Tag Archives: Clean & Wholesome Romance

Review & Giveaway: Pudge & Prejudice by A. K. Pittman

PUDGE AND PREJUDICE
by
A.K. PITTMAN
Categories: YA / Clean & Wholesome Romance / ’80s
Publisher: Wander (a division of Tyndale House)
Date of Publication: January 12, 2021
Number of Pages: 352 pages
Scroll down for Giveaway!

A Mixtape of Big ’80s Style, High School Angst, and a Classic Jane Austen Tale

It’s 1984 and after moving to Northenfield, Texas, with her family, Elyse Nebbit faces the challenge of finding her place in a new school, one dominated by social status and Friday night football. When Elyse’s effortlessly beautiful older sister Jayne starts dating golden boy Charlie Bingley, Elyse finds herself curious about Charlie’s popular and brooding best friend, Billy Fitz. Elyse’s body insecurities eventually complicate her relationship with Billy, leaving Jayne and Elyse’s exceedingly blunt friend, Lottie, to step in and help Elyse accept herself for who she is, pant size and all.

PRAISE FOR PUDGE AND PREJUDICE:

Written with wit and considerable insight into the highs and lows of first love, this coming-of-age twist on the Jane Austen classic had me laughing out loud, singing ‘80s lyrics in my head, and cheering on the brilliant, yet self-deprecating heroine. Pudge & Prejudice is a joy to read from beginning to end! Lorie Langdon author of Olivia Twist and the Disney Villains series

Allison Pittman will have readers laughing (and singing) on every page of this delightfully tenderhearted novel for all ages…[She] crafts a particularly savvy character who learns that beauty really is soul-deep…. Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of Perennials

I can’t remember the last time I loved a book as much as I love this one. It’s an instant classic I will return to time after time. Bethany Turner, Award-Winning Author of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck

CLICK TO PURCHASE!

Review

Pudge & Prejudice by A. K. Pittman is a delightful retelling of Austen’s popular novel set in the ‘80s. As an Austen late bloomer, I am open to all kinds of reimaginings and castings when it comes to the beloved Pride & Prejudice. Add some zombies? Why not? Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy? Yes. Kiera Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet? Yes, please. Bridget Jones’s Diary? Heck yes. Colin Firth as Mark Darcy? Yes! Oh wait, did I list Colin Firth twice? My bad. Anyway, my point is, anything based on P&P is good, and when you make it YA with an ‘80s spin, I expect nothing but good things.

And oh, does Pittman deliver the goods. Her translation of each key character might not be exact, but is appropriate to the intended audience and the new time period. If I may speak plainly, mothers do not have to worry about some of the uncomfortable situations presented in the source material being repeated here. I applaud Pittman’s ability to deliver plausible alternatives to the plot that let us focus on the important dynamics that occur between these great characters.

 

The author’s treatment of the time period as a character itself makes this book extra special to me as a child of the ‘80s. Unlike other novels that only mention a detail or two every few chapters to remind you of where and when you are, Pittman really gives you the full experience of being in a small Texas town during one of the most colorful and musically subversive decades ever. If the mixtape and headphones on the cover didn’t clue you in, there’s some great music mentioned within these pages. My only gripe is that Pittman did not include a complete playlist for easy reference. I have read this book twice (because I love it so much!) and you can bet that I will be listening to the songs while reading through for the third time.

 

I have read a few reimaginings that took particular characters or plot points and went a bit too far astray from the original. As much as Pittman had to alter, I think that she preserved the most important bits. Things are not always as they seem. Close sisters are best friends that never quit. And your embarrassing family is still your family; you wouldn’t trade them for the world. I think you will enjoy the way that Pittman has transformed the characters and story.

Best believe that I will be reading more of Allison Pittman’s books after this. Especially if there’s an Emma remake. Why would I say that? Well, I won’t ruin it for you. But seriously, read this book now. Share it with that person in your life who loves P&P in all its variations or, perhaps more urgently, share this with someone who, like me in the past, is resisting Austen.

Allison Pittman is an award-winning author of thirteen novels, including the Christy-nominated Sister Wife series and the critically acclaimed The Seamstress. An enthusiast for all of the writing world, Allison holds active leadership in her local American Christian Fiction Writers chapter, and she heads up a thriving critique group in the San Antonio area. When not writing, Allison teaches middle school English, working as a conduit to introduce her students to new, fresh literature. You can follow her around on Instagram or Twitter and keep up with her writing news on her Allison Pittman Author Facebook page. Here you’ll learn what’s going on with new books, next books, and day-to-day life with Allison and her husband, Mikey. You’ll also get a peek at Snax, the world’s worst dog.

