Cake Icing, Butt Budder & Tea Lids

by Renee Andrews

Cake Icing, Butt Budder and Tea Lids has been described as Sweet Home Alabama, the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Practical Magic and Steel Magnolias all rolled into one. "In the South, if a woman isn’t married by age twenty-five, it’s time for an intervention." This is the basis behind Delilah and Edna Thibodeaux’s dogged determination to make sure their beloved Jezze doesn’t end up an old spinster, like her mother and aunt.

But what happens when the eccentric antics of the young girl’s crazy Cajun aunt and mother put her search for Mr. Right on a 25 year deadline to potential disaster? And why should she have to prove that they are the experts in marriage intervention, anyway? Because she loves them? Yeah, probably. Because they really don’t mean any harm? That too. But when they decide her Mr. Right is T-Roy Bertrand, the butt budder salesman, does she really have to agree? And if she’s made up her mind, why does her heart refuse to listen?

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Humor, Chick Lit, Southern, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

304 pages, Paperback

First published October 8, 2011

About the author

National Readers' Choice Award and RT Reviewers' Choice Award winner Renee Andrews spends a lot of time in the gym. No, she isn't working out. Her husband, a former All-American gymnast, co-owns ACE Cheer and Tumbling. She is thankful the talented kids at the gym don't have a problem when she brings her laptop and writes while they sweat. When she isn't writing, she's typically traveling with her husband, bragging about their two sons and new daughters-in-law or spoiling their grandchildren.

Renee is a kidney donor and actively supports organ donation. In 2013, she, her husband and their oldest son competed as team Hello Kidney on the American Bible Challenge to raise money for living donors and to raise awareness for the need for living donors.

If you are considering becoming a living donor, ask her about how you can also save a life by sharing your spare! Or check out the “living donor” section of her Web site, http://www.ReneeAndrews.com She welcomes prayer requests and loves to hear from readers! Write to her at Renee@ReneeAndrews.com

Renee Andrews on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorReneeAn...
Renee Andrews on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/reneeandrews

Books by Renee Andrews
Her Valentine Family – February 2011
Healing Autumn’s Heart – October 2011
Cake Icing, Butt Budder and Tea Lids - October 2011
Picture Perfect Family – March 2012
Love Reunited – October 2012
Mornings with Jesus 2013 – September 2012
Heart of a Rancher – January 2013
Profiled – February 2013
Bride Wanted – July 2013
Yuletide Twins – November 2013
Mornings with Jesus 2014 – December 2013
Mommy Wanted – January 2014
Small Town Billionaire - September 2014
Mondays with Jesus 2015 - October 2014
Daddy Wanted - February 2015
Baby Wanted - August 2015
Family Wanted - September 2015
Mondays with Jesus 2016 - October 2015
Mondays with Jesus 2017 - October 2016
Second Chance Father - December 2016
Child Wanted - July 2017

Reviews

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, WOW, WOW -I love this book, THIS IS THE BEST BOOK I HAVE READ IN YEARS. It was laugh out loud funny and inspiring, I could not put it down and even the end was perfect. I am telling all my friends as this is a must read.. cheer you up kinda book.

Thank you Renee Andrews for making me smile so much. I am only sad I read it so fast, just could not put it down.

[Brenda Waterbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! It was a wonderful story to end my summer with! It was just a sweet story that I could not put down! I laughed, I cried and in my world, that makes for a wonderful book!! I don't know when I last read an entire book in one day!

[Tuesday · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this great little read for my Kindle when it was a freebie on Amazon. One of the main reasons why I picked this was that the title was more on the whimsical side, and come on, who doesn't like cake icing? I think it took me less than three days to wind this charming book up.

The book is set in Louisiana - Cajun Country, where everyone's name seems to end in X, family is beyond tight knit, and good food is very, very important. The book actually spans a time period of about 25 years, but Ms. Andrews does a great job of moving time along. I never felt like this story dragged on or got bogged down.

Cake Icing, Butt Budder, and Tea Lids is mainly the story of Delilah, Edna, and Jezzie Thibodeaux with a few other very interesting and endearing characters sprinkled in like confectioners sugar on beignets. The Thibodeaux's own and operate a family bakery and are notorious for their doberge cakes. Doberge cakes originated in New Orleans, and are layer cakes with different type of filling in between thin layers of cake. Usually the cakes are iced with butter cream or fondant and are decorated to the hilt with more butter cream. Delilah has a pretty simple explanation for a person's life as told through a doberge cake. Everyone starts with a different layer, and each layer is unique as is each person's life.

Jezzie is the central character and the book opens with her birth, and the touching family scene between her mother Delilah and her Aunt Edna....where oh where is that sarcasm font when you need it? That opening chapter truly sets the stage for the entire book though, and gives the reader the basic fundamentals for which it progresses. The plot is to marry Jezzie off to her "right man", that only she will know the moment she meets him, plus her mama and her aunt don't want her to wind up an old spinster and alone. There is a bon fire involved, along with a time frame, but don't worry, there are belts, suspenders, contingency and back up plans long in place for every bump in the road that may happen along the way. And the bumps happen.

Cake Icing, Butt Budder, and Tea Lids is also a love story - love of family, love of friends, and love of those who wander in. Butt Budder reminded me of my family, the "salve" that my grandparent's used for everything. You never quite knew what was in it, there was always a container of it handy, and it worked wonders! As for tea lids, I'll just let you enjoy every single moment of this all on your own, because it's best that way. I promise!

I laughed out loud, I cried, and I'm woman enough to admit that I kind of freaked out just a teeny tiny bit once, but quickly got over it. I just don't look at my bakery ladies the same any more. This book was a very fun read, and it is something that will distract you from even the worst of days. It really does scream for a sequeal (I hope).

I highly recommend Cake Icing, Butt Budder, and Tea Lids. This is a great little book if you are looking for something quick and easy to read and you are into laughing out loud and aren't afraid to cry. This would make an excellent book for the beach.

Oh, look! "It's changing time!"

[Charley Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me laugh. Not just a chuckle, but deep, belly-grabbing laughs. I smirked, rejoiced, hoped and said, “atta girl” throughout the book. This is a book that you will love or hate. If you are the type of person that believes in love at first sight (yes, I do), family that sticks together can accomplish almost anything, a child’s dreams and hopefulness and that love is worth everything then this book is for you.

Deliliah, an acronym for Deidre Edna Lucinda Isabelle Laila Ann Hiram, and Edna are sisters and the book starts with Delilah having a baby named Jezebel. It follows the life of Jezebel and is told from her perspective. It is broken into the three section noted by the title, Cake Icing, which is a happy wonderful life beginning and childhood. Butt Budder, I’m not giving that away. You’ll have to read the book to find out about this section. Finally, Tea Lids, which is all about a happy woman named Daisey that changes Jezebel’s perspective on life and influences the way she chooses to live. Give it a read; I don’t think you will be sorry.

Find my blog at http://booksbeliefsattitude.blogspot.com

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Love the narration by the young Jezebel telling her story. It's not often that you can find a good story with some leading character telling the tale. It is reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird. Very fine writing.

[Jules Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the story of Jezebel Thibodeaux in LA who starts the story at 10 y.o. and grows up in the bakery of her mother and aunts. It follows her life as a teenager looking for the "right man" and watches as the women in her life meet the "right man" and move on in life. There is a lot of light-hearted humor and good times in the book. While definitely not in my genre of writing, I found myself chuckling and getting involved in the characters' lives and wanting to know what would happen next. Although somewhat predictable, this book gets 4 stars from me because of its ease of reading and general good sense about it.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you start reading the book, you will wonder why the title. By the end it will all come together.
But I don't think I could ever bake a cake the way Delilah and Jezebel do. I've baked a lot of cakes but not as those two. I'm not sure it would be that freeing to me.
But the book will lighten your mood as you follow Jezebel from birth to marriage. You will laugh your way through it.
Nothing is this book is like other books I have read by Renee Andrews.
By the time you are through, pride and joy will have a new meaning. Also you might want to check out the back of the bakery from now on.

[Bobbye Hudspeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was totally unexpected. I thought it would be short vignettes of southern living, but it was the saga of a young southern girl in an "unorthodox" family...growing up in a bakery with a single mother and an aunt, all of them eventually looking for the "right man" and each finding him eventually. In unexpected places. I smiled as I started the book and was still smiling when I finished. I don't give many five stars these days, but when a book can really keep me engrossed and keep me smiling or on the edge of my seat, I can forgive a few typos and focus on the writing. Which was excellent.

[Stephanie Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it, although it isn't like any of the books in the description. It's in a class all on its own. I would have liked to have seen more about Jezze and T-Roy since that seems to be the climax of the book, but overall it was incredibly entertaining and it even had a good message if you read between the lines. A must read for anyone interested in Louisiana culture. Completely accurate references to things there. Makes me wish I was down there right now!

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong, unique Southern women and sexy men populate this light-hearted book that I enjoyed more than I expected. The book's description says it all.

Oh, except as spectacular as the youtubes of the Christmas Eve bonfires are, I just have to believe that Jezze's is even better.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The author really got me attached to the characters and their lives. Definitely a totally different type of story than what I expected. But a wonderful book. Looking forward to reading more by Renee Andrews!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love zany fun stories with wacky eccentric charaters. This fit that bill. A fun read, interesting characters, in a small, southern town.

[Elice Mcneely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! Makes you laugh,makes you cry, just a good read!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Start to finish this book took me 12 hours. I loved it!!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious book! I will definitely read this one again at some point. I really recommend this book!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quirky, delightful, warm, touching, delicious, and did I mention quirky? Love it!

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! It is so hilarious and fun! The characters are wonderful... I saw it in the Kindle Lending Library, read the reviews, decided to try it, and couldn't put it down!

[Julie Sorenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute storylines, easy read. Overall, an enjoyable way to spend a couple of weekday evenings.

[Elyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snort your milk out of your nose funny

This story takes a bit to get going, in the describing of the family, it's members, and their town, but once you're fully integrated into the riot of southern life and of finding "your right man" the story picks up pace as if you were driving a car like you stole it. And that is perfectly okay, because you just want more. Be fore warned you will need it all to finish this book - so prepare and have on hand plenty of something to eat and drink, and a tissue for when you need to dab. Now that is not to say what kinds of tears they will be, as it will range from the tiny prick of sadness pulling at your heart strings to full out rolling on the floor about to pee yourself laughing that I can't see let alone breathe. Careful you don't snort your beverage thru your nose at the most unsuspecting moment... whether you are reading or especially when listening to the audio, and "butt budder" becomes the topic. I rarely give 5 stars for anything but this book had me wishing there was more, and as I have not checked if there is a sequel, I truly hope that the author revisits this town with more about the next generation and because I have to say it again, "butt budder"... you will just have to read this to find out...

[Cupcakencorset · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read. Set in a small town near New Orleans, this novel is cram-packed full of southern sweetness and charm. The main characters are quirky and adorable, in that near-stereotypical way we've come to expect in this type of story. And while that's not a bad thing, per se, I did find the story's complications and darker plot twists, which had the possibilities of real pathos and emotional depth, were resolved too easily. The characters were too good, in a pollyanna way, and too quick to forgive, with no lasting emotional baggage. Yes, I wanted the characters to live happily ever after. But I wanted them to earn it, to grapple with real turmoil and to demonstrate that they've learned, grown, changed by the things they do and the things that happen to them.

Bottom line: Sweet, light and enjoyable, just like buttercream icing... but it could have used a lot more coconut to balance the flavor and texture. Trust me, it's a metaphor you'll understand pretty quickly if you read the book.

[Elyse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked it. it's campy fun. the first few chapters were a bit slow and need some caffeine to get it going, but about the time the bonfire gets built it speeds up with lots of charm. it's not about feminism, independence or the lack of a man. It's about family and the nutty stuff that comes from those bonds of being so close to the crazy people we come from... it's just a funny read. careful not to snort your drink out of you nose. the audible version at audile.com is even better with the delivery on point, get them both at amazon.com - kindle version with the audible add on usually at a discount...

[Teresa Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not usually a romantic comedy type person; I'm more of a murder mystery fiend. But for some reason, this book just reached out and grabbed me. Boy am I glad it did. It is well-written with characters you have fallen in love with before you finish the first chapter. I laughed out loud and even had tears show up before I was through. It was also so much fun hearing all the slang I grew up with once again. Now, I'm not a Louisiana girl, but to these Alabama ears, those were sweet words! I can't recommend this book enough. It would be a shame to miss it. Your life would be missing something and you wouldn't even know it. Well, shoot!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars because it was so much fun!

I read this book in one sitting (well, one lying), started late and couldn't stop!

What fun! A lot of living, loving and laughing takes place as several ladies wait for their "right man," the man who turns their legs to jelly, causes their stomach to clench, and their eyes to cross! Well, not to cross (I made that up) but certainly to unfocus.

No, no, these are not simpering, weak ladies! These are strong women--survivors who know enough to seize the day, no, the moment!

Now, at last, I can go to sleep! (Read this book. You'll love it!)

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Well written story about two sisters raising the child of one sister in the south. The two sisters have a cake shop that is the heart of their community. They soon become beloved characters that keep the book moving and lively with their antics. Through out the story you will come to find out what each of the parts of the title mean. I couldn't put this book down for fear of leaving such endearing characters behind while I slept, worked, or ate. Highly recommend this book.

[Diane Twomley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intrigued by the title and that it was a free for Kindle, I added this book. So glad I did. It is fresh, funny and full of personality. The family dynamic is interesting and ever changing, the characters are fun to know and the story line moves well from childhood to adulthood for Jezze as she attempts to understand the people around her and her own lot in life. Not being a baker I will, however, never look at cake decorating in the same way ever ever again! ;)

[I read womens fiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very cute read. Having spent some time in Louisiana, I felt like the author did a great job of creating the setting. The Thibodeaux name reminds me of good ole Louisiana hospitality and brings me back to my days in Lafayette.

If you are looking for a book with a some out of the ordinary humor, fun antics and a message for all, pick this one up.

I received a copy free during a promotion on Amazon.

[suzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love it! It was offered for free on Amazon and I got interested because of the quirky title. I wanted to know what the h*** is a butt budder.The romance was a little idealistic methinks. But at the same time it's realistic too. At least for some of the women in the book. What makes this book great is how the relationship between the Thibodeaux's is shown. You'll really feel that you know them personally especially the main character, Jezebel. Highly recommended.

[Jacqueline Hopkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as a lighthearted, fun, get you out of your own reality read. It is along the lines of Eat, Pray, Love and The Help, and if you enjoy both of those, you will enjoy this one.

I do have to say the cover is something left to be desired, and as with any book, self-published or traditionally published, it could use another proof-read or editor, but it did not hinder my enjoyment of reading this book.

[Sandra Muldowney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to laugh out loud and believes in love at first sight, and destiny. I enjoyed the story told through the eyes of Jezze, who grows into a 20something young lady in a family with a strong mom and aunt. There were some unexpected plot twists, which kept things interesting - nothing too developed or complicated. I enjoyed it and was glad I chose to read this freebie.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did like this book. Every now & then it is nice to read an easy and lighthearted book. It was entertaining but not hugely laugh out loud funny as some other readers had suggested. I would recommend this to someone who just wants an easy enjoyable read. I was debating between 3 & 4 stars and ultimately decided on 4 because it made me laugh, smile and it kept me coming back for more. It was not hard to get into but it was hard to out down.