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Laws of Love #1

Law #1: Never Bet on Love

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Winning the bet might mean losing their hearts...

NATHAN

Everyone knows I’m the next logical choice for CEO when my mother steps down. What everyone seems to doubt, however, is my ability to have a life outside of work that includes a loving relationship. So when my brother bets that I can’t connect deeply enough with a woman to win her heart—and my mother makes winning that bet a condition of my promotion—I accept the challenge. Too bad I never considered what would happen if I was the one to fall in love when all is said and done.

EVA

The walls around my heart have always been impenetrable. But the gorgeous billionaire who suddenly seems so interested in me doesn’t seem to mind. I’d like to say I’m not flattered. Or tempted by him. But…I am. And for the first time in my life, I’m wondering what it would be like to let my guard down and truly take a shot at happily ever after. If only I could shake this feeling that he’s keeping something from me …

The bet was simple. The aftermath? Well, that could be the best—or worst—thing that ever happened to them…

422 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2020

695 people are currently reading
371 people want to read

About the author

Agnes Canestri

30 books47 followers

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5 stars
124 (31%)
4 stars
127 (31%)
3 stars
99 (24%)
2 stars
32 (8%)
1 star
17 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
Profile Image for Ru4repeat.
521 reviews
September 28, 2020
Things I liked: the "thought bubble" logic was great, and the discussions or arguments in their head was enjoyable. The premise of the story. The depth of the characters' struggles and joys.

The list of dislikes is hard to over look though: the "nearly" swearing, but not so "it's okay, right?" The passionate thoughts. Those were too much for me.

I'm not sure how "clean" this book is, but since I prefer nearly spot-free I'm going to pass on finishing the rest of the 75% of the book.
Profile Image for Noreen Machelle.
Author 2 books80 followers
May 11, 2020
Another lovely romance from Agnes Canestri! I enjoyed how the characters grew throughout the story!
Profile Image for Jill.
835 reviews39 followers
May 28, 2020
Rocky start but finished strong!

I had a hard time reading the beginning of the book because reading about the premise of the book and the cold emotions involved annoyed me. It was like watching two uber rich men plan on playing with the emotions and changing the life of a poor unsuspecting woman. But something said I should keep reading, just in case. It did redeem itself. I enjoyed watching the transformation of Nathan and change he did! He became a really nice stand up guy. The redemption part of the story past the big blow up is a bit longer than usual but it works to really give a picture of them working it out to have their happy ending.
Rating: PG, clean
67 reviews2 followers
December 2, 2020
Suffered through this

This book was way too formal. It read like an English paper instead of a book with normal conversations with contractions and grammatically incorrect sentences. This made it drag on and I wanted so badly to stop reading. I would have but I have crappy WiFi that stopped working every time I couldn't stand this book lol. Anywho I suffered through and finished but won't be reading the others. This story had potential but it's been done better.
Profile Image for Mandy Boerma.
Author 7 books54 followers
May 13, 2020
New to me author

I’ve never read this author before, and while I was put off by some colorful slag (not swearing) to start, I immediately liked the characters.
Profile Image for Chelsea | chelseadennreads Dennison.
512 reviews18 followers
September 11, 2022
2.5 stars rounded up

BRIEF SYNOPSIS: Nathan is awaiting his promotion as CEO of his family’s company. Then his brother informs him that his promotion rests on him winning a bet: he has to make a woman (of his brother’s choosing) fall in love with him, without falling for her. Seems simple enough. But then his brother chooses Eva, a salsa dancer who isn’t charmed by his wealth. As Nathan gets deeper into the bet, his feelings for Eva start to grow. But that’s not part of the deal. So can he win the bet and win Eva’s heart?

This is the first book in the Laws of Love series, and I actually found out about this series because an excerpt of Book 2 showed up on my Facebook feed. I was intrigued by it , but I can’t read a series out of order (even if they are stand alone). So when kindle ran a deal on the first three books in this series I snatched them up.

This book was not my favorite. I had a really hard time getting into it. This is most likely because this premise is one of my least favorites. I don’t like romances centered around a bet of some kind because I don’t like lying. This is a clean romance, which was a pleasant surprise. So if you like clean romances with bets, opposites attract, and billionaires you may enjoy this one. The fact that I didn’t like this book doesn’t deter me from reading the rest of the series, especially since I am more intrigued by those plots anyway.

2.5⭐️
💗Clean Romance
169 reviews2 followers
April 30, 2020
This book started with its beautiful cover. It is another warm and mostly lighthearted story.
I loved the characters of Nathan and Eva. Both have been hurt in their past, most of it they haven’t dealt with. Eva wanted nothing to do with Nathan as she doesn’t trust rich people. Nathan was forced into asking Eva out, that’s if he wanted to become the CEO of the family business. They’re both strong people and grew through their interactions with one another into better versions of themselves. The attraction between them was undeniable, even though neither would own up to it, even to themselves. Eva grew up poor, but had strong principles, a great personality, and great relationships with her family. Nathan grew up with money, but poor in his relationships and cold in his interaction with people - work defined him and it was all he knew how to succeed at.
Buy this book to read Nathan and Eva’s beautiful love story, you won’t be sorry.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving my review.
Profile Image for Shebb.
773 reviews
December 17, 2021
The beginning of a fun, engaging series.

I've read several of Agnes Canestri's novels and have been looking forward to this series for a while now. I'm happy to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Nathan and Eva were delightful characters to follow. I enjoyed their early fiery interactions, their individual pigheadedness, and the different worlds they were a part of.

Nathan's straightforward focus on his goals were almost his downfall, but once his considerate nature was unleashed, he rose several notches for me. Sweet, smart, protective, considerate... what else could a reader want? 😉

And Eva? I loved her fiesty nature and fierce love for her family. She gave up her dreams to look after her loved ones, and even though she held a lot of misconceptions where it came to life and wealth, she was able to overcome the hurts of her past to move forward.

A wonderfully written story, engaging from the get-go. Well done to one of my favourite authors!

Profile Image for Narci.
374 reviews
February 23, 2025
Nathanial Montgregor is a brilliant cutthroat cold cocky 33 yr old who wants to be CEO of his family legacy AMEA he also seems a bit unexperienced and self-assured that is until he meets a beautiful dancer. Eva flores returns as dancer black angel to help her family in her hometown of San Sebastian she'd once run from. This story reminds me a little of She’s All That with an added twist. Between the Bet, desire to fill a dead man’s dream, society pressure, and battling against your desires and wants, this story kept me curious enough to want more. I loved Nathans persistence and good heart but felt sad about his upbringing. Eva is such a wonderful person with a skewed view of wealth, her naïve view and society pressure could ruin what may be the best thing in her life. This is a cute story of self-discovery, of appreciating others and fighting for your heart’s desire no matter race, culture or society. Love is worth fighting for.
Profile Image for Korkoi.
6,997 reviews31 followers
May 5, 2020
Changing Their Perspective On Life:
By Korkoi -
Eva had trust issues where men and wealthy people were concerned, because of her past and what her mother told her. Nathan was an entitled Billionaire workaholic, who lacked social skills and empathy. The chemistry between Nathan and Eva is powerful and the back and forth banter between is really entertaining. The story is not just about romance, but also about discovering that secrets never stay hidden forever, personal growth through self actualisation, building trust by taking a chance and understanding family dynamics. I recommend this book to anyone looking to read an amazingly written book.

I received a copy of this ARC and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Allison.
533 reviews
March 22, 2021
Cute story, predictable and maybe a little unrealistic but who knows. I guess that is the advantage of writing fiction. Nathan had to work pretty hard to get Eva to open her heart and mind towards him. And then it all goes downhill. He should have told her about the bet when we first started to fall for her but it never goes that way. Eva has preconceived ideas about men in Nathan’s position and takes a long time to relent and allow him to build a relationship with her. Granted his first offer was flashy. Love the familial relationship with Eva’s family and how they all work together to make their life happen. It was nice to a business take an interest in the community in which they have their headquarters. Even beyond what most companies would do.
147 reviews1 follower
September 25, 2020
Absolutely loved Never Bet on Love!
Agnes has one again delivered a book that you just can't put down.
The chemistry between Eva and Nathan is impossible to miss, and the worry comments just have you laughing at the craziest moments, even sitting in waiting rooms, and suddenly you look like a crazy person!
I can't recommend this book highly enough, it's definitely worth a read.
And being the beginning of a new series from Agnes, I can't wait to see what comes next. I'm definitely looking forward to more books in the series coming out.
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my voluntary and honest opinion.
Profile Image for Jodie Lauren.
1,953 reviews3 followers
September 26, 2022
Nathan knows what he wants. He is next in line to take over the family business but his mother and brother are worried about him. He excels with the smarts to run the business but is lacking in empathy and being personable. His brothers bets he can’t make a girl fall in love with him in a week. If he can, and doesn’t fall in love with her, the job is his! The woman he is set up with is Eva. She is completely the opposite to him. She isn’t interested in him but he is relentless. She has no idea what is happening but is he as bad as all the others?

I didn’t like the premise of the bet but I did like bits of the main characters.

