Deconstructed: A Novel (A Cricket Crosby Caper, Book 1)

DECONSTRUCTED by Liz Talley is a heartwarming and entertaining story of friendship, fashion and second chances that kept me engaged from beginning to end. Cricket Crosby is the owner of a popular antique shop and was raised with all the trappings of old Southern money. She is mostly content with her life. Married to a bank executive, raising her teenage daughter and running her shop fulfill her days. When Cricket overhears gossip that her husband, Scott, is having an affair, her perfectly ordered life is turned upside down. She takes matters into her own hands by hiring a private investigator, a good divorce attorney and enlisting the help of her new shop assistant, Ruby. Ruby has a shady past and some dodgy relatives, but is committed to turning her life around. She hopes that one day, her talent for deconstructing high end vintage clothing and creating bold new designs will somehow lead her to a stable new life. Cricket and Ruby couldn’t be more different, but the two band together to catch Scott cheating and make him pay. Their antics are hilarious! I loved how these women formed such a strong bond and supported one another completely. There were moments of both laughter and tears as the story unfolded. The author’s writing style is easy to read and immersive. I felt like I was right there with the whole cast of characters. I truly enjoyed this emotional and uplifting story and highly recommend it. DECONTRUCTED was my January Amazon First Reads selection.

If you think you know where this book is going, you're wrong. And if you're anything like be, you'll be wrong like twelve times! Still, a great read, watching women figuring themselves and their lives out and becoming friends. I also loved the couture aspect of the book, really fun!

Okay. Part of it is serious. But, the rest is well written and entertaining. I love it when a story is simply told, everything is spelled right, and all the punctuation is in place.

Deconstructed is the first book by Liz Talley that I have ever experienced and let me tell you, it is a story you don’t want to miss! It is riddled with memorable characters, entertaining moments and witty banter that blend the taste of southern charm and sass perfectly!I am a lover of romance but this story is so much more. It is all about empowering woman as Cricket finds her way out of a marriage with not only a cheating husband but a husband who is caught up in white collar crime and she decided that enough was enough and made the move to change her life for the better.Ruby is the other character in this story that is using her creative talent as a way to a better future and moving on from her past mistakes.These two women are amazing and because of all their adversity became close friends and realize that together they are a force to be reckoned with.I had the added benefit of listening to the audio version of this story and the narrators did an amazing job bringing these two southern women to life.

If you want a cute, quick, and clean romance, this book has it. And I seem to be one a very few that didn't rate very high.Cricket own a quaint antique store. Her husband, Scott, a bigwig name in town banker. She overhears a conversation she wished she hadn't, Scott could possibly be cheating. Trying to figure out what to do about it, she breaks down and tells an employee Ruby. She doesn't want to Scott to know that she heard this and handles it the best she can behind his back. Starting off sneaking some picture taking. Ruby goes with her. That turns into a mess, a car needs to be towed and it is an Uncle of Ruby, and she decides to to do this professionally. Actually hard to find somebody that doesn't know Scott.Finds a lawyer, a good one, a detective that she has to fire and starts searching for another.Ruby has a crazy past she wants to escape from and does everything she can to do so. But she is infuriated with Scott and goes to an Uncle, a detective, who would not who Scott is. He's hired and almost fired.As things progress, Cricket tries to live her normally, so Scott won't detect anything. AS life goes and she's playing her cards she discovers other things and one is a big shocker!!!Her lawyer is giving her advice, she's following and also her, Ruby, and her two uncles are also working on plans of their own. This is what brought my rating down. It was fun to read, but just a bit unrealistic there towards the end.

Very fast read with amazing characters.

It’s been a long time since I sat down to a book that was a fun read. Lots of little surprises that took this book out of the ordinary rut. Was funny, but also made you feel a kinship to the characters

Quick, thoroughly enjoyable read. Very likeable characters and a story that goes at a perfect pace. Would highly recommend to anyone

Ruby is a 28 yr old finishing up a college course and wondering what to do next. Cricket is 42 yr old wife, committee member, PTA-mom & business owner. These 2 women from very different backgrounds but form an unlikely friendship built on mutual respect.This book centres around their budding friendship as they help each other through difficult times. Cricket realises her marriage is not what she thought and has some difficult decisions on what to do about it. Ruby has to come to terms with a criminal past she is not proud of.I loved the characters and their journey. Properly laugh out loud funny at times.I’d never read this author before but I will check out her other books now.

Loved this book Great plot, great characters and great dialogue. Really enjoyed reading a book that actually told a story instead of being just loosely linked sex scenes and without being so sweet it would make your teeth ache. Keep it up Liz.

Downloaded this for vacation reading. Enjoyed it more than i thought i might! Easy to pick up and set down without losing your place in the story