Title: Safe Bet
Trilogy: Final Offer #1
Author: A.L. Woods
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Late 90s/New Adult/Instalust
He Falls First/One Night Stand/Reformed Playboy
Release Date: February 4, 2025
BLURB
Belmira Tavares is a good girl. She doesn’t get into trouble or sleep around. She follows all of her mother’s rules, even the cruel ones. But everybody makes mistakes. Even careful, obedient Belmira.
Her mistake is named Felix Ferreira. He’s handsome and charming and enough of a playboy that her mother will never approve. It was only supposed to be one night, one little rebellion before she resigned herself to living a life dictated by her mother.
But Felix wants more. He might want forever.
If Belmira is ever going to build a life free from her mother’s control, she’ll have to stop choosing the safe bet and choose herself instead.
SAFE BET is the first installment in an angsty, slow burn trilogy about two people who are perfect for each other—if only they can get the timing right.
CONTENT WARNING:
● On-page abuse of an adult child from a parent including; physical, psychological, emotional, financial, and coercive control
● Parental abandonment
● On-page abuse from a romantic partner (NOT the MMC) including; physical, emotional, psychological, and sexual
● Anxiety; mental health, and relating vernacular of the time period
● Suicidal ideation
●Disordered eating; loss of appetite and skipped meals induced by anxiety and stress (FMC)
● Cancer diagnosis of a close family member
Renee’s Five Star Review
I received a copy for this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie’s Book Reports.
This is the story of Belmira and Felix. Now you have to keep in mind that there might be some culture difference from what your use to. So keep that in mind and there is even an author’s note about it. Belmira have never been able to think about what her future would be like. She has a mother that is absolutely horrible and she has to cater to her every whim. There is no other way to say it than her mother is abusive in all the ways you can think of. At a family party though she sees Felix and the man immediately falls for her. But she is afraid to take the chance because of her mother. But the heart wants what the heart wants and when her mother finds out she locks her away and Felix the guy who has only ever done anything for himself and has not responsibilities, tries everything he can to get to Belmira. That’s about all I can tell you. You have to discover all the things that happen in this book. However, I really enjoyed reading it and can’t wait to get my hands on the next one.
PURCHASE LINKS
PLAYLIST
EXCERPT
“Have you seen Titanic yet?” I’d already watched it once a couple of weeks ago. Alone. Cried like a f-cking baby at the end. I thought I could keep it together the second time around. I mean, I hoped I could. Maybe.
“No. I don’t…” Belmira sagged. Sh-t. What did I do now? “I don’t get out much.”
“Did you want to go tomorrow?”
She flushed, her mouth opening and closing. “I can’t.”
“Monday, then?”
“Felix.” She attempted to wrench her hand gently from mine, but I held on, foiling her retreat. Flustered, her cheeks flushed. “I meant what I said.”
“You said nothing serious,” I pointed out. “A movie is about as non-serious as it gets. You don’t even have to talk to me. It’s a win-win.” Plus, she didn’t have to worry about me making a move on her. When I went to the movies, I was there to watch the movie. What happened after the ending credits was a whole other story.
“It sounds like a date,” she whispered, treading back another step to create distance. Strangely, despite the space, she held onto my hand a little tighter.
She didn’t want to let go.
Her words said one thing, but her actions said another. What was she really so afraid of?
“It can be whatever you want it to be,” I said.
She fell silent, hesitation establishing a slight tic in her jaw. “Is this how it is? I give you an inch and you take a mile?”
“Tell me you don’t want to see a movie with me.”
“I don’t want to see a movie with you,” she deadpanned, but the right side of her mouth twitched.
I smirked. “It’s cute when you lie.”
Belmira broke eye contact. “Why Titanic?”
“As opposed to?”
“I dunno.” She shrugged. “What about the new one, uhm… you know…” She motioned with a bobbing, closed fist, in what I imagined was supposed to mimic a stabbing gesture, but unfortunately, it looked closer to how I thought she’d—I swallowed tightly, forcing myself to concentrate on her face.
Bashful, she blew air up into her bangs. “The one with the guy in the white mask that looks like a ghost.”
If I hadn’t been so keyed up, because apparently, I was fifteen again, I would have caught on sooner. “Scream 2?” Her head sloped to the right with a ‘maybe?’ in her eyes. “Have you seen the first one?”
Belmira shook her head. “No.”
“Do you like slasher movies?”
“I have no idea.” Her nose wrinkled again. “I’ve never watched one.”
That cleared the fog away. How sheltered of a life had she led? “What do you mean?” Not a single slasher movie? Felicity and I were practically raised on a weekly trip to Blockbuster and Hollywood Video to keep us out of trouble over the weekend.
“Like I said…” Belmira observed the bartender while I studied her. “I don’t get out much.”
AUTHOR BIO
A.L. Woods is a Canadian international bestselling author of dark and contemporary roller coaster romances, caffeine aficionado, and collector of Sailor Moon paraphernalia.
She lives 40 minutes west of Toronto, Ontario with her 9lb larger-than-life miniature dachshund, Maia.
She believes that burritos should be in their own food group, loves the fall, winged liner, and listening to metalcore at an offensive level.
For photographic evidence of her shenanigans, or cute photos of Maia, follow her on social media.
Be sure to subscribe to her newsletter on her website so you don’t miss out on exclusive content!
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