Liz Talley

Liz Talley is the Mark Twain of Southern women’s literature. She brings her trademark wit to a tale of contemplated revenge and unfounded regret transformed into restorative redemption. Through her clever, wry, and heartfelt tale of Cricket and Ruby, women who live on opposite sides of society’s tracks, Liz examines the perceptions life’s fortunate hold for those less so and the assumptions the ‘less lucky’ make about the ones who seemingly live charmed existences. She tackles the great divide in modern society between the haves and have-nots in a clever story (sans moralizing) in the same manner Twain addressed race and class when he wrote Huckleberry Finn.
Like the book’s title, Liz deconstructs the lives of her main characters and reassembles their existence into something greater than the sum of individual experiences.
Deconstructed is the tale of Cricket, a woman raised with the rigid set of manners and expected station in life only an omnipotent Southern matriarch demands from her debutante daughter, who faces the metaphorical ‘burning down of her house’ with both an impending divorce from her first love, Scott, coupled with her perceived loss of financial stability. And it is the story of her relationship with Ruby, a young woman who wears her piercings like a survivor’s scars and makes exquisite creations from couture cast-offs, an Ugly Duckling whose hopes and dreams tragically squashed on the cusp of womanhood turned into the Swan she was meant to be. A “pioneer tough” heroine described as “sinewy, strong, and designed to withstand hot Louisiana summers ...[who] might as well be a walking advertisement for a pickup truck” transformed into “an edgy, dramatic, dark Cinderella” at the appropriately named Gritz & Glitz ball.
Both Cricket and Ruby rise like Phoenixes from the ashes of their respective dumpster fire lives to prove in another memorable line from the book that “paper people are consumed by fire, dissipating into ash before scattering to the wind… but others, those made of steel use the fire to form an edge… melding them into something stronger.”
These Southern women are truly ‘Steel Magnolias.’
The supporting cast is richly drawn displaying the disparities between the rich and ruined. I adored the potential suitors: Griff, Ty and Dak who despite their socio-economic differences shared one thing in common: the love and support of the brave women in their lives learning to own their strength. They are my new favorite book boyfriends.
Ms. Talley’s story has a depth that remains light-hearted as Cricket notes “let us never forget cute as a qualification for everything in life.” Each page brought a chuckle or grin to my face as when Cricket reminds us “a smile [is] your best accessory.”
Like Ruby’s description of Gram at her birthday party, this book felt “like home to me.” Ms. Talley has shared this story has been gestating for nine years. It was worth the wait. I hope we don’t have to wait nearly as long for her to revisit these characters or themes again.… (meer)

Small town good girl and children's librarian, Nellie Hughes, is stuck in a rut. After being convinced by her citied best friend, Nellie agrees to a makeover, an assumed identity and a week long trip to Vegas. Nellie falls head over heels for her fling with club owner Jack Darby, but when she leaves him heartbroken with more questions than answers, he tracks her down to Oak Stand, Texas where he tries to break down her resolve. The story was tightly paced, relatable, and PG-13 steamy. The dialogue was believable, and, at times, comedic. Jack and Nellie are a couple you end up rooting for despite their differences. I couldn't put this book down for more than a day without missing it.… (meer)

Standing Outside The Fire. Ok, so possibly *too* on point or perhaps even a little cliche with the title of the review there, since Talley explicitly brings that song in late in the book with one character explaining to another that this is exactly what has been happening. But I *love* that song, it is easily one of my all-time favorites. :)

Anyway, on the book itself: Very fun, but also very deep. The two main characters - Olivia and Chase - are dealing with similar events in their worlds, neither of them realizing at first just how similar they are even if their perspectives on the events in question are very different. Along the way, many, many hijinx are had, including one very scared and borderline feral kitty cat. It is hard to note a particular trigger warning that is relevant enough to probably mention (even though I am not a fan of the practice generally, it is that significant here - though off screen, discussed by the characters as past events). So I'll note that it ties into #MeToo and leave it at that. Truly a very balanced book about taking control of your own life and being open to possibilities that don't seem obvious at first, and a very fun read. Very much recommended.… (meer)