Lame Excuses [Kindle Edition]

Alle Wells (Author), James Junior (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Forty-year-old Emily Halley sits in a wheelchair in an abandoned lot of a silent, forlorn southern town. She reflects on her life that began in a short-order café that sat on this corner lot in the early 1960’s. She remembers and shares her love for the café that provided everything she needed and demanded nothing from her. As a teenager, Emily’s life at the café ends abruptly with her father’s untimely death.

Emily is forced to find a new life and enrolls in a culinary arts school in a rural farming community. She thrives as a culinary artist and finds a mentor, a lover and a new life in the Sand Fort community. Emily’s life is sprinkled with pleasant surprises, southern humor, disappointments and drama. Her passion for food remains constant and comforts her through the good times and the bad. Emily’s lifestyle begins to take its toll on her at an early age. A medical condition misdiagnosed by a country doctor and ignored by Emily leads her to a tragic and unsatisfied end as she tries to piece her life back together.

Praise for Lame Excuses:

"Ms. Wells' presentation of the South is genteel and soulful, and while I gobbled LAME EXCUSES quickly, the story's delivery had a hypnotic quality. Her writing style reminds me of Fannie Flagg - humorous yet sharp and keenly observant."

-GaeLynn Woods, Author of The Devil Of Light

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 268 KB
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0058UF54S
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,508 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #34 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Cooking, Food & Wine > Special Diet > Healthy

More About the Author

My name is Alle Wells. I write Southern Fiction set in specific time periods. Each book tells the story of one life and how society, beliefs, and culture shape the outcome of that life. The reader may find a family member, a friend, an acquaintance or themselves in my characters. My stories are like life: funny, tragic, romantic, happy, and sad. Choose one of my titles and find yourself or someone you know.

Check out ALLE'S 5-STAR REVIEWS featuring my favorite Indie Books!

http://allesreviews.blogspot.com/

Alle's books:
Lame Excuses
Railroad Man

Visit me at http://www.allewells.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, enjoyable story, December 27, 2011

By 

Erica Williams - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lame Excuses (Kindle Edition)

Having grown up in the rural South, I found myself reminiscing about my childhood and teenage years as I read this beautiful, but heart-wrenching, story. This first work by this new author is amazing in its descriptions and character development. I felt as though I could smell and taste the food, see the artistry of the dishes, and experience the life of a chef. Most of all, I felt that I knew the main character, Emily, and grew to love her as a friend.

Emily grew up in a small town family café where she felt safe and comfortable. Her lifestyle was formed early and continued into her young adulthood when she chose to continue her love for food by going to a culinary school. Emily's life seemed fulfilled by finding the love of her life and having a career that she enjoyed. The life that she loved, though, had a dark side, and the reader soon understood that Emily was in trouble. After getting to know Emily as she moved through many trying and interesting experiences, I found it easy to empathize with this very likeable character.

Thanks to this talented new author for a book that makes the reader think and, perhaps, make changes in his or her own life. The story itself was very well written and held my interest from the beginning to the end. Well done, Ms. Wells!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Anything but lame., July 17, 2011

By 

John Anson (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lame Excuses (Kindle Edition)

Lame Excuses is a rare find.

The language, dialog and imagery take you back to a simpler time; a terrific escape to a world where happiness and pick-me-ups (soda) are one in the same. Whereas I usually fly through books, I enjoyed slowing down for this one, taking in the language and the feeling behind it. Ms. Wells definitely has a way with words.

The characters are relatable, and evoke a great deal of empathy; there's just something about them that reels you in.

Lame Excuses, for me, was an outstanding introduction to this new author. I look forward to reading more of her work.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a good novel, February 24, 2012

By 

RosaSharon (America) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lame Excuses (Kindle Edition)

I am so happy to give this novel 5 stars, as I have started so many and gave up half way through. I won't re-tell; you can read what it is all about from the other reviewers that have done a better job than I ---- but I will tell you what it isn't about ---
No vampires, ghosts, angels, fortune tellers; in short, no paranormal. I stay away from all these. Just my preference.

Also, no sex scenes. Whew!!! Sex is alluded to, but leaves you outside the door; thanks.

This novel reads as if it were a true story. I will definitely watch for any other books written by this author.