Bet On It by Jodie Slaughter
Publication Date: July 12, 2022
The first time Aja Owens encounters the man of her dreams, she’s having a panic attack in the frozen foods section of the Piggly Wiggly. The second time, he’s being introduced to her as her favorite bingo buddy’s semi-estranged grandson. From there, all it takes is one game for her to realize that he’s definitely going to be a problem. And if there’s anything she already has a surplus of, it’s problems.
In Walker Abbott’s mind, there are only two worthwhile things in Greenbelt, South Carolina. The peach cobbler at his old favorite diner and his ailing grandmother. Dragging himself back after more than a decade away, he’s counting down the days until Gram heals and he can get back to his real life. Far away from the trauma inside of those city limits. Just when he thinks his plan is solid, enter Aja to shake everything up.
A hastily made bingo-based sex pact is supposed to keep this…thing between them from getting out of hand. Especially when submitting to their feelings means disrupting their carefully balanced lives. But emotions are just like bingo callers—they refuse to be ignored.
Jodie Slaughter’s Bet on It is a heart-stoppingly fun, emotional romance that will have readers falling in love until long after the last page is turned.
Bet on It by Jodie Slaughter
My rating: 4.5 Stars
Steamy and Spicy Romance
Read “Bet On It” by Jodie Slaughter if you like:
✔ M/F contemporary romantic comedy
✔ Small Town Romance
✔ South Carolina backdrop
✔ Interracial romance
✔ Third person narration with dual perspectives
✔ Anxiety & PTSD rep
✔ Spicy romance
✔ Complete standalone
Aja Owens goes to bingo at the Greenbelt City Bingo Hall every Wednesday evening so she can feel a bit of calm and socialize a tiny bit. She has a bingo friend in Ms. May Abbott, an elderly white woman. When Ms. May gets injured, her grandson Walker comes to help her, even with her bingo game.
Aja has anxiety and Walker witnesses her having a panic attack at the Piggly Wiggly and helps her with his presence. It is at first unknown to Aja, but Walker has had panic attacks for much of his life. He’s attracted to Aja when they first meet at the bingo game but decides they should just be friends since he’s going back to Charleston in eight weeks.
Aja and Walker are open and honest with each other when discussing their mental health. It’s really refreshing to see frank discussions about anxiety in a romance. As they become closer and the tension ratchets up they decide to have a bet on bingo games: whenever one of them wins, they will sleep with each other.
As they grow closer to each other they have to keep reminding themselves that Wilder is leaving Greenbelt so they shouldn’t get too entangled. This gets more and more difficult for them. What will they do and who will get hurt when Walker leaves?
The depictions of anxiety and panic attacks by two people who have the experience of therapy are so special and realistic. It shows that therapy is helpful and worthwhile as it gives you tools to deal with your issues but is a process that is never really complete. It was wonderful to read about two people connecting over their previously private hurts and being so happy to find one another.
“He could be raw and honest with her about the parts of him that he normally kept hidden away.”
“Bet On It” is a heat-filled and passionate romance with characters that you will root for.
CW: mental illness, panic attacks, drug abuse, child endangerment
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
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