Hedging His Bets is book three in the Brits in Manhattan series. Although part of a series, it definitely can be read as a standalone.

This is a typical friends with benefits to much more story. Jess and Jake have a great best friend friendship. That turned to a friends with benefits one evening after feeling frisky, they decided to try it out. It works for them, for the most part, until it didn't. Neither wanted a romantic relationship, but low and behold, that's exactly what they were in!

Both of these two have quite a bit of baggage to wade through. Neither confronted their issues and actually dealt with them. They have been there for each other-like best friends are-in times of trouble. These two fit rather well together, but were so very short-sighted in realizing exactly what they had. Jake was a bit crass with his interpretation of their relationship at time, and other times so very caring. He seemed to really understand her fears. But in order to move on, they have to confront their fears and do the dirty work. I rooted for them to get through it.

I enjoyed the book as I love the trope, but it didn't wow me. I think I was expecting maybe a bit more from these two smart, capable people. Still a good story and solid book to read!

Unfortunately the book was not for me, no review was publicly posted on Amazon, B&N, Goodreads or Twitter etc, so no ratings were affected in relation to it.

1st person POV, really killed any emotional connection between the H/h for me which is unfortunate as the prologue actually left me plenty intrigued. Lack of any connection between the leads, lead me to have no real connection or interest in the story. The Anglicization was a little sketchy at points as well which was a little annoying too.

I think this author would probably offer up a decent read in 3rd person, it would have given more to both characters in my opinion, and would have pulled the reader into the story more.

Okay
This is my first book by Laura Carter.

What I liked:
The writing style
Most of the characters
Dual POVs
Part of a series: Brits in Manhattan
Standalone
HEA

I wasn't a fan of the main characters.
I look forward to reading the other books in this series.

Jess has always felt rootless and uncared for after losing both her parents at an early age. Her mother couldn’t continue once her father succumbed to disease leaving Jess to travel with her aunt and uncle on their adventures around the world. She has always felt too scared to commit, associating true love with tragedy. The only friend she feels herself with is her flatmate Jake who is still hurting from his one true love’s betrayal. He loves being Jess’s friend but can’t allow feelings to get in the way in case he loses their friendship. I really loved this book, it beats Laura’s previous episodes which is saying something. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Nothing like a good friends to lovers book. This is a great story with much going on, Jake and Jess live together because neither expect anything, both having been burned badly.
Since I haven't read any of the other books in the series, there's enough backstory here so you get to know Jake's friends and how they operate. They definitely have a routine. Jess and Jake are often together and it's an easy friendship. Jess is from NY, when Jake has to go to NY he brings Jess. Sure enough for good reason. Jake finds himself feeling things he hasn't really felt before and Jess does what she does, runs. Even when she isn't moving. She knows Jake's dirty laundry but he doesn't know hers. Things escalate between the two and I loved watching them fall for each other in a more than friend way.
This is a great read. It can be read as a standalone easily. I would like to read the others. The guys got on my nerves at times, but hey they're guys. Enough said. This book is easy to read and easy to love.

**arc from NetGalley and publisher for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

This was hands down my all time fave from the entire series! Don’t get me wrong, they’re all fantastic five star reads but there’s just something about Jake and Jess’s story that still, days after reading brings a huge a smile to my face.
Jess is scared to let herself love and as much as I screamed ‘why?’ at my kindle in a few places, it was somewhat refreshing to read a story where love didn’t immediately fix everything. She had to face it head on and this made it so much more real. Of course it has a lot to do with finding the right partner and as much as I hate to say it (because I want him!), Jake is perfect for her.
Jake too has his issues and is also made to confront them and I think the whole scenario with Emily was presented perfectly although (*whispers) secretly I wanted to hate her.
The very talented Laura Carter has written another fantastic, flawless, all consuming read that was executed with perfection and quite simply, I couldn’t recommend highly enough. I’m super excited to see what she comes up with next!

Brits in Manhattan Series

This is the second novel I have read in this series, I am not sure if there is a particular order because each one can truly be read as a stand alone!

This is the story of Jake and Jess, roommates, best friends and eventually best friends with benefits.  But there are rules to these benefits.

Jess has had an sad but interesting childhood, a true traveler in every sense of the word.  She has grown into a beautiful soul, quirky but fun and trying to find her place in the world. 

Jake ran from his home in America to get away from his childhood friend and love of his life, Emily.  What happened between Jake and Emily was never resolved when he moved to England and he wants it to stay that way.

The chemistry between Jake and Jess is explosive, you can tell that there is much more to them than friendship, but it was enjoyable to read the way they come about realizing it. Their dialogue with each other is funny, it's hot and oh so romantical!

The secondary characters are fantastic! I enjoyed seeing characters from the other books in the series.  It wasn't overwhelming and it was nice to see how they have progressed.

I so enjoyed this book! Thank you for your words Laura! I can't wait to see what comes out next!!

This, the third in the Brits in Manhattan series, is the first work by this author that I've read.

Although part of a series, it can be read as a standalone as the books that have come before seem to have no direct impact on Hedging His Bets.

As a friends, to friends with benefits, to lovers story, this novel has amazing characters who have the most beautiful friendship. When that friendship seems to change overnight, it's no wonder it leaves Jess struggling to come to terms with just how much Jake means to her.

Needless to say, both Jess and Jake have things they need to overcome before they feel able to move their relationship forward.

The dialogue between the characters is humourous and its easy to see why Jake and Jess are attracted to each other. However, Jake's most attractive quality, is how well he listens to and knows Jess and her fears.

This is a quick easy read which made me laugh out loud and cry on occasion. In my opinion, that makes this a winner and will definitely encourage me to read more by Laura Carter.

