You’re better off betting on a horse than betting on a man. A horse may not be able to hold you tight, but he doesn’t wanna wander from the stable at night. – Betty Grable
A rich man moving to a new country living as a poor man. A poor man raised in rural Alabama moving to New York City and becoming rich and notorious. What could bring them together? A bet, of course. And it was a fun ride getting there!
Everyone had always told Kent he looked like David Beckham. He had the ego and the swooning women to go along with his looks. He loved his money above everything. His business partner Blaine was the only one who knew of Kent’s humble beginnings. Kent and Blaine had an unfortunate habit of making silly bets.
The current bet: that Kent must make the next person to walk into their office fall in love with him. Kent also had to convince this person and everyone around them that he loved the stranger just as much. The stakes are not important, because the bet is just stupid. Stupid, but hot!
Terry was born Terrance, almost aristocracy in England. He had left home to make his own way in New York because his parents refused to believe that he was gay. They tried to convince him to marry woman after woman. When he tired of it, he decided living poor in New York was better than living with his parents trying to turn him into what they thought he should be.
After their bet, Terry the bike messenger was the next person to walk into the advertising office shared by Kent and Blaine. While Terry is openly gay, Kent is straight as straight gets. He has a different woman every night. Oh yeah, except for the nights spent playing “gay chicken” with Blaine in college.
What ensues makes for very good reading. Terry’s “what does he see in me”? and Kent’s “maybe I am actually gay” are fun to explore with them. The meeting of the families. Kent’s mom (or as she calls him Kennay in her Alabama accent) manufactures a reason for Kent to return home around Christmas and Kent decides that taking Terry with him is the perfect way to prove that Kent loves him.
Funny thing happened on the way to the last page. They actually fell in love with each other. Kent parents accepted him as gay and capital LOVED Terry. Terry’s parents were so glad to see him after so much time had passed that they fully embraced his being gay and his love for Kent.
Terry inevitably found out about the bet. Kent and Terry had some time apart with Kent begging forgiveness and professing true love. All in humorous fashion of course. I won’t tell you how it ends, but I will tell you that there is bonding over hot dogs.
A really good book. One of Wilde City Press’s first efforts and highly recommended.
Reviewed by: Tina
You can buy A Betting Man here:
I have to say, I love the Assassin/Shifter series by Sandrine. I wondered how the shift to contemporary romance would go, but I have to say it was great. I loved both MCs in this book, but the supporting cast was amazing. This book was funny, heartbreaking and sweet all at the same time. A must read if you have a sweet spot for true romance.