Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

Synopsis: Minerva Dobbs knows that happily-ever-after is a fairy tale, especially with a man who asked her to dinner to win a bet. Even if he is gorgeous and successful Calvin Morrisey. Cal knows commitment is impossible, especially with a woman as cranky as Min Dobbs. Even if she does wear great shoes and keeps him on his toes. When they say good-bye at the end of their evening, they cut their losses and agree never to see each other again.

But Fate has other plans, and it’s not long before Min and Cal meet again. Soon, they’re dealing with a jealous ex-boyfriend, Krispy Kreme donuts, a determined psychologist, chaos theory, a freakishly intelligent cat, Chicken Marsala, and more risky propositions than either of them ever dreamed of. Including the biggest gamble of all–true love.

Review: I confess that I did not know what to expect with this novel but it was a very good surprise. This is a nice little romance that the author presents here.

We discover Min, a young woman who isn’t really self confident. I must say that we understand her easily, during her whole life, her family has been constantly been telling her that she should forget about carbohydrates and go on a diet every day. The appearance also seems essential for her mother who continually explains that to her daughter. And while Minerva puts all the best will in the world, it seems that nothing is possible, and she knows it. Then there David… the man who breaks up with her in the first pages of the novel, because the young woman does not want to sleep with him after two months of relationship. However, he is convinced that he will recover her, or at least that’s what he believes. And to make fun of her, he offers to the person he hates most, Cal, a bet. Cal ah…! I loved this character, I must say that he is always true no matter what happens, as the young woman indeed. But now, he has a major flaw, it always seems ready for a bet, whatever it may be. And he wins each time, always fairly easily. Yet he is surely not expecting such an impact after accepting the latest challenge. So David bets he will never manage to invite Min to dinner and adds to this a huge amount of money if Cal gets to sleep with the woman in a month. Do you know the problem that nobody knows about? The young woman heard the whole conversation and when she surely doesn’t want to have sex with the man, she accepts with joy to go to dinner with him to annoy her ex. And thus Min makes him spends the most horrible night of his life. She does not hesitate to be hard with him and to tell him exactly what she thinks of him. Of course, at the end of the meal, they think they will never see again, something they happily agree about. However, fate seems to have decided otherwise and whatever they may think, it seems that they’ll have to spend more time together than expected, which could help to create something between them. Unfortunately, everyone knows that Cal is a womanizer who never stays more than two months with a woman, the time required for her to fall truly in love, something that Min is determined to prevent at all costs.

I loved this novel. I read it very quickly and it is true that once back in the story, I could not wait to finish it to see how the two would get to manage their problems. Their exchanges are often quite explosive and I loved seeing them together to see what would come out every time. And when Min decides something, she remains determined to do what she decided whatever happens! By cons there is a point I should note. While it is true that I appreciated the fact that for once the heroine is not a beautiful young slim woman, I found that the author insisted a little too much that she had curves. Yes, because it gets a bit redundant throughout the reading, to the point that it becomes a bit annoying sometimes. But hey, this is just a detail, and it is true that I loved the story and I think I will try other novels by the author if I have the opportunity. A nice discovery.

4

mellianefini

14 thoughts on “Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

  1. Lovely review, Melliane! I’m glad you loved it 🙂 Though I do approve that the author didn’t go for the typical thin-and-beautiful heroine, the repetition of “curves” does sound annoying.

  2. I read this one a while ago and remember liking it quite a bit but I also remember finding Min’s mother rather annoying. But I will read more by this author eventually because it was a cute story.

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