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Small Town Swains #5
Garters
USA Today Bestseller Pamela Morsi charms you with her trademark wit and down-home tales.
Book 2: Something Shady
Book 3: No Ordinary Princess
Book 4: Sealed With a Kiss
Book 5: Garters
Book 6: The Love Charm
Esme Crabb has spent a lifetime in the mountains trying to stir up good gravy from watery “poor-do”. And she’s had no help from her ne’er-do-well father or silly sisters. The family lives rough and gets by beholden to their neighbors. Esme was hoping the twins could marry well, but like everything that needs doing in her family, it seems she has to do it herself.
“Her stories are gently humorous, wise and wonderful.” -- Susan Elizabeth Phillips, New York Times Bestselling Author
Read all the Small Town Swains!
Book 2: Something Shady
Book 3: No Ordinary Princess
Book 4: Sealed With a Kiss
Book 5: Garters
Book 6: The Love Charm
488 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 1992
590 people are currently reading
1241 people want to read
About the author
Pamela Morsi
61 books450 followersPamela Morsi was an American writer. She was the author of 29 romance novels, beginning in 1991.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
March 26, 2010
Garters is a great historical- not in the sense of expanse and grandeur, but more so in the fact it's different. Oh, we still get our plucky heroine and happily ever after, but there after it strays from the well tread path of "been there, read that".
Published way back in '92, Garters is still a breath of fresh air for a genre inundated with same old same old plot lines and characters.
Esme is a dirt poor mountain girl who holds her family together with strength and determination. When she decides it's time to raise her families fortunes she sets her sites on Clevis Rhy, the fancy, town boy educated and more well off than she ever will be. At first she's thinking all about her family, but it doesn't take her long to discover a heat between them that she never felt before- and to want him for much more personal reasons.
Cleavis is not your ordinary hero either. Yeah he's educated and got more money than most of the town's folk, but he's also the town's shop keeper and stand up citizen courting the pastor's daughter. To make things even more interesting, he raises trout as a hobby- for purely scientific reasons of course.
Cleav and Esme send off sparks that keep the pages turning and it's interesting to note there really isn't a big baddie in this story. The Author does such a fine job of portraying the characters, warts and all, that there was no need- their own quirks and shortcomings cause the conflicts! But yet these little idiosyncrasies manage to endear you to them.
On a side note: Cleav is what we in romance consider a beta hero. Generally I'm all about the alpha hero- but Morsi does a great job of showing us why a gal would fall for him, that I didn't miss the overt qualities associated with the alpha male one iota. Pretty good writing if you ask me.
Published way back in '92, Garters is still a breath of fresh air for a genre inundated with same old same old plot lines and characters.
Esme is a dirt poor mountain girl who holds her family together with strength and determination. When she decides it's time to raise her families fortunes she sets her sites on Clevis Rhy, the fancy, town boy educated and more well off than she ever will be. At first she's thinking all about her family, but it doesn't take her long to discover a heat between them that she never felt before- and to want him for much more personal reasons.
Cleavis is not your ordinary hero either. Yeah he's educated and got more money than most of the town's folk, but he's also the town's shop keeper and stand up citizen courting the pastor's daughter. To make things even more interesting, he raises trout as a hobby- for purely scientific reasons of course.
Cleav and Esme send off sparks that keep the pages turning and it's interesting to note there really isn't a big baddie in this story. The Author does such a fine job of portraying the characters, warts and all, that there was no need- their own quirks and shortcomings cause the conflicts! But yet these little idiosyncrasies manage to endear you to them.
On a side note: Cleav is what we in romance consider a beta hero. Generally I'm all about the alpha hero- but Morsi does a great job of showing us why a gal would fall for him, that I didn't miss the overt qualities associated with the alpha male one iota. Pretty good writing if you ask me.
August 18, 2012
What an amazing book. I am so grateful for Goodreads, I know I say this quite often but I have made super friends here and they have to led me to great books I would have missed. The title of this book isn't that great and neither is the cover but that doesn't matter because the story is alternately sweet and even a hoot sometimes. The heroine despite being the youngest is the caretaker of her family, her father is too lazy and her twin sisters dreamers and the heroine Esme hates being poor so despite it not being conventional, she decides to go courting and she chooses Cleavis, the one who runs the store in town.
At first the only thing in her mind is marrying him and moving her family into his place but soon she gets to know him, how hard he works, the time he spent in the city that made him feel less, his work with fishes and more and despite him courting the preacher's daughter and warning her to stay away Esme is persistent. She starts helping out at his store and the moment she kissed him, was hilarious, the hero behaved like an outraged virgin and Esme wriggling her stockings was classic. Esme was damn spunky even if she did take the load of the world on her.
Cleav is kind of prissy at least his speech seems that way and kind of a gentleman and he doesn't understand his fascination with Esme, she vexes him and haunts him. Then to be kind he gives her garters and the situation becomes scandalous and they are forced to wed. I loved how Esme wanted to make him happy and loved him. Her intentions may have been different at the start but she adored Cleav and poor Cleav didn't stand a chance. When he marries her he loves her passionate nature and when he thinks she doesn't love him is devastated and would do anything to make him love her. I loved Esme, she truly was the best especially the way she setup the preacher's daughter with the guy chasing her sisters.
The romance was perfect and so was the book. I even came to like Cleav's mother.
At first the only thing in her mind is marrying him and moving her family into his place but soon she gets to know him, how hard he works, the time he spent in the city that made him feel less, his work with fishes and more and despite him courting the preacher's daughter and warning her to stay away Esme is persistent. She starts helping out at his store and the moment she kissed him, was hilarious, the hero behaved like an outraged virgin and Esme wriggling her stockings was classic. Esme was damn spunky even if she did take the load of the world on her.
Cleav is kind of prissy at least his speech seems that way and kind of a gentleman and he doesn't understand his fascination with Esme, she vexes him and haunts him. Then to be kind he gives her garters and the situation becomes scandalous and they are forced to wed. I loved how Esme wanted to make him happy and loved him. Her intentions may have been different at the start but she adored Cleav and poor Cleav didn't stand a chance. When he marries her he loves her passionate nature and when he thinks she doesn't love him is devastated and would do anything to make him love her. I loved Esme, she truly was the best especially the way she setup the preacher's daughter with the guy chasing her sisters.
The romance was perfect and so was the book. I even came to like Cleav's mother.
January 12, 2012
Pamela Morsi has the sort of voice that only comes along once every decade or so--warm, witty, and uniquely American. The Americana genre has fallen out of favor in the past few years and I desperately miss these books about small towns and mountain communities populated by good-hearted and quirky characters. A Morsi character like mountain girl Esme Crabb in GARTERS may be poor in wealth but they're always rich in humor and spirit. (Alternates: COURTING MISS HATTIE, SOMETHING SHADY, SIMPLE JESS.)
March 10, 2025
Heroine had the spine of a jellyfish, hero had the emotional depth of a puddle, and I had the patience of a saint, for absolutely no reward.
