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Damaged Goods

4.12 of 5 stars 4.12 · rating details · 26 ratings · 13 reviews

When Joanna Lucas moves to a small town to escape a scandal and a scoundrel, she finds herself in trouble again when she befriends a stripper-turned-Mormon, a one-legged woman thanks to a loose tiger, and a dirty-minded troublemaker with a love of inane questions, and they take on an industrial town. Erin Brockovich has nothing on these ladies!
Prepare to laugh out loud and...more

Paperback, 2nd, 272 pages

Published October 11th 2012 by The Writers Coffee Shop (first published July 12th 2011)

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Nov 02, 2012 Talk Supe Blogspot rated it 4 of 5 stars

Full review at Talk Supe

DAMAGED GOODS is a funny novel but it deals with serious issues like prejudice, red tape, small town politics, illegal immigration and environmental activism. The comedy doesn't deter the reader from the importance of these issues rather it highlighted it. The women in this novel are phenomenal and were good representations of every woman. The focal point of the novel is about friendship and the unlikely bond that Joanna forged with Dixie Quigley - ex-stripper now a devou...more

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Nov 24, 2012 Raum rated it 5 of 5 stars

Originally posted on: http://myreadinglounge.blogspot.com

A trophy wife who has had enough. A too complacent community, blind to the fact that its health statistic are really below average. A cement plant from hell. The usual amounts of greedy industrialists and cynical politicians and here you are: the scene is set for Damaged Goods, the amazing novel by Alexandra Allred.
Meet Joanna Lucas. She's lost herself marrying a rich man who wants her just to be pretty and say nothing. She's tolerated hi...more Originally posted on: http://myreadinglounge.blogspot.com

A trophy wife who has had enough. A too complacent community, blind to the fact that its health statistic are really below average. A cement plant from hell. The usual amounts of greedy industrialists and cynical politicians and here you are: the scene is set for Damaged Goods, the amazing novel by Alexandra Allred.
Meet Joanna Lucas. She's lost herself marrying a rich man who wants her just to be pretty and say nothing. She's tolerated his name-calling and infidelity, but she finally wakes up.

"Those words cut her like a knife. She knew he meant it. She knew he looked at her in this manner, and she had no one to blame but herself."

The straw that breaks the camel’s back arrives while they're in the car, on her way to a wedding ceremony. Her obnoxious husband demands she “holds up” her monthly flow, because he's on the phone and won’t pull over. Which, for a guy whose family’s fortune is based on tampons, is rather funny. Joanna’s public retaliation isn’t funny, at least for him, and an already dead marriage ends. Her divorce settlement is a beautiful, dilapidated mansion in Marcus, Texas and the money to restore it. Joanna has no chance of ever bumping into anyone from her previous life in Texas, and so she catches the opportunity to relocate there. She hopes to find herself anew and start finally to do what she always wanted to do: sculpt.
Her first days in her new location are exciting; people are curious about the Yankee who has landed among them, but not unfriendly. She is shown around, finds Mexican workers who maybe have not all the green papers they should have (one among them, Roberto, is devastatingly handsome), but nobody cares – they work hard, everybody makes use of them and so will she.
But there is something rotten in Denmark, or, better, in Marcus. The cement plant, which provides income for most of the community, has always been a health hazard, and now that it has been bought by a Swiss company - very happy not to have to submit to the strict environmental regulations existing in Switzerland - the situation is sure to worsen. Too many people die of cancer in Marcus; too many children are stillborn or born with birth defects, and too many suffer from asthma. With the plant seeking permission to burn tires, and plans to open a quarry near the school, what will happen?
It doesn't take long before Joanna realizes that she's gotten another bad deal from her husband. Her lawyer suggests she gets out, but it's too late: she has become invested in the community and is ready to fight. Joanna is determined to defend her new life, her new friends, and the right to live in a clean environment.
By all accounts, she should lose, because the opposition - local politicians and all the people with a vested interest in the status quo - are powerful and ruthless. But she's not alone. She has made friends with a bunch of very peculiar women: a lady who manages a big felines’ sanctuary and has lost a leg because of a loose tiger; a stripper turned Mormon; a bar owner, and a few outspoken other ones. They are the white witches of Marcus; outrageous and fearless, they offer Joanna the strength she needs. The epic battle will have the reader cheering and despairing until the surprising end.
Many reasons make this novel extraordinary. First of all, the subject matter touches on serious issues which should concern us all. Then, you'll be amazed by the writing style. Alexandra Allred captures her readers' attention with the wonderful pace of her story. Damaged Goods is a page turner if ever there was one.
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Sep 12, 2012 Kathie (katmom) rated it 5 of 5 stars

