Bet Me, Baby

Vegas, Baby #2

by Fiona Davenport

As a professional poker player, Lia Carrington is used to taking risks...except when it comes to men.

From the moment Becket Parker spotted the gorgeous gambler at his table, he knew she was meant to be his.

Now he's just got to convince her that he's a bet worth taking.

Genres: Romance, Novella, Contemporary, Short Stories, Contemporary Romance, Erotica

80 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 25, 2019

About the author

The writing duo of Elle Christensen and Rochelle Paige team up under the USA Today bestselling Fiona Davenport pen name to bring you sexy, insta-love stories filled with alpha males.

If you want a quick & dirty read with a guaranteed happily ever after, then give Fiona Davenport a try!

You can connect with Fiona on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Fiona-Davenp....

Professional Inquiries: Fiona is represented by SBR Media. For inquiries regarding foreign rights, audio and other media outlets, please contact Laura@sbrmedia.com.

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.

This story was very sweet and definitely HOT!! The hero completely fell for the heroine the minute his eyes locked on her, and she couldn't resist him either. Becket is possessive, obsessive, gentle, loving and protective…everything I love in a hero! Plus, he is a casino owner and that’s where he meets Lia since she is working at his casino. Lia is a strong independent heroine with just the right amount of sass. I loved the epilogue with Lia giving birth to their sweet baby boy.

The story is short but packed with plenty of pant-worthy sexy times, some action and good character development. Safety: no virgins here but they are both celibate and completely faithful! No cheaters here. Highly recommend anything by Fiona Davenport aka Elle Christensen and Rochelle Paige. Favorite non Harlequin author for sure. I wish they would write a Harlequin Presents. A girl can dream!

[Coco.V · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, hot, sexy, steamy and totally drama free. The story is exactly what you expect and if you like these kinds of stories like I do then you'll enjoy this.

[♡Tonya♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

-no cheating
-no ow/om drama
-no pushing away
-instalove
-no violence of a sexual nature
-just ok epilogue that left me wanting more

[Rachael*Caribbean*girl*bibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5*

I've read a few books by this author so I had an idea of what to expect. Another possessive, protective Alpha hero with a sweet h and sexy times. In this case the only difference between the H and a caveman was the fact he had on clothes, a job and probably spoke better (no offense to cavemen intended). He was OTT jealous/possessive but I think that's the reason I read these books 😁. A bit of suspense,a not TSTL heroine who got off on her caveman's behavior and it's a pretty typical delivery for this author.

* We'll take it as STDs don't excist in these books so unprotected sex is acceptable 😂

[Nova · Rating 4 out of 5]

I simply love this duo they always write books that have a great story with insta everything.

Lia is in town for the poker tournament trying to prove to her family that this is her career when she heads to the black jack table to get in a little practice it’s there that she meets Beckett Parker who isn’t who he seems but their chemistry is seriously hot and before she knows it she’s not only gambling just money but her heart too.

Beckett Parker isn’t your normal dealer in a casino as part owner in his own hotel and casino he just like the work and doesn’t need the money. The moment he looks up at the newcomer to his table he’s struck dumb and when she agrees to dinner he knows he’s found the one. But Lia thinks this is a short term thing and that’s so not happening now he’s got her he’s not letting go. But when she vanishes one thing is for sure he won’t rest till he had her back.

Quick, fun and sexy read and I’m hoping there are more books to come in this series.

[C.M. Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. It's cute and sexy like the first in the series. Lia and Becket are a perfect fit. Can't wait for more.

[*CJ* · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Bet Me, Baby" is the story of Lia and Becket.

Another great addition to the FD universe with a spunky heroine, an obsessed hero, super smokin' hot sex scenes, breeding talk, witty banter, lots of love, a small hitch ending in a super sweet HEA!

Totally enjoyed it!

Safe
4/5

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damn I love Vegas.

RTC

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

Another win for Fiona Davenport! I absolutely love this duo! Beckett and Lia pretty much instantly fall head over heals for each other. Their time together is passionate and explosive. There is no running from feelings, just pure acceptance of a radiant love.
Safety and Spoilers
This story is completely safe. No op drama, just a lot of jealousy from both sides, lol. Both have been celibate for a long time. Another poker player causes some drama. No abuse!

