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Book Review of Tempting Miss Prissy

Tempting Miss Prissy
Tempting Miss Prissy
Author: Sharon Ihle
Genre: Romance
Book Type: Paperback
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By turns, this story is funny, silly, goofy and hilarious. Sharon Ihles sense of humor shines in this book about a young woman, Priscilla Stillbottom, who runs away from a life she didnt choose.

Because widower Boris Hardtack II has gubernatorial aspirations, he needs a third wife quick. So he offers to save Prissys family from financial ruin if Mr. Stillbottom will allow Prissy to marry Boris. Until the night of their marriage, Prissy thought it couldnt be any worse than her current life.

Mr. Stillbottom remarried after Prissys moms death. The new Mrs. Stillbottom brought children into the world and Prissy took care of everyone plus all the housework. After the wedding, Boris came to the marriage bed drunk and abusive; after Boris fell asleep, Prissy ran away.

Prissy wound up in a mining town, with less than $3 and no job prospects. Then she sees an opening for a singer in one of the towns nicest saloons; Prissy loves to sing and promptly requests an audition. No one has ever mentioned to Prissy that she is tone-deaf; even the saloons dog covers his ears during Prissys singing.

However, Prissy puts all her heart into her audition and the saloons owner feels sorry for her. Payton Cobb offers her a job on a trial basis. This drinking establishment is home to a host of quirky characters.

Our heroine is dubbed, Miss Prissy and her Little Lamb. Thunder, the saloons 3 legged dog, is reincarnated as the lamb. Unfortunately, Thunder, has a problem with the things he eats and drinks. Thunder becomes gassy at the most inopportune times.

Prissy becomes legendary with her unintentionally comical act. Prissy and Payton dont take long to fall for each other but Prissy has an inconvenient husband to keep the couple apart. Poor Payton doesnt know about the inconvenient husband, but thats another story.

From just the story plot outlined above, it is obvious that there are lots of opportunities for laughs and goofy goings-on. The characters are oh-so-human; Payton and Prissy are endearing.

The only problem I saw -- Paytons back story was almost non-existent. It wasnt easy to understand some of his motivations. However, the story was so much fun; it was easy to overlook this issue.