Bet on Us (Bet on Love, #1)

by Rachel Higginson

[Angie]

Bet on Us is super cute! It is New Adult, but it has none of the angst, darkness, or sex. It's just adorable and kind of funny. Ellie was just robbed...by her roommate who is nowhere to be found. Apparently, she has a gambling addiction, so her parents checked her into rehab, and she sold all of Ellie's furniture to pay off debts. On top of that, there's a strange man in her apartment demanding $7,000 in poker debts! Clearly, Ellie's roommate stole her identity to join in the illegal poker game, but Fin doesn't believe her since there's no proof. Now, Ellie has six weeks to pay off the debt while working as Fin's assistant for a break.

I was a bit unsure about Bet on Us in the beginning, because I didn't like how Ellie handled the whole situation. Well, it wasn't so much that I didn't like it, since there wouldn't be a story otherwise, but I didn't fully believe it. She doesn't go to the cops, even though she's been robbed and is a victim of identity theft. She also doesn't tell her parents, whom she knows would help her out in a heartbeat. Her reason? She doesn't want to give up her independence. I can understand that, but she was robbed! And now she has $7,000 of debt in her name! She's living off of Ramen noodles in an empty apartment and works part time as a hostess while going to school full time! I'd say a little help or intervention from the law was needed!

But, in spite of that, I couldn't stop smiling once the romance portion of Bet on Us started up. Ellie is a good girl, and not the good girl who is searching for some bad. She remains good, but still gets her man in the end. Fin may run an illegal poker game, but he's a good guy! He needs to money for something really noble, he loves his family, and I genuinely believed he cared about Ellie. I also loved their "issue." Ellie does like him, but she knows she couldn't respect herself if she started dating (or sleeping with) him while she owes him so much money, since he was willing to waive her debt. That's one expensive hooker! Kidding! Well, that's how Ellie would feel if she gave in before the money situation got worked out.

Bet on Us was such a nice surprise! I ended up liking it a whole lot more than I thought I would when I started reading it. It was so refreshing to read an upbeat, cutesie NA romance. While the whole gambling debt plot was a bit far-fetched, I did like that it touched on real issues that college students have such as balancing class and work, and budgeting. As well as realizing what relationships are worth pursing.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.