Bet on Us by Rachel Higginson (f/k/a Bet in the Dark)

Blurb: All Ellie Harris wanted was a life of her own.

In a shortsighted decision, she follows her high school boyfriend to college, only to get cheated on and then dumped. And to add insult to injury, her overprotective family is suddenly clinging to her again, fighting to control every part of her life.

Bad luck follows her hasty decision and when her roommate steals her identity and leaves town, Ellie is left to clean up a gigantic mess.

Fin Hunter insists Ellie owes him seven thousand dollars from an online poker game and he won’t stop until he collects it. Determined to keep her family out of her life, Ellie agrees to work for Fin in his illegal online poker operation. He’s given her six weeks to pay off the debt.

Soon sparks are flying between them and the only thing keeping her from falling for him is the debt she still owes and the money she doesn’t have.

At the end of those six weeks, Ellie will have to pay the mistaken debt or bet that her feelings for Fin will be worth more than the money.

This book was previously titled Bet in the Dark.

5 stars

I know what you’re thinking. That’s not the right book.  But it is, I assure you.  This is the 1st version of the book.  And I like it better so I’m using it instead.  I’ve read this book about three times now and I still love it.  Rachel Higginson writes excellent books.  I have never read one I didn’t like, and I have reread ALL of them at least once.

Ellie is trying so hard to make it all on her own.  She doesn’t want help from her overbearing family.  I love her attitude when they try to get up all in her business.  She can totally get her family to look the other way when she tries.  And I admire her determination to keep her associations low on their radar.  Her morals are very….morally?

Fin is so hot!  He has a lot of love to give and is very family oriented but he doesn’t let people in very easily.  He takes care of the ones he loves.  And he falls for her almost immediately with her snarky wit and innocence.  He can’t stay away from her and she hates to admit she is digging on him too.

Ellie is one of my favorite MC’s from RH.  Its too bad its a stand alone.  Go read it.