Jennifer Crusie

The evening that Min is dumped by her jerk of a boyfriend, David, and mad at every male, he bets a “charmer” friend, Cal, that he can't get her to go out with him that night or get her into bed in a month. Cal takes the dinner bet and refuses the other. However, she hears them betting but not Cal's response. She agrees to dinner to thwart David and is a bitch to Cal. Both part assuming they will never meet again. But that is not what happens. Both Cal and Min have 2 close friends that keep bringing the group together and David keeps trying to sabotage the bet that isn't. Lots of great humor. Loved this book.… (more)

Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer are back?!?!?! Hot Damn!

And this is exactly what I hoped for -- great characters, family drama, hijinks, and small town politics. I loved it. Things I particularly loved:

1: Liz setting boundaries with loved ones. This is a beautiful thing to see, and it's modeled in current ways of speech, which I also really appreciate.

2: Liz's peripatetic life also seems very on the nose for young people nowadays (god I feel old) -- working out of her car, freelancing -- I wish that wasn't the way things are, but I love that she acquires a fairy godcelebrity.

3: I think the cops should ask Bob to be their marketing manager and trainer. Vince definitely softens my feelings towards them, although the gun scenarios are terrifying. I really appreciate that he flat out talks about not stopping women and minorities unless there's a real safety issue because he knows that they have something to fear.

4: I love the quirks -- Liz's adoration of diners and vintage t-shirts -- so great.

Anyway, delicious, as always. Welcome back!… (more)

3.5 stars

Min(erva) is a larger woman and is self-conscious about it. When she is dumped (because she hasn’t slept with him after 2 months), she heads out with a couple of girlfriends where she sees her ex. And overhears him betting the most good-looking of the men he is with (Cal) that Cal can’t get Min to dinner that night, then to bed within a month. Prickly Min goes with Cal, anyway. Turns out Cal is a pretty nice guy…

I enjoyed this. The larger woman self-consciousness hits home, but I’m happily single, anyway. I rarely read romances, anymore, and only occasionally chick lit, but I still enjoyed this. It’s nice to think the larger woman can get the good-looking guy. There were multiple perspectives in this book, including the ex-boyfriend. There were a number of secondary characters, mostly friends of both Min and Cal; I particularly enjoyed Emilio, the restaurant owner.… (more)