Friday, October 31, 2014

Pie Girls: Book Review

If you came for Fashionista Friday, scroll on down, but why not enjoy this post first?

Pie Girls
by Lauren Clark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Princess, Southern belle, and spoiled-rotten social climber Searcy Roberts swore on a stack of Bibles she’d never return home to Fairhope, Alabama. After marrying her high school sweetheart and moving to Atlanta, Searcy embraces big-city life—Carrie Bradshaw style.

But now, Searcy has a teeny, tiny problem. Her husband’s had a mid-life crisis. He’s quit his job, cancelled her credit cards, and left her for another man.

Searcy returns to Fairhope, ready to lick her wounds. But when her mother falls ill, she’s is thrust into managing the family business—only to discover the beloved bakery is in danger of closing its doors forever.


Enlisting the help of the adorable bike store owner next door, an array of well-heeled customers, and her soon-to-be ex-husband, Searcy hatches the plan of the century to save Pie Girls.

EXCERPT:

Chapter 1

           
This cannot be happening.
           
This cannot be happening.
           
I steal a glance at the clock. Where is my husband? And my anniversary gift, for that matter. The robin's egg blue box, the crinkle of the white tissue paper. The gasp of surprise, well-practiced, when I lift the diamond-encrusted pendant from its nest.
           
Alton, always the gentleman, will insist on helping. He'll clear his throat, looking rather pleased with himself, stand up, and sweep my long blond hair off to one side. With flourish, he'll ever so carefully drape the platinum chain around my neck, plant a soft kiss on my bare shoulder, and ease the clasp into place.
           
When my eyes blink open, the room’s still empty. Alton, who's been on a business trip for a full week, promised he'd make it home for our anniversary. If he doesn't, he’s going to be in huge trouble.
           
I fold my arms across my chest and walk over to our huge picture window. Elegant skyscrapers glow in the dark night, windows twinkling white and gold. Below them, steady streams of traffic wrap like ribbons around the maze of interstate highway.
           
Away from the roadways, Atlanta is surprisingly lush and dense, with rolling hills and trees—beautiful magnolia, dogwoods, old Southern pines, and magnificent oaks. The expansive green space, well-manicured parks, and flower-lined sidewalks remind me a bit of home.

Buckhead—where I live—is a mecca for shoppers, visitors and businesses, with its upscale boutiques, restaurants, and hotels. Trendy bars, dance clubs, and bistros all come to life when the sun melts into the horizon. A place to see and be seen. It truly is the Beverly Hills of the South, as my friend Phillipa likes to call it.

My Review:

Pie Girls is wonderful Southern fiction. I loved the story of Searcy, a spoiled, unfulfilled wife whose life is turned upside down when her rich husband runs off with another man. Searcy heads home to mama to hide out from her shallow friends, and once she gets there she finds that everything she ever really needed is in the place she tried so hard to get away from. She exchanges a superficial life for something meaningful and worthwhile, and she also finds that her heart just might be ready for a new relationship. 

Wonderful story. Read it and see if you don't love it. 5 out of 5 stars.


  
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
                                            
Lauren Clark writes contemporary Southern novels sprinkled with sunshine, suspense, and secrets. A former TV news anchor, Lauren adores flavored coffee, local book stores, and anywhere she can stick her toes in the sand. Her big loves are her family, paying it forward, and true-blue friends.

She is the author of four award-winning novels, Dancing Naked in Dixie, Stay Tuned, Stardust Summer, and Pie Girls, as well as a short story, A Very Dixie Christmas, published in the Merry & Bright holiday collection. Lauren is a member of the Gulf Coast Writers Association and the Mobile Writers Guild. Check out her website at www.laurenclarkbooks.com.

Website
www.laurenclarkbooks.com

Blog
www.laurenclarkbooks.com/blog

Twitter
@LaurenClark_Bks

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lauren-Clark/235315706518284

Pintrest
http://www.pinterest.com/laurenclarkbks/



Lauren will be awarding a $20 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Use the link below.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can find her tour schedule at http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/08/review-tour-pie-girls-by-lauren-clark.html

10 comments:

  1. Dear Elaine, Yay for fashionista Friday! Happy Halloween! Searcy would LOVE your blog :)

    Thank you so much for featuring my novel, and going along with Searcy on her journey. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your kind words.

    Have a wonderful weekend! Lauren

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the shoe, it's fabulous! The story sounds great as well!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you so much - I love the shoe too! :D. Lauren

    ReplyDelete
  4. Short but sweet review! Can't beat 5 Stars!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I like the exerpt. love to get the first paragraphs or chapter.. I the shoe :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nice excerpt and you can't go wrong with review. Deb P

    ReplyDelete