Ain't She Sweet?

January 12, 2004
A small town's prodigal daughter returns to face her past in bestseller Phillips's latest cheeky, diverting fairy tale. Sugar Beth Carey, "the wild child of Parrish, Mississippi," was once the queen of all she surveyed, but after 15 years and three marriages, she's a broken (and broke) husk of her former self. Who's loving the schadenfreude? The Seawillows, for starters—the gaggle of Southern belles Sugar dumped years ago, plus Winnie Davis, the half-sister she treated like dirt. And there's more: not only did Sugar stomp on gorgeous Ryan Galantine's heart (luckily, Winnie caught him on the rebound), she also got Colin Byrne, the sexy British high school teacher, fired for ostensibly coming on to her. Colin now owns her family's manse, and she's inherited the carriage house on his property—along with a highly valuable painting, location unknown (might it be hiding in Colin's attic? Or is it right under her nose?). Phillips keeps the tension high, with Colin (now a successful writer and member of the town's "in" crowd) and all of the rest of Parrish looking to make Sugar pay for past misdeeds. Colin hires her to be his housekeeper, and soon their days are filled with bickering, backstabbing and lots of orgasmic sex. A subplot involving Gigi, Winnie and Ryan's rebellious teenage daughter, who somewhat improbably turns to Sugar Beth for advice, detracts from the primary drama. The novel is at its best when Phillips sticks with what she does best—fast-paced romps featuring two headstrong people who finally realize that they're soul mates. 7-city author tour.

October 15, 2003
As in Welcome to My Planet, Olson does double duty as author and main character, who is here panicking because all her friends are acting like grownups.

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2003
Sugar Beth Carey was the most popular girl in Parrish, MS. She had the hottest boyfriend, Ryan, and the coolest girlfriends, the Seawillows. She was so popular, in fact, that she could get away with tormenting her illegitimate half-sister, shy Winnie Davis, and getting everyone's favorite English teacher, British-born Colin Byrne, fired for sexual misconduct. Sweet? Never. Fifteen years after leaving town, however, the now prodigal and thrice-married Sugar Beth is back, widowed and broke and looking for redemption and forgiveness-along with a painting her aunt left her worth several million dollars. But Parrish has changed. Colin, now a well-respected author, is living in her family home, Frenchman's Bride, while once-awkward Winnie, heir to the Carey Window Factory fortune, has married Ryan. Should we even mention Sugar Beth's sullen basset hound, Gordon? With a nod to Georgette Heyer, Phillips (Breathing Room) has created interesting and quirky characters who are flawed and almost undeserving of sympathy, yet we sympathize. Down on her luck, Sugar Beth keeps her spine straight and her tongue sharp as she tries to make amends while allowing those she's abused some measure of retribution. This saucy novel will delight Phillips's fans, who have been eagerly awaiting her next creation. Recommended for all public libraries. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 10/15/03.]-Bette-Lee Fox, "Library Journal"

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.