Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter

Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter
Lisa Patton
2009

The Summary
"Leelee Satterfield leaves her beloved Memphis to follow her husband's pipe dream:  to manage a quaint Vermont inn.  But when they arrive, young daughters and ancient Yorkie in tow, they discover pretty fast that there's a truckload of things nobody tells you about Vermont until you live there.  When Leelee is left swindled and snowbound, she's forced to confront the true depth of her Southern grit in this foreign town.

"In this moving, comedic debut, Lisa Patton paints a hilarious portrait of a life in Vermont seen through the eyes of a Southern belle.  It's a charming, fish-out-of-water tale of one woman who learns to stand up for herself--in sandals and snow boots--against all odds."

The Good
Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter is a pretty fun novel.

Sweet, humorous, and full of heart, Lisa Patton's novel is a delightful mixture of friendship, misadventure, and love.  It was an interesting blend, bringing together the warm, honeysuckle scented culture of the South and the colder, entirely foreign climate of the North.  When the two come together, it's a minefield fraught with dangers, as Leelee quickly learns.

Overall, it's a heartwarming story.  Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter takes a while to build, takes an even longer time to get to the point that you actually see the Tennessee grit and determination upon which Leelee prides herself; however, it's a good story.  It's short, sweet, and easy to read, and it's worth checking out, especially for any local Tennesseans interested in a fun, romantic debut.

The Bad
Honestly, despite sharing a state with Leelee, I found I couldn't relate to her.  I mean, I understand what it means to be a "people-pleaser." (Sometimes, it's just hard to say "no" to the folks you know and love.)  However, I had hoped Leelee would find that Southern grit and rebellious determination to turn her life around long before she actually did.

It was frustrating to witness Leelee endure problem after problem, before she finally decided to take her life into her own hands.  I hated how Baker--among others--took advantage of her.  I hated that Leelee was left to foot the bill, even when it was her scummy husband's fault.

I hated it for her.  The embarrassment, the desolation, the betrayal and confusion.  It's a bit gut-wrenching.

The Ugly
I really don't like Baker.

We'll just leave it at that, lest I spoil the story.