[Elizabeth Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you read It's Vegas, Baby (which I recommend you do), then you'll recognize Becket, a dealer at the Lennox, a casino owned by his friend, Andrew (Drew) Lennox. This is Becket's story.

Cornelia (Lia) is a professional gambler and, as is her tradition, she arrives a few days prior to the tournament, liking to relax beforehand. This time though, she finds something she never imagined.

Becket is enthralled by the beauty at his table, and her skill at the game is undeniable. He's instantly possessive, ready to claim her, and thankfully, she seems to feel the same about him.

Becket and Lia know they've found something special, though she assumes this can only be a fling - and one she'll never forget - and gleefully take the time to explore it. However, danger is stalking Lia and neither are aware of it, nor just how close it is.

Can Becket find Lia in time? What will happen when the tournament is over? Will Lia return home? Or can Becket convince her to take a chance on them? Psst...I'm thinking the house wins. LOL

One-click now and follow along as true love wins out and a pair of soulmates embark on their HEA. I look forward to the next book in the series. I wonder which character it will be? *whispers* I'm crossing my fingers it's Knox.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.**

[Fiona Fog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winner takes all

It’s fast I’ll say that much, Beckett falls the minute he spots Lia on the casino floor.

Lia arrives in Vegas with one purpose to win the poker championship the Casino is holding. Nothing more. But sitting at the table Beckett is dealing at she knows instantly it’s going to be more.

There’s Alpha males and then there’s Beckett. Holy cannoli this guy ups the bar in this department.

If your looking for a quick, dirty read then this for you.

It’s over the top but in a good way.

[Chalice · Rating 3 out of 5]

The couple: Becket and Lia

Romance genre: insta-love
Series: Vegas, Baby
Length: 122 pages

Plot: Lia is a professional poker player in Vegas for a tournament. Becket is a dealer in the casino (he actually co-owns the casino/hotel/restaurant down the street too, but works in the Lennox to give his brother grief). Lia goes to the blackjack table to play a little before the tournament, and Becket makes sure she doesn't leave alone. But while the connection between Lia and Becket is a true and beautiful thing, there is someone lurking around that doesn't want Lia to compete in the tournament. Can Becket save her in time? (dumb rhetorical question - it's a romance, has a HEA, so obviously, yes he can, lol).

Character development: Lia's kind 0f a bada$$. She's a professional poker player and when she catches Becket's eye, there's no shy, demure virgin business going on. These two are fast and furious for each other, and that helps to push the action forward pretty quickly.

Next book in the series: Rock-a-Bye, Baby: A Vegas, Baby Novella

[Jennifer McGurk Finn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lia Carrington is a professional poker player who has just arrived at the Lennox Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas for a tournament. She always arrives a few days before and never plays before a tournament. She’s drawn to the blackjack table and plays a few hands so she can admire the dealer. Becket Parker is much more than just a blackjack dealer at a casino in Vegas. As soon as he spots Lia he knows she is it for him.

[Alba M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lia ha acudido a las Vegas al torneo de poker. Su rutina normal es pasar un rato por las mesas hasta que conoce al repartidor de la última mesa en la que está jugando.
Becket ve a Lia mucho antes de que ella se siente en su mesa y sabe que no puede dejar marchar a esa belleza de su mesa ni de su vida.

Continuando con la saga de las vegas ahora le toca a Becket, el amigo de Drew conseguir su propia historia de amor. Ha sido en el esquema de siempre cortita, amor a primera vista y final muy feliz con 3 millones de hijos en camino 🤣. Lo recomendado para pasar el rato!

[Christina Pannell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiona Davenport does it again with the smutty Goodness.
Bennett is content working in his friends casino as a blackjack dealer.
Lia is a professional poker player.
There is an invisible rope pulling them together. Will they be a one night stand or will it be more

[Jami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lia is in Vegas for a tournament but has a few days before it starts, so she decides to play some blackjack. The moment that she sees the dealer though, all bets are off.
Becket notices Lia before she even sits down and knows that he wants to know more about her. Their connection is instant and combustible. Becket realizes that Lia is the one for him and nothing and no one will stand in his way.

