Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/If you know my history with romance novels, you’ll know I’m not real good at reading them right most of the time. Mainly because . . . One exception to my ongoing list of failures has been Rachel Van Dyken, so when I saw my library had a selection I had not yet read I was all . . . . This is the part where I talk about the tired trope and whatnot. If you are still a naïve thinker who believes NA romance stories can be “spoiled”...

I must say this was a nice surprise. Have never read this author before but must have come across it here on Goodreads. It was romantic, funny, smart, sexy (without too much sex - well, without hardly any sex and certainly none of it graphic). Two brothers, one girl. Could get messy. No, it didn't, well not really. Kind of reminded me a bit of the old film, Sabrina. I loved Travis. Kinda liked Jake.... but he was a bit to smoozy for me - is there such a word? Think you know what I mean. Will def...

4.5 Stars! I really enjoyed this one. It was nice and refreshing to read a book for a change that (a) didn't have an annoying heroine--or hero for that matter and (b) didn't have cheesy as hell dialogue. Now don't get me wrong I wanted to kick a couple of boys in the ass a few times....and a girl, but overall it was a really entertaining and funny read.Jake, Travis and Kacey have known each other all of their lives. Jake and Kacey have always been BFFs and Travis was the older brother with the s...

I just do not understand the high ratings on this one. The characters in this book were extremely immature. Adults who acted as if they were preteens. If you are interested in this book, please take the time to read the 1 and 2 star reviews on Amazon before purchasing. Just about everyone is how I felt reading this book, and much more acurate than the 5 star reviews!

The Bet was hilariously addicting! I loved that the characters charmed their way into my heart, that the pages were filled with tons of fun drama and that the ending left me excited to read the next book in this series. This was my first book by Rachel Van Dyken and I'm definitely kicking myself that I didn't pick up one of her books sooner! Jake's thumb rubbed across her fingers delicately. Another involuntary shiver ran down her spine. It's not real, Kacey. Just remember it...

5 I LOVE THIS BOOK STARS.I, Lisa Jayne Woodward formally declare that I'm a self-confessed book butterfly junkie, sign me up for RA (romance anonymous). Failing that leave me in a padded cell with a shoot for food and this book to read over and over again. This has to be crowned best book of 2013 for me so far. It ticked all my romance story boxes and here are my thoughts ...What's it all about?Kacey is approached by her childhood friend, now millionaire Jake Titus who asks her to return to thei...

Sweet and sexy with lots of humor and emotion. I'm really starting to like this author. Looking forward to following this series!My favorite quote:“Sometimes, when life gets hard, and people make you angry or even when you're scared, the best response is laughter. Laugh in the face of fear, in the face of what scares you the most. It's the only way to get you through the things that bring you to tears.”Rachel Van Dyken's adult contemporary romance series: The Bet includes the following installme...

This was a cute fun read ! Some awkward moments followed by heart warming full on awwwwwwwwwww moments ;). This Travis is a Breath of fresh air ! He said he was going to marry her! He knew this at the firm age of like ten ! His honest thoughts and crush on Kacey - just so adorable. Bonus points for this Travis Titus : 1) he was sentimental ( kept stuffed animal he named after her ) 2) he kept her parents memories alive 3) his fear of big bad bears 4) he finally right hooked his brother 5) his de...

Colour me perplexed. Is this what "NA" books are? 21 and 23 year olds flailing about, finding love and discovering themselves? If so, this book ain't it.It has the other pre-requisites: heroine orphaned tragically, alone in the world and struggling to finish college; the stunningly gorgeous male lead with a tortured (well, this guy had a stutter. Sort of tragic, no?) past, tons of money and a weird family.Otherwise, it was a standard, run-of-the-mill contemporary romance. Heroine agrees to act a...

Where's Chuck Norris when you need him to punch some fictional characters in the face?!When I was thinking about what to write here, I suddenly realized that I'm a hypocrite (well okay I already knew I was, this just highlighted it). I was going to say that Jake was plain nasty because he pays strippers and prostitutes for sex and fuck knows what STD's he has. THEN I thought, 'hang on I read books were the heroine is a stripper or prostitute', I root for her and have never wondered what STD's sh...