Xx
Profile Image for Bree.
113 reviews8 followers
January 21, 2023
Sweet Ending

I'll be honest and say that my initial rating was around a 2.5 star in the first quarter of the book. The progression just didn't feel natural, and sometimes the characters annoyed me; however, as things progresses between Nathan and Eva, I began to get lost in their feelings for each other. The more I read, the harder it was to put down. I have been trying to find little breaks here and there in my day-to-day just so I could continue reading. I just spent the last couple of hours reading through the entire last half. Such a heartfelt love story, and I'm so glad I stuck it out.
Profile Image for Penny Leidecker.
2,678 reviews26 followers
May 5, 2020
I absolutely loved this new book from Agnes Canestri. This book centers around Nathan and Eva. If you’re looking for a sweet romance that’s appropriate for all ages, you won’t go wrong by choosing this book. Nathan’s brother, Murphy, bets him that if he can get the woman he chooses to fall for him, without him falling for her, he’ll tell mom he’s the perfect choice to be the new CEO of AMEA. Nathan takes the bet. Grab your copy and see what happens in this delightful read. I absolutely loved the ending and how it turned out. I bet you’ll love these characters.
365 reviews6 followers
April 21, 2020
I received an ARC to review: putting aside my personal ethic of not condoning premeditating to deceive someone for personal gain and at their expense! - I enjoyed the love story between Nathan and Eva. Agnes writes a delightful chemistry-filled, soulmate-awakening tale, with Nathan slowly but surely "reeling" his prize catch in, whilst unwittingly falling in love with her. A sweet, mildly spicy story that you will fall into within the first chapter!   
424 reviews2 followers
November 7, 2022
Always bet on love

Nathan and Eva’s story is super sweet and cute. What started as a bet blossomed into something more making our couple stray from their comfort zones. Main characters are great, but what really made this story great were the secondary characters. Murphy, Laia, Abuelita, Aunt Marjorie and Eva’s siblings really made this a warm, cozy and funny read. Looking forward to Laia’s story.
185 reviews
May 7, 2020
Law #1: Never Bet on Love is a wonderful sweet and clean romance. The storyline grabbed me from the beginning and I was engaged until the end. I enjoyed how the characters grew through tough times and learned that what you want may not be what’s best.
I received an ARC and have chosen to give my honest review.
Profile Image for Patricia Charlton.
958 reviews9 followers
February 16, 2021
Slow burn romance

This was a slow burn and although I know Eva was weary about rich men after her Dad and also what happened with her ex and brother but at times she was quite nasty to Nathan.
Once they got together and learned more about each other the nicer side of her came out and her Granny & cousin were funny characters.
7 reviews
September 6, 2021
I was disappointed with this book. Of course the billionaire and the less fortunate girl seems like a far fetched idea and that was expected, but this story is lacking believability and depth. The dialogue is unrealistic and stilted. The two main characters are boring and somewhat unlikeable. I won’t be reading any of the others on the series.
285 reviews1 follower
November 12, 2021
Always bet on love!

What a great story about Nathan and Eva. Good thing Nathan’s brother Murphy understands people the way he does or none of this would have happened. This is a great story of love and families and many misunderstandings. You will need to read it and find out what happens.
481 reviews16 followers
May 20, 2020
This was a cute story and well written; however, I was expecting more of a rom-com based on the book cover and description, but it was more of a romantic drama with sprinkles of humor. I would recommend this story if you're interested in a sweet, clean romance.
Profile Image for Carolynn.
70 reviews8 followers
October 2, 2020
Just couldn't connect

For some reason I just couldn't connect with this book. I really don't know what it was but halfway thru the book I fastbforwarded to the end just so I could read the happy ending. Just wasn't my cup of tea.
Profile Image for Claire Ingledew.
1,091 reviews13 followers
March 16, 2021
Fantastic book

First time reading Agnes Canestri books and it won’t be the last.
This book is a Cinderella story poor meets billionaire ,Eva and Nathan help each out helping them break down demons it’s a great read
5 reviews
May 25, 2021
You would think a story about a bet wouldn't be my thing. I picked this up through a friend's recommendation and I'm so glad I did. It became one of my current fav series. I read all three books in it and this first one is still the best I think.
658 reviews1 follower
October 31, 2021
Law #1

I had a hard time coming up with a review for this book. The best I can say is it’s just ok. The premise of the book in my opinion is flawed and it seemed to take forever to get to the climax even though you knew from early on what would happen.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
338 reviews
May 20, 2022
I really wanted to love this book, but while I didn’t hate it, it was just meh. The story was sweet and clean and cute, but I was just bored most of the time. And I was constantly distracted by editing and spelling errors.
Profile Image for Teresa.
461 reviews12 followers
July 12, 2022
So good

I love the twist on the betting on love trope. Great characters! Eva and Nathan are sweet. I love that Nathan has to work at getting a chance with Eva and thinks he's in the friend zone. So good, and clean.
Profile Image for Matilde Zurita.
4 reviews1 follower
April 24, 2020
I received the book as ARC. I enjoyed the book. The story is well written and well developed as are the characters. I recommend this book.
Profile Image for Robin.
8 reviews
May 4, 2020
I received this book through ARC to review. I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed watching the characters as they developed. The story was well written and was an enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews

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