Gimme Some Sugar
by Molly Harper
Southern Eclectic - Book 6
Publisher: Gallery Books
Release Date: April 2, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
Lucy Brewer would never have guessed that her best friend, Duffy McCready (of McCready’s Bait Shop & Funeral Home) has been in love with her since they were kids. Fear of rejection and his own romantic complications prevented Duffy from confessing his true feelings in high school, so he stood by and watched her wed Wayne Bowman right after high school. Wayne had always been a cheapskate, so it comes as no surprise when he suffers a fatal accident while fixing his own truck.
Even as her family and friends invade Lucy’s life and insist that the new widow is too fragile to do much beyond weeping, Lucy is ashamed to admit that life without Wayne is easier, less complicated. After all, no one knew what a relentless, soul-grinding trudge marriage to Wayne had been. Only Duffy can tell she’s hiding something.
In need of a fresh start, Lucy asks Duffy to put his cabinet-building skills to use, transforming the town's meat shop into a bake shop. As the bakery takes shape, Lucy and Duffy discover the spark that pulled them together so many years ago. Could this finally be the second chance he’s always hoped for?
My thoughts:
Molly Harper's writing is as tart as a platter of freshly made lemon bars and as refreshing as a glass of sweet tea. In order words, it's a great big batch of southern goodness wrapped up in characters who made me laugh, sigh, and on a few occasions, go in search of my favorite shovel.
Friends to lovers is one of my favorite romance tropes and I was in Lucy and Duffy's corner from the get-go. I really liked these two. Harper does a great job of blending their shared history into the present-day story without an info dump. It gave me a good understanding of where they had been, the detours they took (unhappy marriages to other people), and where they are now as their new journey to being a potential couple begins. It was a fun journey, not without some introspection and angst (these are flawed, realistic characters, after all), but overall it was fast-paced, littered with snappy dialog, some heart-tugging emotion, humor, and a feel-good ending that made me smile and want to return to Sackett County again and again.
Don't be put off by the fact that this is a long-running series. You can step into the town and the McCready family just fine without having read the previous books in the series. But, if they reel you in like they did me, you'll be interested to know several of the books are currently on sale for $1.99 in e-book format.
Do you enjoy southern romance?
Do you have any favorite authors who write in this setting?
What's your favorite southern saying?
One person who leaves a comment before 11:00 PM, April 4, 2019 will receive a print copy of Gimme Some Sugar.
(U.S. only)
Molly Harper is the author of two popular series of paranormal romance,
the Half-Moon Hollow series and the Naked Werewolf series. She also writes the
Bluegrass ebook series of contemporary romance. A former humor columnist and
newspaper reporter, she lives in Michigan with her family, where she is
currently working on the next Southern Eclectic novel. Visit her on the web at
MollyHarper.com.
Southern romance is extremely special and captivating. My favorite authors are Lisa Wingate, Ashley Farley, and Emily Carpenter.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy Southern Romance since it takes me to places which are unique. Leah Weiss, Mary Ellen Taylor are two wonderful authors whose novels I have enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteThe southern expression "Bless your heart" is unusual in that the speaker usually means the opposite.
ReplyDeleteYes, I like Southern Romance stories. Does Sharon Sala write southern? Cannot think of anyone off hand. Cannot think of a favorite phrase.
ReplyDeleteYes, I enjoy southern bases stories, they are usually funny. I always liked "3 sheets to the wind" as a phrase. Sherryl Woods wrote the Sweet Magnolia series. liked that very much.
ReplyDeleteKaren T. (Natty's Mama)
love southern romance.
ReplyDelete"Bless your heart" in the kind way my grandma said it--it is a phrase used kindly, too, and not just snarkily.
denise
I reckon you already knew that or were fixin' to look it up and see if I'm right. ;)
DeleteI live in Texas. So, the fact my Southern romance went up in a puff of smoke makes me no never mind. He was a Yankee, so I should have known. I love Southern stories. And something I say all the time, "I'm fine as frog's hair." I have always enjoyed Mary Kay Andrews - when she writes as a Southerner, it is quite believable.
ReplyDeleteJust so you know, since you already are aware I am a book junky, I am gonna go look and see about buying some of these books. Thanks.
I love books set in the South. My favorite southern saying is “Bless her/his heart”…which means something along the lines of “I can’t believe he/she just did/said/ate/wore that!” My favorite saying where I’m from (south Louisiana) is “chacun son gout,” whose rough translation is “to each his own.” Thanks for the post and giveaway. Gimme Some Sugar sounds great.
ReplyDeleteI love Molly's books! I also enjoy Ashley Farley. My favorite saying is I ain't seen you in a coon's age!
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy Southern based stories and love Sherryl Woods' Sweet Magnolias and Marquita Valentine's books, most being set in North Carolina. Being a Yankee I don't really have a favorite saying.
ReplyDeleteI do love Southern stories - maybe because I spent so many years in Georgia. I really can't say that I have a favorite saying.
ReplyDeleteI have read a lot of Mary Kay Andrews' and Mary Alice Monroe's books and really enjoy her writing. Sometimes the Southern stories can be a bit foreign to me, as I hail from Wisconsin, but a good love story is enjoyable no matter the locale.
ReplyDeleteLove Southern stories.
ReplyDeleteSome great writers of southern stories are Kathleen Brooks. Robin Covington. Lauren Dane. Erin Nicholas.
Favorite saying is "Howdy Darlin'". Southern accents are great.