-safe read
-both celibate
-no om/ow drama
-insta love
-epilogue only about 9 months out.

[Book Snob Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew baby, Fiona Davenport was bringing the heat. Damn I love their books. Lia is in Vegas for a big poker tournament, she sees a table with a hot dealer and starts playing on his table. These two are so hot, I’m talking fire extinguisher kind of heat. Let me put it this way, it was uncomfortable for her to sit the next day....just sayin...you see where I’m going with this. Floved it and he was so OTT alpha, which I found hilarious.

This was a safe read. No om or ow drama. Lots of laughs with Beckett’s over the top caveman attitude....cracked me up. We get to see some characters from the first book. This was a smoking hot read with a dirty talking alpha and shit ton of baby batter...I do mean a shit ton😉😈. There was a little suspense, but Beckett has connections and he wasn’t having that. An epilogue and an hea. I really do love their books, they just have a little bit of everything in them....more please.

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is book 2 from the series lol i am going backwards i already read book 3 🤣 i am enjoying this crew of friends they are so fun, loving and love to annoy eachothers with their alpha- ness.

Becket is like every OTT alpha male Fiona has written  protective, charming and a amazing guy. When he spots Lia at rhe casino it goes from 0 to 100!! Their chemistry is cute and steamy plus i enjoyed their jealously when others tried to get between even when it was friends pulling their legs. Their was a tiny bit of drama dealing with some poker player but i wish Becket would have caught the dude 😢 but Knox dealt with the guy. Beside that it was a cute read.

No ow/om drama, no cheating, slight dramaish, secondary charas, Sexy times, No virgins

Recommend- yes
Cover-⭐⭐⭐

Instalove/lust
Sorta Public sex
Hea
No condom
Epilogue

[Speed · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Lia and Becket's story. Lia is a professional poker player in town for a tournament and meets Becket at the Black Jack table. Lia and Becket get together, with Becket knowing she is the one! Filled with some brief action, an obsessed OTT alpha, makes for a wonderful story and a HEA! 3.5 stars***

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, fun, funny, steamy - Lia & Becket are alllll the things we love about a Fiona Davenport story. Plus, VEGAS! I love how these stories are short, but packed with a full-novel feel. We get to know our H & h, and see enough of new characters to whet our whistles for THEM to get stories... *grin*

Bottom line - this story made me happy & I highly recommend it!! : )

[Sharon Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiona Davenport never disappoints!! This was a fast paced read and this series is awesome!!

[Denice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bet Me, Baby (Vegas, Baby, #2) by Fiona Davenport ⭐⭐⭐½

Hero - Becket Parker. Dealer at the Lennox Hotel & Casino, but also the silent co-owner of The Artemis Hotel & Casino. 6’3 and muscular with dark hair that’s short on the sides and longer on top and dark eyes.

Heroine - Cornelia “Lia” Carrington. Professional poker player. Long light-brown hair and gray eyes.

Overall Thoughts - It was an enjoyable read, but I enjoyed the first book a smidge more than this one. It was just missing something for me and I think it may have been my slight disconnect from the heroine as well as some vagueness to the storytelling.

First, I will say that the story was quite steamy and Becket and Lia had great chemistry. Becket is your typical growly, possessive hero and Lia is a sassy, independent heroine. There’s almost no conflict to be found in the plot, allowing it to focus heavily on them spending time together and getting to know one another, in and out of bed. I loved the side characters and look forward to re-reading their books soon, too.

Like I mentioned, I felt slightly disconnected from Lia and I can’t really pinpoint why. We do get a brief history of her background and she’s got a good personality on page so it’s tough to say. I do know that one thing that bugged me was that she was just visiting Las Vegas from Minnesota for the poker tournament at the Lennox, but during their entire brief courtship, her having to relocate to be with Becket was never brought up, as if the authors had forgotten she didn’t live there. We also never get to experience her play poker on page. I guess she just felt a little incomplete to me.

