This is a friends-to-lovers/second chance romance. It is a story of finding yourself and your other half. The characters are ok, but the story is lovely although predictable.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for NetGalley

Tony Warren and his best friend, photographer Kayla Gladney, dated at one point, but became best friends instead of bf/gf. Both of these characters are likable, but the did feel more like YA than the upper 20's. (This goes for both characters.). That said, I did really enjoy the book, it was just a little young for me.

This was a really light novel and the characters were interesting, I hadn't read any other from the author. It was enjoyable but a bit predictable, easy escape novel though!

This book gave me a "Something's Gotta Give" vibe; you know, the Jack Nicolson and Diane Keaton movie. This is a friends to lovers and second chance romance book. Kayla and Tony dated for a short time, but Tony is a commitment phobe so they went their separate ways as a couple but quickly remained friends; best friends actually. When Kayla gets a job opportunity to photograph fire ravaged areas; the two go on a road trip. Kayla for her pictures and Tony, to visit his ex's to learn about if he was a bad boyfriend and to get the ex's take on why they broke up. It was clear that Tony and Kayla were going to be more on the trip, so the element of surprise wasn't there for me. But it wasn't until the end of the book that we finally get a glimpse into Tony and his childhood trauma's that shaped the man he is today. I enjoyed the last little bit of the book much more than the beginning.

A really enjoyable read. Uplifting and charming. I enjoyed this book so much, I immediately went and bought the other book from the series. I really enjoyed the look into people's past traumas that can inhibit relationships and getting to see the characters work past them.

Just a Little Bet by Tawna Fenske is the second book in her Smoke Jumpers series. I have only read this installment so I would say it works very well as a stand alone. I've read other work by Tawna Fenske before and I love her light, humor filled writing style. This book had so much emotional depth by the end I think her fans will be surprised and pleased.

I loved the central characters and learning about their lives and careers. Kayla is a photographer (nature) and Tony jumps out of planes to fight fires all over the world! They dated about a year ago but called it quits. They have remained best friends. After a night out the two decide to make a personal bet on personal growth, Kayla gets Tony to accompany her on her road trip to photograph burn sites. On the way they can meet up with some of his ex-girlfriends to try and figure out why he doesn't stay in a relationship.

I really loved this book once it got into the road trip. They have a special friendship, wicked chemistry and there are surprises all along the way. Kayla finds and adopts a dog! Tony's journey and past life unravel very slowly but make for an exciting ending. I didn't love the meet up with the ex-girlfriends but some of them include friendships and that was fun.

There are some heavy issues that pop at the end and Fenske writes them so well. Enjoyed this friends-to-lovers/second chance romance that was full of emotion and packed a punch near the end.

Thank you to #Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. #TawnaFenske. #JustaLittleBet

I like Tawna’s books. This one didn’t disappoint. They get you hooked and want to read everything in this series. I will and must read more of the books

So, the romance of this book was a good one for me. I love the second chance and best friends to lovers tropes that were used in this book. I loved these two together and I felt like they complimented each other well.

My biggest issue was with pacing. The beginning half was fine, but the second half just seemed rushed. It all just seemed to happen really quick and I would have liked for it to flow better. I also felt kind of disconnected from the characters. But even then, this wasn’t a bad read. It was a fun romance with a cute little doggo and these two best friends revisiting their lingering feelings for each other.

That being said, I don’t know if I will give this author another chance or not. I’m not fully convinced I wouldn’t connect with this author’s writing. So there’s always a chance I would give them another chance.

About the book:
Kayla Gladney wants love, marriage, kids, the whole lot. Her best friend (and one time boyfriend) Tony Warren couldn't be more different: love, and all the strings? Not for him. After a night out drinking the pair agree they're both lackluster in the relationships department, but aren't exactly sure why. So they make a bet - starting with Tony - they plan to meet up with some of his exes to uncover if he's a true commitment-phobe, or just a bad boyfriend. But on the long journey through his past, something keeps reminding them both that the fire between them? Maybe never went out.