Loved it!So why a four star and not a five...well I'll explain in a bit.Kacey's world was turned upside down after a fateful night where she not only loses her best friend but also her parents.Jake has always been Kacey's best friend and protector from not just his older brother who terrorized her as a kid, but also mean teenage girls who did not understand their relationship.Travis (Jake's older brother) has always been behind the scenes and the third wheel to this little equation. He has also

This book was exactly what I needed. It was a lighthearted romance with some seriously sweet moments. Kacey grew up next door to Jake and Travis. While Jake was a smooth talker, Travis was always being mean to her. In high school, Kacey fell in love with Jake...but Jake was too busy being in love with himself. Kasey looses her parents and her best friend in one night and will never be the same. She takes off and doesn't look back. Travis, forever waiting in the wings, felt like he would never ge...

After reading the prologue, I had high hopes for this one. But as the story progressed, the immaturity of the characters was on full display along with "cheesy" dialogue. Having enjoyed all my previous Rachel Van Dyken reads, I persevered through it hoping for the best.Fifteen Years Ago .....Travis, a stuttering eight year old, really likes Kacey and assumes he will marry her one day. After all, he was the oldest and well on his way to becoming a man. His attempts at showing Kacey he likes her a...

No. No. No. Pure torture. Pure annoyance and irritatingly goody goody & childish. There is no heat, no passion, no desire, no swearing, no lust, no fire.... nothing that would be considered sinful. It's a book you could read at your church picnic.I bet you just looked at the cover again right? Yeah... deceiving. Actually it's nothing like the book. Firstly, there's no passion as the cover suggests. And more importantly, Kacey, who I assume is suppose to be the girl on the cover, actually has

This novel had the cutest prologue I've ever read. :DI loveddddddddddddd the book.I want AMAZING, SUPER CUTE, BRILLANT AND JUST *swoon*I want a continuation of this book!!! Like their story to continue!Like I want more of the other brother too.The story was wonderful and I loved the characters. Grandma was the best!The witty bantering, the humor, the whole feeling of the book, I enjoyed it all..The whole bet was ADORABLE! heheDo read this book!! Its Awesome~ :D He knew for a fact Kacey loved p...

Why the hell does this book have a "below 4" rating???? Why?? Why???It's a real good one, girls & it has every single thing that we looooove... :)1> Childhood crush2> Super-sexy guys..Yep, as in more than one...Moreover they are right bit of cocky!! Just the way we love them3> The heroine is not bad too...(Actually couldn't keep tabs on her while salivating for one of the guys... ;) :) *hint* Travis)4> Totally loveable family members including a crazy Granny...:D Oh yes, I loved her...5> It has

ANOTHER MAN WHORE AND STUPID SPINELESS FOOL HEROINE. GOING TO PASS ON THIS MESS!

Such a cute and funny book. Definitely exceeded my expectations. I didn't expect to love it as much as I did. It was a quick read and the story is fast-paced. Grandma Nadine will become a favorite character, loved her to pieces. Travis is definitely on my list of book boyfriends (which is forever long). Maybe I missed the explanation (honestly I probably did) but I'm curious to know what happened to her parents... Again, probably missed it. Whoops! But can't wait to read more of Rachel's books!

Ok, this was seriously adorable. Sweet, funny (laugh out loud funny), poignant, with just the right amount of cheese. Definitely an enjoyable (mostly) lighthearted read about childhood friends who finally (with some well meaning family manipulation) realize they are meant for each other. "He'd wanted her more than Anything. His entire life. How many people could actually claim that? That for their entire existence, the one person they wanted to share eternity with, had never changed, never fal...

“Sometimes,when life gets hard, and people make you angry or even when you're scared, the best response is laughter. Laugh in the face of fear, in the face of what scares you the most.It's the only way to get you through the things that bring you to tears.” 
The Bet is one of those books that brought the laughs. If you’re looking for something light and easy that will keep a smile on your face, this would be a good one to pick up. This is a story about childhood best friends Kacey