What do you think?
Rate this book
Sex and Insensibility
Lara Haley has it all. At least that’s what everyone tells her. Husband (estranged). Home (her mother-in-law’s). Family (smothering). When she finds her estranged husband’s dead body behind her Buick along with her prize-winning camellia he was trying to steal in the – ahem – dead of night, Lara decides it’s time for a change.
Will Kenner left town in the back of the sheriff’s car and never looked back. He left behind his family (estranged), the town (smothering) and most of all, Lara (sexy). Now he’s back, intent on saving the struggling town and his family. And this time, nothing will keep him from pursuing Lara.
Passion over takes common sense and sensibility for our two lovers. A hilariously uncomfortable funeral, a protest that pits neighbor against neighbor, and a few secrets are all that keep Will and Lara from finding their happily ever after.
Piece of cake.
Will Kenner left town in the back of the sheriff’s car and never looked back. He left behind his family (estranged), the town (smothering) and most of all, Lara (sexy). Now he’s back, intent on saving the struggling town and his family. And this time, nothing will keep him from pursuing Lara.
Passion over takes common sense and sensibility for our two lovers. A hilariously uncomfortable funeral, a protest that pits neighbor against neighbor, and a few secrets are all that keep Will and Lara from finding their happily ever after.
Piece of cake.
- GenresContemporary
207 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2015
5 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 24, 2021
This was a satisfying bit of happy fluff. I quite enjoyed it.
August 11, 2021
This was a fun read. A woman who has been kept down by family expectations has secretly been rebelling for years. When her almost ex-husband dies she finally breaks free when her high school boyfriend shows up in town after all those years and is about to demolish the small town feel of her city to build a big box store.
Their relationship comes right back but can she love a man who will leave when he's finished with his construction project? Her rebellion begins to seep into other family members' relationships and everything seems to be falling apart until the very Happily Ever After comes.
The last chapter is the cherry on top of this ice cream Sundae of a treat.
Their relationship comes right back but can she love a man who will leave when he's finished with his construction project? Her rebellion begins to seep into other family members' relationships and everything seems to be falling apart until the very Happily Ever After comes.
The last chapter is the cherry on top of this ice cream Sundae of a treat.
October 19, 2020
I started laughing right on the first chapter with Sarah and it only got worse after Will came back to Belle Terre...I had to disguise laughter in the bus and train...I loved it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 17, 2021
Come on down to the Big Easy for a wonderful second chance at love and a bit of mystery on top! You'll laugh out loud *and* fall in love with all her wonderful characters. Can't wait for the next installment!
September 18, 2020
You know you are going to enjoy a book when the first sentence makes you laugh out loud...or at least pause and say to yourself, “She used a Buick to what?” It reminded me of some of Fanny Flagg’s work (one of my favorite writers) mixed with a healthy helping of sex that is both real and STEAMY. While the sex is great, it is cleverly used to progress the story and our understanding of the characters and not simply the sex “expected” of this genre. Our protagonist unapologetically uses divorce/death (does it really matter which came first or what REALLY happened? I think not!) to declare her independence and eventually make public that she IS and more importantly HAS BEEN building the life that she knows she deserves. Her family will just have to “deal with it”.
As a child of the South, myself, she does what many women of a certain age either wish they could do...or are actually in the process of doing. I think many readers will relate! This was also a quick read and perfect for busy women who need a bit of escapism without a long commitment and without the “guilty pleasure” stigma. In this book there is no feeling guilt. I can TOTALLY see Sex and Insensibiilty making an easy transition to Netflix ala “Sweet Home Alabama” (Reese Witherspoon not Lynyrd Skynyrd) or “Sweet Magnolias”. My one real criticism is that I would like Preston to infuse more Louisiana culture (beyond LSU purple and alligator on a stick...which is delish, BTW) into the series. Louisiana—her people, music, language, flora, fauna & food— is truly unique and gives Preston a plethora of themes, tools, and experiences to weave into her writing. Clearly the author has more than a passing familiarity with this part of the South and I encourage her to use this knowledge to enrich these tales from Belle Terre. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for book 2 in the Hearts of Louisiana series-Second Chance
Romance!
As a child of the South, myself, she does what many women of a certain age either wish they could do...or are actually in the process of doing. I think many readers will relate! This was also a quick read and perfect for busy women who need a bit of escapism without a long commitment and without the “guilty pleasure” stigma. In this book there is no feeling guilt. I can TOTALLY see Sex and Insensibiilty making an easy transition to Netflix ala “Sweet Home Alabama” (Reese Witherspoon not Lynyrd Skynyrd) or “Sweet Magnolias”. My one real criticism is that I would like Preston to infuse more Louisiana culture (beyond LSU purple and alligator on a stick...which is delish, BTW) into the series. Louisiana—her people, music, language, flora, fauna & food— is truly unique and gives Preston a plethora of themes, tools, and experiences to weave into her writing. Clearly the author has more than a passing familiarity with this part of the South and I encourage her to use this knowledge to enrich these tales from Belle Terre. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for book 2 in the Hearts of Louisiana series-Second Chance
Romance!
April 18, 2022
Lara Haley is not having a good day, week, month, or year. Days from their divorce being final her husband dies and she runs him over with a car. Her new neighbor is none other than her childhood crush, who also works for LBC Development. The company that plans to bring an Americmart to their little town, if only they can get the reclusive book owner to sell their property. A bookstore that is incredibly important to Lara. As much as she conforms to the expectations of those around her, Lara has been quietly reaching her own goals. Will Kenner was considered a childhood delinquent and is determined to prove to this town that he defied the expectations they had for him.
This story is a laugh out loud zany small town romance with a hit of mystery. The characters have a past that takes time to resolve or rather for all the details to be known. The possibility of a large corporation coming into town is central to both of the main characters' livelihood. Lara and Will both want to support each other at the same time fulfilling their own dreams. Even as their intimacy grew, I was unsure how the Americamart/bookstore piece would be reconciled. Maggie Preston did a great job of wrapping everything up in a satisfying but still funny way.
I really enjoyed the humor and townspeople in this book. I wish Lara had more confidence in herself earlier in life but was happy to see her growth in this book. The juxtaposition of the expectations placed on Will and her make it so anyone can relate to the main characters. The Caldwell family’s perceived perfection and the righteousness of the Coalition for Order and Decency is comical in an almost sad way because we all know people like them. I do think this book could have been told in first person and felt a bit more personal, but it still connects. This was my first book by Preston but I look forward to reading more.
This story is a laugh out loud zany small town romance with a hit of mystery. The characters have a past that takes time to resolve or rather for all the details to be known. The possibility of a large corporation coming into town is central to both of the main characters' livelihood. Lara and Will both want to support each other at the same time fulfilling their own dreams. Even as their intimacy grew, I was unsure how the Americamart/bookstore piece would be reconciled. Maggie Preston did a great job of wrapping everything up in a satisfying but still funny way.
I really enjoyed the humor and townspeople in this book. I wish Lara had more confidence in herself earlier in life but was happy to see her growth in this book. The juxtaposition of the expectations placed on Will and her make it so anyone can relate to the main characters. The Caldwell family’s perceived perfection and the righteousness of the Coalition for Order and Decency is comical in an almost sad way because we all know people like them. I do think this book could have been told in first person and felt a bit more personal, but it still connects. This was my first book by Preston but I look forward to reading more.
December 15, 2022
*2.5*
Es una historia sencilla, linda, se lee rápido, divertida y ligera.
Atada toda la vida a las expectativas de su familia, Lara ha llevado una vida tranquila, mansa y predecible; hasta que, por accidente, atropella a su esposo y éste muere (por otros motivos), desencadenando una serie de acontecimientos que desordenan su vida, y la de toda su familia
Uno de estos, siendo el arribo a la ciudad de su amor platónico de la prepa; con muchas preguntas y sentimientos de por medio, además de decisiones importantes para su futuro, Lara empieza a cuestionarse la manera en que ha vivido, decidiendo que ya no estará dominada por las expectativas de los demás.
Creo que no fue mi tipo de historia, sí es linda y todo, pero como que no le tomé la importancia y el tiempo que probablemente merecía. Justo, se lee rapidísimo y tanto por cosas que se atravesaban como por falta de interés me tomó demasiado.
No me gustó que fuera taaan rápido, prácticamente todo lo importante sucede en 1 semana; sí, hay bases e historia involucrada, pero fue demasiado rápido, apenas y hay un desarrollo. Igual, hay demasiados temas revueltos y apenas y se medio resuelven las cosas.
