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The Bottom Dollar Series #1
Bet Your Bottom Dollar
Welcome to the Bottom Dollar Emporium of Cayboo Creek, South Carolina, where everything from coconut mallow cookies to Clabber Girl Baking Powder costs only a dollar, and coffee and gossip are free.
For Elizabeth, Mavis, and Attalee -- the Bottom Dollar Girls -- logging nine to five at the Bottom Dollar is not just work time, it's family time. So when news gets out that the Super Saver Dollar Store chain plans to set up shop and run the Bottom Dollar out of town, things go catawampus. Manager Elizabeth, who has a good head for business even though she flunked pin-curling in beauty school, teams up with a crew of dedicated do-gooders bent on saving the Bottom Dollar from the fate of spare change. But when Elizabeth's unlikely new love interest -- who also happens to be Cayboo Creek's wealthiest bachelor -- pitches woo, out come some startling revelations about her past that turn life more than a little interesting for all her friends and neighbors.
Serving up heaping portions of small-town wit and Southern cadence, Bet Your Bottom Dollar crackles with more secrets than a slumber party.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2004
721 people are currently reading
1498 people want to read
About the author
Karin Gillespie
17 books243 followersMeet Karin Gillespie, the Rogue Magnolia
I like Lilly clothes but only paired with a black leather jacket.
I don’t have the patience for a mani-ped but I always have time for a conversation about books, the Buddha or the best barbecue ribs below the gnat line.
I’m not a Steel Magnolia because, instead of forbearing within the system, I’m more interested in exploring its flaws and busting up the status quo.
My characters reflect who I am: unconventional, creative and endlessly curious. They also reflect the South: colorful, kooky and sometimes deeply flawed
Keep in touch with me at
http://karingillespieauthor.com
I like Lilly clothes but only paired with a black leather jacket.
I don’t have the patience for a mani-ped but I always have time for a conversation about books, the Buddha or the best barbecue ribs below the gnat line.
I’m not a Steel Magnolia because, instead of forbearing within the system, I’m more interested in exploring its flaws and busting up the status quo.
My characters reflect who I am: unconventional, creative and endlessly curious. They also reflect the South: colorful, kooky and sometimes deeply flawed
Keep in touch with me at
http://karingillespieauthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
November 10, 2014
I got this book free from Firstreads. This is my honest review.
What a cute book! I was definitely in the mood for something lighthearted and this book, full of southern charm and wit, was just perfect to float my boat. Sisterhood, a bit of romance, mixed with some mystery, and huge belly laughs, these ladies of Cayboo Creek, South Caroline grew on me like white on rice. Ups, beware, reading this book might just change your speech patterns.
Ladies from 20's to 80's meet and work in The Bottom Dollar Emporium, seeking everything from toilet brushes, to old fashioned toys and candies for just a dollar. It's a place to meet, share a cup of coffee and discuss anything and everything that comes to mind. Then dreaded news. A big chain dollar store is coming to town and threatens to outshine and outsell their little gathering place.
Elizabeth, the store manager comes up with a few ideas to save the day. She's also being set-up to meet a new man after the love of her life broke off their engagement. Mix that in with some relatives that one might love but would rather keep to one self, and you've got a story that makes for fast and intriguing reading.
This first book in The Bottom Dollar Series was a charmer for me. I notice that these books come in Audible too, so think I'll try that version for the next book. The accents should add another flavor to an already fun series!
What a cute book! I was definitely in the mood for something lighthearted and this book, full of southern charm and wit, was just perfect to float my boat. Sisterhood, a bit of romance, mixed with some mystery, and huge belly laughs, these ladies of Cayboo Creek, South Caroline grew on me like white on rice. Ups, beware, reading this book might just change your speech patterns.
Ladies from 20's to 80's meet and work in The Bottom Dollar Emporium, seeking everything from toilet brushes, to old fashioned toys and candies for just a dollar. It's a place to meet, share a cup of coffee and discuss anything and everything that comes to mind. Then dreaded news. A big chain dollar store is coming to town and threatens to outshine and outsell their little gathering place.
Elizabeth, the store manager comes up with a few ideas to save the day. She's also being set-up to meet a new man after the love of her life broke off their engagement. Mix that in with some relatives that one might love but would rather keep to one self, and you've got a story that makes for fast and intriguing reading.
This first book in The Bottom Dollar Series was a charmer for me. I notice that these books come in Audible too, so think I'll try that version for the next book. The accents should add another flavor to an already fun series!
July 20, 2023
This is a fun book I found while searching for books by authors with my name who aren't surnamed Slaughter (her books are not a genre I like). While I ended up reading a different one first that I used, I opted to read this since it's summertime.
This centres on three women who work at the Bottom Dollar store. Its existence is threatened when a new dollar store that's part of a large chain is moving in. The women work to save the store, and along the way Elizabeth--by far the youngest of the three--begins a romance. While it's nothing stellar, I enjoyed it enough to read the next book in the series.
This centres on three women who work at the Bottom Dollar store. Its existence is threatened when a new dollar store that's part of a large chain is moving in. The women work to save the store, and along the way Elizabeth--by far the youngest of the three--begins a romance. While it's nothing stellar, I enjoyed it enough to read the next book in the series.
September 26, 2010
Pleasant story about nice people in the South, but not recommended.
Based on other reviewers, I was hoping for romantic comedy, but got neither. I didn't laugh or chuckle. I wasn't surprised or delighted. The relationship that developed did not draw me in enough emotionally to be able to categorize this as a romance novel. Some of the plot points concerned family secrets, which were somewhat predictable. The characters were not interesting enough.
Story brief: Smart, nice and humble girl Elizabeth helps solve problems for people in the small town of Cayboo Creek. A wealthy woman in nearby Augusta, Georgia, asks Elizabeth to be a friend to her grandson, Timothy, a Buddhist oddball who recently moved back to town after his father's death. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: none. Setting: current day Cayboo Creek, S. Carolina. Copyright: 2005. Genre: relationships fiction.
Based on other reviewers, I was hoping for romantic comedy, but got neither. I didn't laugh or chuckle. I wasn't surprised or delighted. The relationship that developed did not draw me in enough emotionally to be able to categorize this as a romance novel. Some of the plot points concerned family secrets, which were somewhat predictable. The characters were not interesting enough.
Story brief: Smart, nice and humble girl Elizabeth helps solve problems for people in the small town of Cayboo Creek. A wealthy woman in nearby Augusta, Georgia, asks Elizabeth to be a friend to her grandson, Timothy, a Buddhist oddball who recently moved back to town after his father's death. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: none. Setting: current day Cayboo Creek, S. Carolina. Copyright: 2005. Genre: relationships fiction.
November 14, 2011
Conflict: p. 51 “This is about huge companies coming here with their corporate backing and their big bank accounts and knocking aside the little guys.”
Gentle small town humor.
Some chapter headings:
“If you don’t like my driving, stay off the sidewalk.”
“Don’t give up. Moses was once a basket case.”
“Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.”
“Look at life through the windshield, not the rearview mirror.”
Gentle small town humor.
Some chapter headings:
“If you don’t like my driving, stay off the sidewalk.”
“Don’t give up. Moses was once a basket case.”
“Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.”
“Look at life through the windshield, not the rearview mirror.”
March 5, 2015
What an unexpected delightful book! I've got to read the rest in the series . This book had me smiling and laughing out loud. There are serious moments and its not all fluff, but its such a feel good, over all book! The characters were so real and just precious. Another bonus is I'd be comfortable giving this book to my teenager to read! There's a little mystery and a little romance and a lot of family and friends. Truly a book with heart.
January 5, 2015
A fun sweet book about a group of ladies who work at a Bottom Dollar bargain store in a small southern town. Has a little romance and a little mystery, lots of friendship and laughs.
