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Hoosier Daddy
Jill Fryman (Friday to her friends) is a line supervisor at a truck manufacturing plant in a small southern Indiana town. Life on the assembly line is almost as predictable as her love life. When it comes to matters of the heart, Friday always seems to be making the wrong choices.
Things go from bad to worse when El, a sultry labor organizer from the UAW, sweeps into town to unionize the plant right after it's been bought out by a Japanese firm. Sparks fly on and off the line as Jill and El fight their growing attraction for each other against a backdrop of monster trucks, catfish dinners, Pork Day USA, and a bar called Hoosier Daddy.
Things go from bad to worse when El, a sultry labor organizer from the UAW, sweeps into town to unionize the plant right after it's been bought out by a Japanese firm. Sparks fly on and off the line as Jill and El fight their growing attraction for each other against a backdrop of monster trucks, catfish dinners, Pork Day USA, and a bar called Hoosier Daddy.
9 pages, Audible Audio
First published November 1, 2013
22 people are currently reading
645 people want to read
About the author
Ann McMan
35 books573 followersCollege at an indifferent liberal arts institution taught Ann McMan that understanding subject/verb agreement was not enough to secure her fame and fortune. After graduation, she got a job driving a young adult bookmobile—and spent her days piloting the great rig across the dusty back roads of rural North Carolina. Her duties included making certain that the mobile library always contained at least six copies of "Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret", visiting the county detention unit (it was a great way to catch up with her brothers), and showing public service films about safe sex to pre-teens at 4-H Clubs all across her part of “The New South.”
Soon, the allure of higher education coaxed Ann back to school. For the past three decades, Ann has worked at a succession of premier institutions, designing marketing and advancement materials that promote, promulgate, and extol the benefits of indifferent liberal arts education.
Somebody has to do it.
All this time, she continued to write. And when, at the ripe old age of thirty, she realized that she was not like other girls, the great world of lesbian literature opened its arms, and provided her with a safe haven in which to grow and learn about her new identity. She will forever be indebted to those literary pioneers who had the courage, the talent, and the temerity to gift us all with an art form of our own. Ann’s first and subsequent attempts at writing lesbian fiction have been heartfelt attempts to pay that great gift forward.
Ann McMan is the author of three novels, JERICHO, DUST, and AFTERMATH–and the story collection SIDECAR.
In 2011, Ann, along with her novels JERICHO and DUST and her short story “I Saw Xena Kissing Senticles” were elected to The Royal Academy of Bards Hall of Fame. In 2012, she was awarded the Alice B. Lavender Certificate.
BACKCAST, further adventures of the CLIT-Con 13 (that zany cast of authors from SIDECAR’s “Bottle Rocket”) will be released in 2013.
Soon, the allure of higher education coaxed Ann back to school. For the past three decades, Ann has worked at a succession of premier institutions, designing marketing and advancement materials that promote, promulgate, and extol the benefits of indifferent liberal arts education.
Somebody has to do it.
All this time, she continued to write. And when, at the ripe old age of thirty, she realized that she was not like other girls, the great world of lesbian literature opened its arms, and provided her with a safe haven in which to grow and learn about her new identity. She will forever be indebted to those literary pioneers who had the courage, the talent, and the temerity to gift us all with an art form of our own. Ann’s first and subsequent attempts at writing lesbian fiction have been heartfelt attempts to pay that great gift forward.
Ann McMan is the author of three novels, JERICHO, DUST, and AFTERMATH–and the story collection SIDECAR.
In 2011, Ann, along with her novels JERICHO and DUST and her short story “I Saw Xena Kissing Senticles” were elected to The Royal Academy of Bards Hall of Fame. In 2012, she was awarded the Alice B. Lavender Certificate.
BACKCAST, further adventures of the CLIT-Con 13 (that zany cast of authors from SIDECAR’s “Bottle Rocket”) will be released in 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
November 3, 2019
Loved, loved, loved this story. It's quirky and funny and sweet and full of very specific and yet very odd jokes that I just loved to bits. It's written with so much warmth and has so much heart. This is one of my very favourite books ever, not even just lesfic.
Full review (TLR): http://www.thelesbianreview.com/hoosi...
Full review (SBTB): https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/r...
Listen to Les Do Books episode: http://thelesbiantalkshow.podbean.com...
Full review (TLR): http://www.thelesbianreview.com/hoosi...
Full review (SBTB): https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/r...
Listen to Les Do Books episode: http://thelesbiantalkshow.podbean.com...
December 3, 2018
Ms. McMan position as a perfect score author strengthened with this fantastic read and this was co-authored with her wife, Salem West.
The title and cover of the book did not help its reputation but the reviews on Goodreads and The Lesbian Review did.
Yes, it was first meeting instant attractions B.U.T instead of the h having lovey dovey thoughts in her mind as she pictured herself and her soulmate rode into the sunset, got married, had 2.1 kids and all that jazz, we were rewarded with flirty/funny dialogues, awkward/is there something wrong with the thermostat scenes. The perfect start to a perfect love story, I'm over the moon and head over heels over this book.
The subplot worked too. The situation faced by the employees of Krylon Motors were relatable as it happened almost everywhere - Sexual harassment, workplace bullying/hazard, cronyism, bad cafeteria food et cetera. To have organizations and individuals helping the employees with such hurdles were really commendable. When I started my business, one of the first and repeated advice I received from my dad was to always look after my staffs' welfare/to pay them before their sweats dried.
The hs had loads of page time accompanied with flirts, banters and interesting conversations. They were in the opposite fence when it came to work but they respected each other's position and hardly let the catfish in the room to cause any uneasiness in their building relationship. The secondary characters were a mixed nuts, some I was okay with and some deserved to be covered with nickelodeon's green slime. Grammy Mann, Friday's grandma was the b.o.m.b. Ms.McMan/West wrote the perfect matriarch, I loved her the most besides Friday and El, of course.
This book is highly recommended, for fans of small town romance, blue-collar neighbourhood,
where you worked/drove determined where your watering hole will be.
The title and cover of the book did not help its reputation but the reviews on Goodreads and The Lesbian Review did.
Yes, it was first meeting instant attractions B.U.T instead of the h having lovey dovey thoughts in her mind as she pictured herself and her soulmate rode into the sunset, got married, had 2.1 kids and all that jazz, we were rewarded with flirty/funny dialogues, awkward/is there something wrong with the thermostat scenes. The perfect start to a perfect love story, I'm over the moon and head over heels over this book.
