I am currently planning our family's visit to Maui for Fall Break. The Valley Isle offers swimming with turtles, sunrise on Haleakala, snorkeling in a sunken volcano, and the Road to Hana.
Oh, the Road to Hana.
It offers unparalled views of waterfalls along its coast hugging road. So it is known more as "the journey" rather than "the destination". I found this to be the same of Lauren Clark's DANCING NAKED IN DIXIE:
Travel writer Julia Sullivan lives life in fast-forward. She jet sets to Europe and the Caribbean with barely a moment to blink or sleep. But too many mishaps and missed deadlines have Julia on the verge of being fired.
With a stern warning, and unemployment looming, she's offered one last chance to rescue her career. Julia embarks on an unlikely journey to the ‘Heart of Dixie’—Eufaula, Alabama—home to magnificent mansions, sweet tea, and the annual Pilgrimage.
Julia arrives, soon charmed by the lovely city and her handsome host, but her stay is marred by a shocking discovery. Can Julia's story save her career, Eufaula, and the annual Pilgrimage?
Travel writer Julia Sullivan lives life in fast-forward. She jet sets to Europe and the Caribbean with barely a moment to blink or sleep. But too many mishaps and missed deadlines have Julia on the verge of being fired.
With a stern warning, and unemployment looming, she's offered one last chance to rescue her career. Julia embarks on an unlikely journey to the ‘Heart of Dixie’—Eufaula, Alabama—home to magnificent mansions, sweet tea, and the annual Pilgrimage.
Julia arrives, soon charmed by the lovely city and her handsome host, but her stay is marred by a shocking discovery. Can Julia's story save her career, Eufaula, and the annual Pilgrimage?
I posted my four star review on Amazon at this link and Goodreads at this link. To celebrate DANCING NAKED IN DIXIE, I am giving away a Hawaiian Hospitality gift pack. To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about what you like from the Deep South - sweet tea? pecan pie? bar-b-que ribs?
2. This giveaway is open to all readers.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, June 30, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, July 1.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
To learn more about Lauren and her books, check out her webstite at laurenclarkbooks.com.
1. Leave a comment about what you like from the Deep South - sweet tea? pecan pie? bar-b-que ribs?
2. This giveaway is open to all readers.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, June 30, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, July 1.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
To learn more about Lauren and her books, check out her webstite at laurenclarkbooks.com.
Kiko_the_shadow_godess@yahoo.com
ReplyDeletePersonally I love BBQ Chicken and the teas ^^
I totally love the mansions there. I remember how I used to admire those when I've been traveling through the South of the US. We even took a guided tour through one and it was so lovely!
ReplyDeleteI have to say the seafood.
ReplyDeleteIt would probably be the pulled pork sandwiches.
ReplyDeleteI like the BBQ.
ReplyDeleteI love the country cooking! Its rich and heavy but OH, so yummy!!
ReplyDeleteI've never been to the Deep South, but two things stand out for me - the hospitality & the food.
ReplyDeleteThe Road to Hana looks like it would be beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHmm....that all sounds pretty good. Sweet tea, BBQ ribs, pecan pie! As long as it is served up by some dimpled cutie with Southern charm it would be perfect!
Dancing Naked in Dixie sounds very cute, nice review of it on Goodreads.
Lord I miss Dixie. The Southern hospitality...there is absolutely nothing like it in the world. And Southern men...my daughter and I jokingly call them Bubba's, but they still know how to treat a lady.
ReplyDeleteAnything BBQ and pecan pies.
ReplyDeleteThe ribs are my favorite.
ReplyDeleteKim ~ Thank you for featuring Dixie today! I am thrilled that you contacted me about the book!
ReplyDeleteI do adore Chess Pie and Chess Pie Squares ... I am not sure what is in them (other than sugar!!!) but they are delicious :)
xx, Lauren
I love the cooking, the old mansions, the friendly people and New Orleans.
ReplyDeleteI'm a native of south Louisiana, living in Texas and I love many things about the Deep South. Here are a few: food (Cajun, BBQ, Tex-Mex, all kinds of seafood,) SEC football, Mardi Gras, friendliness, flowers in bloom all year long, air conditioning, architecture, and the history.
ReplyDeleteI've always loved the old time dresses. Everyone seems so nice and welcoming and always smiling and laughing. And don't even get me started on the food, oh my I do love some southern cooking.
ReplyDeleteI definitely miss good sweet tea and Mardi Gras!!
ReplyDeleteHi Kim!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I both love the South and one reason is we got married in Jacksonville, FL in 1970 when he was in the Navy. We used to love taking a short drive down to St. Augustine for a day trip when we both had the same day off.
One of our favorite trips to the Deep South was last year when we got the chance to visit Tennessee and visit the Grand Ole Opry! The night we went to the Ryman Center we got the chance to not only see Martina McBride but also Carrie Underwood. They sure know how to put on a great show in Nashville! Of course we had to stop into all the local haunts as well and see some inspiring new singers that will hopefully soon be heard on your local radio station!
While there we also took advantage of visiting the local historical sites (which were plentiful) as well as visiting a whiskey brewery or three! Since Tennessee is a "dry state you can visit the breweries and buy the liquor but not taste it!
One of my nieces lives in Henderson which is just a few miles away so we also got some great homemade local cuisine!
Of course our favorite place in the Deep South is South Carolina where we go every year to visit our youngest son and his family. They've recently moved to Columbia, SC from Greenville where we loved visiting not only the Zoo but also taking in a baseball game at the local Red Sox minor league stadium that a replica of Fenway Park. The downtown is vibrant and has great walking trails as well.
It's always a thrill to visit our grandchildren and of course have some great sweet tea! We're still finding out places to go in Columbia and haven't decided yet what are our favoirtes yet.
My son graduated from The Citadel in Charleston and we have friends of 36 years who live there and whenever we're in South Carolina we always get together. If your in the Charleston area be sure to try the Dungeness Crab Tarts!
When your in Charleston there is plenty of things to do besides eat great food. You can take a walking tour or perhaps you'd rather go by water and take a boat tour or dinner cruise! If your not one for taking to the seas there are also private tours and carriage rides. If you love the beach be sure to go to Folley Beach just south of Charleston.
For those who love history you'll also find plenty to do in Charleston. Be sure to take a boat ride out to Fort Sumter and visit the National Moment where the Civil War began. Retired Navy? Then a stop to visit the H.L. Huntley, the world's first successful combat submarine should also be added to your list!
Before you leave be sure to stop by The Citadel and watch the Cadets parade and have the pleasure of listening to bagpipes fill the air with music that will take you to the Highlands!
After your visit in the Deep South you'll have plenty to visit on your drive back to your home up North. After all you can stop by Historical Jamestown as well as Historic Williamsburg in Virginia and then take a break in Washington, DC where you'll want to take the time to stop by the White House and then go see the Vietnam Memorial, Pentagon and the Zoo before getting back on the highway.
Where ever you stop in the Deep South you'll be greeted with a friendly smile and when you leaving be sent off with a "Ya'll have a good day!"
PS: No charge for "fill-ups" on your Sweet Tea!
I love the food of the South.
ReplyDeleteI am a northerner now living in the south and I love the weather. Today, the windows and doors are open, the trees are green, and the birds are chirping. Love it. Also...the book title caught my attention because my grandmother (living in Amityville, NY) went by 'Dixie'.
ReplyDeleteNancy Lee Badger
www.nancyleebadger.com
I want to try a Southern sweet tea. I hear so much about it and I'm curious as to its taste.
ReplyDeleteCan I pick all of the above? the sweet tea, bbq ribs and pecan pie all sound so good!
ReplyDeleteLve them ribs whoo Ty for. Giveaway
ReplyDeleteKimh
I cannot wait to read Dancing Naked in Dixie, it sounds awesome!!I love the food, and people in the South, I am a native of Mississippi. Don't like the heat at all, thank god for a/c!
ReplyDeletemlawson17 at hotmail dot com
I would like the seafood. I would also love to take a tour of the beautiful old mansions.
ReplyDeleteI love the South. I still have family in the South and get to visit every now and then. I love the food. I grew up on the sweetest ice tea from the South.
ReplyDeleteMel
The South has some of the best BBQ!!
ReplyDeleteIn our house we like ribs made with a southern style barbeque.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love Southern Sytle BBQ. Can't get enough of it when I am in the States
ReplyDeleteI love the peach cobbler, fresh shrimp & the beaches.
ReplyDeletebar-b-que ribs! i'm actually drooling right now. ;>
ReplyDelete