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Bless Her Heart #1
The Future Widows' Club
The Future Widows' Club by Rhonda Nelson released on Apr 12, 2005 is available now for purchase.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 10, 2021
From the cutesy name of the southern town (Bless Your Heart, North Carolina) to the population of quirky female characters, this novel is a clumsy, tone-deaf "murder mystery meets Harlequin Romance meets Steel Magnolias." I guess for a freebie I can't complain. It wasn't boring, it was just really dumb.
The Future Widows Club (FWC) of the title is a group of women who are, or were, married to horrible men. They get together to laugh, eat, and celebrate their future status as widows. Because widow-hood is better than divorce. Club rituals include: pre-planning the funeral; buying the fabulous outfit, with hat, that you will wear to the funeral; and increasing the amount of life insurance on the SOB you’re married to. Several of the women are Lifetime Members, or actual widows whose husbands have passed away.
Jolie, the newest member of the club, is married to Chris Marshall. He cheats on her with every floozy in town, beats her, and has swindled her mother out of her life savings to finance his crooked business dealings. She is invited to join the FWC and it becomes a lifeline for her as she is sticking with the marriage until she can recoup her mother’s money and gather enough evidence to send her rat-bastard husband to prison.
Then Chris is murdered in a gruesome way. Jolie, having recently performed all of the FWC rituals (funeral, outfit, life insurance, etc.) looks VERY guilty. Fortunately for her no one in the town seems all that interested in finding Chris’ killer, and the investigation is headed by none other than handsome sheriff Jake Malone – the love of her life. They broke up briefly for some stupid reason and that’s when she married Chris, to her eternal regret.
The murder investigation is all wrapped up with a ridiculously minimal amount of stress for Jolie, and of course she and Jake end up happily ever after. The Big Surprise at the end of the novel was both idiotic and disturbing.
If you’ve read this, you may agree with some of my issues in the following spoilers section:
The Future Widows Club (FWC) of the title is a group of women who are, or were, married to horrible men. They get together to laugh, eat, and celebrate their future status as widows. Because widow-hood is better than divorce. Club rituals include: pre-planning the funeral; buying the fabulous outfit, with hat, that you will wear to the funeral; and increasing the amount of life insurance on the SOB you’re married to. Several of the women are Lifetime Members, or actual widows whose husbands have passed away.
Jolie, the newest member of the club, is married to Chris Marshall. He cheats on her with every floozy in town, beats her, and has swindled her mother out of her life savings to finance his crooked business dealings. She is invited to join the FWC and it becomes a lifeline for her as she is sticking with the marriage until she can recoup her mother’s money and gather enough evidence to send her rat-bastard husband to prison.
Then Chris is murdered in a gruesome way. Jolie, having recently performed all of the FWC rituals (funeral, outfit, life insurance, etc.) looks VERY guilty. Fortunately for her no one in the town seems all that interested in finding Chris’ killer, and the investigation is headed by none other than handsome sheriff Jake Malone – the love of her life. They broke up briefly for some stupid reason and that’s when she married Chris, to her eternal regret.
The murder investigation is all wrapped up with a ridiculously minimal amount of stress for Jolie, and of course she and Jake end up happily ever after. The Big Surprise at the end of the novel was both idiotic and disturbing.
If you’ve read this, you may agree with some of my issues in the following spoilers section:
June 20, 2014
The book started out promising, then everything went out the window. If you want romance without realism this is your book.
December 10, 2017
This is a really cute story. The Future Windows' Club is a great idea for women whose husbands treat them badly, but they have decided to wait for them to die instead of divorcing them. The members meet weekly to update the others when they have done something to make widowhood easier or to party if one of them actually becomes a widow. The characters are described in a way that makes you feel like you know them.
Jolie is invited to join the club because it's well-known that her marriage is awful and her husband is a jerk. He humiliates her at every opportunity and cheats on her regularly. When she finds him dead in their home, she is a suspect. Her former boyfriend, Jake, is the detective on the case. He believes she is innocent but can't understand why she doesn't tell him about the things she is doing that make her look guilty.
This is a fun story, even with a murder in it. You never know who the murderer was until the end and will be surprised at the person.
