Beth Albright

I really wanted to like this book. Loved the cover, some of my dearest friends and family are sassy Southern belles, one specifically hails from Alabama. But I HATED reporter Dallas Dubois, and the longer I read, the more cartoonishly obnoxious and unlikable she became...

The book opens with Dallas lamenting another flare-up. Anybody else's brain shooting straight to herpes with this? Then it clarifies it's describing Dallas's attraction to Cal Hollingsworth.

We're in Dallas's point of view: show more "Whatever emotions and secrets brewed behind her crystal-blue eyes, she was determined no one would find out. With long legs up to here and her busty cleavage usually visible down to there, Dallas looked like a centerfold." What character who is not a total narcissistic freak describes HERSELF like this?

In a romance, it should be the hero telling us how hot and delectable the heroine is - and vice versa. Mind you, Cal, the hero, does describe Dallas later on as "gorgeous hair, bright blue eyes and curves that should be illegal in most states, Dallas was basically a fantasy on legs. Not he was all that bad himself..." and then goes on to describe himself as being called gorgeous "but it never really seemed to sink in." Oh, REALLY? *roll eyes*

Later, after having a hissy fit over a volunteer job she's taken on, Dallas demands of a woman who is basically her peer "Fine, please tell that production assistant person I need some Diet Dr. Pepper. I'm already exhausted after that scene out there." She continues to rant, then it says, "Her stomach was in knots, but she was careful not to let anyone see that." Dallas, sweetheart, firstly, after throwing these tantrums, you have revealed all. Secondly, the LAST thing you need to worry about is someone worrying your stomach is in knots.

We get jealous and envious sniping about her stepsister, who always beat her at beauty pageants, and the mean ol' clique that never included her. We don't get that Dallas has a heart, just ambition, envy, and prolly a set of extremely powerful bras.

Then she's crying silently in a bathroom stall - it SAYS she's crying silently, but she's ALSO flushing the toilet over and over to "cover the sounds of her anguish in case anyone walking by could hear her." Now, if she was crying as quietly as she could, but was afraid someone could hear her, I could buy that. DON'T tell me she's crying silently then.

Possibly, in the next pages, Dallas experiences a come-to-Jesus moment and a personality transplant, but I couldn't hang out with this toxic person and her "not a braggard" "flare-up" long enough to find out. I think if this all speaks your language, you may love it, but for me, I got about 10% in and realized MY stomach was in knots about reading any further. show less

Blake's best friend, Vivi, has been caught in the middle of a scandal. Vivi's discreet affair with Lewis, Blake's brother-in-law, is made public when he winds up dead--smack dab in the middle of one of their rendezvous. Now it's up to lawyer Blake and her lawyer husband to get Vivi out of this pickle (which no good Southern belle should ever find herself in). But with the right amount of sass, the right friends, and a strand of pearls, a true Southern belle can overcome anything; even that show more pesky high-school flame that happens to be the lead detective on the case.

There's something special about The Sassy Belles by Beth Albright. The characters, family, and setting she creates is vivid and real, and puts you there in the story from page one. I've never been to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, but I'm sure that if I were to get off a plane there today, It'd feel like I've been there all my life. And that's exactly what Albright was striving for, I'm sure.

The sense of humor that's special to the south (I had no idea pearl necklaces were for fashion AND choking) comes through loud and clear and made me laugh out loud several times. Albright takes special care with each of her characters to make sure they're independent of each other, real, and vivid. After reading her debut novel, I wanted best friends like Blake O'Hara and Vivi McFadden. And who wouldn't want a fiery grandmother like Mother? The Sassy Belles is a fun, quick, summer read filled with sass, humor, mystery, and romance. Not once was it dull or did it drag; the pace kept the book moving nicely.

Albright's storytelling is strong, and her weaving of mystery and twists is masterful. There's a sense of belonging, family, and home between the covers that I can't wait to get more of in her next book, Wedding Belles. show less

I loved this book! This is the second book in the Belles series… Vivi is finally getting married to her prince charming Lewis Heart and she and her best friend Blake O’Hara are fixin’ for the wedding of the century! They’ve got amazing event planners to work with and family and friends helping them. All the characters were a hoot, even Dallas who could be annoying to some. There was so much support and family and in spite of everything going on, my heart was filled with joy and show more excitement. I was rooting for Vivi and Lewis from the get go… It was filled with Southern charm and love. I can’t wait to start reading Sleigh Belles… show less

Blake's friend Vivi finds herself in quite the pickle when she has a secret interlude and affair going on with Blake's brother in law Lewis. He appears to die in the middle of their fun.

Blake & Harry (Lewis's estranged brother) are attorney's in practice together as well as married. Blake is rethinking their marriage as Harry is running for office and this sassy belle does not want to be second fiddle to his political realm. She wants to be her own woman and has found their marriage to show more become more one sided and she is expected to play the perfect wife.

Now Blake and Harry have to find out of Lewis (the estranged brother)is alive or dead and see if they can help Vivi out of murder charges. All with the help of Sonny (cop and ex beau of Blake, whom Blake has feelings for still. Are the feelings really there or are they circumstantial.

All the while dealing with Blake's Mother Kitty and her grandmother Meridee who has some secrets of her own.

This book was based in Tuscaloosa Alabama and had that old southern charm to it hence the sassy bells and we find out the differences between hissy fits and conniption fits. A great story over all I felt like I would know it if I ever visited Tuscaloosa, with some very funny moments and it keeps you reading till the very last page to find out what exactly happens. Is Lewis Alive or Dead?? Must read to find out and all the other twists and turns in between. show less