It may be September, and fall may be right around the corner, but it’s never too late for a good beach read, and Yankee Doodle Dixie is a fun, easy read that fits the bill.
Yankee Doodle Dixie is the second book by Lisa Patton about Memphis gal Leelee Satterfield. In the first book, Whistlin’ Dixie in a Nor’easter, Leelee follows her husband Baker to Vermont to open an inn. Yankee Doodle Dixie begins with Leelee and her 2 daughters heading back home to Memphis, sans Baker, to start over with her 3 best girlfriends and her surrogate mama Kissie supporting her every step of the way. But not only did Leelee leave behind the cold Vermont weather and the inn she worked hard to whip into shape, but she also left behind a man named Peter, her restaurant’s chef to whom she had grown close. She rents a house next door to a Tupperware-Cutco-Pampered Chef salesman named Riley, who’s a bit too interested in her life, gets a job at a Memphis radio station and has to put up with an overbearing boss, and tries to get over Peter.
If it all sounds a bit crazy, well, it is. There’s a whirlwind trip to NYC with a rock star, a visit to Graceland during Elvis Days, dressed in full regalia, and a boy dog named Roberta. Leelee has trouble saying no, but with the help of her friends and Kissie, she learns to start standing up for herself and work toward what she wants, and not what everyone else wants.
While Yankee Doodle Dixie is a sequel, and I’m not usually one to read a sequel without having read its predecessor, the book stands on its own. There’s enough backstory scattered throughout the novel that I never felt lost, and even felt like I don’t really need to read the first back to understand the gist of what happened. If you like Southern fiction, books with characters that are a little off-kilter, or just want a fun late-summer diversion, you’ll love Yankee Doodle Dixie.
We have one copy of Yankee Doodle Dixie to give to one lucky reader (U.S. only). Leave a comment below to enter to win. The winner will be announced on September 19.
Congratulations to our winners of the Ladybug Girl giveaway: #5 Steph Lancione and #46 Brett.
Nancy likes reading about characters whose lives are nothing like her own. She writes about her 2 boys, books and life in Colorado at Life With My Boys and Books.
Reading is a true love of mine! Sounds like a good book!
It sounds wonderful. I’d love to win. Thanks!
sounds like a great read!! 🙂
sounds cute, thanks!
I love fun, easy reads and I am up for a beach read any day of the year. This sounds like a delightful story and would love to win a copy to read.
sounds good
nannypanpan at gmail.com
I’d like to win. Thanks for the chance.
I’d LOVE to win this!!!
Sounds like a good read! Pick me so I can read it please.
nhmummab@comcast.net
sounds like an amazing read would love to win
shopannies@yahoo.com
Sounds like a book I would enjoy – THANKS.
Sounds like a great read. I’d love to win!
I’d like to read this book. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
Sounds like a good book! I’d love to read it!
Thanks for the chance!
I love books about Southern folks. I was born in South Carolina and miss home very much. I think that it would be a fun book to read. 🙂
I enjoyed her first book, and think I would like this one even better since it’s set in my hometown of Memphis!
Looks great!
Sounds like a great book! I’d never heard of this author before, so thank you for sharing.
I’d love to be entered. Sounds like a very good book.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
I would love to read this!
Would love to win this!
looks like a great read!
Love the title. I could use a good beach read right now, even though summer has already gone.
I read everyday waiting in line to pick up my son. Would love to read this book
I love to read, it is an excuse to sit down!
I have both children in school and expecting again in December. This would be a perfect time to read
Would love to read it. Please count me in!
Sounds like a good book to read.
Do enjoy Southern setting. Thanks for chance.
Would LOVE to win this! I personally emailed Lisa Patton to beg for a sequel to Whistlin’ Dixie!!!
Nice review. I would enjoy reading it.
Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the review,
Maureen (jnomaxx at hotmail dot com)
This sounds like a great book to end the summer. Thanks for the giveaway!
I have heard this book is wonderful. I would love to win a copy. Thank you!
I adore her first book and would love to read this sequel about
Leelee Satterfield…
Many thanks, Cindi
Oh, my goodness, this sounds like a very good book. Hope I win, and thanks for the great reading!
With Winter coming I’m ready to start chillin, with a good book and I love southern fiction. Thanks for the Giveaway!
sounds like a lovely read. 😉
Count me in! Thanks.
This book sounds perfect for me!! Thanks for the chance to win!!
Sounds good.
I would love to read this!
Sounds very interesting! =)
This sounds right up my alley for an easy and fun read.
Sounds like a good book! I’d love to read it!
I am so glad that you said that it works as a stand alone. I have been aching to read it!!!!
I love Southern Fiction with plenty of quikiness!
This sounds really good, I would love to read it.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com