Crickett Rumley

After being kicked out of her umpteenth boarding school, Jane Fontaine Ventouras is back in her small southern hometown of Bienville, Alabama. At the behest of her grandmother she has also ended up on the Magnolia Maids court (the local beauty queens/ local community promotion brigade), the last place Jane really wants to be. Now she has to figure out how to walk in a giant Scarlett O'Hara dress, negotiate the dynamics of the group of girls who make up the maids, and figure out if Luke show more Churchville, the best friend she left behind five years ago, even cares that she's returned.

Funny, sweet, and heartbreaking at any given point in time, this novel delivers all of the humour you'd expect from the title. Jane has a sarcastic narrative voice that had me laughing out loud. All of the characters are well-drawn and while Rumley interacts with Southern stereotypes, she never descends to them. Exploring themes of friendship and family in amongst the Alabama setting, Rumley works hard to keep the novel current, peppering it with pop culture references which are amusing but will date the novel in a few years. A delightful read that will charm you far better than any Southern belle ever could. show less

I would have never given this book a second glance if I had not won it. I must acknowledge, therefore, Becky @Stories & Sweeties since I won this from her. Thank you! The cover of this book paired with its summary just equaled not interested for me. The cover I am just not a fan of, and the summary annoyed me, especially the last lines. Then I was bored one day and this was sitting on my shelf, so I figured I would give it a shot. Not only did I find a book I enjoyed, I found a book that I show more loved!

From the beginning Jane had much more depth and character then I was initially expecting, and I absolutely loved that. Every single one of the “Maids” surprised me though. All of them had their own quirks, faults, and, sometimes very hidden, hearts. The journey they all embark on begins with fights, competition, and irritation, but the way it ends is a surprise to all. As each of the girls developed and began to come to terms with their personal demons, I came to enjoy and actually care about them all.

I was expecting this to be cheesy, full of shallow characters, and clichéd storylines. It was anything but that. Fun, quirky, and downright entertaining at times the book is a fabulous read. Everything is not purely lighthearted. The issues that the girls face range from a cheating boyfriend to abuse, abandonment to death, and all the smaller problems and joys in between. After the curtain falls, however, they all come out changed.

I was blown away by this book. It has definitely found a place in my heart, and left me with characters that I still think back on. I would highly recommend this. I think fans of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares would enjoy this, as well as fans of a good contemporary with a strong focus on friendship. show less

First off, I have to say: the title and cover of this book crack me up. Everytime I look at this one it makes me smile---the whimsical cartoon style, the look on that poor girl's face, the gigantic hoopskirt flipping up, and, my favorite part...the punky fishnets and converse underneath!

Inside, the story is just as fun. Jane Fontaine Ventouras has just been plopped back into the small southern town she grew up in. Thirteen boarding school expulsions and one fed-up non-present father later, show more she is back at her grandmother's house, being guilted into entering the Magnolia Maids pageant. Jane has this wonderful spark about her, and a smart-ass attitude like they've never seen in Biensville, Alabama---and certainly not in one of their Magnolia Maids. She smokes, she drinks, she says what's on her mind, she sasses like nobody's business,...and yet she still wins one of the coveted spots on the Magnolia Court. I love how she seems to have a perfect balance between putting everyone off and sticking up for people when they need it most. The hilarity ensues as she battles the insane Mizz Upton, advisor to the Maids, Ashley LaFleur, snob extraordinaire, and the rest of the town as they pull out the sweetness to her face and save the harsh judgement and gossip for when her back is turned. One of the funniest parts of this story is hearing about all the details and customs of the Magnolia Court---and Jane's thoughts on them! Crickett Rumley really brought this experience to life!

Of course, this is not all fun and cat-fights. Returning to Biensville, Jane also faces some pretty emotional memories of her mother who passed away, and deals with her feelings about her father who has since had almost nothing to do with her. There is also Luke Churchville, her childhood best friend...what happened between them was the reason she was sent away. So where does that leave them now? Personally, I would have loved to see more about Luke and Jane in this story, but it really is just a side plot. A little more romance might have made this a 5-rated book for me.

Along the way, Jane learns that a situation is what you make of it, that people have a way of changing right before your eyes, and that even though it's good to be yourself, think independently, and speak your mind, sometimes doing just whatever suits you, regardless of how it effects others, might not always be the best way to go. show less

I picked up this book at the library from a display shelf. . . I loved the title, first of all! Secondly, I have always wondered what it would be like to wear a hoopskirt ever since I read the Little House books. Thirdly, I loved Jane's voice just from reading the blurb on the back cover.

It was a fun read, and I must admit that I was sorry when it ended. It gets emotional when recounting her mother's life and death, and as other moments from the past come to Jane's mind. Parts of this were show more very well done. Also, I, as the reader, appreciate the friendships that eventually form amongst the girls (the Magnolia Maids), and how they all come to help each other out, despite the rocky beginnings.

I just wonder if this is going to be part of a series, because it feels like we didn't get enough of Jane with Luke, and then there is the issue of Jane and her father (who never did make it to visit her by the end of this book.) It feels like these parts of the story are unfinished. show less