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Daphne Simpkins
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Mildred Budge in Cloverdale (The Adventures of Mildred Budge Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Daphne Simpkins (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 2,455 ratings
From the author of Lovejoy and Blessed comes a series about church ladies of the South. After reading this first novel in the series, fans of Southern fiction write, "I want to live next door to Mildred Budge."

A retired school teacher, Mildred Budge just wants to live a quiet life in her hometown of Cloverdale. But retirement does not mean she can say no to a friend--not a friend in trouble. Mildred Budge knows how. A disciplined woman, Mildred can breathe the word "no" to a second cup of ice cream. Can resist drinking too much champagne. But when it comes right down to a friend needing a favor, she may say no first, but if someone really needs her—really needs her! —she always said yes.

That’s how Mildred ended up with strangers camped out in her spare bedroom while helping her friend Fran to start a new business at the antique emporium.

The only real 'no' Mildred had said in recent history was to a man who loved her. Hugh wasn’t the first man to pursue her. But he was the most recent. And she had been flattered but not interested—not in the way he wanted her to be interested. Hugh didn’t give up right away. He lodged himself near her at church. Found her in the church kitchen after a fellowship supper to aid in the clean-up. And finally, her would-be lover had just asked her to say 'yes' to him outright. That was the moment when Mildred had to say a final 'no.' Only her best friend Fran understood. Fran said when Mildred finally felt the regretful effects of that no, “We’re all of us such fools.”
But they aren’t fools. Mildred Budge and her friends are just people trying to live inside the faith released from heaven through the One who didn’t say no.
This is the first novel in the series about Mildred Budge and her friends—just ordinary people trying to live out an extraordinary hope available to anyone who realizes what kind of help he or she really needs. That hope has a name, and Mildred Budge knows it. Need hope? Need a friend. Mildred Budge is a very good friend. If you like spending time with people who are just ordinary but extraordinarily hopeful, then you’ll love this story. Get a copy of this first novel in the series and find out for yourself what church ladies really think.

About the author: Daphne Simpkins is an Alabama writer who writes about a variety of subjects and often on the secret lives of church ladies. Befriend her on Facebook, Twitter, or Linkedin.com. To sign up for new release information go to DaphneSimpkins.org.
Other Mildred Budge titles include: Mildred Budge in Embankment, The Bride’s Room and Kingdom Come. Early short stories which were published in the United States and Canada are in two books: Miss Budge in Love and The Mission of Mildred Budge. A stand-alone Christmas story featuring Mildred Budge and her friend Dixie is Miss Budge Goes to Fountain City.
Other titles by Daphne Simpkins are: The Long Good Night, A Cookbook for Katie, What Al Left Behind, Blessed, Lovejoy, a novel about desire.
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  1. Book 1 of 4
    The Adventures of Mildred Budge
  2. Print length
    331 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    August 25, 2014
  5. File size
    1.0 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 4 books in this series.

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  1. It took great discipline to leave the past behind.  Sometimes it was harder than repenting of sins and accepting forgiveness.
    Highlighted by 125 Kindle readers
  2. Mildred knew one more time that you could bury someone and go on living, but it could still take years to say all the good-byes your heart needed to say.
    Highlighted by 124 Kindle readers
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Daphne Simpkins has been writing about life in the South for over 20 years but recently began to explore the dimensions of Southern church women through her fictional character Mildred Budge. Many Mildred Budge short adventures have been published in the U.S. and Canada and in the short story collection Miss Budge In Love. In addition to the Miss Budge books and stories, Ms. Simpkins has written The Long Good Night, a memoir about caregiving and a follow-up to that book, What Al Left Behind. She recently published a memoir masquerading as a cookbook for new brides, A Cookbook for Katie. The next addition to the Mildred Budge novels is Embankment, which will be followed by The Bride's Room. A long-time adjunct English teacher at Auburn University Montgomery, Ms. Simpkins is an active member of the speakers' bureau sponsored by The Alabama Humanities Foundation. For more information, visit www.DaphneSimpkins.com

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00N26R89K
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Quotidian Books (August 25, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 25, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.0 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 331 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 2,455 ratings

About the author

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Daphne Simpkins

Daphne Simpkins

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Newest release: A Gentle and Lowly Christmas. Book two in the spin-off series featuring the friends of Mildred Budge. Check out the sample today.

October, 2022: Newest release in the Mildred Budge series: Kingdom Come. Check out the sample today.

November 2021: Belle: A Mildred Budge Friendship Story launches a new spin-off series in the popular church lady genre. Check out Belle. You'll love her!

To keep up with all the news from Quotidian Books and about Mildred Budge, sign up for news alerts at DaphneSimpkins.org.

New Release: December 2020: The third novel in the Mildred Budge series is available in paperback and on Kindle. The Bride's Room celebrates the joy of being alive inside a life of faith. Download a sample.

New Release November 2020: Specially created for Activity Directors in Assisted Living or Zoom Group Leaders: A selection of holiday-themed small talks anyone can give. 11 Holiday DIY Small Talks. Download a sample.

New release for Father's Day: What Makes a Man a Hero Stories about Men for Father's Day A selection of essays that celebrate the extraordinary ordinary men who never leave our sides.

Released now: Miss Budge Goes to Fountain City, a new Christmas story about a timeless gospel....What happens when a Southern church lady runs away from Christmas? Find out in this uplifting story that celebrates the promised rest given by the One who came to give life and peace to those who turn and say His name.

New Release: Lovejoy, a novel about desire. If you have ever fallen in love with an older man you can understand how this story begins. But how it ends is a different matter. Download a free sample of this new novel by the author of the Mildred Budge books.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
2,455 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book a delightful, easy-to-read novel with several twists and turns that keep them engaged. They appreciate its heartwarming nature and humor, with one customer noting its spot-on Southern church lady wisdom. Customers praise the character development, with one review highlighting how it inspires readers to seek better character.

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60 customers mention "Enjoyment"60 positive0 negative

Customers find the book delightful and fascinating, with one customer noting it's a perfect light-hearted read.

"Well written and entertaining! An unusual story line that kept my attention to the very end...." Read more

"...nationalism are creeping into our churches, it is an absolute delight to read a quiet and perceptive story about a true Christian attempting to..." Read more

"...The characters and setting are believable and the author develops them well. She carefully takes the reader into “Miss Mildred’s” life...." Read more

"A great book. I loved that it was about a big church family and all the twists and turns. Miss Mildred is one awesome lady...." Read more

39 customers mention "Storyline"39 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline of the book, which features several twists and turns that keep readers engaged, with one customer noting how Biblical truth is woven into the narrative.

"Well written and entertaining! An unusual story line that kept my attention to the very end...." Read more

"...into our churches, it is an absolute delight to read a quiet and perceptive story about a true Christian attempting to live out Jesus‘s teachings in..." Read more

"...I loved that it was about a big church family and all the twists and turns. Miss Mildred is one awesome lady. She just doesn't know how awesome...." Read more

"...Exploring more it sounded like a sweet story and I thought I'd give it a try...." Read more

33 customers mention "Insight"33 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and inspirational, with one customer noting the author's deep psychological insights and another highlighting the spot-on Southern church lady wisdom.

"...I deeply appreciated the author’s deep psychological insights, particularly into the complexities of friendship...." Read more

"The author has certainly described well a conservative Presbyterian church!(Though I don’t know her church background)...." Read more

"...Miss Mildred is one awesome lady. She just doesn't know how awesome. It is a story of Jesus's love along with the intrigue of imposters...." Read more

"...The author took me on a walk through the life of Mildred Budge, a nice church lady, and I giggled at the inner conversations the main character has..." Read more

30 customers mention "Character development"30 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the characters in the book, with one noting their realistic personalities, and another mentioning how they inspire readers to seek better character development.

"...Delightful central character whom I would like to know in my real life." Read more

"...The characters and setting are believable and the author develops them well. She carefully takes the reader into “Miss Mildred’s” life...." Read more

"I gave this three stars because some of the characters were really likable. However, I found parts just too sad and depressing...." Read more

"...After I adjusted myself to Mildred, I did enjoy the book. I liked the characters and I enjoyed the setting...." Read more

21 customers mention "Humor"21 positive0 negative

Customers find the book humorous and well-written, with one customer particularly appreciating the author's wit.

"Well written and entertaining! An unusual story line that kept my attention to the very end...." Read more

"...A wonderful, humorous, inspiring and touching book." Read more

"Surprising, funny, entertaining, and wholesome all rolled into one! The perfect light-hearted read!..." Read more

"...Would like to know how she does it! The storyline was great, was well written, there were no literary or punctuation speed bumps that caused me to..." Read more

15 customers mention "Heartwarming"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming, with one customer noting it's filled with God's love and another describing it as a relaxing read.

"...A wonderful, humorous, inspiring and touching book." Read more

"...That’s when I decided I liked old Mildred. If you want a pleasant and easy read about some down home folks this book would meet your expectations." Read more

"...This is a fun, relaxing read and I think many church women will recognize the characters from their own experiences." Read more

"...Love, grace, mercy, forgiveness - all these gifts of God shape Mildred as they ought to shape me...." Read more

7 customers mention "Readability"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read, with one customer noting it has no literary or punctuation speed bumps, while another appreciates its low-key tempo.

"...This book is an enjoyable, easy read that has sweet nuggets of insight and wisdom scattered throughout." Read more

"...If you want a pleasant and easy read about some down home folks this book would meet your expectations." Read more

"...The storyline was great, was well written, there were no literary or punctuation speed bumps that caused me to stop and wonder what that was all..." Read more

"Such an easy book to read. Loved Mildred and her outlook on life in general. Appreciated her spiritual wisdom and her love for her friends...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • chartreusebuzzard
    5.0 out of 5 stars An Engaging Story!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Well written and entertaining! An unusual story line that kept my attention to the very end. Delightful central character whom I would like to know in my real life.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Jessica H. Langerman
    4.0 out of 5 stars Charming, Thoughtful, Heart-Warming
    Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    In this era when such ugly, divisive politics and Christian nationalism are creeping into our churches, it is an absolute delight to read a quiet and perceptive story about a true Christian attempting to live out Jesus‘s teachings in her own life. I deeply appreciated the author’s deep psychological insights, particularly into the complexities of friendship. A wonderful, humorous, inspiring and touching book.
    8 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing and enlightening
    Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The author has certainly described well a conservative Presbyterian church!(Though I don’t know her church background). The characters and setting are believable and the author develops them well. She carefully takes the reader into “Miss Mildred’s” life. Even in her stable, predictable life Mildred needs healing as do others around her. This book is an enjoyable, easy read that has sweet nuggets of insight and wisdom scattered throughout.
    Helpful
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  • K Marcum
    5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't stop reading
    Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A great book. I loved that it was about a big church family and all the twists and turns. Miss Mildred is one awesome lady. She just doesn't know how awesome. It is a story of Jesus's love along with the intrigue of imposters. It is about how many people have hidden depths and then some are just too shallow for words. I can't wait to read the next in the series.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • j. johnsey
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not my cup of tea
    Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I gave this three stars because some of the characters were really likable. However, I found parts just too sad and depressing. I understand like is not always rosy, but I like books to make me happy or teach me something. I just felt dissatisfied after reading this book.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Childers Family
    5.0 out of 5 stars Unexpected Surprise
    Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I saw an ad for this book and the name Mildred Budge made me curious if this was a cozy mystery type story. Exploring more it sounded like a sweet story and I thought I'd give it a try. The author took me on a walk through the life of Mildred Budge, a nice church lady, and I giggled at the inner conversations the main character has within herself. It's a joy to read a book that is not predictable. This is not a cozy mystery but don't be fooled in thinking there isn't adventure. Thanks to the author for sharing her clever mind.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Jrae
    4.0 out of 5 stars Mildred Budge in Cloverdale
    Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This is a great book I enjoyed the sample so I purchased it. It was very unfortunate to find the print so small (paperback) my goodness it's a strain to read! I don't have young eyes anymore. Beware of the small print! But it's a good read.
    Helpful
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  • V
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mildred is the Friend I’d like
    Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this first book and will read as many as I can can find. Love the steady, caring way she operates and thinks.
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Anne Trueman Blackwell
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good read but
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 17, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I did enjoy this book but there were some things which personally I found a bit weird. Some of it is due to cultural differences possibly as I found it very 'old fashioned ' in parts and what I remember of Church life 40-50 years ago. The other issue I had was Mildred Budge's age. In my mind it portrayed as someone possibly in their 80's not 61. I'm nearly 61 but my life is nothing like that. It reminds me more of my mother's life. Possibly it is like that in the southern states but not in Britain.
    From a positive perspective, I did enjoy the story line and the naivety behind it, which is quite refreshing in this day and age.
    Report
  • Theresa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable and surprizely deep themess
    Reviewed in Canada on July 27, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Lovely summer read at cottage
    Series which is enjoyable
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Tell it like it is
    Reviewed in Canada on April 24, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Author made her characters so real.
    Report
  • Kindle Customer hazel. pickering.
    3.0 out of 5 stars A nice bit of light reading.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 1, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Liked the characters, a good story line.
    Report
  • Satisfied customer.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational
    Reviewed in Canada on April 5, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Mildred Budge is an easy, satisfying and inspirational read. The humor is gentle and good. I wish all Christians were like her.
    Report

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