A good ole’ Southern Charm read filled with laughs and plenty of family drama.

It’s a pretty quick read and can be read as a standalone even though it’s Book 2 of the Family Reunion series.

The storyline for this book is good, but it could have been so much better. Writing advice often includes the phrase, “show don’t tell.” This book had a lot of telling...the writing isn’t bad, but could work on more graceful scenes and transitions.

I read book 1 in this series and as I started reading this story I immediately remembered all the characters. Most of them are very unforgettable! 😉

Lots of laughs and drama within the extended family members. I like how the chapters alternate between characters and it doesn’t make it confusing or choppy. The story line really flows and I can feel alot of the characters frustrations and feelings jump from the pages.

I hope there are more books to this series because I want to find out more about some of the family members and how their families are doing and getting along.

Great story line, funny characters and family stories that anyone can relate to! I really enjoyed it!

Part of the BUCKLIN FAMILY REUNION series by Debbie Mayne,FIT TO BE TIED is a faith based romance novel with delightful characters, most of whom are part of the Bucklin family.
It is a large family and there is quite a bit of drama. I like the way the story is told by different family members. They are all very involved with one another and there are quite a few emotional issues.
It is a charming and most enjoyable read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Gilead Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Join the Bucklin Family for this friendly read filled with family drama. This book is full of Southern Charm and witty phrases. If you like women's southern fiction, you MUST read this series.

I would love to have given this a five star review, unfortunately all but the first two chapters were blacked out so I couldn't!

Fit to be tied

Another family reunion is coming up and come of the things that happened at the last one they want to avoid. Most of the book they are planning the reunion, especially Sheila who is the mother of Sally and Sara. I really enjoyed the scenes with Sally and Sara, they are twins and have their own business. Sara is a newlywed but her and Justin is still living with Sally. Justin loves to cook, loved that. Of course there is a lot of other enjoyable characters.

I received an complementary copy of the book from NetGalley through the publisher.

Fit to be Tied by Debby Mayne

Being wealthy isn't all it is cracked up to be.

My rating is 3.5 stars

Being wealthy isn’t all it is cracked up to be! Marybeth and Bucky had more money than they knew what to do with and yet there was so much contention in their marriage. Most of the family disliked them – and for good reason – they were pretentious and full of themselves.

With the profusion of “billionaire” romance books on the market and a society that idolizes the rich and famous, Fit to be Tied was a refreshing change as it dealt with what the Jesus calls “the deceitfulness of riches” that choke out the Word and cause us to be unfruitful.

The contrast between Marybeth and Bucky and Sara and Sally, all of whom were wealthy, was interesting. While the older couple, especially Bucky, loved to flaunt their wealth, they hadn’t done much of anything to acquire it. Sara and Sally, on the other hand, had created their own goldmine by making bows for little girls and selling them online. They hid the success of their enterprise from their entire family, choosing instead to live modestly.

As in the first book, Sally was one of four characters narrating. Marybeth, and two of the younger cousins, Coralee and Brett were the other voices used. Each of these characters struggled with their perception of themselves and lacked confidence and were able to work through this in the story.

Fit to be Tied was good and was well-written with some clever quips and cute situations, though it did drag a little in places. The series does go together. Many of the issues were resolved, but there are still a few that will most likely be wrapped up in future books in this series.


This review was originally posted on Among the Reads

I was given a free copy of this item. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.

First of all, let me start by saying I *love* the cover of this book. I just want to grab a fork and take a bite. Sadly, the recipe is not included in this book.

FIT TO BE TIED is women's southern fiction written in first person and there are five different point of views in there. The Bucklin family is getting ready to have another reunion, and this time around, Bucky is stinky rich and wants to flaunt his wealth. His wife, Marybeth, isn't so sure.. but since this is a l-o-n-g family reunion, lasting longer than a day (closer to a week) and since they are hosting it, it will be flaunted.

As for the rest of family, there is the usual family reunion drama. Do I want to attend? How can I puff myself up so I look better than I am if I do? You know the routine if you go to family reunions -- or even high school reunions.

I honestly am not sure how I feel about it. Ms. Mayne is a very talented author. I am not a huge fan of women's fiction, but I requested the book because Ms. Mayne is good. And she is a master at drama.

But it is women's fiction. It is written in five different POVs and as a result I really don't have a chance to bond with any character. I just get into their story when POV changes and I start over, then it takes a moment when we get back around through the different characters to remember what is going on.

If you like women's fiction, Debby Mayne, and family sagas you will love FIT TO BE TIED. It is appropriately titled too.

I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.

