About Leta Pearl’s Love Biscuits
Leta Pearl’s Love Biscuits
Arlon Jay Staggs
It’s 1982 in Bailey Springs, Alabama, where secrets aren’t just whispered-they’re baked right into the biscuits.
Trudy has kept her head down since high school, when her unexpected pregnancy and marriage to star-quarterback Jimmie Beaumont scandalized the town. A few years later, after Jimmie’s tragic demise, folks still haven’t forgiven her and blame her for his death. Now engaged to a blue-blood politician, Haskel Moody, Trudy’s back in the spotlight-especially after taking a job teaching chemistry to save his campaign for mayor.
LETA PEARL’S LOVE BISCUITS
A Sweet Southern Romance with a Touch of Magic
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Arlon Jay Staggs debut novel serves up a sweet story with a side of practical magic in this fun small town Southern romantic comedy. A few years ago, Trudy Beaumont was a pregnant teen, then a widow. Now she is a teacher and engaged to the possible next mayor: respectable and responsible. The problem is small towns don’t forget scandals, especially when the local newspaper has a column written by her ex mother-in-law who is out to ruin her. Mix in a sexy new school football coach, and a social climbing mother who’s biscuits have a secret love potion ingredient and Trudy finds herself in a pot of trouble.
Staggs has written a delightful story where the protagonist is torn between what is expected of her and what she really wants. The love triangle between her, the boring steadfast fiancée and the sexy spontaneous athlete is delightful. She also keeps trying to handle situations at school and ends up causing even more trouble. The real magic in this story are the trouble makers. Barbara’s newspaper columns sprinkled throughout the novel will make you snicker. The head cheerleader is the daughter of Trudy’s teenage rival and those two will make the reader recall the social ringleaders of their own high school years.
Most of the situations will have you laughing but the story also has a more serious side. Trudy isn’t the only one who is fighting expectations. Although some of Trudy’s students provide comedic high school “drama”, there are also situations that explore serious issues. Trudy is not the only one who feels pressure to conform to society’s expectations. One of her students feels pressure to conform and struggles with his own wishes. There is also a male cheerleader and the novel explores the homophobia that was blatant in the 1980’s but is still a problem today.
Thank you Books Forward for this early review copy. I loved it and will be looking forward to more books by Arlon Jay Staggs. Leta Pearl’s Love Biscuits provide a sweet romance that you will eat right up. I devoured it in one sitting.
Romantic Comedy
Setting – 1982 -An Alabama Small Town
Published by Koehler Books
Publication date : October 7, 2025
Print length: 318 pages
Rating: PG 0️⃣🌶️
Although characters do have sexual relationships, and there is violence in the story, there are no sex scenes., violence or cussing on page.
Trigger Warnings: Homophobia, domestic violence, and suicide are discussed.
About the Arlon Jay Staggs
ARLON JAY STAGGS is a native of Florence, Alabama, and a Southern storyteller with deep roots, a sharp sense of humor, and a heart for connection. His essays and stories have appeared in The New York Times and december Magazine, and his novel Leta Pearl’s Love Biscuits is his debut work of fiction. He holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of California, Riverside, a JD from the Mississippi College School of Law, and is an adjunct professor at Northwest Florida State College. Arlon and his husband divide their time between Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, and San Diego, California
Learn more about Arlon Jay Stags at his website: arlonjay.com
