk through the door while his brother stays celibate. The woman in question is Cassie Meadows - a romance author without much experience to make her sex scenes sizzle. And so the two meet and form a mutually beneficial temporary arrangement.

I can get on board with the bet and the near virginal author looking for more experience. I just didn’t really like the way it played out. Things went far too fast for me to believe there was any kind of passion or spark between the pair. The lack of build up before they got together meant the sex scenes left me a little cold. If it was supposed to be insta-love, I could have got behind it - but it wasn’t.

Cassie was a nice enough character but for someone who had little to no experience, she sure didn’t act that way. She was bold and knowledgable, demanding and feisty and her dirty chat was second to none. Now I like a little filthy banter in a book - it’s properly my jam - but this felt forced and uncomfortable. Like when your mum swears. And it happened a lot. Cringe.

Liam, again, was a nice enough character. But he was “Irish”. Luckily he didn’t “fiddle-dee-dee” or wear a green suit but it was close there for a bit. Again - it missed the mark for me in terms of cuteness, sexiness and reality.

And now onto the sex. Yes, there is a lot of sex in this book. At times I felt it overshadowed the actual plot - which is pretty much just the build up to the reveal of the “big secret” (which I can’t really see was a big deal anyway!) As I said before, there was no sexual tension which left the scenes a little flat for me. And when the dirty talk became too much, I ended up skimming. And that’s a lot to skim.

This book was just missing something vital for me to give it more than 3 stars. Cute premise and the writing flowed - but I didn’t feel anything for the characters or in their interactions. Not one for me.

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

       

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Subject: Major Ben Hawthorne 

Mission: To make one sexy civvy's Christmas wish come true 

Christmas is almost here, and guys are the last thing on personal shopper Ainsley Garrett's list. But her icy resolution melts when she sees an incredibly hot Marine shopping for toys. A man in uniform with a hot bod and a heart of gold? Maybe a gal can believe in Santa after all… 

Major Ben Hawthorne has his career to think about, but when it comes to Ainsley, he's willing to break his own rules, at least for one night—provided they can get this insanely wicked attraction out of their systems. Only, once isn't enough. Now Ainsley's checking her list twice…before she falls for a Marine who's naughty and nice

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Who doesn’t love a man in uniform? Especially at Christmas. That’s just what Ainsley gets in this story set at Christmas - a sort of opposites attract tale. Ben is a big softie Marine from a poor background while Ainsley is a successful business woman from one of the richest families in America. But they mesh well together and I liked their chemistry, banter and interactions with each other. Both were likeable characters and Ainsley was written especially well since sometimes rich heroines have to work extra hard for me to like them.

Fun supporting characters, too. I suspect that some of the other Marines have either had their stories told previously or will do in the future. A word of warning about the British best friend - generally alright but there are a couple of instances of her taking a ‘British’ word and dropping it randomly into a sentence. A bit cringe if I’m honest.

The sex scenes were enjoyable, too. Not too many to overwhelm the story and warm rather than blazing hot. They bordered on sweet rather than down-and-dirty sexy. Again - nothing wrong with that.

While this was a pleasant read - good characters, interesting situations and well written - it didn’t quite dazzle me or keep me hooked so that I couldn’t bear to stop reading. It was quite clear from the outset what the source of conflict was going to be so you’re just really waiting for when it was going to happen rather than wondering what might happen. That’s not necessarily a bad thing - it just gives a story that’s a little more sedate. Again, warm but not blazing hot.

With that said, this is still a good story with good characters in a Christmas setting. I would recommend it to fans of Blaze, Christmas and the Uniformly Hot! mini-series. 4 stars.

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224 pages

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