THE EX-DEBUTANTE

Author: Linda Francis Lee ISBN: 0312354967 4/2008 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: ST. MARTIN'S PRESS

Carlisle Wainwright Cushing, of the old-moneyed Willow Creek, Texas, Wainwrights, is the daughter of larger-than-life Ridgely Wainwright . . . Cushing-Jameson-Lackley-Harper-Ogden. Given her mother’s predilection for divorce, no one is surprised that Carlisle becomes a divorce lawyer and runs far away to Boston, where no one, including her fiancé, knows she’s an heiress. But now, three years later, Carlisle is lured back to Texas to deal with her mother’s latest divorce and the family-sponsored 100th annual debutante ball which is on the verge of collapse. Suddenly the determined lawyer is weighing the merits of beads versus crystals on ball gowns and teaching eighteen-year-olds to balance books on their heads, all the while trying to figure out how to tell her deeply Southern mother that she is engaged to a Yankee. Things go from bad to worse and soon Carlisle's afraid she’ll never get back to Boston, especially when good ol’ Southern boy Jack Blair shows up on the opposite side of the divorce court, making her wonder if the man is going after her mother in the proceedings, or her.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

I absolutely adored this book! THE EX-DEBUTANTE is funny and witty, with just the right touch of Texas BBQ tang to even out the dramatic moments that are sprinkled throughout its pages. I loved the characters—every last, single bloomin' one of them—and read this book non-stop from the first time I opened its cover.

I'm familiar with Ms. Lee's writing through many of her older historicals that line my keeper shelves. I loved her writing style and stories then and I love them now, even though contemporary stories are rarely my cup of tea (lifting the cup with my pinky out). But just as in those beloved historicals, Ms. Lee's ability to write and convey such a wide array of emotions—from the humorous, to the dramatic and sad, to the poignant—still shines bright as day in this contemporary set romance.

There's so much going on here, so many characters involved. But what anchors THE EX-DEBUTANTE in place is Carlisle and all her many challenges. First and foremost, there's her chaotic family—and what a fun and eclectic mix of members that is! Then there's that blasted, failing, historic, family-hosted debutante event to which she's suddenly appointed and expected to save. Add to that the problems with her love life, both the one she leaves temporarily in Boston and the one that haunts her from her past in Willow Creek, and you've got a woman who really has her hands full. It is Carlisle juggling between these challenges, as well as listening to her spar with and try to keep the oh-so-sexy Jack at bay, while at the same time coping with her wayward, self-absorbed mother and her divorce that gives this book its balance. And of course, it is also the joy of watching her turn all those adolescent, far-from-perfect wannabe debutantes into... well, not-so-perfect yet determined young "ladies" who, in the end, give it their best shot. It's a growing and eye-opening experience for all, but most of all it is just so much fun!

THE EX-DEBUTANTE is probably one of the best books I've read yet this year, and has all the elements I love in a really great read. Hands down (dipped in the finger bowl first, of course), it gets a definite, should-not-be-missed recommendation from this reviewer. Just put on your gold-trimmed Texas BBQ bib and dive right in—you'll be very glad you did!

Nancy Davis