A Few Pecans Short of a Pie / Gimme Some Sugar by Molly Harper-Reviews & Giveaway

 

 

A FEW PECANS SHORT OF A PIE
(Southern Eclectic 2.5)
by Molly Harper
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 4, 2019

Sexy school principal Kyle faces the biggest challenge of his career: getting his (pregnant) event planner girlfriend Margot down the aisle before the baby arrives!

Readers first fell in love with big city event planner Margot in the first Southern Eclectic novel, Sweet Tea and Sympathy, as she discovered a long-lost branch of her family—the McCreadys, of McCready’s Bait Shop & Funeral Home. To Margot’s surprise, she’s taken a liking to life in small-town Georgia…helped along by a romance with the hot elementary school principal.

The two of them have been taking it slow—or they were until Margot gets pregnant! Kyle wants to make an honest woman of her, but Margot’s still trying to proceed with caution. After all, she was the best event planner in Chicago before she ever came to Lake Sackett—her wedding has to be perfect, and perfect includes not having the baby halfway down the aisle.

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REVIEW: A FEW PECANS SHORT OF A PIE by Molly Harper focuses on the continuing relationship between event planner Margot Cary, and her fiancé, elementary school principal/single father and widower Kyle Archer whom we met in book one-SWEET TEA AND SYMPATHY.

Told from third person perspective (Margot Cary) A FEW PECANS SHORT OF A PIE follows big city girl Margot Cary as the people of small town Lake Sackett try to take over the wedding plans for Margot and Kyle. Pregnant, and struggling with on-going morning sickness, Margot battles between head and heart as it pertains to the small town ideals, versus a quiet wedding alone on a beach, far, far away. When the busy-body ladies of Lake Sackett continue to ‘offer’ their opinions and ideas for Margot and Kyle’s-no date set-wedding, Margot is of the belief that eloping may be the solution to their current dilemma. Not only does Margot have to deal with family and friends, but Kyle’s ex in-laws chime in their opinions, as well as Kyle’s two school-aged daughters who have differing opinions and ideas of their own.

A FEW PECANS SHORT OF A PIE is a fast paced, novella length story of family and friendship in small town America where everyone knows your name, your business, and your relationship history. We are witness to the struggling relationship between Margot, and Kyle’s two young daughters; as well as Margot’s battle with morning sickness, her family, and her fiance’s ex in-laws. A sweet, fun and honest look at blended families, grieving parents, and second chances at happiness and love.

A FEW PECANS SHORT OF A PIE introduces the heroine in the author’s next instalment- GIMME SOME SUGAR-about a young widow (Lucy Brewer) who returns to Lake Sackett to open a bake shop, and falls in love.

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

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GIMME ME SOME SUGAR
(Southern Eclectic #3)
by Molly Harper
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 2, 2019

 

A young widow returns to Lake Sackett, Georgia to face the ghosts of her past—and decide if she’s ready to take another chance on love.

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?

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REVIEW: 
GIMME SOME SUGAR is the third full-length instalment in Molly Harper’s contemporary, adult SOUTHERN ECLECTIC romance series focusing on the men and women of Lake Sackett, Georgia. This is tour boat operator Duffy ‘Duff’ McCready, and widow/baker Lucy Brewer’s story line. GIMME SOME SUGAR can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person points of view (Lucy and Duff) GIMME SOME SUGAR follows the second chance romance between childhood best friends, tour boat operator Duffy ‘Duff’ McCready, and widow/baker Lucy Brewer. Years earlier Lucy Brewer fell in love with her best friend Duff McCready but life, and someone else got in the way. Fast forward to present day wherein Lucy, now a widowed, single mother has returned to Lake Sackett, Georgia to open her own bakery shop in spite of the obstacles, including her former in-laws, standing in her way. Duff McCready never stopped loving his childhood best friend but their individual marriages, and his eventual divorce sent our couple in different directions. Lucy Brewer’s return to Lake Sackett came with the possibility of second chances, a second chance that is all but destroyed by the overwhelming pressure Lucy places upon herself to be independent and never to rely on someone, again. What ensues is the rekindling romance between Lucy and Duff, and the potential fall-out as Lucy’s need to remain in control, and interference from her former in-laws, threatens our heroine’s peace of mind.

The relationship between Duff and Lucy is one of second chances; an unrequited love between two people whose lives went in opposite directions despite their life-long friendship, and lack of love for the significant others. Duff is desperate to rekindle his relationship with the woman he has always loved but convincing Lucy to take a chance is tempered by the drama that has become her life. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The colorful secondary and supporting characters are an eclectic mix of quirky, small town gossips, busybodies, family and friends. The requisite jealousy and rivalry comes from Duff’s ex-wife, as Lucy does battles with her former mother and sister in-law who is are desperate to prevent Lucy from succeeding.

GIMME SOME SUGAR is a story of family, friendship, second chances and love. The premise is fun and frenetic; the characters are energetic, sassy and eccentric; the romance is sweet, spicy and real. GIMME SOME SUGAR is an inviting and delightful look at small-town romance, family and friends.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
.5 Save A Truck,Ride A Redneck
Sweet Tea and Sympathy
1.5 Peachy Flippin’ Keen
Ain’t She A Peach
2.5 A Few Pecans Short of a Pie
Gimme Some Sugar

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

Molly Harper’s publisher (Simon and Shuster) are graciously offering a paper copy of GIMME SOME SUGAR to TWO (2) lucky commenters at The Reading Cafe.

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