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romancebookaffair's review against another edition
5.0
Pink gumboots, pink tractors and a hot calender that you really hope gets sold in the shops!
I laughed and I cried, there was heartache and happiness and I enjoyed every minute of the journey.
Olivia is ballsy and says what she thinks, she is optimistic and wants the best for those she loves. Jake is broody and grumpy but through their journey you discover he has good reason to be that way.
Definite 5⭐ read!
I laughed and I cried, there was heartache and happiness and I enjoyed every minute of the journey.
Olivia is ballsy and says what she thinks, she is optimistic and wants the best for those she loves. Jake is broody and grumpy but through their journey you discover he has good reason to be that way.
Definite 5⭐ read!
seriouslybookish's review against another edition
1.0
*eye roll*
*facepalm*
Idiot!
*sigh*
WHY?
This is so stupid.
*sigh*
DNF!
*facepalm*
Idiot!
*sigh*
WHY?
This is so stupid.
*sigh*
DNF!
tovetott's review
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
*sigh* it's truly a shame that men/boys are taught to not show emotion and never ever COMMUNICATE :[
I don't think pure romance books is for me lol. Took the "grumpy and sunshine" pairing to the extreme but also just made Jake super duper critical of everything Olivia did for no reason?? Called her pink boots "stupid" until the very last page ?? Red flag, honestly... :/
I don't think pure romance books is for me lol. Took the "grumpy and sunshine" pairing to the extreme but also just made Jake super duper critical of everything Olivia did for no reason?? Called her pink boots "stupid" until the very last page ?? Red flag, honestly... :/
kfriend's review against another edition
5.0
Bet the Farm delivers on all that we’ve come to expect and admire from Staci’s unique voice- a compelling and welcoming story brimming with charm, keen wit, equal dashes of quirkiness and angst, and a feel good journey story that's sincere artifice lies in its uncanny ability to both lull us with its pleasantness while simultaneously challenging and invigorating us with its hopeful emotional center, a heartfelt, simple yet profound message about how we can love each other a little better, how love can make us BE a little better. And truly, has there ever been a time when we’ve needed her voice, her optimism more? The laughter, the joy, the fun antics and sweet nothings- it’s like they clear the air, like I can breathe a little bit more easily, more freely, more contentedly.
And not only do we get the Staci magic, but we also get Staci’s hand at small town romance. And my goodness- SHE WAS MADE FOR IT. The quirky characters, the meddling town folks, the gossip and humorous proximity, all of those small town rituals. And the farm? Well the farm becomes a character in and of itself. Vibrant and rich- THIS is how you write a setting. I’ve always felt her books are a microcosmic study of how humans love- her pessimism and optimism of connecting, and what better way to deliver that experience that situation is in a small town smack on a dairy farm.
Per usual, our characters are fantastic. But OLIVIA- WHAT A CHARACTER, ya’ll! She’s basically everything that I want and aspire to be. A prodigal Pollyanna returned to her childhood farm to say goodbye and start fresh- out of love for the man who raised her and out of regret for the distance she kept. Staci infuses her with so much zealous optimism and exuberance- and amble charming quirks. Donned in her pink farmwear and armed with a razor sharp penchant for grassroots marketing, she’s on a mission to save the farm. I LOVE how capable she is, how open and positive and HOPEFUL she is. And despite the barriers, including one grizzly romantic interest- she never stops believing or hoping. She NEVER stops looking for the good. I fell so in love with her.
Our hero Jake is her opposite, a grumpy mountain of a man who doubts everyone and everything- with good reason. While Olivia sees possibility, all he sees is responsibility. He’s got a big heart, his intentions are good, but he can’t handle change- because he can’t handle hope. He took time for me to love, to accept and understand- because he’s so resistant, at times mean, and I felt frustrated at him that Olivia gave so much, compromised so willingly, and he was just unmovable. But then Staci humanizes him- opens his heart. We see his fragility, his own regret, and his own surprised hope.
These are two incredibly lonely characters- coping in two drastically different ways. And that makes for some dynamic chemistry- as they both get each other but struggle to meet each other halfway. And that is really what this story is about- EMPATHY, and perspective. Caring enough to truly understand and listen- that is loving. And when we have LOVE- there hope. There is a home. There is a path.
Delightfully funny, charming, sweet, and sexy-this story is overflowing with a tender heart. Bet the Farm is the sweet and soulful balm that I needed to soothe the booming disquiet that has surrounded me of late. This is a story that artfully captures all that is good about love...and all that is good about the human spirit.
And not only do we get the Staci magic, but we also get Staci’s hand at small town romance. And my goodness- SHE WAS MADE FOR IT. The quirky characters, the meddling town folks, the gossip and humorous proximity, all of those small town rituals. And the farm? Well the farm becomes a character in and of itself. Vibrant and rich- THIS is how you write a setting. I’ve always felt her books are a microcosmic study of how humans love- her pessimism and optimism of connecting, and what better way to deliver that experience that situation is in a small town smack on a dairy farm.