Jolie is invited to join the club because it's well-known that her marriage is awful and her husband is a jerk. He humiliates her at every opportunity and cheats on her regularly. When she finds him dead in their home, she is a suspect. Her former boyfriend, Jake, is the detective on the case. He believes she is innocent but can't understand why she doesn't tell him about the things she is doing that make her look guilty.
This is a fun story, even with a murder in it. You never know who the murderer was until the end and will be surprised at the person.
February 14, 2014
I loved The Future Widows Club by Rhonda Nelson. It's funny to serious and everything in between. And, you will be guessing until the end of Who Done It?!? This is a book that I have on my keepers shelf.
March 24, 2018
Jolie Caplan married Chris Marshall on the rebound. Jake Malone, her long-term boyfriend (think from 3rd grade past college) had unexpectedly bolted after her father died several years ago, when Jolie needed him most. In the 2 years since Jolie and Chris said “I do,” both Jolie and Jake have come to miserably regret their choices.
Chris Marshall very quickly turned out to be a chameleon — one skin being the snake charmer, the other skin being the cobra. Chris quickly proved himself a liar, a serial cheat, a substance abuser and a control freak. He also proved to be an embezzler, taking the life insurance money Jolie’s mother had received and “investing” it right into his own private offshore account. However, he was also an equal opportunity embezzler; he did the same with all the local investors who helped Jolie and him start up a software company.
As the story begins, it is the 2nd anniversary of the marriage and Jolie has spent the last 22 months of that marriage quietly documenting evidence of Chris’s many affairs as well as his embezzling scheme. She has actually been doing a bit of creative accounting herself, re-embezzling (so to speak) the funds a few dollars at a time with the intent of repaying both her mother and the company’s investors. She just needs 3 more months to complete the task. At that point, she intends to pay back the investors, file for divorce and turn the creep over to the Feds all on the same day.
Jolie doesn’t get the 3 months.
On that night of her 2nd wedding anniversary, Jolie receives a secretive invitation to join a group of women who call their group “The Future Widow’s Club.” It is actually a support group for women whose husbands have power and control issues and are verbal, but not physical, abusers.
These women in the FWC have determined that divorce is not the best option for them socially or monetarily and that the eventual death of their spouses should be prepared for and embraced. However, it is not the intention of the members to plot their husbands’ demises. They are just learning to be more prepared, independent mentally, financially, and socially despite their spouses’ attempts to debilitate them.
Two weeks later, mentally rejuvenated by the support of the group, Jolie gets home from her second meeting of the FWC and finds Chris in the shower, shot to death and emasculated.
While this may seem like the answer (albeit a bit grisly answer) to her emotional and financial agony, it is far from it. Since her induction into the FWC, she has spent the last week purchasing additional life insurance on Chris’s life, has bought a symbolic black funeral outfit complete with hat and veil, and has inquired about a burial package for Chris, not her. Talk about painting yourself into the corner called “Primary Suspect.”
And the lead detective on the case is none other than Jake Malone.
Essentially, this novel seems to be a cross between the sub-genres of “romantic suspense” and “second chance romance.” While I personally prefer the straight suspense and police procedural genres, the concept behind the FWC intrigued me. And the author carried that part off well. She hit the mark on the psychology of guilt as well as on that of personal responsibility for one’s decisions and consequences thereof.
As a mystery reader, I have one negative: too many scenes depicting the internal physical and emotional reactions Jolie and Jake have every time they are within 30 feet of each other. After about the 10th such scene, my internal dialogue became “Okay, Okay! We get it. They are still seriously attracted to each other even after not being the same room together for over 2 years. Let’s move on.” Unfortunately, the author did not.
And as a prolific reader, I have another negative for this book: poor editing. The number of errors is prolific and they are the kind of editing errors that take you out of the story while you figure out what should have been written there. Since the copyright date for tthe ebook version is 2014, the author could have updated her e-file long ago. Doing so could probably improve her ratings — and improve her chances of a reader purchasing another of her works.
Chris Marshall very quickly turned out to be a chameleon — one skin being the snake charmer, the other skin being the cobra. Chris quickly proved himself a liar, a serial cheat, a substance abuser and a control freak. He also proved to be an embezzler, taking the life insurance money Jolie’s mother had received and “investing” it right into his own private offshore account. However, he was also an equal opportunity embezzler; he did the same with all the local investors who helped Jolie and him start up a software company.
As the story begins, it is the 2nd anniversary of the marriage and Jolie has spent the last 22 months of that marriage quietly documenting evidence of Chris’s many affairs as well as his embezzling scheme. She has actually been doing a bit of creative accounting herself, re-embezzling (so to speak) the funds a few dollars at a time with the intent of repaying both her mother and the company’s investors. She just needs 3 more months to complete the task. At that point, she intends to pay back the investors, file for divorce and turn the creep over to the Feds all on the same day.
Jolie doesn’t get the 3 months.
On that night of her 2nd wedding anniversary, Jolie receives a secretive invitation to join a group of women who call their group “The Future Widow’s Club.” It is actually a support group for women whose husbands have power and control issues and are verbal, but not physical, abusers.
These women in the FWC have determined that divorce is not the best option for them socially or monetarily and that the eventual death of their spouses should be prepared for and embraced. However, it is not the intention of the members to plot their husbands’ demises. They are just learning to be more prepared, independent mentally, financially, and socially despite their spouses’ attempts to debilitate them.
Two weeks later, mentally rejuvenated by the support of the group, Jolie gets home from her second meeting of the FWC and finds Chris in the shower, shot to death and emasculated.
While this may seem like the answer (albeit a bit grisly answer) to her emotional and financial agony, it is far from it. Since her induction into the FWC, she has spent the last week purchasing additional life insurance on Chris’s life, has bought a symbolic black funeral outfit complete with hat and veil, and has inquired about a burial package for Chris, not her. Talk about painting yourself into the corner called “Primary Suspect.”
And the lead detective on the case is none other than Jake Malone.
Essentially, this novel seems to be a cross between the sub-genres of “romantic suspense” and “second chance romance.” While I personally prefer the straight suspense and police procedural genres, the concept behind the FWC intrigued me. And the author carried that part off well. She hit the mark on the psychology of guilt as well as on that of personal responsibility for one’s decisions and consequences thereof.
As a mystery reader, I have one negative: too many scenes depicting the internal physical and emotional reactions Jolie and Jake have every time they are within 30 feet of each other. After about the 10th such scene, my internal dialogue became “Okay, Okay! We get it. They are still seriously attracted to each other even after not being the same room together for over 2 years. Let’s move on.” Unfortunately, the author did not.
And as a prolific reader, I have another negative for this book: poor editing. The number of errors is prolific and they are the kind of editing errors that take you out of the story while you figure out what should have been written there. Since the copyright date for tthe ebook version is 2014, the author could have updated her e-file long ago. Doing so could probably improve her ratings — and improve her chances of a reader purchasing another of her works.
October 27, 2023
This is a book that I’ll probably always come back to when I’m in the mood for something that’s pure silliness. At its heart is a second chance romance, so from the very beginning it has that working in its favor with me. The mystery is fun, though maybe not all that mysterious – especially after you’ve read the book for the first time. But it’s still fun and funny. And for every woman that’s ever been “done wrong”, there’s something very vindicating about seeing a jerk get his just desserts.
October 25, 2007
Funny book. It goes to show that if you feel as though ur husband isn't a good mate, so do others and have gone as far as to make a club about it. I was completely shocked as to who the murderer was considering this person seemed to me to be the biggest ditz.
June 24, 2013
Really enjoyed the twists in this story, the premise, and learning more about what really goes on at those bridge games and what southern ladies really do when they get together for ice-tea.
Engaging and fun read.
Engaging and fun read.
October 25, 2011
I enjoyed this one for the most part. It was light and funny and the ending was a surprise. However, the romance was sort of abrupt and some scenes pulled me out of the story.
December 14, 2017
This was a really entertaining book about a young woman who married in haste, and is now repenting at leisure as her husband of two years has swindled her mother and multiple other townspeople out of their savings, while cheating on her with abandon and as the book begins, being physically abusive. I know that doesn't sound promising, but the setting and the people are lots of fun. The town is named Bless Her Heart, North Carolina, which is a bit confusing at first until you get it clear that it's the name of the town and not a local cafe or business. And the people are "characters" to say the least. Our heroine Jolie is approached by three of the older ladies in town about joining their club, The Future Widows' Club, which is made up of women who are married to abusive husbands and have decided they'd rather wait to be widowed rather than divorcing them and getting half their property and half their friends in the divorce. At first I thought the women were actively pursuing widowhood by killing their husbands, but it turned out they're just anticipating widowhood by taking "positive" steps like buying their funeral outfits, increasing their husband's life insurance, and prepaying for funeral costs. Jolie is enjoying doing this, when she arrives home to find her husband has been murdered in the shower. With all the things she has been doing to anticipate widowhood, she would be the prime suspect, but the investigator is her old high school boyfriend, and her late husband's latest fling was the wife of the sheriff, so he is inclined to believe her alibi. This is not a great mystery in that the detective never solves the crime, although the culprit is revealed in the epilogue, but it's a fun story, with a nice second chance romance as she ends up with her old boyfriend. There are some typos that should have been corrected, but the setting and personalities won me over, and I have pre-ordered the next in this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2017
The editing on this book is completely non-existent so the typographical errors and completely missing words become a real annoyance and jolt you out of the tale at almost every single page. Normally I can see a way past this but with the frequency being so high it completely destroyed this book for me.
This is a real shame as the story itself is witty and an unusual take on the crime thriller meets romance genre. With a strong set of characters that you wish you knew. Nobody feels stamped out from a guidebook of personality traits and the older women in particular are strong and rather sex-obsessed. Never have I seen so much attention given to little blue pills.
I was also surprised at what this book actually is, nothing in the blurb led me to believe it would be anything other than a romcom of sorts. Instead what I got was a charming tale with a nasty little murder thrown in to the mix. The fact that the main suspect doesn't give a chuff that she is suspected of something she hasn't done and goes right ahead with all those plans she had to make her life better and to heck with the consequences was refreshing. The stilted romance with an old flame was a bit cringy to be honest but I am pretty sure it was supposed to be. After all, old flames can make us decidedly uncomfortable.
This would have been a 4 star review because the characters are fantastic and the plot is fresh and fun. However the lack of even proof reading the manuscript shows and proves that relying on spellcheck simply doesn't work - if you mistype a word but what you typed is a legitimate word (typing of instead of off for instance it will never show up. Sadly this means I have no real compulsion to revisit Bless Her Heart because I am sure to end up tutting frustratedly at yet another mistake strewn manuscript.
This is a real shame as the story itself is witty and an unusual take on the crime thriller meets romance genre. With a strong set of characters that you wish you knew. Nobody feels stamped out from a guidebook of personality traits and the older women in particular are strong and rather sex-obsessed. Never have I seen so much attention given to little blue pills.
I was also surprised at what this book actually is, nothing in the blurb led me to believe it would be anything other than a romcom of sorts. Instead what I got was a charming tale with a nasty little murder thrown in to the mix. The fact that the main suspect doesn't give a chuff that she is suspected of something she hasn't done and goes right ahead with all those plans she had to make her life better and to heck with the consequences was refreshing. The stilted romance with an old flame was a bit cringy to be honest but I am pretty sure it was supposed to be. After all, old flames can make us decidedly uncomfortable.
This would have been a 4 star review because the characters are fantastic and the plot is fresh and fun. However the lack of even proof reading the manuscript shows and proves that relying on spellcheck simply doesn't work - if you mistype a word but what you typed is a legitimate word (typing of instead of off for instance it will never show up. Sadly this means I have no real compulsion to revisit Bless Her Heart because I am sure to end up tutting frustratedly at yet another mistake strewn manuscript.
December 18, 2017
The Future Widows' Club by Rhonda Nelson
Now this is a deliciously funny and eccentric mystery novel. All bases are covered and tastefully so, if I may say.
Some lovely quotes: " .... he quirked a questioning brow.”
“ .... looking as happy as a hooker on front church pew. “
“She did a little hip-roll shimmy dance move”.
The twist in the plot I didn’t see coming, may have been obvious to some, but slipped through to the keeper in my case.
Loved all the characters. They all had redeeming and in some cases not so redeeming features. But they were well drawn, and described in a way that kept you up to speed with their thinking.
The plot was out of this world. I had not even thought that such a thing as a future widows club could exist. In my mind it was brand-new and breathtakingly original. So hard to find something like that to write about these days I think.
Thank you Rhonda for a very happy read.
Now this is a deliciously funny and eccentric mystery novel. All bases are covered and tastefully so, if I may say.
Some lovely quotes: " .... he quirked a questioning brow.”
“ .... looking as happy as a hooker on front church pew. “
“She did a little hip-roll shimmy dance move”.
The twist in the plot I didn’t see coming, may have been obvious to some, but slipped through to the keeper in my case.
Loved all the characters. They all had redeeming and in some cases not so redeeming features. But they were well drawn, and described in a way that kept you up to speed with their thinking.
The plot was out of this world. I had not even thought that such a thing as a future widows club could exist. In my mind it was brand-new and breathtakingly original. So hard to find something like that to write about these days I think.
Thank you Rhonda for a very happy read.
January 5, 2018
The Future Widows' Club is a delightful, quick read. With its endearing Southern ladies and their secret club, Nelson shows the readers how women can love and support other women in less than ideal circumstances. Jolie and Jake are obviously meant together, and the unexpected murder of her current rebound ("bastard," according to The FWC) husband, does go a long way toward helping them get back together where they belong, but the identity of the murderer remains a mystery until the very end. Truthfully, I began suspecting who it was but was still uncertain until a "letter to be read at my death" revealed the truth. This book is certainly not literary or profound, but it is an entertaining read!
December 11, 2017
Surprising murder mystery in a quaint southern town!you
The murder of a man who wasn't worth anyone's tears. Who killed this sorry excuse for a husband? Not Jolie, his wife. But who? While absolving Jolie of the crime, she and Jake found their back to each other. But no clues surface until the death of one of the the founders of the Future Widows Club. Some secrets are worth keeping!
The murder of a man who wasn't worth anyone's tears. Who killed this sorry excuse for a husband? Not Jolie, his wife. But who? While absolving Jolie of the crime, she and Jake found their back to each other. But no clues surface until the death of one of the the founders of the Future Widows Club. Some secrets are worth keeping!
January 25, 2018
The Future Widows Club was a very fun read, I couldn't wait to keep reading every time I got a chance. The story of Jolie and Jake is somewhat predictable but the plot line regarding her husband's murder and the point of the Future Widows Club is fun and different. If you're looking for an enjoyable, light read -- I recommend The Future Widows Club. Hopefully I will run across some more Bless Her Heart novels in the future.
February 8, 2018
The Future Widows Club Blesses My Heart
As a widow who was married for 44 years to a musician, I could really relate to Jolie and the ladies of the FTW. I occasionally had to deal with his infidelities (which didn't bother me) or his mixed up priorities (which DID bother me)!! I left him after ten years, but never got a divorce (long story) so I would have really enjoyed joining a FTW. I laughed, I was moved. I really am looking forward to the next Bless Her Heart adventure.
As a widow who was married for 44 years to a musician, I could really relate to Jolie and the ladies of the FTW. I occasionally had to deal with his infidelities (which didn't bother me) or his mixed up priorities (which DID bother me)!! I left him after ten years, but never got a divorce (long story) so I would have really enjoyed joining a FTW. I laughed, I was moved. I really am looking forward to the next Bless Her Heart adventure.
December 16, 2017
Wonderful Story, Great Characters
This story was great! The characters were funny and so well-written. I loved Jolie and Jake originally. The FWCs were going and so easily visualized. Such a short review, and I apologize to the author for that, but I really need to put a review in. Highly recommend this sort, awesome read!!
This story was great! The characters were funny and so well-written. I loved Jolie and Jake originally. The FWCs were going and so easily visualized. Such a short review, and I apologize to the author for that, but I really need to put a review in. Highly recommend this sort, awesome read!!
January 7, 2018
It's a good premise, an ok mystery, but miserable reading due to the poor editing. There are too many typos, missing words, and misused words to be forgivable (i.e. "pouring over notes"). Also, the author has every single character putting their tongues in their cheeks or their hands wiping their faces to express themselves. Not very creative.
January 13, 2018
Ok, could have been better
I didn’t know this was going to be a romance, which doesn’t appeal to me. The author makes very like able characters but the whole teenagers in heat thing isn’t what I want to read about. She also needs a better editor, there were a LOT of typos in the digital version of the book.
I didn’t know this was going to be a romance, which doesn’t appeal to me. The author makes very like able characters but the whole teenagers in heat thing isn’t what I want to read about. She also needs a better editor, there were a LOT of typos in the digital version of the book.
February 3, 2018
Brilliant, must read.
This book made me sad in parts but also made me laugh so much. I couldn't put it down. The FWC is one heck of a support group that could only be in Bless Her Heart. The characters cause so much mischief you are sat on the edge of your seat waiting for them to be caught. Didn't see the ending coming though. Can't wait to read next book in the series.
This book made me sad in parts but also made me laugh so much. I couldn't put it down. The FWC is one heck of a support group that could only be in Bless Her Heart. The characters cause so much mischief you are sat on the edge of your seat waiting for them to be caught. Didn't see the ending coming though. Can't wait to read next book in the series.
December 11, 2017
Great idea
I know I got this book for free but a little proof reading wouldn’t of hurt. I mean if you take yourself seriously as a writer, I would think that would be paramount. Otherwise it was a good read and I didn’t put it down until I finished it.
I know I got this book for free but a little proof reading wouldn’t of hurt. I mean if you take yourself seriously as a writer, I would think that would be paramount. Otherwise it was a good read and I didn’t put it down until I finished it.
December 20, 2017
Quick and fun reading
Sweet story with good friends and love. Definitely light reading but nothing wrong with that! The editor was apparently sleeping on the job though; hopefully the next edition will have more corrections.
Sweet story with good friends and love. Definitely light reading but nothing wrong with that! The editor was apparently sleeping on the job though; hopefully the next edition will have more corrections.
January 12, 2018
Cute and Intriguing Read
The idea of this book was very intriguing! It kept me very interested, some love story to it, a little mystery, a lot of cute zaniness to and a pretty good ending!
The idea of this book was very intriguing! It kept me very interested, some love story to it, a little mystery, a lot of cute zaniness to and a pretty good ending!
February 4, 2018
Intriguing story
This story makes you feel sorry for women who suffer from being in a bad marriage but happy and hopeful for when the men are no longer in the women's lives. Awesome storyline and superb ending.
This story makes you feel sorry for women who suffer from being in a bad marriage but happy and hopeful for when the men are no longer in the women's lives. Awesome storyline and superb ending.
February 25, 2018
Great title!!
Joliet and Jake were made for each other and from Third Grade they (and everyone else in town!) had known it - but as usual a spanner fell into the works!! I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the follow-up
Joliet and Jake were made for each other and from Third Grade they (and everyone else in town!) had known it - but as usual a spanner fell into the works!! I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the follow-up
April 15, 2018
Hee hee
Oh so good. Well written, paced just right and witty enough to want to keep reading. Can see the whole town being involved but in a nice way. Getting on with the second book now.
Oh so good. Well written, paced just right and witty enough to want to keep reading. Can see the whole town being involved but in a nice way. Getting on with the second book now.
May 30, 2018
Fun read
It's light. It's got mystery, romance and some pretty funny lines. This quirky little town with crazy people is entertaining. A little language, one sex scene and definitely talk of burning desire.
It's light. It's got mystery, romance and some pretty funny lines. This quirky little town with crazy people is entertaining. A little language, one sex scene and definitely talk of burning desire.
December 9, 2017
Yay
Great idea for a murder mystery. The ladies are lovely and I enjoyed the puzzle. Bet you don't get who dun it though.
Great idea for a murder mystery. The ladies are lovely and I enjoyed the puzzle. Bet you don't get who dun it though.
December 9, 2017
Definitely A Winner
Pretty sure this is the first book I've read by this author,but I've pre-ordered the next one and checking out her previous offerings. Enough said.
Pretty sure this is the first book I've read by this author,but I've pre-ordered the next one and checking out her previous offerings. Enough said.
December 11, 2017
Wow, not expected! Total surprise!
Well written, thoughtful, and fun. Has to have a sequel! A total age turner. I sat up reading way into the night! Thanks I needed that!
Well written, thoughtful, and fun. Has to have a sequel! A total age turner. I sat up reading way into the night! Thanks I needed that!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews