I Bet You by Ilsa Madden-Mills Blog Tour

Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills returns with an all-new swoon-fest of a novel about what happens when you look beyond labels and take a chance on love.

Sexy Athlete: I bet you won’t…
Penelope Graham: Burn in hell, quarterback.

The text is random but Penelope figures out exactly who “Sexy Athlete” is. And why she shouldn't take his wager.

Ryker Voss.
Football star.
Walks on water and God's gift to women.
Just ask him.

His bet? He promises Penelope he’ll win her the heart of the guy she’s been crushing on. His plan—good old-fashioned jealousy. Once her crush sees her kissing Ryker, he'll realize what he's missing. Sounds legit, right? The only question is… why is Ryker being so nice to her?

Penelope Graham.
Virgin.
Lover of sparkly vampires and calculus.
His mortal enemy.

Penelope knows she shouldn’t trust a jock, but what’s a girl to do when she needs a date to Homecoming? And Ryker’s keeping a secret, another bet, one that could destroy Penelope’s heart forever.

Will the quarterback score the good girl or will his secrets mean everyone loses this game of love?

*Author's Note: This is a standalone sports romance with an HEA.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Sports Romance

This is a story about finding and being comfortable with yourself.

Ryker is quarterback and captain of his college team. He knows that he wants to enter the NFL draft, but he also knows that he has to survive the scandal from last season, as well as a fellow teammate, Archer.

The team has juvenile bets that they like to pit against each other. While they seem harmless, Penelope knows not to get in the middle of them. While working, she knows that Ryker and his teammates are betting, but she cannot help but be part of one. She swears never to be part of one again and also swears never to date a quarterback. Her father has put a bad taste in her mouth when it comes to athletes and commitment.

Despite knowing that Ryker is bad for her, Penelope can't help but be intrigued. Ryker, too, can't help but be intrigued by Penelope. She is smart, feisty, and beautiful.

They dance around each other and learn truths about themselves and each other. I liked how they developed their relationship instead of just jumping into a relationship. The only thing is that this felt very much like a young adult romance instead of an adult one. But overall, this was a quick read that was sweet and funny.


Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
I loved I Dare You and knew I wanted to read this one, and I can tell you I was not disappointed.

What happens when a bet goes wrong?

Penelope Graham is the nerdy girl who wants to be a romance writer and she fantasies about "Lord Waylon" who happens to be Ryker, star quarterback. But she also hates football players because football is what took her father away from her and her mom when she was born. When several football players show up at her place of work and a bet with her goes wrong, she holds things together until she can get away from them.

Ryker Voss has always wanted to play football and it will take him far in life. And gets him many one-night stands. But he has never fallen in love. He has noticed Penelope and who wouldn't. She is a classic beauty. When a bet at the restaurant she works at goes wrong, he feels bad and wants to apologize. But he can tell she hates him, or is it the thought of him? When he finds out she likes someone else, he wants to help her get the guy she likes.

Can Ryker help Penelope get the guy she thinks is for her without him falling in love with her? Will Penelope give Ryker a chance after she learns of the bet going around with the football team? Can she forgive Ryker when she learns the truth?

I loved I Dare You and I think I loved this one more. And I cannot refuse a story by Ilsa Madden-Mills, she has a way of telling a story that will have you glued to every page wanting more. So sit back and enjoy, I know you will love Ryker and Penelope too.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series, and carries on from where book one left off. I think you could enjoy it as a standalone, but it would make more sense of Ryker's headspace in particular if you did read I Dare You first.

There is so much to enjoy in this college sports romance – and really, top of the pile may have to be Penelope's bird... just such perfect timing!

One element which I thought was done particularly well was the references back to Penelope's parents and the decisions they took. She had always blamed her father and his NFL ambitions for ruining things for their family, but actually there are hints that maybe she only saw one side of that story. As she learns more, it is clear that she does a lot of growing up and accepting that maybe her views were not based entirely on fact. It helps her to see her current relationship in a very different light.

Ryker has to concentrate on his quarterback career, but Penelope is stretching his limits of calm and patience. He also knows that the team bets are going to affect her if she finds out about them... so he is in a difficult place, pursuing her for real, but also succeeding in winning a bet. She is, really all he ever desired, and making her his is what he has to do!

I did at times question the age of the characters in this book, but overall it was a sweet and entertaining read.


Lee’Anne – ☆☆☆☆☆
This book is incredible, I couldn’t put it down even for a minute! I’m obsessed with this series and already need more! Penelope Graham is a nerdy virgin but definitely not the typical sort. Penelope is in a sorority, happy to dress up cute and head to parties, and has a superstar football father that she holds a major grudge against. Enter Ryker Voss, star football player for his and Penelope’s college and someone who got swept up in an article that Penelope wrote regarding a fighting ring from months previous. Ryker’s not holding a grudge, far from it actually, he wants Penelope – bad – but Penelope wants nothing to do with him. Then one of the a-hole team members makes a bet with Ryker – bag Penelope. Ryker wants nothing to do with the bet and to prove it he sets out to help Penelope win over a guy she’s been very obviously crushing on. Only, once he begins spending time with Penelope, he realizes seeing her with another guy isn’t going to be an option.

The banter between Penelope and Ryker absolutely makes this book – I couldn’t get enough of those two. I loved both of their characters from the start, actually, I loved most of the characters from the very start of this book. It’s very well written, intriguing, fast-paced, and best of all, hilarious. I can’t wait for more from this author.

Also Available in The Hook Up Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the I Dare You Blog Tour.

Wall Street Journal best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills writes about strong heroines and sexy alpha males that sometimes you just want to slap. She's best known for her angsty and funny New Adult college romances.

A former high school English teacher, she adores all things Pride and Prejudice; Mr. Darcy is her ultimate hero.

She's also addicted to frothy coffee beverages, Vampire Dairies, and any kind of book featuring unicorns and sword-wielding females.

Connect with Ilsa

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Google+  ~  Instagram
Unicorn Girls Facebook Fan Group

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of I Bet You (The Hook Up #2) by Ilsa Madden-Mills to read and review for this tour.