Betty Sweet Tells All (Perennial)

This book answered all the questions I had at the end of 'Maggie Sweet'! I love the characters, and was thrilled to learn more about Maggie's mother Betty. And way to go Betty!! It was about time she started living for herself! Now, I realize this books takes place in 1985, and Poplar Grove is a VERY southern little town, but the reason I gave this book four stars was because of Mama Dean. She was a bit over-the-top for my taste. I really didn't like her, and I can't believe that Betty or Maggie had never once stopped and told her where to go. I know she's an old woman, but she's just nasty all the time. But...even though I don't like her, I too would love Ms. Stacy to continue the story of Poplar Grove with the telling of Mama Dean's story. What happened between her and her husband? How did she grow up? And why is she such a cranky old woman now? And I'd also love to see how Betty and Charlie do, as well as Maggie and Jerry, and even Steven and Theo! If you've read 'Maggie Sweet', you just HAVE to read this book. It picks up right where 'Maggie' left off, and you'll fall in love with the characters the second you meet them. Thanks Ms. Stacy for a great read, and I really hope to here more from this exciting little town!!

*Betty Sweet Tells All* is the sequel to *Maggie Sweet* by Judith Minthorn Stacy, and I loved them both. Betty, Maggie's mother, picks up where Maggie left off in the first novel. When Maggie leaves her husband of nineteen years for no apparent reason, Betty tries to take on the responsibility of fixing everyone's problems. The novel is humorous, sweet, and sentimental all at once. If you liked the first novel, definitely pick up a copy of this one.The novel, set in 1985, follows the lives of a small-town family and their day-to-day crises. Maggie's working on finding normality after leaving her husband, Steven, a my-way-or-the-highway guy and reuniting with Jerry, her high school boyfriend. Nobody can understand why Maggie's up and done something so foolish, but Betty tries to understand and forgive Maggie. When Betty realizes that she's been trying to fix everything in their lives, she decides to take time out for herself and maybe fall in love.The novel was a lot of fun and well-written. Each character seems to have a story of their own, and I hope Stacy will continue the series by focusing on Mama Dean and Maggie's twin daughters, Jill and Amy. Enjoy!