Crazy Grump is the first installment in Stella Banks’ Fit Mountain Instalove series. In it, she chronicles the age-gap romance between Penny Jones and Callum Walker. Penny is an elementary school teacher in the day and delivers pizzas for the local pizza shop in the evenings. Since her mother suffers from Parkinsons, Penny need to take a second job to help defray the medical costs. Callum is a former marine and recently bought Biggs Mountain so he and his brothers can built a resort on the mountain. Destiny brings them tougher when Penny delivers a pizza order to his cabin amidst a winter storm. Upon laying eyes on each other they are smitten. Will they act on their attraction? Will she be able to safely return to the shop? To find out what unfolds, you must read this entertaining short story.
Ms. Banks does a great job utilizing literary devices. Her dialog, both conversational and internal monologues, are outstanding. Readers get a fuller understanding of their backstories, their pain, and their happiness. Her lead characters are multi-dimensional. The secondary characters are also interesting and the camaraderie between them and the lead characters is enjoyable. This character-driven plot line moves at a nice pace.