Per usual, our characters are fantastic. But OLIVIA- WHAT A CHARACTER, ya’ll! She’s basically everything that I want and aspire to be. A prodigal Pollyanna returned to her childhood farm to say goodbye and start fresh- out of love for the man who raised her and out of regret for the distance she kept. Staci infuses her with so much zealous optimism and exuberance- and amble charming quirks. Donned in her pink farmwear and armed with a razor sharp penchant for grassroots marketing, she’s on a mission to save the farm. I LOVE how capable she is, how open and positive and HOPEFUL she is. And despite the barriers, including one grizzly romantic interest- she never stops believing or hoping. She NEVER stops looking for the good. I fell so in love with her.
Our hero Jake is her opposite, a grumpy mountain of a man who doubts everyone and everything- with good reason. While Olivia sees possibility, all he sees is responsibility. He’s got a big heart, his intentions are good, but he can’t handle change- because he can’t handle hope. He took time for me to love, to accept and understand- because he’s so resistant, at times mean, and I felt frustrated at him that Olivia gave so much, compromised so willingly, and he was just unmovable. But then Staci humanizes him- opens his heart. We see his fragility, his own regret, and his own surprised hope.
These are two incredibly lonely characters- coping in two drastically different ways. And that makes for some dynamic chemistry- as they both get each other but struggle to meet each other halfway. And that is really what this story is about- EMPATHY, and perspective. Caring enough to truly understand and listen- that is loving. And when we have LOVE- there hope. There is a home. There is a path.
Delightfully funny, charming, sweet, and sexy-this story is overflowing with a tender heart. Bet the Farm is the sweet and soulful balm that I needed to soothe the booming disquiet that has surrounded me of late. This is a story that artfully captures all that is good about love...and all that is good about the human spirit.
its_tara's review against another edition
2.0
I’m stuck between a two and a two and a half for this one! I loved the setting and I really wanted to love the characters and the story, but I just couldn’t get behind Jake - I just wasn’t rooting for him
mybookishaffair's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
prfctlymismtchd's review against another edition
4.0
A very classic city girl comes home to the country and falls for the farm boy story. Fun and easy. It's very much a you get what you see type of read.
kandisteiner's review against another edition
5.0
WOW! Five stars and a big round of applause for this delightfully funny and heartwarming small town romance from Staci Hart. I have been dying for Hart to break out of New York City (where all her other books are set) and flex her muscles in a small town arena. Boy, did she deliver!
Bet the Farm is an emotional rollercoaster of a love story with the perfect balance of humor and heat. The angst danced with the romance in perfect tandem, and I was completely swept off my feet from the first chapter.
Jake was so broody and loving. He cares fiercely about everything and everyone around him -- especially the farm that Olivia has now inherited half of. When they have to work together, sparks fly from a childhood romance that started years ago and was left burning in the years since they've seen each other. I loved the constant push and pull, the enemies-to-lovers banter and the irresistible humor laced throughout it all.
I can't recommend this book enough. Will be on my top reads of 2021 for sure!
Bet the Farm is an emotional rollercoaster of a love story with the perfect balance of humor and heat. The angst danced with the romance in perfect tandem, and I was completely swept off my feet from the first chapter.
Jake was so broody and loving. He cares fiercely about everything and everyone around him -- especially the farm that Olivia has now inherited half of. When they have to work together, sparks fly from a childhood romance that started years ago and was left burning in the years since they've seen each other. I loved the constant push and pull, the enemies-to-lovers banter and the irresistible humor laced throughout it all.
I can't recommend this book enough. Will be on my top reads of 2021 for sure!
brandece1's review
5.0
I own so many books by this author but had not read any of them, so thinking that it was time to change that I finally picked up Bet the Farm. Right away I was kicking myself in the butt for taking so long to read it. This book was just as cute as that adorable cover suggest. Beyond the cuteness of this it had a lot of heart. Not only in the relationship between Olivia and Jake, but also in the love everyone had for Olivia's late grandpa, and his obvious love for not only Olivia, but also Jake. I loved both MC so much, both individually (both had such character growth), and also together. They had such great banter, and sizzling chemistry. I love that this second chance just as much as it was enemies to lovers. I am not a fan of enemies to lovers, but this one just worked for me. This one is perfect for the enemies to lovers, small town, grumpy/sunshine girlies. I immediately went to look for the second book, but was disappointed when I saw there was no audio (I can read with my ears much easier than my eyes most days) and that it is not set in the same fun town. But I did adore Presley in this one, and will definitely be getting to it soon.