If you read the Southern Eclectic novels, this is a prequel back story for one of the characters, Marianne, and how she ended up with Carl.

It's short, but it covers all the bases, introducing most of the family, including one character that dies before the full-length books begin. We get a bit more insight into Donna, Marianne's curmudgeonly mother. Less funny than most of the other books, it's sweet in its way and since I went in already invested in the characters, I enjoyed it well enough. ( )

The problem with novellas is that they're never long enough!
Having read this after reading Sweet Tea and Sympathy it was nice to get a glimpse at Marianne and Carl's history. I'm not sure I would have enjoyed it as much had I read it first though. Obviously the McCready family is quite large so if a large cast of characters seems a bit intimidating for a novella, I would suggest reading [b:Sweet Tea and Sympathy|30753667|Sweet Tea and Sympathy (Southern Eclectic, #1)|Molly Harper|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1511089126s/30753667.jpg|51302123] first.
Save a Truck, Ride a Redneck is an enjoyable little read that expands upon the little bit of Marianne and Carl's history that book provides. Marianne left Lake Sackett, Georgia to pursue her dream of becoming a lawyer but when she returns the summer before law school she finds herself questioning her life plan. Would being a lawyer truly make her happy? And did she make a mistake 4 years ago when she left and broke up with Carl?
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Sweet second chance story. Carl and Marianne were high school sweethearts until Marianne panicked at the idea of being stuck in Lake Sackett before she had a chance to fulfill her dreams. She broke off her relationship with Carl with no explanation and high-tailed it off to college and the big city. After four years away and infrequent visits home, Marianne is back in town for the summer before starting law school. She isn't thrilled with the plan, but family pressure finally won out. The last thing she expected was for a close encounter with a deer to lead to seeing Carl again so soon.

The first meeting between Carl and Marianne was awkward at best. Marianne still feels guilty about the way she ended the relationship. Carl is still a little bitter about how it happened. But one thing was always clear - the sparks between them were still there. With Lake Sackett being a very small town, and Carl being best friends with her brother Duff, frequent encounters were a given. Some meetings were contentious, as they worked through the issues that broke them apart. I liked the way that Marianne owned up to her mistakes and sincerely apologized. Other meetings were far friendlier, as the sparks between them continued to snap and grow. But having been burned once, Carl wasn't in any hurry to risk his heart again when Marianne would leave again at the end of the summer.

Meanwhile, Marianne is at a crossroads in her life. She is well on the way to fulfilling the plans she had since she was a little girl. Law school, city life, and all the amenities are within reach. But she has discovered that those same plans don't excite her the way they used to. Plus, life, family, and friends don't irritate her nearly as much as they used to. I loved seeing her reconnect with her family and friends in some pretty funny scenes. I loved the whole kidnapping scene with her cousin Frankie and her brother Duff, which had me laughing out loud. While home for the summer, Marianne was also roped into helping with the family funeral business, where she used her stellar negotiating skills to solve an unusual issue. All of which have her rethinking her plans. A long talk with her dad and some devastating news gave her the motivation to reconfigure those plans. I loved the ending, as Marianne's plans came together. Her big moment with Carl was sweet. ( )

Save a Truck, Ride a Redneck by Molly Harper (Audiobook)
Narrated by: Amanda Ronconi
Series: Southern Eclectic #0.5

2.5 Stars - I wish I had read this book before Sweet Tea and Sympathy as it spends a while going over the family dynamics and town relations, which was information I already had. Also, I am someone who likes to read books in order. Marianne and Carl’s story is a second chance one. Again I wish there was more romance to it. It was an ok quick read.

The narration was done well.

~Paragraphs and Petticoats~ ( )

So adorable!

Save a Truck, Ride a Redneck a really fun intro to the people and setting of Southern Eclectic world; Marianne and Carl's second-chance romance is almost an afterthought as it doesn't take up a ton of space in the book, which is a bit of a bummer. This novella's worst flaw is that it's...well...a novella. I'd have loved a full-novel-length version of Marianne and Carl's story. Alas, it is not to be--so I guess I'll just have to enjoy them living their HEA in Marianne's cousins' (and brother's, I sincerely hope?) books...

The audio version is beautifully narrated by Amanda Ronconi, as per usual :)

Rating: 4 stars / B+ ( )