Shay Henke can’t believe her eyes when she receives an invitation to another family reunion. She loves her family to death, but it seems like every few months they are having another reunion. Yes, she is excited to see her mother’s family once again but she knows the reunion will be filled with so much drama. I’ve only read one other Debby Mayne novel before, but after reading FIT TO BE TIED I know this one won’t be my last. This heart warming story is filled with laugh out loud moments and so much family drama that the reader will not be able to put it down or stop giggling.



Twin sisters, Sara and Sally play a big part in this story. Shay is living with them but moves out after Sara goes off and gets married. Shay really tries to keep everyone happy and tries to take care of all of her family, but there is only so much she can do. This latest family reunion is going to be the death of her if she doesn’t put on the brakes with trying to keep the peace. Every one of her family members knows there’s going to be family drama and trust me, they are not disappointed. FIT TO BE TIED is so funny but also filled with family, love, faith, and depth.



FIT TO BE TIEDis a quick read and unputdownable! There were quite a few times when reading it that I wanted to reach into the pages and slap a few of these family members. But that’s how families are, you love them and they drive you crazy at the same time. If you love southern women’s fiction and small town stories, FIT TO BE TIED will not disappoint. I found myself laughing one second and then tearing up the next. If you are looking for a beautiful story to pull you out of your book slump, you can’t go wrong with FIT TO BE TIED. I’m so excited to continue with this series. I’d much rather deal with the Bucklin family then my very own. Debby Mayne is now one of my auto buy authors.



FIT TO BE TIED is the second book in the Bucklin Family Reunion series. I received this book from the publisher for review through Netgalley. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

It was great to be back at another Bucklin family reunion! I absolutely love this series by Debbie Mayne. The southern characters are wonderful. The reunion setting is the perfect way to mix in love, laughter, faith, and and some family drama into the storyline. The Bucklins are not a perfect family by any means, but they are a family who exhibits love and faith as they attempt to encourage each other, This book is great fun to read.

I’m hoping Debby Mayne will take us to another family reunion soon. You don’t want to miss this series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Oh my I so much love the southern flair of this book. There is so much to like as the characters jump off the pages. I love how the author has each chapter dedicated to a certain character. This concept gives readers a chance to really know each character better. Some of you may ask who my favorite character was. I have to say all of them, because each character knits the story together. It's like in the bible where there are teachers, prophets etc. They are all needed to make things work as one. We work better when we are surrounded by others. Dare I say we fit together like a family.

The book is focused on the big family reunion coming up. I know when I was growing up if anyone ever mentioned a family reunion no one would show up. The Bucklin family is one I which I had been a part of. The big day is fast approaching and I loved reading about who was going to be invited to the big party.

I enjoyed reading about Sara and Sally; the twins, and their bow business. Little girls love to have pretty bows in their hair and the business is booming with orders. What mom wouldn't want a special bow made just for their daughter? It would drive me crazy to make them, but it seems to keep the twins thriving in their job. I love how close they are, but how long will they continue to share a condo now that one of them is married? It reminds me of the saying, "Twos company, threes a crowd."

The author has a beautiful way of writing that emphasizes the importance of family. I couldn't wait for the big reunion to happen. Every year there is always something that goes wrong at the reunion. The author has written a story that makes you feel right at home with the Bucklin family. I would love to chat with Sara and Sally as their mother fuses over them even though they are grown. As in every family there is always someone who is jealous of another, someone bragging about their life and shenanigans galore as the family gathers for what promises to be an unforgettable reunion. This is a great book with lots of surprises and a reminder that family is important.

I received a copy of this book from Gilead Publishing. The review is my own opinion.

Family can be interesting
"Fit to be tied" is the second novel in Debby Mayne's series about the Bucklin family. The first novel is "High Cotton" and it will very likely be followed by "Out of Pocket". It is a long contemporary family novel geared towards women with a little romance thrown in. The sixty-two chapters are short, told from the perspective and experience of various family members (Sally Wright, Sheila Wright, Coralee Bucklin, Brett Henke, and Marybeth Bucklin) which is confusing especially to the reader who has not read the previous novel. The story takes place in Pinewood near Hattiesburg, Mississippi and deals with the events that lead up to one of the regular Bucklin family reunions which is scheduled for Thanksgiving.
The identical twins, Sara and Sally, are the owners of a successful ETSY business. Furthermore, they are living together in a condo from where they are also running their business. Sally is single whereas Sara is married to Justin and expecting a child, a situation which presents some challenges. Sheila, the mother of the twins, tries to marry Sally of to George which dos not impress Sally.
Marybeth, the wife of Bucky, struggles with the approach to money of her husband who is rich through the oil money that he receives. Whereas Marybeth does not believe in her son, Julius, Bucky does not care about the problems that Julius causes. Most often these problems include Brett who is Julius's cousin and one of the children of Digger (the brother of Shay) and Puddin'. Brett also experiences that his parents do not believe in him.
Puddin' and Shay, a single living in Pinewood, run a boutique together where family members get generous discounts on clothes, shoes, and accessories. A good part of the action is taking place in this boutique. The other main actor in the novel is Coralee, Shay's cousin. She is a college student and discovers that relationships with fellow students can be deceiving.

This series is published by Gilead Publishing, a publisher that was previously unknown to me. It is an easy read which can be recommended. In theory it is a stand-alone novel. Nevertheless I like to advise to read "High Cotton" before starting with "Fit to be tied" in order to better understand the "ins" and "outs" of the Bucklin family. The reader who wants to know the continuation of the story will also need to invest in "Out of Pocket".

This book was provided by the publisher through Netgalley free of charge. The reviewer was under no obligation to offer a positive review.
#BucklinFamilyReunion #NetGalley

Oh, how I have fallen in love with these books and their family dynamics, they sure don’t disappoint, and now I can’t wait for the next book to come in the spring of 2019.
This story picks up after the last book, I would really recommend you read High Cotton, you will not be sorry it is so good, but this is a read alone, and maybe lost for a second you will soon be wishing to be a member of the Bucklin Family, oh yes!
We see up close how some members of the family are just scraping by financially, while others are filthy rich, but does money buy happiness, we put names on this.
There is also more blossoming of some of the characters we met previously, and there seems to be a lot of romance in the air, can’t wait to find out how all this comes together. Be ready for some chuckles, and some scary happening, and parents having to let go. A don’t miss read.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Gilead, and was not required to give a positive review.

Ahh, this was such a good book!

I read book 1 in the series, "High Cotton", earlier this year; I didn't care for it at first -- but revisited when I was invited to read this one (book 2). Book 1 was such a delight! I'm so glad I revisited it in prep for this one.

You do need to read Book 1 first; otherwise, "Fit to be Tied" won't make any sense. The story line is told via the same 4 characters, plus a couple additional ones. Brett was an unexpected surprise, and I enjoyed his viewpoint very much.

Plenty of LOL moments throughout the book. I'm already ready for Book 3 -- it'll be a hard wait till Spring 2019!

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.

Mayne gives us another slice of southern family life. The Bucklin family is working up to another huge family reunion. We follow the various family members as they prepare for the event. There are problems. There are accidents. There is romance and jealousy. There is pride and humility. There is good and bad parenting. There are tears and there is laughter. And there is lots of cooking, baking, and eating.

Mayne has written the narrative so that each chapter is from a different person's viewpoint. It always takes me a while to get into the flow, remembering who is related to whom and how. It is fun to see how the family members navigate the events of life. There are not so good boyfriends for some and better ones for others. There is the possibility of new living arrangements for Sally, one of the twins.

Like in any family, there are many issues included in the book. A major one is the possible change in the relationship between twin sisters Sally and Sara. It might be time for Sally to find another place to live, something very hard for her with her devotion to her twin. Another issues is wealth. Bucky is one to flaunt the wealth he has acquired through oil on his land. His son is an out of control rich kid. It was interesting to see how the greater family dealt with it all.

I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy the subtle drama of southern family life. There is not much action and no suspense. There is a good account of the dynamics of a southern family.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

After reading the first in the series i could not wait for another. This one didnt disappoint whatsoever. It brought the same quirkiness of characters and awesome storyline. I only wish it had been longer.

I love Debby Mayne's books. This book is the second in the series and if you haven't read the first one, I highly recommend you order it today! This book is about a big ole Southern family who come together for a reunion. You can figure on secrets and trouble and chaos from beginning to end. Thank you netgalley for the ARC. This review is my honest opinion

Fit to Be Tied continues the story of the Bucklin family in the second installment from the Bucklin Family Reunion Series. I advise a reader to first read the first book, High Cotton, before starting this one. I loved that book and Fit to Be Tied does not disappoint. That Bucklin family sure is something else. Everyone has their issues and quirks. I feel so connected to the characters that they feel like a part of my own family. This is one book, as well as, the series should not be missed. I would give it one hundred stars if I could.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

This is a story about a large southern family with all their secrets and problems. The story is told from multiple points of view. At first it was hard to keep up with all the different people but by the end you felt like you were part of the family and were planning what dish you were taking to the family reunion. The book culminated in the huge family reunion. And you were waiting just like everyone else to see what mischief the cousins would get into this year. Just like in a real family there are relatives that you like better than others, and some you wish you could spend a lot more time with. I really hope there will be additional books in this series. I can't wait for the next family reunion.