Something interesting I noticed is that the name of the hotel and casino that Becket partially owns is never mentioned here. Since I've read the whole series before and am just re-reading them in order to leave reviews I know it’s called the Artemis, but I’m curious to see in which book FD finally puts a name to it.

We’re not given a frame of reference as to how long after the first book this takes place. We know Autumn and Drew are married, but there’s no mention of how long, or whether Autumn’s still pregnant, or has given birth, or anything that would indicate how much time has passed. I will note that Delia, Becket’s niece and his brother Zack’s daughter, is 10 here because she’s quite a few years older by Zack’s book, if I’m recalling correctly. EDIT 1/14/2021: After reading a couple of FD books that loosely tie-in with this series, Heiress and Daredevil, I'm pretty sure this book takes place within five months of the first one, despite Autumn not mentioned to still be pregnant. In Heiress, Griffith is mentioned to have just signed a contract with the Lennox and the Artemis (which was the topic of the meeting that was interrupted in this book). In Daredevil, Griffith is mentioned at the Lennox again, as well as Autumn being visibly pregnant, presumably still with the baby conceived in the first book.

There are a few side characters who are either mentioned or make an appearance that have their own books. I’ll list them here to make things easier:

--Zack Parker is the owner of the Artemis, Becket’s brother, and the hero of Vegas, Baby #8 Kiss Me, Baby.
--Drew Lennox is the owner of the Lennox, good friends with Becket, and hero of Vegas, Baby #1, It’s Vegas, Baby. His wife Autumn was obviously his heroine in that book.
--Knox Dawson is head of security at the Lennox, good friends with Becket, and the hero of Vegas, Baby #6, Baby Blues.
--Griffith Thorne is the lead singer of the famous rock band Rising Phoenix, is a good friend of Becket’s, and is the hero of Vegas, Baby #3, Rock-a-Bye, Baby.

SAFETY

Age: Lia - 23*; Becket - 32-ish**

*Lia’s age isn’t outright stated, but she got into professional poker at age 21 and it’s been two years since then.

**Becket’s age is never stated, but he did attend college with Drew, the hero of book one. Drew was 32 in his book, but since we don’t know how much time has passed between the two books, I’m going to broadly say Becket is 32-ish.

Sexual History: Neither are virgins. Not much is said about either’s history. I think Lia’s only been with one person before thanks to a sentence where she muses that “it’d been a long time since my failed attempt at sex”. We get no info beyond that one line. For Becket, he seems to have also been celibate for a unspecified number of years. He says that he can’t remember the last time he went on a date before Lia, let alone who it was with. No mention of what he was like prior to his celibacy.

Condoms: Not used with Lia. I assume they both used or required them in the past.

Heat Level: Scorcher - 4/5

Push/Pull: No

Separation: No

Cheating: No

OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: OW - no; OM - yes, but not of the romantic variety There’s a mysterious man who watches Lia throughout the book. Both she and Becket notice it and are uncomfortable. Well, Lia’s uncomfortable; Becket’s just pissed. He scares the guy away the first time, and has him removed from his Blackjack table the second. It comes to a head when the man drugs and ties her up in a closet inside the Lennox Hotel. Turns out he really wants to win the poker tournament and needs her out of the way so that she can miss the registration deadline. Becket finds her within an hour or two. The man is found by Knox, head of security for the Lennox, who beats the sh*t out of him before turning him over the police. Lia went on to play in the tournament.

Sex scene with OW/OM: No

Abuse: No

Possible Pet Peeves/Triggers: Yes Heroine is drugged and tied up in a closet (no sexual assault) - on page.

HEA/HFN: HEA There’s one epilogue that may be nine months later, but also may not be. LOL I say this because Lia and Becket are married and Lia gives birth to their son Pax. It’s not clarified whether she got pregnant during their time on page, or whether it’s been months (or years). If I had to pick one, I say it’s probably just months later since that was the case with the first book.

[Babel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute short story filled with smut romance and themed around casinos.

I enjoy this kind of quick story because it’s sweet, insta-passion, well narrated and has some punch at the end. The couple is a card dealer and a professional poker player in roles that I hadn’t expected. They become besotted and start a passionate fling right away, though it grows into an obsessive romance with an alpha-male who is possessive of his gorgeous, smart woman. The scenes are nice as they banter, share dinner and roll in bed in between romantic declarations.

