Debbie Sue Overstreet's gas station-turned-beauty parlor is the center for gossip in the small town of Salt Lick, Texas. Debbie Sue is divorced from the town's sheriff, Buddy, but it's fairly obvious to everyone that the two still have feelings for each other. When Pearl Ann, the richest woman in town is killed, Debbie Sue and her best friend decide to do some sleuthing to collect the much needed reward money. Buddy isn't happy that Debbie Sue is poking around in such dangerous territory, so he makes his presence a bit more obvious in her life. Which doesn't please his current girlfriend in the least.
Debbie Sue's investigation leads her to some strange people. There's Eugene, the accountant who just might be a female impersonator, and she also hooks up with Quint Matthews, a former flame who wants to rekindle their romance. What will happen when Debbie Sue gets a little too close to the truth about Pearl Ann's murder? And who is the right man for her--Quint or Buddy?
Since You're Leaving Anyway, Take Out the Trash is a hilarious debut romance from Dixie Cash, the sister writing team of Pamela Cumbie and Jeffrey McClanahan (Anna Jeffrey). The unique, quirky characters are all endearing and smart. Debbie Sue is a bit down on her luck financially, but she's willing to do what it takes to make ends meet. Even if that means working long hours or investigating a murder. She's never stupid or slapstick in her sleuthing, which is quite refreshing. When she hits a dead end and things get complicated, she's willing to let the professionals take over. The romances and all of the characters are comical and have qualities that make them realistic yet unusual at the same time.
The tension between Debbie Sue and Buddy creates a fun thread woven through the story. Although we know from the beginning that the two will get back together, the road to finding each other again is what makes the story that much more amusing and enchanting. The love scenes and language get graphic at times, so Since You're Leaving Anyway, Take Out the Trash isn't for those seeking a tame romance novel. I look forward to more books featuring these delightful characters and others from the tiny Texas town. A second book by the authors is due out next summer, entitled My Heart May Be Broken, But My Hair Still Looks Great.