Bet Me to Stay

by Candace Havens

[Berls]

I have known Candace Havens from afar for several years now, as she serves as emcee for Buns and Roses (a charity tea I attend almost every year). She is hilarious so when I saw this book on Tantor's list of books available for review, I snagged it up looking for that humor I've grown so fond of. It was funny but she's much funnier in person.

I think my problem was that it tried really hard to be sexy and I didn't connect. The heroine - Cassie - is an author who's been told she needs to write sexier books. And the hero - Liam - has been challenged by his brother to date the next person who walks into their pub (guess who it was? lol). And Cassie sees his Irish sexiness as an opportunity to get some inspiration. Maybe I've just read way too much erotica and so this was tame for me?

I did like the characters and in general it was a sweet quick story that delivered the expected HEA. I enjoyed it and would consider reading more Candace Havens in the future. But I'd really like to see that humor I've come to love about her as an emcee transferred to a book. I bet it's out there, I just haven't picked up the right one.

I listened to Bet Me to Stay, narrated by Vivian Hart. I don't believe I've listened to her narration before but I enjoyed her voices and wouldn't hesitate to listen again. I listened at my normal 2x speed without any difficulty.