Talk of the Town (Welcome to Daily, Texas Book 1) [Kindle Edition]

Lisa Wingate (Author)

Book Description

A charming tale of small-town Texas with a twist of romance as the producer of a reality show attempts to keep secrets from the locals.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...the place and the characters stuck with me.... You can't ask anything more from a novel." -- Jennifer Donovan, 5MinutesforMom.com

"A story of overcoming the odds with a corral full of laughs, Talk of the Town is delightful to read." -- Ane Mulligan, NovelReviews.blogspot.com

"Lisa Wingate's entrancing story was a delight to read." -- RomanceDesigns.com

"Talk of the Town is just the ticket for those looking for a light hearted and humorous read." -- Rel Mollet, TitleTrakk.com

"The story is modern but the characters are traditional, and that makes the reader feel right at home." -- Susan Cronk, curledup.com

"This lively tale of Hollywood getting its comeuppance is sure to delight." -- Violet Nesdoly, blogcritics.org

"Wingate (Tending Roses) pens a light and entertaining story of life in a small town with Texas-sized charm." -- Publisher's Weekly

From the Back Cover

"People are going to talk, alright, and the conversation is going to be about Talk of the Town. Lisa Wingate writes engaging stories that strike the heart. God has gifted her with a marvelous talent and I, for one, am most grateful." --Debbie Macomber, New York Times #1 bestselling author

"Offers up a blue-plate special of romance, humor, and a rollicking good time. I absolutely loved it...." --Deeanne Gist, bestselling author of Courting Trouble

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 2203 KB
• Print Length: 368 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (February 1, 2008)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B002QHVJX2
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,434 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

122 of 129 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars LOL! Lots of laughs and an excellent story... February 6, 2008

By Jandi Oliah

Format:Paperback

I bought this book last Friday and started reading it on the T. I laughed so hard, I'm sure people around me thought I was nuts. I finished the entire thing over the weekend, because I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! Every chapter seemed to end in a cliffhanger that kept me turning the pages wanting to know what would happen next. Lisa Wingate is a great author, and this story is so contemporary, having to do with a show like American Idol, and the ups and downs of a reality TV life, and the culture clash when the reality TV people, press, and paparazzi swarm to a small town.

I loved every one of the people in the story. They were all unique and each one of them seemed like a real person you could meet anywhere (OK, maybe not JUST anywhere) and would enjoy talking to. I could hear the rhythm of the language of this little Texas town, and I could appreciate the fact that, even while being tempted by fame and fortune, they do the right thing for one of their own. I thought it was especially touching that the young singing star, Amber Anderson, doesn't turn out to be what you'd think she would be.

I'm very glad I picked up this book. No disappointments here. I can absolutely see why other authors endorsed it so enthusiastically, and why all the glowing reviews. This story shines. Wingate is a great writer. I agree with one of the reviews that said the religious elements were done in a subtle way, which I like. I don't think a book needs to preach at you or hit you over the head to make a good point. My grandfather was a pastor, and his message was gentle, never condescending or critical, which made him successful with people. He didn't turn people off, he drew them in.

This story draws you in. It makes a good point about the ways God can make use of someone's life, even if that person has flaws, the way society looks at morality, and the way people should act toward each other according to the Golden Rule. Any book that can do all that and still make you laugh until people stare at you definitely deserves five stars!

35 of 41 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Lisa Wingate's Talk of the Town is an outstanding book! February 7, 2008

By Ed Stevens

Format:Paperback

"Talk of the Town" is one of the best books I've read! I couldn't put it down until I finished reading it. It is an exciting, interesting and funny story of how a reporter, her boss, town people with various experiences, and a very talented young person deals with fame. One of the qualities I love about all of Lisa Wingate's writings is her ability to weave life enhancing information throughout the story.

As an example, "It's not your life Mandalay, it's just your job; there's a difference." Here we learn an important and easily applied lesson on how to deal with job related stress. Another "Quit fighting the sails & let the wind move the boat. Drift on faith for awhile." This one has many teachings, one of which is take a break and regroup while you enjoy your blessings.

"In Talk of the Town," Amber is the young lady who is thrown into the world of the paparazzi and fame so quickly that it's difficult for her to cope. Her privacy is lost. The story deals with how she copes. A beautiful, tactfully written love story adds to the excitement to make this an outstanding book. Lisa Wingate's "Talk of the Town" is already a best seller for me! I highly recommend it to everyone!

This book has all the characteristics needed for a great movie. I can't wait to see it playing in theaters across the country!

Ed

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Light and entertaining. No thinking required. July 15, 2009

By Holly VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I like Lisa Wingate. I've enjoyed other books by her more than I did this one. It's set in small town Texas with some characters who are laugh-out loud funny. Mandalay, the main character, is a producer for an American Idol-type television show.

Amber, one of the finalists is a sweet, country girl from the backwoods of Daily, Texas and Mandalay is sent to organize the "reunion concert" for her. The concert is supposed to be top secret, but the paparazzi have arrived and...more I like Lisa Wingate. I've enjoyed other books by her more than I did this one. It's set in small town Texas with some characters who are laugh-out loud funny. Mandalay, the main character, is a producer for an American Idol-type television show.

Amber, one of the finalists is a sweet, country girl from the backwoods of Daily, Texas and Mandalay is sent to organize the "reunion concert" for her. The concert is supposed to be top secret, but the paparazzi have arrived and Amber is missing. The citizens of Daily, Texas prove themselves as they come together to support their hometown girl.

Told through the first-person viewpoints of Mandalay and Imagene, the sweet grandma, the story is funny and, at times, charming.

Now, I hate reality t.v. and I particularly can't stand American Idol, nor do I understand the obsessive hype that goes along with it. Lisa Wingate capitalizes on that hype here. I don't think this book took a great deal of thought or effort to write. It lacks the depth of her other novels, but is light and entertaining: no thinking required. True chick-lit.

More About the Author

THE OFFICIAL BIO: Lisa Wingate is a former journalist, inspirational speaker, and the author of twenty mainstream fiction novels, including the national bestseller, Tending Roses, now in its nineteenth printing. She is a seven-time ACFW Carol award nominee, a Christy Award nominee, an Oklahoma Book Award finalist, and a two-time Carol Award winner. Her novel, Blue Moon Bay, was a Booklist Top Ten of 2012 pick. Recently, the group Americans for More Civility, a kindness watchdog organization, selected Lisa along with Bill Ford, Camille Cosby, and six others, as recipients of the National Civies Award, which celebrates public figures who work to promote greater kindness and civility in American life. More information about Lisa's novels can be found at www.Lisawingate.com or on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/LisaWingateAuthorPage?fref=ts


THE UNOFFICIAL BIO: A special first grade teacher, Mrs. Krackhardt, made a writer out of me. That may sound unlikely, but it's true. It's possible to find a calling when you're still in pigtails and Mary Jane shoes, and to know it's your calling. I was halfway through the first grade when I landed in Mrs. Krackhardt's classroom. I was fairly convinced there wasn't anything all that special about me... and then, Mrs. Krackhardt stood over my desk and read a story I was writing. She said things like, "This is a great story! I wonder what happens next?"

It isn't every day a shy new kid gets that kind of attention. I rushed to finish the story, and when I wrote the last word, the teacher took the pages, straightened them on the desk, looked at me over the top, and said, "You are a wonderful writer!"

A dream was born. Over the years, other dreams bloomed and died tragic, untimely deaths. I planned to become an Olympic gymnast or win the National Finals Rodeo, but there was this matter of back flips on the balance beam and these parents who stubbornly refused to buy me a pony. Yet the writer dream remained. I always believed I could do it because... well... my first grade teacher told me so, and first grade teachers don't lie.

So, that is my story, and if you are a teacher, or know a teacher, or ever loved a special teacher, I salute you from afar and wish you days be filled with stories worth telling and stories worth reading.