Display Search Bar

5 Minutes for Mom

Main navigation

5 Minutes for Books — Talk of the Town

by

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I don’t read much light, mindless fiction. I don’t look down on it–it’s just not my first-pick when it comes to fiction. I know that many of you don’t read a lot of my other preferences: memoir, soul-searching fiction, or heart-pumping thrillers.

I didn’t dismiss Talk of the Town by Lisa Wingate because it was light fiction. It looked like story that I would enjoy. As I read this novel, the place and the characters stuck with me. I found myself thinking about them, and wanting to get back to the book to find out where the story was going to take them. You can’t ask anything more from a novel.

Talk of the Town takes place in Daily, Texas, the small-town home of American Megastar reality show finalist Amber Anderson. Show producer Manadalay Florentino is there trying to set up the surprise reveal, but the townspeople seem to be staying a step ahead of her. She feels like her career is riding on this event, but she is distracted by her fiancee who appears to be MIA and the mysterious out-of-towner, Carter Woods. The story is told alternating chapters from Mandalay’s point of view, with that of Daily resident Imogene Doll.

Imogene is a widow with plenty of life left in her. She still works at the local cafe and talk-of-the-town.jpgmakes time to do an exercise tape with her two friends in the beauty shop/workout room connected to the cafe. She befriends Mandalay and gives her some insider’s help on Amber’s big reveal.

I read the last several chapters of the book in one sitting, because I had to find out if Amber Anderson was really the sweet gospel-singing innocent that America thought she was, or if she had changed. I needed to know if Carter was as charming as he appeared to be, or if he was up to no good. I wanted to know how Imogene was going to let the changes she had experienced that week change her life for good, and Mandalay–I had to see if Mandalay was going to change her own life for her own good.

There are some compelling questions in the reading guide available for discussion, and you can read an excerpt here.

If you’d like to win a copy, leave a comment on this post. The winner will be announced in next week’s column.

The winners of last week’s book are announced in a separate post HERE, because we have a bonus interview from the author, so click on over to find out even more about Walking on Eggshells.

Reader Interactions


Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

106 Comments

  2. This sounds like a good read and now you have
    got me hooked on these questions.Please enter me to win and thanks

    Reply

  43. Simply adore your blog and love your giveaways. Drop my name in that hat and then promptly draw it, okay? If you do, you can contact me at dmj53(at)hotmail(dot)com and I’ll answer you back so quick your head will spin! Thanks!

    Reply

  50. Well done review and I would be thrilled to win a copy….else I’ll have to buy this one, it sounds like a must-read!

    Reply

  52. Sounds like a fantastic book that would keep me up until the wee hours of the night! I’m in!

    Reply

  56. Personally, I like the light fiction. It is my escape from all the stress in life. When I read, I want something fun or romantic. I’ve got 3 kids, the youngest with Down syndrome. I get enough soul searching with them. I find it interesting to see what other people enjoy to read though. One of my favorite books I read this year was The Memory Keepers Daughter. Now that’s NOT light, but it was very good!

    Reply

  67. I love reading all the time….I keep a book in every room. This book sounds wonderfully entertaining! I hope I win.

    Reply

  74. This book sounds great! It’s funny because my cousin’s name is Amber Anderson!!! How weird is that??

    Reply

  75. Sounds like a great read, would love to have something to sit down with over spring break and unwind!

    nifferjeno at gmail dot com

    Reply

  76. Unlike most of my family I love reading. It’s my favorite past time. Please enter me in the drawing.
    Thanks!

    Reply

  77. Hello! I really enjoy reading. In fact, it is my #1 hobby. Please enter me in your drawing for this book. I do appreciate it.Thanks,Cindi

    Reply

  93. This looks like a good read – I always try to have a few light reads ready to go if I have to travel for business or have a car trip planned!

    Reply

  98. hullo!

    I love books and read almost everything.
    This book sounds very interesting.

    Hope to get a copy. 🙂

    Thanks.

    ivan(dot)manalansan(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply

  101. I love to read books that “call” to me when I’m doing other things. It’s hard to finish a book like that though, I find myself missing the characters, and wishing I could follow them through more of their story. I’d love to win a copy of this book, it sounds like just the right fit for me.

    Reply