Whistlin' Dixe by Maggie Adams ~ Review

Grab Maggie's book at Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, or Google Play! 

Although I'm an author myself, reading books is my first love. I've been known to devour them like candy, and regardless of how many sit on my bookshelf or on my Kindle, I always have to have more. As someone who has a self-proclaimed love affair with anything regarding the South, you can imagine how excited I was to get my hands on this book.  I'd seen some fabulous praise bouncing around my Facebook news feed so I was really excited to jump in.  

I was so excited, in fact, that I missed the part that this is series -- not really a standalone -- so I was aggravated when I finished it. This was in no way the author's fault, that was me being over-eager (and a highly distractable mom). Whoops.  Guess I'll have to pick up the next one to see if my questions get answered! *wink* 

Anyhow -- overall, I really enjoyed the story line. Mac Coalson owns his own construction company, sounds ruggedly handsome, comes off tough, but like all the men in romance novels we love -- he has a soft side for the woman in his life. Dixie Harris is a young school-teacher, full of spunk, sweet, and ready to nab Mac -- which isn't all that surprising.  Dixie's brother is nabbed for vandalism going on around Mac's properties, which is the underlying issue running throughout the book and what thrusts these characters into each other lives.  

For the most part, the plot had great momentum.  There was an exception of a couple of plot points that I wished had been developed a bit more -- they felt a bit rushed. I wouldn't have minded a bit more to the evolution of Mac and Dixie's relationship, but regardless, it was entertaining following the roller-coaster that ensued their initial meeting.  Especially with Dixie's firecracker temperament, and Mac's stubborn streak.  Let's just say, sparks flew on more than one occasion. 

   Dixie's little spitfire attitude cracked me up, and I enjoyed seeing the way Mac handled her. There's nothing like finding characters you enjoy so much, that your emotions swing with theirs -- and trust me, there's plenty of swinging involved! The Southern dialect was fun, not in any way overdone -- which was awesome. She set the scene perfectly for the area and the way that people interact in small towns -- it's definitely somewhere I'd love to visit. 

 I wanted Mac and Dixie to find their happily ever after.  Let's be honest though, I also want to know more about his brother Sam and ex-girlfriend Angel -- there's a big story there and I'm anxious to find out what will be revealed! There's a lot of history to cover, so I expect it to be full of realizations and passion; those two have a lot of time to make up for.  

Bottom line: if you enjoy a good, passionate romance, with an underlying mystery, it's a great read.  It's sweet, and fun, and introduces you to a devoted loving family (there are 7 brothers y'all) wrapped up in a charming little Southern town.   

** 4 -4.5 stars **

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Tour presented by: 

Whistlin' Dixie by Maggie Adams ~ Blog Tour!

Blog Tour:

Whistlin' Dixie by Maggie Adams

Feb 1st - Feb 11^th

A man on a mission....

Mackenzie Coalson was determined to rebuild his hometown after a devastating flood left it in ruins. He has no time for a relationship and all the romantic junk that goes with it. He has a vandal to catch and no sweet smelling bundle of femininity is going to sway him.

A woman protecting her family.....

Dixie Harris charged into the county sheriff's office with a sassy sway and a smart mouth, eager to give the sheriff, and anyone else, a piece of her mind. When she locks horns with the devil himself, in the form of Mac Coalson, she quickly learns he has a temper to rival hers, even if he's the living epitome of her sexual fantasies.

When the two unite to catch a potential murderer, it's in everyone's best interest to keep it, "business only". But that's hard to do when their combined attraction is volatile enough to burn down the town.

Dixie heard Mac just on the other side of the bedroom door. She wanted to run and hide. She needed to lick her wounds and come to grips with what a fool she had been to trust Mac and his kisses. She didn’t want to listen to reason. She was hurting too badly and nothing he could say or do would erase the picture indelibly printed on her mind of him in the arms of another woman.

So when Mac knocked softly on the door minutes later, she turned a deaf ear to his plea. “Dixie, please let me in. I want to explain what you saw,” Mac whispered.

Oh my God! Did he think she was blind? Or just plain stupid? Or so deeply enamored of him that she was gonna let this stand?

“I saw what I saw. I took biology. I know all about sexual reproduction. Please leave.” She was privately amazed she was able to carry on any kind of conversation with the two timing jerk. She congratulated herself on how collected she’d been, considering her temper was threatening to erupt again.

Knocking again a little more forcefully, he pleaded. “Dixie baby, please open up. You didn’t see what you thought you saw. Please. Just let me explain.”

“I may be young, but I’m not stupid. And I am most certainly not blind,” she snapped at him from the other side of the door. The man was unbelievable.

“You are the most infuriating bit of baggage I have ever encountered. If I didn’t care for you so much, I’d leave right now and never look back.”

“You call that caring?! I call it a line of crap! The only thing you cared about begins with an “F” and ends with me losing my virginity!” Oh, God! Had she really just shouted that?

Pounding on the door with his fist, he shouted, “Dixie Harris, you open the door this minute, or I’ll break it down!”

“Then I’ll just have you arrested for breaking and entering. Sort of ironic, don’t you think?” she countered sweetly. She felt like crying the Mississippi River because he broke her heart, but she was not going to let that arrogant pain-in-the-ass know just how much she was hurting. She had her pride!

“Fine. Just fine. I should’ve known better than to get involved with a little girl, anyhow. Maybe, in a few years, when you grow up and if you have apologized nicely, I might just take you back! And bring a damn soapbox to stand on. My neck’s getting sore from looking down at you!” he snarled. After giving the closed-door another good pounding, he stomped out of the house, slamming the front door.

“Oooooh!” Dixie’s eyes narrowed to mere slits and her hands balled into fists as Mac’s last remark registered with the banging of the screen door. It was like pouring gasoline on a bonfire. She was out of her bedroom and on the front porch in seconds. Heedless of the people walking down the street, she advanced like a mad woman across the yard, screaming. “Apologize to you? When pigs fly, you Mississippi River rat. I wasn’t the one caught fornicating in the parking lot of the local pizza parlor. Hell will freeze over before I apologize.”

Mac saw her coming out on the front porch, and he started toward her, but the smugness left his face, however, with each shouted word. By the time she was finished with her tirade, Mac’s eyes were tempered steel and his face was set granite. “Well, the Devil better get ready for a heat wave, baby, because I feel the same way.”

He hopped in his truck and with a squeal of tires, he was gone.

Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ4I-3ybrig

I live in Southern Illinois with my high school sweetheart and two terrific kids.  I've always loved books and dreamed of one day making writing my career.  Life happens while dreaming but I never gave up.  I believe humor can be found in the most awkward situations as my family can attest, and happily ever after is work but true love is worth it. 

In addition to contemporary romance, I also write paranormal romance, erotic romance, and women's fiction.

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I know I said I'd do better at the blogging thing, but I really am trying.  Promise!

Today is Love Least Expected's release day, and to say that I'm overwhelmed with the outpouring of support is an understatement.  I don't have a lot of support in my real life aside from my husband, his family, and my best friend, so it's been amazing to be showered with so many kind words -- and it's only noon!

The short story I published, The Trouble With Never, has been in the making for years.  Years. To have a piece of it (and me) finally out there, is such a mixed bag of emotions.  I suppose anyone who's already published could tell me that this is normal... but it's so scary, yet absolutely exhilarating to have it out there in the world. I truly hope that people love Summer and Caleb as much as I do.

I'm so grateful to my friend Kishan Paul for pushing me to step up and do this. I've talked about writing and being a published author and all that for so long, that it was about time to actually do vs talk.  To have people sending me messages and posting on my wall/page that they've bought a book I'm published in, or that it was waiting for them on their Kindle is just mind-boggling.  I don't think I've quite wrapped my brain around it!

It's taken me literally all day to even write this blog (which is why it might appear to skip around -- sorry -- busy down around here)!

Long story short, and I'll probably come  edit this later to make more sense -- thank you to every single person that took a chance on some unknown authors, to every blogger that shared our anthology -- THANK YOU.

Stay Tuned...

As I sit here, counting down the hours until the anthology goes live, I'm an incredible mix of emotions.  I guess that's normal for your first publication, and I have to assume that doesn't really change as you continue to publish.

Tomorrow, anyone and everyone can have this book in their hands -- and part of my soul will be laid bare in front of them.  This story has been in the making for years and to have it out there for people to read that don't even know me, is absolutely terrifying!

While there's a resolution with a HEA in my short -- no cliffie y'all -- it is going to be part of a full blown novel.  I hope it leaves you wanting more, and hopefully Caleb will make the cut as a fabulous book boyfriend.  If the short doesn't do it for you, I assure you the book will.

Since I've never published an excerpt here before -- I just wanted to drop a little teaser for my favorite couple.

Preorder Love Least Expected today: 

All Romance https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-loveleastexpected-1681062-166.html

Amazon http://amzn.com/B00PMOM9NA

B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-least-expected-meredith-bond/1120790265?ean=2940046296808

iBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/love-least-expected/id942101190?mt=11&uo=4

Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Meredith_Bond_Love_Least_Expected?id=CT9pBQAAQBAJ&hl=en

Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/love-least-expected

USA Today Recommended Must-See Book Trailer!

So far for me, this has been a wild ride.  I've talked for years and year (and years and years...) about how I was going to be an author.  Blah, blah, blah.  It wasn't until I was asked to be a part of an anthology by an incredibly group of women that I've had the privilege of watching come into their own and become amazing authors, that I was finally brave enough to do something about it.  

Writing with two young kids isn't easy. I've screwed up so many times with deadlines, and sending out information and fumbled all over the place as I learned the ropes of being an indie author. Marketing, promotions, who to contact, what to say, the actually process of writing, getting my first round of edits (and thinking I was going to die), and so on...  

There's a hilarious meme I'd love to share about this, but I can't find it. Should I come across it, I'll come back and add it later.  ;) 

All of this has been amazing and I wouldn't trade it for the world.  

Today, we made the USA Today Recommended Must-See Book Trailer list. USA Today. Y'all.  I don't know whether to fan-girl, scream, cry, pop a bottle of champagne, or what.  This. Is. Incredible.

If you haven't seen our trailer, you should watch it.  Now. It's fabulous. I don't care to admit how many times I've watched it.  Haha! 

Enjoy! 

Love Least Expected Trailer!!

As our release day nears -- February 3 y'all -- we will be releasing fun new things to tease our fabulous anthology.  

For pre-order links, visit here.  Squee!!! 

Anyway -- I'm so exited to share this trailer with y'all.  Enjoy! 

Exciting News!!

I've been MIA for awhile, but here's the thing.  I've been busy.  Besides starting my own fitness business this year, I've been getting my writing act together.  I was blessed enough to be asked to join this anthology with some fabulous ladies -- and let me tell you -- this thing rocks.  I mean, really.  

We are officially available for pre-order on Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and All Romance -- how awesome is that y'all?! Official release will be February 2015.  If you'd like to host us on our blog tour, sign up here.  We'd appreciate it ever so much! 

About Love Least Expected: 

When love drops in unexpected, the strangest things can happen. Nine short stories from sweet to sultry, full of romance, magic and love from award winning and USA Today recommended authors.

Under The Mango Tree: (Historical Romance) ~ by Meredith Bond

Lakshmi is a good 18th c. Indian girl who should not be hiding among the branches of the mango tree avoiding her chores. She truly should not be seen by a man who is not a member of her family--an Englishman, no less. And she absolutely should not even contemplate speaking with this man. But Lakshmi has never been one to follow the rules.


Rolf's Quest: (Historical Romance) ~ by Aubrey Wynne

Time is running out for the royal wizard of Henry II. Rolf's quest: find genuine love and lift the enchantment that has imprisoned his ancestor, Merlin, for centuries. Now he must win Melissa's heart without the use of magic. She desires him, but will she defy her family and refuse her betrothed? Or will Rolf be doomed to a life of bitterness like his ancestors before him.


Fall Into Darkness: (Paranormal Romance) ~ by Valerie Twombly

Eli, bounty hunter for the Tribunal, is sentenced to earth to find his humanity. But when temptation is thrown in the angel's path in the form of the soft curvy Ashley, he is unable to resist. Fate may bring them together, but desire could bond them for eternity.


Alphabetical Disorder: (Fantasy Romance) ~ by Katie Stephens

When a trick horseback rider gets caught up in a dangerous prophecy that jeopardizes the circus, she believes she can solve the problem by dating alphabetically. Now all she has to do is figure out how to manipulate her flawed interpretation so she can be with the man she loves.


Roses Are Wrong, Violets Taboo: (Southern Romance) ~ by Kris Calvert

When Alexander Chase Tabeau and Rose Westwood meet by chance, neither planned on stumbling into the best night of their life. But timing is everything and fate has a cruel sense of humor. With love on the line and nothing to lose, will one night together change their destiny forever?


Love's Not Viral: (Contemporary Romance) ~ by Nessie Strange

When a crazed Hollywood star puts Aster Sanderson in the media crosshairs, her home becomes a prison. With her life out of control, the last person she expects to rescue her is her captor's brother, James. Is their attraction a result of circumstance...or could it be something more?


Taking The Plunge: (Contemporary Romance) ~ by Kishan Paul

When Pete, Eve's high school crush, shows up in her life, she pepper sprays him. Despite her efforts to push him away, Pete finds himself drawn to the red haired beauty. When logic and emotion don't agree, which path should she follow?


The Trouble With Never: (Southern Romance) ~ by Isabella Harper

When Summer and Caleb run into each other after a long absence, sparks fly. Her painful past makes it hard for her to open up, but he's more than willing to help. He's loved her most of their lives. Can she learn to love and trust him, or will her fears push him away?


Keep Calm And Eat Chocolate: (Contemporary Romance) ~ by Michaela Miles

When institution residents Elle and Chris meet, their personalities clash. During a quiet moment in the garden together, secrets are shared and a bond is formed. Will their connection be their downfall or lead to the fresh start they deserve?