I have to admit, I had mixed feelings about this book. For the most part, I found it an enjoyable read. The characters were by far the best part. They were both just fun and enjoyable to read about. The author did a much better job at making them more likable than the first book in the High Stakes Romance series.

For some reason this story line hit differently to me than most romance novels. There were almost two parallel story lines - one where the two main characters, Lauren and Thea meet and fall in love, and the other where the two main characters meet and have to work together to determine a way to save Thea’s family farm. There is obviously overlap in the two plots but the thing that separates this book from others is the love story seems to be pretty low angst and a little too perfect too soon in my opinion. There was a bit of a childish meltdown at one point when the two plots collide, but it was over with quickly and didn’t really add to, or take away from the story. The real cliff hanger in the book revolves around how Lauren, a real estate agent, could be creative enough to maintain Thea’s family’s livelihood.

And a side note pet peeve, almost all the women are gay. Why? If this is a reality I am totally living in the wrong parts of the world!

This book checks so many boxes for me and leaves me feeling happy. After passing a year of Covid seclusion it is wonderful to have a steamy, low angst, escapism, romance. Lauren Calloway sells luxury real estate in Boston. Her boss sends her to a friends dairy farm in Maine to see if she can assess the property and help the family avoid selling everything to cover debts. At the farm she finds Thea Boudreaux. They met the previous week at a bar and spent a fantastic evening together. They both were hoping it wasn't a one night stand. Thea works in tech in Boston but this is her family farm started by her grandfather. Her mother and brother have been struggling to keep it afloat after the death of her dad. She is hopefully Lauren can find some way to save the farm.

I love both main characters. Lauren is bold, charismatic and sweet and helps Thea drop her cautious ways and show her romantic self. Their flirting is epic and fun. And Riley definitely knows how to write steamy scenes with a good balance of humor and banter. I like that the angst moment is understandable and handled fairly quickly because as adults they can talk, apologize and move forward. There are several side characters that add to the story including BFF's, co-workers, family and friends. The side characters are diverse including gay, bi, non-binary and trans.

I read this as a stand alone but it is second in a series. I will look for the first, Bet Against Me, to get back in the characters world. I also will look for future books in the series and others by the author. Can't recommend this enough to my friends who enjoy sapphic romances. Thank you NetGalley and Best Strokes Books, Inc. for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

What an amazing book, enough to turn a straight person. Fantastic story line and written well and an easy read. The author describes the scenes really well that you can visualise them easily. Characters have real sas and situations you can relate to.
A must read for anyone.

Lauren and Thea met once at dairy farm they both frequently goes to this bar had one night stand that will caught them by surprise when it starts to turn into something more. Lauren is real estate agent who reunite with Thea when her family farm is in dire straits although she wants save her family farm she has her own work and life.

As they get to know each other and finds ways to save the farm they grow closer. I like both characters Lauren was quirky and honest who brought out Thea who is very cautious and more private. I did enjoy reading about the other characters from her books it’s nice seeing what they been up to.

I like how this author write her characters where you could feel the chemistry and the relationship is organic and not rush.

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

Even tho its not a second book but its kinda related to " Bet Against Me ". and I feel like the characters were better than that book (Trina), meaning i liked them both and Thea was understanding clam, sure she did make a mistake but that's not unrealistic " dramatic but not odd". Lauren was lovely charming and honestly funny. the interaction was great between them. tho I feel like sometimes there was a lot of "huh"at the end of each sentence.. Nevertheless, I love Fiona's writing and her creative way in making most of her characters come back even for short event.

I still love Ellision and really won't mind reading her story at all. thanks to the author and her team for the opportunity of free copy in exchange of honest opinion

This is a delightful light hearted story of Thea and Lauren. Thea’s family farm is in a dire financial situation and Lauren is sent to seek a way to save it. They’ve previously met and had a one night stand and are reunited.
Thea is upset about the possibility of losing the farm but has her own career and life. Lauren wants to help the family keep the farm as well as make it a successful again.
This was an enjoyable fast read and recommend it.

This was such a fun and sensual novel, I was quickly drawn into the story and throughly enjoyed every moment of it. Fiona Riley has crafted an engaging world with sexual and gender diverse characters. Her writing is evenly paced and very accessible creating a very enjoyable reading experience. Her world is filled with characters that feel like people you could meet on the street.

The novel focuses on the start of a new relationship between our main heroines-Lauren and Thea. What was potentially going to be a one night stand grows into something so much more than either of them expected. Both Lauren and Thea were strong and independent characters that had a lovely way of balancing each other out. Lauren is a bit quirky and goofy at times and this really helps to draw Thea, who is cautious and more private out of her shell.

The way Lauren and Thea flirt and banter with each other is so delightful to watch. Fiona Riley does a lovely job of balancing humor, disappointment, love and regret as Lauren and Thea learn to negotiate through the start of a serious relationship (which neither of them have really had). I love that this book is embodied with strong and independent women and non-binary characters who are so supportive of each other. I really enjoyed watching all these strong friendships, loving family relationships and supportive work environments be the structural foundation for all of the characters to dream big and work hard in order to accomplish their goals and desires.

I highly recommend this novel if you are looking for a love story between two independent women who desire, support and help the other as they learn to trust and love each other. I highly recommend this novel if you love stories that have strong and supportive characters that fill out the world. I highly recommend this novel if you are looking for a sweet story that is funny, touching and an absolute delight.

This is the second book in Fiona Riley's High Stakes Romance series and it was certainly a lot of fun! Lauren, a luxury real estate agent met Thea a once dairy farmer turned tech developer at The Mirage, a bar frequented by both one night when they were both feeling especially frisky. A one-night stand definitely turned into more when the two met shortly after at Thea's family's struggling dairy farm in Maine. I certainly enjoyed the sexiness and romance of this book. But what I liked best was being able to catch up with Trina and Kendall, Hailey and Emerson, Claire and Shelley, Ellison, and Jax who were all characters in some of Fiona Riley's other books. Thanks for another entertaining read!

I loved this book so much!!! Make cool, witty, likable characters, write good dialogue, nice flirting scenes, great sex scenes, and you can't go wrong! That's what Fiona Riley does, anyway, in every book so far! I'm gladly putting her into my "favourite authors" folder, because so far, everything she wrote, I read in one take. And re-read. This book will be no exception! Lauren and Thea have such chemistry, it's sizzling! And I love how big the inclusion of the other characters was! They're there all throughout the book, and it was such a pleasure reading this well structured novel. 5 stars from me.