Big Bet

Big Boys #5

by Cassie Mint

I’m a burlesque showgirl. I dance for crowds of thousands every night.

But it’s only one man’s attention I crave.

Every night after our show, I make my way to the big casino. I weave my way through all the luxury and sin, heading for one table in particular.

He’s a blackjack dealer. A big, burly cutie in a bow tie… and my best friend.

I’ve wanted him for so long, but I’m too scared to risk it. What if we lose everything we have?

But you know what? This is the city of risk-takers.

Maybe it’s time I bet it all on love.

Big Bet is a short and steamy instalove story, starring a burly blackjack dealer and his showgirl love.

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers, Novella, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Smut, Fiction

57 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 6, 2022

About the author

Cassie writes outrageous, OTT insta-love with tons of sugar and steam. She loves cookie dough, summer barbecues, and her gorgeous cat Missy.

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Reviews

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

I liked the friends to lovers aspect of this one, but it seemed so short (even shorter than the rest). Still super cute.

[*˚Remnant Light ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

**4.2/5 stars**

Pretty solid novella, but I think this one had a slight advantage over its kins from the Big Boys series! In Big Bet, we have characters who are already familiar and have known each other for a few years, just like in Big Boss. The author did a really good job at portraying the friendship and the chemistry between Aubrey and Will. It was honestly a very sweet and cute read.

I think I have a soft spot for burlesque dancers. After watching the movie Burlesque with Christina Aguilera when I was just a teen, it made me appreciate sexuality and the fact that women have the right to be and feel sexy about their bodies. So when I realized that Aubrey was a burlesque dancer, she had already won me over. She worked as a dancer because she loves and enjoys it. She was sweet, pretty but not superficial, and just so in love with her bestfriend. I liked that she doubted herself a little bit, her worries were credible and aligned with the fact she didn't want to lose Will. She was very humble and the way she was with Will was adorable and just so genuine.

“No panties, Aubrey? You trying to kill me?”
“Never kill. Only maim.”

Will was an absolute teddy bear, sooo caring and sweet with Aubrey. He felt like he was out of her league so he settled on being her bestfriend, always being there for her. In the back of his mind though, he was hopeful that they could be more someday. He was helpful and protective and I really liked the fact that he didn't tell Aubrey to stop doing what she loved because he felt something like jealousy or possessiveness. I normally like it when the hero is like that but here, I felt like it was right for him to just support her and trust her. I believe that he's been celibate for a while; atleast since he's met Aubrey. He is absolutely infatuated with her and only has eyes for her.

“Maybe I’m possessive. The jealous type.”
He chuckles, but he sounds breathless. “Is it weird if I hope so?”

The fact that Aubrey and Will knew each other right from the start really helped with the development and the credibility of their relationship/friendship. Nothing felt rushed, and the pacing, for a novella, was in my opinion nearly perfect. And I've noticed that I tend to enjoy novellas more when the characters are already familiar with each other, even when it's just a mention like ''we've been friends for years'' I find that it really helps me getting invested in the character's story. It gives a reason for them to be acting a certain way, and it avoids making me feel like there are steps being skipped.

I would've liked more steam at the end, just to wrap up the story beautifully but I think this novella was very enjoyable as a whole.

✔️HEA Last chapter/Epilogue: 1 year later, they are married. H is still a blackjack dealer and h is still a burlesque dancer. H has a fleeting thought about maybe trying for their first child or travel with h
✔️Novella
✔️Dual POV
✔️MCs age H's age isn't mentioned but I think he is slightly older than h who is 23
✔️Hefty H
✔️Virgin h
✔️No cheating
✔️No OW/OM h receives flowers from an admirer but we never see them. h's friend ''flirts'' (i wouldn't even call it flirt) with H in an attempt to make h realize she needs to tell H about her feelings for him. H is clueless and not interested in her friend. Very mild and unbothering stuff.
✔️Push and pull They are unsure about the feelings of the other, and don't want to ruin the friendship if the other isn't into them
🔥 Steam level: 1.5/5 More cute than steamy. Only one scene
⚡Content warning No condom/No safety talk/No mention of birthcontrol. First time/ Fingering

Would I recommend this novella? Yes, absolutely. Especially if you are looking for something sweet and quick.

If you want a possessive/jealous hero, this one might not be for you though. The hero is more beta than alpha, but he does take the lead once he finds his confidence.

**Note that I do not rate novellas and full-length books by the same standards**

Big Boy Series
1. Big Boss - 2. Big Biker - 3. Big Boxer - 4. Big Baker - 5. Big Bet - 6. Big Bratva - 7. Big Beast - 8. Big Brain

[Kimmylongtime · Rating 5 out of 5]

This made me smile 😊 I love sweet romance like this.

[april ♡ probably reading smut - safety reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5

TROPES:
~friends to lovers
~unrequited love

This novella is about a burlesque dancer and a blackjack dealer who are very close friends. They both have feelings for the other, but they don't act on it for years. They finally do and it's a little spicy and very sweet.

