Review and giveaway: Yankee Doodle Dixie
Warning: This post might contain spoilers from Lisa Patton’s first book, Whistlin’ Dixie in a Nor’easter.
Life in Vermont didn’t turn out the way Leelee expected. She’s divorced and sold her Inn, and decided to move back to her beloved Memphis to raise her two young daughters. She reconnects with friends and the family maid who raised her, but can’t shake a certain gentleman in Vermont from her mind.
Yankee Doodle Dixie, by Lisa Patton, picks up where Whistlin’ Dixie in a Nor’easter leaves off, but it’s not necessary to read the first book to enjoy this one. (I haven’t read the first book yet and I thought this book was a lot of fun.) Going home again isn’t always easy, especially when you have to rebuild your life. Leelee has to find a place to live, get her girls in school, and find a job. Thank heavens for her childhood friends and Kissie, the maid who raised her.
Kissie was probably my favorite character in the book – steadfast and loyal, she was always the voice of reason. I liked Leelee, too, but found her frustrating at times. She seemed to have trouble accepting that she was no longer wealthy and that she was responsible for her young daughters. I found Leelee’s neighbor Riley annoying and felt he really didn’t add anything to the book. I think he was supposed to provide comic relief but he didn’t for me. I just wanted him to go away.
Leelee makes a few mistakes along the way, and I appreciated that she grew and learned from them. Isn’t that what’s life’s about? She still has some growing to do, but she’s making great progress! There was a little development in the end that looks promising for her. I hope there’s another book so I can find out how things turn out.
Yankee Doodle Dixie was a fun book and I enjoyed the time spent with it. If you enjoy Southern fiction with a comic twist, you’ll probably enjoy it too. St. Martin’s Press has offered to send a galley of this book to three lucky readers!! To enter to win a copy of YANKEE DOODLE DIXIE, by Lisa Patton, simply fill out the entry form. Contest is open to residents of the US and Canada. I will use random.org to determine the winner. Contest ends at midnight EST Wednesday, August 3, 2011. Winners will be announced on Thursday, August 4, 2011. Comments are welcome (and appreciated) but will not get you an entry in the contest.
So true, growing is what life is about. Everyone makes mistakes, we are only human
Cute title! Leelee does seem a bit annoying. I am glad to hear that she “grows” up as the book progresses. Great review!
I love the title and the cover of this book! They make me want to rush out and buy them. Luckily it sounds good too.
Great giveaway — I’ve been meaning to read these books.
Can’t wait for this one!! So glad to hear you enjoyed it…
Is it possible to learn and grow without making mistakes? I know I’ve made my fair share.
Sounds like a fun book, and I’m glad to hear I can enjoying it without having read the first one.
All too often in books the character intended to provide comic relief comes across as annoying. I wish that sometimes they would just leave them out. Other than that this sounds like a fun series. I like that it isn’t necessary to have read the first book in order to enjoy this one. Nice review!
I just bought the first book, hoping to read it soon.
Like Mrs. Q I just bought the first book and am happy to see you enjoyed the second. Thanks for offering the giveaway – I filled out the form
I actually have the first book on my shelf, unread. I love a southern read, sounds good to me!
I still have to read the first book in this set, but I remember that we got the chance to meet Lisa last year at SIBA. It sounds like these books might be good beach reads for the summer. Glad to hear that although you had some issues with the book that it was a good read for you!
I did read WHISTLIN’ DIXIE first and I’m looking forward to this one. I didn’t realize that it was a sequel. LOL! I guess the covers should have given me a clue.
what a refreshing looking cover..I can’t help it. I do judge books by their cover!
Oooh, I have the first one…got it at SIBA last year. I really need to read it, because she will probably be there this year and I like to be able to talk like I have some sense.
I love the name, “Kissie.” Just had to say that!
Going home can be hard for anyone, even those without any baggage.
Love the two names – Leelee and Kissie. Sounds very quirky! I haven’t heard of this one – the title sounds very catchy!
This looks very cute! Thanks for your review!
This book sounds like a great summer read along with some important reminders about the lessons life often teaches us and from which we can all benefit. I adore the cover of this book and love the wonderful southern names of the characters.
Thank you for the giveaway!
I won this not too long ago on goodreads and I enjoyed it! Good luck to everyone entering!
Sounds like a fun series of books.
It does look like a fun warm series…just what we need sometimes…you are so amazing about sharing…
I need to hurry up and pull out the first book in this series!
I agree, the title is cute, but I’m not sure this book would be for me. I always think I want to read books like this, then when I do, I think they are ok, but not great.
i haven’t heard of this series before, but it sounds like a fun one!
O.K., so I haven’t read WHISTLIN’ DIXIE yet, but it’s been on my wish list for a while. If I win this sequel, I’ll run out and get the first one! Thanks for the chance!
Sounds exactly like what I’m interested in reading!!!
I adored Whistlin’ Dixie in a Nor’easter! I can’t wait to read what happens next!
This looks good. I’m not sure if I’d have to go back and read the first one or not. I’m tryting to relax that personal rule of mine but I’m finding it difficult!
I’d probably pick this book up based on the beautiful cover. The story sounds good too.
Oh, I really need to read the first! Won’t sign up for the giveaway since I need to do that but I love the idea of this series and have heard such good things about the first installment.
I’m looking forward to reading this one but I want to read Whistlin first. I need more than one of me to keep up with my reading.
The cover makes me hungry for fruits… hmmm… fruits…
I can’t stop whistling the Yankee Doodle diddlee in my head.
Loved the first book, and can’t wait to read this one. Thanks for the nice review of it.
Sandee61
I am a Northerner in the South and can appreciate the cultural shift and the viewpoint of this type of book. It sounds perfect for summer – a bit on the light side with a sense of humor.
Thanks for offering this giveaway – I have the first book on the shelf and it would be great to have the sequel! I entered the contest (and apologize if I entered it before – I can’t remember!)
Who wouldn’t want to read a book with this title? Anyone from the South, anyway.
I want to read both of these books! I have the first one on my TBR shelf and love southern fiction so I expect to enjoy these. Thanks for the giveaway!