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SOUTHERN FRIED STANDARDS - S. R. Maddox Genesis/Love Spectrum May 2008 |
SYNOPSIS: When a career-minded woman who has lived her entire life under the shadow of her famous mother becomes involved with a Cajun blues musician, she must learn to shed the constricting limits of her family and live life on her terms.
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE |3+| Marguerite Lemons
REVIEW:
Athena Miles is the owner and president of
Regent’s, a non-profit organization designed to help the
socio-economically disadvantaged, in Biloxi, MS. This is Athena’s
second career choice and one that her mother, a world-renowned chief,
tolerates because it’s not too embarrassing to the family since she can
brag about the charitable aspects of the job. Mike Thibodeaux is a
gifted musician and entrepreneur who has been living life on his own
terms, but lately he’s has been thinking that it’s time to finally put
down some roots. Athena, a connoisseur of good music, at one time
dabbled in the industry. As such, some up and coming groups still
seek her opinion on their music. For Athena, it is instant dislike
when she meets Mike in one of the offices at Regent. His arrogance
immediately sets her on guard, but his smile has her dreaming of what it
would be like to get close to him.
SOUTHERN FRIED STANDARDS is a story about those who
attempt to live up to the standards of others, and those who set their
own. The story is set on the Gulf Coast of the Mississippi,
between Biloxi and New Orleans, post Katrina. The underlying
connection between the main characters is their pure love of “real”
music. I had a few problems following the story at times, because
there were obvious breaks in the flow; especially between some of the
chapters. It could be that there were too many sub-plots going on
because there were a few times when I had to re-read the previous page
to make sure I hadn’t overlooked something.
The
characters, who are too numerous to name, are believable and easy to
identify with; although I did not care for Sheree, Athena’s self
absorbed sister. She is the self proclaimed southern belle in the
beginning, but she managed to mature into a likeable woman by the end of
the story. Between her mother, sister, friends, and busy body
relatives, it’s no wonder Athena grew up to be an insecure, anxiety
riddled mess. Her mother’s concern for appearances; even at the
risk of her own daughter’s life is crazy; although I am aware that this
sometimes happens in real life. Mike’s character is a man most
women dream of finding. He fought through the demons of his family’s
history, and managed to become the man his father could never be, and he
did it on his terms without compromising his beliefs.
SOUTHERN
FRIED STANDARDS is a good book with some creative twists and turns
throughout the story. Ms. Maddox should be proud of her first
attempt.
reviewer@romanceincolor.com | 22nd May 2008