SAFETY:
Virgin/celibate: virgin heroine, unknown past for hero
OM/OW drama: none
Cheating/sharing: none
HEA?: yes!

[Renegade ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 to 4 stars

[Viv “BookVixen” Gutierrez · Rating 4 out of 5]

sweet

This was a fun, fast story about a big guy and the girl who wants him. My only disappointment was that there was no babies in the epilogue.

Hero’s past isn’t mentioned, but he hasn’t been with anyone since heroine. Heroine is a virgin. No others, no cheating, no abuse. HEA

[when the hype is over · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐️

- burlesque dancer x blackjack dealer
- mutual pining
- friends to lovers for years and there is no indication that either of them got involved with other people during that time



Safety:
- virgin h; experienced H
- no cheating or sharing
- no ow/om drama
- HEA

[riley ☠︎︎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

so cute 🫶🏻

[Lolina ⋆]

I didn't expect to like this one as much as the others in the series- it was really nice. The characters were obnoxiously clueless, but in an endearing way 😭.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5 Star.

I feel like this series is one amazing book then one so-so book, then the pattern repeats. Luckily, this was one of the amazing ones. I usually don’t like the friend’s to lovers trope but I loved this. I think it’s because they’ve loved each other since they met and their feelings didn’t slowly develop over time. A really cute read.

[Sarandah chrysalis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet. Will was a marshmallow, Tessa was a darling

[Kate Russo ❦ (Rina Kent’s Version) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so fucking cute the pining was 👨‍🍳💋
Also Will was so fucking cute I love him n I want my own will

[RachelReadsandSings · Rating 5 out of 5]

This right here is why I read romance. The mutual pining/longing between Aubrey and Will is IMMACULATE and the way they are so devoted to each other is STUNNING. I was so mesmerized by this novella that my house could’ve been on fire and I wouldn’t have noticed. SO SO GOOD.

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having loved each other since they met, Will and Aubrey are scared to take that next step. But when they do, hold on to your sparkles, it is getting hot in here.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ioana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short & lovely

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aubrey and Will

Another sweet and heartwarming read. Something I like about the H in this series is that they are not the stereotypical billionaires with God-like futures and the perfect body(six-pack abdomen). They are just normal couples in their normal jobs falling in love with normal girls. I loved Will, he was tall yes but had a belly on him that Aubrey didn't care. It was just part of the appeal. Highly recommended

[Au · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Tori - Novel Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

Another novella by Cassie Mint that I lovedddd!!!

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not me binge reading a series because of the burly lead.
The couple was adorable in their pining.

[Kate V · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

Big Bet was another syrupy sweet novella between best friends - a burlesque dancer and a black jack dealer. I’m really enjoying this author for quick, spicy and sweet reads.

[dais · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG THIS WAS SO FRICKING SWEET
best friends to loverssssss!!!
Will had me swooooooningggg
sweet and spicy

[Lilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute friends to lovers 🤭🤞🏻

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4 stars.

Good enough.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best friends who want more

Best friends Will and Aubrey both want more but are afraid to let each other know. A little too much angst to get there but sweet in the end.

[S · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mediocre

Nothing really feels special

[Iliea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read

This was a good read. I read it straight through with out stopping. Looking forward to the next book. 🙂

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big Bet bk 5 [Big boys series]
These are short novella story's about big hero's, romance and more

This book follows Will and Aubrey's story.. It was a good romance with steamy bits, Age Gap, sweet, cute and fast read.. Its a burlesque showgirl/blackjack dealer romance and Best friends to Lovers romance..

Javier - He works as a Blackjack Dealer, He is a Strong character, kind, caring, works a lot, Always there to help anyone that needs help, He likes hanging out with his best friend and watching Movies with Aubrey, He looks out for his friends, He falls for his best friend Aubrey and he has loved her for a while now

Aubrey - She is a burlesque showgirl, Works hard, She is sweet, kind, Shy and caring, She does not let anyone walk over her, She likes Dancing, hanging out with her best friend Will and watching movies with her best friend, She looks out for her friends, She falls for Will and has loved him for a long while

This book is packed full of:
⦁ Awesome characters
⦁ Best friends to Lovers Romance
⦁ burlesque showgirl/blackjack dealer Romance
⦁ Age Gap
⦁ Some Steam
⦁ Sweet Strong Hero
⦁ Over 18+ Readers
⦁ Fast Read

I really enjoyed the relationship between Will and Aubrey because they are made for each other and Its nice to see that everything worked out and they got a happy ending..

[Brittany (Brit.tea.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"𝒪𝓃𝑒 𝓁𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒶𝓉 𝓂𝓎 𝒻𝒶𝓋𝑜𝓇𝒾𝓉𝑒 𝒹𝑒𝒶𝓁𝑒𝓇, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐼'𝓂 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑒𝓎 𝒾𝓃𝓈𝒾𝒹𝑒."

Aubrey is a burlesque showgirl, and her best friend Will is a blackjack dealer.
These two have been friends for a while, and both secretly love and lust after the other, but they haven't made a move yet. Until one night, Aubrey is tired of waiting, and she wants Will now.

I really enjoyed Big Bet; this was a short and sweet read with a touch of spice.

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Shit,” he says, when he slips a hand under the hem of my t-shirt. “No panties, Aubrey? You trying to kill me?”

I hum, rocking against the gentle slide of his fingers.

It’s so different—feeling his fingers there instead of my own. They’re bigger and blunter and a bit rougher, but so much better too. And I can feel everything, every minute detail of him against my clit, even the little calluses he gets from dealing cards.

“So wet.” Will stares at the space between us, where his hand disappears under my hem.

“It’s for you,” I breathe. All for you.”

♥︎

“Get up.” I kick at his ankle, impatient. “In the bedroom. I want you on top of me.”

…Mostly I just feel breathless. Needy. Like if he doesn’t climb on top of me right-freaking-now I’ll burst into flames.

Will watches me from the foot of his bed, his intense gaze boring into me. I squeeze my thighs together, shifting restlessly on the covers.

“Will.”

His shirt hangs open, the black suspenders still looped over his shoulders and his bow tie dangling loose beneath the collar. Dark hair dusts his broad chest, then runs in a line down the swell of his stomach, disappearing into his black pants.
Will palms the rigid line of his cock, hungry gaze roving over me.

“Will!”

♥︎

He’s warm and soft and hairy and I could weep with how perfect he feels. I loop my arms around his neck and yank him closer.

“Don’t hold back.”

“Aubrey. If I’m not careful, I could snap you like a twig.”

“Yeah, now we’re talkin’. Say more things like that.”

I wish I could say that because it’s Will, it doesn’t hurt. But he’s as big between the legs as he is everywhere else, and compared to him, he calls me pocket-size, so when he finally presses the broad head of his cock inside me, the air punches from my lungs.

Damn.

♥︎

he starts moving, really moving, and that hungry ache spreads hot and liquid through my whole body until I can’t think, can’t breathe, can’t do anything except meet him thrust for thrust, clawing Will’s back through his shirt.

The room fills with our ragged breaths. With rumbling noises from Will’s chest, and my broken moans. There are other sounds too—the bed frame creaking, practically screaming for mercy, and the wet sound of our flesh slapping together. It should be weird or off-putting, but instead it all pushes me higher. Twists the knot in my belly tighter and tighter until I’m bursting out of my skin.

“I’m going to—oh, shit!” I crest the wave and stiffen under Will, shaking and whimpering and flushing red-hot. It goes on and on, wracking my body with tremors, and when Will buries his damp forehead against my shoulder and lets go too, that knocks me into another round of gasping and twitching.

It’s sweaty. Ungraceful. Undignified. Moisture pools between my legs, seeping onto Will’s sheets in a way that makes me blush.

[Guilty Pleasures · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aubrey & Will

This was kind of … uneventful.
With a very odd and unnecessarily long dragged out miscommunication trope. Meh.

I— Maybe it is the series after all that I don’t really enjoy a lot of them. It’s sad because I know Cassie Mint can write. Her most recent works are amazing.
Something about this Series is just off, and I can’t exactly lay my finger on it.

I had kind of mixed feelings about this one.

It’s basically a friends to lovers story - but they don’t really have been friends for suuuuuper long? I guess? They are not childhood friends or friends who met at college. No they met each other a few years back, both instantly infatuated and they basically wanted each other. But they did not act on it.
You know what I mean? This is not really a true friendship without any relationship-y thoughts that turns into a love story. It basically has been a love story from the get go, only that these two were morons about it.

Maybe that is my gripe with this story.
But maybe that’s just me desperately trying to find a reason why I think this novella is just “meh”

When Aubrey finally decides to kiss him and asks him if he felt something … he said no and shakes his head. We are in his POV and we are supposed to feel his stupor. That he couldn’t think straight. But from her perspective it must have been awful. And then not to go after her immediately — she is in your home doofus! — he lets the day go by, and the next until he picks her up from work, to tell her how he feels.

Like … This was dragged out for no reason. And I know this is a novella and a short one at that.
But come on.

Also (this is petty, I know) - she removes her makeup after dancing with tissues?
No makeup remover & pads? Or even makeup wipes?
Every time it was described I almost cringed — removing makeup with dry tissues is godawful and it doesn’t really work that well.

Another petty thing:
Why is this called “Big Bet”? I know Cassie probably needed a BB title that worked in the context of a casino. But there was not bet placed.
I mean Will is a dealer in a casino — but that’s all. There’s no bet in the context of this story.

God I don’t know.
It wasn’t bad. It was just meh.
They were cute together don’t get me wrong.
But … meh.