A Bad Day for Pretty

Stella Hardesty has learned to be a creative problem solver late in life. The victim of an abusive relationship, Stella solved her first problem with the assistance of a very large wrench applied to her husband's head. Her covert reputation has spread and now Stella runs an illicit business readjusting the attitudes of other abusers. Stella's commitment to her new line of work presents a bit of a problem as she has an enormous crush on Prosper, Missouri's biggest law abider, sheriff Goat Jones.

In A Bad Day for Pretty, the sequel to A Bad Day for Sorry, Stella is called in to protect a previous client's husband, Neb Donovan, from an accusation of murder. A tornado has unearthed a mummified body in a foundation he poured years ago while show more in an oxycontin haze. Stella is convinced of his innocence and with some mild breaking and entering, computer hacking, gossiping, and applied torture she's able to illicit a confession from the true killer and a smooch from Goat Jones.

Billed as a crime novel this is really mystery-lite. A fast read with an interesting mix of self deprecating humor, girly gossip, and mothering delivered with a southern drawl and a small quotient of violence and suspense. show less

Stella looks like and usually acts like your run of the mill grandma. But she has a secret that is protected not just by her, but also by the women she helps. Stella spent years in an abusive marriage and busted out of it in the most literal sense. Now she dedicates her life to busting other women out of abusive relationships.

A Bad Day for Pretty by Sophie Littlefield held my attention like no other mystery novel. Not only did I want to learn the conclusion of the murder mystery, but I also wanted to know more about Stella. I wish we all had a Stella in our lives and not just because she kicks ass. I want to share a beer with her.

I give this book a big thumbs up! It was fun, smart and a quick read.

Disclosure: I received this book though show more the publisher. show less

When one visualizes the protagonist of a noir book, one thinks of Philip Marlowe or Sam Spade or even Spenser or Dave Robicheaux, but not of Stella Hardesty, a 50-year old former victim of domestic abuse from tiny Prosper, Missouri. I say 'former victim' because Stella, the star of Sophie Littlefield's new series of mysteries, shelved the term 'victim' for good and all when she shot and killed her no-good, wife-beating husband Ollie and convinced a jury that it was self-defense. Once she discovers that she is free of Ollie, Stella takes it upon her self to share her good fortune by guiding other battered wives & girlfriends to the light and sending their abusive men folk to, well, wherever.

In the latest installment, Stella’s designs show more on Sheriff 'Goat' Jones are foiled by the unexpected return of Goat’s estranged wife, Brandy, who had left Goat years before. Brandy has been talking to some of Stella's clients and strongly suggests that tales of her extracurricular activities might reach Goat’s ears if she didn’t keep away from her husband. This becomes hard to do when a tornado uproots the snack bar at the local drive-in revealing the mummified remains of a young woman buried in its foundation. Called on to prove the innocence of the contractor who built it, Stella is again thrown together with Goat, Brandy, and a host of other characters both good & bad.

Sophie Littlefield is great at describing characters and their interactions. Despite the seriousness of the subject, she still manages to inject a bit of humor and lightheartedness into her stories.

‘A Bad Day for Pretty’ is the second Stella Hardesty book penned by Littlefield and the first that I’ve read. At a recent book signing the author assured me that I would have no problems picking up the series at book two, a statement I found to be only partially true. While I was completely able to follow the story of this book I fear she revealed way more than I would have liked about events that transpired in book one. Because of this, I think it is best to read ‘A Bad Day for Sorry’ first. show less

Just when Stella Hardesty, avenging angel and advocate for downtrodden women, gets Sheriff Goat Jones where she wants him, someone always interrupts them. I'm already deeply in love with Stella and have similar hots for the sheriff, but now it's just gone into plain overdrive. In the third book of the series, When Stella turns down stuck-up Priss Porter's hush money and refuses to submit to blackmail, things get a bit sticky. A great and rollicking read, which includes all those near misses with Stella and Goat (and the fact that he's irritated with her for interfering in an investigation), a gaggle of gigolos and a new suitor for Stella's favors. I loved this book and can't wait to read the next one.

Stella Hardesty makes her living "convincing" abusive males they really don't want to be abusive any more. Her methodology is best described as extra-legal, and she withholds most of the details from her beau the local sheriff. This episode of her adventures is the sequel to A Bad Day for Sorry, which I have not read, but I don't think that created any problem in understanding and enjoying this one.

Stella is called by a former client to help prove that her husband is not guilty of a murder he is suspected of. While she's investigating this, Stella is still recovering from physical wounds suffered in a shooting during her previous adventures, and she is dealing with the sudden reappearance of Goat's ex-wife Brandy. Or is she an ex-wife? show more She's also breaking in a mysteriously adopted dog, training a new partner, and feeling quite jealous at the sudden arrival of a female forensic team member who obviously has her sights set on Goat also.

The plot in this one is somewhat convoluted, but I loved the characters, and I adored Stella's smart-ass take on life. She is not going to let any man get the better of her, having already killed abusive husband #1. Nuf said. I don't want to ruin a solid read. It's not great crime fiction, but it's more than just chick-lit. Littlefield has given us a character who has much potential for future adventures. Think Kinsey Milhone with a chip on her shoulder. show less

Avenging angel, Stella Hardesty, is at it again. Stella was introduced to readers in Sophie Littlefield’s debut novel, "A Bad Day for Sorry," a novel that Stella barely survived. Now, in "A Bad Day for Pretty," Stella is nearing full recovery from her injuries and is again ready to take on any man foolish enough to physically abuse his wife. The fact is, Stella has more potential business than any dedicated avenging angel can be expected to handle but she is more than willing to do what she can to help out a sister in trouble.

