Bet Me

:book: I just read Jennifer Crusie's new book, Bet Me, in one sitting. I discovered her last year and have read almost every book she's written -- and have been delighted with each and every one. She writes romantic comedies ... really good, funny, heart-warming, witty, intelligient romantic comedies.

This one is about a normal girl ... I say normal because she isn't a size two with gorgeous blond hair that catches the light just so & has the perfect job and is the envy of all around her. That's the typical romantic comedy heroine. Not in this book. In Bet Me, we have Minerva Dobbs: a slightly overweight, under-confident, intelligient, hilarious, witty heroine. I laughed throughout this book ... Crusie has a writing style that I haven't seen before. All of her books are romantic comedys, they all have unlikely heroines, and they all have animals. Usually its dogs - but in this one it's a mangy looking cat. Her books have lovable characters -- REAL characters. People you can see yourself actually knowing .... People you can see YOURSELF in. This book struck a chord with me in many ways .... but I loved a scene towards the very end. Minerva is standing in front of a mirror after putting on a dress that our hero has chosen for her and he's trying to make her see what he sees ... a beautiful and sexy woman.

I love that scene because I wonder if men realize that it isn't cliche to tell a woman she is beautiful. Especially if you're in a relationship with her. Do you think after you've "got her" or married her that she doesn't need those words anymore? If anything .... she needs them more! Tell me I'm beautiful! Tell me you love me love me love me! Tell me you want me! How many women would love to hear their husbands tell them that after years of marriage? Hopefully guys realize that it is important? We want to be told we look nice every once in a while ... we want to be told we're pretty or beautiful or whatever words you choose. Yes, we married you ... and yes we probably know you love us. But remember those years when you couldn't get enough of each other? Your heart felt full with the love you felt for this person. How could you love that person more? But then you realize you can ... every day you can love them more. That just makes it all the more important to keep giving each other attention -- doing special things for each other. It IS important.

I have a big box full of cards that Steve has given me over the years ... and its fun to look through them. Very few of them were for holidays ... most of them were cards he has given me on regular ol' days. It means so much to me when my husband sends me flowers or gives me a card or tells me I'm pretty .... on just an ordinary day. It means more to me if he does it on February 8 than on February 14. Why? Because was thinking of me all on his own :hug: -- not because there is a holiday telling him that he needs to give me flowers and cards.

Not sure how the post ended up talking about that -- but I guess I just loved this book ... and it touched a chord in me about how good my husband is to me :heartbeat: If you're looking for a light, warm-hearted read .... Bet Me is a good bet!