Southern as a Second Language

Dixie #3

by Lisa Patton

Leelee Satterfield is back in a riotously funny and charmingly romantic adventure from Lisa Patton, author of the widely acclaimed Dixie series

Not only do Southerners talk slowly, sometimes the whole language is hard to understand. No one realizes that more than Memphis belle Leelee Satterfield. Now that she's back home, and starting a new relationship with Peter, the Yankee chef from her New England inn, you'd think she'd sit back and enjoy her newly crafted life back home in Dixie. But that just wouldn't be as much fun.

Opening up a new restaurant with Peter isn't as easy as she had anticipated, and when Leelee's ex-husband returns unexpectedly, everything else goes haywire. Throw her three crazy best friends into the mix; as well as Riley, her meddlesome next-door neighbor; and Kissie, Leelee's beloved second mother, and you have the perfect recipe for a sassy, Southern delicacy. An endearing and chuckle-inducing tale, Southern as a Second Language keeps you guessing up to the very last page how it all works out in the end. Whether among maple trees in Vermont or magnolia-filled Memphis, Leelee's charm, heart, and laughter will delight readers in any climate.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance, Southern, Contemporary, Womens Fiction, Adult Fiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published September 10, 2013

About the author

Lisa Patton, author of Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter, Yankee Doodle Dixie, Southern as a Second Language, and Rush, and Kissing The Sky is a Memphis, Tennessee native who spent time as a Vermont innkeeper until three sub-zero winters sent her speeding back down South. She has over twenty-five years of experience working in theater, radio, TV, and music, including a decade with Doobie Brother Michael McDonald, who, along with his wife Amy, helped Lisa cowrite and produce “If Not for You,” an original song for Kissing the Sky. A graduate of the University of Alabama, Lisa is the proud mother of two sons, eight bonus children, and twelve grandchildren. She and her husband live in the rolling hills of Nashville with their four-legged furry son named Ziggy, and furry daughter named Daisy.

To find links to the original song “If Not for You,” please visit Lisa’s website at www.lisapatton.com or go to the streaming platform of your choice: Amy Holland/ If Not for You Connect with Lisa on Instagram, @lisapattonbooks, and on Facebook, Lisa Patton.author.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you Ms. Patton for continuing to carry the stereotype of southern women forward.You have overly drawn the characters until they have become caricatures of southern women and thus we shall continue to be viewed as silly little belles who dress up at football games and say "Y'all come back now, ya hear!"

If you want to read GOOD, fun chick-lit with a southern twist might I suggest books by Sarah Addison Allen, Joshilyn Jackson and Linda Francis Lee.

If you want southern literature about STRONG women read: Gone with the Wind and The Help. Yes, I realize these books are somewhat contradictory. But you want to meet a women with BACKBONE, let me introduce you to the ultimate southern belle: Ms. Scarlet O'Hara. Besides the obvious social issues detailed in the Help, I like that the main character, Skeeter, is definitely not like all the other belles she grew up with. She's fantastically independent and not really a whiner. I think that's why I did not like these books by Lisa Patton, the main character strikes me as a whiner.

Southern historical fiction with intriguing women/girl characters: Cold Mountain I think you'll find Ruby is a hoot!To Kill a Mockingbird should have been read in high school, if you skipped it then, read it now. Then watch the movie and drool over what a hunk Gregory Peck was back in the day;) I have also found The Widow of the South and A Separate Country good reads.

This turned into a rant. My apologies. But really, read something else people.

[Marian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the sequel to "Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter". Frankly, it was not as good. It was somewhat of a slog to get through. Also, I really really hate when authors write in dialect, and even more than that I hate when they write in people's speech problems. There was a character who couldn't say his "R" sounds, and everywhere that he tried, the author put a W instead of an R. I find that annoying and offensive. Plus, a guy like Pierre, who's French but has been living in the US for quite some time, is going to speak and understand English way better than the author would have us believe. Come on, Lisa Patton, you can do better!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so much better than the second book, although the first was the best. Leelee became more annoying in each book. There were several mistakes in this book but the one that caught my eye the most and needed to complain about was part when Kissie found Leelee in the basement with a boy during her high school years. Kissie calls her Leelee Satterfield which is her married name. Leelee kept pining for Peter all through book two and then when they are finally together, she is constantly creating nonexistant problems between them. The part where Leelee contemplates taking Baker back and lets Peter leave was just crazy. Leelee constantly complains about not seeing her girls since she is a working mother, but she never spends time with them anyways. The first book was definitely a fun read, the second not so much and by the third I was glad the series was over and Leelee got her happy ending and moose head.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's summer. I needed a light, happy read. This 100% fit the bill. I enjoyed the continued story of Leelee Satterfield and her family/friends. How she worked to get her new restaurant off the groun only to have it derailed by Helga in Vermont. How she struggled with her new love and the return of her ex husband. How she interacts with her old nanny Kissie (which this part of the story is just beautiful) and her kids. everything wraps up with a bow and everyone gets the happiness or hit by a car they deserve. A purely fluffy and enjoyable read.