January 4, 2023
4.5 stars ✿
❛I love you,❜ Cleav whispered. ❛I've wanted to tell you that every day, every time I've touched you. I've wanted to say it and now I can't stop.❜
I genuinely adore esme's method of courting cleav. It gave me secondhand embarrassment, but at the same time, I couldn't help but find it cute that she follows him around everywhere and watches him from afar.
❛I love you,❜ Cleav whispered. ❛I've wanted to tell you that every day, every time I've touched you. I've wanted to say it and now I can't stop.❜
I genuinely adore esme's method of courting cleav. It gave me secondhand embarrassment, but at the same time, I couldn't help but find it cute that she follows him around everywhere and watches him from afar.
April 8, 2015
Loved this so much! Read it in one evening as I couldn't put it down.
February 18, 2025
Read it in one sitting on a weekday so that's how good the story is.
August 24, 2022
I officially endorse badgering people into loving you, especially if it's this charming.
Meet Esme Crabb, hill girl. She's the youngest member of the poorest family in Vader, Tennessee, and after years of taking care of her irresponsible (albeit kindhearted) family members, she sets her sites on salvation: Cleavis Rhy's house.
Cleavis Rhy is probably the richest man in Vader, a young store owner that learned how to be a gentleman in Knoxville. Unfortunately for Cleavis, he owns a house that's big enough for Esme's family to live comfortably, and thus she decides to marry him, by hook or by crook.
But Cleavis has plans of his own: he wants to marry the preacher's daughter, a suitable lady with a soft smile, not some hill girl that's always flashing her legs in a blatant attempt at seduction. He wants to be a gentleman, and Esme doesn't fit into that lifestyle. Too bad she won't take no for an answer!
Deep down Cleavis wants Esme, but his hamfisted attempts to scare her off and his genuine ire at her taking up a job as his new shadow was comedic gold. What a cute book!
Meet Esme Crabb, hill girl. She's the youngest member of the poorest family in Vader, Tennessee, and after years of taking care of her irresponsible (albeit kindhearted) family members, she sets her sites on salvation: Cleavis Rhy's house.
Cleavis Rhy is probably the richest man in Vader, a young store owner that learned how to be a gentleman in Knoxville. Unfortunately for Cleavis, he owns a house that's big enough for Esme's family to live comfortably, and thus she decides to marry him, by hook or by crook.
But Cleavis has plans of his own: he wants to marry the preacher's daughter, a suitable lady with a soft smile, not some hill girl that's always flashing her legs in a blatant attempt at seduction. He wants to be a gentleman, and Esme doesn't fit into that lifestyle. Too bad she won't take no for an answer!
Deep down Cleavis wants Esme, but his hamfisted attempts to scare her off and his genuine ire at her taking up a job as his new shadow was comedic gold. What a cute book!
August 3, 2015
Let's talk impressive. Every time I read a Pamela Morsi book she astounds me with how she can take such normal people in a normal town and craft a book overflowing with love and lust. I feel like I live there, shaking my head at foibles of the townsfolk. I become emotionally attached to her characters. (Why else would Esme's prideful humiliation over a public gift of charity have me weeping as I read it?). The yearning between her MCs leaps off the page before they even touch one another. She has a knack for having the men who inhabit a book have a near-fetish for some body part of the objects of their desires. In the case of Cleav, he can't keep his eyes off Esme's legs.
Let's talk legs. This book takes place in the 1880s in rural Tennessee. Legs are covered, or are at least supposed to be buried beneath skirts and other fripperies. Mountain girl Esme, always practical and smart though uneducated, sets her sights on shopkeeper Cleav because he has the nicest house in the area. She stalks her prey by frequenting the store. One day, the worn-out stockings droop, Esme pulls up her skirts to roll them, and she catches Cleav catching an eyeful. Cleav's a goner, and he just doesn't know it yet.
Let's talk ladylike. Hillbilly Esme is as far from a wife as Cleav can picture. Unfortunately, he can't keep the picture of her legs out of his head. These two have a mountain separating them in terms of expectations and experiences, but kindness, affection and understanding dig a tunnel right through all those inconsequential barriers. It is an entertaining journey as Esme pursues and Cleav runs....some of the time. Truth is, she has turned this guy upside down and inside out. And maybe Cleav doesn't want ladylike at all.
Let's talk villains. Pamela Morsi is incapable of writing a true baddie. As she intends, I have an initial dislike for some of the characters. After all, they treat our heroine meanly or intimidate her or gossip without knowing the whole story. But as the novel moves along, you get to know everybody better, and first impressions are not always what they seem. Morsi allows redeeming qualities to shine, and this absolution influences the outcome of the story.
Let's talk satisfactory endings. I just get this little sigh of pleasure when I finish a Morsi novel. As a romance without dangerous or nefarious factors influencing the characters, you know where the story is headed. It is the journey that matters, and it is always a good one, filled with lusty encounters, positive emotional connections between family and friends, the creation of a consuming love between the MCs, and happy endings for all.
Let's talk legs. This book takes place in the 1880s in rural Tennessee. Legs are covered, or are at least supposed to be buried beneath skirts and other fripperies. Mountain girl Esme, always practical and smart though uneducated, sets her sights on shopkeeper Cleav because he has the nicest house in the area. She stalks her prey by frequenting the store. One day, the worn-out stockings droop, Esme pulls up her skirts to roll them, and she catches Cleav catching an eyeful. Cleav's a goner, and he just doesn't know it yet.
Let's talk ladylike. Hillbilly Esme is as far from a wife as Cleav can picture. Unfortunately, he can't keep the picture of her legs out of his head. These two have a mountain separating them in terms of expectations and experiences, but kindness, affection and understanding dig a tunnel right through all those inconsequential barriers. It is an entertaining journey as Esme pursues and Cleav runs....some of the time. Truth is, she has turned this guy upside down and inside out. And maybe Cleav doesn't want ladylike at all.
Let's talk villains. Pamela Morsi is incapable of writing a true baddie. As she intends, I have an initial dislike for some of the characters. After all, they treat our heroine meanly or intimidate her or gossip without knowing the whole story. But as the novel moves along, you get to know everybody better, and first impressions are not always what they seem. Morsi allows redeeming qualities to shine, and this absolution influences the outcome of the story.
Let's talk satisfactory endings. I just get this little sigh of pleasure when I finish a Morsi novel. As a romance without dangerous or nefarious factors influencing the characters, you know where the story is headed. It is the journey that matters, and it is always a good one, filled with lusty encounters, positive emotional connections between family and friends, the creation of a consuming love between the MCs, and happy endings for all.
September 18, 2023
The man was annoying. The girl was endearing. The sex was meh. Didn’t like that he wasn’t a virgin. Seemed kind of unfair. That he has to have this over her too, he’s condescending enough as it is.
He makes up for it in the end, but I still didn’t like him much.
