I love Tawna's books and really look forward to them making me smile. The one though did not hit the mark for me. I felt a thread of sadness from the beginning that dampened my enjoyment of the book. It also was missing the laughs that I experience when reading Tawna's books. I think if you like heavier romance novels (or really fiction books with a splash of romance) this one may be for you. For me, it was just too heavy.

This is the first book that I have read from Tawna Fenske and I really liked it. I thought that this was an original story line. Two ex’s that have remained friends. There was some humor, emotional parts dealing with abuse. But overall I thought it was a good read.

[Content warning at end of review]

After dating for a short period of time, Kayla and Tony decide that they make better friends than lovers. And after a year of serious best friendning they decide to help each other out. Smoke jumper, Tony agrees to accompany Kayla as she tours the midwest for old forrest fire burn sights to photograph for a book and Kayla bets Tony that they can determine weather he is just a bad boyfriend or afford of commitment by catching up with his former loves along the way!

This totally sound like a recipe for disaster, but these two are so perfect together that he their road tripping and ex interviewing becomes an exercise in growth for the two of them!

At the beginning of this book, the hero, Tony seems so shallow and out just for a good time and a laugh. I really enjoyed seeing his layers be unraveled as he accepted some hard truths about him self and his motivation. Kayla also learns about herself and comes to some significant revelations as well. These two really grew on me as I read this book!

This road tripping, second chance/ friends to lovers story ending up having some real depth and happily surprised me!

[Content warning - there is in depth talk about mental abuse and gaslighting to characters close to the main couple]

Just a Little Bet by Tawna Fenske is scheduled to release October 26th, 2020.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Entangled Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#JustaLittleBet #TawnaFenske #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads

I read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley.

This is the story of Kayla and Tony. They dated previously but remained friends after deciding that they weren’t the settling down types. Tony joins Kayla on a road trip that she needs to take in order to take pictures for a new coffee table book that she has in the works.
(I don’t know what happens with the whole book deal because the author changes the purpose of the pictures at the end of the story- not sure if this was intentional or an oversight.)

I’ve read other books by this author and I’ve even read the first book in this series. She is one of my automatic one-click authors. I enjoyed the book overall and would recommend it to others. It has a deep, powerful understory about family and not letting your past/upbringing taint your entire being. You can overcome!

-- Read this review, and others, on my blog at https://hookedbythatbook.com --

Tony Warren, smokejumper and commitment-phobe, decides to accompany his best friend, Kayla Gladney, on a road trip for a photography project that Kayla is working on. She also happens to be his ex-girlfriend. Tony believes he is just a bad boyfriend, and Kayla is convinced it’s because he is afraid of commitment that he can’t seem to hold on to a girlfriend. They decide to visit the girlfriends of Tony’s past as part of their road trip, to find out what went wrong, and settle the bet that they had going on.

Imagine, if you will, a slider on a line of intimacy in a relationship. Tony and Kayla started off way at the left, where everything is easy-breezy and light. And as they came closer to the end of their trip together, that slider crept slowly to the right. With the increase in intimacy, came a lot of introspection and they had to find what it is that they want for themselves first. Both had to face harsh truths about themselves and their relationships with their family.

I wouldn’t call it light, or fluffy. It dealt with some very hard real-life issues, and what Tony and Kayla had to face and overcome, was definitely not easy. There is a lot of growth here for both characters.

Overall, I enjoyed it. There is plenty of lighter moments, and lots of steam.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Firstly huge thanks to the publisher for my advanced readers copy. This book tells the story of Kayla and Tony who are best friends that have dated before but it didn't work out. Who after Tony's latest breakup something good comes out of (definitely not going to spoil for anyone). It's a awesome story with great characters and two cups of swoonworthy love. Definitely recommend it if you need a second chance romance with friends that you root for

Ever since meeting these two in "The Two-Date Rule", I've been wanting to read Kayla and Tony's story. I simply loved watching their friendship evolve into (so much) more!
As is also the case in the first smokejumper book, there is a lot of not-so-happy backstory and some tough issues for both to work through. It really tugged on my heartstrings, and I felt deeply for both Kayla and Tony.
But there is still enough of the lighthearted banter I am used to in Tawna's stories, as well as some truly snort-laugh-worthy moments. And, of course, there's Fireball who gets his very own HEA too!