Jake is often left speechless when it comes to his woman, "her eyes widen now. “Upset me?” She sighs as she turns back out to sea. “Oh, Jake, you can be dumb sometimes.” Well, there’s not much I can respond to that." Jess is a freakin firecracker, “You don’t have to start opening doors for me and minding your p’s and q’s because you dry-humped me sober, you know.” I liked this book, I loved Jake and Jess.

Hedging his Bets by Laura Carter a five-star read that gives great odds. This is the third book in the Brits in Manhattan series, but each book is a stand-alone and really can be read on its own. This time it’s the turn of New Yorker living in London Jake Harrington and his sexy British flatmate Jess who he has an arrangement with as neither want commitment, in fact the opposite could be said of both as they are each running from a past neither want to face. One week in the Hamptons will change everything. I loved this book so much that when my friend met me for coffee it took me 5 minutes to realise she had even sat down, I was so engrossed as I was just finding out more about Jess and her story, as a character she is someone you will devour to find out more about, she will make tears come to your eyes and a smile on your face that will fill your dreams of countries far and wide. This was a great friends to lovers story, and it really does make you wonder would you risk it all? After losing everything once would you risk it again.

I had a bad feeling about this in the opening pages, when I couldn't seem to get past the whole sleazy arrangement between Jess and Jake. First it confused me, then the smugness that was there in Jake's POV threw me off.

Needless to say, I stopped reading when everything rubbed me the wrong way. Not the book for me, sadly.

A sizzling and very enjoyable summer must read, with characters you care about and a story you can't not but love and follow whole-heartedly.

*ARC kindly given in exchange of an honest review, thankies so much. *

In short:
Hero 3/5 | Heroine 3/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 2/5 | Writing Style 2/5 | Steam 3/5 | Romance 3/5 | Angst-Suspense 2/5 | Darkness 0/5 | Humor 2/5 | Secondary Characters 3/5 | Drama-Conflict 2/5 | Mystery 0/5 | Twists 2/5 | Pace Steady | Action 0/5


ARC kindly provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Started with Book 3 but what the heck, this is good!
One of the good books with friends- to-lovers tropes I’ve read so far. Make that friends with benefits-to-committed relationship kind of trope. This is the third book in the author’s Brits in Manhattan series. Jake is the younger brother of Drew, hero of Balancing the Scales. He works in a hedge fund investment firm in London and Jess is one of his two housemates. During one drunken night three months previously, they came to an arrangement to have sex whenever they are drunk and needed to scratch an itch without the inconvenience of a relationship. They get along great and happily doing their thing until Jake is warned off by his friend that Emily, the woman in his past, will be at the Hamptons the same time as he is there for holiday at his brother’s . He had the feeling he will lose it so he convinced Jess to come along to act as sort of buffer. What came next is the reopening of old wounds and a discovery of what truly is between him and his best friend Jess. I love how the respective stories of Jake and Jess are slowly revealed, giving us an understanding of what shaped them as people in terms of how they view relationships and commitment. I enjoyed reading the appearance of the couples in the previous books and the witty banter among them. 4.5 stars.

This is the final book in the Brits in Manhattan series by Laura Carter. Although it is part of a series/ trilogy, these books could easily be read as standalones and you will not miss out. I'm a huge fan of this authors writing and again it didn't disappoint. This is Jake's story and he is quite happy going along with a certain situation but when did that situation turn into something else? Both characters had their own issues to work through but it was kinda frustrating waiting for them both to sort themselves out! The side characters really added to the story and it was fun revisiting everyone and seeing how they are after their stories. Although not my favourite in the series, I found the concluding book to be extremely fun and readable and recommend to fans of a good rom com or chicklit novel.

Jake and Jess's story is hot! I really enjoyed getting their back stories that helped to shape the decisions they make throughout the book. Jake can be a little too hot headed at times (he overreacts a lot). As other reviewers have stated, sometimes the timeline doesn't match up very well - there are references to years that don't add up with other things that are mentioned in the story - I just ignored them. I can't wait to read more from this author!

Hedging His Bets,  Laura Carter

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Romance

My first Laura Carter read. I enjoyed her writing style, characters that felt real, that I could believe in but...I didn't Love this story. Liked it but there were a few things that just seemed weird to me. One time early in the book Jake and Jess are laughing about when Jake bought Emily a toilet roll as a present as – in her words - “there were a few times I sh it the bed” WTF? That's supposed to be funny? Maybe we Brits have a different sense of humour...Then later he's reminiscing “last time Emily kissed me like that I was making love to her. It was seven years ago” but they only split up three years ago, so does that mean for four years they didn't kiss deeply?
I kind of felt a bit ambivalent too about Jess reasons for not wanting commitment, didn't feel a really good reason, though I understood it was upsetting for her. Still, that could be just me.
I really wanted Emily to be a b itch, to try to cause problems, to provide some real angst, jealousy, that kind of thing but she's not, she actually a sweet girl. It all works out well for everyone with a little drama at the end but I would have loved Emily to have been other than she was – again, a personal preference. I love romances that have some really nasty characters, makes the good one and the success of them over the nasties so much sweeter.
There was lots I did enjoy, the banter between the characters, the descriptions of their BBQs and how they all spent time together. I liked Marty too, one of the nasties... :-) if only Emily was too....It was an easy read, with events flowing well into one another and the sex between Jake and Jess was seriously hot, balanced well with the story. Sometimes the sex overtakes the story in some reads and that never works for me. Here it was just perfect though.

Stars: Three and a half, a decent read but not one that kept me gripped to the page, not one I'd re-read.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers