When I started this book, I didn't have very high hopes for it. I thought it might end up one of those books with just sex at its core, or fluffy middle aged romance - but I was delightfully surprised. There were a lot of elements I could relate to easily in this book. The subject isn't this polished, glamorous twenty something that already knows everything without having gone through the fire. Red is a 40 something woman who has made mistakes. You might pass her in the street or she might be more you than you thought. The characters were nicely real, you had to look past the veneer - it was well worth the work. And so were the twists along the way. This is one of those kinds of books that makes me the fan of the author. The only sad part was that I kept reading because I enjoyed it, and found myself at the end. Every once in awhile, a nice, heartwarming story comes along, and this is one of those. It stars a flawed heroine in need of redemption, and a whole cast of lovable characters.Red Cullens is a 46-year-old bar owner who wears tight jeans and low-cut blouses, and she goes through men like Kleenex. She likes her life of staying up all night running the honky-tonk and rolling around in the sheets with her much younger lover. It all changes, though, when responsibility for her two young grandchildren lands in her lap. Red’s only daughter Bridge is deployed in Afghanistan, and when their caretaking grandmother suffers a stroke, Red must take the children in. She’s certain her boyfriend Cam is going to run for the hills, but he surprises her by stepping up to the plate. Suddenly, Red finds herself opening up to the people around her and discovering she doesn’t have to do everything alone. She gets involved in the children’s school when she’s drafted to the Cupcake Committee, and even find herself living in an upscale community when Cam loans out his house. Over the months with the children, Red is also forced to confront the past, something she had avoided for 30 years. The whole time, Cam is there, opening himself to her and gradually getting her to open up to him. Through it all, Red finds out that others don’t judge her as harshly as she judges herself, and she burns bridges and mends others. Though I never quite got a handle on her, I loved Red’s character. She’s an ex-stripper with a tattoo and outrageous hair, and she goes out of her way not to get too close to any man passing through her life. What a relief from the teenage virgins of yore! Red is a real woman with vulnerabilities who is also tough as nails. She has a self-deprecating view, but doesn’t take any guff from snobs. Her provocative wardrobe goes hand-in-hand with a heart of gold. Those around her know it, and they surprise her by offering their help when she’s in need. Cam sees who she is inside, even though she doesn’t like to talk about herself.Cam, of course, is wonderful, handsome, and sweet. It’s also impossible not to love Olivia and Daniel, Red’s grandchildren. The secondary characters, good and bad, sparkle with life. Everyone but the children seemed to have some sort of flaw that made them human, and their problems were heartwrenching and real. Even the happy ending had a tinge of reality to it that added to its charm. This book was a delight from start to finish, and it would make a great movie. I give it a high recommendation, and will definitely seek out more books by this author.
What do You think about Red's Hot Honky-Tonk Bar (2009)?
Loved it, loved Red, loved Cam - loved everyone! This made me cry but it also made me feel good!
—petruska
Great characterization! I liked the way it turned the romance stereotypical sex roles around.
—fbb321
I really loved these characters.I'd like to see a follow up book.
—2cutiegirl
Fun, but my favorite of Pam Morsi's is Simple Jess.
—Elizabeth
