Member Reviews

Save a Truck, Ride a Rdneck is a quick read, but still full of the humor and characters that Harper's fans are used to reading. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and look forward to reading more of the McCready's stories.

Was this review helpful?

It's been years since I read a book by Molly Harper. But the names of authors who make me laugh OUT LOUD always stick with me so when I saw a new title with her name attached to it, I was on it.

Save a Truck Ride a Redneck has all of the quirk I expect from a Molly Harper novel and eccentric characters, but it also has a love for the small town lifestyle and the idiosyncrasies that go with it.

Marianne's family who runs a funeral home/bait shop (yep, doesn't that make you want to read it right there?) lives in a compound of sorts. Family is never far away. Carl, who is best friends with Marianne's brother Duffy, is now pretty much a member of the family too.

Even though years have gone by, Marianne is still drawn to Carl; it's reciprocated. In fact, this has one of the hottest scenes, rich with swoon and steam, without sex, that I have read in a long time.

The only drawback that I found with Save a Truck Ride a Redneck is that it's a novella so I didn't get to spend as much time with Marianne and Carl (especially the delicious Carl) that I would like. However, Harper manages to put so much in this novella that I never felt cheated as far as a real story and characterization (except for wanting more Marianne and Carl!). Typically that's my main complaint with many novellas, but I didn't have it here.

Save a Truck Ride a Redneck falls under women's fiction so for those of you who hang back from reading romances, you might want to give this a try. While there is some romance with Marianne and Carl, there is a lot of family and relationships and humor. If you need some quirk, snark, and humor, this might just do it for you.

Fun times!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

*Review will be posted during release month*
REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kelly
NUMBER OF HEARTS: 4 3/4
Save a Truck, Ride a Redneck is the pre-quel to Molly Harper’s new series and I couldn’t be more excited!! I mean a family that has a bait shop/funeral home (yes, you read that right!!!) has to be fun right?? The McCready family has been in the Bait/Funeral business (oh that sounds bad!! They don’t use the bodies as bait I promise) for generations!! I am super excited to see what is in store for this family.
Save a Truck, Ride a Redneck is a second chance love story for Marianne & Carl. I won’t give to much away (because you need to read) but I will say that I enjoyed the journey that Marianne & Carl’s story! Carl is very sweet and forgiving (although I do hope that he gives Marianne a hard time every now and a gain ;) ).
I am loving Marianne’s family and can’t wait to see who a story. I can’t wait for the next installment Sweet Tea & Sympathy (November 2017)!! Also can’t wait to get the audio version of this story! The amazingly talented Amanda Ronconi is lending her voice to this series also!!! Watch for audio review to come soon.



Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

Was this review helpful?

This is my first time reading Molly Harper, but I've seen her name here and there. Browsing Netgalley one day the title caught my eye, and when I saw the author's name I decided it was time to try her out so I requested it, and a big thank you to the publisher for accepting my request!

This is a sweet second chance romance. Marianne is interesting and self-deprecating. She hightailed it out of her small town to go to college, and Carl was left behind with a broken heart. It's been many many years since I was Marianne's age, but I could relate to the feeling of needing to get away from the place where you grew up. Lately my catnip is small town stories and/or cowboys. Carl isn't a cowboy, but he had many of the attributes that those heroes usually have, though I wasn't sure at first how I felt about him. Wearing shirts with the sleeves torn off...he didn't exactly appeal to me. But he quickly grew on me. Marianne has a lot of family and I had a little trouble keeping track of them all, but I really liked her brother Duffy and her cousin Frankie. I'm hoping that future books in the series will feature them.

I'm not generally a big fan of novellas, just because I like to get more story than the shorter form allows. Marianne and Carl's new, or resumed, relationship was a bit sudden, and I would've liked to spend more time watching them get to know each again after being apart for four or so years. But I loved their interactions, and I laughed out loud a few times.

A quick and enjoyable read, and I'm interested now to see how much deeper Ms. Harper goes into her characters in a full length novel. She certainly seems to be popular, with over four thousand followers on Goodreads! I'm glad I gave her try!

Was this review helpful?

I'm a first time reader of this author and now a fan! Save a Truck, Ride a Redneck is a sweet and short read about second chances in the small town of Lake Sackett, Georgia. Carl and Marianne were from high school sweethearts, but from different side of the tracks.

Marianne loved Carl, but seeing her future--being a young wife and stuck in this small town, made Marianne antsy. She left town for college for a "bigger" future, but left her heart behind with Carl.

Now back home after being gone for years, Marianne finds that her life away in college and law-school is not that all glamorous. She soon finds out that missing out on family, friends and especially her love, Carl, wasn't worth it. But did everyone move on while she was gone?

Save a Truck, Ride a Redneck is a charming southern read and looking forward to more in the is series.

Was this review helpful?

Title and author: Save a Truck, Ride a Redneck by Molly Harper
Series: Southern Eclectic
Publisher: Pocket Star
Releases: October 16, 2017
Purchase: http://tinyurl.com/y9aadkhx
Genre: Contemporary
Author website: http://mollyharper.com/
Rating: 4 Stars

Lots of smiles are guaranteed when reading a book by Molly Harper, and this fact is repeatedly proven in the first book of the Southern Eclectic series. With its unique individuals and comical situations, I quickly became caught up in the lives of these exceptional characters. The appeal of living in a small town is shown in a number of positive ways, yet there is a downside because residents are often privy to specific information which is best left unknown. In this story, a woman thought she knew what was best for her and acted accordingly. But all it takes is one visit back home, and her life choices suddenly become questionable. I laughed so many times yet also felt very emotional during certain scenes, as Molly Harper ingeniously makes SAVE A TRUCK, RIDE A REDNECK entertainingly realistic.

