Small Town Girl

Clever? Not! Boring? Yes. What makes people love authors like this enough to make them bestsellers? I'm mystified. Lavyrle Spencer is enormously popular, yet the characters in this book are unimaginative, many are unlikeable, and most are undeveloped. Most of the relationships between people felt unbelievable, including the one between Tess and Kenny. I felt the relationships between Tess and her family members could've been developed more to the benefit of all of those characters and the reader. And it's quite a boring book. The writing is trite and often wordy - I felt this book could've been written more effectively using about half the pages. The only reason I finished this book is because it was highly recommended by a good friend. I kept waiting for it to get better, and it never did. Right now I'm slightly annoyed with that person - last time I'll take a book recommendation from him! Unless you have absolutely nothing better to do with your time, pick up just about any thing else to read. A road map of Antarctica, something written in a foreign language that uses an alphabet you don't understand , a sociology 101 textbook. Or even watch paint dry - it'd be about as interesting!

Clever? Not! Boring? Yes. What makes people love authors like this enough to make them bestsellers? I'm mystified. Lavyrle Spencer is enormously popular, yet the characters in this book are unimaginative, many are unlikeable, and most are undeveloped. Most of the relationships between people felt unbelievable, including the one between Tess and Kenny. I felt the relationships between Tess and her family members could've been developed more to the benefit of all of those characters and the reader. And it's quite a boring book. The writing is trite and often wordy - I felt this book could've been written more effectively using about half the pages. The only reason I finished this book is because it was highly recommended by a good friend. I kept waiting for it to get better, and it never did. Right now I'm slightly annoyed with that person - last time I'll take a book recommendation from him! Unless you have absolutely nothing better to do with your time, pick up just about any thing else to read. A road map of Antarctica, something written in a foreign language that uses an alphabet you don't understand , a sociology 101 textbook. Or even watch paint dry - it'd be about as interesting!

I read another of LaVyrle Spencer's books before, and really loved it (Twice Loved), so I started this one with high expectations.
The writing was fluid, the characters were interesting, but I just couldn't get past the idea that the heroine stole the hero away from another woman (whom he had been seeing for 8 years -- and was happy with until the millionaire superstar heroine came onto the scene.)
The hero didn't enter his new relationship cleanly, either. There were a few instances of kissing (one while rolling on the grass) while his girlfriend was kept in the dark.
I don't know about other readers, but I can't admire a hero who cheats on his girlfriend, or a heroine who steals a man from another woman.
I have another book by Spencer waiting for me to read, and I don't know if I'll bother.

This book is a great read. It keeps you interested from start to finish- the pace is perfect. The story is wonderful & believable as well. It isn't only a love story, a family story, but a life story. You won't be able to put it down.

This is the second book I have read by Mrs. Spencer and all I can say is WOW!! I loved the characters and how they seemed very real. Just like people I would know. The relationship with Tess and Kenny was so wonderful. I loved the fact that they had such a rocky history and how they grew from that. This is a great book for anyone who has fallen in love in the most unlikely places. Also a must read for anyone who has a dream.

I found this story very predictable. Small time girl, Tess McPhael is a big country singer from Nashville who goes home to Wintergreen, Missouri to take care of her elderly mother who just had a second hip replacement......Everyone in Wintergreen,except her sister Judy, are excited to see her again after many years away. Judy has always been jeleous of her since they were children......The "boy next door", Kenny Kronek always had a crush on Tess, but she taunted him all their growing up years......Kenny is now divorced with a long time girlfriend and a daughter who has always dreamed of becoming a country singer....Guess what? Jess becomes her mentor (surprise, surprise}........Tess becomes a big part of the community during her month's stay in town and guess what again? Her and Kenny become quite "close".....This is kind of a "feel good" story, but no big surprises.

I sent this to my 94 year old mother along with 2 other easy reading paperbacks. She called to tell me that although she can read the print, it is difficult for her to easily see. The other 2 books were fine she said. So just a heads up for those of you whose eyesight isn't what it used to be.

This book was wonderful! I enjoyed it so much I didn't put it down until I was down - seriously! This story is so real it draws you in and keeps you the whole way through! Lavyrle Spencer is by far one of the greatest romantic writers.