The subplot worked too. The situation faced by the employees of Krylon Motors were relatable as it happened almost everywhere - Sexual harassment, workplace bullying/hazard, cronyism, bad cafeteria food et cetera. To have organizations and individuals helping the employees with such hurdles were really commendable. When I started my business, one of the first and repeated advice I received from my dad was to always look after my staffs' welfare/to pay them before their sweats dried.
The hs had loads of page time accompanied with flirts, banters and interesting conversations. They were in the opposite fence when it came to work but they respected each other's position and hardly let the catfish in the room to cause any uneasiness in their building relationship. The secondary characters were a mixed nuts, some I was okay with and some deserved to be covered with nickelodeon's green slime. Grammy Mann, Friday's grandma was the b.o.m.b. Ms.McMan/West wrote the perfect matriarch, I loved her the most besides Friday and El, of course.
This book is highly recommended, for fans of small town romance, blue-collar neighbourhood,
where you worked/drove determined where your watering hole will be.
October 12, 2023
Re-read. Reminiscent of Rita Mae Brown characters and humour
September 12, 2019
Hoosier Daddy is a hilarious read with a blue collar intellectual mc, Jill “Friday” Fryman, and colorful secondary characters set in cornfield strewn southern Indiana and Illinois.
Jill is a low level supervisor at an auto plant whose company is being bought out by a Japanese giant and of course everyone’s worried about job security as well as changes. Friday should have moved up or out of the small town a long time ago given her smarts but company politics and her own insecurities have held her back. It’s only after the union and its representatives, including a sexy, former professor nicknamed El, come to town that Friday’s world shakes up forever.
The book is only my 2nd Ann McMan read, the first being Jericho, and what really stands out about both stories is how the author creates all of her characters with an honest but respectful eye. Although Friday and El are highly educated and skilled in corporate dealings, many of the secondary characters do not have alphabet soup behind their names and yet they’re just as sharp and quick witted as the mc’s and oftentimes with the extra that comes from the hard knocks of experience. How can you not want to hear the wisdom of TBomb, Grammy Mann, and Luanne as they try to school Friday on love and life.
A Pork Festival with its own queen and dance, a hole in the wall bar that serves discount pitchers of Old Style before 5pm always ordered with a basket of salty, greasy fries to soak up the alcohol, country tunes or 70’s and 80’s classic rock blasting overhead. And of course, everybody drives a pickup, old suv, or an even rustier gas guzzler. Hoosier Daddy is one of those books where I wasn’t sure how many stars to give but then a month later, I’m still smiling about it. 4.25 stars if you’re keeping score.
Jill is a low level supervisor at an auto plant whose company is being bought out by a Japanese giant and of course everyone’s worried about job security as well as changes. Friday should have moved up or out of the small town a long time ago given her smarts but company politics and her own insecurities have held her back. It’s only after the union and its representatives, including a sexy, former professor nicknamed El, come to town that Friday’s world shakes up forever.
The book is only my 2nd Ann McMan read, the first being Jericho, and what really stands out about both stories is how the author creates all of her characters with an honest but respectful eye. Although Friday and El are highly educated and skilled in corporate dealings, many of the secondary characters do not have alphabet soup behind their names and yet they’re just as sharp and quick witted as the mc’s and oftentimes with the extra that comes from the hard knocks of experience. How can you not want to hear the wisdom of TBomb, Grammy Mann, and Luanne as they try to school Friday on love and life.
A Pork Festival with its own queen and dance, a hole in the wall bar that serves discount pitchers of Old Style before 5pm always ordered with a basket of salty, greasy fries to soak up the alcohol, country tunes or 70’s and 80’s classic rock blasting overhead. And of course, everybody drives a pickup, old suv, or an even rustier gas guzzler. Hoosier Daddy is one of those books where I wasn’t sure how many stars to give but then a month later, I’m still smiling about it. 4.25 stars if you’re keeping score.
August 9, 2019
This was OK. I listened on audio. Friend Jill sounded like a sportscaster calling a football game on ESPN. Elle sounded like a 60s homemaker wife.
Lots of stuff about working at a car factory. Lots of stuff about union reps coming to town. Lots of humor that was either laugh out loud funny or really fell flat.
No sex scenes. Just alluded to in retrospect. You all know this was good for me. But I know all of you dirty ladies will be disappointed. Or WERE disappointed since I am late to the game on this one.
Too much corporate speak toward the end. Could have used some tightening up.
Overall enjoyed it enough.
I recommend to those who like romance, factories, dogs, bathroom shenannegans, and Old Style.
Lots of stuff about working at a car factory. Lots of stuff about union reps coming to town. Lots of humor that was either laugh out loud funny or really fell flat.
No sex scenes. Just alluded to in retrospect. You all know this was good for me. But I know all of you dirty ladies will be disappointed. Or WERE disappointed since I am late to the game on this one.
Too much corporate speak toward the end. Could have used some tightening up.
Overall enjoyed it enough.
I recommend to those who like romance, factories, dogs, bathroom shenannegans, and Old Style.
March 4, 2017
This really was a very surprisingly funny and entertaining book. The lead character, Jill, is realistic and I'd love to have been the one to meet her! Through her eyes, we meet lots of small town blue collar locals each with their own quirks and personalities....some good and some not so much, but all entertaining. Her love interest, El, is much less fleshed out by the author - which makes sense because we learn about El as Jill learns about El...and herself. I do like El, though.
The first 80% of the book easily earns a 5* rating. The last 20% becomes a bit preachy for my taste. UAW is presented as an organization of saints; company management is uniformly corrupt, incompetent, lazy, and mean-spirited; and the workers are uniformly hardworking innocents, wacky as they may be. It all worked pretty darned well, characters being caricatures, until the late introduction of Japanese management. After that, the story just seemed to be more of a political statement and a let's-wrap-up-this conclusion that focused on teaching us the value of Six Sigma process improvement, drifting from the warmth of being immersed in the personalities and lives of people in the town and in the plant.
Encounters between Jill and El are often spontaneous, unintentional and hilarious. There is no explicit action. The characters walk up the stairs together a couple times, and wake up the next morning together....why they are sleep-deprived is left to our imagination.
The narrator did a great job with the voices, which may surprise anyone listening to the audio sample. It was only after I realized that she also narrated Jericho and Aftermath, which I liked, that I took the risk. I'm glad I did!
Hoosier Daddy is like one of those old black and white "screwball comedies". The romance offers chemistry, but is cute more than sizzling. I will listen to most of this book again, one day, and I'm sure I'll laugh out loud again many times. 4.5-4.75 easily rounded up to 5*
The first 80% of the book easily earns a 5* rating. The last 20% becomes a bit preachy for my taste. UAW is presented as an organization of saints; company management is uniformly corrupt, incompetent, lazy, and mean-spirited; and the workers are uniformly hardworking innocents, wacky as they may be. It all worked pretty darned well, characters being caricatures, until the late introduction of Japanese management. After that, the story just seemed to be more of a political statement and a let's-wrap-up-this conclusion that focused on teaching us the value of Six Sigma process improvement, drifting from the warmth of being immersed in the personalities and lives of people in the town and in the plant.
Encounters between Jill and El are often spontaneous, unintentional and hilarious. There is no explicit action. The characters walk up the stairs together a couple times, and wake up the next morning together....why they are sleep-deprived is left to our imagination.
The narrator did a great job with the voices, which may surprise anyone listening to the audio sample. It was only after I realized that she also narrated Jericho and Aftermath, which I liked, that I took the risk. I'm glad I did!
Hoosier Daddy is like one of those old black and white "screwball comedies". The romance offers chemistry, but is cute more than sizzling. I will listen to most of this book again, one day, and I'm sure I'll laugh out loud again many times. 4.5-4.75 easily rounded up to 5*
January 13, 2019
I needed this. It was fun and sweet with just the right amount of doubt and questioning.
December 16, 2019
I first heard of this book through a review on Smart Bitches and since I'm always looking for good FF romance, I decided to give it a try. I wasn't sure what I thought at first but then I quickly got sucked into the story. And the more I read, the more I loved it. More importantly, it got me thinking about how it fits into the romance genre as a whole.
Friday Jill is a college graduate working on her graduate degree, a low level supervisor at the local factory, and a lesbian with few good romantic prospects in her small town. She’s unfulfilled but doesn’t feel like she has many options. Her life is a series of rinses and repeats. She and her coworkers are on edge because Krylon Motors is set to be bought out by a Japanese giant and there are rumors about labor union organizers coming in.
So it’s really not a good thing when one of the organizers turns out to be very attractive and seemingly interested in Friday. She can barely take her eyes off of El but there are more reasons for them not to test the waters. And yet life keeps making their paths cross, often in funny ways. We never get El’s perspective and I was fine with that. Friday’s emotional arc was quite compelling as she tries to make sense of what she wants and whether she can take the risk—and this goes well beyond trying anything with El.
One of the things I most appreciated about this story was the way it explored labor unions. Through El’s work for United Auto Workers, we see why the union could be a good thing for the factory. Through Friday’s coworkers, we get to see the very real way they could be impacted by even talking to one of the organizers and of course we hear why Krylon’s management doesn’t want anyone to organize. There are references to other real life union efforts, like Volkswagon plant in Chattanooga, which served to ground the story all the more. Later, (minor spoiler alert) once the Japanese buyout goes through, we get the perspective of Tam, the new owner, which I found quite refreshing.
Friday feels quite caught in the middle. As Krylon’s management currently stands, she has no chance of getting a real promotion. Not until she’s viewed as being compromised because of the time she’s spent with El and then she’s in a pickle. For so much of this story, I wanted Friday to take action. Quit her job or take a stand or fight to unionize or just freaking take El out on a date. But at the same time, I understood why she felt so paralyzed. It was a real pleasure to watch her figure things out and finally step up to the plate.
Friday and El have great chemistry. This is a closed door romance. I believe it's the first time I’ve read a closed door FF romance and I’m glad to now have an option to give friends who prefer less explicit romance. I don’t read much closed door but this made me think about how it can be the right choice for a character. Friday is a very private person and I could see her not wanting us as readers to know more about her intimate moments with El.
There are very real stakes between them. How can a factory supervisor date a union organizer? Especially since organizers don’t stay in one place for long and Friday is rooted to Princeton and Owensville. I had a guess as to how it might play out but my heart was in my throat while I waited for it to work out. The ending was more than satisfying.
I finished this a few months ago but haven’t known how to sum up my thoughts. It’s very different from other FF romances I’ve read—different from other contemporary romances, for that matter—and I wanted to take my time in considering why.
Hoosier Daddy is a rural romance. It’s not a term I’ve heard before but surely other books like this exist. Rural romance could be a subset of small town romance or perhaps it’s a different subgenre all together.
The book’s greatest strength is the rich sense of place. Rural southern Indiana is brought to life in such a way that I could practically see, touch, smell, and taste everything described. And yet the descriptions tended to be spare. They do the job and convey what they need to, which tends to be my preference in fiction.
According to the author’s note, the residents of Edwards County, IL (population 6721) informed the telling of this story and it shows. The characters are rooted in something real but I admit I wasn’t sure about the representation at first. Were certain characters caricatures? Are people really like this in such a town? I haven’t known many people like Friday’s friends TBomb or Luanne, nor have I ever lived in a place with such a small population. I wasn’t sure if the authors were honoring the people they knew or making fun of them. It can be a fine line and I’ll leave it up to the residents to say which side this book falls on. But as I got further into the story, my appreciation for the characterization grew. It’s part of why Princeton, Owensville, and their inhabitants felt so real to me.
It’s also why I can’t qualify this as small town romance, even though it fits. Hoosier Daddy is set in a small town but it’s not like the small towns we usually encounter in this subgenre. This is a place set apart by class. Many inhabitants work at Krylon Motors. There’s a low cost of living that goes alongside lower wages. People are worried about their bills. Some people work a couple of jobs. There are fewer opportunities to move up the ladder and Friday encounters a very male-dominated leadership structure, along with workplace sexism. The story doesn’t ignore some of the harsher realities of life.
A common critique of small town romance is that it’s white and cishet. They’re these perfectly contained Hallmark bubbles, ignoring and denying any possible diversity. One would assume the same parameters would be in place in a rural romance but Hoosier Daddy sets itself apart there. Yes, there are not many LGBTQ people in Princeton but Friday isn’t the only one. There are references to other queer people. The book isn’t always PC and it doesn’t get everything right but this felt like a reflection of the town and how its inhabitants are on a spectrum of acceptance. There’s a minor character named Casey who completes in the Pork Festival pageant who appears to be questioning her sexuality and gender identity and the conversation about them is not always kind or accurate. But by and large, the townspeople are accepting of Friday, even if they don’t always understand her. Additionally, not all of the characters are white—I primarily remember Latinx characters who work at the factory. This story doesn’t dig into the racism or homophobia that exists in every American town, no matter how big or small. But I appreciated that it didn’t portray a utopian existence either.
