Redneck Cinderella
Grade : B

If I hadn't already read several of LuAnn McLane's books, I think the title and back cover blurb of Redneck Cinderella would have turned me away. But McLane is adept at making her characters feel Southern, without feeling stereotyped. Yes, the heroine is a redneck — she speaks in slang, washes her truck in a bikini and cutoffs, and drinks bourbon instead of wine — but she's more than the stereotype, and I found her very endearing. Despite my normal avoidance of first-person narratives, McLane is an author I make an exception for.

In the prologue we learn that Jolie Russell and her widowed father, Wyatt, have been living on and working the family tobacco farm for all of Jolie's life. Then developer Cody Dean offers them $3 million for the land, on which he plans to build an upscale housing development. They negotiate the stipulation that Jolie and Wyatt will keep a couple of acres and Cody will build them a new home to match the surrounding development. Jolie is very attracted to Cody, but is sure that a rich man like him would never be interested in a redneck like her, so she leaves it at that.

The rest of the story takes place after Jolie and Wyatt have been living in the new Copper Creek Estates for nearly a year. They are having trouble fitting in with their upper-class neighbors, and are (unknowingly) violating HOA rules left and right. This is primarily because although Jolie and Wyatt are now millionaires and have a fancy new home, they continue to live on their property the way they always have. They fish in the neighboring creek, and wash their trucks in the driveway, and have backyard pig roast get-togethers. But Jolie can tell from the stares, whispers, and general alienation she feels that her new neighbors don't like her or her father, and it's beginning to take its toll on her.

After an embarrassing display involving her basset hound and a neighbor's upscale backyard anniversary party, Jolie is befriended by Cody's brother Brett. Brett seems to be very different from Cody. Although he comes from a rich family, he's chosen to go his own way, becoming a high school teacher and baseball coach. The two hit it off right away, but only platonically. After Jolie admits to Brett how it sucks to be the local pariah, he tells Jolie about a speech and etiquette teacher who could coach her. He also suggests that they attend the annual Cottonwood black-tie ball together so she could get revenge on all her neighbors, and show Cody a thing or two.

Cody is jealous that Jolie and his brother are spending time together, and initially mistakes their relationship for something more than friendship (which is Brett's plan). His jealousy is the push Cody needs to pursue his attraction to Jolie. But Jolie is very nervous about a relationship with Cody, both because she has trouble believing that he is actually interested in her, and also because she feels so out of place in his world. Because of this, she agrees to the etiquette training (which Cody isn't aware of at first).

I genuinely liked Jolie, and understood her dilemma. I am not a fan of books where the heroine totally makes herself over to please the hero, and for the first half of the book I was worried this was where it was headed. I was also worried that Jolie's embarrassing episodes would continue far into the story. Luckily that doesn't happen. Though her etiquette lessons enable her to feel more comfortable in country-club scene, Jolie begins to realize that at heart she's a jeans and t-shirt, pig-roast kind of girl, and always will be. Because she wants to stay true to herself, she questions the viability of her relationship with Cody. She is faced with the decision of either molding herself into a different person, or remaining true to her redneck roots — even if it means giving up Cody.

While Cody initially comes off as a bit snobbish and reserved, as Jolie gets to know him better, she discovers that there's more to him than meets the eye. It turns out that he's not as happy in the whole country-club scene as everybody assumes. Spending time with Jolie both allows him the freedom to let his hair down (so to speak), and also the opportunity to stop being such a workaholic and smell the roses.

In the very beginning, I thought Brett was the better match for Jolie even though she's not attracted to him like she is Cody (and even though the author makes it clear they will never be more than buddies). But after getting to know the characters better, I changed my mind. Jolie feels so comfortable with Brett because she slides right into that role of being just one of the guys. But with Cody Jolie feels like a woman, and that's something she's been missing in her life.

Unfortunately, there were a couple of problems I had with the story. First, I really could have done without the embarrassing Wyatt-flatulence episode. Second, I had a bit of trouble understanding how training Jolie into being a country-club lady was going to get revenge on those people who talked down to her. To me it seemed like molding herself to their specifications was really just playing into their hands.

I also had trouble with the conflict resolution at the end. Jolie has concerns about Cody's social and professional life that have been bothering her, but they weren't really addressed in the big finish. It felt a little like she abandoned her concerns without due discussion.

Despite the problems I had, I really had a fun time with Redneck Cinderella. It was lighthearted, sweet, and funny. There is also a secondary romance involving Jolie's father and the etiquette coach that I found quite charming. I breezed through this book, and really didn't want to put it down. It was also a definite improvement over last year's A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action, which I found somewhat lacking. Even though I didn't think this was McLane's best book, I did feel like she's back on her game, and I'll definitely check out her next release.

Reviewed by Katie Mack
Grade : B

Sensuality: Warm

Review Date : February 24, 2009

Publication Date: 2009/03

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