BET ON IT
Jodie Slaughter
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St. Martin's Press / SMP Romance
7/12/22
Fiction / Romance
Paperback, 320 pages
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The first time Aja Owens encounters the man of her dreams, she’s having a panic attack in the frozen foods section of the Piggly Wiggly. The second time, he’s being introduced to her as her favorite bingo buddy’s semi-estranged grandson. From there, all it takes is one game for her to realize that he’s definitely going to be a problem. And if there’s anything she already has a surplus of, it’s problems.
In Walker Abbott’s mind, there are only two worthwhile things in Greenbelt, South Carolina. The peach cobbler at his old favorite diner and his ailing grandmother. Dragging himself back after more than a decade away, he’s counting down the days until Gram heals and he can get back to his life, far away from the trauma inside of those city limits. Just when he thinks his plan is solid, enter Aja to shake everything up.
A hastily made pact is supposed to keep things between them from getting out of hand. Especially when submitting to their feelings means disrupting their carefully balanced lives. But emotions are just like bingo callers—they refuse to be ignored.
"With standout portrayals of beautiful, generous friendships in addition to the love story, this is a book to be savored.”
-Rosie Danan
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Lovely readers:
Bet On It was born out of a few things, a desire to portray mental health issues accurately, a deep fascination with the game of bingo, and, most importantly, my often fraught but endless love of the South —especially the food. It is my greatest hope that as you read this book, all of these elements shine bright and fill you with the same warmth and happiness I tried to incorporate into Aja and Walker's love story.
Best,
Jodie Slaughter
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While Greenbelt, South Carolina may be real in my heart, it is very much a fictional place. Setting Bet On It in a town of my own making allowed me a lot of creative freedom while writing. Every element from the bingo hall to Minnie's Diner to a huge "makeout rock" in the middle of the woods served as a way for me to make the setting just as large a part of the story as my characters and their emotions.
Food is always at the center of culture in my eyes and it plays a large role in this book as well. Family recipes, kitchen faux-pas, and even the absolute worst thing you've ever eaten, all stands s touchstones in our lives. Food connects us, it gives us a way to commune and shows our love and care for one another. This is one thing Southerners, in particular, do very well.
Even in the book's earliest stages, I knew I needed to incorporate that special relationship to food in a significant way. When crafting Minnie's, especially, I knew I wanted a place that felt quintessentially small-town. Somewhere that everyone in Greenbelt knew and loved -- a staple of the community.
I mention many of Minnie's menu items in Bet On It: the smothered pork chops, chicken fried steak, and sweet tea, of course. But none get as much shine as her famous peach cobbler. Fresh tender peaches soaked in syrupy sweetness then topped with a buttery, sugary crust. It's everything anyone (mostly me, admittedly) could ever ask for when it comes to a cobbler.
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Since peach cobbler is my favorite dessert, I assigned myself the task of creating the perfect fictional version very seriously. I wanted readers to feel like they could taste it, smell it, and feel what it means to bite into something so delicious you can hardly believe it.
Described in incredible detail, it's dang near a religious experience to try one. Walker Abbott, the hero of Bet On It, certainly thinks so. Minnie's peach cobbler is a dish that stands the test of time and reminds him that love (and good food) is limitless.
-Jodie Slaughter
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