This story turned out to be an unexpected delight and I’m so glad I gave it a chance.
CW: workplace sexual harassment, death of a coworker
Friday Jill is a college graduate working on her graduate degree, a low level supervisor at the local factory, and a lesbian with few good romantic prospects in her small town. She’s unfulfilled but doesn’t feel like she has many options. Her life is a series of rinses and repeats. She and her coworkers are on edge because Krylon Motors is set to be bought out by a Japanese giant and there are rumors about labor union organizers coming in.
So it’s really not a good thing when one of the organizers turns out to be very attractive and seemingly interested in Friday. She can barely take her eyes off of El but there are more reasons for them not to test the waters. And yet life keeps making their paths cross, often in funny ways. We never get El’s perspective and I was fine with that. Friday’s emotional arc was quite compelling as she tries to make sense of what she wants and whether she can take the risk—and this goes well beyond trying anything with El.
One of the things I most appreciated about this story was the way it explored labor unions. Through El’s work for United Auto Workers, we see why the union could be a good thing for the factory. Through Friday’s coworkers, we get to see the very real way they could be impacted by even talking to one of the organizers and of course we hear why Krylon’s management doesn’t want anyone to organize. There are references to other real life union efforts, like Volkswagon plant in Chattanooga, which served to ground the story all the more. Later, (minor spoiler alert) once the Japanese buyout goes through, we get the perspective of Tam, the new owner, which I found quite refreshing.
Friday feels quite caught in the middle. As Krylon’s management currently stands, she has no chance of getting a real promotion. Not until she’s viewed as being compromised because of the time she’s spent with El and then she’s in a pickle. For so much of this story, I wanted Friday to take action. Quit her job or take a stand or fight to unionize or just freaking take El out on a date. But at the same time, I understood why she felt so paralyzed. It was a real pleasure to watch her figure things out and finally step up to the plate.
Friday and El have great chemistry. This is a closed door romance. I believe it's the first time I’ve read a closed door FF romance and I’m glad to now have an option to give friends who prefer less explicit romance. I don’t read much closed door but this made me think about how it can be the right choice for a character. Friday is a very private person and I could see her not wanting us as readers to know more about her intimate moments with El.
There are very real stakes between them. How can a factory supervisor date a union organizer? Especially since organizers don’t stay in one place for long and Friday is rooted to Princeton and Owensville. I had a guess as to how it might play out but my heart was in my throat while I waited for it to work out. The ending was more than satisfying.
I finished this a few months ago but haven’t known how to sum up my thoughts. It’s very different from other FF romances I’ve read—different from other contemporary romances, for that matter—and I wanted to take my time in considering why.
Hoosier Daddy is a rural romance. It’s not a term I’ve heard before but surely other books like this exist. Rural romance could be a subset of small town romance or perhaps it’s a different subgenre all together.
The book’s greatest strength is the rich sense of place. Rural southern Indiana is brought to life in such a way that I could practically see, touch, smell, and taste everything described. And yet the descriptions tended to be spare. They do the job and convey what they need to, which tends to be my preference in fiction.
According to the author’s note, the residents of Edwards County, IL (population 6721) informed the telling of this story and it shows. The characters are rooted in something real but I admit I wasn’t sure about the representation at first. Were certain characters caricatures? Are people really like this in such a town? I haven’t known many people like Friday’s friends TBomb or Luanne, nor have I ever lived in a place with such a small population. I wasn’t sure if the authors were honoring the people they knew or making fun of them. It can be a fine line and I’ll leave it up to the residents to say which side this book falls on. But as I got further into the story, my appreciation for the characterization grew. It’s part of why Princeton, Owensville, and their inhabitants felt so real to me.
It’s also why I can’t qualify this as small town romance, even though it fits. Hoosier Daddy is set in a small town but it’s not like the small towns we usually encounter in this subgenre. This is a place set apart by class. Many inhabitants work at Krylon Motors. There’s a low cost of living that goes alongside lower wages. People are worried about their bills. Some people work a couple of jobs. There are fewer opportunities to move up the ladder and Friday encounters a very male-dominated leadership structure, along with workplace sexism. The story doesn’t ignore some of the harsher realities of life.
A common critique of small town romance is that it’s white and cishet. They’re these perfectly contained Hallmark bubbles, ignoring and denying any possible diversity. One would assume the same parameters would be in place in a rural romance but Hoosier Daddy sets itself apart there. Yes, there are not many LGBTQ people in Princeton but Friday isn’t the only one. There are references to other queer people. The book isn’t always PC and it doesn’t get everything right but this felt like a reflection of the town and how its inhabitants are on a spectrum of acceptance. There’s a minor character named Casey who completes in the Pork Festival pageant who appears to be questioning her sexuality and gender identity and the conversation about them is not always kind or accurate. But by and large, the townspeople are accepting of Friday, even if they don’t always understand her. Additionally, not all of the characters are white—I primarily remember Latinx characters who work at the factory. This story doesn’t dig into the racism or homophobia that exists in every American town, no matter how big or small. But I appreciated that it didn’t portray a utopian existence either.
This story turned out to be an unexpected delight and I’m so glad I gave it a chance.
CW: workplace sexual harassment, death of a coworker
March 13, 2023
I actually live in a small Indiana town, and McMan captured what it’s like beautifully! I could really relate with the characters and the situations ongoing in the book. Especially since I work in a factory, although of the medical implant variety and not cars. I really loved this book and the characters within.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2015
I bought this book because a lot of the reviews said that it was humorous and had an array of fun characters. Unfortunately, it happens that I don't click with the humor in books at times, and this was one of them.
I could see that it was written in a funny way, with typical small town antics and characters, but It didn't really grab me.
Moreover, while I liked Friday, I wasn't feeling El. I know El had to be cool and aloof, but I felt her to be too dry and didn't really click with the dialogue/ romance between El and Friday. Also, El had this annoying habit of making Friday work to get info about who she is as a person. I would have walked away already.
I think if you are into small town stories, and to be honest, they can work for me or not--meaning I'm not particularly into them or against them--this book will hit the spot and I think you will enjoy it.
