Review: Bobbie Faye's Very (Very, Very, Very) Bad Day

Bobbie Faye's Very (very, very, very) Bad Day by Toni McGee Causey

Summary/review (from Booklist): Bobbie Faye Sumrall is a one-woman demolition derby, a certifiable spitfire with a mean mouth, meaner attitude, and a head-bashingly awful streak of luck. The one good thing in her life is her tenure as the reigning queen of Lake Charles, Louisiana's Contraband Days festival, an exalted title bequeathed to her by her late mother that entitles her to wear the tiara made by her great-times-four grandfather. It's a tacky thing, to be sure, but still the most precious possession she has. So when her lowlife brother is kidnapped and the tiara demanded as ransom, Bobbie Faye must figure out how to rescue him without relinquishing the crown. General mayhem ensues: banks are robbed, hostages taken, trucks shot, buildings blown up. Pretty much a normal day in the life of Bobbie Faye. For erstwhile Ya-Ya Sisters and readers who like their heroines hot-blooded, Causey's feisty and foul-mouthed but lovable party queen is a welcome new addition to the parade of plucky good ol' southern gals.

My thoughts: That pretty much sums it up. It's very over-the-top, but in a fun way. Bobbie Faye is quite the dame, as my mom would say. Her love for her family, despite that fact that they're nothing but trouble for her, is touching and admirable. I loved the whole Contraband Days Festival thing and that she was the Queen - it helped her out a few times, being recognized as such. Trevor the "hostage" and Cam the cop are both hunky book-crush material. It was my commuting book, so I read it in bits and pieces - I think it's probably a book best devoured at once, so you don't lose the action. Pick this one up for a funny, fast-paced adventure with a hell of a heroine.

(There's already a sequel planned for next year!)