Fiona Riley is always a hit for me. The dialogue is always so well done. I think that’s what gets me every time I read a book by Riley, I can’t like actually hear the conversations. The writing in this book is no different. The banter was great. I didn’t realize how much I wanted a book on Ellison so if you’ve been waiting for her story you won’t be disappointed. This book does abide by the usual romance book formula of: meet, fall in love, angst, then make up. Regardless of thee “standard” format, I felt fully invested the whole time. I loved the ending too. I would definitely recommend this.

Five Stars!!! This is already topping my read again list. I intentionally slowed down my reading speed to enjoy the characters and pacing. Fiona Riley is a master of writing dialog that moves the story forward in natural, sexy, honest and endearing ways. Ellison Gamble owns a successful luxury real estate agency in Boston. At 43 she has everything she wants but she is alone. Katie Crawford (28) is working as a message therapist in the same building as Ellison. She is overwhelmed with the course her life has taken after moving home to help her mother recover from a car crash and eventual stroke. She wants her mom to have the best care and is working as much as she can to cover the expenses. She isn't looking for love and is shocked when it walks through her door.

These are two of my new favorite characters. They are honest and deep in their thoughts and feelings. I could have read another few hundred pages of their conversations, sexy times and joy found in each other. This is the third in Riley's High Stakes series but easily can be read alone. I'm not sure if this completes the series or if Jax will get their story. This is for anyone who loves a good f/f romance. Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! It was entertaining, easy to read and a lovely romance all at the same time, perfect summer read. The characters are well developed and the story well written. Would recommend!

Ellison learns she can’t carry a baby to term because she has a hostile uterus all she wants is to be a mom. She now has to decides wether to use a surrogate and she cautions because that’s a lot of trust to put into someone but the support of her friend Faith and sometimes friends with benefits decides to give it a go.

Katie is struggling although she got job she likes she still worries on how she be able to keep her mother at care living facility that she been thriving at. Katie and Ellison meets after a misunderstanding and a friendship is form. Ellison helps Katie with the selling of her house as they get to know each other their friendship turns into something more.

I love this read the words flow easily the MCs have great chemistry I like that their romance was slow build it started as a friendship. Love the supporting characters that works with Ellison Jax Lauren Trina that’s seen more then coworkers but family and Katie best friend Shaina who there to lend an ear when Katie needs to talk.


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

Beginner's Bet has quickly found itself on my favourite books of 2021 list! The writing was captivating and the characters were lovable and had amazing chemistry both platonic and romantic. This is definitely a heartwarming romance that you have to read!

5 stars! I absolutely loved this book. Fiona Riley is one of my favourite les fic writers and she did not disappoint with this book. I highly recommend not only this book but all of Riley's books. If you haven't read book one in this series or her Perfect Match series, you're missing out.

Beginner's Bet by Fiona Riley follows Ellison Gamble, who you may recognize from the previous two books in this series as the owner of the luxury real estate firm that the characters from those books work at, and Katie Crawford. Katie is a newly introduced character who's life turns upside down when her mother suffers a stroke. From the very first page I was hooked to this book.

The book starts off on a heartbreaking note for Ellison which I'm going to leave to you guys to find out as it feels a bit spoiler-y. Ellison had always been one of my favourite characters in this series so it's safe to say I've been waiting for this one for a while and not only did it live up to my expectations, it surpassed it. This book allowed me to fall more in love with Ellison's character. She's selfless, funny, romantic and just in all has a warm personality.

Something that I've always admired from Riley is her ability to make her character their own distinct beings. Particularly in this book, Riley does an amazing job at perpetuating just how flustered Katie feels. In this book Katie has a lot on her shoulders, which is ironic since a massage therapist may just be the most tense one in this book. Dealing with the decline of her mother's health and her bank account Katie is at a lost and does not know what to do... until her new friend mentions just how valuable her house might me.

Katie and Ellison may just be the most compatible characters I've ever seen. Something about them just clicked and it presented the cutest chemistry. The plot, though relatively uneventful, was perfect. Sometimes authors try too hard to make simple plots all extra and special but end up ruining everything else. Riley presents an interesting yet simple plot. There is conflict but it wasn't blown out of proportion, it was just... perfect. Guys I really do not know how to describe how much I enjoyed this story.

I highly recommend this book! More so for readers looking for a slow simple romance

What a complex love story this is.
A successful realtor, Ellison wants to have a baby but has been told she has a "hostile uterus". As she seeks an alternative to her dream she finds herself suddenly drawn to young Katie who has her own struggles going on.
But as their friendship grows into more, what is Katie's role in Ellison life? Did she imagine being a mother? Is it all happening too fast for her?
The road to happiness isn't easy and they will have to decide what it is they want most.
Absolutely a must read.
Thank you Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC.

A very sweet sapphic love story. <i>Beginner's Bet</i> follows Ellison, a highly successful realtor of luxury properties who is reeling from the news that she will never bare genetic children, and Katie, who has recently had to institutionalize her mother and the bills are piling up on her. This romance heavily focuses on pregnancy and motherhood, as well as the intersections with queerness that can have. There was a nicely diverse cast here. The extenuating circumstances and hurdles to overcome are believable. This wasn't my typical f/f romance, I just really like queer love stories, y'all.

**I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!

This is by far the best book I've read this year so far, hands down! I don't know how Fiona Riley does it, but I never read "just a ok" book by her. She's become my favorite dialogue writer and my Top 5 lesbian fiction author.
Ellison is such a great character, amazingly written! If that woman was real, I'm sure every single woman would have a seriously deep crush on her! Now, include a beautiful, smart redhead, with amazing green eyes in the story, you get dazzling sparkles flying everywhere!
I read this ARC in one take, because once I started reading those effortlessly written dialogues, I couldn't put the book down.
Pure, bright, huge 5 stars!!!

Beginner’s Bet is one of the best books I have truly enjoyed in several years. Ellison and Katie are truly well written. There are so many authentic, genuine moments of how hard life can be and yet in those struggles we come to realize the beautiful path of happiness that was secretly being planned all along. Katie and Ellison both have very hard circumstances in their lives. They come to know each other and grow from friendship to love. They must face their own insecurities to allow their lives to blossom and grow.

The dialogue is funny, witty, warm and the chemistry is off the charts.

A sensational read. I highly recommend this book.! I also want to see if that pizza really exist and try it!