There I go again, giving a FIVE star rating to a book. I had the pleasure of reading this last month as I work for Alexandra Allred's publisher.

From the first scene, which was a shocker and made me gasp...then LAUGH OUT LOUD...I loved it.

This is what small town life is like. The highs, the lows, the friends. But there's something more about this. There is an evil, a killer, in the town and it caused my heart to break more than once.

And then Ms. Allred's skill with words would make me laugh. The...more

4 likes · like · see review

Oct 25, 2012 Tori smexys_sidekick rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: humor, kick-arse-heroine, net-galley, read-in-2012, based-on-a-true-story, abuse, chick-lit, e-book, new-author, romance

Get ready to laugh, cry, and groan as you follow an ex-trophy wife from the glitter of the Hamptons to the small town of Marcus, TX in this Erin Brockovich/Steel Magnolia like romantic contemporary. This story will both humble and keep you laughing as you watch the antics of a small group of women attempt to stop the town’s largest business from killing them. Smooth writing, detailed storylines, and complex developed characters all shine as Allred tells a deeply disturbing tale of greed, bigotry...more

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Oct 22, 2012 Michelle [Helen Geek] marked it as to-read

Shelves: arc-netgalley, tbr-kindle, hopes-reads

10/22/2012 Hope's Full Review posted today on http://www.2GeekGirlsReviewBooks.com

We got this ARC about a month ago. Hope's loves her quirk and it sounded right up her alley. She really enjoyed reading it and found the characters fun. She warns this is not a romance, but from her perspective, doesn't matter when you read a good book. This one is that - a good book. It reminded her of Erin Brockovich - remember Julia Roberts? For her full review, check it out on the blog today. Let us know what...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Rob Fuller rated it 3 of 5 stars

Unfortunately, the only way to describe Damaged Goods is cold and distant. I went into this book as a big fan of Alexandra Allred, and as much as I wanted to feel a connection with her protagonist Joanna, something held me back. There was a switch in narratives that threw me off a bit, but not to the point of distraction. The positives, and there are still many here...was the heart behind the story. There was enough detail to keep the story moving, but not enough to remember once I finished read...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Sandra rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: if you liked Erin Brockovich

Recommended to Sandra by: the publisher

Shelves: review-requested, arc-publisher-direct, contemporary, humor, kick-ass-heroines, made-of-win, nailbiters, reviewed-on-blog, animal-heroes, character-driven, chicklit

This review can also be found on My Fiction Nook.

I read the blurb prior to accepting this book as an ARC from the publisher and thought I was in for a humorous little book similar to The Ya-Ya Sisterhood. Boy, was I wrong. Not about the humor, because there's riotous laughing to be had inside, but this book went beyond chicklit and tackled some heavy issues that reminded me of Erin Brockovich.

I enjoyed this book. It's basically a David vs. Goliath story, and you can't help but cheer for the und...more This review can also be found on My Fiction Nook.

I read the blurb prior to accepting this book as an ARC from the publisher and thought I was in for a humorous little book similar to The Ya-Ya Sisterhood. Boy, was I wrong. Not about the humor, because there's riotous laughing to be had inside, but this book went beyond chicklit and tackled some heavy issues that reminded me of Erin Brockovich.

I enjoyed this book. It's basically a David vs. Goliath story, and you can't help but cheer for the underdog, especially since the underdog in this case are a few strong-willed women, with Goliath being represented by some good ole boys who try to keep the women in their place. And thankfully fail.

The book opens with Joanna Lucas and her husband, a wealthy business man, driving to a wedding in the Hamptons. The marriage is a bit rocky, and Joanna is more of a trophy wife than anything else. She asks him to stop so she can go to the bathroom, but he brushes her off. This costs him dearly once they arrive, where Joanna gathers her courage, her anger and hands him an offensive object in front of the other wedding guests, effectively announcing the end of their marriage. I cheered for her - her act of defiance was utterly brilliant. Crude, but brilliant nonetheless.

Beaten down, but strong against the adversity, Joanna and her attorney hammer out a deal in which she gets a house in a small Texas town, plus the money to finance the required renovations. When she moves to Texas, this book really starts taking off as we are introduced to the cast of characters that populate the town, which harbors a dirty secret.

The author does a great job of introducing the main female characters with a lot of tongue-in-cheek, but makes them all rather likable. They all have their little idiosyncrasies, some more than others.

And like most small Texas towns, people are initially wary of the newcomer, but still friendly enough to help her and/or warn her about things. Well, most of them.

After Joanna begins construction, she gets pulled more and more into the ongoing battle between a rather outspoken group of women and the local cement company that is slowly poisoning the town. Babies are dying or born with severe health issues. People are getting sick and die. And the EPA appears to be deep in the pockets of the company, and questions are being squashed.

What threw me initially were the POV changes. Most of the book is told from the 3rd person omniscient narrator, except for the part of Joanna's one-legged neighbor, which is in the 1st person POV. I didn't quite understand the point of that, and I don't think that really added to the story.

Ms. Allred creates a great cast of characters, including an ethnic minority, one of which becomes a love interest for Joanna, even though the story doesn't actually focus on their quiet but steady romance. Without giving too much of the plot away, if you liked Erin Brockovich and appreciate a good dose of humor, including a beer-addicted Emu, this book is for you.

I received a free ARC directly from the publisher. A positive review was not promised in return.
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Oct 20, 2012 Jen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Damaged Goods is about women—no, Damaged Goods is about the environment—no, Damaged Goods is about friendship and community—no, Damaged Goods is about all of the above . . . and more.

I laughed, I raged, I cried a bit . . . then I laughed all over again. Alexandra Allred has a way of turning a phrase and setting a scene that puts a reader right there with her characters. And her characters—they have so much depth and authenticity, one could be your sister, or your best friend, or the crazy lady w...more Damaged Goods is about women—no, Damaged Goods is about the environment—no, Damaged Goods is about friendship and community—no, Damaged Goods is about all of the above . . . and more.

I laughed, I raged, I cried a bit . . . then I laughed all over again. Alexandra Allred has a way of turning a phrase and setting a scene that puts a reader right there with her characters. And her characters—they have so much depth and authenticity, one could be your sister, or your best friend, or the crazy lady who lives down the street.

When Joanna Lucas ends her marriage, she does so with a bang—quite publicly and without a care for whom she might offend—and the tone of the story is set. She is no shrinking violet, but instead a woman done with a lousy husband. She relocates to Marcus, Texas, determined to start her life over as she makes over her home. Once in Marcus, she becomes friends with the most extraordinary group of women; there’s a one-legged neighbor who rescues large cats—of the tiger variety—and whose favorite pet is a beer-guzzling Emu, a former stripper turned Mormon who owns a coffee shop, a loud and brash smartass who asks the most shocking of questions, a quiet and subdued mother of two, and a soft-spoken, yet lightning-quick friend to them all. In addition to these women, Joanna also befriends the local day laborers, happy to have their company, expertise, and artistry in her renovated home.