He makes up for it in the end, but I still didn’t like him much.
July 5, 2015
When a man don't want you, don't take no for an answer. Keep badgering him, stalking him ala Edward Cullen, flash your shapely legs and if all else fails, anger him enough for him to give you a pair of garters and then tell the towns biggest gossip/busybody about it, and the towns displeasure will work in your favour and force him into marriage with you.
She did pull a real Edward Cullen move, stalking him and stood outside his house watching him through his window. If the roles were reversed I wouldn't have been reading a romance, I would have been reading a murder-mystery.
Esme Crabb was a sweet character though, she had some really cute moments when I sort of went "aaw". Then there were moments where I had to put down my reading-tablet in embarrassment.
I did think it kind of strange that a large part of her character was about her pride, and yet she had none when it came to Cleavis (I always giggle a bit at that name).
She lives in a cave with a more or less worthless father and her dimwitted, spoiled sisters but she had this really amazing pride, I just wish it had extended to Cleavis.
Don't get me started on Cleavis wishy-washy character. He kept thinking "ugh, can't marry that Crabb-girl, but damn those legs tho".
Luckily for both of them they really did love each other, despite what might have been said.
Seriously though, no means no.
December 7, 2019
This was engagingly written, giving us both MCs' povs. However, I found the blurb to be a mite misleading. The H spends more than half the book looking down on the h, finding her annoying, and courting another woman in town. That's not my idea of romance. The angst after they're married was pretty good, and the lack of communication didn't drag on for too long. However, I do wish that we had more of their HEA on page, and more of the H appreciating the h. It would've made the journey leading to their HEA more worthwhile. At it was, I had a hard time reading about the H saying things like "I wouldn't ever marry a woman like you" to the h and her just letting it roll off her back. True, the first half of the book made the second half more meaningful, but getting through that first part of the story was hard. I hated that at the end of it all, the h still felt like she wasn't good enough for the H.
Overall, this book made me feel some strong emotions and I might read more by this author if the story doesn't feature a mean H paired with an h who's used to being trampled on by others.
Overall, this book made me feel some strong emotions and I might read more by this author if the story doesn't feature a mean H paired with an h who's used to being trampled on by others.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2010
What a great book. I shed a few tears, laughed and totally enjoyed the characters and the charming story. I'll be sure to read more of Pamela Morsi's book's.
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June 20, 2015
My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book...
Garters had a good story and some great moments to go with it. As I always do, I loved the way PM voiced her story along with the characters. Even though for the first few chapters I wasn’t sure what to think of Esme and her behavior, I soon found myself enjoying the book. And I LOVED Cleav. He was soo sexy and adorable and I ended the book with much sighing on my part!
Esme’s life as a mountain girl was something to be read. It was plain crazy! Her father is the laziest man of the town, good looking but a ne’er-do-well, who loves fiddling all day long. It was kinda over the top for me, how can a person be sooo lazy?! So are Esme’s twin elder sisters; pretty, featherbrained and lazy. It was a wonder to me, how their life went by only God knows. Esme’s mother died a long time ago, when she was young. Since she isn’t as pretty as her sisters, Esme thought the practicality and smartness God gave her was to be used to take care of her family, somehow... anyhow. She took it as her sole responsibility, that somehow she’ll see her family living happily, with full belly, in a big house. Oh, BTW, did I mention that they lived in a shack, which is actually a cave? Er, don’t ask! Anyway, what caught my attentions was Esme’s blind faith and innocence, which sometimes bordered on plain foolishness. I got that she wasn’t used to meeting a lot of people and did care for whatever philosophy her father taught her about life and being lazy. Lol Now, her dumb sisters has taken up with Armon, a wild boy; very good looking and a ne’er-do-well, just like their father. Esme won’t see her sisters’ (he’s ‘courting’ both sisters) lives go to ruin with someone like Armon. The man Esme has is mind is Cleavis Rhy, the store-keeper of the town. Esme doesn’t know Cleav well and hasn’t really paid any attention to him before. But she was thinking of the big house he owns and his steady income (she assumed) from the store, which makes him great husband material. Since her sisters just wave (read: twitters) away her proposal of snaring Cleave, Esme decides she’ll have to do something herself. With the determination, she goes down to the town with her best dress, which is of course ragged and socks without garters with a pair of working boots, to see Cleav. Seeing him she does and Esme admires whatever she saw. She didn’t know that Cleav wasn’t actually as old as she thought him to be and he was quite good looking too. And when he smiled a little smile asking her what is it she wants, Esme’s heart flutters like a butterfly. Esme Crabb decides this is the man she’s going to have and so she blurts out if he wants to marry her. Um, yah well, Esme thinks girl’s can court a man if he doesn’t come to her/like her... er, hmm, so this questions startles Cleav so badly that Esme is embarrassed and changes her words. Then Esme thinks that a man like Cleav won’t like to be married to a plain, ignorant hill girl like her and she’s a bit disappointed. As strolling in the store, Esme’s socks keep sliding down her legs, without any thought, she pulled her skirt up and takes care of it. Suddenly, she realizes another pair of eyes are watching her too and there isn’t any customer in the store. One look at Cleav and how he’s devouring the sight of her legs, Esme’s smiles a secret smile. Oh, she’s found something to entice Mr. Rhy with and soon her plan will fall into place.
Cleav was educated from a good university out of this small-town. His store-keeping was basically his father’s business and when he died, Cleav came back to take care of it and his mother. But what Cleav actually loves to do is rearing and researching fish. Yes, he’s a pisciculturist and dreams that someday his work will be featured nationwide, even worldwide. His social busybody mother of course doesn’t like this. Cleav isn’t suppose to be doing this foolishness, according to her, but get married to the preacher’s beautiful, Bible quoting daughter, Sophrona who’s a true gentlewoman. Cleav is trying to abide by this. He likes Sophrona and courting her at the moment. Someday, he plans to marry her too. So, his life is planned more or less, until Esme Crabb happens to him. Oh, those scenes were kinda funny, Esme’s thorough perusal or ‘intense research’ of Cleav. Cleav never even thought of giving this hill girl a second thought, until the day he saw her long legs, as if those just came out of his wildest fantasies. Cleav can’t shake the picture out of his head. It doesn’t help that the girl in question is everywhere he goes and pulls up her skirt at every chance. Um, yah, I know... Esme was resolute in her campaign to have Cleav and give her family a good life. No, she wasn’t greedy at all. She just wanted what was best for her lazy bunch. Anyway, as she kept on with her antics, following Cleav to the store to his house, from there to his fish ponds… Esme was daydreaming away about being Mrs. Rhy. At first, Cleav thought it was a bit funny. He liked her and talked to her, even showed her his fish ponds in which she took immense interest in. Cleav didn’t really have anyone to talk about his interests since everyone would politely try to smother a yawn when he was talking about his fish, so Esme’s interest was welcome. To Esme, by knowing his life, his routine and his work, she was doing him a favor… after all, she’s going to be his wife and it would only help Cleav in the long run! See what I meant by foolishness?
