Small Town Girl

Rating:
Summary: Heart-warming & Nostalgic!! A Very Good Read!
Review: This should definetely be rated among Ms. Spencer's best. The main character (Tess McPhail) was portrayed as fresh & funky country music superstar that is forced to take time out from her very busy schedule to go back home and take care of her ailing mother. What she bargained for is a boring stay in the too-small town and painful reminders of her less than grand past. Tess eventually becomes entangled in a heart-warming adventure into the many stages of love and gains the wisdom to realize that there is much, much more to be gained in the giving then she ever thought she'd lose. Country music fans will adore this glimpse into the life of a star. Especially delightful are the backstage views of Nashville and the lonely road to stardom. This is a story that will leave you wanting more, as every LaVyrle Spencer novel does.

Rating:
Summary: Small Town Girl - another wonderful story by LaVyrle Spencer
Review: SMALL TOWN GIRL by LaVyrle Spencer
December 13, 2004

I've read several books by LaVyrle Spencer the past few years and they have all been wonderful reads. This one was no exception. SMALL TOWN GIRL centered on a country music star who comes home to take care of her ailing mother, and after years of avoiding going home, finds herself in the middle of hometown life.

Tess McPhail left home as a teenager to make her way in the world of country music. Eighteen years later, she's returned as a superstar, and is home to take care of her mother who is having hip surgery, promising that she will stay for a month to help out. Her sisters had been the ones to be there for their mother all these years, and now it was Tess's turn to help. She cancels a few concert engagements and puts her music life on hold, while she immerses herself in hometown life, getting reacquainted with all the old neighbors again.

Tess, the reader will notice, hates being home. She has a hard time dealing with her mother, who still treats Tess like a child. Tess is rude and ill mannered in some ways, with an attitude that will make one think she is stuck up. She is shocked to see how "nerdy" Kenny Kronek, now living in the home he grew up in next door to Tess's mother's house, is always over, taking care of her mother. Her attitude towards him is almost one of disdain. She is angry that he feels he belongs in her mother's house, as if he were family. She is also surprised at how the rest of the family (her sister's and in-laws) welcome and accept Kenny as a part of the family, yet he is just the next door neighbor.

She's also battling it out with one sister, Judy. Judy is overweight and very insecure, and despises Tess and her success as a major recording artist. Tess wants to bridge this gap between the two, but cannot figure out how to reach Judy. Her other sister, Renee, on the other hand, is a much more welcoming figure, and the two are close and can confide in each other.

As Tess gets adjusted to life back home, and her mother finally has her hip surgery, Tess's attitude slowly changes. Her relationship with Kenny also changes, as she becomes a good friend and mentor to his daughter, another aspiring country music singer, who Tess finds, is quite good.

Although SMALL TOWN GIRL is not my favorite book by Spencer, I still enjoyed it. I found that it was not as complex as some of her earlier books. However, I am definitely giving this book 4 stars. It was another well-written story coming from the master of romances and women's lit-type books, and it's a shame that Spencer is no longer writing, having gone into retirement after writing the book that came after SMALL TOWN GIRL, THEN CAME HEAVEN. I did find the ending, although expected, a little contrived, and a little bit too "happily ever after", but regardless, I felt this book was well worth the read as a fan of LaVyrle Spencer. For those who did not care for this book, I'd suggest reading one of her better books, BITTER SWEET or HOME SONG.

Rating:
Summary: My First and last book by Lavyrle Spencer
Review: This book was given to me almost two years ago. It wasn't until yesterday that i actually finished it. Lavyrle Spencer has her own way of writing that i just couldn't relate to very well. The story of Tess and her mom, is kind of cute, but as soon as Kenny got into the picture, i could pretty much guess what was gonna happen. I loved the Casey caracter, she sounds very genuine and i can tell she's full of sunshine. Her sister Judy is one of those jealous persons who can never be happy for other people or even for herself. The story develops kind of slow, and i figured everything out right away, there was no drama or anything that would force me read the book quickly so i would know what happened. I was dissapointed but entertained. I'm glad someone gave me the book, instead of me actually having to pay for it. The story could have been a lot better in my opinion.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, feel-good read!
Review: this author is not known for her exciting stories but for her heart warming and realistic stories. i have read all of her books and all of her books are good. if not great then good. i ve read some of the reviews here people complaining that it wasnt exciting, well this author is not known for that. this book i felt was an original fresh story. its not the same ol same ol, we get from those author who write EXCITING stories. if you read this story, you wont regret it. its a good book. might not be the best but wont make you regret reading it.

Rating:
Summary: NICE STORY
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Great Read
Review: 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.