From Publishers Weekly
That readers who pick up Battle's (Bed & Breakfast) eighth novel, with its folksy, long Southern title, will expect something along the lines of the Ya-Yas is understandable; what awaits is, in fact, a considerably more sober affair. At age 50, Bonnie Duke Cullman has run out of luck. Accustomed since birth to a country-club existence, she's divorcing her no-good husband, who's just filed for bankruptcy, and striking out on her own. Never having had a serious job before, she accepts a position at a community college in Florabama, Ala.--a position that, she later learns to her dismay, her father was instrumental in securing for her. A lingerie mill called Cherished Lady is being closed down, the work to be farmed out south of the border, and the college has hired Bonnie to run its program for displaced homemakers and workers. In a blind-leading-the-blind proposition, Bonnie is supposed to help the other women, many of whom are also middle-aged, figure out what to do with the rest of their lives--patient, religious Ruth wants to be a teacher; irascible, racist Hilly takes a job as a waitress in a Mexican restaurant. At times the novel feels like a stage set hammered together to support its pro-education message, but it compensates with likable characters and a core of compassion and independence. (Mar. 19)Forecast: A regional author tour will reinforce the novel's mostly local appeal, though its clever title may cause readers around the country to give the book a glance.

From Library Journal
In this eighth novel from Battle (Bed & Breakfast), Bonnie Duke Cullman, a displaced, wealthy, Atlanta housewife and socialite, is forced to find work after her husband declares bankruptcy and leaves her for a younger woman. Her best friend and her father conspire to get Bonnie a job teaching at a junior college in southern Alabama, where she will coordinate the program for displaced homemakers. On the same day that Bonnie leaves Atlanta for Florabama, the local lingerie factory closes, displacing the women who will become Bonnie's students. All of the women face adversity during this transitional year. Despite this promising premise, the novel fails to fulfill its potential; all the characters sound alike despite apparent class differences, and the story is predictable albeit sweet. Libraries with large romance collections will want to purchase, but otherwise the book is not recommended.

The very gentle story of women who come together through circumstance and not choice. What continues to bind them together is friendship,understanding and appreciation of each others achievements. There is not much sewing, as the title might imply, but it does bind the women together. It is a delighful book illustrating that every cloud has a silver lining!

In the post to Lyzzybee as a RABCK. Hope you enjoy it!

Thank you so much for this lovely book, which arrived at just the right time, after a cold-filled day and struggle home from work. Might be a few weeks (ha!) till I get to it in the TBR but will circulate to the other Usual Suspects too...

Thanks again!

One of my favourite genre, the Southern small-town novel. Made more interesting still by the fact it was set around Atlanta, Georgia, and Birmingham, Alabama, two places I had visited, this is the satisfyingly complex and absorbing story of two sets of displaced people. Bonnie is escaping from the marital home she is losing through divorce, and ends up running a college programme for a group of women laid off from the local factory. Gradually their lives entwine, for better and for worse, and a lovely cast of eccentric characters, shown with love and not patronised, reveals itself in its strengths and weaknesses. Excellent!

Will offer on a ring unless you want it back?

Book Ring!

This book is going on its travels! Please go by the basic rules or let me know if you have a delay or difficulty...

1. Journal the book when you receive it.
2. PM the next person and make a note that you've done so.
3. Read and review the book, preferably within 4 weeks of receiving it.
4. Mail the book to the next person. PLEASE put on a JE or release note when you've done this.

SHIPPING ORDER:

PurpleRosebud UK (anywhere - surface)
Calalilly UK (UK)
Scotsbookie UK (anywhere)
Pell Italy (anywhere)
MaryZee US-Maryl (US/Can)
Rebel-Padawan US-MN (US)
Sunfi US-OH (OK to post outside US)
Hopi100 US-Virginia (anywhere)
Cross-patch UK (anywhere) <---- it's here!
... back to me!

RELEASE NOTES:

Posting on Saturday.

Many thanks Lyzzybee arrived today. It will be next on my list to read which means Cedar Cove has to wait just a little while longer.

I'm sorry I've had this book rather longer than I should have, a bit of rl getting in the way. A nice gentle story about women and friendships set in the South of America. I preferred the down to earth characters of the women who lost their jobs from the factory and I liked the way it ended.

I will be passing it on to calalilly asap.

Purplerosebud passed this onto me tonight, I should be able to start reading this quite quickly as I'm near the end of a couple of books. I look forward to starting it.

Sorry for keeping this book so long. This was another easy to read book that I enjoyed reading. Will send it off to Scotsbookie as soon as I've got her address.

This book is now safe & sound with me. #2 on Mount TBR

A lovely easy read about women thrown together by circumstances & pulling together through friendship to make their lives better.

Off to PM Pell for their address. Thanks LyzyBee for another great read.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Enjoy!!

Thank you scotsboookie, book arrived safely today, will read it asap, I have another on the go at the moment and am really looking forward to this one.

Nice simple read, could have been a little more exciting, however, I think I will try to get hold of Lois Battles Bed and Breakfast another of her novels. Will forward to MaryZee as soon as I get her address. Thank you LizzyBee for letting me participate in this ring.

Posted from Canino and off to the USA today, sorry it has taken me some time to post but I have been without transport for a week or so. Thank you Lyzziebee for letting me participate in this ring,

This arrived safely today. I just started a small book, so it'll be about a week or so til I start on this. Will update here when I do.

9/20 update - Starting on this today.

I really enjoyed this book. I usually don't read too much of what is typically known as "women's fiction," but for some reason I enjoy the ones about a group of women - Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Angry Housewives Eating Bonbons, The Hot Flash Club... I don't know if it's the group dynamic that appeals to me, or the variety of individual personalities, or what, but those are the ones that seem to attract me. And now this one.

I think Hilly was my favorite character - rather outspoken, you never wonder where you stand with her, she tells it like it is.

LyzzyBee, let me know how you want this to continue.

Mailed to Rebel-Padawan on 10/2.

This came for rebel-padawan today, she's off on a backpacking trip to the Appalacians-so I've been journaling the things that come for her. I just checked her mail today and there was A LOT of packages of books! Looks like a couple rings etc.
She will probably start journaling when she gets back on October 20. Just letting the ring owners/persons who sent the book that it arrived where it was going!

I read this one sometime over Thanksgiving break from school. Completely unawares that it is a ring-as Rukia forgot to mention to me which things that came were rings and whatnot.
Discovered this book in my locker at work last night-when I couldn't find it where I thought it was! LOL

I was expecting more of a Ya-Ya type feel with this book. Or something more sewing involved. What it felt like to me was a coming of age novel. Kind of odd since the main characters are all in their middle years. Some parts were cringe worthy and some were completely LOL-I recall reading a particularly funny scene while riding the bus home from work (everyone sleeps on the bus-so it's always eerily quiet) and all of a sudden-BOOM! I was laughing quite loudly and getting startled looks from fellow passengers!
Thanks for sharing! This will be on it's way today to sunfi in OH! Marking reserved.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent this off to Sunfi yesterday after I got one of my vehicles to start!

Received in the mail with another ring. I have 3 rings ahead of this one and hope to have it on its way to Hopi100 in the next 6 wks or so. Thanks to LyzzyBee for including me in this ring and thanks to Rebel-Padawan for mailing this and the nice postcard and bookmark to me.

Finished this one and it was okay, it took me a little while to get into it. I'll get this off in the mail to Hopi100 next weekend. Thanks again to LyzzyBee for including me.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Finally got this in the mail, I'm sorry it took me so long to get it on it's way. Hopi100, it should arrive in the next few weeks.

This just arrived in my mailslot today. Thanks so much! I can't wait to get started! :)

What a great book! I've thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each of these women and their stories. Lois Battle kept my attention from beginning to end, in the process sending me to highs and lows right along with her characters. Thanks so much, LyzzyBee, for including me in this ring!

I have Cross-patch's address and will be sending this on by week's end. Thanks again! :)

Can't wait!

Thanks to hopi100 and Lyzzy!

Who'd have thought it? I'd had a few chuckle moments, but then on page 342 I found myself in tears. nice sentimental tears, but tears all the same. Lois Battle creates a zone - and, I, for one, like her zone and shall read as many of her books as I can find. Thank you, LyzzyBee, your book is coming home.

26 May. Update. Posted today.

Arrived back today thank you! And thanks to all on the ring for reading, reviewing and sending it on!

The book is slightly worn, so I'm going to keep it safe here for re-reading. Will lend out to careful readers!