Review: THE LOVE WAGER by Lynn Painter

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THE LOVE WAGER by Lynn Painter
 

Publication Date: March 14, 2023 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

E317A2B0-B81B-4309-A1B1-9CBC0D4E29C3Two people make a wager on who can find love first, not realizing what they should be betting on is each other, in this new romantic comedy by Lynn Painter, New York Times bestselling author of Mr. Wrong Number.

Hallie Piper is turning over a new leaf. After belly-crawling out of a hotel room (hello, rock bottom), she decides it’s time to become a full-on adult. She gets a new apartment, a new haircut, and a new wardrobe, but when she logs onto the dating app that she has determined will find her new love, she sees none other than Jack, the guy whose room she snuck out of.

After agreeing they are absolutely not interested in each other, Jack and Hallie realize they’re each other’s perfect wing-person in their searches for The One. They text each other about their dates, often scheduling them at the same restaurant so that if things don’t go well, the two of them can get tacos afterward.

Spoiler: they get a lot of tacos together.

Discouraged by the lack of prospects, Jack and Hallie make a wager to see who can find true love first, but when they agree to be fake dates for a weekend wedding, all bets are off. As they pretend to be a couple, lines become blurred and they both struggle to remember why the other was a bad idea to begin with.

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I enjoyed this fast-paced witty story. Hallie and Jack were both people I identified with, and they had me grinning throughout their journey. The banter between them was easy and never felt forced for the sake of laughter. Their blossoming friendship pulled me in and kept me invested in their relationship. The sexy time was also fun and hot, making the story flow into a lovely romance. The friends and family around them added to the group camaraderie that I always enjoy in a book. The storyline was entertaining, even when some situations made my eyes roll.  A fun read that still has me smiling.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.  

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Buy Links

Kindle | Paperback

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About the author

Lynn Painter is the USA Today and New York Times Bestselling Author of BETTER THAN THE MOVIES. She writes romantic comedies for teens and adults, and when she isn’t reading or writing, she can usually be found binge-watching rom-coms or shotgunning energy drinks.

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Review: MR. WRONG NUMBER by Lynn Painter

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MR. WRONG NUMBER by Lynn Painter

Publication Date: March 1, 2022

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

5039B00E-2B05-4520-A7B4-AC76722FC6B2Things get textual when a steamy message from a random wrong number turns into an anonymous relationship in this hilarious rom-com by Lynn Painter.

Bad luck has always followed Olivia Marshall…or maybe she’s just the screw-up her family thinks she is. But when a “What are you wearing?” text from a random wrong number turns into the hottest, most entertaining—albeit anonymous—relationship of her life, she thinks things might be on the upswing….

Colin Beck has always considered Olivia his best friend’s annoying little sister, but when she moves in with them after one of her worst runs of luck, he realizes she’s turned into an altogether different and sexier distraction. He’s sure he can keep his distance, until the moment he discovers she’s the irresistible Miss Misdial he’s been sort of sexting for weeks—and now he has to decide whether to turn the heat up or ghost her before things get messy.

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I was pulled into the story immediately by the witty banter and hilarious texts between Olivia and the wrong number. The writing style was also fast and lively, pulling you forward into the tale. Sadly, I did not like Olivia. Yes, she was a walking disaster, but her disregard for other people’s property bothered me. I kept reading in hopes that she would grow on me. She did not. Therefore, I never understood the attraction from Colin. This would have been one of my favorite stories if she had just been likeable. The back and forth between the characters did make me smile and laugh, so I am giving this book a 3.5. I’ll try this author again because I enjoyed her writing style and pace.

*Review copy provided by Pengiun in exchange for an honest review.

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Buy Links

Kindle | Paperback

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About the Author

Lynn Painter lives in Omaha, Nebraska with her husband and pack of wild kids. She is a community columnist for the Omaha World-Herald, as well as a regular blogger for their parenting section. When she isn’t reading or writing, she can be found eating her feelings and shot-gunning cans of Red Bull.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

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