When Marianne McCready graduated from high school four years ago, she believed getting away from the coastal town of Lake Sackett, Georgia would ensure her life turned out well. Breaking up with her boyfriend, Carl Dawson, right before leaving was exceedingly difficult, yet she also thought it was for the best. Marianne has not been back home very much, mostly because she wanted to avoid Carl, but she has decided to stay with her family for several months until law school starts in the fall.

Unfortunately for Marianne, the first person that she encounters is Carl, and there is little warmth in his greeting. But as the two keep running into each other from time to time, feelings they once shared start resurfacing. Now Marianne has to decide if her future is in another city, or if staying in her hometown can actually bring contentment.

Though the story is a novella, it is certainly not short on enjoyment. There are many distinctive characters whose personalities brought me joy every time they commented, and the behavior of some people was laughable but sadly true-to-life. Molly Harper always manages to create original individuals for her stories, and many of those in SAVE A TRUCK, RIDE A REDNECK are people whom I would really like to know. The quaint hometown feel in the story had me thinking about where I live, and then grinning as I pictured some of the same occurrences taking place in my area.

Marianne and Carl are a delightful couple. Watching them rehash old hurts was rather painful at times, but just like real life, there are often challenges to overcome. Whenever they talked, I anxiously waited to see what would happen next. Their interaction with other town citizens is sometimes hilarious, while other moments were more poignant, making a perfect blend of emotional conflict with witty humor. Marianne’s dealings with her family were also insightful, as it let me get to know all her wonderful relatives. I am glad this is a series, because I want to revisit with these fascinating characters many times.

I voluntarily reviewed the book from the publisher via NetGalley, and all comments are my honest opinion

Was this review helpful?

Save a Truck, Ride a Redneck is the PERFECT start to a brand new series from beloved author, Molly Harper. I loved this book and the small town feel to it and the characters were undeniably attractive- many readers are going to fall head over heels for this one!

Was this review helpful?

I really like this author. I made the mistake of reading Sweet Tea and Sympathy first. This book was like a delicious appetizer preceding an incredible meal. I love this family and I can tell that there are more stories to tell.

Marianne has left her little town to go to college. She leaves behind her true love, Carl, but she breaks up with him before her departure because she is under the impression that he wants a commitment of marriage which will hinder her plans to become a lawyer. After years in college, she wants to spend the summer at home before going to law school. She bumps into Carl and all those little feelings ignite again, but Carl has his walls up because she broke his heart. Carl is proud and grew up in poverty while Marianne had a more privileged upbringing. He had assumed that she rejected him because he was poor.

Carl, too, has changed since Marianne left, he is an owner of his own business and he has a home that he is proud of. The two can't seem to stay away from each other but continue to be cautious. Can Carl forgive Marianne for breaking his heart?

Marianne is also readjusting to life back home and her family is so quirky and eccentric but loveable. She also gets some heartbreaking news that prompts her to make decisions with her own future. This story made you want more and I cannot wait for the next installment.

Was this review helpful?

I read these out of order, doing Sweet Tea and Sympathy first, so I knew how the story was going to end, but that didn't spoil it at all! If anything, now having two characters' backgrounds has made me interested in seeing what happens next. The story is a blend of southern sass, crazy family antics, and the classic good girl romance (bad boy??)...and it comes together in a perfect laugh-out-loud mix!

Was this review helpful?

Save a Truck is a prequel novella introducing readers to Molly Harper's upcoming Southern Eclectic series taking place in Lake Sackett, Georgia, a small town where everyone knows everyone else's business.

This is particularly true for Marianne McCready who left Lake Sackett four years ago to go to school to pursue her dream of becoming a lawyer, and not keeping in the tradition of working at the family bait shop / funeral home. Right before she left, she abruptly broke up with her boyfriend, Carl, after she learned he was out looking at engagement rings. Not wanting to be another person "stuck" in Lake Sackett, Marianne quickly ran off to school putting as much distance as she could between herself and the small town.

Now, she's back for the summer before she begins her final stretch of schooling to become a lawyer. Being back she'll be confronted with everything that she left behind. This time, however, Marianne might not want to run away again.

I immediately loved the quirky and eclectic McCready family. There's this dark / twisting humor to them being in the funeral business. Fans of Harper's will recognize the similarities with her popular Jane Jameson series.

It's a short read, kind of light on the character development, but great on the setup of the small town. I really am looking forward to seeing more of these characters weaving themselves in and out of the main full-length stories of the series.

If you've read other things by Molly Harper, you won't be disappointed, and if you haven't, it's the perfect place to start especially in preparation for Sweet Tea & Sympathy out in November.

Was this review helpful?

Should have just kept driving. The doe would have moved.

Who names their kid McDuff?

She sounds like a witch, and a crap daughter.

I'll eat almost anything, but that trifle sounds disgusting.

Miss Maisie, why'd you let your kids decide how you lived your life?

Damn, you and Duffy are crazy, Frankie!

I'm with Carl. She just broke up with him based on what a jealous girl said.

Huh. Lemm is actually not so bad.

Wow, her mom really knows how to lay on a guilt trip.

Was this review helpful?

Short and sweet. Fun family dynamics - a bit too much instalove for this second chance.

Was this review helpful?