Luanne Jones
The Dixie Belle’s Guide to Love (2002)
Author: Luanne Jones
Genre: Romance/Chick Lit
Plot Summary:
Rita Stark, finds herself an empty-nester, divorced, and middle aged with no income. Her ex-husband, who turned out to be a cross-dresser, sells the house up from under her and leaves her with the Pig Rib Palace, the restaurant he used to own. Rita’s friends decide to help her out and hired “Wild Billy” West to renovate the restaurant. Wild Billy, who now insists on being called Will, has the reputation for running around and does not fit into Rita cookie-cutter life. Rita, who has been avoiding conflict her whole life, has had conflict with Wild Billy before and he seems to be the only person with whom she can be entirely brutally honest. SPOILER: After several secret rendezvous and the completion of the restaurant project Wild Billy returns to Nashville where he finds life empty without Rita. He returns to Hellon, Tennessee where he catches Rita on the way out the door, heading to Nashville to go back to school. He confesses his love to her and she reciprocates.
Geographical Setting: Hellon, Tennessee
Time Period: Present Day (2002)
Appeal Characteristics:
This was a funny, linear book that had a lot of dialogue. The book jumped right into action and continuously developed emotional elements. It was a fun read that had developed characters which were not stereotypical and were believable. There was detail as to the character’s background as well as the town’s history. The tone was light and humorous and the storyline was interiorly motivated with the action resulting from the characters’ feeling.
Read-alikes: If you liked the southern setting and humorous tone you might like Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews, first book in the Savannah Series. The protagonist “Weezie” is recently divorced as she attempts to transform her antique hobby into a business while being enticed back into love by an ex-boyfriend from high school. There is also an element of mystery when a dead body is found. Andrews includes a cast of quirky secondary characters which add much needed comic relief. It is a sassy, funny book. If you like “Wild Billy” and the romance element you might like Heaven Texas: Where Even an Angel Can Raise A Little Hell by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. In this novel, Gracie is romanced by unpredictable Bobby Tom, an ex-football player and now movie star when Gracie has to make Bobby come to the film set. Phillips combined humor, love, sexuality, and loyalty to create a fun interesting novel.
If you liked the humor, setting, and quirky characters you might like My Heart May Be Broken by My Hair Still Looks Great by Dixie Cash which is part of Debbie Sue Overstreet Mysteries. Paige McBride is a spoiled Texan Heiress when her father forces her to get a job. She works for the hair stylists/private detectives Debbie Sue Overstreet and Edwina. If you liked the unexpected romance you might like Jinxed by Beth Ciotta, book 2 in Romance Series. Jake is in need of money when he is hired to look after a snobby unlucky, girl, Afia St. John. Born on Friday the 13th, Afia has always had bad luck. However, she has decided to turn her luck around. All she has to do is convince her boss that she is not bad luck. If you liked the element of self discovery and cooking you might like Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes. This is not a romance novel and is more of a memoir about Frances Mayes’ trip to Tuscany with her husband. There they purchase a house and spend the summers cooking amazing food and fixing up the house while enjoying each other. It is very different from the movie and includes many recipes at the end of the book like Jones does.
Red Flags: Some sexual situations, Some mild adult language
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