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Teeny Templeton #1
Gone with a Handsomer Man: A Novel
Take one out-of-work pastry chef . . .
Teeny Templeton believes that her life is finally on track. She’s getting married, she’s baking her own wedding cake, and she’s leaving her troubled past behind. And then? She finds her fiancé playing naked badminton with a couple of gorgeous, skanky chicks.
Add a whole lot of trouble . . .
Needless to say, the wedding is off. Adding insult to injury, her fiancé slaps a restraining order on her. When he’s found dead a few days later, all fingers point to Teeny.
And stir like crazy!
Her only hope is through an old boyfriend-turned-lawyer, the guy who broke her heart a decade ago. But dredging up the past brings more than skeletons out of the closet, and Teeny doesn’t know who she can trust. With evidence mounting and the heat turning up, Teeny must also figure out where to live, how to support herself, how to clear her name, and how to protect her heart.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
37 people are currently reading
2083 people want to read
About the author
Michael Lee West
11 books406 followersMichael Lee West grew up on the Gulf Coast with a wild tribe of Southern cooks. She lives on a farm near Nashville with her family. Michael is the author of Crazy Ladies, Mad Girls in Love, She Flew the Coop, American Pie, Mad Girls in Love, Mermaids in the Basement, Consuming Passions, and Gone With a Handsomer Man. Her new novel, A Teeny Bit of Trouble, is the second installment in the Teeny Templeton series and will be published on April 10, 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 408 reviews
August 24, 2011
This book was perfect. It was just what I was in the mood for. I read through it quickly and have already marked its sequel (which doesn’t come out until April 2012) as “must-read”.
What I loved about the book was that it was pure “chic-lit” but I didn’t feel as though I was losing any brain-cells while reading it. And while I did guess who the murderer was, I didn’t mind at all. I liked watching the story unfold and there were some twists along the way that I did not see coming. I felt like I could both hear and visualize the characters as they spoke and moved about their business.
What I loved about the book was that it was pure “chic-lit” but I didn’t feel as though I was losing any brain-cells while reading it. And while I did guess who the murderer was, I didn’t mind at all. I liked watching the story unfold and there were some twists along the way that I did not see coming. I felt like I could both hear and visualize the characters as they spoke and moved about their business.
September 2, 2013
Though it started out promising, with a jilted heroine chucking peaches at her philandering fiancee, half-way through and just couldn't muster up the will to care anymore. Gone With a Handsomer Man is a book with an identity crisis. It can't decide if it wants to be a mystery or a romance, so it tries to be both and ends up doing neither very well.
For something that should be a quick, snappy, fast-paced read, the plot goes nowhere rather quickly, taking nearly a quarter of the book to get to the murder. And then there finally is the murder, with our heroine, Teeny, wrongfully accused, yet more concerned with her long-lost-love/lawyer than the reason she needs said lawyer. And things got even more ridiculous from there. I'm talking serious, eye rolling melodrama here. But there's cooking! Lots and lots of southern cooking, sprinkled throughout the whole book (with recipes in the back, as an added bonus!).
So if the plot isn't compelling, then the characters should be, right? Yet the characters are nothing more than caricatures, taken to the extreme, overblown and over the top. With Teeny, I think West was going for spunky, and started out that way with the fruit projectiles, but she ended up much too damsel-in-distress-please-rescue-me for my liking. Perhaps in the second half of the book she grew more of a backbone, but I wasn't willing to put forth the effort to find out. Out of the whole cast, the only character that felt true to me were canine, T-Bone and Sir, the dogs.
In short, this was so not the book for me. I'd say it's not you, it's me, but we both know I'd be lying. If anything, Gone with a Handsomer Man succeeded only in making me hungry. Shortbread, anyone?
For something that should be a quick, snappy, fast-paced read, the plot goes nowhere rather quickly, taking nearly a quarter of the book to get to the murder. And then there finally is the murder, with our heroine, Teeny, wrongfully accused, yet more concerned with her long-lost-love/lawyer than the reason she needs said lawyer. And things got even more ridiculous from there. I'm talking serious, eye rolling melodrama here. But there's cooking! Lots and lots of southern cooking, sprinkled throughout the whole book (with recipes in the back, as an added bonus!).
So if the plot isn't compelling, then the characters should be, right? Yet the characters are nothing more than caricatures, taken to the extreme, overblown and over the top. With Teeny, I think West was going for spunky, and started out that way with the fruit projectiles, but she ended up much too damsel-in-distress-please-rescue-me for my liking. Perhaps in the second half of the book she grew more of a backbone, but I wasn't willing to put forth the effort to find out. Out of the whole cast, the only character that felt true to me were canine, T-Bone and Sir, the dogs.
In short, this was so not the book for me. I'd say it's not you, it's me, but we both know I'd be lying. If anything, Gone with a Handsomer Man succeeded only in making me hungry. Shortbread, anyone?
March 15, 2011
Another great ER book!! Gone with a handsomer man kept me interested until the very end. This is a mystery, thriller and a little romance mixed in.
Teeny is the main character in this story. Her life is turned upside down when she finds her fiancé playing naked badminton with a couple of girls. Teeny doesn't go running she throws peaches at all of them. She gets arrested and a restraining order is put in place.
While she is not allowed to be near Bing, Teeny receives a text message from him asking her to come back because he loves her. Teeny being Teeny goes to Bing's house and finds her puppy covered in red stuff which turns out to be blood. Teeny finds Bing's body and while she is getting out her cell phone to call 911 she is either tazed or knocked unconscious.
Teeny is a little bit too innocent in this story. She seems a little to childish in her thoughts. Yet sometimes that was when she was remembering back to her childhood.
When I got to the last 10 to 15 chapters I didn't want to put the book down. I needed to find out who committed the murders. Who set up Teeny and if Teeny and her childhood sweetheart, Cooper O'Mally would be together.
All I can say is I hope Michael Lee West plans to write a sequel to gone with a handsomer man.
Teeny is the main character in this story. Her life is turned upside down when she finds her fiancé playing naked badminton with a couple of girls. Teeny doesn't go running she throws peaches at all of them. She gets arrested and a restraining order is put in place.
While she is not allowed to be near Bing, Teeny receives a text message from him asking her to come back because he loves her. Teeny being Teeny goes to Bing's house and finds her puppy covered in red stuff which turns out to be blood. Teeny finds Bing's body and while she is getting out her cell phone to call 911 she is either tazed or knocked unconscious.
Teeny is a little bit too innocent in this story. She seems a little to childish in her thoughts. Yet sometimes that was when she was remembering back to her childhood.
When I got to the last 10 to 15 chapters I didn't want to put the book down. I needed to find out who committed the murders. Who set up Teeny and if Teeny and her childhood sweetheart, Cooper O'Mally would be together.
All I can say is I hope Michael Lee West plans to write a sequel to gone with a handsomer man.
May 31, 2020
Nalet olsun sana verdiğim zamana!
June 28, 2011
I decided to read this book basically because I liked the title and it sounded like a fun read. Well, I've seldom been so disappointed. Parts of it were fun, and I kept with it in the hopes that at least the romance between Teeny and Coop would have a satisfying conclusion. That part was dealt with in the hastiest way possible, and then an abrupt cliffhanger twist left me feeling cheated and manipulated. Obviously, I'm supposed to await the next installment with breathless anticipation. Sorry. You have to give me a conclusion to one story before going on to the next. Even for a fun summer read, I have expectations.
It gets one star for the recipes included at the end.
It gets one star for the recipes included at the end.
April 29, 2011
I really wanted to like this book which I won in the Good Reads giveaway. There were moments in it where I was taken back to the days when I first starte dating my husband, but only briefly and only in the first part of the book. Then it got a bit ridiculous. There's this girl who seems kinda dumpy and dumb and yet she gets all the guys over these beautiful, intelligent (albeit some murderous)women? Not likely. Coop chose the wrong woman- Ava was my favorite character in the book! I mean, what kind of woman is Teeny anyway? Jump into bed with someone else just after your fiance is murdered?! Not a kind of woman I'd want to befriend or respect. Have some self control with your men and your food!
The other characters were unbelievable as well. Miss Dora jumping over a bridge in her car? Red Butler (it made me laugh when in one place his name was Red Butter)is supposed to be a modern man who says he knows dames and calls Teeny girly and homegirl...who speaks like that?
The other characters were unbelievable as well. Miss Dora jumping over a bridge in her car? Red Butler (it made me laugh when in one place his name was Red Butter)is supposed to be a modern man who says he knows dames and calls Teeny girly and homegirl...who speaks like that?
April 4, 2011
On the back of the book, one of the blurbs states that they hope that there is going to be a sequel...I am with the blurb writer! I love mysteries of all kinds and in the tippy top are the ones taking place in the South. There's humor, food and superb characters along with the mystery solving.
I adore Teeny! She is the epitome of my vision of the strong, sassy, git'r'done Southern woman who finds herself in a pickle and goes about doing what needs doing to get out of it.
The dialogue tickled me no end, from PI Red calling Teeny 'girlie' to Teeny's way of getting through situations with imaginary recipes like Smother Your Love gravy poured over Forget Him pork chops, with a heaping side dish of He's Better Off With Her pie.
Thank you, LibraryThing, for sending this out to me for my February selection!
Five big ol' sparkly had me at nekkid badminton diamonds.....
I adore Teeny! She is the epitome of my vision of the strong, sassy, git'r'done Southern woman who finds herself in a pickle and goes about doing what needs doing to get out of it.
The dialogue tickled me no end, from PI Red calling Teeny 'girlie' to Teeny's way of getting through situations with imaginary recipes like Smother Your Love gravy poured over Forget Him pork chops, with a heaping side dish of He's Better Off With Her pie.
Thank you, LibraryThing, for sending this out to me for my February selection!
Five big ol' sparkly had me at nekkid badminton diamonds.....
February 26, 2011
This madcap mystery was creative and lots of fun. Full of surprises and surprising characters.
May 2, 2012
Before writing this review, I looked at a few other reviews to see if I could figure out the last sentence of the book. I read the last page three times to see if maybe Teeny was having a hallucination due to her painkillers, but apparently it's a sort of "to be continued".
I think this book could have been better. But Teeny, who's intended to be spunky, comes off as a dumb bunny, especially after she's been framed for murder. If I were her, I'd be suspicious of everyone around me. I mean, she's got a cookbook full of poison recipes, has talked earlier of peach seeds having cyanide, but when she's lured to Natalie's house, she smells bitter almonds coming from the direction of the pie on the table/counter and doesn't put two and two together, even after the shock has worn off? And, no mention is made of the crazy cat lady in the RV at the end.
I suppose this is a good read when you don't care too much about logic. I really wanted to like this book, and wanted to like Teeny, but it didn't quite click. If there's a sequel, I'll probably read it in the hopes that it's better than this one, but I have a feeling that in a sequel, Teeny is either going to become a private investigator (not believable), or she'll get in legal trouble again. It'd be interesting to find out whether she really does give up her inheritance or if she'll use it to pay her hospital bills-and pay Cooper for is legal services though I suspect that he won't want payment.
One line in this book jumped out at me-"The wind hit the back of my head, and strands of hair whipped in front of me like thin cracks in old china." That has got to be one of the worst similes I've read in a while.
I think this book could have been better. But Teeny, who's intended to be spunky, comes off as a dumb bunny, especially after she's been framed for murder. If I were her, I'd be suspicious of everyone around me. I mean, she's got a cookbook full of poison recipes, has talked earlier of peach seeds having cyanide, but when she's lured to Natalie's house, she smells bitter almonds coming from the direction of the pie on the table/counter and doesn't put two and two together, even after the shock has worn off? And, no mention is made of the crazy cat lady in the RV at the end.
I suppose this is a good read when you don't care too much about logic. I really wanted to like this book, and wanted to like Teeny, but it didn't quite click. If there's a sequel, I'll probably read it in the hopes that it's better than this one, but I have a feeling that in a sequel, Teeny is either going to become a private investigator (not believable), or she'll get in legal trouble again. It'd be interesting to find out whether she really does give up her inheritance or if she'll use it to pay her hospital bills-and pay Cooper for is legal services though I suspect that he won't want payment.
One line in this book jumped out at me-"The wind hit the back of my head, and strands of hair whipped in front of me like thin cracks in old china." That has got to be one of the worst similes I've read in a while.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2020
"I checked the pan. Bubbles rolled along the curved edge. I shut off the burner and fished out the vanilla bean. Steam curled as I poured the milk into two mugs. I thought of Arsenic and Old Lace and the aunts discussing the best way to disguise the smell of arsenic.
For a tiny moment, I indulged in a wicked fantasy, but I pushed it aside. This had to stop. I might be jealous of Ava, but I would never harm her. Maybe this was how evil started. Maybe thoughts were bridges and when you crossed over one, you passed from safe to dangerous. And once you did that, there was no going back.
~~Houses on East Bay Street in Charleston, SC. This is much as the Spencer-Jackson house that Teeny stayed in would appear.
Meet Teeny Templeton. She grew up in rural farm country outside Savannah, Georgia on a peach farm with her Aunt Bluette. Her mother was mentally unstable, and only committed to mother-hood part time. No one (including her mother) is quite sure who her father is. Life changes in a dramatic way for Teeny when she (now in her early 20's) meets Bing Jackson at her aunt's funeral. He begins a whirlwind courtship, and they are engaged less than a year later.
Teeny knows that he is filthy rich, a real-estate agent, and owns properties up and down the east coast. Some of these properties (like the Spencer-Jackson house) have been in his family for generations. But Teeny doesn't know the inner workings of Bing. The details, foibles, dreams, and fears that make him *him*. Then one night, after returning home from a canceled cake decorating class, Teeny finds Bing playing naked badminton with two young women. She goes off the deep end, and begins throwing not-quite-ripe peaches at them. She quickly finds out that this activity is against the law, and she is charged with assault and battery. Then Bing turns up dead, and things get even crazier. Is Teeny an unreliable narrator hiding more than she owns up to? Or is someone framing Teeny so that they can get at Bing's sizable fortune. Read to find out!
Bottom line: West has given us a chick-lit flavored southern mystery novel that is bit above many offerings in the genre. She throws in plenty of twists and turns, and I was pleasantly surprised by the culprit reveal. I do have one big caveat though--the book was 3 stars up until the last few pages where she ended on a major, out of no-where cliff hanger that was entirely unnecessary. I HATE cheap ploys like this to get readers to pony up for the next book in the series. So be warned about that going in. Given 2.5 stars or a rating of "above-average".
Stuff I learned: Teeny was shocked that throwing peaches is a crime. That doesn't actually surprise me (she did give one of the girls a bloody nose, and gave Bing a concussion for crying out loud--what did she THINK would happen?). We might all be surprised by some of the crazy laws that are on the books in South Carolina though. https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/south...
~~And while throwing peaches at others in present day SC is a crime, throwing apples at someone in ancient Greece was considered a marriage proposal!! https://www.thevintagenews.com/2016/0...
For a tiny moment, I indulged in a wicked fantasy, but I pushed it aside. This had to stop. I might be jealous of Ava, but I would never harm her. Maybe this was how evil started. Maybe thoughts were bridges and when you crossed over one, you passed from safe to dangerous. And once you did that, there was no going back.
~~Houses on East Bay Street in Charleston, SC. This is much as the Spencer-Jackson house that Teeny stayed in would appear.
Meet Teeny Templeton. She grew up in rural farm country outside Savannah, Georgia on a peach farm with her Aunt Bluette. Her mother was mentally unstable, and only committed to mother-hood part time. No one (including her mother) is quite sure who her father is. Life changes in a dramatic way for Teeny when she (now in her early 20's) meets Bing Jackson at her aunt's funeral. He begins a whirlwind courtship, and they are engaged less than a year later.
Teeny knows that he is filthy rich, a real-estate agent, and owns properties up and down the east coast. Some of these properties (like the Spencer-Jackson house) have been in his family for generations. But Teeny doesn't know the inner workings of Bing. The details, foibles, dreams, and fears that make him *him*. Then one night, after returning home from a canceled cake decorating class, Teeny finds Bing playing naked badminton with two young women. She goes off the deep end, and begins throwing not-quite-ripe peaches at them. She quickly finds out that this activity is against the law, and she is charged with assault and battery. Then Bing turns up dead, and things get even crazier. Is Teeny an unreliable narrator hiding more than she owns up to? Or is someone framing Teeny so that they can get at Bing's sizable fortune. Read to find out!
Bottom line: West has given us a chick-lit flavored southern mystery novel that is bit above many offerings in the genre. She throws in plenty of twists and turns, and I was pleasantly surprised by the culprit reveal. I do have one big caveat though--the book was 3 stars up until the last few pages where she ended on a major, out of no-where cliff hanger that was entirely unnecessary. I HATE cheap ploys like this to get readers to pony up for the next book in the series. So be warned about that going in. Given 2.5 stars or a rating of "above-average".
Stuff I learned: Teeny was shocked that throwing peaches is a crime. That doesn't actually surprise me (she did give one of the girls a bloody nose, and gave Bing a concussion for crying out loud--what did she THINK would happen?). We might all be surprised by some of the crazy laws that are on the books in South Carolina though. https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/south...
~~And while throwing peaches at others in present day SC is a crime, throwing apples at someone in ancient Greece was considered a marriage proposal!! https://www.thevintagenews.com/2016/0...
July 18, 2013
A 2.5.. it was ok, some parts better than others. The main character, Teeny, was likable in the beginning, and who doesn't have sympathy for a girl who has discovered a lyin' cheatin' fiancee? The throwing of the peaches was priceless...but then, it went a bit downhill. I found the writing to be stilted in places, just very artificial feeling. I felt like the whole cooking aspect was sort of being forced into the story in the form of some old book kept from a mother & grandmother who apparently sit around concocting recipes to kill people, intermingled with actual solid, Southern reciples? Um.... okay. Remind me NEVER to use THAT cookbook! I also found Teeny to be, well, dumb. Dumb in the way she just BAM, gets over her fiance in 2 seconds flat, dumb in the way she handles herself throughout the book, dumb in how she jumps into bed with a still-married man (not even knowing much about him) just.. dumb is the word and that's where I stopped being on "Team Teeny". It would have been better to start out the series sympathizing with Teeny and learning more about her past with Coop, start with some flirtation, old feelings, etc. but nope - this is just a jump-in-with-both-feet-cuz-who-cares? kind of caper, and I thought had more time been spent on building the likability factor of the 2 main characters, I would have, well, liked them better. But I did think the premise of the plot was interesting. I'd say a good, light, beach read. The end was stupid and just a mindless BAM cliffhanger last few sentences to get you reading the next book, and the next book sounds like the same story retold from what I read in the snippet included in this book.
May 18, 2018
Thank you, First Reads. After receiving 3 appalling books from First Reads, I didn't think I will win a good book. I finally got a book worth reading, Gone With a Handsomer Man. It's a really fun, hilarious, easy to read book. The characters, Teeny, Coop, Dora, and Ava are all interesting and well-developed. I liked all their eccentricities and quirks. The book is a good blend of murder mystery, romance and chick lit, which are all my favorite genres. The recipes throughout the book were a nice touch. I especially liked Templeton women's special recipes ;) My only complaint is, I was not 100% happy with the ending. There is a twist at the end, that I did not expect, and it did not really fit with the story. It left the book with unfinished storyline. It looks like there would be a sequel in the future. I will definitely want to read it to see what is next in store for Teeny and Coop.
May 20, 2011
I feel in love with Michael Lee West when I read Crazy Ladies years ago. I'm so excited she's out with a new book, and better yet, a Southern Fiction Foodie book!
September 17, 2024
"I am your daughter." 💀
Real talk, this was only a sort of okay book. I won't be recommending it to anybody, but I can see why some people would enjoy it. I find it entirely unbelievable that someone who just found their fiance cheating on them, then had to go to court and had a restraining order placed against them, then found that same fiance murdered and got attacked themselves would have any time to think about having sex with their sexy lawyer. It was really unbelievable and took me out of the story a lot. And I don't trust Cooper because he seems like a huge player, and Teeny doesn't need that. I think Teeny and Ava should end up together, but nobody asked my opinion. Also I knew that Dora was guilty from pretty much the very beginning.
Real talk, this was only a sort of okay book. I won't be recommending it to anybody, but I can see why some people would enjoy it. I find it entirely unbelievable that someone who just found their fiance cheating on them, then had to go to court and had a restraining order placed against them, then found that same fiance murdered and got attacked themselves would have any time to think about having sex with their sexy lawyer. It was really unbelievable and took me out of the story a lot. And I don't trust Cooper because he seems like a huge player, and Teeny doesn't need that. I think Teeny and Ava should end up together, but nobody asked my opinion. Also I knew that Dora was guilty from pretty much the very beginning.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2019
Bi çırpıda okudum gayet eğlenceli ve güzeldi. Son olmadı devamı varmış⏩
April 17, 2011
I just found out that I'm a First Reads winner! Can't wait to read this book... sounds like a great story... will certainly post my review when done!
Gone With a Handsomer Man by Michael Lee West
****First Reads review****
Wow! Where do I begin first?!
This novel is a triple threat treat - a mystery, comedy and romance all rolled into one I can't put it down novel!
The main character is Christine (Teeny) Templeton. She loves to bake and is going to marry wealthy Bing. Her baking lessons are cancelled one afternoon so she goes to visit Bing only to find him playing naked badminton with a redhead and brunette. She is furious and starts bombing the three of them with peaches. Teeny is arrested. Two days later she goes back to see Bing but, unexpectedly, finds he has been killed. With blood all over her clothes she becomes the prime suspect.
Thus begin her legal woes. Enter the lawyer, none other than her childhood first love Cooper. This is the introduction of the romance part of the novel.
There are many quirky characters in this story. Bing's step mother Miss Dora who loves everything pink including the large pink Spencer Jackson house she has redecorated in her decidedly pink taste. Bing's sister Eileen who Teeny did not know existed. Eileen is a cat hoarder and shows up at Bing's funeral carrying her beloved pets. Cooper's PI who is very southern and is named Red Butler.
There is a lot of quiet humour throughout the entire novel. Not loud in your face type but very subtle. Eileen's husband was Ben Dover so she become Eileen Dover. Teeny's calm attitude in the midst of chaos and danger. Miss Dora referring to her dead stepson as Osama "Bing" Laden.
The very final line in the book is an unexpected cliff hanger - as if the author is saying stay tuned for more!
I rate this novel 5 stars and have already promised to lend it to my book loving friends!
I sincerely hope there will be a sequel.
Gone With a Handsomer Man by Michael Lee West
****First Reads review****
Wow! Where do I begin first?!
This novel is a triple threat treat - a mystery, comedy and romance all rolled into one I can't put it down novel!
The main character is Christine (Teeny) Templeton. She loves to bake and is going to marry wealthy Bing. Her baking lessons are cancelled one afternoon so she goes to visit Bing only to find him playing naked badminton with a redhead and brunette. She is furious and starts bombing the three of them with peaches. Teeny is arrested. Two days later she goes back to see Bing but, unexpectedly, finds he has been killed. With blood all over her clothes she becomes the prime suspect.
Thus begin her legal woes. Enter the lawyer, none other than her childhood first love Cooper. This is the introduction of the romance part of the novel.
There are many quirky characters in this story. Bing's step mother Miss Dora who loves everything pink including the large pink Spencer Jackson house she has redecorated in her decidedly pink taste. Bing's sister Eileen who Teeny did not know existed. Eileen is a cat hoarder and shows up at Bing's funeral carrying her beloved pets. Cooper's PI who is very southern and is named Red Butler.
There is a lot of quiet humour throughout the entire novel. Not loud in your face type but very subtle. Eileen's husband was Ben Dover so she become Eileen Dover. Teeny's calm attitude in the midst of chaos and danger. Miss Dora referring to her dead stepson as Osama "Bing" Laden.
The very final line in the book is an unexpected cliff hanger - as if the author is saying stay tuned for more!
I rate this novel 5 stars and have already promised to lend it to my book loving friends!
I sincerely hope there will be a sequel.
September 11, 2014
I'd never would have picked this book was it not for my book club, but I'm glad I read it because I loved it! How to describe it is the hardest part. Mix a murder mystery (add a few murders as you go), romance, deceit, humor and a whole lot of cake baking, all with a large dose of Southern flair, and it barely gives the book justice.
I'm usually good at guessing mysteries but I never saw this one coming and I loved how things unwrapped, up to the very last sentence. Michael Lee West clearly doesn't take herself too seriously and this allows her to write freely and in a fun way, giving a lot of depth to her many characters. How fun is the writing? One of the chapters start with "Here in Charleston, you can't swing a squirrel without hitting a professional chef, but I was determined to find a cooking job." And yes, the whole book is like that.
If you're looking for a book that has a little bit of everything, this is it!
I'm usually good at guessing mysteries but I never saw this one coming and I loved how things unwrapped, up to the very last sentence. Michael Lee West clearly doesn't take herself too seriously and this allows her to write freely and in a fun way, giving a lot of depth to her many characters. How fun is the writing? One of the chapters start with "Here in Charleston, you can't swing a squirrel without hitting a professional chef, but I was determined to find a cooking job." And yes, the whole book is like that.
If you're looking for a book that has a little bit of everything, this is it!
February 11, 2016
The book opens with Teeny Templeton coming home to find her fiance, Bing, playing naked badminton with two women in the backyard, so she climbs a tree and starts pelting them with peaches. Shortly thereafter, Bing ends up dead and Teeny is the prime murder suspect. If you're a fan of Janet Evanovich, imagine a southern Stephanie Plum who loves to bake, embroiled in a madcap murder investigation set in Charleston, South Carolina instead of Trenton, New Jersey. This is a fun, quick read peopled with a great cast of characters and plenty of romance, deceit, and wit. Sprinkled throughout are mouth-watering descriptions of all the yummy Southern food Teeny whips up, and although her red velvet cake recipe is not included, recipes for lavender shortbread and vanilla peach coffee cake are in the back of the book. This was the first book I have read by this author and I'm excited to read some of her earlier works.
March 19, 2011
Teeny Templeton was preparing for her upcoming wedding. When her cake design class was cancelled, she came home to her fiancé, Bing, playing naked badminton with two women. Obviously, the wedding was off. But then her fiancé was found dead and she was the prime suspect for murder. Teeny's lawyer, Coop, is her extremely hot first love that broke her heart. The calamity of characters and events surrounding Teeny while trying to prove her innocence is nothing short of entertaining.
Gone with a Handsomer Man is full of drama, mystery, romance, suspense and humor that will have you engaged from the beginning to end. This was a fabulous fun read that had me laughing out loud and not wanting it to end with suspense that will leave you wanting more until the very last sentence.
Gone with a Handsomer Man is full of drama, mystery, romance, suspense and humor that will have you engaged from the beginning to end. This was a fabulous fun read that had me laughing out loud and not wanting it to end with suspense that will leave you wanting more until the very last sentence.
May 2, 2011
Micheal lee West did a great job of interpretating his characters opions and thoughts. This was a great read and I recomend it to anyone who is looking for a love story with a catch. Little town-girl Tenny has always followed the rules, never diobayed the law, and never went over the set speeding limit. But because of a disapointing return home she is stuck in a very intresting situation that leaves her hurt, confused, and love struck again. Some confusing actions, a few secret kisses, and a love set wife send teeny trying to figure out how her life will work. This is also a great book for someone who loves cliff hangers.. But be aware of the end. All I have to say is Michael better write a secquel to this book.
April 3, 2011
I expected more from this book, but at the same time I didn't completely dislike it. What saved this book for me was Teeny.
She's like the ditz in horror movies go goes into the basement even after we tell her not to. She's so naive, it's endearing.
It's hard to categorize because the the mystery is not really well developed or even the point of the novel.
The romance is a decent sub-plot, although I kept expecting a twist there. The sex scenes were short and steamy.
Three words to describe this book: fluffy, funny, dog-lovers.
Oh and the last sentence of the book. I called the author an idiot. I hate such contrived attempts to make me read a sequel.
She's like the ditz in horror movies go goes into the basement even after we tell her not to. She's so naive, it's endearing.
It's hard to categorize because the the mystery is not really well developed or even the point of the novel.
The romance is a decent sub-plot, although I kept expecting a twist there. The sex scenes were short and steamy.
