Taking a Gamble on Love

On the night that Min's boyfriend, David, dumps her (in a bar!), he also bets handsome and successful businessman, Cal Morrisey, that he can't get her to sleep with him in a month. Cal is loath to make the bet, and decides to counter David's bet with a less offensive one...that he could get her to have dinner with him that night. Unfortunately Min, who was about to approach him at the behest of her friends, overhears (and misunderstands) part of the conversation. As Min & Cal get to know each other, often trying to avoid their mounting attraction and feelings toward each other, that first night's events continue to haunt them. All of this is compounded by and ex-boyfriend an ex-girlfriend who can't seem to let go, and continually interfere in hopes of getting their exes back.

Jennifer Cruise has included a wonderful cast of characters whose witty conversations are matched by their deep friendship. There are also multiple sub-plots in the book which helps keep every minute fun & exciting. What's really interesting is that Cruise has managed to depict a great attraction between Cal & Min with almost no sex scenes. Deanna Hurst does a good job as narrator. I thought her child's voice was especially adorable.

10 people found this helpful

My favorite Crusie book. Wonderfully witty lines.

Guaranteed to make you feel good. I did not want to stop reading.

The book starts with a well done mis-communication - the bet. David bets Cal that he can’t get Min to bed in a month. Cal refuses but says he’s willing to bet ten dollars that he can walk out the door with her. Min overheard part of the bet but not all of it, and she thinks it’s a bet to have sex with her. She is angry, but she leaves with Cal because she wants to be rude to him. Their paths keep crossing, and each time she insults him. But at the same time they are kind of falling for each other, but they don’t want to. It’s a fun set up with clever dialogue.

One of the best things about Bet Me were the character definitions. The good guys had flaws and weaknesses.

Min is caring and smart and works as an actuary. She has a round shape and will never be thin. Her mother has bullied Min her entire life about dieting and losing weight. Min tries to diet to please her mother but it doesn’t work. Cal encourages her to eat forbidden foods: bread, butter, doughnuts. He enjoys watching her sensual love of food. And he likes her looks.

Cal was dyslexic which had limitations for him, yet he was smart about people and did well in business because of that. He too was bullied by his mother who was rich, thin, unaccepting of other people, and uncaring about other people.

Cynthie was a psychologist studying dating and mating habits. She was writing a book. She was so sure she was right about Cal and Min - spouting things like they are in this stage or that stage and here’s what’s going on. Yet she was sooooo wrong - almost stupidly wrong.

Bonnie was sweet, innocent, and naive appearing. Yet she was the most successful at finding and knowing a guy was right for her from the moment they met. She was smart in that way - so opposite from Cynthie who thought she knew it all, but was all wrong.

A great scene is when Min has dinner with Cal’s family. I read this book several years ago and that dinner scene stayed vivid in my mind ever since.

AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR:
Deanna Hurst did an excellent job.

DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 391 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words but not often used. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: one. Setting: current day southern Ohio. Copyright: 2004. Genre: humorous contemporary romance, plus size heroine.

9 people found this helpful

Favorite Crusie book so far.

I've listened to 4 Crusie books. This was my first listen a few years ago. Listened to it again this week and it was just as cute the second time around. Pure chick lit and I mean that in a great way. Enjoyed Deanna Hurst's narration.

7 people found this helpful

PURE JOY!!!!

I love her sarcasm...specially towards her mother. i love all the funny witty humorous 1 liners. i promise you wont be dissapointed!!!

5 people found this helpful

Great story but...

the main thing wrong with this audible book is the constant.."min said, "cal said, "?said. It is ridiculously used thousands of times and in most cases is not needed. it was distracting and made the recording less interesting.

3 people found this helpful

Great Story - narration wasn't that bad

I enjoyed the story very much. It's my favorite Jennifer Crusie - it's funny, and sexy and the growing relationship between the characters is enjoyable. I genuinely liked the main characters in this story - they were nice people - I wanted them to be happy. And I loved that Min was a normal sized woman and Cal appreciated that. Some of the minor characters were a bit over the top, but it's a romance - you expect that and it makes it fun to read.

I didn't think the voices were terribly distinct, but it didn't matter- the reader has a lively voice, she does female characters well, and unlike many readers who over do the male characters - she doesn't try to make us believe she's a guy. Also, Crusie has so many tags (he said, she said), that it honestly doesn't matter.

14 people found this helpful

Another win!

I love this and all of J. Crusie's books - ALL of them. This is definitely a favorite. The really steamy stuff is saved for the end, but there are moments when the iPod will fog up a little throughout. The story is fun, relate-able and very well told. My only complaint is that no one in my life is as witty as ANY of her characters, so real life seems a little duller when I finish off one of her books. That PhD was worth every minute she worked to get it - her books all capture an amazing part of being a "modern" woman. This is a great addition to the J. Crusie collection.

16 people found this helpful

My favorite Crusie!!

I love this book! The characters are vibrant, real, and funny. The women are strong and smart and the (good) guys like them that way. The narration was AWESOME, even better than what I hear in my head when I read it.

2 people found this helpful

One of my "go to" books

Setting is Ohio, time frame is contemporary ( I do wish that kind of information was included in all book reviews. I think I'll go back to my other reviews and make it so.)
Let's start with the overall production of the work, shall we? I don't usually bother to mention it unless it's terrible enough to spoil the experience. In this book, the production, direction, and narration are excellent. They really add to the enjoyment.
I loved the heroine because she comes across as real. She has issues about her weight - she isn't a stick figure - which is not helped by her mother harping on it. But she's also a strong person, except in the areas of her insecurities. This may irritate some of you, but keep in mind that personalities are really what drive the story. The hero is a gorgeous self-made man who never loses a bet. He's perfect. Except he really isn't and he knows it, so he isn't a jerk. He comes across as the kind of guy who IS NOT best friends with every reflective surface he passes. He has his own insecurities. The only synopsis I'll give you is that the plot revolves around misunderstandings. It made me laugh, and I got a little teary at times. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you that the secondary characters are well-developed, and integral to the plot. You'll love them or dislike them, depending on how Jennifer Crusie wanted you to feel about them.
This is one of my "go to" books when I get restless and nothing else is really catching my interest. I also will use it as the filling in the sandwich of two disparate genres. It is, in my humble opinion, definitely worth the credit!

2 people found this helpful

Really?

Would you try another book from Jennifer Crusie and/or Deanna Hurst?

Probably not. The entire book was so ridiculous. I love a good gal novel, but all this book did was back and forth junior highish obsessive "romance". I was rolling my eyes so much,I could not finish it.

4 people found this helpful