I found it too dull.
I mark this as "it's not you, it's me" because I do think many will love this book. I just couldn't click with it.
I could see that it was written in a funny way, with typical small town antics and characters, but It didn't really grab me.
Moreover, while I liked Friday, I wasn't feeling El. I know El had to be cool and aloof, but I felt her to be too dry and didn't really click with the dialogue/ romance between El and Friday. Also, El had this annoying habit of making Friday work to get info about who she is as a person. I would have walked away already.
I think if you are into small town stories, and to be honest, they can work for me or not--meaning I'm not particularly into them or against them--this book will hit the spot and I think you will enjoy it.
I found it too dull.
I mark this as "it's not you, it's me" because I do think many will love this book. I just couldn't click with it.
March 3, 2015
I wanted to like this book more. I found myself not really caring if the main characters got together or not. I did like all the side characters A Lot! I wanted to see how some of their stories played out more than I wondered if El and Friday Jill would stay together. Wasn't bad, but not more than 3 stars for me.
February 18, 2014
I believed that I would have enjoyed the book better if I hadn't been busy flipping forward trying to get ahead of the story. The characters are well crafted and very Mcman style humorous, I would come back to read the book again in my free time.
November 21, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. The authors captured small town life perfectly. Cute. Fun. Loved all the characters!
November 24, 2013
I'd been seeing these posts around Facebook for a story by Ann McMan and Salem West. It was being posted chapter by chapter. I was intrigued by this since I've read stuff written by each woman individually - Ann's novels, Salem's reviews, both of their Facebook posts. I'd enjoyed everything I'd read from them, so I thought it would be interesting to read what they had written together. Unfortunately, my life being what it is, I didn't have the time to read Hoosier Daddy as it was being posted. It wasn't for lack of want, it was simply lack of time and energy.
So, when I learned that it was finished and being published, I thought, "Carleen, you've got to read this. You can block some time and 'git 'r done'!" And I did. Then it was time to write the review and life came back to bite me in the ass. Work has been killing me this week. So, while I had intended to get this review up earlier this week, I just didn't have the time or the energy to make my brain function once I got home.
I was worn out - working long hours, being forced to carve out a small bit of time during the day just to use the restroom, not wanting social interaction after hours. I just wanted to come home, put on the jammies, love on my cats, and turn off the world.
Funny how much I seemed to have in common with the narrator in Hoosier Daddy (Bedazzled Ink).
Let me start by saying that I'm so glad I blocked time to read this novel. It's fun and full of heart.
McMan and West have a really wonderful writing style. What I really love is that the writing style doesn't seem to favor one author more than the other. I'm sure we've all read stories (heck, I've written them) where it's obvious which author was "in the lead" at any particular point in the story. When it's that obvious, I'm taken right out of the story! That didn't happen while reading Hoosier Daddy. At no point did I think, "Oh, Salem wrote this part." Or "This chapter had to be Ann's." Everything flowed beautifully and seamlessly.
Having lived in the Midwest for a significant part of my life, I have a bit of an understanding of what life is like. Since I lived in Southern Illinois for 3 years, I was able to recognize so much truth in the setting and characters depicted in the story. I'm particularly appreciative of the fact that McMan and West didn't take the easy route and write stereotypes. It would be so very easy to fall into that trap. You know the trap I'm talking about. It's the trap that says all inhabitants of small towns like Princeton, IN have fewer teeth than fingers, have fewer brain cells than toes, and live in trailer parks with their trailers propped on cinder blocks. It's a trap that our entire society seems to have -willingly - fallen into. McMan and West don't go there. Thankfully. The characters in this book are so close to reality that I'm reminded of people I knew while living in Southern Illinois. I lived in a trailer park that was surrounded by 3 other trailer parks. There wasn't a cider block as far as the eye could see. My neighbors had lots of teeth and an abundance of brain cells.
So it is with the characters in Hoosier Daddy. These are real people with real lives. True, some of them are "characters", but that's what makes them so appealing. We all have a T-bomb in our lives - that blunt, "tell-it-like-it-is" friend who holds us to our own truths. Or a Luanne, who is always "in the know" and is willing to share what information she's learned. Or a Grammy Mann, who knows us better than we know ourselves. McMan and West have given us a cast of characters who bring life and flavor to the novel. And they are a delight.
Hoosier Daddy is told from Friday's point of view. In fact, Friday is telling her story. I really like this. Friday becomes a much more compelling and complex character. Her view of Princeton, IN and it's citizens provides us with a unique perspective. There's an interesting duality about Friday. It's one that I relate to very strongly. Throughout her telling of the story, Friday projects a "What am I doing here?" sort of attitude. She's a college graduate who is working on a graduate degree. She's skilled far beyond her position at the plant. She cringes at the thought of hearing "Friends in Low Places" but perks up when she hears Ella Fitzgerald. It seems she's a person with an urban sensibility, but who is trapped in rural reality. It's fascinating to watch as Friday navigates the competing forces in her life and the ways in which she struggles with them. Over the course of the novel, she comes to learn the battles she's simply not going to win - and discovers that she is really glad she didn't.
The romance of the novel took me on a nice roller coaster ride. It's fun. It's funny. It's heartbreaking. It's familiar. Friday and El don't fall into bed within the first 10 pages of the novel, yet it doesn't take until the end of the novel for them to get together. It's a steady, if unusual, courtship with plenty of flirting, second-guessing, and friends advising against the relationship, just to turn around and wonder what's taking so long. Friday and El made me laugh, sigh, and tear up a little. Loved it.
If you're looking for a great story that will make you laugh, make you think, and leave you feeling glad you read it, make sure you take the time for Hoosier Daddy. You won't regret it. It would be fun to revisit Princeton, IN and it's citizens sometime. I hope McMan and West feel the same.
I can't wait to get my hands on a paperback copy so the authors can autograph it for me.
So, when I learned that it was finished and being published, I thought, "Carleen, you've got to read this. You can block some time and 'git 'r done'!" And I did. Then it was time to write the review and life came back to bite me in the ass. Work has been killing me this week. So, while I had intended to get this review up earlier this week, I just didn't have the time or the energy to make my brain function once I got home.
I was worn out - working long hours, being forced to carve out a small bit of time during the day just to use the restroom, not wanting social interaction after hours. I just wanted to come home, put on the jammies, love on my cats, and turn off the world.
Funny how much I seemed to have in common with the narrator in Hoosier Daddy (Bedazzled Ink).
Jill Fryman (Friday to her friends) is a line supervisor at a truck manufacturing plant in a small southern Indiana town. Life on the assembly line is almost as predictable as her love life. When it comes to matters of the heart, Friday always seems to be making the wrong choices.
Things go from bad to worse when El, a sultry labor organizer from the UAW, sweeps into town to unionize the plant right after it's been bought out by a Japanese firm. Sparks fly on and off the line as Jill and El fight their growing attraction for each other against a backdrop of monster trucks, catfish dinners, Pork Day USA, and a bar called Hoosier Daddy.
Let me start by saying that I'm so glad I blocked time to read this novel. It's fun and full of heart.
McMan and West have a really wonderful writing style. What I really love is that the writing style doesn't seem to favor one author more than the other. I'm sure we've all read stories (heck, I've written them) where it's obvious which author was "in the lead" at any particular point in the story. When it's that obvious, I'm taken right out of the story! That didn't happen while reading Hoosier Daddy. At no point did I think, "Oh, Salem wrote this part." Or "This chapter had to be Ann's." Everything flowed beautifully and seamlessly.
Having lived in the Midwest for a significant part of my life, I have a bit of an understanding of what life is like. Since I lived in Southern Illinois for 3 years, I was able to recognize so much truth in the setting and characters depicted in the story. I'm particularly appreciative of the fact that McMan and West didn't take the easy route and write stereotypes. It would be so very easy to fall into that trap. You know the trap I'm talking about. It's the trap that says all inhabitants of small towns like Princeton, IN have fewer teeth than fingers, have fewer brain cells than toes, and live in trailer parks with their trailers propped on cinder blocks. It's a trap that our entire society seems to have -willingly - fallen into. McMan and West don't go there. Thankfully. The characters in this book are so close to reality that I'm reminded of people I knew while living in Southern Illinois. I lived in a trailer park that was surrounded by 3 other trailer parks. There wasn't a cider block as far as the eye could see. My neighbors had lots of teeth and an abundance of brain cells.
So it is with the characters in Hoosier Daddy. These are real people with real lives. True, some of them are "characters", but that's what makes them so appealing. We all have a T-bomb in our lives - that blunt, "tell-it-like-it-is" friend who holds us to our own truths. Or a Luanne, who is always "in the know" and is willing to share what information she's learned. Or a Grammy Mann, who knows us better than we know ourselves. McMan and West have given us a cast of characters who bring life and flavor to the novel. And they are a delight.
Hoosier Daddy is told from Friday's point of view. In fact, Friday is telling her story. I really like this. Friday becomes a much more compelling and complex character. Her view of Princeton, IN and it's citizens provides us with a unique perspective. There's an interesting duality about Friday. It's one that I relate to very strongly. Throughout her telling of the story, Friday projects a "What am I doing here?" sort of attitude. She's a college graduate who is working on a graduate degree. She's skilled far beyond her position at the plant. She cringes at the thought of hearing "Friends in Low Places" but perks up when she hears Ella Fitzgerald. It seems she's a person with an urban sensibility, but who is trapped in rural reality. It's fascinating to watch as Friday navigates the competing forces in her life and the ways in which she struggles with them. Over the course of the novel, she comes to learn the battles she's simply not going to win - and discovers that she is really glad she didn't.
The romance of the novel took me on a nice roller coaster ride. It's fun. It's funny. It's heartbreaking. It's familiar. Friday and El don't fall into bed within the first 10 pages of the novel, yet it doesn't take until the end of the novel for them to get together. It's a steady, if unusual, courtship with plenty of flirting, second-guessing, and friends advising against the relationship, just to turn around and wonder what's taking so long. Friday and El made me laugh, sigh, and tear up a little. Loved it.
If you're looking for a great story that will make you laugh, make you think, and leave you feeling glad you read it, make sure you take the time for Hoosier Daddy. You won't regret it. It would be fun to revisit Princeton, IN and it's citizens sometime. I hope McMan and West feel the same.
I can't wait to get my hands on a paperback copy so the authors can autograph it for me.
August 4, 2017
Audible version. Same narrator of her Jericho books, Christine Williams. Bang up job, great production. Oh of course the book is awesome. It was the first time around, nothing changed there.
June 10, 2018
See, I liked this a lot, but it was just missing... something for me. Or, rather, it wasn't missing anything, but a couple of the things that bugged me bugged me SO MUCH I couldn't really enjoy the book as much as I originally thought I would.
I did like both characters. Friday was sweet and funny, and I liked Jill's wit and teasing. All their bathroom mishaps were hilarious, and their chemistry was just... fun! The backdrop of their romance was interesting, a union coming to a small town. I feel like the story might have leant a little too heavily on the quirkiness of the town and its characters; some of it was funny; a lot of the time I found myself not caring about the background shenanigans. Except for when I did care. What's this about a 40-yo mean leching after a 16-yo girl? Who's a daughter of one of his employees? And the mother, who originally hates him, comes to the conclusion that he actually does care for her daughter so she's??? Okay with it??? And other characters just shrug it off like 'ah, well??? Bruh.
I was also kind of annoyed by the way everyone kept getting on Friday's case about what she should do. Another review said it better than me, but at first it seemed like the book was going the way of "I have to take control of my life" but eventually it just fizzled out into "actually I'll just do what life throws my way/what other people tell me". Not that that's bad! It just felt a bit 'whomp whomp'.
And to be honest, I've been annoyed with this book since the opening chapter, where a character made a crack about Janet Jackson being slutty, and it being her fault that that dweeb exposed her breast on stage. It made me so cranky lol.
The audiobook as read by Christine Williams was pretty good.
So yeah, not a bad book at all, and I liked it? But not that much.
I did like both characters. Friday was sweet and funny, and I liked Jill's wit and teasing. All their bathroom mishaps were hilarious, and their chemistry was just... fun! The backdrop of their romance was interesting, a union coming to a small town. I feel like the story might have leant a little too heavily on the quirkiness of the town and its characters; some of it was funny; a lot of the time I found myself not caring about the background shenanigans. Except for when I did care. What's this about a 40-yo mean leching after a 16-yo girl? Who's a daughter of one of his employees? And the mother, who originally hates him, comes to the conclusion that he actually does care for her daughter so she's??? Okay with it??? And other characters just shrug it off like 'ah, well??? Bruh.
I was also kind of annoyed by the way everyone kept getting on Friday's case about what she should do. Another review said it better than me, but at first it seemed like the book was going the way of "I have to take control of my life" but eventually it just fizzled out into "actually I'll just do what life throws my way/what other people tell me". Not that that's bad! It just felt a bit 'whomp whomp'.
And to be honest, I've been annoyed with this book since the opening chapter, where a character made a crack about Janet Jackson being slutty, and it being her fault that that dweeb exposed her breast on stage. It made me so cranky lol.
The audiobook as read by Christine Williams was pretty good.
So yeah, not a bad book at all, and I liked it? But not that much.
October 13, 2021
Nice. Nothing too special or unique about the story or writing, a bit cliché even, in my opinion, But it wasn't bad either.
January 26, 2014
Friday (Jill Fryman) is stuck in a dead end town doing a dead end job at a truck factory which appears to be on its last legs. Processes are failing, management only cares for profit, and the safety and welfare of the assembly line workers is bottom of the list. After 10 years of trying to improve things in her own way, keep the peace and help as much as she can without management authority Friday has lost her way and doubts her own value. Add to that a series of poor relationship decisions and she is pretty far down on the scale of self worth.
When the UAW agitators arrive to drum up support for a Union vote the future of the factory seems even more dubious, but Friday finds herself attracted to the gorgeous El who may be the catalyst which destroys the local towns economy.
As the plant management fail to protect its workers and support for the Union vote increases, Friday is torn between her growing attraction for the agitator and her knowledge that once the union campaign is over El will be off to the next battle, leaving her even more empty and alone.
-----------------
As a Brit who has never been to the Midwest, let alone a small town dominated by the automotive industry I have to put my hands up and say there were may things in this book which took some time to understand. Having read a huge number of US based LesFic romances I thought I had read a reasonably broad range of American experiences from blue collar to high society and from Southern Belles and California babes to East Coast Alpha power players.
If you don’t have any reference points then the assembly line practices, the family interactions and the small town society can all feel alien. To be honest the first third of the book felt like I was reading about a different country, possibly even in a different language. In the UK all auto factories are unionized, it’s a given, so even thinking through the choices US workers face was a challenge.
But these characters grow on you. They are warm and human and well rounded. Their relationships are founded in love and knowledge, and a huge amount of small town tolerance for each other.
The story takes us on a journey, it challenges us to think about the politics and the implications for a small community whose whole economy is routed in one failing industry. Both Friday and El are aware that there are 2 sides to every argument and while in a poorly run plant the union might be essential to protect the workers, it wont benefit everybody.
At the same time we have the budding and yet troubled romance between the two women. El who has run away from a personal mess and Friday who has lost herself. Their attraction is obvious and their growing affection is humorously written and lovely to watch. The interaction and intervention of Friday's friends and Grammy as the story unfolds make this a tale set in a level of love and understanding not many of us have encountered.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. And if you struggle at the beginning because it isn’t a familiar environment I would strongly recommend working your way in to the town, the people and the romance. It will definitely be on my re-read pile for the future.
When the UAW agitators arrive to drum up support for a Union vote the future of the factory seems even more dubious, but Friday finds herself attracted to the gorgeous El who may be the catalyst which destroys the local towns economy.
As the plant management fail to protect its workers and support for the Union vote increases, Friday is torn between her growing attraction for the agitator and her knowledge that once the union campaign is over El will be off to the next battle, leaving her even more empty and alone.
-----------------
As a Brit who has never been to the Midwest, let alone a small town dominated by the automotive industry I have to put my hands up and say there were may things in this book which took some time to understand. Having read a huge number of US based LesFic romances I thought I had read a reasonably broad range of American experiences from blue collar to high society and from Southern Belles and California babes to East Coast Alpha power players.
If you don’t have any reference points then the assembly line practices, the family interactions and the small town society can all feel alien. To be honest the first third of the book felt like I was reading about a different country, possibly even in a different language. In the UK all auto factories are unionized, it’s a given, so even thinking through the choices US workers face was a challenge.
But these characters grow on you. They are warm and human and well rounded. Their relationships are founded in love and knowledge, and a huge amount of small town tolerance for each other.
The story takes us on a journey, it challenges us to think about the politics and the implications for a small community whose whole economy is routed in one failing industry. Both Friday and El are aware that there are 2 sides to every argument and while in a poorly run plant the union might be essential to protect the workers, it wont benefit everybody.
At the same time we have the budding and yet troubled romance between the two women. El who has run away from a personal mess and Friday who has lost herself. Their attraction is obvious and their growing affection is humorously written and lovely to watch. The interaction and intervention of Friday's friends and Grammy as the story unfolds make this a tale set in a level of love and understanding not many of us have encountered.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. And if you struggle at the beginning because it isn’t a familiar environment I would strongly recommend working your way in to the town, the people and the romance. It will definitely be on my re-read pile for the future.
September 25, 2019
Don't know why I took so long before reading this book. I think the title threw me off a bit.
Jill ("Friday" -line supervisor and El (UAW labour organizer) are the leads in this blue collar romance with humour and angst. The truck assembly plant and small town/farm country America comes to life under the writer's descriptions. Supporting characters are well fleshed out and add to the storyline which made me laugh out loud (odd looks while at the dentist's office) plus there was a HEA!! Easy, fun book. Recommend with 4 stars.
Jill ("Friday" -line supervisor and El (UAW labour organizer) are the leads in this blue collar romance with humour and angst. The truck assembly plant and small town/farm country America comes to life under the writer's descriptions. Supporting characters are well fleshed out and add to the storyline which made me laugh out loud (odd looks while at the dentist's office) plus there was a HEA!! Easy, fun book. Recommend with 4 stars.
June 11, 2021
I was looking around for something to read off audible plus, and i came across a review that there were no sex scenes and it was good for people who liked dogs. Sounded like a winner! (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
I'm generally not a big fan of insta-love. It just feels strange to me when they've only met a few times and everyone thinks they're great for a long term relationship. They have some cute scenes together, and all of their bathroom interactions are pretty funny.
The story is a mix of small town slice-of-life (attending parade, local gossip), romance, and union discussion. The union side of it was a bit odd to me. You get some chapters that go pretty heavy into it, but I didn't really follow why so many people disliked the union. That's probably just me due to the recent Amazon unionization efforts though.
I liked the cast of dogs. Lucille is the boy known for his farts and his crush on El. Lucille ends up with a lot of ugly puppies, but even ugly puppies need love too.
I listened to Jericho and I do want to try more books from the author.
I'm generally not a big fan of insta-love. It just feels strange to me when they've only met a few times and everyone thinks they're great for a long term relationship. They have some cute scenes together, and all of their bathroom interactions are pretty funny.
The story is a mix of small town slice-of-life (attending parade, local gossip), romance, and union discussion. The union side of it was a bit odd to me. You get some chapters that go pretty heavy into it, but I didn't really follow why so many people disliked the union. That's probably just me due to the recent Amazon unionization efforts though.
I liked the cast of dogs. Lucille is the boy known for his farts and his crush on El. Lucille ends up with a lot of ugly puppies, but even ugly puppies need love too.
I listened to Jericho and I do want to try more books from the author.
June 28, 2021
Hoosier Daddy by Ann McMan and Salem West is my favorite of these author's books. Christine Williams narrates in a deep, penetrating voice, which adds nuance to the colorful romance. I love how familiar this story sounds, in that the characters are people you'd probably run into at any country supermarket.
The connection between Jill and El is real. You know right away that they're meant for each other, but the practicality of their circumstance, and Jill's pragmatism with feeling stuck in southern Indiana, gives way to doubt, which makes it a steamy, slow burn. The romance is wrapped around their comedic encounters in familiar facilities, as well as, every day happenings in a small town with its assembly work, social conventions, and gossip.
This audiobook, delivered in a voice that is sexy and funny, is well suited to the McMan/West novels. I have listened to Hoosier Daddy for the second time, and it is just as enjoyable and laugh-out-loud funny as the first time. Give me some time, and there will be a third, and probably a fourth, time listening or reading this book. Thankyou for the ride.
The connection between Jill and El is real. You know right away that they're meant for each other, but the practicality of their circumstance, and Jill's pragmatism with feeling stuck in southern Indiana, gives way to doubt, which makes it a steamy, slow burn. The romance is wrapped around their comedic encounters in familiar facilities, as well as, every day happenings in a small town with its assembly work, social conventions, and gossip.
This audiobook, delivered in a voice that is sexy and funny, is well suited to the McMan/West novels. I have listened to Hoosier Daddy for the second time, and it is just as enjoyable and laugh-out-loud funny as the first time. Give me some time, and there will be a third, and probably a fourth, time listening or reading this book. Thankyou for the ride.
April 6, 2019
Fabulous Dialogue, quirky friends, believable attraction and chemistry with some blue collar Hoosier hometown life. It all blends together for another great book by Ann McMan (and Salem West) and of course Christine Williams does a fabulous job (as always) in her narration bringing the story to audio-life.
September 4, 2021
Funny read. I laughed out loud many times. I wished there were a longer ending. I wanted to know a bit more of the characters in the end. I really enjoyed the book and recommend it especially if you want to laugh.
February 21, 2022
It had some really cute moments and I loved Friday Jill’s family and friends so much but the plot (minus the pork day festival- that was a blast) was very dull.
I just didn’t care for union plotline and the romance seemed very insta lovey and fade to black.
I just didn’t care for union plotline and the romance seemed very insta lovey and fade to black.
September 28, 2023
I so love this book! A line supervisor at a truck plant and a UAW labor organizer fall for one another.The side characters are hysterical and the pups and puppies are a part of it too!
A dash of small town living and the drinking hole, Hoosier Daddy, where everyone gathers. A fun read! 5 stars!
A dash of small town living and the drinking hole, Hoosier Daddy, where everyone gathers. A fun read! 5 stars!
April 18, 2014
See full review at
http://romancenovelsforfeminists.blog...
http://romancenovelsforfeminists.blog...
December 6, 2015
2014 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
December 6, 2013
Worth of your time!...so delightful funny!!
December 20, 2019
It is a very good story; the plot and subplot are well developed. It is written in first person, through the point of view of Jill Fryman (Friday). The main characters are two fascinating, charismatic, cultivated women who often find themselves sharing unusual, humorous situations together. The side characters are very amusing and a bit crazy, but very interesting. The dialogues are something to look forward in this book; they are witty, brilliant and sharp.
Some readers outside of the US may struggle at the beginning with the local terminology. But once you get the feel of the terminology, it’s easier to get used to it and just enjoy the story.
The chemistry and instant attraction between Friday and El are palpable from the beginning. Their dialogues are engaging and very flirtatious. Their building relationship it’s a challenge, to say the least. Being on opposite sides in the work field brings us a mix of deep conversations and funny banters. The secondary characters are essential to the story; they add a very important factor to build the story.
It is a very good book. Ann McMan has the ability to get us involved in the story enjoying it greatly as well the characters. This is a book with very exhilarating individuals, clever dialogues, humour, an intriguing plot and a wonderfully developed romance.
Some readers outside of the US may struggle at the beginning with the local terminology. But once you get the feel of the terminology, it’s easier to get used to it and just enjoy the story.
The chemistry and instant attraction between Friday and El are palpable from the beginning. Their dialogues are engaging and very flirtatious. Their building relationship it’s a challenge, to say the least. Being on opposite sides in the work field brings us a mix of deep conversations and funny banters. The secondary characters are essential to the story; they add a very important factor to build the story.
It is a very good book. Ann McMan has the ability to get us involved in the story enjoying it greatly as well the characters. This is a book with very exhilarating individuals, clever dialogues, humour, an intriguing plot and a wonderfully developed romance.
August 16, 2021
(3.5, rounding up.) This is a rom-com that really qualifies as a rom-com - it was actually funny enough that I laughed out loud. It looks like this was originally published in 2013, and there are a few things that haven't aged all that well, like but nothing egregious enough to make me stop reading. This was really cute and sweet, but I have to downgrade a bit for it being completely fade-to-black on anything besides kissing - I'm fine with varying heat levels but I like at least some heat, you know? I loved Friday's voice as a narrator and the backdrop of a union organization drive (though I did think some things were wrapped up a little too neatly in the end). I don't know if I would've picked this up if not for romance bingo this year, since small-town isn't really my thing, but this is a fun little standalone romance.
(2021 Summer Romance Bingo: down on its luck small town, would also work for educator, karaoke, or wardrobe malfunction.)
(2021 Summer Romance Bingo: down on its luck small town, would also work for educator, karaoke, or wardrobe malfunction.)
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