Some books entertain, make you think, and stay with you forever. Amanda French by Barbara Kennedy McNabb is just one of those rare books. A sensible book, a contemporary narrative, wrapped in a whirlwind of drama, humor, and unexpected twists. Amanda not only changes the history of Texas, but she also changes your thinking about growing food. Huh?

If you’re looking for a story that’s as fun as it is thought-provoking, Amanda French is the little black dress on your bookshelf. You’ll reread it. You’ll see.

What is the Hype Behind This Book?

Here’s why this book is so good—and why you’ll reread it.

Amanda French: Your New Literary Best Friend

Amanda is bold, brilliant, and just a bit chaotic—in the best way. She’s navigating a world full of sharks (both in love and at work), in New York City and Santa Salsa, Texas. She never loses her sharp wit or her courage.

Why you’ll love her? Amanda is a perfect mix of strength and vulnerability. “You never see the bus that hits you” is her favorite refrain, but she knows “there’s gotta be a pony in there somewhere.” Her optimism opens doors, she knows, if she is patient.

A Proposal with Strings Attached (Say What?)

The resolve begins to unwrap when Reed Petty, Amanda’s ex and a smooth-talking, personality-disordered politician wannabe, drops a bombshell right into his dirty martini. He is running for governor, and he wants Amanda to marry him—and help him win in landslide votes.

This is not your typical love story. It’s complicated, tightly woven, and filled with layers of political intrigue. Can Amanda forgive and forget? She could never trust him. Ever. If only she had shut her eyes, feigned sleeping in the biblical sense, and hadn’t seen him naked, also in the biblical sense, she had seen pretty darn clearly who he was. She couldn’t vote for him, why would she help him win?

Does he unwittingly smell another big deal? Does he sense that she has once again given birth to weaving gold out of hay? And what would he do if learned of it? A lucrative venture for him. Would he do it again? Steal it out from under her?

Wall Street Mayhem (Hold on Tight!)

This book is chaotic, intense, and surprisingly funny. You don’t need to know anything about trading to enjoy the story and Amanda’s adventure from Connecticut to South Texas. The ending will surprise you. No, No… don’t read it backward.

Barbara Kennedy McNabb brings this world to life so vividly, that you’ll feel like you’re sitting beside her. While deals are being shouted across the trading room or whispered in a confessional, or a sick room, we are always deal-making.

Love, Power, and Big Decisions

One of the best parts of Amanda French is how it explores relationships and power dynamics – the yin and yang. Reed’s proposal isn’t about love—it’s gaming and strategy. It’s the good ole boy play where money runs upward and even big boys can lose their shorts. Amanda has to decide if she’s willing to play, knowing the risks and her adversary’s temperament. What would have happened if Amanda had blinked that very second …?

What would you do in her place? The book keeps you questioning every step of the way. Devil or Angel, Devil or Angel… Should I? Shouldn’t I? Will he? Won’t He?

Twists You Won’t See Coming

You think you’ve figured everything out–this story will throw you a curveball every time. Whether it’s a sudden betrayal, a risky decision, or a hilarious moment of comic relief, Amanda French keeps you guessing until just before fate is revealed.

Why You Need to Read Amanda French Now

Amanda French is a story about life’s determination to crush us, to break us open to less resistance to sprout new beauty and more complex challenges. It’s about making little mistakes, owning them, and finding the strength to move forward with new knowledge and earned wisdom.

And here’s a little teaser: If you love relevant stories that make you laugh, cry, and stay up way past bedtime, read this one. The ending blew me away.

The ending will leave you speechless. You’ll close the book and think, “Wow. I did NOT see that coming.”

So, download your copy of Amanda French and get ready for a story you won’t forget. The journey starts now. Are you ready?