Algo que le reconozco y me agrada, fue que se omitió el third act break up. Si bien no están juntos del todo, me gusta que hay un intento de resolver el conflicto sin necesidad de una ruptura llena de drama que al final se resuelve en 3 segundos.
Es una historia sencilla, linda, se lee rápido, divertida y ligera.
Atada toda la vida a las expectativas de su familia, Lara ha llevado una vida tranquila, mansa y predecible; hasta que, por accidente, atropella a su esposo y éste muere (por otros motivos), desencadenando una serie de acontecimientos que desordenan su vida, y la de toda su familia
Uno de estos, siendo el arribo a la ciudad de su amor platónico de la prepa; con muchas preguntas y sentimientos de por medio, además de decisiones importantes para su futuro, Lara empieza a cuestionarse la manera en que ha vivido, decidiendo que ya no estará dominada por las expectativas de los demás.
"He was everything you wanted but nothing you expected"
Creo que no fue mi tipo de historia, sí es linda y todo, pero como que no le tomé la importancia y el tiempo que probablemente merecía. Justo, se lee rapidísimo y tanto por cosas que se atravesaban como por falta de interés me tomó demasiado.
No me gustó que fuera taaan rápido, prácticamente todo lo importante sucede en 1 semana; sí, hay bases e historia involucrada, pero fue demasiado rápido, apenas y hay un desarrollo. Igual, hay demasiados temas revueltos y apenas y se medio resuelven las cosas.
Algo que le reconozco y me agrada, fue que se omitió el third act break up. Si bien no están juntos del todo, me gusta que hay un intento de resolver el conflicto sin necesidad de una ruptura llena de drama que al final se resuelve en 3 segundos.
" 'It's so easy to love you. It's the easiest I've ever done' "
October 19, 2020
Lara is done being pushed around as she takes charge of her life after accidentally hitting her dead husband with her car. When her high school love, Will, moves in a couple houses down the next day, things start looking up as they rekindle their flame. But with Will working for the new construction and Lara trying to save the historic downtown, their opposing sides make for an interesting time as her sister in laws follow suit and start a rebellion of their own. Calamity ensues as Lara refuses to back down and she is now the talk of the town for her rebellious actions. Will’s own family is in chaos as he suddenly has his three nieces & nephews move in. But as Lara and Will navigate their family craziness, Will is determined to win Lara over as he never stopped loving her. When the battle lines are drawn with even Lara’s own brother working against her and Lara finds out Will’s true involvement with construction company, can Will come up with a plan in time to not only win her love but save the company that so many are relying on?
I received an ARC of this book via Book Sprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC of this book via Book Sprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 15, 2020
A Witty Rom-Com with n Edge
This book is the first I've read by this author, and despite some darker topics, I found it surprisingly funny. It's a rom-com, but an unusual one for sure. While it certainly has humor and wittiness aplenty, it also has a darker edge to it that we find out about right at the beginning with the dead ex-husband... or soon-to-be ex-husband. The first line perfectly blends that humor and sense of macabre. While I read a lot of rom-coms, this one had a few unexpected moments as well as the expected ones. I liked how the book not only had a central conflict between the hero and heroine, as they are on apparently opposing sides of a complex local issue, but this had a fair amount of family drama as well. The heroine had a growth arc, too, as she's trying to come out from under her own shadow and other people's expectations. A very enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
This book is the first I've read by this author, and despite some darker topics, I found it surprisingly funny. It's a rom-com, but an unusual one for sure. While it certainly has humor and wittiness aplenty, it also has a darker edge to it that we find out about right at the beginning with the dead ex-husband... or soon-to-be ex-husband. The first line perfectly blends that humor and sense of macabre. While I read a lot of rom-coms, this one had a few unexpected moments as well as the expected ones. I liked how the book not only had a central conflict between the hero and heroine, as they are on apparently opposing sides of a complex local issue, but this had a fair amount of family drama as well. The heroine had a growth arc, too, as she's trying to come out from under her own shadow and other people's expectations. A very enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
June 5, 2021
Things Get Hot in Belle Terre!
Lara is the badass, southern spitfire that I wish that I could be! I loved following Lara as she navigated life after accidentally running over her estranged, cheating husband with her Buick. Right away, I could picture myself in her shoes; feeling the overwhelming pressure of family and community expectations, and struggling to find her own purpose and sense of self. Living life according to others will only get you so far.
I rooted so loud for Lara to finally stand up for herself, even when that meant facing her irresistibly handsome high school crush coming back into town, muscles-a-blazin’. The attraction is intense and their quips are hysterical. You’ll fall head first into their passionate rekindling. You’ll want to read this right now, preferably in a hammock, on the porch, sipping iced tea.
Lara is the badass, southern spitfire that I wish that I could be! I loved following Lara as she navigated life after accidentally running over her estranged, cheating husband with her Buick. Right away, I could picture myself in her shoes; feeling the overwhelming pressure of family and community expectations, and struggling to find her own purpose and sense of self. Living life according to others will only get you so far.
I rooted so loud for Lara to finally stand up for herself, even when that meant facing her irresistibly handsome high school crush coming back into town, muscles-a-blazin’. The attraction is intense and their quips are hysterical. You’ll fall head first into their passionate rekindling. You’ll want to read this right now, preferably in a hammock, on the porch, sipping iced tea.
August 20, 2021
Lara’s life has not turned out how she was hoping. She has always tried to do what was expected of her and now it feels like she is in the process of losing everything. Will is back in town with a point to prove. Can they both get what they want?
I enjoyed reading this book. It featured humour, romance and relatable cringeworthy family dynamics. I liked the pace of the story and that all of the characters were flawed. It made it easier to relate and invest in them. A nice, easy pleasant read.
I received a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers in exchange for a review.
I enjoyed reading this book. It featured humour, romance and relatable cringeworthy family dynamics. I liked the pace of the story and that all of the characters were flawed. It made it easier to relate and invest in them. A nice, easy pleasant read.
I received a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers in exchange for a review.
October 23, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
This was a sweet little read. I liked Lara and I thought Will was a good match for her - the chemistry was definitely hot! There were definitely moments I laughed out loud, but I do wish there was a little more to the novel. Some things felt glossed over and despite some of the clichés, I still found it to be a fun and enjoyable read!
Thank you Voracious Readers and Maggie Preston for my copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a sweet little read. I liked Lara and I thought Will was a good match for her - the chemistry was definitely hot! There were definitely moments I laughed out loud, but I do wish there was a little more to the novel. Some things felt glossed over and despite some of the clichés, I still found it to be a fun and enjoyable read!
Thank you Voracious Readers and Maggie Preston for my copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 25, 2021
loved the ending (don’t peek- you gotta read it all) received as a complimentary copy from the author via voracious readers only in return for an honest review
September 6, 2021
Good light-hearted fun read.
Really likeable main character, and although a bit predictable in places, still enjoyable.
Thanks to Voracious readers for sending me a copy to read and review.
Really likeable main character, and although a bit predictable in places, still enjoyable.
Thanks to Voracious readers for sending me a copy to read and review.
September 17, 2021
When life gave Lara lemons, well, she just left them on the counter and grabbed the OJ out of the fridge. Thus began the series of events that would change her life forever.
August 8, 2024
Another laugh out loud RomCom from Maggie Preston. I love the way she writes humor and the opening page had me in stitches. But it's also a great second chance romance too. Great characters and an intriguing storyline. This is the second book in this series I've read.
October 20, 2020
Lara Caldwell Haley was divorcing her husband Brian when he died. They live in the South and thus there were some customs/expectations they live by, After his death, an old flame, Will ,came back to Lara’s life. The story continues, with their struggles over expectations from small town and family as well as business conflicts.
I like that it was simple enough for easy reading. It fascinates me to learn some customs and expectations added in a story. Though I know it will be part of the story (since it was part of the title) , it was still quite shocking as it was presented here(Spoiler: first meeting and parent’s house). I wish also there was more in the epilogue
Nevertheless, it kept me entertained. It was funny and love Lara's stance on matters (love Camelias)
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I like that it was simple enough for easy reading. It fascinates me to learn some customs and expectations added in a story. Though I know it will be part of the story (since it was part of the title) , it was still quite shocking as it was presented here(Spoiler: first meeting and parent’s house). I wish also there was more in the epilogue
Nevertheless, it kept me entertained. It was funny and love Lara's stance on matters (love Camelias)
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews