The County Fair Queen

"𝙸 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍, 𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚢 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝. 𝙲𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐? 𝙳𝚒𝚍 𝚑𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚑𝚒𝚖?" If you've had any kind of conversation with me recently, you know how much I've been loving every single thing by this author and The County Fair Queen is no different. There's something about the style of humor combined with these slightly unexpected pockets of emotion that keeps me clutching my heart and smiling so hard my cheeks hurt. Philip Firecracker is an ex-boyband member turned z-list reality tv star popping back in to his hometown of Tallulah where Brenda-Carol, vaper extraordinaire, sets him up with fake boyfriend (Rivers Rivera) who just happens to be the mayor and 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘳𝘢𝘯. There’s history between Philip and Rivers - it's both hilarious and oddly sweet watching them figure each other out through all the chaos. And trust me, there's plenty of chaos...from Beau, the 9 year old executive man-child belonging to Rivers, Aunt Lurlene, saving the pigs, and maybe Firecrackers bestie Jordan having a thing for his dad? Not to mention the yoga! It sounds wild - and it is. Gloriously so. There's a whole cast of quirky characters that had me smiling the WHOLE FREAKING TIME and even a cameo from our favorite Murder Daddy boys. Even with all the quirk and chaos, I'm equally smitten and my heart was so freaking…

This was my first Lance Lansdale book and it was quite the wild ride. I've got his Murder Daddy series on my TBR and I've known that there's a bit of chaotic energy around his characters, but I was still in awe at the sheer amount of chaos one character can carry with them. Let's get one thing clear from the get-go: if you're looking for lots of bedroom activity, you should keep moving. This is a low heat, slow-burn that is filled with more humor than spice. It's a first person, single-POV narrative that gives you a front-row seat into the inner workings of the mind of former boyband star, Phillip Firecracker. I found Phillip to be both endearing and chaotic but I loved his sarcasm and humor (both internal and external), which move the story along with an entertaining mix of snark and vulnerability. The quirky side characters (including the town and the fair) are written with just enough over-the-top charm to be both absurd and strangely relatable, all at once. Rivers Rivera - town mayor and Phillip's arch-rival (only in his mind) is charming and I was a fan of the way he deliberately got under Philip's skin. The relationship between Phillip and Rivers is where the book really shines. Their messy, tension-filled reunion evolves into an exploration of forgiveness and second chances. The story being told only from Phillip's POV allows us to stay focus on how he learns to forgive and move on. And, while the romance is a slow-burn, the end result is satisfying and sweet…

Phillip & Rivers That was some of the most unhinged fun I've read in a while, and I've read Lance's available murder daddy series! I didn't know whether to laugh or cringe so many times while reading this book, but it never stopped being fun and entertaining. The sass, the backtalk, the quirky flirting, the nicknames...so many memorable bits that bring this crazy story together. I loved all the side characters, although I could have done with a LOT less Danvers, he was not cool. Beau was sweet and fantastic. Aunt Lurlene and Preston were a perfect backdrop to explain Phillip's past. Jordan was an amazing best friend to share in his present. Each character fed off one another's unique antics, and it was so much fun to experience. The ending was the perfect amount of crazy that fits each character that was part of it. I love how Lance writes his characters with just the right amount of crazy mixed with their normal. It makes the stories that much more interesting. I received an advance copy of this book and am volunteering my honest review.

This book is a slow burn with a reality show, fake dating, childhood crushes and a big dash of Lance Lansdale unhinged-ness. Phillip is a former boyband star and when his career needs a revival, it is decided that his life is going to be turned into a reality show. So coming back home to Tallulah to grand marshal the annual Muscadine Madness fair seems like a good idea. Because who doesn't love a comeback? What he didn’t know heading back into town was that his childhood crush turned hate subject, Rivers, is Tallulah's mayor. What Phillips thought would be an easy visit back home becomes everything but that. Because when the production team realizes that they have zero drama pending, they do as every respectable reality show would do! They decided to create their own mayhem and what better way to do that than the tried and proven “falling in love” plot? Que Phillip and Rivers working together to create love magic. Not like it is hard, it is rather too easy to be swept away in their feelings, but every love story has an end or does it? Both need to work hard for that HEA and not let the past ruin the future. This book is sweeter and less spicy than Lance's Murder Daddy Series but it still has that unhinged brand to it. I giggled like a maniac and just felt the true essence of Lance's writing shining through. I don’t know how to explain it, it is just pure fun and sass mixed with tough life lessons and a smidge of hurt that somehow just makes sense. 🩷 It has a bit of…

Need a break from reality? Read this! I don't know how he does it, but every time I pick up a book by Lance Lansdale my mood improves by 300% (yes, I'm serious). His books are always laugh out loud funny🩷 "Mary, mother of God. He was shirtless." The main characters in Lance's books usually have a slightly OTT personality and our County Fair Queen Phillip Firecracker was no exception and I just love it😂 What to expect: 👑 Slowburn 👑 Fake Dating 👑 One-sided enemies to lovers 👑 Feel good 🥹 👑 Small town 👑 Single Dad 👑 Bi-rep 👑 Single POV Phillip, Rivers and his son Beau could have carried this story by themselves, but we get a whole lot of side characters and they are equal parts ridiculous and sweet and they will definitely make you laugh out loud. The slowburning was burning. We get so many sweet fake dates, all the pining and tons of funny moments😍 I never wanted this book to end!