After years of crying in her sweet tea, Regina finally has her life in order. She has a great job, wonderful friends, and a successful fiancé. But when the town council decides to do something special for this year’s Pickle Festival, life gets a little briny. As a former Pickle Queen, Regina has a chance to win fifty thousand dollars if she participates in a three-day photo scavenger hunt, but … she must compete with her former Pickle King, Clint. He’s the guy who ripped her heart out when he left to play professional baseball and never looked back.Clint Sorrow is as famous for starting bar fights as he is for stealing bases. Years ago, he vowed to never step foot back in Smithville, but when he finds out there’s a chance his baseball contract may not be renewed, he jumps at the opportunity to show his team he’s not a liability. As a bonus, he’ll get to spend time with Regina, the girl he left… and never stopped loving.When Clint gets wind of Regina’s engagement, he decides he must stop it before she does something they’ll both regret. But Clint has a secret that will not only destroy her plans but may cause him to be benched for life.
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If you are in the mood for a light romance novel about second chances, then this might be the book you want to read. This book follows In A Jam but can be read by itself, you will just be able to catch up with the characters from the first book.
This story features Regina and Clint, childhood sweethearts, married in college, and then when he receives an offer to play baseball, he drops Regina like a hot potato. Fast forward approximately five years. Regina has met someone else, Clint’s career is on the ropes, and neither really seems happy. Enter the Pickle Festival challenge for former Kings and Queens. If nothing else, this will take their mind off of their woes for a few days.
I thoroughly enjoyed In A Jam so was excited to read this next book and take a journey to Smithville and see what the gang was up to. I found lots of witty dialogue, including some that really made me laugh out loud (Lojack on an infant – trust me, the scene is funny!). There is the banter between Regina and Clint, it is almost like time has not passed by for them and their past relationship situation is nothing. There is quite a bit of miscommunication between the two but they do figure it out. There are even some parts of this book that left me wondering what Ken was really up to with Regina and thank goodness the truth (sort of) came out. I liked the strong family ties Clint has with his brothers which leaves Clint wanting more from life.
Next time you need a light fluffy romantic comedy, definitely give this book a try. We give it 5 paws up.
A second chance romance set in a small, quirky southern town against the backdrop of a pickle festival? Sign me up! This book tells the story of Regina who’s just accepted an engagement ring from her perfect-on-paper boyfriend when her first love (now a pro baseball player) blows into town and stirs up a lot of feelings she thought were long buried. To make matters worse, former Pickle Queen Regina is forced to team up with her King, Clint, for a photo scavenger hunt that means spending lots of quality (and fun!) time together. Sparks fly and well, you’ll have to read the book to find out if these two exes find their way back to each other, but I had a blast reading about Regina and Clint’s adventures in Smithville. IN A PICKLE is a very entertaining, swoony read that hit this romance lover’s sweet spot. I could totally see it as a Hallmark movie!
“In a Pickle” by Cindy Dorminy was a sweet, funny, and charming small-town, second-chance romance featuring endearing characters and an amusing plot, and I adored it. It reminded me of the movie “Sweet Home Alabama” in some ways, which has always been a favorite of mine. The main characters of the book, high school sweethearts Clint and Regina, married in college for religious and financial reasons, but their relationship quickly fell apart when baseball prodigy Clint was drafted after their junior year and chose to leave school to pursue a professional career. They never forgot about each other, however, so when Clint’s pro career hits the skids and he learns that Regina is engaged to another man, he jumps at the chance to return to their hometown of Smithville, Georgia to try and win back his girl. Regina is determined to move forward with her wedding to new fiance Ken, but Clint is keeping a secret that just might change her mind.
In the early part of the book, Clint came across as something of an arrogant jerk, but I had to give him credit for the fact that he admitted he had made mistakes and was making an effort to change, however unwillingly (and even if his sole motive seemed to be money and a new contract with his team at first). As he spent more time in Smithville with his family and old friends, however, he seemed to remember the person he was before he became famous, and I saw exactly why Regina fell in love with him when they were younger. I loved watching Clint and Regina reconnect as they competed together in the Pickle Festival scavenger hunt that brought Clint back to town.
