Review: Ain't She Sweet

Ain't She Sweet by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Sugar Beth Carey had everything and she ruled the roost in High School, but she used her powers for evil and made a lot of enemies. Now, 15 years later the tables have turned and she has returned to her home town of Parrish, Mississippi broke, a twice-divorced widow with an ugly dog and a broken down car. Her father left all his wealth and possessions to his mistress and his other daughter, Minnie, now Sugar Beth is relying on finding a mythical painting left to her by her bitter aunt, if she can find that her money worries will be over.

Sugar Beth's family home is now owned by a successful writer, Colin Byrne. Fifteen years ago he was a 22 year old British writer teaching at the local high school when Sugar spread a vicious lie about him which forced him to leave town. Now Sugar is back, living in the coachhouse attached to his home and he wants revenge.

This started out really well, I love a Mean Girl getting her comeuppance and learning some humility, although to be fair Sugar keeps her snark and her self-belief, especially since her half-sister Minnie now has everything she once had, including her High School boyfriend. The dialogue between Colin and Sugar dripped with sarcasm and sexual tension, especially when he offered her the humiliating job of housekeeper in her old home. I loved the 'Bless Your Heart' Southern bile from Sugar's former friends, the Seawillows.

Unfortunately, for me the novel kind of lost its way towards the end, Sugar and Colin gave way to the marital difficulties of Winnie and her husband, then Colin (for me) acted out of character and the story degenerated into that sort of romance where the heroine has to be humiliated/taught a lesson, even though she has already changed her ways and accepted her mistakes.

So definitely a four star start but a three star ending, perhaps that's why I didn't write a review the first time I read this book?

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