This book is so good. All the characters are excellent, including the secondary cast. The leading women are the right amount of complicated, sassy, sentimental and loving. The romance is hot, smart, and oh so romantic. The competition and the menace of the father adds extra elements of intrigue and zip to the plot. I really liked the inclusion of an Asian lead, that was written properly without any fussing or weird stereotypes. Reading this book made me happy. You can’t ask for more than that. It’s excellent. If you like romance you should read it as you won’t be disappointed.

rep: lesbian mc(s?), Vietnamese-Chinese mc, sapphic side-characters, trans side-character
tws: abusive father, slight physical abuse in ch 30

it's not often that books have this amount of chemistry between the characters so wow. both Kendall and Trina are very ambitious, powerful and confident women and amazing realtors and I'm like so gay... it was such a nice change from the type of main characters that the other romances I've read had, you have no idea how invested I was and how much I enjoyed their banter and their flirting. also it had me blushing more than a few times.

they're off on a rocky start, that's true, and they're kind of archnemesis, but I absolutely loved them both and how their relationship progressed. enemies to lovers excellence! I'm really disappointed to see that quite a few people find them annoying or "too mean" and we all know why that is cough misogyny cough.

the truth is, they're both amazing and powerful women and even though Trina disappointed me a bit in the end, (like can you at least hear your girlfriend out before shutting her out??) I still felt for them and rooted for them. I still think Kendall deserved to be treated way better in that situation but oh, well. they're in love and happy and that is all that matters.

that is one of the reasons I'm not giving it a full 5 stars. also because I read a review from an Asian reviewer who was not that happy with the Asian rep. another small detail was the use of "themselves" when referring to Jax, and I'm pretty sure the correct form is "themself". (speaking of Jax I would die for them they're so neat!!)

anyways, I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed this and how much chemistry Kendall and Trina had. really recommend it!

Trina and Kendall are in the biggest competition of their life to prove who is the best realtor of Boston's luxury market. Through the competition they find they might lose and gain more than just the Realtor of the year title.

I am a big fan of Fiona Riley so getting this book was a no-brainer and as always I was happy with her story. Although I found it a bit difficult to read at first, mostly because of Trina's attitude, it progresses into a good sexy story that leaves you wanting for more. The writing and character development was great, as well as the supporting characters. Overall a great book!

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a hot sexy and competitive romance story.

I received an ARC copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I absolutely loved this book! After a bit of a dry spell with the latest lesfic offerings, this was probably my favorite release of the year in the genre. I felt the two mains were very fleshed out, realistic and lovable characters. Their chemistry was immediate and convincing and the teasing banter of their competition kept me smiling and rooting for their inevitable getting together. The love scenes were really, really good too which is a nice bonus. Will definitely read again!

I went back and forth with this novel.

It's about Trina and Kendall. They're rival realtors in Boston.

Kendall has only been in Boston for about a year, running from her family (which is a doozy of a family) and trying to make her way in the real estate biz herself, seperate from her family name.

Trina has always done it with her team, and has been a Boston Realtor for longer. She is at the top of her game. Then she loses Realtor of the Year in Boston to Kendall. And, her boss Ellison makes a bet with Kendall's boss that Trina can out sell Kendall when it comes to a new Seaport Condo place.

Of course, while they start as rivals/enemies, they slowly become more. But, then Kendall's familmy comes back into the picture, and everyething goes all to hell for the burgeoning couple.

I went back and forth because a lot of the rival stuff was so antagonistic, but, then that would completely disappear at the drop of a hat at other times and it threw me off.

On the other hand, the characters were amazing. From Linday to Jax to even the 'bad guys'. It was a fun read.

I was given this ARC by Netgalley on behalf of Bold Strokes Books

This s a fantastic read with two main characters, Trina and Kendall, who each has a good friend as secondary characters. Trina works for a more feminist type boss and supportive environment while Kendall works for scum and basically works alone since she doesn’t trust anyone to work to her standards.Both characters are rather quite focused on selling high end reality. When these two first meet sparks fly, the attractive, and the ugly. There is the bitting put downs. that Trina is especially good at , they are sharp witted and easily can get Kendall off balance.
This book is more than an enemies to friend type of book. There is incredible erotic tension that the author builds into the story that at some points made me want to yell “just kiss her already”.
I don’t want to say more about the storyline because I don’t want to give the plot away however there is a major roadblock toward the end of the book that made me cry. Fiona Riley is an exceptional writer and she brings all of her skills to bear in this book. I highly recommend it.

I read a lot of books from this publisher and they all follow the sameish format. Will they or won't they and then they do. Some bit of conflict leads to separation and then the happily ever after. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, in fact about 90 percent of what I read these days is that format. It is my bowl of chilli on a cold day, just so much comfort and steam :) This book is exactly that.

When newcomer Kendall Yates takes what Trina Lee believes to be hers she is beyond furious. She had Realtor of the Year in the bag or so she thought....Welcome to the world of luxury real estate, who even knew this was a thing. This book was such a great read I totally am bummed that it ended, Riley sure knows her stuff when it comes to writing and  I have to say that my favorite part of this book was the first kiss.....Holy smokes and then some that is all I am going to say on that matter as you will have to read it to find out. This book drew me in right from the beginning and didn't let up till the end. The chemistry between Kendall and Trina was so fricking HOT i can't even go back there without blushing, The lead up alone to each interaction between Kendall and Trina was delightful and sinful, which in my book makes Riley an amazing storyteller. 
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advanced readers copy through NetGalley for an honest review.

Don't we all secretly, or not so secretly, enjoy watching Netflix's Selling Sunset? Bet Against Me is set in a similar world and it has me thinking I should switch careers as soon as possible.

Trina has a reputation of being a ruthless deal closer and seems to be a shoo-in for the Realtor of the year award, that is until her new rival Kendall takes home the trophy. Trina's boss comes up with a deal to settle the battle once and for. Trina and Kendall are to sell the luxurious Harbourside condos, whoever brings in the most dollars wins. Trina starts with being her cutthroat and bitchy self, at least that is what she seems to be on the very superficial surface. Kendall is relatively new to the real estate market, at least the one in Boston. She has cut all her family ties after a scandal and fled Connecticut to start with a clean slate in Boston. There is obvious attraction between the two characters from the start, they sling insults like it is no one's business and take it in stride. They go out of their way to see each other and when the sparks finally turn into a flame, they might even burn too hot to not have them combust.

I really appreciate the banter between the two mains, I can understand it not being for everyone, but I love it. I think I really like it because it is a dynamic that I have with my SO and friends as well. So the dialogue in this book is really good for me, for me that makes the characters pretty great as well. The supporting characters are great as well. I could have done without the daddy drama, basically all of the daddy drama, but especially the drama towards the end. The reaction, or better yet, overreaction, to that was a downside to the story for me.
This book is the first of a new series and I can see at least 2 characters that could get their own book, I for one can't wait. I am hoping the second book will be centered around Lauren, Trina's best friend and colleague is a funny character.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and publishers for the opportunity to read and review "Bet Against Me".

I have previously read all but one of Fiona Riley's fiction novels and enjoyed them all. She has a definite style of instantly likeable characters with sizzling chemistry and interesting storylines,

The premise for "Bet Against Me" sounded great, the main and minor characters were all appealing, but the story was really hard going initially, with lots of wordy detailed background which slowed the reading down. Instead of a trail of breadcrumbs to follow, the reader was faced with in-depth description of the processes of selling property and customer profiling. It simply crowded out the narrative, slowed down the reading and it was a dilemma to quit or perserve.

Suddenly in chapter 11 one turn of a page, like a match to a flame the pace quickened, and it was suddenly classic Fiona Riley and more. The narrative flowed and the characters and story came alive and lived up to its premise.

And for those who enjoy reading a decent lesbian sex scene in their reading, this novel contains arguably amongst the best written and described sex scenes I have ever read in lesfiction. No cringe factors, no fade to black, just tangible, realistic exploding sexual chemistry.
4.5*

An enemies-to-lovers steamy romance set in the world of luxury real estate in Boston. I enjoyed both characters of Trina and Kendall, but felt like the secondary characters could've been a little more interesting or well developed. I loved all the "fashiony" aspects of the story, from the condo amenities and finishes to the outfits worn by Trina and Kendall. This book was very well written and flowed smoothly from beginning to end. The dialogue was fun and natural without being too cutesie, and as with all of Fiona Riley's couples the chemistry jumps off the page. Trina and Kendall both had backstories that humanized them and kept them from being too ice queenish in spite of them being rich, gorgeous, and competitive. My only criticism is that it felt a little long in places and was a little hard to get into. But the story escalated nicely and ended strong. Overall, a fun glimpse into the lifestyles of the rich and famous.

I received an ARC copy of the book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

The Real Estate business is a cut-throat business. It is everyone for themselves. What happens when two women are put up against each other to see which of them are the best? Well, let the battle commence.

Trina & Kendall are both Realtors who live and work in Boston. After one beats the other for an award then the competition begins to see who really is the best Realtor. Both are dubious but in the end agree to it, the problem, both are attracted to the other. Will this hinder their chances of winning against the other or will it help them?

As with most books I have read this year, this one took me a while to get into it (I am still on a reading block). I loved Kendall from the beginning but Trina, well, she took a lot longer for me to even begin to like her. I didn’t like the way she spoke to Kendall at times.

As with any book written by Ms Riley, the chemistry was off the charts and the sex scenes were great, as you would expect with this author. I call her the queen of sex scenes. I enjoyed the storyline, some great characters and the pace was just right.

If you like enemies to lovers romances then this one could be for you.

Trina Lee and Kendall Yates are rivals for best realtor in Boston. From their initial meeting, sparks fly when Trina accuses Kendall stealing her award. Their bosses pit them in a competition to sell the most units, our leading ladies have more toe-to-toes. Both are clearly attracted to each other, but Trina has preconceptions that Kendall is using her father's name to get ahead and Kendall is trying to get out from her former failed relationship and her father's manipulative legacy. Trina's heritage shows up with her cooking a meal and expectations/traditions of her family. I liked that Riley casts an Asian lead in the story, but am not convinced that the cultural aspects were incorporated well into the story. I felt the story moved a bit too quickly when Trina and Kendall gave into their desires. I don't mind if the character is flawed, but felt that Trina was too distrustful of Kendall for them to end up together the way they did. I think they have chemistry, but the development of their relationship need more pages.

4 stars. Trina Lee is a real estate agent that would do anything to be the best, she is super competitive and wants everyone to know she is the best. She worked hard all year to prove she is worth of realtor of the year. When a newcomer and rival, Kendall Yates wins realtor of the year, Trina can't help but be annoyed and disappointed. Her boss decides the best way to settle this is to have a contest where Trina and Kendall have to sell the most luxury apartments in a new building. When Trina and Kendall both start to be attracted toward each other, they try to avoid it in order to not be distracted by the contest.

I liked this book a lot. It was cute and the relationship evolved at a good pace. I could not stop reading to see how they went from hating each other to being together. The tension in this book was good and there was the right amount of it in the book. You get to see some of their relationship and how it evolved while being rivals in a selling contest. There is a good amount of drama that makes sense and makes the story more believable. I was not frustrated by the drama that seemed to just be added in to make sure they have that drama added in. I would recommend this book, it was a cute, easy read.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

When you first read the description you think that all you might find are tough women. Yes, the competition is there, but the most important parts of this book are the one that maybe are not on the surface. Fiona Riley brings us sensitive women and I am not only talking about the main characters. It is important to notice the support network that Trina has around her and help her to move on. Another important topic that is important is Jax, a trans character who is going to face surgery. Overall, I really liked the two strong women and the electricity and chemistry that spark between them is something really good.

I loved this book. I need to start with that because my journey to get there was rather circumvoluted.

Trina Lee is about to reach her goal as Realtor of the Year. She has the best boss and the best team. Her mother, the head of her Vietnamese-Chinese family, might compare selling luxury real estate to selling yourself, Trina is more than proud of her accomplishments. When the title eludes her, she feels cheated, all the more so as the award goes to Kendall Yates, daughter of the infamous real estate magnate Dick Yates. Trina hates the idea that her hard work didn’t prevail over nepotism. When Trina and Kendall’s bosses come up with the idea of a challenge between the two women, Trina can’t wait to show her rival what a really and truly good agent is.

I didn’t check the blurb before opening Bet Against Me. I only read blurbs for authors I don’t know yet or those I’ve had a bumpy experience with. Fiona Riley isn’t one of them so I didn’t. A few pages in, I was almost regretting it. Not for me, for the author. I don’t want to not like a book because I made the wrong decision reading it. It’s not the author’s fault when I don’t care for a storyline that’s clearly outlined in the blurb. This novel had everything stacked against it at first: I don’t find real estate an exciting environment and I thought the main characters most unlikable, especially Trina and her terrifyingly sharp tongue. While I didn’t change my mind about the first point, I came to realise the characters really showed themselves in their worst light in those first chapters and they were a whole lot more interesting and complex than they seemed. I felt sad for Kendall and was glad she had best friend Margo Channing (yes, Riley went there) by her side, and I loved Trina with her loved ones, from her friends and colleagues to her brother and his kids. She’s also much more considerate with everyone she meets than she first lets on. I really had a hard time warming up to her and I love that Riley managed to make me like her a lot in the end, after I was so worried that no one could get over the awfully hurtful stuff she flung at Kendall when they first met. Fiona Riley made it believable and that was no mean feat.

And the chemistry, wow… Honestly, that first kiss is a beauty. I won’t even comment on how hot the sex is because, you know, Fiona Riley.

With Kendall’s father as some sort of MacGuffin, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. And when it did, boy did it hurt! Then, fortunately, everything got better, since it’s a romance novel, and an excellent one at that. Fiona Riley plays with her characters’ and her readers’ feelings and emotions with obvious glee and the result is delightfully sweet and sexy, with hints of tenderness mixed in with the sassy – and at times snarky – banter.

I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

This was exactly as promised! Trina and Kendall have fiery hatred at the start of the story that translates into fire in the bedroom later. It was a highly enjoyable read with incredible sex scenes. This is the first time I've read anything from this author but I was impressed with the depth of the story and with the writing overall.
Recommend!

Trina Lee is a property realtor in Boston.  She is ruthless and has countless awards to show for it and is expecting to win Realtor of the Year award until it's announced its won by Kendall Yates. Kendall is trying to get out from under the shadow of her father who is currently in jail due to his shady property dealings. She starts fresh in Boston and has worked hard to move up the property ladder. When Trina and Kendall are suddenly pitted against each other in a property sales competition their dislike for each other intensifies.
Fiona Riley knows how to write a good romance and this book doesn't disappoint.  This is a slow burn with tonnes of sizzling chemistry between Trina and Kendall. There's also loads of witty banter to keep you amused and great sex scenes. A definite page turner. Loved it

Trina and Kendall both work at different firms and both are top realtors in the business. When Kendall wins top Realtor of the year Trina is shock because she been winning this award for years.

When there bosses make a bet that their top realtors Trina and Kendall can out sell each other the game is on. What they didn’t expect is the attraction that’s happening between them as they don’t pull any punches with each other as they try to stay in top.

The chemistry is there between them from the start although it took me minute to warm up to Trina because she is a bit cocky abrasive and Kendall who isn’t always itching to fight is a bit more congenial especially when you learn that she was a spoiled as child and how she tries to move past her family reputation.


I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

An honest review thanks to NetGalley. I love Riley, she writes characters who chemistry literally jumps off the page and this book was no exception. The competition and rivals angle was refreshing seeing the enemy's to lovers play out which I absolutely love. This was a fantastic romantic read!