USA Today Bestseller, Five Time Literary Award Winner
In a story that’s been compared to John Grisham’s The Client, 11-year-old Ethan Allen Doyle has witnessed a brutal murder and now the boy is running for his life. In the time-tested tradition of Southern Fiction, Crosby unveils the darkest side of human nature and then rewards her readers with a beautiful tale of love, loss, and unexpected … beautiful tale of love, loss, and unexpected gifts.
Olivia Westerly is the only person Ethan Allen can trust, and he’s not too sure he can trust her. She’s got no love of children and a truckload of superstitions — one of them is the belief that 11 is the unluckiest number on earth. Olivia avoided marriage for almost 40 years. But when Charlie Doyle happened along, he was simply too wonderful to resist. Now she’s a widow with an 11-year-old boy claiming to be her grandson.
With a foul mouth, dark secrets, and heavily guarded emotions, Ethan Allen Doyle is not an easy child to like. He was counting on the grandpa he’d never met for a place to hide, but now that plan is shot to blazes because the grandpa’s dead too. He’s got seven dollars and twenty-six cents, his mama’s will for staying alive, and Dog. But none of those things are gonna help if Scooter Cobb finds him.
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This isn’t the kind of book I usually read, and I completely enjoyed it. It tells the story of the journeys of two people, middle-aged Olivia and 11-year-old Ethan Allen Doyle. Spare change see’s the story of Olivia Westerly who thinks that eleven is the unluckiest number on earth, children weigh you down and cannot let herself fall in love. She …
Spare Change tells the story of Ethan Allen and his life experiences. The author gives descriptions and story lines that made me cry, get mad, and then, cheer on Ethan Allen and his Grandma. We never know what a person has dealt with in their lives. Some people tell their stories and some keep things hidden away forever. I enjoyed this story and …
This is a touching story with murder and tragedy with a happy ending. Captivating and easy to read with wonderful characters.
Have you ever finished a book and immediately wanted to turn back to page 1 and read it again? Spare Change by Bette Lee Crosby is such a book. I stayed up way too late last night because I couldn’t put it down. A heartwarming story of an orphan and his widowed grandmother who together find love and healing.
One of the best I have read recently.
Overall, it was a good read. And it’s a quick read, so jump right in and enjoy. There were many times while reading that my heart raced, fearing for the child.
I was a bit off-put by the head-hopping and felt the journal entries could have been more effectively incorporated into the story, but non-authors probably won’t even notice.
Jeanne …
Loved this book!
This was our Book Club Read for the month and I am so happy it was chosen because everyone loved the book!
Bette Lee Crosby can always deliver a story like no other! I was engrossed from the first few pages. We meet several characters along the way and they each have such life they practically jump off the page. While reading the book I heard …
Absolutely loved it. Highly recommended
outstanding, engaging sympathetic characters. Attention to detail is superb.
As I was reading this book I found myself getting irritated by the unrealistic characters and the lack of depth. I think it should be categorized as a Cozy Mystery rather than any of the other categories it’s listed under. If I know I’m reading a Cozy Mystery I expect a less out of a novel as far as realism, character development, etc. That …
It took me a little time with this story to decide if I liked it or not. I have a difficult time with fighting and cruelty in a fiction. However, as I kept reading, I decided I did like the story, because it brought out the best in everyday, good people. The characters were plausible, flawed and kind and good, just as those whose paths we cross …
This kept me going to bed early so I could finish reading it! Very engaging characters, I found myself crying and laughing at the antics in this well written novel. Loved it!
4.5 very solid stars! This is the first book that I’ve read by Bette Lee Crosby and it definitely won’t be the last. She has an engaging writing style that puts the reader up close and personal with the characters. You can feel their heart and soul. This story is one that will stick with me for a long time to come.
Olivia is an independent woman …
Ms Crosby does a great job of fleshing out her characters so that they take on a very real presence, reminding me of people I come across in my daily life. Combine this with a great plot and Spare Change is a wonderful read for anyone. Ethan Allen Doyle has seen more in his miserable 11 year old life than most kids, including witnessing a murder. …