I found it quite entertaining as other characters add some funny macho teasing, the casino atmosphere and the poker tournament make for an engaging scenario, and the ending includes a pinch of danger and the tender fruit of their love. Will there be more stories set in Vegas after this one and the one that precedes it? I say yes to more couples :-D

[Kimberly / Love Notes Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Bet Me , Baby is a fun, entertaining read and a good addition the the Vegas, Baby series. Lia is a professional poker player in Vegas for a poker tournament. She has a few days to spare before the tournament starts and she meets Beckett in the hotel. He is part hotel owner and a blackjack dealer for fun on the side. It's love at first sight for these two.

I enjoyed this book. The casino and game playing setting was fun. I liked Lia and Beckett. There is very little conflict, which made the story feel a bit lacking in interest, but I still enjoyed it for the most part. So, while this is not my favorite Fiona Davenport book, it is a quick, sweet and sexy read and is worth reading.

*arc provided in exchange for an honest review*

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is short, fast paced and an enjoyable read. I read this book in one sitting and was satisfied throughout. I found the writing style easy to follow, the characters likeable and the storyline entertaining. I really liked Lia. I liked that she had a different career to any heroine I had read before. I liked that she felt close to her grandfather when she competed/played.
The chemistry between Lia and Becket was instant and I really thought that they made a cute couple. I loved how possessive Becket was of Lia. She was his and he didn’t want any man even looking at what was his.
The storyline for this book is easy to follow and a nice read. I cannot wait for more books from this series.

[Cathy P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steamy, Insta love story 3.5 stars

This novella makes for a quick but steamy read. Liz and Becket are ridiculously cute together, but also tragically codependent and crazy possessive before the first date is completed. Becket is REALLY intense and in the real world, would send up serious red flags. For the purpose of alpha romance, instalove/lust, I guess it works. The heroine doesn't seem to care. The basics of the storyline and the characters (for the most part) are enjoyable. Suspend reality and have fun reading. The steam factor is high. No cliffhanger. Standalone, but ties into other character's stories. It's not necessary to read those to understand this one. Told from each main character's POV.

[MichelleG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not to sound like a fangirl, but I have loved everything published by these authors and they are autobuys for me. The latest in the Vegas, Baby series, it is filled with the requisite insta attraction and whirlwind wooing that the heroes all succumb to. I enjoyed that the heroine, Lia was as strong, capable and successful as the hero, Becket. It was refreshing not to have the heroine needing to be rescued. I liked Lia and Becket as a couple, and although the timeline was super fast, I felt like this made sense for them and that they really fit into each other's life well.

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens in Vegas is amazing lol

I recieved an ARC for an honest review.....The only problem....I loved it so much I bought it too. I went to Vegas once and let me say I did not meet my Becket lol. Nor do I have a poker face like Lia. But damn these too have great chemistry and made me laugh so much. If you've read any of Fiona Dvenport's baby series you are not going to be disappointed with this one. It was perfect from start to finish....why they have to end their book I'll never know....Now I wait for the next one. Your gonna love this story♠️♥️♦️♣️🏆

[Misty Schott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Lia and Becket's story!!!

This was a sexy, steamy read and I loved it. Lia is a professional poker player and is getting ready to sign up for her next tournament. She decides to play a few hands of blackjack to relax a little. She ends up at Becket's table and there is instant chemistry between these two. Becket is ready to claim Lia, he just needs her to take a chance on him. Grab this wonderful book today and find out what happens when this sassy poker player meets her match in the hot alpha blackjack dealer. Great read and I highly recommend it!

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️=barely finished it, not likely to read author again-don’t read.

⭐️⭐️=meh, wasn’t great, also didn’t hate it. Will afford author grace (maybe).

⭐️⭐️⭐️=I liked it, it entertained me, I’ll continue to support this author and would recommend their work.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️=loved it, everyone should read it, I’ll likely reread this book again. I can’t wait to inhale every book this author has gifted us with!!!g

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️=I have an obsession with this story, and reread it often. I have hero worship for this author and read all their stories.