Three words to describe this book: fluffy, funny, dog-lovers.
Oh and the last sentence of the book. I called the author an idiot. I hate such contrived attempts to make me read a sequel.
March 3, 2014
I loved this book! Michael Lee West writes a southern cozy mystery with a poetic cadence that is mesmerizing, putting the reader smack dab into her southern world with an authenticity and lyrical beauty that, to me, is pure genius. The dialogue, setting, narration, and characters are all wonderfully, genuinely southern, but it's her way of describing things in a poetic fashion that makes me in awe of Michael Lee West's writing ability. I loved the humor, the drama, the mystery, the southernness, and the romance in this book. I am now addicted to Ms. West's work and would appreciate it if she could write faster! I highly recommend this series.
April 4, 2014
I won this on a Goodreads giveaway and I thought it was a very cute story. Teeny Templeton is happily engaged to Bing Jackson... That is, until she catches him playing naked badmintion with two other women. In her anger, she climbs a peach tree and throws peaches at her husband to be and the other women. Needless to say, she gets dragged to the police station and is put on probation. So when her ex-fiance is suddenly murdered a few days later, Teeny is their number one suspect. Add in Teeny's childhood sweetheart coming to play lawyer for her and there you have it!
March 22, 2011
In the beginning, it seemed a little too whimsical for me. O couldn’t take characters named Teeny and Bing seriously. Then when Teeny comes home and finds Bing and two girls playing badminton nude, I almost quit reading. And Bing wasn’t even a politician. But then I got into the mystery and it really held my attention. West’s writing is kind of like Janet Evanovich meets Harley Kozak, both of who blurbed on the cover. It’s a fun, fast read and I highly recommend it and I just bet you won’t be able to figure out “whodunit.”
May 4, 2012
STILL READING: I don't usually write a review while still reading a book, but this is exceptional. I am laughing out loud, find the thought process of the characters in tune with myself, and the situations intriguing. It's a little on the edge, but it suits my mood perfectly right now. I'm only around page 50, but thoroughly entranced by this novel. Michale Lee West? She's the best!
So glad my library has more by this author. I'll be reading them all.
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Excellent! A mystery to solve, an unsuspecting criminal, a touch of romance, and a love of yummy treat. All good.
So glad my library has more by this author. I'll be reading them all.
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Excellent! A mystery to solve, an unsuspecting criminal, a touch of romance, and a love of yummy treat. All good.
March 21, 2011
I would give this a 3.5 , it was a cute story. I cant say it held my attention completely, I found myself picking up other books while reading this one. that is not to say it wasnt' interesting. It was.. romance, mystery, humor. It just wasnt' one of those books that blows you away.. definitely a nice light read. :)
I'm so glad I was given the oportunity to read and review it. Thanks good reads.
I'm so glad I was given the oportunity to read and review it. Thanks good reads.
March 12, 2011
I was attracted to this book by its title. I had just finished reading 2 books that were somewhat dark, and I needed a lighthearted read. This book fit the bill. Southern charm and quirky characters.If you are a foodie with a sense of humor you will love this book. Fun book with an unexpected open ending. If there is a sequel I will be reading it.
April 1, 2011
I love mysteries.... I love cozies..... This is fun.
I fell in love with the characters. The story was fun and had enough twist and turns to keep me guessing. Since the last page opened up a whole new set of questions, I hope this book is just the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
So glad I was lucky enough to win this book from Goodreads!
I fell in love with the characters. The story was fun and had enough twist and turns to keep me guessing. Since the last page opened up a whole new set of questions, I hope this book is just the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
So glad I was lucky enough to win this book from Goodreads!
May 16, 2015
3.5 stars. Not a bad book. I enjoyed the characters a lot.....Red and Sir were my favs. I'm not sure about the ending. It was a little abrupt for me and there were several things left unresolved. I did enjoy the storyline. I found the book to be funny in parts. It was a quick read. I will have to read the next book at some point.
May 28, 2012
I loved this book! It hit all my favorites notes - mystery, southern fiction, foodie fiction, plucky heroine & zany adventures. The story was entertaining & the the characters endearing, I was a bit surprised at the ending and I truly hope that a sequel is in the works.
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