Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

Bet Me
Jennifer Crusie
Publisher: St Martin's Press
Date: 2004
Format: Hardback
Pages: 337
Genre: Contemporary romance
Source: Own book
Challenge: Reread

Minerva Dobbs knows how to work the odds. Calvin Morrisey always pays to win. But when fate deals the cards, either one is prepared. Because when real life meets true love, all bets are off....

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 Calvin Morrisey. Cal knows commitment is impossible, especially with a woman as cranky as Min Dobbs, even if she does wear great shoes and keep 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 doughnuts, 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.

I read Bet Me as a reread for a challenge.  I can't remember when I read it last, quite awhile ago anyway.  So long ago that I remembered very little of it so ... that was great!  

I loved it the first time and enjoyed it again this time.  I guess it would fall happily into the 'chick lit' genre.  It was light, funny and moved along at a good pace.

Min was a large young woman who was always under instruction from her mother to eat no carbs or fat.  The message given was that she was 'not okay' the way she was.  Enter Cal, who totally sees Min in a completely different light.  Warm, beautiful, sexy and loveable as herself.  Cal himself was rather a winner as well, although he had an appalling set of parents.

Min has a sister Di who is about to be married and that is why all the pressure is on Min to lose weight and fit into a too small bridesmaid dress. Both Min and Di have a couple of friends each, however it's Min's friends who were the ones to value, Di's not so much.

The whole plot works around the fact that Min overhears what she thinks is a bet between her ex David and Cal. David gives Cal a month to 'get her into bed'. But did Cal actually accept the bet?

An entertaining, absurd, funny story with some things to think about; self acceptance, parental love or lack there of, size and society's obsession with thin.