Stella, though, is not your typical vigilante. First, she is 50-something years old; second, she still runs the sewing machine shop she was left with when she ridded herself of her abusive husband in the first show more novel in the series. The resulting, and rather misleading, image allows Stella to maintain a low profile with local cops (she is even semi-romantically involved with the local sheriff as this new one begins) but, within the closed community of abused women, she is well known - and available to help.

In an unusual twist, Stella now finds herself defending, not trying to intimidate, a man. Neb Donovan, whose wife begs Stella for help, is suspected of having murdered the woman whose body is unearthed when a tornado strikes the local demolition derby track. Stella has a history with the man, having already helped him kick a vicious oxycontin habit, and she finds it hard to believe that he could have killed anyone and buried them in a concrete-filled hole. Stella takes on Neb’s case and, with the help of Chrissy Shaw (also a first novel survivor) and a cast of colorful characters, she sets out to prove his innocence.

"A Bad Day for Pretty" is a wild ride. It mixes hardcore vigilante justice with humor in a way that keeps the reader rooting for Stella and Chrissy despite their easy way with breaking the law - and a few arms and legs if that will get the job done. Stella’s appeal is her ability to see and accept herself for what she is. She is a woman’s advocate who understands that the justice system cannot always protect a woman from the man she lives with - that there is a point, if a woman is to survive, when justice comes from the blunt end of a baseball bat. She also recognizes that, despite what she suffered at the hands of her former husband, she is ready for a new romance - and that the clock is ticking. She is every abused woman’s idea of Superwoman, and that is pretty cool.

Rated at: 3.5 show less

I love these books! When I read this author’s, Sophie Littlefield, Aftertime series I was blown away and thought this author gets people and their motivations and writes about them so well. I could not imagine she would top the Aftertime series, but …. I think the Sorry/Stella series is my favorite of Sophie Littlefield’s.

Stella, the main character in this series, is a 50 year old widow who likes drinking Jack Daniels before she goes to bed and owns a sewing notions shop in a small rural Missouri town. Stella also runs a side business that scares off abusive men and protects their victims. In Stella’s earlier life she was an abused wife, overweight and insecure. She has redefined her body and her life. She still sees herself as show more overweight and questions her appeal – but the local Sheriff certainly does not. Have you ever seen someone else you think is more attractive than yourself and it makes you feel less than deserving of affection or attention? What about when you are in a down point in your life (maybe like Stella you have scars on your face from various knife cuts ……no?) and you come across people you think top you in certain aspects of your life? Well Stella has these encounters in Bad Day for Pretty. These interactions are beautifully written and the manner in which Stella changes her actions based on her insecurities and then her later revelations into her own personal value are so well done I think Ms. Littlefield must have studied psychology.

So the Sorry/Stella series has interesting side characters that are interesting, quirky and real. I feel awkward saying this but I have to, this series reminds me of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich if Ms. Evanovich had written three dimensional characters living in a richly defined world and a storyline that has progression and character development. I had fun with the Stephanie Plum series, it is fun and sexy fluff but quickly (okay, not so quickly, I read over 15 books in that series if I include the in between books) got frustrated with the lack of character development and the fact that if I blew on the characters they would fall over due to their lack of dimensionality. Ms. Littlefield does not make that mistake. Her characters are rich in personality and background and not predictable but they are consistent with who they are. They have real life consequences. For example, if someone is shot or cut up in a fight there is a recovery period that last months. And the same thing does not keep happening to the characters over and over again. This is an action series but with emotional depth.

In case I am portraying this book as all raw and rough, it isn’t. This book is fun to experience and just laugh out loud funny. In book #1, Bad Day for Sorry, Stella is helping out a sort of hapless and helpless victim of an abusive relationship. Now in book #2, Bad Day for Pretty, that former victim - -Chrissy – has become Stella’s partner in crime. She has evolved, Chrissy is more confident and clearly smart. Together they solve crime, help local residents who do not have access to help otherwise, and take care of Chrissy’s young toddler – oh and get involved in sexual and romantic dalliances. There is no explicit sex in this book, but the characters do become involved in sexual and romantic relationships.

I cannot say enough about this book. I waited too long to start this series. A book about a 50 year old widow living in rural Missouri just did not appeal to me but I misread what this series was about. I waited too long. If you enjoy stories about real people, who have real life entanglements and responsibilities and you enjoy reading books about people’s lives outsides of the upper crust and urban areas then you will like this book. Ms. Littlefield gets what people are like when you take the pretty stuff away. She writes about insecurities, dependencies and responsibilities that are just so real but she still does it in an entertaining way. Small town rural life is captured so perfectly in this book, having grown up in a small rural Midwest town similar to the one Stella lives in I could relate to the fear of tornadoes and the power they have over the spring and summer. I could relate to the less shiny side of life that seems to exist outside of suburbia. And I gotta say this, Ms. Littlefield captures the love a mother has for her children so well. She did this so on target in the Aftertime series and she does it again in the Sorry series. Kids are not just a throw in this book (or in Aftertime) they actually shape the characters and the storyline.

I listened to the narration of this book. The narrator does a decent job. My only complaint is that she is a very slow reader. I listened to the audio on 1.5X speed and it was perfect at that speed. show less