The Town That Came A-Courtin' [Hardcover]

Ronda Rich (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 3, 2005

Folks around Dexter, Georgia, where Abby Houston grew up, say the obituary-writer-turned-worldwide-bestselling-author is the luckiest woman alive. How else to explain all her good fortune? Her mama, though, has a different take: "Lucky in life," she says, "means unlucky in love."

Her mama must be right, because Abby's been getting her heart broken since the sixth grade. But ever since she crossed into Bliss, Mississippi, a heavenly warm feeling has washed right over her. Abby's used to making up quirky, charming characters in her books, but here in Bliss it almost seems like those characters have sprung to life-and Abby is fantasizing about moving right in. And the love affair is mutual. Because the townspeople have set their matchmaking minds in motion, and they aren't about to let Abby leave without a little love in her heart.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...Rich takes her well-earned place among America's Southern storytellers whom we all cherish. It's simply a wonderful, wonderful book! -- Dorothea Benton Frank, author of Pawleys Island

A wonderfully sweet, entertaining tale of goodwill and good people. True 'bliss. -- Richard Paul Evans, author of The Christmas Box and The Perfect Gift

Indescribably delicious! And now, Miss Ronda...may we please have some MORE?? -- Jill Conner Browne, author of The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love

Sweet, funny, with all the flavor and charm of a good old fashioned love story! -- Sela Ward, Emmy Award Winning Actress

[The Town That Came a Courin' is] Southern fun with lots of heart as only Ronda Rich can write it. -- Haywood Smith, author of The Red Hat Club

About the Author

Ronda Rich is the author of What Southern Women Know and What Southern Women Know About Flirting. A former sportswriter and director of corporate communications, she is now a freelance marketing and public relations consultant.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Hardcover (May 3, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425202585
• ISBN-13: 978-0425202586
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,321,106 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ronda Rich, an eleventh-generation Southerner, is the bestselling author of What Southern Women Know (That Every Woman Should) and a popular national columnist. She speaks with Southern charm and humor at over a hundred events each year. She has appeared on dozens of television and radio shows. Ronda and her dachshund, Dixie Dew, make their home among the red clay hills of her native homeland. For more on Ronda, visit www.RondaRich.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner!, June 29, 2005

By 

L. Allen (Alabama) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Town That Came A-Courtin' (Hardcover)

"The Town That Came A Courtin' " is one of the best novels I have ever read. I picked it up on a Tuesday afternoon and did not put it down until late Tuesday night when I finished it. It's a wonderful love story..the way love stories should be written! This book draws you in, doesn't let go, and leaves you begging for a sequel (hopefully sometime soon!). And what a role model Abby is for all us Southern belles (I see a lot of Ronda in Abby!). Like Abby, I too have a mother who wants nothing more for me than to be happily married..and I recognized a bit of my mother there! When I was reading this I felt like I was there in Bliss with her (and I would like to find a town like Bliss to live in)! We single Southern women all hope for this kind of love ourselves! I walked away from this book with a huge smile on my face and hope in my heart..and on a side note, I have read the book twice (so far)!

Ronda has a definite gift for storytelling, no doubt about it. Do not miss this book!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Let's hear it for southern writers!, June 11, 2005

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Town That Came A-Courtin' (Hardcover)

Abby Houston is a divorced, obituary writer from Dexter, Georgia who has turned into a bestselling author. She is the consummate Southern woman: charming, polite, quirky, sassy and tough like silk. In other words, she's what we Northern women admire, even though we'll deny it all the way into tomorrow.

Abby Houston's mother is actively looking for a husband for her daughter. But Abby's heart has been broken too many times so she's not looking for Mr. Right. She's not even looking for Mr. Good Enough.

Then one day Abby waltzes into the small town of Bliss, Mississippi to do a book signing, and her life is changed forever. Abby falls head over heels in love with the town and the people who reside there (except for one hard-nosed, opinionated spinster) - and they fall in love with her. And they love her so much it's going to be difficult for Abby to 'leave without a little love in her heart-and a lot of Bliss in her soul.'

At times The Town That Came A-Courtin' by Ronda Rich seems a bit slow and too wordy. In general, however, it is a playful, witty and captivating romp filled with love, relationships and charm enough to keep you smiling long after you've finished the book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointment, December 19, 2005

By 

C.A. Bloc (Mississippi) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Town That Came A-Courtin' (Hardcover)

While searching for a book for my book club selection, I came across this book heralded by its readers as a wonderful but fun example of current southern literature. Our book club has focused on southern authors, so this seemed to be a natural. I suggested it as a December selection. Knowing that we would all be busy during the Christmas season, this would be excellent reading. WRONG!! What a waste of time!!! It was not funny; it was shallow, trite, predictable, and disapponting. We couldn't even discuss it. Probably suitable for a very young teenager.