Joanna quickly learns that all is not right in Marcus, and there are forces in place that damage the air the residents breathe and poison the water they drink. As new forces are joined to fight the damage that is already done, and to halt further injury to be caused, truths are brought to the surface. Truths that have been hidden for too long. Truths that people have gone to great lengths to hide.

Something that sets this book apart from others is its humor. There are times when I literally laughed out loud—cackled, actually—and looked around, hoping no one noticed. None of the humor is forced; it comes naturally and is written effortlessly—woven into the story seamlessly. And it’s needed as there are some serious topics at work in Marcus, Texas. But there’s friendship, as well. And a little bit of romance, too.

Don’t take my word for it. Go. Read it. You won’t be disappointed.
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Oct 23, 2012 Hope rated it 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and The Writer’s Coffee Shop for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4 Stars!

Book Cover / Book Blurb = 2.5/4 = 3.25 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 4.5 Stars
Character Development = 4.5 Stars
Story Appreciation = 5 Stars
Worth the Chili = 2 Stars($9.99 Amazon ebook)

Full Review posted on the blog at: http://2geekgirlsreviewbooks.com/book...

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Dec 04, 2012 Sarah Aisling rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. When I was approached with an ARC, I wasn't sure it was my cup of tea, but after hosting a guest post on the blog tour, I became intrigued. I'm glad I did because this was one awesome tale. The author has a way of drawing you into the story so you feel as if you're a part of all the crazy--and there's lots of crazy in this one! I have to admit that one of my all time favorite characters was Eduardo the beer-drinking emu. You'll have to read it to understand.

One th...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Andrea (mrsaubergine) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Brilliant. This book is going to stay with me for ages. Yes, it's hilariously funny. Yes, it's about friendships and girl power. But what really sets this book apart is its heartbreaking environmental message. It is absolutely shocking that this story is based on fact. I wouldn't call myself a greenie necessarily, but I feel like everyone should read this and get as angry as I did. It makes me so glad I live in New Zealand, where this kind of industrial rape doesn't really happen.

Alex Allred is...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Suzy Duffy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book!

On the surface it's another fun read about gals getting through life together but I had to keep pinching myself to remember that this is no Lady's lit - it's FACTion. This situation is going on in the USA today. AMAZING. I couldn't beleive it at first but I do now.
Alex took a story and made it her own with credible characters, some of whom I loved and some I wanted to shake. But I loved the book, loved reading it and would read another book from Alexandra Allred.
I've met the au...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Tracey Pringle fugett rated it 3 of 5 stars

Very drawn out

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Apr 02, 2013 Nancy Kojder rated it 3 of 5 stars

It was quite an eye opener, as we live close to a town similar to the town in the book. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the author at our book club.

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May 01, 2013 Kathleen Hunter rated it 5 of 5 stars

Apr 21, 2013 Elizabeth marked it as to-read

Apr 18, 2013 Jen Greyson marked it as to-read

Shelves: twcs-reads

Apr 10, 2013 Janet rated it 4 of 5 stars

Mar 25, 2013 Karen May marked it as to-read

Mar 23, 2013 Kelly Perkins marked it as to-read

Mar 28, 2013 Maureen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: friends-through-the-pages-book-club, read-in-2013

Feb 14, 2013 M marked it as to-read

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Shelves: books-read-2013

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Feb 05, 2013 Jillian rated it 3 of 5 stars

Feb 02, 2013 Tammie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jan 26, 2013 Grainne marked it as to-read

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About Alexandra Allred

Alexandra Powe Allred graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.A. in History, saying,"As everyone knows, once you get a degree in history, all you can really do is teach or write. I'm just doing what I can!" As the daughter of a (now retired) U.S. Diplomat, Allred traveled all over the United States and around the world. Her writing career began before graduation with several pieces on bi-...more

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