Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite
In Turning Trixie, Robb Grindstaff introduces the 23-year-old single mother of 8-year-old Ty, whose lives were irrevocably changed when Trixie won millions in Powerball. Before the big win, Trixie’s only means of supporting her son was through her “personal services bid’ness” of prostitution. With the win, Trixie eagerly grabbed the chance to turn her life around, become respectable, and atone for her “sins” by helping her community financially. But will the women in her small town whose husbands are pillars of the community by day and Trixie’s former clients by night accept her as one of them, and what about those who see Trixie’s good fortune as a way to line their own pockets?
Every so often while I was reading Turning Trixie, a delightful Southern novel, I found myself wondering about the author’s gender. Is Robb Grindstaff a male? Well, yes, indeed he is, but what a superb understanding he has of how and why women think and act as they do. What’s even more impressive is Grindstaff’s ability to create such an authentic and relatable protagonist. What came as a surprise to some of the townspeople is that, despite her poor grammar and colloquial speech, Trixie is no dumb country bunny. She is a wonderful mother to Ty, and with the help of honest advisors, capable of wise business decisions. Grindstaff keeps us smiling as the loveable and kindly Trixie gains the support of those who recognize her goodness, earns the love of a good man, gets the better of those who wish her harm, and wins our hearts as well. Through a refreshingly different plot, easy-flowing and natural dialogue, light humor, and excellent characterization, Grindstaff has written a most enjoyable tale. He follows the writing edict of “show, don’t tell” and that, for me, is 5-star writing. He is my kind of author and I’m ready for more. Keep these novels coming.
