VENITA LOUISE

I found Mixed Nuts to be a unique reading experience. The characters are colorful and quirky, and full of life. The story is a pleasure to read, sometimes a bit off the wall, sometimes melancholy, and always a bit humorous. I had read nothing about this book prior to picking it to review, and as often turns out to be the case, feel like I managed to unearth a hidden gem. Set in the 60's this one has a flavor of the unrest of the times. I found this especially true of the wife in this story. Joan longs for more than the happy housewife's existence expected of her and throws herself wholeheartedly into exploring her sexuality when given the opportunity. Far and above, the star of this one is the husband, Frank. He longs for something in his ordinary life and seems to not even know what it is himself. Watching him and his goofy brother stumble their way through voodoo spells and deal with the consequences had me in tears of laughter. If you are looking for something different, a bit offbeat filled with a lot of zany situations... pick this one up. 
Reviewed by: Johnna

Fallen Angels

 

She boldly goes where no human has gone. Her humor is fabulous. I started the book and finished it the same day. I could not put it down. I just kept wondering what was gonna happen next. For us middle aged folks, the jingles she used throughout the book were a hoot. Such a charming and funny mixture in her plot. I think she could make this families life into a sit-com. Everyone can relate to the hilarious episodes of seemingly disaster in life. AND Frankly, hasn't everyone had one of those neighbors they could not get along with. Snooty Tooty pains in the buttocks. Grab a copy and enjoy a nice trip into someone else's troubles....

By Jeanne Pistillo

 

Venita Louise has created a hysterical funny comedy in Mixed Nuts. I don't know how she does it. Each character is so entriguing, so unique, like Frank Beal's little daughter who wears a hard hat or his savvy son. His son so reminded me of my own son at that age. And that's the other thing. With as quirky and unusual as the characters are, solving their neighbor problem using voodoo, hitting snails over the fence for revenge, wearing a kilt and no teeth, somehow, I could find myself in that plot very easily. Maybe this means that we all have weird kids and quirky relatives and neighbors we are jealous of? I don't know, I just know that I haven't had this satisfying a laugh in a LONG time. Thanks Ms. Louise, you are a pearl. Please write more! I can't wait for the next book!

By Carol Wood

 

Having met Venita and her husband during a writers affair, I was interested in seeing her work. I picked up a copy of her "Mixed Nuts" fully intending to read it on the plane to Pittsburgh from LA. Not only did I read the book, but I laughed out-loud several times totally immersing myself in the mirth and frivolity of the family surrounding this story. It is very easy to assimilate the goings on with the Beal family into your own.. We have all had craziness around us and the Beals seem to draw it like mosquitoes to a light bulb. A thoroughly entertaining book and highly recommended for just a wonderful afternoon, rainy day, or airline flight read. Thumbs up, Venita, a truly marvelous home run!

By James L. Christina

 

Venita Louise has written a comedy using all the elements of farce without the pratfalls.
Jingle writer, and head of the household, Frank Beal has distractions flying around his piano workplace like boomerangs. Son Matt has a slew of knock knock jokes; daughter Melinda is the moppet version of Inspector Cleseau with a hardhat while wife Joan angles for a new car in order to keep up with the Jones's. And that's just inside the house. The next door neighbor's gardener Tito is sure Frank Beal controls the outdoor snail population and accuses Frank of sending his snails next door, "to Meester Robert's yard." You've got to empathize with Frank though and wonder how he is able to turn off the madness and produce jingles.
 

But you soon find out he's had prior experience with madness when his brother Gene shows up in a skirt. Well, it's not really a skirt, the clannish Uncle Gene shows up wearing a Kilt.
Venita's world also includes a special mix of goofballs, voodoo spells, hex's and a wandering peacock.
Tom Barnes author of `The Goring Collection,' `Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone,'
`The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.'

By Tom Barnes

 

For this month's audible book I listened to Mixed Nuts by Venita because I just had to find out about the Voodoo Brazilian Gardener. And Boy... this amazing collection of nutty characters, tangled up in unusual situations had me laughing. Thank you so much for taking me away and putting me into a house with a bunch of quirky people that I most definitely will never forget. Great read (listen) and very well done!

By Joan Dellibovi

 

Venita Louise has created a hysterically funny comedy in Mixed Nuts. I don't know how she does it. Each character is so intriguing, so unique, like Frank Beal's little daughter who wears a hard hat or his savvy son. His son so reminded me of my own son at that age. And that's the other thing. With as quirky and unusual as the characters are, solving their neighbor problem using voodoo, hitting snails over the fence for revenge, wearing a kilt and no teeth, somehow, I could find myself in that plot very easily. Maybe this means that we all have weird kids and quirky relatives and neighbors we are jealous of? I don't know, I just know that I haven't had this satisfying a laugh in a LONG time. Thanks Ms. Louise, you are a pearl. Please write more! I can't wait for the next book!

Hazelstreet Productions

The Romance Studios

 

I loved picking out the jingles and slogans from past and present ad campaigns. Lots of them took me back several years and I found myself humming “Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce, special orders don’t upset us…” along with several other TV jingles. After suffering through Susan’s safety compulsion, I’m glad it turns out for the best since it’ll get the family into the neighbor’s pool! Tito and Tilly are funny as well as Frank’s attempts to hurl the voodoo back at his neighbor. The peacock scenes are a scream. 
~Jayne 
Dear Authors