80s in a small southern town is the setting for this debut novel.

It’s seemingly ripe for memorable colorful characters amid an interesting storyline.
Unfortunately, this readers’s attention wandered a number of times. Often distracted by the Greek chorus feel of the Bulletin that was placed intermittently. Understood its purpose but felt it marred the pacing of the book.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Köehler Books, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

dnf @ 26%


Didn't quite work for me. I really liked the character dynamics (especially all the different teachers), but it wasn't really holding my interest. I would say it's much more in the vein of historical/general fiction; I'm not sure why this ARC has the tag for "romance," since it doesn't seem to be following those genre conventions.

This was cute and I liked the setting in the south in the 1980's. It touched on some important stereotypes. I also enjoyed the touch of magical realism. I was a tad bored but I could understand the appeal, especially if you read queer fiction.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC.

This was an interesting read for me, as while I am familiar with the time period, I am less familiar with the setting. Both the South and the Friday Night Lights type culture are novel to me. It was fascinating to see how many rituals and events surround high school football and then to have it layered with various southern elements was interesting, even as it made me so grateful that I didn't grow up in that world.

Trudy is a very young widow, who is living at home with her young son Pete, and dating the Superintendent of schools, Haskel Moody, who is running for Mayor, per family tradition. Trudy decides to put her education to use, by filling the staffing hole at the high school by volunteering to become the new Chemistry teacher. The previous teacher left in scandal, which threatened to make Haskel look bad.

Trudy has no experience beyond the 9 months of student teaching required by her degree and is not much older than her students, including nephew to be, JuneBug Moody. That being said, right off the bat she makes a bunch of ridiculous mistakes, considering she had been a student at that same school and a member of the community for her entire life. It's not really believable that she's forgotten some of the traditions surrounding the football team. The entire town LIVES for football, she would know these traditions like her own name, it's inescapable, and she was a former head cheerleader.

But this sets up the meet cute with Coach 'Shug' Meecham (a completely ridiculous name, though Doyle isn't better) and also starts with the punishments. At first I thought it was a bit of hazing of the young new teacher, but it instead it's a life long widow blaming and shaming because former football hero Jimmie took his life and Trudy 'did nothing to help him'.

We also get chapters in Trudy's mother's voice - Leta Pearl, she of the love biscuits.

The author sets forth this ridiculous premise that any man who eats these biscuits falls madly in love and behaves like a lovesick cliche. Leta Pearl bakes them for Haskel every week, hoping for him to finally propose to Trudy, giving little Pete a good father, and once he becomes Mayor, restoring Leta Pearl back to the top of the local social heap. Her standing took a hit, in the aftermath of Jimmie's death. Trudy has no idea about the biscuits and their power and is mystified why her mother, in a complete breech of Southern manners and hospitality, attempts to slap a biscuit out of the hands of Shug.

Fine. You want us on board with the idea of love spells that actually work, fine, it's fiction, i'll play along. You want to double down and show the men actually having symptoms, with sweat on their upper lips, and blank eyes, upon consuming said biscuits, great. Why then do you COMPLETELY negate this entire plot line and the title of the book, by having some random character that shows up nearly at the end of the book explain that the 'magic' oil in the biscuits is just hooey - it's oregano and oil?!? The idea being that the women believing that their men are eating love biscuits, suddenly act more confident and that's why the men are suddenly lovesick is a weak cop out. Especially since Trudy knew nothing about the love biscuits and Haskel still behaved like a love sick fool.

And once he stops eating the biscuits he suddenly realizes not only that Trudy should be with Shug but that he ends up married to Trudy's older sister Emily, who pops in and out of the story like a bit character, not a major love interest. So annoying.

Then there is the story of JuneBug Moody. He is a football star, popular, dating the head cheerleader, son of the town Mayor, nephew to the school superintendent, etc. JuneBug is also a closeted gay teen, who is possibly in love for the first time with Carter the new kid, who seems like 'a big ole sissy' according to his classmates. And yes, in small town south, back in the day, this was a huge secret. I'll accept that. What I had trouble with was Trudy being compassionate to Carter until she saw him kissing JuneBug. Then suddenly she wants the boys to just stop being like 'that', so that it doesn't affect Haskell's run for Mayor. Even going so far as demanding her mother bake love biscuits for JuneBug's cheerleader girlfriend DeeDee to give him, so that he would suddenly love girls again.

Yes it was a different time but it was still the 1980s - Boy George, Madonna, Wham!, etc. People knew what gay was, and there was a world in which JuneBug didn't have to unhappily marry a woman. Additionally, when Trudy finally learned about the love biscuits, she is furious at having the men in her life manipulated by the 'magic' and yet, she can't wait to force JuneBug to love someone she thinks he should love. Make it make sense.

Barbara and her reign of terror, endlessly heaping abuse on Trudy and undermining her in the press all because of Jimmie's death is another plot point that falls apart because we learn that Barbara gave Jimmie a love biscuit possibly making her responsible for his undoing. Which we are to believe the guilt over which, causes her to deflect and attack innocent little Trudy for seven years. But then again, whoopsie, they have no power so Jimmie was responsible for everything, including taking his own life. But Barbara still gets to print whatever garbage she wishes. Ughhhh.

This book had it's moments, but too many things that made me say, 'oh, come on!' in frustration. This is more of a 3.5 stars for me.

Slice of southern fried pie. Overly sweet, but oh so juicy and delicious. Arlon Jay Staggs write with authentic voice which can de difficult when dealing with stories of the south. I quite enjoyed this read.

Thank you to Köehler Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

If you love romance and killer action this one is for you I enjoyed this book so much and looking forward to reading from this author in the future