TL;DR:
- Content warnings: abusive father figure, verbal abuse, domestic violence
- 4 stars
- Sweet best friends to lovers / second chance romance. Worth reading if you're looking for a pair with incredible chemistry who are willing to work through their flaws together.

Loved:
- This was a really really solid read. I enjoyed both Kayla and Tony a LOT. It's really refreshing to read characters who clearly have flaws and know they have them, but own up to them and have a genuine interest in improving as people.
- I know this may not be a popular take, but I also actually really enjoyed how the sources of their growth and improvement came from each other. The progress they made as characters came over the course of the book, but clearly also came as a result of their year+ long friendship. Tony had serious issues to work through with his dysfunctional parent-figures and he seemed to really want to work through them for Kayla.
- Extremely steamy. Like damn. The bathroom scene?! Not only hot, but incredibly sweet.
- Best friends is one of my favorite tropes, I will never get over it. I liked how this wasn't the traditional "omg, haha we'd never date, that's so funny!" but more the "we already tried it, lol, we're not right for each other right now." It left space for character growth driving the romance.
- Kayla's family, who at first come off very old-fashioned and seem to bait her for not being in a relationship while they all are, either grow out of it or snap out of it over the course of the book. We love to see it.

Less into:
- Despite the really well handled conversations around abuse, I personally don't love when it's used as a tactic to drive fear of relationships. Given that, it was well researched and represented. I've read some REALLY bad examples of this, and this wasn't that.
- A little slow to get into, I actually took a month break after the 35% mark. But the latter 50% are quick, and make up for it.

Overall it was nice romance, and Fenske writes some wonderful characters. This is my first of her novels and I will read more!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Great romance and story! Kayla is setting off to work on a coffee table book of fire sites and her ex Tony decides to join her since he's a smokejumper himself. Along the way they decide to meet up with some of his exes to figure out why his relationships never work and women constantly break up with him. Tony has a rough past that he never talks to anyone about. Along this trip though, he reconnects with Kayla and his past catches up with him.

This story is sweet and hot and poignant and very well written that it all blends together and it's hard to put down. I can't wait for the next story.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley.

Tony and Kayla have been friends for a few years, but they once dated and came to realize things were not working out. One night of drinking changes everything. Tony admits he wants marriage and kids and secretly Kayla has been desperate for it too. Her siblings are married and have kids and she sometimes gets jealous.

Tony hasn’t had along relationship. He has his reasons but going on a road trip with Kayla opens his eyes. A little bet changes their world completely. It was great to read and I enjoyed it a lot.

In the second of Tawna Fenske’s Smokejumpers series, lovers-to-friends Tony and Kayla get a second chance at love. After their relationship burned out after a few weeks, the two decided to stay friends. They watch each other date other people, never lasting long, and Tony in particular seems fine bouncing along without commitment. Finally after a night at the bar with friends, Tony confesses that he really wants marriage and family and all the things he said he didn’t want. So Kayla proposes something unusual: a road trip to visit all his exes and ask them what went wrong. Maybe Tony can finally move forward, if he understands his past.

This was kind of a heavy book for Fenske, who often writes frothy romantic comedies. She lightens things up with an adorable mutt and some funny scenes, but the overall tone is pretty serious. There’s a bit of heroine-as-savior here too, although Kayla manages to set up some boundaries for herself. TW: domestic violence (secondary characters).

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review.

This was my first time for this author and I enjoyed her story very much. I don't think I would have had the courage to go to the all the ex's like Tony did. I enjoyed the way the story tied up at the end - well thought out. The characters were well thought out and I enjoyed learning about them. Overall great book and I appreciated having the opportunity to read it.

Just a Little Bet is the second book in the Smokejumper series. This was a new author to me but I’m really a fan after reading this book. The author was able to create a story that draws the reader in and makes them feel like they are part of the story. I loved the best friend to lover troupe and the road trip was just the perfect way to put them in constant contact. Tony Warren and Kayla Gladney had dated at one time, but Tony’s commitment phobia kept their relationship from growing. They continued as best friends, but they were both bad at relationships. Kayla was ready for love, marriage and children, while Tony believed that love and relationships were not for him. Kayla and Tony make a bet to take a road trip and find Tony’s exes and ask why he was so bad at love. Was it commitment phobia or was he just a terrible boyfriend?

Tawna Fenske’s Just a Little Bet is a fun and flirty contemporary romance full of sass and sizzle that is impossible to resist.

When it comes to relationships, Kayla and Tony are absolutely hopeless. Kayla seems to only attract losers and no-hopers who do not have a clue about what women really want and Tony’s track record is equally shocking. Having just been dumped by his latest girlfriend, Tony needs cheering up and his best friend – and former flame – Kayla seems to be the perfect person for the job. Although the two had dated briefly, they had remained the best of friends and they are always there for one another willing to lend a sympathetic ear and a shoulder to cry on when required. Tony has decided that relationships are strictly not for him. Despite his best efforts, he always ends up getting dumped and hurt and he has had enough. But his best friend Kayla is not about to let her friend languish in the dumps and hatches a plan that will determine once and for all whether Tony is just a terrible boyfriend or somebody who is completely and utterly terrified of commitment.

Tony cannot believe his ears when he hears Kayla’s suggestion! She must be out of her mind to think that he would hunt down all his exes and figure out why he has never managed to make a go of his relationships with any of them. But Kayla is very persuasive and before long, Tony finds himself taking a reluctant walk down memory lane and facing the ghosts of girlfriends past. However, as him and Kayla begin to spend more and more time together, he quickly realizes that he might have let his soulmate slip through his fingers and that his perfect woman had been right under his nose all along…

As passions ignite and long-buried feelings come rushing to the fore, will Kayla and Tony give their love a second chance? Or has too much water flown under the bridge for the two of them to be ever contemplate a future together?

A witty and heartfelt read that deftly balances humor and emotion, Tawna Fenske’s Just a Little Bet is a brilliant tale of rekindled passions, red-hot attraction and intense romance that features two wonderfully layered and complex characters readers are going to fall in love with. Kayla is smart, intelligent and loyal and Tony is a nuanced and charismatic hero you will simply adore.

If feel-good contemporary romance is what you’re after, then Tawna Fenske’s Just a Little Bet should be at the very top of your auto-buy list.

I’ve always thought that friends to lovers is one of the toughest romance tropes to write. Why, you may ask? Simple. I feel like this is the trope that’s most grounded in reality, and it’s hard to write books that are too familiar. I minimize reading friends to lovers romance books for this very reason – I want my books realistic, sure, but I don’t want to read about situations that I see a lot. Don’t get me wrong – I enjoy this trope too, but I guess you can say that I’m more picky when it comes to books like these.

I can see everyone’s confusion. I bet you’re wondering why on earth I’m picking up a friends to lovers book if I have so many hang ups, huh? I picked up Just a Little Bet for many reasons. One, I haven’t read friends to lovers in a while, and two, it’s a little different because the main characters, Tony and Kayla, have already tried dating, though things quickly fizzled out. Three, Tony and Kayla decide that while Kayla goes on a road trip for work, he’ll tag along, then they’ll both visit some on Tony’s exes. I mean, come on, a road trip with your ex, and then visiting his exes to figure out why his relationships never make it past a few weeks? Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen!

Now, let’s talk about the characters. Kayla is doing very good career-wise – she is set to publish a collection of photos of wildfire, but not having a family of her own is still nagging at her. In fact, Kayla hasn’t visited her parents and sisters for two years now because they’re all familied up, and she feels a little left out and jealous. Kayla’s parents and sisters themselves are also frustrated that Kayla’s never home, and they make nonstop aggravating comments to her that they’re fine with her being single and having a career. Here’s the thing though – just because Kayla wants a husband and children, it doesn’t mean that she doesn’t want her career. Why on earth do people still think that a woman has to choose between having a family and a career? I like that we have a heroine who wants it all, because she deserves it all.

As Tony and Kayla continue their road trip, they start to learn more about themselves, and they play around with the notion that maybe they should rekindle their relationship. Even though we readers didn’t experience what their previous relationship was like and we can’t exactly compare, Fenske does an incredible job in showing how a relationship with the new Tony and Kayla this time around would work. Also, Tony realizes that there is a deeper reason why he can’t commit to a relationship and why he’s apprehensive about marriage and starting a family. Unfortunately, before he can wrap his head around this, he’s forced to face his traumatic experiences head on. My heart broke for him, but I marveled at how strong he was in facing all his fears.

All in all, I enjoyed Just a Little Bet. Like its title suggests, it has a lot of funny and laugh out loud moments (the encounters with Tony’s exes are my favorite) but it also delves into serious topics. Also, as I’ve mentioned earlier, Fenske does a great job in exploring Tony and Kayla’s personal and relationship growth. While Just a Little Bet is technically part of a series, it works perfectly as a standalone, and I never felt like I missed out on anything. I’ll definitely be checking out Tawna Fenske’s books from now on!

Friends to lovers is one of my favorite romance tropes and Fenske certainly knocked it out of the park in her latest installment in the Smokejumper series. I would say you could read this as a standalone but the first one is good too.
Kayla and Tony have been friends for a long time, heck even lovers at one point, and it certainly shows. I liked that the reader got to see their friendship and no be told about it. The characters actually felt like friends rather than a strange caricature. As a writer this is not an easy task so I applaud Fenske for that. Their romance develops naturally over their road trip and trip down memory (an ex-girlfriend!) lane. This combines second chance romance with friends to lovers and does it really well.
The writing flowed naturally. The dialogue was great; it felt like how real people would talk.
The plot was cutesy and fun. Sort of reminded me of the Hulu show High Fidelity.
I would say if you're looking for a funny and sweet friends-to-lovers with a second chance romance look no further.

This is the second book in the series and I do hope you read that one first. So this book mentions that Kayla and Tony were best friends but I didn't get that since I read the first book, but hey what do I know they could have become best friends. Anywho back to story so Kayla and Tony hit it off tried the dating scenario and crashed and burned, he figures he is not good at relationships, she sees it that he is a commitment phobe and so they set out to find out what it is that is going on. I enjoyed it and since again I read the first book I was a little bit more prepared to read about some heavy issues so just a warning it is not an all hearts book, but I liked that they figured things our and as you can imagine while they spend time together the burning scinders begins a nice fire..Enjoy!

Tawna Fenske's books are always so fun and this was no different. I read this in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read more!

Just a Little Bet!

I generally love Tawna Fenske books and this one met all my expectations and more. Tony has a reputation for how quickly he navigates relationships to break-ups. Kayla was once one of his relationships, but when they broke up, the two remained friends to become best friends. Tony became a Smokejumper while Kayla was a photographer. She proposed a special series of photographs of the remains from burnt out forests for her latest showing. Tony proposes going on a road trip with her to show her some memorable burns. They bet that they can determine if Tony’s relationship issues are his commitment phobia as Kayla suggests, vs. He’s a crappy boyfriend per Tony. So stops along the way are where some ex’s are willing to meet Tony and Kayla to discuss his issues. Meanwhile, Kayla is attempting to broaden her own life with the help of a recommended self-help book.

I enjoyed that Tawna explored some dark subjects including abuse and gaslighting of Tony’s mother. The gaslighting theory is one I hadn’t heard framed that way before, but I appreciated the gentle way Tawna explored its impact on others in the family as well as the direct impacts. The love, support and acceptance from Kayla was great. Her instant attachment to a rescue pup (Fireball) added to their story. There was love, laughs, difficult situations and forgiveness. A little of everything for everyone.

Highly recommended!

I received an ARC copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and Entangled Publishing and am voluntarily reviewing it. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely.