The Happy Wife: Book Review: Sue Ellen's Girl Ain't Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy

I left yesterday on a cross-country road trip and will be back with how that is going tomorrow. Tonight, I have a book review to share with you through my association with Litfuse. The book is called Sue Ellen's Girl Ain't Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy by Shellie Rushing Tomlinson.

About the Book: The bestselling author of Suck Your Stomach In ; Put Some Color On! returns with more helpful how-to's and keen observations from Dixie .

Guided by principles from the ancient Belle Doctrine, the host of radio and television's All Things Southern offers down-home advice on everything from health and fitness-managing thy caloric calculations without going Straight Running Crazy and surviving the Raging Inferno Syndrome (aka hot flashes)-to the Southern art of handling your man (Bubba Whispering). Whether giving business tips or debunking the Big Boned Theory, making political observations or celebrating the inevitable resurgence of big hair, Shellie is an adviser women can relate to and laugh with regardless of their age or which side of the Mason-Dixon they call home.

About the author: Shellie Rushing Tomlinson and her husband Phil live and farm in the Louisiana Delta. Shellie is the author of Lessons Learned on Bull Run Road, Twas the Night Before the Very First Christmas, Southern Comfort with Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, and the Penguin Group USA release, Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On, voted Nonfiction Finalist of 2009 by SIBA Independent Booksellers Alliance.

Tomlinson is owner and publisher of All Things Southern and the host of the weekly radio show All Things Southern as well as a weekly video segment by the same name. Listeners also hear Shellie in her All Things Southern radio segments aired across the South. Shellie writes a weekly inspirational feature in Newsstar and a monthly print and online column for Lousiana Road Trips.

When Shellie isn't writing, speaking, taping her show, answering email or writing content for the next deadline, you can find her playing tennis with Dixie Belle, (the chocolate lab who thinks she is in charge of running Shellie's life).

My thoughts: I found this book to be very funny and charming at the same time. While it is classified as a self-help book, the author herself struggles with using that term to describe her story telling and I have to agree. I have trouble deciding exactly how *I* would classify it, but it is part humor, part cookbook, and part Southern living (lifestyle?). I also found that while the book uses Southern euphemisms throughout the book, those who are not from the south can still relate. I don't call guys "Bubba", nor do I use the phrase "Straight-running-crazy", but I know who my Bubba is and I know a few people who are straight-running crazy.

My recommendation: This is a great read for those who like a light read. It is a raw look into southern generalizations, yet it is still lovely. If you are a Southern Belle, or even just a Belle-at-heart, I am sure you will enjoy this book.

To celebrate the Sue Ellen’s release, Shellie is having a Facebook Party!

Join Shellie and the gang on June 2^nd at 5:00 PM PST (6 MST, 7 CST, 8 EST) for a Southern style shin-dig! She'll be dishing on Bubba Whispering, debunking the Big Boned Theory, and how to manage going Straight Running Crazy. If you don't know what any of that is, then be sure to pick up a copy of the book (Not necessary to join the fun! Who knows - you might win a copy!) and join us at 5:00 pm on June 2nd at Shellie's Facebook page. And tell your friends - she's giving away copies of her books and some great gift certificates.