Wanna Bet

by Betsy Dudak

A 2020 CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE WRITERS STILETTO FINALIST!

After an abusive past, Harper McReynolds needs stability for herself and her daughters. Randall gives her all she asks for in a boyfriend-kindness, predictability, structure, and routine. Harper's head reminds her she doesn't really want the man who makes her combust every time she's near him. Brody Reed's addiction claimed a brother's trust and started his own downward spiral. Growing tired of life on the road, a woman at every concert and a dependency on liquid courage, Brody put his life back together piece by broken piece. But the woman he lusts after may just shatter all of this. An off-handed bet Brody and Harper make after a passionate kiss may change everything for them. Will they gamble on their hearts to prove to each other they are all in? Or when the stakes get too high, will they fold and walk away?

Genres: Fiction, Romance

378 pages, Paperback

Published October 16, 2019

About the author

Betsy welcomes you to her sometimes funny, sometimes poignant and always sexy world of The Reed Brothers. Under the name Elizabeth Dudak, Betsy first introduced the Reed Brothers in What the Heck, Dec?! which was a Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence finalist. In Wanna Bet, she presents Brody Reed, the one-time rockstar with a hard past, and Harper McReynolds, a single mother of two with her own troubled history. As with her first book, Betsy Dudak continues to interject humor while dealing with some of life's more serious problems. An active mind full of voices, she frantically clicks away on her keys, typing up more funny, sometimes hilarious dialogues, only taking a break too cool off from her sexy scenes.

Reviews

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some light-hearted, laughter-inducing moments in this story. The story maintains an even pace and the tension keeps the reader intrigued.

Read full review in the 2020 Summer issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some light-hearted, laughter-inducing moments in this story. The story maintains an even pace and the tension keeps the reader intrigued.

Read full review in the 2020 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[R.G. Ziemer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harper McReynolds is a capable lady, but she's been through a lot in an abusive marriage. Now she's putting the pieces together with two young daughters. Surely she deserves some love and support from a dependable guy. But is she really just looking for a friend?
Enter the hot rock star recovering from substance abuse issues. Maybe this sexy, seemingly nice guy with everything else going for him can be Harper's new best friend.
Wanna Bet?
Well-rounded characters, sharp dialogue, and a world of trouble keep this romance moving along at a brisk pace. Dudak's humor and sensitivity underpin a story that considers the age-0ld question of relationships at any age: Can't we just be friends?

[Cynthia L. Copeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the story, but the grammar freak in me had trouble with the many typos in the manuscript.

[Elaine Pasky]

Didn’t finish…romance

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harper is a divorced mother of two girls, Josie, and Gracie. She has been dating Randall for awhile and believes he could offer the stability she and her girls need. The problem is that every time she encounters Brody, the ex-rock star, they have a pattern of ending up passionately kissing. This is a great love story with wonderful characters, but also delves into the serious topics of abuse and divorce. Josie has been kept from her father for 5 years and she believes he has changed. She learns some hard lessons. This book offers great insight into the need for counseling, being honest with yourself and trusting others. Harper was always the savior for her sister and brother as they grew up with an alcoholic, bipolar mother. Harper learns the hard way that it is okay to lean on someone else.

[C Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The characters are so relatable, dealing with real life issues of love and loss and insecurity. The protagonist has a history of abuse that is further relevant because of her two children, one a challenging but normal teen learning to deal with her history and a young precocious and tender sister. And then Brody comes into the picture. He is sassy and sexy and makes Harper swoon. But she's looking for stability. Will he fit the bill? The repartee between the two, complicated by her history and her family, including a lovely older adopted grandmother, Nonnie, is delightful and complicated. There were times when I guffawed aloud, and there were other times when my heart raced because of the danger Harper confronted. I am not a romance reader, but this book made me want to explore the genre further. I can't wait to read Dudak's next book. I am hoping for another romp of conflict, sexual tension, conflicted emotions, and love. And the last line! Knocked my socks off!

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun romcom by Betsy Dudak! The heroine is a funny, confident, and strong single mother of 2. The hero is a younger, sexy, ex-rocker who meets her wit. The characters are fully formed and feel so real. While this is a rom com, the characters have dark and interesting pasts, that clearly form who they are today and play out in their relationship. Betsy always has great dialog and a cast of characters - this book is no exception. Nonnie is a delight and the Heroines two kids are so real - an adorable younger daughter, and an angsty, know it all, teen. I really enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to see what book Betsy writes next and to learn more about the Reed family. Fingers crossed for a book about Cal.

[Lisa Giacchetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! Betsy is excellent at writing dialogue and I love the quick witty banter between the characters in this novel.
The development of the the romance between the main characters was enticing and spicy. ❤️

Can't wait read the next novel!

[Dan Sommerfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read!

The story of Harper and Brody is
a fun easy to read story. Sexy Brody definitely kept it nteresting! I hope to read more of what happens next in their lives going
forward.

[Diane Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steamy yet tasteful romance novel with a plot that takes twists and turns as the characters navigate their complex lives. You can feel the intense passion of the main characters. I was captivated and even shed a happy tear at the end.

[Judith And · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, quick read. Great dialogue and characters. Leaves you rooting for a happy ending.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read with snappy dialogue. I enjoyed getting to know these characters and rooting for them. A perfect read to destress at the end of the day.

[Super*BETA*Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this laugh-out-loud book. The witty dialogue between Harper and Brody has been so well written, and the characters are well-rounded. I look forward to reading more from this author.