Priscilla Slater goes to her 10-year high school reunion as a successful business woman. Even though she got rid of her mousy brown hair, swapped out her discount store wardrobe for designer clothes, and now has perfectly straight teeth, she can’t get past feeling like the ugly duckling. Her parents’ disapproval for her choice of careers—running a chain of hair salons—deepens her self-doubt. She experiences self-discovery and learns that things aren’t always as they seem.
During the reunion, one woman passes out after starving herself for the event. The class beauty queen appears to have more self-confidence than ever until her ex shows up with his new wife. The reunion organizer has taken her responsibilities to a whole new level that makes the Marines look like Boy Scouts, while her husband drinks too much and makes a fool of himself. The man she always dreamed about being with finally gives her some attention, but when she finds out more about him, she realizes he’s not worth her time. These realizations boost her self-confidence, but now she has to deal with her best friend Tim’s new feelings for her.
Before The Class Reunion: A Prequel to The Class Reunion Series
Debby Mayne has published more than 30 books and novellas, 400 print short stories and articles, more than 1,000 web articles, and a slew of devotions for women. She has also worked as managing editor of a national health magazine, product information writer for HSN, a creative writing instructor for Long Ridge Writers Group, and a copy editor and proofreader for several book publishers. For the past eight years, she has judged the Writers Digest Annual Competition, Short-Short Contest, and Self-Published Book Competition. Three of Debby’s books have been top ten favorites by the Heartsong Presents book club. Love Finds You in Treasure Island, Florida received 4-1/2 stars fromRomantic Times Magazine, and was named a Top Pick for the month of July 2009.
Her latest book is Pretty Is As Pretty Does.
You can visit Debby Mayne’s website at www.debbymayne.com.
My Impressions:
The Class of 2003 of Piney Point High School is having its 10th class reunion. The students have all moved up and on from their high school triumphs and trials. Or have they? Debby Mayne has written a fun and insightful look at the insecurities that haunt us and the perceptions of ourselves and others that shape and form our lives and relationships. Pretty Is As Pretty Does, the first book in the Class Reunion series, brings to life a town and cast of characters you will love and relate to, and maybe identify with.
Priscilla Slater owns three hair salons, the Cut and Curl shops, and has built a lucrative business. She has goals and dreams for her company and life that have survived the negative opinions of her parents and the doubts planted by them. Her main office is in Jackson, Mississippi, but she travels to her home town of Piney Point to join in the reunion planning and to bring a bit of confidence and sanity to her classmates through her beauty skills. But the girl voted Most Likely to Succeed has her own high school demons to confront. Also introduced are fellow classmates Trudy, Laura and Celeste, who definitely need a makeover in more ways than one. But going home is never easy, and Priscilla still has some growing up to do.
Most of the action of Pretty Is As Pretty Does is set in the fictional town of Piney Point located near the real city of Hattiesburg, and believe me the small town rings true. (My husband is from that area and I recognized many similarities between real locales and the novel’s setting.) The characters are exasperating and incredibly believable, exhibiting real life attitudes and actions. Many of Priscilla’s classmates are making the same assumptions and mistakes they made in high school. The reunion ends with a big party, but the story doesn’t end there. Some are on the road to growth, and I look forward to seeing more of them in the next two books. (I will be reviewing book 2, Bless Her Heart, next month.)
Pretty Is As Pretty Does is a quick read, but don’t hurry through it or you will miss the deeper truths that run through it. Great for reading on the porch or by the pool, it would also be good for a book discussion at a girlfriends’ getaway.
Recommended.
Great For Book Clubs.
(I received this book courtesy of Pump Up Your Book in return for a review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)
A Taste of Pretty Is As Pretty Does:
I am trying something a little different here, so bear with me please. Books bring the reader into a different world, if only temporarily. The sights, sounds and tastes become a part of us. So I thought (when possible) I would add a recipe link to my reviews to help capture the flavor of the book! So as a tribute to Laura’s spur of the moment casserole that her husband Pete found so fancy, here is Easy Mac N Cheese Veggie Chicken Casserole. Enjoy!
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Monday, July 1 – Book Featured at Cheryl’s Book Nook
Tuesday, July 2 – Book Review at The Mary Book Reader
Wednesday, July 3 – Book Review at Splashes of Joy
Friday, July 5 – Book Review at A Peek at My Bookshelf
Monday, July 8 – Book Review & Character Guest Post at Reader Girls
Monday, July 8 – Book Review & Guest Blogging at Jersey Girl Book Reviews
Tuesday, July 9 – Book Review at Kaisy Daisy Book Reviews
Wednesday, July 10 – Book Featured at Authors & Readers Book Corner
Thursday, July 11 – Book Review at Popcorn Reads
Friday, July 12 – Guest Blogging & Book Giveaway at Darlene’s Book Nook
Saturday, July 13 – Guest Blogging at Books a la Mode
Sunday, July 14 – Book Review at Thoughts in Progress
Monday, July 15 – Book Review at Melissa’s Midnight Musings
Monday, July 15 – Book Review at Steph the Bookworm
Monday, July 15 – Book Review at My Life One Story at a Time
Tuesday, July 16 – Book Feature & Giveaway at Celtic Lady’s Reviews
Tuesday, July 16 – Book Review at Queen of All She Reads
Wednesday, July 17 – Book Review at Community Bookstop
Thursday, July 18 – Interview & Book Giveaway at Janna Shay’s Fair Play
Thursday, July 18 – Book Review at My Devotional Thoughts
Friday, July 19 – Book Review at By the Book
Friday, July 19 – Book Review & Giveaway at Mary’s Cup of Tea
Monday, July 22 – Book Review at Fictional Candy
Monday, July 22 – Book Review at Moonlight Lace & Mayhem
Monday, July 22 – Book Review at Sweet Southern Home
Tuesday, July 23 – Book Review at My Cozy Corner
Tuesday, July 23 – Book Review at Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews
Wednesday, July 24 – Guest Blogging at Lori’s Reading Corner
Wednesday, July 24 – Book Review & Giveaway at The Self-Taught Cook
Thursday, July 25 – Book Review at Dr. Pepper Diva
Thursday, July 25 – Book Review at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers
Friday, July 26 – Book Review at Melina’s Book Blog
Thank you so much for the review! One of the things I’ve realized over time is that no matter how successful or beautiful someone is, he or she still has some insecurities. I hope you enjoy the journey through the rest of the series.
Thanks for stopping by. Looking forward to an older and wiser Priscilla, Laura and Trudy in Bless Her Heart!