Fowler fails to shed light on the mysterious husband, police chief and man. Maybe she will promote him to more than Benni's foil in her ninth book. Her strong characterizations of Benni, her family and friends make the cursory coverage of Ortiz more glaring. Fowler, a strong, courageous writer, takes on controversial topics. Speaking of taste, by the end of the first chapter, I gained 10 pounds just reading about fattening, deep fried, sugar encrusted foods.
Fowler effectively uses quilts in book titles and plot surprises.
She creates a whole world that leaves me homesick when I close the book. Yet, unfairly perhaps, I least enjoy her trips to Arkansas. I quickly tired of Sugartree. Even before Benni waddled out of the Waffle House and into the Piggly Wiggly, I longed for San Celina. Her multi-part feature on Women's History Month can be read in the current issue of Myria Magazine for Moms .