WEBSITEFACEBOOKTWITTER
AMAZONBOOKBUB
INSTAGRAM
—————————————
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
THREE WINNERS
Each winner receives a SIGNED COPY of the book,
a hair scrunchie, and a $25 Visa Gift Card
Giveaway ends Midnight, CST, 2/13/2021
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY,
or visit the blogs directly:
2/3/21 Review The Page Unbound
2/3/21 Review Missus Gonzo
2/4/21 Review All the Ups and Downs
2/5/21 Review Carpe Diem Chronicles
2/5/21 Review That’s What She’s Reading
2/6/21 Review The Adventures of a Travelers Wife
2/7/21 Review Rebecca R. Cahill, Author
2/8/21 Review Nerd Narration
2/8/21 Review Rainy Days with Amanda
2/9/21 Review Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
2/10/21 Review StoreyBook Reviews
2/10/21 Review Momma on the Rocks
2/11/21 Review Book Fidelity
2/11/21 BONUS Promo Hall Ways Blog
2/12/21 Review Librariel Book Adventures
2/12/21 Review Jennifer Silverwood
blog tour services provided by

3 Comments

Filed under Book Reviews, Giveaway, Lone Star Book Blog Tours

Review & Giveaway: The Outlaw’s Daughter by Margaret Brownley

THE OUTLAW’S DAUGHTER
HAYWIRE BRIDES, BOOK 3

by
MARGARET BROWNLEY
Western / Historical Fiction / Clean & Wholesome Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Date of Publication: May 26, 2020
Number of Pages: 384
Scroll down for Giveaway!

He may be a Texas Ranger, but he only has eyes for the outlaw’s beautiful daughter . . . 

Texas Ranger Matt Taggert is on the trail of a wanted man. He has good reason to believe that Ellie-May’s late husband was involved in a stagecoach robbery, and he’s here to see justice done. But when he arrives in town, he discovers the thief has become a local hero . . . and his beautiful young widow isn’t too happy to see some lawman out to tarnish her family’s newly spotless reputation. 

 

Ellie-May’s shaken by her encounter with the ranger. Having grown up an outlaw’s daughter, she’ll do anything to keep her children safe—and if that means hardening her heart against the handsome lawman’s smiles, then so be it. Because she knows Matt isn’t about to give up his search. He’s out to redeem himself and find proof that Ellie-May’s husband wasn’t the saint everyone claims . . . even if it means losing the love neither expected to discover along the way.

CLICK TO PURCHASE!

Review

The Outlaw’s Daughter by Margaret Brownley is the third book of the Haywire Brides series, but it is the second book of the series that I have read (I read Cowboy Charm School and loved it). Just so you know, I wasn’t concerned about missing the second one because a great author like Brownley can provide exposition as necessary or write a story that reads like a standalone. However, I do intend on reading The Cowboy Meets His Match when I have a free moment.

The first chapter might make you take another glance at the cover to make sure you are reading the right book. The tone is so serious without a hint of physical attraction between Texas Ranger Matt Taggert and the titular character, Ellie-May Blackwell, but that is Brownley’s style. She sets up that meet-cute in true grit fashion, with two strangers who are wary of each other for very good reasons. Even as some barriers break down and feelings start to surface, the bleakness of Ellie-May’s situation is not lessened just because love is in the air.

That is what I really enjoy about Brownley’s brand of western romance and what separates her from other authors in the genre. She doesn’t throw in a hardship or villain or two to make the story interesting. Brownley acknowledges that the time period was hard for everyone but especially so for a woman like Ellie-May. The author doesn’t hand out rose-colored glasses just because Ellie-May has a second chance at love. She creates interesting characters who have been grown in this harsh environment, showing us how some people will take what they think they’re entitled to and how others will do what they have to do to survive while still keeping their moral integrity intact. Striving to be the latter is a struggle and Brownley shows that it is not always easy to accomplish.

Brownley’s flavor of romance also tastes realistic, which to me is much more gratifying than the cloying love stories that flood the genre. The boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy wins girl back motif is a common one in romance, but the stakes are usually comically low and they cheapen the love story. This is not the case with The Outlaw’s Daughter. Love and respect are hard earned, as they should be.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great story with love and the Wild West in the mix as well. It reads like a standalone; so don’t worry if you haven’t read the first two books. But if you’re about to put this book in your shopping cart, you might as well save yourself another trip or delivery wait by adding the other two now. You’re welcome.

  

New York Times bestselling author Margaret Brownley has penned more than forty-six novels and novellas. 

 
A two-time Romance Writers of American RITA® finalist, Margaret has also written for a TV soap and is a recipient of the Romantic Times Pioneer Award. Not bad for someone who flunked eighth-grade English. Just don’t ask her to diagram a sentence.
 
◆  WEBSITE  ◆  FACEBOOK  ◆  TWITTER  
◆  AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE  ◆  BOOKBUB   
◆  GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE   







 ————————————— 
GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!
 TWO WINNERS each receive signed copies of the first two books in the Haywire Brides series, Cowboy Charm School and The Cowboy Meets His Match
  May 26-June 5, 2020
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY. 
Or, visit the blogs directly:


5/26/20
Promo
5/26/20
Review
5/27/20
Review
5/27/20
Review
5/28/20
BONUS Post
5/28/20
Review
5/29/20
Review
5/29/20
Review
5/30/20
Review
5/31/20
Review
6/1/20
Review
6/1/20
Review
6/2/20
Review
6/3/20
Review
6/4/20
Review
6/4/20
Review
blog tour services provided by

3 Comments

Filed under Book Reviews, Giveaway, Lone Star Book Blog Tours