5/5 hot and heart-melting stars

This book will pull at your hear strings! Tawna does an amazing job at making her characters feel relatable. Tony is so complex you can't help but root for him. Kayla has a huge heart and her willingness to hold on was inspiring. And you can't forget fireball he really helped pull them together.

Oh Tawna Fenske…my poor little heart!

Just a Little Bet is a wonderful friends-to-lovers/second chance rom-com in the Smokejumper series by Romance author Tawna Fenske. The main characters, Tony and Kayla, are continued from book one in the series. They tried a relationship in the past, but realized they were better just “as friends”. This road trip, with a little side bet, might be what they need to re-”kindle” a “spark”.

This slower “burning” romance/re-ignition will pull at your heartstrings, make you laugh, make you cry, and make you swoon. The characters in this book dig deep to figure out whom they are and why, they are challenged with overcoming their pasts, and finding their hearts again. All of the side characters give the reader a wonderful insight into Tony and Kayla as well…and try to help them understand why he “burns” through women…instead of making any commitments.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVED this book! The characters, the well flowing storyline, the “heat”, and FIREBALL!!! I love a great dual POV and this one was “on fire”! 5 flames from me!

I really enjoyed Kayla's character and and basis of this book. It is a second chance, friends to lovers mix. Both Kayla and Tony have some soul searching to do, in order to find out what they really want and why they can't get it. The book grabbed my attention from the start but lost me in the middle and hit a pretty low zone for a large portion. It didn't focus much on Tony's career as a smokejumper, but more on Kayla's photography. And sticking with her typical love for animals, there was an amazing dog that swooped in as well.

Prepare for a bit of an emotional roller coaster as Kayla and Tony embark on a journey to find out why he cannot commit in a relationship. Best friends Kayla Gladney and Tony Warren decide that a work-related road trip is a great time to visit with his ex-girlfriends to discover his failings as a boyfriend. There's laughs aplenty and some heartstring tugging throughout this book. The chemistry is great and Tony's reasons for being so commitment shy can be a bit of a trigger for some.
This is book 2 of the Smokejumper series and can be read as a standalone (although you'll definitely will want to read book 1 - The Two-Date Rule as well).

Tony and Kayla were a fun couple to read about.

Tony is convinced that he is just a bad boyfriend. However, his actions don't necessarily match his words. Kayla is out to prove him wrong.

Kayla is a woman who wants it all. She wants the husband, house, and kids. One night changes everything for her and lets her see Tony in a new light.

The two of them come up with a bet with weird stakes. I have to admire Tony for going along with it. In many ways, Tony knows why he feels the way he does but isn't strong enough to voice it out loud.

It was fun to watch these two navigate each other, ex's, heart to hearts, and a road trip. It was also to watch them both avoid the elephant in the room.

After enjoying The Two-Date Rule of Tawna Fenske, I was very happy to see another Smokejumper in the next part of the series. After Grady got married to his Willa, Tony can't help to be a little envious. Although he moves through his girlfriends faster than he can put out fires, deep in his heart he would like to have a serious relationship. But he knows that marriage isn't in the cards for him. Because of his dark past, he is convinced that marriage is not something to aspire.
The only girl who sticks around is Kayla, his BFF. After splitting up, they remained friends. And Kayla is always there for him. When she challenges him to go with her to visit old burn sites to photograph them for her new project, he agrees. She convinces him to look up his old exes in the neighborhood and ask them why they split up. Can you imagine looking up you old exes??? Of course, there are some very hilarious encounters and Tony realizes he has been a very shitty boyfriend in some cases. And Kayla learns a lot about the guy she thought was a commitment phobe. Because maybe Tony has some legitimate reasons to despise marriage.
Find out more about their hilarious banter, the rancuneus exes and the great simmering attraction between Tony and Kayla. Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

I first heard about Tawna Fenske in August of 2015 when her book "About That Fling" was featured as a "Kindle First." I have fallen in love with the way that she tells a story. Her characters are fun, and even ones you may not like at first tend to grow on you. Since then, I have read anything that I have found by Tawna.

I really liked Tony and Kayla in "The Two-Date Rule," so I was excited to get a chance to read about them. Like that book, while there are comedic aspects, it has serious aspects as well. I feel like the more I got to know of Tony's story, the more invested I became in his character.

Not to give too much away, but this book made me have more compassion for people who are in emotionally and/or mentally abusive relationships. Usually when you think of abuse, your mind automatically jumps to physically. This book shows just how damaging mental and emotional abuse is...not just to the spouse, but to other members of the family as well.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. I am glad we were able to read Tony and Kayla's story, and I am looking forward to seeing future stories...especially with the new characters that were introduced as part of Tony's story.

**A received an advanced reader copy for my honest review**

Super swoon-worthy friends-to-lovers story. Tony and Kayla have somehow managed to stay friends even after a brief dating stint. After a night of too much whiskey and some drunken confessions, they set off to get to the bottom of why Tony burns through relationships faster than the forest fires he fights as a smokejumper. With the help of some ex-girlfriends, a self-help book, and a puppy named (what else?) Fireball, these two get to the bottom of their issues in the swooniest ways.

Tony is such a great hero. So many times in books you see heros with dark and twisted histories who don't do the work to get through it and move forward - but here you see Tony really working through his demons and actually getting therapy (HOORAY!). Readers get to see both main characters mature and develop and it makes you root for them from beginning to end. This is the second book in the series, but it works as a standalone story. I can't wait to go pick up the first book in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher (Entangled Publishing) for the early copy of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Just a Little Bet is the second book in Tawna Fenske’s Smokejumpers and provides readers with a fun, witty and interesting road trip story of second chances and all that entails. Kayla and Tony are wonderful characters with a lot of friendship history to set the foundation for this entertaining rom com. The story isn’t perfect, but it is definitely worth the read and I’m sure it will entice readers to come back more of Ms Fenske’s stories.

Firstly, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC and the opportunity to review this book.

Just a Little Bet by Tawna Fenske a smoking hot five-star read. This is number two in the Where There’s Smoke series but they can be read as stand-alones as the other characters only pop up a tiny bit. I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked the writing style, the characters. I look forward to reading more in this series!

After Two-Date Rule, I thought I had an idea of the people that Tony and Kayla are but meeting them in that book barely even scratched the surface. Their story is way more angsty and heavy than I was expecting but it was balanced by how perfect these two are for each other.

There’s some pretty deep topics explored in this book but Tony and Kayla’s amazing sense of humor brought out the lighter side. This series is fun and I want even more smokejumpers!!

What a great story of friendship that goes beyond to be so much more. Kayla and Tony are friends, actually best friends and even though they tried dating a while back for a very short time they have managed to move past that to be the best of friends. Kayla knows Tony and she sees another breakup coming his way so when she bets their friends it is in the air of course she is right. What she doesn't know is that will lead her into a journey of figuring out why both her and Tony have not been able to keep a long term relationship. What are they doing to sabotage their happiness and can a a road trip and a self help book show them the way to a happy future together?

Such a great story. I loved the characters and even though I don't think I could be as open as Kayla was with former girlfriends of Tony's I appreciated her willingness to help find out why he couldn't keep a girlfriend. I enjoyed the characters and the quirky, funny ex's. There are some sad moments with this book and heart wrenching moments that gives it depth and emotion as well as lots of fun and happy times throughout. I loved the balance of all of it.

I received an early copy to read and review with my honest opinion. It is a great story of friends to lovers and healing. I loved it and highly recommend it.

Really fun road trip/second chance romance. Tony and Kayla dated for a few weeks a year ago, and they broke up because she didn't see it going anywhere (common reaction from his exes). They managed to stay best friends and spend a ton of time together. A great reason comes up for her to take a road trip, and it makes a lot of sense for him to go with her. Then they decide on a bet and to visit with a bunch of his exes. Although the book is part of the series about smokejumpers, there are not active firefighting scenes in here since it's the off season. Turns out the road trip reveals both of their relationship issues, and a mutual attraction that has come back stronger than when they were together. The book had times that were sweet, hot, funny, and sad. Fulfilling and a quick read, and definitely works as a standalone.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.