Going to read the other books in the series.
Going to read the other books in the series.
November 3, 2014
I LOVED this book! It's hilarious but not over-the-top, and the characters are so fun. (The sequels are great too!)
March 18, 2015
Simple little series, but so funny!
September 29, 2015
Really enjoyed this sassy, Southern series from Karin Gillespie. I feel that I know this small town and the women in it. A really sweet romance with a suspenseful twist!
November 21, 2014
***I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway***
I was a little slow on the uptake with this book because it felt like the story of saving the Bottom Dollar just wasn't that interesting - but, it turned out that was really just a peripheral story line. The real story was about family secrets and lineage and was really interesting. I believe the book description is a bit misleading.
Add to the story line the charming characters and great dialogue and it made for a very enjoyable read. I enjoyed the colloquialisms and could hear the various accents of the characters as I read.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick read and enjoys very colorful characters.
I was a little slow on the uptake with this book because it felt like the story of saving the Bottom Dollar just wasn't that interesting - but, it turned out that was really just a peripheral story line. The real story was about family secrets and lineage and was really interesting. I believe the book description is a bit misleading.
Add to the story line the charming characters and great dialogue and it made for a very enjoyable read. I enjoyed the colloquialisms and could hear the various accents of the characters as I read.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick read and enjoys very colorful characters.
July 10, 2013
I'm a Southerner- born and bred. I like sweet tea, fried chicken and front porches. I like reading books about The South- even quirky Southern towns on occasion. However, this book repulsed me! I couldn't even get halfway through it. The characters were insultingly simple and mind-numbingly boring. There were the typical Southern stereotypes, which I'm normally OK with, but this book "laid it on a little too thick"; it was overkill. For me, reading this book was like drinking a glass of lemonade with a half cup of sugar in it. I just couldn't do it...
August 21, 2021
cutesy lil' southern cozy, but i didn't feel anything special for the characters and it all felt a bit predictable. it wasn't spicy romantically, or laugh out loud funny, or tearjerkingly sweet. it was "fine."
September 24, 2022
This was an okay book. The setting and characters hold promise, but I wasn't as drawn in as I wanted to be. Timothy and Elizabeth are nice people, but I didn't feel their romance develop. I was told that they were madly in love, but the author didn't take us along-- it was two nice people, a few nice dates, then-- Boom-- they are super in love and running off together. I will say that that I thought I had Elizabeth's past all figured out, but there was a little twist involving Dwayne that I wasn't expecting.
October 1, 2017
Very cute book. I love a book that makes me laugh!!
June 12, 2022
Great book
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was very humorous and clean. I had several laugh out loud moments. I loved the antics of these southern ladies and look forward to the next book. Thank you for a very enjoyable read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was very humorous and clean. I had several laugh out loud moments. I loved the antics of these southern ladies and look forward to the next book. Thank you for a very enjoyable read.
June 20, 2025
Reminiscent of Fannie Flagg.
March 16, 2025
The story itself was good, but there were some things that keep me from giving it a higher rating. The book was originally written in 2004 I believe and I am fine with reading a book from that time period. I saw,however, that the author decided to do some updates. This would be fine if it were a thorough update, but a few things were thrown in like Temu and Zoom while other things were left to 2004 like a flip phone, and all the country artists and songs mentioned. It needs to be left in 2004 or brought completely to 2025.
April 26, 2015
Success
The first in this series and new author for me. I had little trouble getting into the story at first but characters started grow on me as they well developed especially Elizabeth. In Cayboo Creek, South Carolina a dollar is about to loose customers to supermarket. Elizabeth is the assistant manager she has plan to the the business. There are hints that there is mystery in Elizabeth's past might interfere with her love life. There is no sex or violence. I will read the next book A DOLLAR SHORT.