In addition to Clint and Regina, this story featured a number of amusingly quirky secondary characters that added quite a bit of humor and depth to the narrative. I particularly enjoyed the two old ladies who ran the town gossip blog as well as the woman who ran the In a Jam coffee shop. Clint and Regina’s family and friends were also a lot of fun, and it seems as if at least a couple of them have been featured in previous stories. I will definitely be checking those out when I find the time!
Overall, “In a Pickle” was a really cute, fun read, and I highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance, romantic comedy, and Southern chick lit. I look forward to seeing what Cindy Dorminy writes next!
*ARC provided by the author/publisher via Hidden Gems Books. All opinions expressed are my own.
In a Pickle by Cindy Dorminy is a lovely romantic comedy. I enjoyed reading this story immensely and love the crazy things on the Pickle Kings and Queens scavenger hunts.
Will Clint and Regina find their way back together?
Regina
Regina is one of our main characters. She is a nurse, and she loves her small-town life in Smithville. Regina has a huge heart and manages to not stay mad at her ex-husband for being an attention hog. She is terrific with Clint’s twin three-year-old nephews. You can see what an amazing mom she would be.
I love that Regina is strong, she handles her duties at the hospital along with all of the other things in her life. However, at the beginning of the story, Regina is lost. Regina seems just to be settling and doesn’t recognize what is right in front of her eyes. Although, she knows in heart that what she is doing isn’t right.
Clint
Clint is our other main character. He is a professional baseball player with a bad reputation, whose in need of some positive publicity if he wants to continue being a baseball player. Clint goes back to his hometown to accomplish this and to stop Regina from marrying another man. What Clint finds is that he has missed the first three years of his nephew’s life. Also, he likes Smithville, and the reasons that he left aren’t there anymore.
Clint starts as a spoiled, pretty self-centered jerk, but as he learns how things are different now, he begins to grow. I do like the way he takes most things in stride. And Clint laughs and has a good time. It’s nice to see that he loves his brothers. Clint has some redeeming qualities, but will they be enough for Regina to give him another chance?
Five Stars
I love that Regina and Clint have immediate chemistry and that their love is strong, even if the trust isn’t there. The supporting characters excellent and so helpful when needed. The citizens of Smithville tell it like it is. However, they are there for each other. It’s pleasant to see the community and comradery. Also, the story has some wonderfully funny parts. Some of the ideas for scavenger hunt items are so unique.
So, with all of that going for In a Pickle by Cindy Dorminy, I feel that five stars are in order. If you are looking for a fun romance with lots of heart, I recommend this one.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of In a Pickle by Cindy Dorminy.
This Guest Review is for Baroness’ Book Trove.
Until the next time,
~Jen
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Had super strong Hallmark rom-com potential, but I found the execution to be very disappointing.
Full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3929729617?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
A great fast beach book!
Nice escape. Fun read.
I love Cindy Dorminy’s small town romances and IN A PICKLE is no exception. Second chance romances are my favorite and Clint and Regina have a lot of past baggage to work through. In addition to the cute romance, I loved the female friendships and Clint and his relationship with his brothers. The pickle festival made for such a fun story! Highly recommend for lovers of small town, second chance romances!
“In a Pickle,” by Cindy Dorminy is a delightful, contemporary story about a young couple who seem to move in opposition to each other despite their love and longing for each other. Crisp writing, fast pacing, engaging characters, authentic emotions, and well-executed use of humor make this book a winner.
Regina is a nurse in a small Georgia town she has called home for most of her life. She’s the kind of dedicated nurse we will all want if we need a nurse. She is also the kind of person who has a purple streak in her hair and still listens to her parents. She is recently engaged to Ken, a successful businessman she barely knows and who her friends dub “the Ken doll” because he looks like the famous companion to the Barbie doll.
She’s not sure she loves Ken, but marriage to him has its attractions, and she wants to love him. Yet, down deep, no matter how she tries to hide it from herself and others, Regina still loves her first husband, Clint, a professional baseball player in trouble after a public fight and a bad season.
Regina and Clint are from the same small town and had been high school sweethearts. In college, they had married young—too young, it would seem. When he got a chance at the big leagues, he dropped out of college and the couple broke up, devastating Regina.
Neither really got over the other one.
When Regina’s small town hosts a contest involving former Pickle Kings and Queens, their high school version of Prom King and Queen, Regina—as a former Pickle Queen– has a chance to win $5,000, which she needs for her upcoming wedding to Ken. Only one problem: she must participate in a three-day scavenger hunt with Clint, since he was her Pickle King.
Clint is in trouble with his league owner and needs to do a major PR campaign to restore his reputation, so he agrees to participate. But his real reason he agrees to return home is that he wants to see Regina. Once home, and reunited with his brothers and friends, he falls in love with Regina–and his hometown–all over again.
From that framework, the story develops even as Regina and Clint’s own relationship develops in a two-steps-forward, one-step back kind of way. There are some plain, flat out fun hijinks in this story, but at it core it is a sweet story about two people finding their way back to love.
Well written, charming, and engaging, “In a Pickle” is a delight.
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A fun, second chance romance. Has the small-town goodness as the setting. Very entertaining with wonderful secondary characters. Lots of up & downs, and up & downs. If you love Hallmark movies, this is for you. This is my first read by Cindy Dorminy and I’m eager to go read In a Jam (which is also set this same setting). A good read.
Absolutely delightful!
Regina and Clint had been in a serious relationship before he was offered a pro baseball contract and left town. Several years later he returns to town after he has been invited to participate in the annual pickle festival. He views it as a maneuver to get a better renewal contract as well giving him the chance to spend time with Regina, who is engaged to marry another man. Their path to happiness is at times touching, while at the same time offering a truly lighthearted and sincere look at love in this delightful small southern town.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Sweetheart Pickle Kings and Queens roam Smithville again: delightful, small-town, romantic romp
4.5stars
What a fun follow-up to Dorminy’s 2018 novel In a Jam which I adored. Same small Georgia town and mostly the same characters but a different romance. This one’s a second chance for a nurse and a hometown boy who made the major baseball leagues. The scavenger hunt devised for former Pickle Kings and their consorts that runs through a large chunk of the story highlighted the small-town and loving family elements plus it incorporated some nostalgia for high school fads and fashions (Juicy Couture, where did you vanish to?!).
I will admit, the second chance romantic trope is one of my favorites and this couple’s complicated past and present hit the mark for me with lots of emotion and a scintilla of sizzle. But some of the heartwarming moments were also reserved for joyful and cozy times spent with two adorable three year olds. This plot was well-told and an all-round pleasure to read.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
I read In A Jam, so I was very happy to get to come back and see more of these characters in action. All of the same zany supporting cast reappears here, only this time one-time Mean Girl Regina becomes our leading lady. I just loved her snarky independence. Clint made me want to tear my hair out. There’s very little that I love more than to see a couple get a second chance at getting it right, but he was just so determined to shoot himself in the foot I wasn’t sure it was going to happen. There were so many times it felt like for every step of progress he made, he’d do something foolish that set him back two more. I was impressed with how vulnerable he was willing to get with Regina and his family, I just wish Clint had been a little bit better about having the conversations that mattered. I was in a constant state if anxiety over when the other shoe would drop and send this pair into yet another tailspin. The side plot involving Ken confused me, and I would have liked to see more of the resolution to that. It kind of faded out and I was left wondering “why?” In the end, the story kept me laughing and that was the one thing I really wanted from it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Hidden Gems Books.