The Wedding Bet

Wedding Whisperer #4

by Susan Hatler

A fun and uplifting story of two best friends falling in love.

Kennedy needs to slow down, which is why her last boyfriend broke up with her. No matter, finding a date to her friend’s wedding should be easy enough. But when her handsome co-worker challenges her that she dates the wrong guys, he bets she can’t go a month without dating.

Will it take a woman playing matchmaker to help Kennedy realize her co-worker may be the fairy-tale prince she’s been looking for this whole time?

From a New York Times bestselling author, join this friendly competition that leads the heart to win in THE WEDDING BET.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Rom Com

168 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2022

About the author

SUSAN HATLER is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author, who writes humorous and emotional contemporary romance and young adult novels. Many of Susan’s books have been translated into German, Spanish, French, and Italian. A natural optimist, she believes life is amazing, people are fascinating, and imagination is endless. She loves spending time with her characters and hopes you do, too.

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Reviews

[Chicken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐

This story was so much fun to read. I love all of Susan Hatler’s books and have read every single on of them. This was the only one I hadn’t read yet since it hadn’t come out, but here it is! It was good. I loved the chemistry between the two characters. They were hilarious but gave you all the feels. I loved reading about their antics with the two dogs. It’s a great story and one worth reading.

I received a review copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Quinn Fforde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this clean and funny romance. Kennedy and Steve have fallen into a habit of making silly bets with each other and generally dancing around their attraction. This could have gone on for ages, but they lose a piece of art at an auction to an older woman. They bet that one of them can get it from her if they offer the right deal. But that lady has her own plan. Who will ultimately win?
In addition to the banter between Kennedy and Steve, we also get lots of peeks at other characters in this world. (Yay for Mel!) I also loved Max and Millie, two funny little dogs who add a lot of heart to the story. I love this fun series.

[The Swoony Awards]

Eligible for a 2021 Swoony Award, to nominate/vote click here: https://tinyurl.com/y593ce67

[Richard Goodrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story. It was good to read about some of the characters from earlier stories in the series. But Kennedy and Steve make an endearing, non-communicative, disjointed couple. Drinks at the Geoffries with friends and coworkers induced a lot of stress. I also enjoyed Lori. I think that you might agree that she was rather obvious from the beginning though you might not understand my statement until near the end. I wonder if one of the other characters will be highlighted in the next story.

Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Romantic. Tear-jerker. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters.

I received a review copy of this book from a third party. This is my honest review.

[Jenn (YeahOrNeighReviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enchanting story from start to finish! I loved this sweet romance that brings us friendly bets amongst co-workers, witty banter, playful moments with animals, and has an overall Cinderella vibe that captured my Disney-loving heart.

Kennedy and Steve are friends, both in denial they could ever be more, so it brings out their competitive sides, even when they're not at work. Throw in a matchmaking fairy godmother (in theory), and you have a delightful tale that will make you smile and want to read it all over again!

[Judith Miguel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun and sweet short love story. Kennedy and Steve have been friends for a long time and bets are their thing. With the help of a mystery woman, an ex-boyfriend, their friends and two cute little dogs, they are going to find the perfect happy ending for this fairy tale couple.
I really enjoy the dialogs between them and the way they are together. There are a few sexy kisses and many funny moments.
It´s an easy reading and I totally recommended it.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kennedy needs to slow down, which is why her last boyfriend broke up with her. No matter, finding a date to her friend’s wedding should be easy enough. But when her handsome co-worker challenges her that she dates the wrong guys, he bets she can’t go a month without dating. Will this bet make her realize her fairy-tale prince has been right here this whole time?

This book is fun and sweet. There aren't any real villains here. The characters are all nice, kind and decent people. The main characters especially are great... It's a delightful book and just the kind of book you want to read when you need to get away from the harsh reality of the world for a few hours. A terrific rom-com.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an arc.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s nothing special, just a nice quick read! It was enjoyable but not my favorite

[Sharon S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kennedy is the Zumba instructor at the Totally Fit gym and has one month to find a date to her friend’s wedding. Steve is the trainer at the gym but has no interest in Kennedy, he set her up on a date with a friend two years ago. They make a bet that neither of them can date till After the wedding (what was she thinking?)

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

[Gale · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, fun read for me about two best friends who can dance around their feelings for each other like nobody’s business! Kennedy and Steve are pretty crazy about each other – except that they are the only ones who don’t see it. They sure DO know how to avoid those feelings, though. With the help of two chiweenies, a woman who can see right thru them, and a cast of crazy friends, they find a way to an HEA…or at the very least, a lasting and meaningful dance. Good evening read for me.

[Michaela | Reading in the Heartland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been waiting so long for another Hatler book. I just dove in and never wanted to stop! I loved this bear friends unawares romance. The dogs and the bets were great. I can’t wait for the next one!

I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Ellie's · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy-to-read book, about love and commitment. It made me realize the lack of faith in love people have been developing due to failure. It is like human beings can not deal with failure anymore, or any kind of negative emotion.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kennedy and Steve really just need to talk. They are friends they make bets on just about everything. Their perspective of each other is not exactly how they really are. One bet will either bring them the love they both desire or separate them for good. Loved the dogs.

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

[Cath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book four of The Wedding Whisperer series and tells the story of Kennedy, a Zumba teacher at Totally Fit. Her latest boyfriend has just broken up with her saying that she is too intense and never stops. She needs to slow down apparently, but that is what she uses her meditation app for! Her friends at the gym don’t have much sympathy for her, pointing out she ends up dating just about anyone who asks her, but none of them ever lasting more than a week or so. Steve, who she has been in love with for years, but who made it plain two years ago, that he wasn’t interested in her at all, is someone she can’t resist competing against, no matter what the bet. It could be who could do the most sit ups or any other challenge. When she realises she is now without a date for her best friend Mel’s wedding to Matt, she almost asks if he would go as her dance partner! When she loses the latest bet, she isn’t allowed to date for a month, not realising that this takes her past the actual wedding. Epic fail or what!
It isn’t helped by the fact he has managed to get tickets to a band she was dying to see and won’t agree to let her go with him, just add her to the list of others who also want to go. When she ends up at an auction at the local museum, with the wish to bid on a particular piece of poetry that is up for sale, knowing it is the ideal present for Mel and Matt’s wedding, as they fell in love in front of the poem. She sees a familiar name on the bidding list in front of her and has to put down a bid for more than she wanted. Steve turns up just as she does and basically bets he will manage to outbid her, wanting it for his gran’s 90th birthday present. They are both asked to move out of the way by an elderly lady, who also makes a bid on the poem which puts them both out of the running. Being desperate, they both rush over to the lady and try to offer their services to get her to give the poem to one or the other of them. This starts off a series of non-dates where Kennedy and Steve end up spending a lot of free time together, with two little cuties called Max and Millie. The old lady, Lori, has a lot to do with extending this occasions and neither is willing to lose out to the other. Words spoken to her by the wedding florist finally allow her to realise what is right in front of her and remind her that men aren’t mind readers! Another easy to read romance between friends. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Cathy R Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes it's not enough to just do what you believe is best for the person you care about: sometimes you need to actually talk to them about what they need or want. (Drastic!) Kennedy has been looking for her Prince Charming for years without success. The problem is that the one person she can really picture in the role doesn't believe in happily ever after - in fact, two years earlier, he set her up with his best friend, as if to prove he wasn't interested. But when she once again breaks up with her latest boyfriend, he bets her she can't go without dating for a while. Without that distraction and pushed together by a new friend and her two dogs, will Kennedy get her happy ending, or is she doomed to end up with a broken heart?

Okay, I know that's a stupid question - it's a romance, after all, and we wouldn't read them if they ever ended the wrong way! Seriously though, there are times when one really has to wonder about these two... This story has plenty of humour, but also a good mix of serious bits where the two actually interact and/or grow. Overall it's a light read, but there's still substance to it, perfect for a shortish escape from 'real life', whatever that might look like. As always with this author, the story is clean and the writing good. Though part of a series, it can be read on its own. I look forward to reading Carrie's story soon!

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

[Kimberly Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book about Kennedy and Steve. Kennedy is sure that Steve has put her into the friend box when he sets her up with her friend after he heard her say that Cal was hot. After all, if he was interested in her, he would not have set her up. This is a clean romance about two friends who both want more but are afraid of rejection. They have a habit of making bets with one another. Steve bets that Kennedy can't go without dating and she takes him up on it with the caveat that he won't date either. While at an auction they both want the same poem for different reasons someone else wins. They try to one up each other to buy it. Steve wants it for his grandma and Kennedy wants it for her best friends wedding gift. Lori has them doing stuff together because they remind her of her and her husband. Kennedy and Steve must decide if they are brave enough to communicate their wants or are they going to remain just friends. I love how protective Steve was of Kennedy and how he went out of his way to make sure she was happy even if that meant he could not have her. Susan Hatler writes great clean romances and I love all of her books I have read so far.

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

[Tara (the.readingredhead) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Friends to lovers is my all-time favorite trope, and The Wedding Bet did not disappoint! It was adorable with spunky and fun characters I just wanted to hang out with! I loved Kennedy and Steve and their whole group of friends—everyone had such great chemistry together. Plus I loved Lori and her dogs messing with Kennedy and Steve!

This book drew a lot of broad fairytale references throughout, which I just loved. I thought Kennedy’s belief in love was so endearing and sweet. And Steve, I loved how kind and sexy he was. Their friendship is just so fun, I love their constant bets and barbs and all their antics helping Lori with her dogs. This development of their relationship just really warmed my heart. It isn’t a steamy romance, but it’s sweet and lovable. I was smiling the whole way through it.

It’s a quick read, but it’s filled with so much love and friendship and mischievous dogs, and it’s one I’d definitely recommend if you’re looking for a light romcom.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kennedy Sinclair is a Zumba instructor at the local gym. She has had a crush on her fellow co-worker, Steve Burns, a personal trainer. Kennedy feels like Steve has put her in the friend zone so she hasn’t acted on her feelings for him. She is at an auction to get a framed poem for her friend Mel’s wedding gift, Steve bids on the same poem as a birthday gift for his grandmother. Kennedy and Steve are always competing with each other. Steve bets with Kennedy that she can’t date. If she succeeds, Steve will take her to a concert that she would love. I enjoyed this book. The banter between Kennedy and Steve was great. Kennedy believes in fairytales and Steve is cynical about love. They are opposites but bring out the best in each other. I highly recommend this book.

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

[Lisa Benison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and Funny Clean Quick Read!

This was a quick fun (and funny!) fast read...I loved the group of friends and how they supported each other, and how they invented the crazy "word of the day"! I also liked that their motives for winning the auction were to get the poem for other people and the they both truly enjoyed the antics of the pups and helping Lori - although part of that may have been to spend more time together? My one criticism was that Kennedy does spend a lot of time (in the book) obsessing over her crush on Steve and I felt that some of that could have been edited out. Overall though I enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading more from this group of friends.

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

[MookNana · Rating 4 out of 5]

If cotton candy could be spun into a book, this would be it. Pure happiness in literary form, it's a light, fun read that's all pleasure. There's definitely chemistry, but it's more sweet than spicy in this PG-rated romance, and while there's a bit of angst, of course, it's gentle and resolved warmly.

The prose is fresh and fun, with lots of humor and cute banter between both the MCs and their friends. Everyone in this book is kind and good-hearted, so their world is a nice place in which to spend some time. Reach for this when you need a pick-me-up and you won't be disappointed!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and flirty romance with some lovable dogs that acted as the catalyst for bringing Kennedy and Steve to spend ample time together. They took ages to fall in love, so much so that a mediator and author Lori with her two furry pets had to sprinkle some magic and fun to bring them together, make them realize their hidden feelings and profess it to each other. Always competitive, Steve proposed a bet that Kennedy cannot date until after her best friend's wedding. Admirers, non belief in any kind of serious relationship, unwillingness to open up all play a part in preventing this couple from getting together. Susan Hatler is amazing writer! Her words and books are totally captivating!

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

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susan Hatler always delivers clean and fun romances. Kennedy and Steve will bet each other on almost anything! When will long-time friends Kennedy and Steve finally figure out they have feelings for each other, other than just friendship?

This is a fun quick read with a sweet elderly woman playing matchmaker so these two will realize they care more about each other than they're willing to admit. I received a complimentary copy to review from Hatco Publishing via NetGalley. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a funny story that could be used as a good example in everyday family life. People tend to believe they know what the other is thinking without talking things through and establishing boundaries, clear examples, and expectations. This sort of behavior is a clear indicator of a disaster. At long last, our main couple starts to see the same scenes and interpret them in similar ways!

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

[Erralee Hendrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kennedy and Steve always are entertaining their co-workers with all the bets they place against each other all the time. They both go to the same silent auction to bid on a poem They want to gift to different people and since neither of them wins the poem but they decide to go to the person who did win to see who can get the winner to let one of them get it. This leads them into some very humorous moments between Kennedy and Steve. This is such a delightful read with a wonderful story and great characters. Very hard to stop reading once you start and leaves you waiting for the next story in this series and all can stand alone.

[T.I. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. The characters were awesome. The main part of this story was about Kennedy and Steve, but there were so many characters to love. I had a great time reading this book. I love the competition and chemistry between Kennedy and Steve. It's really a cute story with a lot of laughs. I also adored the cute dogs in this book. This is a great read that I think everyone will enjoy.

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

[Jacqueline Johnston Cotton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Who doesn’t love a wedding with a cast of strong and funny characters that you want to be your new best friends? You get a little bit of everything in this book as these two friends, who are attracted to each other, figure out if they will get a HEA. If you want a fun afternoon of light, easy reading this book is for you.

[lf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes it takes a bet to realize what you are willing to lose, or want to win

The Wedding Bet is the fourth book in The Wedding Whisperer series and is another sweet, fun and entertaining novella in this series. This book is about Kennedy who needs to find a date to take to her friend's wedding. What she was not expecting was to end up taking Steve, her coworker, on a bet.
This is a low angst, funny, sweet and fairy-tale story. It is nicely written, has likeable characters and an interesting premise for the story-line. Plus the best between Kennedy and Steve are sometimes funny. Overall this was an enjoyable read.

I received a copy of this book and am leaving my honest review. My opinions are all my own.

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute, sweet romance fills the pages of The Wedding Bet. It is told only from Kennedy's perspective, which seemed appropriate, leaving a little question about how things would turn out, though, the ending was not a surprise.

I enjoyed Kennedy and Steve and loved Lori, the sweet little old lady who derailed each of their plans!

If you enjoy clean romance, this story is bound to please.

I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two very competitive people, who secretly are crushing on each other, finally get their collective acts together and admit their true feelings. This leads to their HEA. There is some sweet meddling and the most adorable puppies involved in their unusual courtship. I would definitely recommend this book.

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

[Cali Jewel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming and fun journey from beginning to end, so hard to put down once you start this emotional roller coaster. Adored this laugh out loud, sexy, fun and action packed adventure filled with engaging charters, witty banter, heart racing moments and slow burning passion. Great reading