The first in this series and new author for me. I had little trouble getting into the story at first but characters started grow on me as they well developed especially Elizabeth. In Cayboo Creek, South Carolina a dollar is about to loose customers to supermarket. Elizabeth is the assistant manager she has plan to the the business. There are hints that there is mystery in Elizabeth's past might interfere with her love life. There is no sex or violence. I will read the next book A DOLLAR SHORT.
September 27, 2018
What a delightful book! At first, it came across to me as rather hoky, but as I read on, I came to adore the hokiness. It just fits right in with the hoky characters! 😀 It's, also, a charming love story without all the eroticism that can, otherwise, ruin a good story. Almost makes ya wanna move to Georgia! In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I've already started on the next book in the series. I've had these for several years, don't know why it took me so long to start reading them. Too many books, not enough time!
October 19, 2014
I absolutely LOVED this book. The characters were so real and likable and it totally kept me entertained. I especially liked the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. I am definitely hooked on this series and will definitely be looking to read the others as they come out.
It's a southern setting with southern people who are laid back and very well written characters. The story was very entertaining and I read this in one sitting. I just could not put it down!!
It's a southern setting with southern people who are laid back and very well written characters. The story was very entertaining and I read this in one sitting. I just could not put it down!!
May 2, 2018
This was an entertaining light read set in South Carolina. Having lived in South Carolina for 10 years, I could definitely relate to much of the dialogue and traditions. I enjoyed the humor in the novel which was derived primarily from the main characters' conversations although I felt the author went a little heavy on the redneck mentality at times. This is not literary fiction but fit what I was looking for at this time between reading much more serious books.
September 9, 2021
The book was good, would read this author again. The reason for the extremely low rating, I will explain. I got this as an audio book. The reader "sounded" somewhat southern...but. I had to turn off MULTIPLE times. The reader COULD NOT PRONOUNCE "AUGUSTA" correctly. It's pronounced a-gust-a, NOT AWE-gusta. You can ask ANY golfer anywhere and they would know how to say it. I did finish the book - eventually. And I would "read" her books again.
February 24, 2018
This book was a fun look at a simpler life. It particularly made me happy to read the book knowing the towns the book was based around. This is a book written by a local Augusta author and she incorporated local sights and sounds into her writting. It was a fun light hearted read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I am going to read the next in the series.
February 17, 2020
This was a cute story of how messy life can be and Secrets we may have . I heard a saying a long time ago about how the truth always float to the top Its so true. Family no matter how dysfunctional they are ,are still family . I needed something light to read and this filled the bill and even put a smile on my face which i needed truly enjoyed it
June 25, 2021
I enjoyed this book very much. The character development was enjoyable to read. Although I know it is first in a series, it stands alone as a good read. Funny and sad in parts, it's about the intertwining of the lives of people. I can relate to that.
March 7, 2015
Cute easy read
October 23, 2015
It's embarrassing that I actually read this.
October 22, 2016
Heart Warming!
I loved this book! Loveable quirky characters and a small town setting made this an enjoyable quick read. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
I loved this book! Loveable quirky characters and a small town setting made this an enjoyable quick read. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
January 5, 2015
3.75
A humourous story of a southern small town.
A humourous story of a southern small town.
November 13, 2023
Bet Your Bottom Dollar by Karin Gillespie
Bottom Dollar Girls#1
7h 54m narrated by Carrington MacDuffie, 256 pages
Genre: Women's Fiction, Comedy
Featuring: Epigraphs, Aiken County South Carolina, Store Owner, Dollar Store, October, Country Folks, Octogenarians, Vicenarian MC, Competition Trope, David vs Goliath Trope, Sex - Off-Camera, Music, Gossiping, Drama, Food
Rating as a movie: PG-15
Songs for the soundtrack: "Luck Be a Lady" by Robert Alda, "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" is a song written by Kenny Chesney, "Friends in Low Places" by Garth Brooks, "I Still Miss You Baby, But My Aim Is Getting Better" by Hillbilly Hoot featuring Billy Boil, "There's A Tear In My Beer" by Hank Williams Jr., "Timber, I'm Falling in Love" by Danielle Bradbery, "Something That We Do" by Clint Black, "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" by Conway Twitty, "I'm in Love With a Capital U" by Joe Diffie "He Stopped Loving Her Today" by George Jones, "Thanks to the Cathouse (I'm In the Doghouse With You)" Johnny Paycheck, "Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing" by Andy Williams, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" by Kitty Wells, 'Crystal Blue Persuasion" by Tommy James, "When I Said I Do" by Clint Black, "My Girl" by The Temptations, "If I Were On Your Shoes, I'd Qalk Right Back To Me", "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by Charlie Daniels, "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder" by Johnny Cash, "Shall We Gather at the River" by Robert Lowry, Love Me Tender by Elvis Presley
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️¾🛒
My thoughts: I almost quit early on because this was a bit too country for me but it got better. Then it featured one of my least favorite tropes and the racism towards the end was skipped over as if it wasn't a factor, maybe it wasn't but it seemed wrong to me although common at the time. Overall it was an enjoyable story although they skipped over the main conflict of the plot, it was happening in the background as we only saw bits and pieces of the store battle. I thought this might be a one-and-done but I will be reading the rest of the series, it wasn't bad. I had a hard time finding this book online because Audible spelled her name wrong on the cover but once I noticed it, I found it everywhere.
Recommend to others: Most likely, the entire series is currently included on Audible and Kindle Unlimited.
Bottom Dollar Girls
1. Bet Your Bottom Dollar (2004)
2. A Dollar Short (2005)
3. Dollar Daze (2006)
Bottom Dollar Girls#1
7h 54m narrated by Carrington MacDuffie, 256 pages
Genre: Women's Fiction, Comedy
Featuring: Epigraphs, Aiken County South Carolina, Store Owner, Dollar Store, October, Country Folks, Octogenarians, Vicenarian MC, Competition Trope, David vs Goliath Trope, Sex - Off-Camera, Music, Gossiping, Drama, Food
Rating as a movie: PG-15
Songs for the soundtrack: "Luck Be a Lady" by Robert Alda, "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" is a song written by Kenny Chesney, "Friends in Low Places" by Garth Brooks, "I Still Miss You Baby, But My Aim Is Getting Better" by Hillbilly Hoot featuring Billy Boil, "There's A Tear In My Beer" by Hank Williams Jr., "Timber, I'm Falling in Love" by Danielle Bradbery, "Something That We Do" by Clint Black, "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" by Conway Twitty, "I'm in Love With a Capital U" by Joe Diffie "He Stopped Loving Her Today" by George Jones, "Thanks to the Cathouse (I'm In the Doghouse With You)" Johnny Paycheck, "Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing" by Andy Williams, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" by Kitty Wells, 'Crystal Blue Persuasion" by Tommy James, "When I Said I Do" by Clint Black, "My Girl" by The Temptations, "If I Were On Your Shoes, I'd Qalk Right Back To Me", "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by Charlie Daniels, "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder" by Johnny Cash, "Shall We Gather at the River" by Robert Lowry, Love Me Tender by Elvis Presley
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️¾🛒
My thoughts: I almost quit early on because this was a bit too country for me but it got better. Then it featured one of my least favorite tropes and the racism towards the end was skipped over as if it wasn't a factor, maybe it wasn't but it seemed wrong to me although common at the time. Overall it was an enjoyable story although they skipped over the main conflict of the plot, it was happening in the background as we only saw bits and pieces of the store battle. I thought this might be a one-and-done but I will be reading the rest of the series, it wasn't bad. I had a hard time finding this book online because Audible spelled her name wrong on the cover but once I noticed it, I found it everywhere.
Recommend to others: Most likely, the entire series is currently included on Audible and Kindle Unlimited.
Bottom Dollar Girls
1. Bet Your Bottom Dollar (2004)
2. A Dollar Short (2005)
3. Dollar Daze (2006)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews