Product Description

Minerva Dobbs knows that happily-ever after is a fairy tale, especially with a man who asked her to dinner to win a bet. 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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #300748 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 480 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Thirty-three-year-old Minerva Dobbs, the subject of the bet in Bet Me, is annoyed when her current boyfriend dumps her three weeks before her sister's wedding. But she's downright furious a few moments later when she overhears her now "ex" boyfriend bet hunky Calvin Morrisey that he can't take her home and bed her. In fact, she's so angry at them both that she lets Cal take her to dinner and decides to string him along until after her sister's wedding. Minerva pegs Cal as a handsome "used car salesman of seducers". Cal thinks Minerva is a "cranky, starving, risk-averse statistician". But Minerva's hormones keep whispering "this one", although she knows the gorgeous Cal isn't the man for her practical, white-cotton-bra, several-pounds-over-thin, self. And Cal is blinded by the lust he feels for the voluptuous, sensual woman he glimpses behind Min's actuary exterior. While Cal and Min struggle to deal with their mutual distrust and attraction, their friends and families try their best to interfere and direct the progression of the unlikely romantic connection.

Bet Me is unabashedly, irrepressibly romantic. In the wacky, wonderful world of Min and Cal, author Jennifer Crusie leaves no humorous situation unexplored; no potential comedic cauldron left unstirred; no hysterically funny complication left undeveloped. The reader is treated to a seemingly mismatched hero and heroine who fling caution to the winds to explore their unexpected attraction. The sexual tension is hot, the dialogue witty and wickedly sarcastic, and the supporting cast of secondary characters hilarious. Like Min's favourite Krispy Kreme doughnuts, this novel is rich and sinfully delicious. --Lois Faye Dyer, Amazon.com

Customer Reviews

This story is solid gold.
Minerva "Min" Dobbs has only three weeks before her sister's (Di) wedding, when her boyfriend (David) dumps her in a bar because she refuses to go to bed with him. David thinks Min will come crawling back to him and into his bed. On the contrary, only minutes later, Min's friends (Liza & Bonnie) convince her to go talk to the handsome man across the room (Cal). But as Min gets near, she overhears David make a bet with Cal. David bets that Cal cannot get Min into his bed within a month.

Calvin "Cal" Morrisey is David's old nemesis. Cal is everything David is not. Cal also has a long history of dating gorgeous women only a few months before leaving them. Cal never means to hurt any of the ladies, but once they fall in love with him, he leaves.

Min decides to make "The Beast" (Cal) sweat his ego and get him as a date to Di's wedding. What follows is a hilarious tale! And Min learns that "the fairy tale thing" is definitely NOT for kids.

***** This story is solid gold! As much as I enjoyed this author's previous books, this one is the best yet! There is no doubt in my mind that it will hit the best sellers list AND win awards. Yes, it IS that good! Jennifer Crusie, you deserve a standing ovation for this little gem. Highly recommended! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

No suspence but plenty of sizzle
Quite frankly, like most of Crusie's fans I don't need to read the reviews before I buy one of her novels. I have read them all and she is consistently, bright funny and sexy.

Still for those that do want to hear a review I'd say that 'Bet me' will appeal more to those that enjoyed 'Crazy for you' than say 'Faking it', in that Ms Crusie drops the funny twisting turning suspense that has been a backdrop to most of her other love stories, in favor of a 'straight' purely romantic girl-meets-boy book.

Its the story of Minerva Dobbs, pretty but plump eternal wall flower and seriously sexy Cal Morrisay who takes her out to dinner to win a bet and vows never to repeat the experience. Fate however has something other to say and this unlikely couple find themselves irrisistably drawn to each other.

I don't know if it's my favorite Crusie, but 'Bet Me' satisfied my sugar cravings, it's an unashamedly romantic, boy meets girl, boy 'hates' girl, girl returns the sentiment with knobs on. At that moment you know they belong with each other and you sit back and enjoy the ride.

'Bet me' is funny and really quite sexy (although Crusie does make you wait, she more than makes up for it with some sizzling between the sheets action). I have to admit that I found her reference to fairy tales a little heavy handed, but all is forgiven because I adore the art of simply telling a love story well. Crusie fans might miss the twisty turny slap stick suspense of her other romantic thrillers but this for me was a joy.

Read 'Welcome to Temptation' to see what all the fuss is about but do come back to Jennifer being simple, sweet and sexy in 'Bet me' after you're done.

Bet Me
I have read all (yes all) of JC's books and couldn't wait to read this (I was on the waiting list for a long time). Yes it does read slightly different to her other books, and yes the plot is laid out differently, but it does not take away any of the brilliance of this author. I can't think of a single reason why anyone should not like or not get this book, it's easy to read (but not simple), fun (well hilarious actually), has a great story line and the fact that it has an ending telling you what happens to the characters in the future is a very nice change.