At first, her infatuation thrilled Cleave but as Esme’s perusal became more and more prominent, Cleav begins to feel irritated. Esme is there, everywhere. One day as he was strolling on his ponds, he finds her there, trying to fix her socks and Cleav finally snaps, kind of that is. He, in specific words, tells her that there would NEVER be anything between him and her. I would’ve been embarrassed but Esme, well, she’s made of something entirely different. It doesn’t really disturb her since she thinks Cleav just needs to see the fact that they’ll be together someday and so, she makes more plans. To Cleav’s utter annoyance, Esme takes up working in his store, without his permission and it seems like Cleav can’t do a thing about it. His mother is also asking questions. It doesn’t help that he actually wants her, very bad but marriage to her isn’t an option and however loony Esme appears, she deserves a good husband. They had kissed once or twice before and it proved be a very bad idea since the spark between them is just amazing. With Sophrona, Cleav doesn’t feel anything like this. She’s a gentlewoman and Cleav treats her with utmost respect. So yes, Esme just stuck on... like glue. Once, she spies on Cleav and Sophrona alone. She challenges Cleav about kissing Sophrona the way he kissed her, all hot and lusty. At first, Cleav is distracted by her long legs (yes again) sticking out of the tree under which he and Sophrona sat. Then when his fiancée went inside the house for something, Cleav speaks up to give her a piece of his mind but instead comes up with a challenge, which ends in disaster. He gets Sophrona’s sturdy slap in return. Oh that poor baby!
While he’s annoyed, Cleav still can’t be that cruel to Esme. One day, the townspeople decide to give charity baskets to the Crabb family. While her dumb father and sisters are very happy, Esme feels ashamed. Cleav notes this and admires her courage but that doesn’t excuse her peskiness though. And Esme here trying hard to go along with this courtship thing (from her POV mind you!) and trying to keep that Armon from her twittering sisters, both of whom are of a mind to marry him. Esme knows very well Armon is up to no good at all. Her father, as usual, isn’t any help... not even when it comes to looking after his daughters from wild hill boys. Ugh, he was a piece of something I tell you. The townspeople have already begun gossiping about Cleav and Esme and what their relationship might be. It seems like the women and the busybodies are more on Esme’s side, thinking Cleav is taking advantages of her. Oh the poor babe! It was just odd and funny, that he was being condemned for things he didn’t even do, though thought about no doubt. One day, trouble happens. Esme and Cleav have this squabble about her ‘showing her legs off’ symptom. Even though both were guilty (one showing off and the other having a good look at them every time that happens), they still fight. At one point, Cleav just grabs a pair of new garters and gives it to Esme so that she won’t show her legs off again (and drive him insane in the process). Esme is genuinely happy with Cleav’s gesture. Emotions overwhelms her and while she was going out to try it on in some secluded spot, the towns most notorious gossip and busybody comes in at that exact moment. A flustered Esme kind of blurts out about them and things change drastically for them both. Apparently, this kind of gesture means something immoral is going on and now Cleav has to marry Esme to save her reputation.
Esme is very unhappy about the turn of things. She wanted this man, maybe even thought of trapping him in a way but this is definitely NOT what she dreamt of. Cleav, well, he kinda resigns himself to this. Even though he would’ve never married Esme normally, he thinks it won’t be that bad; she’s smart and funny, she works hard. Cleav genuinely thinks that Esme deserves a good life and then, he actually wants her. His mother isn’t happy. Sophrona’s parents won’t let him see her and Esme’s lazy arse father shows some balls for the first time, thinking Cleav has wronged Esme. It was kinda annoying but with Cleav’s reassurance, he gives in. They marry afterwards. Cleav’s mother doesn’t attend. At night, Armon and some other wild hill boys takes shivaree on the new bride and groom. It takes a while and some work to get the boys demands and ‘rescue’ Esme from them. Esme was spitting mad at Armon, who was already drunk. It was some scene but they make it back home. They have a fight again and Cleav’s mother comes down. She helps Esme to clean herself up with loads of uppity crap about how she’s not suited for Cleav. These comments struck a chord inside Esme and she begins thinking, for the first time, that she might’ve made a mistake because she’s actually never thought past the marriage. That day, Cleav doesn’t come to her and Esme is hurt and disappointed. But their relationship doesn’t go on like this for long. In fact, the next day Esme plans something for Cleave and goes to the store. Ummm, that was a sexy scene because Cleav was sexy and quite insane about Esme. When she keeps of talking about the new garters and how she’s not really wearing anything underneath her clothes…. You get the picture. It was funny, sexy and sweet, their love-play. Afterwards, their relationship only deepens. Cleav starts calling Esme hillbaby, it turned me into mush every time he called her that. *sigh* It appears that both understands each-other like no one else. Cleav likes this sharing of his hopes and dreams with Esme. Marriage doesn’t seem that bad after all.
Soon there are misunderstandings. One day, Esme kind of (totally unintentionally) blurts out about her original plan about Cleav big white house and how she wanted her family in here. Cleav doesn’t understand at first as to why she wants them here. But as Esme explains, he becomes insecure. Cleav thinks Esme didn’t really love him the way he originally thought she did (she told him already that she loves him). That, this really was infatuation and a need to save her family. Even though Cleav is hurt and becomes distant, he understands where this stemmed from. He has seen how hardworking and responsible Esme is and the sorry place she used to live. Esme is also puzzled by Cleav’s behavior but she takes it as Cleav’s disappointment in her. She hasn’t yet gotten over the fact that she is still that ignorant, plain hill girl who doesn’t really deserve a man like Cleav. But, as promised, Cleav takes his father and sisters-in-law in. This also dampens their privacy to a great level. But Esme’s father takes the family by storm. Cleav’s mother begins to enjoy his fiddling and starts calling him brother. She’s more relaxed these days and does a lot of gardening. It’s like she has gotten herself back. The twins are still twittering around with Armon and Esme decides it’s time to take care of this problem.
Sometimes afterwards, with a very sexy interlude, Cleav and Esme resolve their marital problem to some extent. It was just that they couldn’t simply keep themselves apart which I found really great to read. Their chemistry was amazing. Notice that their misunderstanding about each-other was still there. Cleav thinks he’ll make Esme love him and Esme is determined to do something about her ignorant mountain ways. Esme feels that even though they’re together again, Cleav is holding himself back. It wasn’t like before. One day, there was this festival in the town. Esme and the others of her family take part in it, along with the rest of the townspeople. Her sisters are still with Armon and a plan forms in Esme’s mind. If Sophrona slapped Cleav for a paltry kiss, what would she do to Armon if Esme did something that pushes Armon towards her direction? Hmm, good thinking Esme! She does that and Armon is totally into the idea. Sophrona is not only beautiful but her, er, bosoms are stuffs of legend. Cleav was also kind of enchanted by those. lol :p How can Armon deny this lure? Esme makes him think Sophrona has been pining away for him for a longtime but hasn’t had the courage to come forward. I don’t really know what happened next but it seems Armon makes it his life’s work to peruse Sophrona this time. I REALLY wish there were scenes between Armon and Sophrona because they were so opposite of each-other, it would’ve been such fun to see them finally falling. I felt cheated that there wasn’t any, at all. Very soon, these two give the town the biggest surprise of them all. One fine day at church, Mr. and Mrs. Hightower make their first appearance, with everyone hooting in congratulations while Sophrona’s mother faints at the horror of it! Armon, apparently, has changed his wild ways because he has finally found his woman. Esme’s sisters began mourning the fickleness of Armon’s devotion. It was just funny I tell you, the whole drama of it. Even Esme is surprised. When she planned this, it never even occurred to her that these two actually might fall for each-other.
After a few days, Cleav gets a mail from some of his fellow pisciculturists from some reputed university, who want to have a look at his babies, aka, his work. Cleav is in seventh heaven, finally his work is getting the recognition it deserves! But when he breaks the news to Esme, she’s totally, utterly horrified. OMG, her husband’s gentleman friends are coming and they’ll find an ignorant hill girl instead of a sophisticated gentlewoman as his wife. It was a horror for Esme for sure. She just didn’t want to be a disappointment to Cleav, didn’t want to botch his hard work and reputation to his friends. I tell you, even though I found Esme loony for the better part of the book, these last parts of it I found so endearing because of Esme’s determination of becoming a ‘lady’, only for Cleav. She still loves Cleav of course and she’d do anything to make him happy, in the hopes that he’ll at least care for her a little. Esme thinks Cleav will never be able to love a girl like her. She even asks Sophrona to come over and teach her and her dumb family members the ways of the nobility. Sophrona is only too happy to help her for she’s grateful to Esme for the push she gave to her dearest Armon. Only, Esme doesn’t know yet that Cleav already loves her just the way she is but he’s also scared and feels insecure. Poor guy was just starving for Esme’s love. Oh the sweet misery!
In the ending chapters, while they tackled the guests, with the twins taking a goodly amount of interest in them, Esme and Cleav are finally able to see things clearly through some ups and downs. To me, it was bound to happen sooner or later since the love they had for each-other couldn’t really be kept hidden. I was really happy for these two. Great book, no matter how it started off. Oh Cleav was a keeper for sure! Esme is one lucky girl! 4 stars. *sigh*
Garters had a good story and some great moments to go with it. As I always do, I loved the way PM voiced her story along with the characters. Even though for the first few chapters I wasn’t sure what to think of Esme and her behavior, I soon found myself enjoying the book. And I LOVED Cleav. He was soo sexy and adorable and I ended the book with much sighing on my part!
Esme’s life as a mountain girl was something to be read. It was plain crazy! Her father is the laziest man of the town, good looking but a ne’er-do-well, who loves fiddling all day long. It was kinda over the top for me, how can a person be sooo lazy?! So are Esme’s twin elder sisters; pretty, featherbrained and lazy. It was a wonder to me, how their life went by only God knows. Esme’s mother died a long time ago, when she was young. Since she isn’t as pretty as her sisters, Esme thought the practicality and smartness God gave her was to be used to take care of her family, somehow... anyhow. She took it as her sole responsibility, that somehow she’ll see her family living happily, with full belly, in a big house. Oh, BTW, did I mention that they lived in a shack, which is actually a cave? Er, don’t ask! Anyway, what caught my attentions was Esme’s blind faith and innocence, which sometimes bordered on plain foolishness. I got that she wasn’t used to meeting a lot of people and did care for whatever philosophy her father taught her about life and being lazy. Lol Now, her dumb sisters has taken up with Armon, a wild boy; very good looking and a ne’er-do-well, just like their father. Esme won’t see her sisters’ (he’s ‘courting’ both sisters) lives go to ruin with someone like Armon. The man Esme has is mind is Cleavis Rhy, the store-keeper of the town. Esme doesn’t know Cleav well and hasn’t really paid any attention to him before. But she was thinking of the big house he owns and his steady income (she assumed) from the store, which makes him great husband material. Since her sisters just wave (read: twitters) away her proposal of snaring Cleave, Esme decides she’ll have to do something herself. With the determination, she goes down to the town with her best dress, which is of course ragged and socks without garters with a pair of working boots, to see Cleav. Seeing him she does and Esme admires whatever she saw. She didn’t know that Cleav wasn’t actually as old as she thought him to be and he was quite good looking too. And when he smiled a little smile asking her what is it she wants, Esme’s heart flutters like a butterfly. Esme Crabb decides this is the man she’s going to have and so she blurts out if he wants to marry her. Um, yah well, Esme thinks girl’s can court a man if he doesn’t come to her/like her... er, hmm, so this questions startles Cleav so badly that Esme is embarrassed and changes her words. Then Esme thinks that a man like Cleav won’t like to be married to a plain, ignorant hill girl like her and she’s a bit disappointed. As strolling in the store, Esme’s socks keep sliding down her legs, without any thought, she pulled her skirt up and takes care of it. Suddenly, she realizes another pair of eyes are watching her too and there isn’t any customer in the store. One look at Cleav and how he’s devouring the sight of her legs, Esme’s smiles a secret smile. Oh, she’s found something to entice Mr. Rhy with and soon her plan will fall into place.
Cleav was educated from a good university out of this small-town. His store-keeping was basically his father’s business and when he died, Cleav came back to take care of it and his mother. But what Cleav actually loves to do is rearing and researching fish. Yes, he’s a pisciculturist and dreams that someday his work will be featured nationwide, even worldwide. His social busybody mother of course doesn’t like this. Cleav isn’t suppose to be doing this foolishness, according to her, but get married to the preacher’s beautiful, Bible quoting daughter, Sophrona who’s a true gentlewoman. Cleav is trying to abide by this. He likes Sophrona and courting her at the moment. Someday, he plans to marry her too. So, his life is planned more or less, until Esme Crabb happens to him. Oh, those scenes were kinda funny, Esme’s thorough perusal or ‘intense research’ of Cleav. Cleav never even thought of giving this hill girl a second thought, until the day he saw her long legs, as if those just came out of his wildest fantasies. Cleav can’t shake the picture out of his head. It doesn’t help that the girl in question is everywhere he goes and pulls up her skirt at every chance. Um, yah, I know... Esme was resolute in her campaign to have Cleav and give her family a good life. No, she wasn’t greedy at all. She just wanted what was best for her lazy bunch. Anyway, as she kept on with her antics, following Cleav to the store to his house, from there to his fish ponds… Esme was daydreaming away about being Mrs. Rhy. At first, Cleav thought it was a bit funny. He liked her and talked to her, even showed her his fish ponds in which she took immense interest in. Cleav didn’t really have anyone to talk about his interests since everyone would politely try to smother a yawn when he was talking about his fish, so Esme’s interest was welcome. To Esme, by knowing his life, his routine and his work, she was doing him a favor… after all, she’s going to be his wife and it would only help Cleav in the long run! See what I meant by foolishness?
At first, her infatuation thrilled Cleave but as Esme’s perusal became more and more prominent, Cleav begins to feel irritated. Esme is there, everywhere. One day as he was strolling on his ponds, he finds her there, trying to fix her socks and Cleav finally snaps, kind of that is. He, in specific words, tells her that there would NEVER be anything between him and her. I would’ve been embarrassed but Esme, well, she’s made of something entirely different. It doesn’t really disturb her since she thinks Cleav just needs to see the fact that they’ll be together someday and so, she makes more plans. To Cleav’s utter annoyance, Esme takes up working in his store, without his permission and it seems like Cleav can’t do a thing about it. His mother is also asking questions. It doesn’t help that he actually wants her, very bad but marriage to her isn’t an option and however loony Esme appears, she deserves a good husband. They had kissed once or twice before and it proved be a very bad idea since the spark between them is just amazing. With Sophrona, Cleav doesn’t feel anything like this. She’s a gentlewoman and Cleav treats her with utmost respect. So yes, Esme just stuck on... like glue. Once, she spies on Cleav and Sophrona alone. She challenges Cleav about kissing Sophrona the way he kissed her, all hot and lusty. At first, Cleav is distracted by her long legs (yes again) sticking out of the tree under which he and Sophrona sat. Then when his fiancée went inside the house for something, Cleav speaks up to give her a piece of his mind but instead comes up with a challenge, which ends in disaster. He gets Sophrona’s sturdy slap in return. Oh that poor baby!
While he’s annoyed, Cleav still can’t be that cruel to Esme. One day, the townspeople decide to give charity baskets to the Crabb family. While her dumb father and sisters are very happy, Esme feels ashamed. Cleav notes this and admires her courage but that doesn’t excuse her peskiness though. And Esme here trying hard to go along with this courtship thing (from her POV mind you!) and trying to keep that Armon from her twittering sisters, both of whom are of a mind to marry him. Esme knows very well Armon is up to no good at all. Her father, as usual, isn’t any help... not even when it comes to looking after his daughters from wild hill boys. Ugh, he was a piece of something I tell you. The townspeople have already begun gossiping about Cleav and Esme and what their relationship might be. It seems like the women and the busybodies are more on Esme’s side, thinking Cleav is taking advantages of her. Oh the poor babe! It was just odd and funny, that he was being condemned for things he didn’t even do, though thought about no doubt. One day, trouble happens. Esme and Cleav have this squabble about her ‘showing her legs off’ symptom. Even though both were guilty (one showing off and the other having a good look at them every time that happens), they still fight. At one point, Cleav just grabs a pair of new garters and gives it to Esme so that she won’t show her legs off again (and drive him insane in the process). Esme is genuinely happy with Cleav’s gesture. Emotions overwhelms her and while she was going out to try it on in some secluded spot, the towns most notorious gossip and busybody comes in at that exact moment. A flustered Esme kind of blurts out about them and things change drastically for them both. Apparently, this kind of gesture means something immoral is going on and now Cleav has to marry Esme to save her reputation.
Esme is very unhappy about the turn of things. She wanted this man, maybe even thought of trapping him in a way but this is definitely NOT what she dreamt of. Cleav, well, he kinda resigns himself to this. Even though he would’ve never married Esme normally, he thinks it won’t be that bad; she’s smart and funny, she works hard. Cleav genuinely thinks that Esme deserves a good life and then, he actually wants her. His mother isn’t happy. Sophrona’s parents won’t let him see her and Esme’s lazy arse father shows some balls for the first time, thinking Cleav has wronged Esme. It was kinda annoying but with Cleav’s reassurance, he gives in. They marry afterwards. Cleav’s mother doesn’t attend. At night, Armon and some other wild hill boys takes shivaree on the new bride and groom. It takes a while and some work to get the boys demands and ‘rescue’ Esme from them. Esme was spitting mad at Armon, who was already drunk. It was some scene but they make it back home. They have a fight again and Cleav’s mother comes down. She helps Esme to clean herself up with loads of uppity crap about how she’s not suited for Cleav. These comments struck a chord inside Esme and she begins thinking, for the first time, that she might’ve made a mistake because she’s actually never thought past the marriage. That day, Cleav doesn’t come to her and Esme is hurt and disappointed. But their relationship doesn’t go on like this for long. In fact, the next day Esme plans something for Cleave and goes to the store. Ummm, that was a sexy scene because Cleav was sexy and quite insane about Esme. When she keeps of talking about the new garters and how she’s not really wearing anything underneath her clothes…. You get the picture. It was funny, sexy and sweet, their love-play. Afterwards, their relationship only deepens. Cleav starts calling Esme hillbaby, it turned me into mush every time he called her that. *sigh* It appears that both understands each-other like no one else. Cleav likes this sharing of his hopes and dreams with Esme. Marriage doesn’t seem that bad after all.
Soon there are misunderstandings. One day, Esme kind of (totally unintentionally) blurts out about her original plan about Cleav big white house and how she wanted her family in here. Cleav doesn’t understand at first as to why she wants them here. But as Esme explains, he becomes insecure. Cleav thinks Esme didn’t really love him the way he originally thought she did (she told him already that she loves him). That, this really was infatuation and a need to save her family. Even though Cleav is hurt and becomes distant, he understands where this stemmed from. He has seen how hardworking and responsible Esme is and the sorry place she used to live. Esme is also puzzled by Cleav’s behavior but she takes it as Cleav’s disappointment in her. She hasn’t yet gotten over the fact that she is still that ignorant, plain hill girl who doesn’t really deserve a man like Cleav. But, as promised, Cleav takes his father and sisters-in-law in. This also dampens their privacy to a great level. But Esme’s father takes the family by storm. Cleav’s mother begins to enjoy his fiddling and starts calling him brother. She’s more relaxed these days and does a lot of gardening. It’s like she has gotten herself back. The twins are still twittering around with Armon and Esme decides it’s time to take care of this problem.
Sometimes afterwards, with a very sexy interlude, Cleav and Esme resolve their marital problem to some extent. It was just that they couldn’t simply keep themselves apart which I found really great to read. Their chemistry was amazing. Notice that their misunderstanding about each-other was still there. Cleav thinks he’ll make Esme love him and Esme is determined to do something about her ignorant mountain ways. Esme feels that even though they’re together again, Cleav is holding himself back. It wasn’t like before. One day, there was this festival in the town. Esme and the others of her family take part in it, along with the rest of the townspeople. Her sisters are still with Armon and a plan forms in Esme’s mind. If Sophrona slapped Cleav for a paltry kiss, what would she do to Armon if Esme did something that pushes Armon towards her direction? Hmm, good thinking Esme! She does that and Armon is totally into the idea. Sophrona is not only beautiful but her, er, bosoms are stuffs of legend. Cleav was also kind of enchanted by those. lol :p How can Armon deny this lure? Esme makes him think Sophrona has been pining away for him for a longtime but hasn’t had the courage to come forward. I don’t really know what happened next but it seems Armon makes it his life’s work to peruse Sophrona this time. I REALLY wish there were scenes between Armon and Sophrona because they were so opposite of each-other, it would’ve been such fun to see them finally falling. I felt cheated that there wasn’t any, at all. Very soon, these two give the town the biggest surprise of them all. One fine day at church, Mr. and Mrs. Hightower make their first appearance, with everyone hooting in congratulations while Sophrona’s mother faints at the horror of it! Armon, apparently, has changed his wild ways because he has finally found his woman. Esme’s sisters began mourning the fickleness of Armon’s devotion. It was just funny I tell you, the whole drama of it. Even Esme is surprised. When she planned this, it never even occurred to her that these two actually might fall for each-other.
After a few days, Cleav gets a mail from some of his fellow pisciculturists from some reputed university, who want to have a look at his babies, aka, his work. Cleav is in seventh heaven, finally his work is getting the recognition it deserves! But when he breaks the news to Esme, she’s totally, utterly horrified. OMG, her husband’s gentleman friends are coming and they’ll find an ignorant hill girl instead of a sophisticated gentlewoman as his wife. It was a horror for Esme for sure. She just didn’t want to be a disappointment to Cleav, didn’t want to botch his hard work and reputation to his friends. I tell you, even though I found Esme loony for the better part of the book, these last parts of it I found so endearing because of Esme’s determination of becoming a ‘lady’, only for Cleav. She still loves Cleav of course and she’d do anything to make him happy, in the hopes that he’ll at least care for her a little. Esme thinks Cleav will never be able to love a girl like her. She even asks Sophrona to come over and teach her and her dumb family members the ways of the nobility. Sophrona is only too happy to help her for she’s grateful to Esme for the push she gave to her dearest Armon. Only, Esme doesn’t know yet that Cleav already loves her just the way she is but he’s also scared and feels insecure. Poor guy was just starving for Esme’s love. Oh the sweet misery!
In the ending chapters, while they tackled the guests, with the twins taking a goodly amount of interest in them, Esme and Cleav are finally able to see things clearly through some ups and downs. To me, it was bound to happen sooner or later since the love they had for each-other couldn’t really be kept hidden. I was really happy for these two. Great book, no matter how it started off. Oh Cleav was a keeper for sure! Esme is one lucky girl! 4 stars. *sigh*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2023
Turns out I love a hillbilly romance
March 4, 2011
This is my first Pamela Morsi book and I bought it because of the reviews of other readers. Let me just say that they did a great job reviewing this book; so basically, I'm not going to say too much more.[return]Esme (short for Esmerelda) Crabb is the practical one in her family. Her beautiful twin sisters are man-crazy flirts and her dad is kind-hearted but the laziest man in the county. Unfortunately, everyone in town knows this and they also know that Esme is the only hard worker of the bunch, so she gets a double-heap of pity (one for being a Crabb, the other for having supporting her Pa and sisters alone). Thing is, Esme is tired of nearly starving in their mountain cave during the winter and realizes that, unless she wants to work herself into an early grave as her mother did, she has to marry and marry well. She sets her sights on Cleavis Rhy, the town storekeeper, because he has a big, fine white house that only he and his mother live in. She decides that is perfect for her family and she will marry him.[return][return]Esme's not a beauty, nor is she educated or "genteel", being brought up in the "hills," so she has to use her brains to snare Cleavis's attention. Since he was educated in the city and is a real "gentleman" she assumes that she will have to be practical and highlight her best attributes (hard-working, willing to sacrifice, willing to be a helpmeet, etc) in order to catch him. So she simply walks up to him and says, "You wanna marry me?" This is the beginning of the most hilarious love story I've read in a long time. Esme follows him, worms her way into his life and starts driving him insane and ruining his reputation by working in his store and flashing her legs at him! Did I mention and Cleavis was supposed to be courting the minister's daughter???[return][return]This book was fun and funny! I really enjoyed watching practical Esme lose all common sense when trying to catch a man. I also thought it was realistic when she started feeling as if she wasn't good enough for Cleavis and wondering how to be the lady that she thought he needed. But Esme is blunt, honest and funny and I loved her. It was interesting to watch Cleavis open up to her and start talking about memories that transformed him from a smalltown hillboy to the prissy talking, snob that he was a the beginning of the novel.[return][return]There are no bad guys in GARTERS because Morsi has a gift of portraying real people, all their foibles and prejudices intact. Other reviewers weren't that pleased with Cleavis's Mom and Armon Hightower (the guy dating Esme's twin sisters), but I could see them as real people. Overall, I give this book five stars because it deserves five stars. It was written in 1992, so unlike most of the novels that have come out recently, the book isn't merely sex scenes for the second half. There is steam and heat, but also true plot and resolution. I highly recommend this book.
July 27, 2020
3.5 stars
My heart hurt for Esme at the beginning as she pursued Cleav and everyone described her as so undesirable. Cleav did desire her but I found him mean in the beginning as he continued to date the preachers daughter. When they did marry it was lovely to see their relationship develop although I felt Cleav’s feelings flipped overnight or maybe once they’d slept together.
Quite a sweet love story
My heart hurt for Esme at the beginning as she pursued Cleav and everyone described her as so undesirable. Cleav did desire her but I found him mean in the beginning as he continued to date the preachers daughter. When they did marry it was lovely to see their relationship develop although I felt Cleav’s feelings flipped overnight or maybe once they’d slept together.
Quite a sweet love story
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2010
I can always count on Pamela Morsi to write a good-hearted story about everyday people who make me laugh and GARTERS is no exception
Esme (short for Esmerelda!) Crabb is the practical one in her family. Her beautiful twin sisters are a little light in the brains department and her dad is kind-hearted but the laziest man in the county, so the burden of providing for her family is entirely hers. Determined to make a better life for her and her useless loved-ones she concocts a plan to make the richest man in town marry her.
Esme's not a beauty, nor is she refined, being brought up in the "hills" so she has to use her brains to snare Cleavis Rye's attention. He's the town store-keeper and is one of the best educated men in the land and she figures when he realizes how practical marrying up with her is he'd have to be crazy not to just jump at the chance. So she follows him around a like a puppy and insinuates her way into his life and before he knows what is happening she's working in his store, flashing her legs at him, driving him insane and ruining his reputation!
This book was fun, fun, fun! I so enjoyed watching the practical Esme lose all common sense when trying to catch herself a man. She's blunt, honest and funny and I was rooting for her all the way. It was also amusing to see the prissy talking and sometimes snobby Cleavis lighten up, get all hot and bothered and lose his heart to the most unlikely woman possible. His nickname for the heroine "Hillbaby" drove me nuts but you can't have everything, can you? There are no bad guys in GARTERS because Morsi has a gift that manages to turn even the most unlikable character into a real person (Cleavis's Mom comes to mind, as do the twins shifty suitor). Her books always remain centered on her characters growing love, never getting lost or bogged down with intrigue and action. And did I forget to mention the incredible sensual tension?! Whew, this one had plenty of it. It's the perfect book to brighten up a dank, rainy day or any day for that matter.
