What Matters in Mayhew (The Beanie Bradsher Series Book 1)

Let me start by saying I dislike ebooks. However, after reading The Pecan Man, I broke down and bought my first ebook because I could not wait for the paper version of What Happens in Mayhew to be released. It was a good decision because I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There should be a category labeled comfort reading because this is where a book like this belongs. The author treats her characters with respect and dignity (even the "stinkers") and makes the reader care about them. It feels good to read about the people of Mayhew. A perfect antidote for a bad day at work. Hurray for the writing pen of Cassie Dandridge Selleck.

Things matter in small towns to the people who live there and Selleck knows how to expose the subtleties of their hopes, dreams and the inventiveness it takes to survive socially, financially, emotionally and with family connections.People who have never lived in a small town don't really know what they would do when faced with situations that happen in a life built on long term relationships, not just of their family but an entire town of a few hundred people who have know each others business for generations. A place where years of conglomerate memories of disappointment, despair, pain, betrayal, jealousy, hurt, hate, anger and revenge are held onto and passed down, remembered, enhanced, changed to fit new fights and relationships. In the midst of all this tight society there is also enormous love, compassion, loyalty, heroism, triumph and even some times forgiveness. But memories die hard and from one time to another each person is trying to hold on to some grasp of dignity, survival, hope and personal power.Another page turner from Cassie Selleck. I hope to find out soon what the characters in her sequel to The Pecan Man will do, be and accomplish. Raised in South Carolina, her stories remind me of many characters I have known and remember still .

Fannie Flagg better watch her back! Loved it, and look forward to finding out what else matters in Mayhew in the continuing saga.

In her second novel, Cassie Selleck lovingly but realistically brings to life a small town in Central Florida. To keep a tenuous peace, the residents of Mayhew Junction, both black and white, abide by long-established rituals" where to sit in the local cafe and who not to fall in love with. However, when Beanie Bradsher and Sweet Lee Atwater's husband share his lottery win and a whopping secret, tongues wag and gossip threatens to unhinge the townsfolk and undo a marriage. Selleck is every bit as deft at making her characters pop off the page as was Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings in her Pulitzer Prize winning novel "The Yearliing". What Matters in Mayhew is a timely remiinder that America remains a patchwork quilt of many hews and textures, and Selleck's small town reflects a full spectrum of human experience and attitudes. She reminds us that What Matters in Mayhew still matters in rural communities all across America. A meaningful journey and a great read.

A fun read that will force any small southern town to face their long-held racial prejudices. Beanie embodies every person that has felt they didn't quite fit in yet she manages to carve a special place in everyone's heart. I can't wait to read the next installment and see if Mayhew takes a long look at themselves in the mirror. Let's hope so.

What Matters in Mayhew is a delightful peek into life in a Southern small town. The characters are warm, lovable, and quirky. The book feels to me like a modern-day Andy Griffith Show, not so much in the storyline, but in the way the book resonates. I laughed out loud several times, and then I proceeded to tear up at the end.Overall, it’s a fun read. However, Selleck doesn’t ignore the elephant in the room. She hones in on issues of race but does so in a way that captures the nuances of the relationships without being heavy-handed in judgment. Thematically, the message is that racism still exists, that we need to do better, and that it will be difficult, but that by-and-large even racists aren’t necessarily evil, rather small-minded, misguided, and ignorant. This realistic portrayal of racial tension could be a bridge builder. I do hope book 2 of the series is forthcoming because I must know how things work out between Beanie and Will.

I really wanted to give this 2 1/2 stars, but since that wasn’t an option I gave it three. It just might be that after having read “The Pecan Man” and “The Truth About Grace” I was expecting more than this book offered. The character development was lacking, as was the story. I know this author is capable of so much more it pained me to rate this book so low, but I had to be honest.

There was a lot of jumping around with the story being told by different characters' perspective. I don't have a problem with that except it took away from the main story of the health of one of the main characters. Ms. Selleck is quite good at involving the reader in the lives of her characters. She just needs to focus on the characters and avoid scattering telling the story by different people. A good book!