Baby, Drive South (Southern Roads) [Mass Market Paperback]

This contemporary romance is right up my alley. It is simple and fun with good opposites that make for an interesting couple. We've got a cocky, yet charming male whose all about providing himself to the ladies. Opposite him is a vulnerable, strong woman who doesn't know she's got the assets, much less how to use them. Throw in a bet, desperation, a couple of brothers, 99 other women, a broken leg and you've got one sweet, southern ride.

Admittedly not everything about the backstory is believable. A town that doesn't get many tornadoes and is then suddenly hit by an EF-5, shouldn't have zero deaths. Gotta bring on the pain, baby. At the same time the concept is impressive. The bond these three brothers share with the land creates a very real sentimentality, and their vision is practical and worthy. In the end everything balanced out nicely. No solid complaints, especially since the characters are well rounded and drive the story.

If you are a Susan Mallery fan, as I am, then I firmly believe you will enjoy this book. I predict this to be a trilogy that will deliver, and get better with each book (I am definitely interested in book 3!). I fully intend on making a book store purchase of all three books.

This will be a set worth rereading, books that that truly lighten your day.

Small town southern good ol' boys vs big city northerner women - It is perhaps a testament to Stephanie Bond's writing skill that she manages to tip toe her way through this minefield of clichéd stereotypes managing to stay just this side of humorous without ever getting overly offensive.

Anyway, men rebuilding a tornado ravaged abandoned town are getting awfully hormonal with no release (read between the lines) in sight. So they place an ad in a recession ravaged northern city's paper asking for some .... well companionship I guess .... because to tell you the truth other than their much sought after vaginae, it really isn't quite clear what all these northern woman are doing there. But what is clear is that they are bossy, opinionated, and so ill suited for the "Southern" lifestyle (some of them don't even eat meat!) that you could practically make a sitcom out of this plot. Hey, maybe Stephanie Bond is hoping to sell her second tv pilot.

Along for the ride comes Doctor Nikki Salinger, who is running away from her own disaster of a failed engagement to a total citified northern boy schmuck. She immediately runs up against of block of "southern male stubbornness" when all the Good Ol' Boys of the town are aghast at the thought of an educated woman doctor and prefer instead to have their aches and pains treated by some local who wraps infected toes in bacon.

yes really.

And yes really, this book does supposedly take place in current times - even though poor Nikki does have to climb to the top of the water tower to get cell phone reception every time she wants to check her voicemail.

Then there's looovvvveeeee in the air because even though Nikki is educated, prickly and not as pretty as all the other women, there's just something about her that catches the fancy of Porter Armstrong.

It's almost impossible to read this book without humming the theme song from Dukes of Hazard although Petticoat Junction might be a good alternative.

Oh it's summer. Go ahead and enjoy yourself. LOL

This was my first Stephanie Bond book, and I was quite pleased! I'm a fan of romantic comedy, and Bond provided both the romance and the comedy quite well.

Porter Armstrong and his brothers Marcus and Kendall have devoted their lives to rebuilding their hometown, Sweetness, Georgia, after a tornado flattened the town a decade ago. They're fighting the odds with not enough help, no proper town or facilities, and a time-limited grant.

But all the men in town are getting restless, and they think maybe women will help...both to distract them and to help them stay put instead of heading off to the nearest big city for female company, often never to return.

But when 100 women answer their ad and arrive in Sweetness to much more primitive conditions than they were expecting, the brothers have their work cut out for them. Except for Porter, who, in his excitement at seeing a caravan of women on the way to ease the tension in his town, takes a spill off the water tower and breaks his leg.

Luckily, one of the newly arrived women is Dr. Nikki Salinger, fresh from heartbreak and looking for a new start. But her plain looks and serious demeanor leave her not nearly as appealing to the men as her flighty, clothing and makeup obsessed counterparts. On top of that, all the men are used to being treated for their medical issues by Doc Riley, an older man who prefers mountain medicine to conventional. It doesn't take Nikki long before she realizes she's made a huge mistake coming to Sweetness.

But as one thing after another keeps Nikki in Sweetness -- and close to Porter -- things between them heat up. Their falling for each other seemed very natural and believable. There are, of course, many comedic moments, as they navigate their relationship. Nikki's desire to get as far from Sweetness as possible and Porter's determination to keep her there create great conflict.

There were several secondary characters in Baby Drive South who were fun, but I was disappointed that none of the other men in town were very present. Maybe that would have made the book too big. :) Also, I would have preferred a little more of the ending, as I felt as though Nikki's change of heart was a bit too abrupt. I'd have liked to read more of her thought process and how she was able to make the decision to stay with Porter.

All that said, I am looking forward to the next books in the series. I developed a fondness for Sweetness, Georgia, and the love and care that the Armstrong brothers were putting into rebuilding. Really liked this book a lot!