Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter - by Lisa Patton (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter is the hilarious and heartwarming fish-out-of-water story of a Southern belle who swaps sunny Tennessee for a quaint Vermont inn--only to find herself stranded, snowbound, and forced to rebuild her life.

Leelee Satterfield seemed to have it all: a gorgeous husband, two adorable daughters, and deep roots in Memphis, Tennessee. So when her husband decides to uproot the family to run a Vermont inn, Leelee is devastated. But having loved Baker since the tenth grade, she indulges his dream--persuaded by glossy photos of autumn leaves and smiling kids in ski suits. How hard could it really be?

Leelee discovers fast that there is a truckload of things nobody tells you about Vermont until you live there, from mud season and vampire flies to ice sheets careening off roofs. The inn itself has a mysterious odor, tacky décor, and a staff of peculiar Vermonters managed by Helga--a stern German woman who takes special delight in bullying Leelee for her Southern gentility. To make matters worse, when her ancient Yorkie passes away on New Year's Eve, Leelee hits one more Yankee roadblock: frozen ground means no winter burials.

When an unexpected tragedy leaves Leelee alone with an inn to run, a mortgage to pay, and two daughters to raise, this Southern belle refuses to be run out of town. Drawing on an inner grit she never knew she had, Leelee sets out to turn around the inn, her attitude, and her life--discovering along the way that warmth, friendship, and romance can bloom in even the coldest climates.

Review Quotes

"Funny, heartfelt and loaded with southern charm...You'll laugh out loud at as Leelee Satterfield plants her debutante flag on the snowy fields of Vermont. You'll be whistlin' "more, more!" by novel's end. I promise." --Adriana Trigiani, bestelling author of the Big Stone Gap series and Lucia, Lucia

"Just when you think there's nothing new under the sun, here it comes---the North/South split as seen from a brand new perspective. I absolutely DEVOURED this yummy novel, all at one sitting. Lisa Patton serves up genuine romance, wisdom, and humor at this B&B---with plenty of smart social observation on the side. Sweet, sassy, and very entertaining!" --Lee Smith, author of The Last Girls

"Lisa Patton draws you into each moment of this wonderfully heartbreaking yet hilarious journey of self-enlightenment. Whistlin' Dixie is truly a page-turner from beginning to end." --Jeff Bridges

"Memphis belle Leelee heads for Vermont, trading iced tea and kudzu for black ice, black flies, and a winter that lasts well into May. The results? An amusing, touching novel about a steel magnolia who faces an extreme culture clash and must decide if she wants to set down roots in red clay or snow. Whistlin' in Dixie in a Nor'easter is a fabulous, feel-good read." --Karin Gillespie, author of Dollar Daze

"Lisa Patton brings Northerners and Southerners together in this heartwarming and funny tale." --T. Lynn Ocean, author of the Jersey Barnes series

"In her debut novel Lisa Patton paints a beautiful portrait of friendship, and one woman's journey finding herself, with tears and laughter along the way. I loved it." --Christopher Cross, Grammy Award-winning Singer-songwriter

"Lisa Patton knows her way around "Southern Belles" and "Vermonsters" alike-and spares neither with her humor and wit in this fun romp....a promising debut for comic fiction." --Tracy McArdle, author of Real Women Eat Beef

"Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter gives you a heroine to root for and a book that keeps you turning pages. A delightful read." --Linda Francis Lee, bestselling author of The Ex-Debutante

About the Author

Lisa Patton is a Memphis, Tennessee native who spent four years as a Vermont innkeeper--until three sub-zero winters forced her back to the South. She has over 20 years' experience working in the music and entertainment business, and is a graduate of the University of Alabama, Kappa Delta sorority and the Memphis Junior League. She is currently a special events director for Historic Carnton Plantation in Franklin, Tennessee, where she lives with her two sons. She is donating a portion of the proceeds from her novel to an organization in support of single mothers.