Esme (short for Esmerelda!) Crabb is the practical one in her family. Her beautiful twin sisters are a little light in the brains department and her dad is kind-hearted but the laziest man in the county, so the burden of providing for her family is entirely hers. Determined to make a better life for her and her useless loved-ones she concocts a plan to make the richest man in town marry her.
Esme's not a beauty, nor is she refined, being brought up in the "hills" so she has to use her brains to snare Cleavis Rye's attention. He's the town store-keeper and is one of the best educated men in the land and she figures when he realizes how practical marrying up with her is he'd have to be crazy not to just jump at the chance. So she follows him around a like a puppy and insinuates her way into his life and before he knows what is happening she's working in his store, flashing her legs at him, driving him insane and ruining his reputation!
This book was fun, fun, fun! I so enjoyed watching the practical Esme lose all common sense when trying to catch herself a man. She's blunt, honest and funny and I was rooting for her all the way. It was also amusing to see the prissy talking and sometimes snobby Cleavis lighten up, get all hot and bothered and lose his heart to the most unlikely woman possible. His nickname for the heroine "Hillbaby" drove me nuts but you can't have everything, can you? There are no bad guys in GARTERS because Morsi has a gift that manages to turn even the most unlikable character into a real person (Cleavis's Mom comes to mind, as do the twins shifty suitor). Her books always remain centered on her characters growing love, never getting lost or bogged down with intrigue and action. And did I forget to mention the incredible sensual tension?! Whew, this one had plenty of it. It's the perfect book to brighten up a dank, rainy day or any day for that matter.
July 26, 2025
The secondhand embarrassment was RIPE in this book, but I still loved it. I loved how well-developed all of the characters were. Everything about the townsfolk was believable and endearing.
I live near the Nolichucky too and my husband is obsessed with trout fishing so the setting was fascinating.
I loved Cleavis. Though he could be described as a beta, he had so many redeeming qualities. He could’ve been so much crueler to Esme, but he immediately started defending her and championing her. Esme gave us so many cringeworthy moments, but she was endearing too. Excellent book.
I live near the Nolichucky too and my husband is obsessed with trout fishing so the setting was fascinating.
I loved Cleavis. Though he could be described as a beta, he had so many redeeming qualities. He could’ve been so much crueler to Esme, but he immediately started defending her and championing her. Esme gave us so many cringeworthy moments, but she was endearing too. Excellent book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2012
Esme is a weird stalker and not at all endearing it is questionable queued or not I'll finish his book. This man doesn't owe her a thing and should not be expe Ted to marry her to support her family. This would not be acceptable in a male character and I don't like to see women manipulate either.
Can't believe I'm still reading this Essie is like the original gold digger.
Can't believe I'm still reading this Essie is like the original gold digger.
October 19, 2019
I am floored by how much I enjoyed this book. I laughed and cried. I found myself shaking my head at Esme's antics lol. I also found myself cringing at Cleav's actions. I don't want to spoil it at all but I just cannot say enough good things about this book. I gave it 4 stars because of grammatical errors but the story itself is a solid 5.
April 6, 2015
Cute read. There were some funny moments. Well-written. Good characters. My favorite Morsi book is Wild Oats.
April 11, 2021
4.5 stars!
"Don't cry, little baby," he whispered. "My little Hillbaby."
rtc
"Don't cry, little baby," he whispered. "My little Hillbaby."
rtc
November 5, 2018
I started to read this because I wanted something light and cute and funny. From all the reviews I read I was pretty sure I was on the right path and this book has exceeded all my expectations. It was truly amazing.
There are so many things I like about it let me see if I can name them all without giving away much of the story.
Heroine that is set on courting our hero. I can't remember the last time I have read such a role reversal.
A set up which is hard to believe it will get resolved. But trust Pamela Morsi so resolve it beautifully.
An aspect of a wild woman
Hero that is sweet, carrying but not interested in our heroine.
Wisdom that is spread throughout the book in slight odd comments of all characters.
Everyone is so well developed and it's easy to get transported to small town Tennessee at the end of 19th century.
Even now few days after reading this book I feel like these characters are still living somewhere in Tennessee.
Plus this book is hot and original without trying too hard. There is playfulness and heat mix into very sweet situation.
Love it.
There are so many things I like about it let me see if I can name them all without giving away much of the story.
Heroine that is set on courting our hero. I can't remember the last time I have read such a role reversal.
A set up which is hard to believe it will get resolved. But trust Pamela Morsi so resolve it beautifully.
An aspect of a wild woman
Hero that is sweet, carrying but not interested in our heroine.
Wisdom that is spread throughout the book in slight odd comments of all characters.
Everyone is so well developed and it's easy to get transported to small town Tennessee at the end of 19th century.
Even now few days after reading this book I feel like these characters are still living somewhere in Tennessee.
Plus this book is hot and original without trying too hard. There is playfulness and heat mix into very sweet situation.
Love it.
November 3, 2009
This story was too cute. I read this book with a smile on my face the entire time, there were so many funny moments in it. I just loved Esme and Cleavis, they were both such great characters. The twins and Armon were halarious also. Even the lazy, good-for-nothin, fiddle-playin father was charming. Morsi can write some of the sweetest feel-good romance and Garters was no exception. I would have saved this book for my keeper shelf if I didn't hand it off to my sister to enjoy. Maybe I have to dig myself up another copy...
February 10, 2013
Lovely. Lovely. Lovely. And really sweet. It is amazing how Ms. Morsi could manage to make an uneducated, hill billy girl into someone who is so spunky and adorable. And to think she is the one who is doingvthe courting. Ems, does not appear cheap at all instead hou will get to admire her practicality and her bravery. And the ever dignified, fine Mr. Cleavis can't just resist her no matter how hard he tries. A beautiful story with unforgettable characters. And oh yes, the sex is hot!
September 16, 2016
Dorință împlinită este o carte deosebit de caldă și romantică, scrisă cu multă duioșie și umor, care te reconfortează și te binedispune. Incredibil ce lanț întreg de evenimente avea să declanșeze o pereche de jartiere buclucașe!
Recenzia mea:
http://www.delicateseliterare.ro/dori...
Recenzia mea:
http://www.delicateseliterare.ro/dori...
May 22, 2013
Despite being a fan of Morsi's book 'Courting Miss Hattie', for me, this book fell rather flat. I didn't even bother finishing it.
October 29, 2022
So boring. I felt my soul leave my body numerous times reading this and not in the good way. If you don’t like secondhand embarrassment, this is not the book for you.
February 19, 2025
So good RTC
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