RED'S HOT HONKY-TONK BAR

Author: Pamela Morsi ISBN: 9780778327295 7/2009 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: MIRA

Red Cullens has gone from "hot mama" to "Grandmama" quicker than a hummingbird's wink Unruly Red knows she's no one's idea of a sweet old granny. But with one long-distance phone call, the fortysomething bar owner with the tattoos and tight jeans is suddenly responsible for two young grandchildren she hardly knows. Red's rowdy friends, late-night lifestyle and tiny apartment above her San Antonio saloon definitely aren't kid-proof. And Red's pretty sure the hot young fiddle player she's been dallying with will run for the hills when he learns she has a daughter, let alone grandkids. But Red is about to learn that wisdom doesn't necessarily come with age. That a nine-year-old girl can be as exacting as the strictest parent. That the school of hard knocks never had bake sales. And that her boy toy is more of an adult than she is.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

RED'S HOT HONKY-TONK BAR is a delight! I practically inhaled this story, loving every minute of seeing a woman in her forties finally come to terms with her past as she builds a new future for herself. Red is a heroine with a history that she can't seem to shake—so she avoids dealing with it. She owns a bar and thinks she's found her niche in San Antonio, but when she finds herself taking charge of her two grandkids, she learns that there are challenges in life that don't include drunk patrons or lousy bands.

The characters in this story bring it fully to life. Red has insulated herself from feeling too deeply for anyone in order to save herself from getting hurt. She's sure her current man-toy, Cam, is going to bolt eventually, so she treats him like a sex buddy and refuses to let him see anything of the woman beneath the hands-off exterior. Cam may be young, but he's smart and has his sights set on Red. He has a few secrets of his own, like the suburban home he owns. When Red is forced to enroll the children in school, she swaps residences with Cam and their lives move quickly from the bedroom to the light of day.

There are so many amusing parts of this tale. I laughed out loud when Red chased a woman from the backyard with a broom. And when Daniel dubs her Abuela Mala, or Bad Grandma, and refuses to speak English or say anything to Red, I applauded the little guy's pluck. Fortunately, those who are chased away don't stay away forever, and Bad Grandma eventually gets a new name. Noteworthy, also, are the emails that Livy sends. They are age-appropriate, and give the reader a look at the unfolding story through the little girl's eyes. Every one of them made me smile!

Ms. Morsi has gained a fan. RED'S HOT HONKY-TONK BAR is one for my keeper shelf. Well done!

Kay James