[Robin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bless this book’s heart….

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute conclusion to the Whistlin Dixie trio.

[Elaine Farstad · Rating 2 out of 5]

I moved to Memphis four years ago. I live in East Memphis and work near Germantown. So it was a delight to read a novel so hyperlocal to my new surroundings.
That's what kept me reading through three books. By the third novel I found it impossible to like Lee Lee or her three friends. They thought it hilarious to get drunk in crowds (Elvis yearly candle lighting, the cookie swap) and make fun of people in front of their faces for the amusement of their friends. That isn't hilarious; it's repulsive behavior. By the end I couldn't cheer for Lee Lee nor get swept up in her fascination with her perceived female persecutors. And the two-dimensional portrayal of a black domestic who adores caring for her, her kids, and her parents, is interested in all details of Lee Lee's life, while having no outside life of her own I found unforgivable.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book ended the fun, quirky Dixie series. I enjoyed this series as an easy read. I grew to appreciate Leelee as the story progressed and found myself even rooting for by the end of this book. Although, she did give several moments I just rolled my eyes at her.

Peter is definitely a Yankee a Southern Belle could love.

I was hoping there would be another in this series, not because it's so riveting but rather to continue to be in touch with the characters and their lives. Did the cafe make it? Did Leelee and Peter make it and what else happened in their future? What ever came of Shirley and Helga?

The connection to characters even so that you hate to see their story end is a testament to a successful book.

I feel it necessary to admit, though, not all Southern Belles are represented by the characters of this book. Leelee's friends seem to be quite superficial worrying with what others think about them. Not all southern women live like this nor do we all fall into dependence of others simply because we are southern.

But, all in all, I enjoyed the series for the type of series it is...fun, quirky characters and an easy read.

[Susan Coster · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not exactly what I had in mind when I picked this up. If you are looking for a chick lit/fluff book set in the South, then this is it. It is light and fast reading. The characters and plot have no depth; it did not move me in any way and it did not explore the ways of the South as thoroughly as I thought. The gist of the story is this: LeeLee Satterfield and her two young daughters leave Vermont after being abandoned by her husband and return to their homeland, Memphis, to open a restaurant. The chef from Vermont, her love interest, follows her there and they open The Peach Blossom Inn only to learn that her nemesis back in Vermont has filed a lawsuit against her thus delaying the opening of the restaurant. Eventually, her roaming husband, Baker, sees the error of his ways and returns to Memphis to try and woo LeeLee back, but, alas, it is too late as she has fallen in love with Peter the Chef. The book touched lightly on the differences in Southern women, Southern hospitality, but not much else. Two stars. That's it. Sorry.

[Kalisa Hyman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this as much as the first one, but I liked it a lot more than the second one.

I've learned another pet peeve in fiction: When the characters fail to see something that is clearly so obvious and visible to the reader. Case in point, exhibit A: We all knew who sent the flowers. And exhibit B: We all knew that Pierre had the goods on the she-devils.

I realize this book was published in 2013 but there were some seriously cringey moments when you read it in 2020. Like the Dixie references. And the fact that she expected her boyfriend to do something when the creepy Ole Miss fan kept hitting on her at the tailgate - rather than just standing up for herself. And can we please not make someone's mental health crisis a comedic element?

A+ Memphis references in this one. Although I'm not sure why she uses Germantown and Central BBQ names but not the Davis-Kidd bookstore cafe's. Must be a legal thing.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed some of the "southern terminology" that I haven't heard for awhile. The story occurs primarily in Memphis. I worked in Memphis for two summers while in college. I enjoyed the use of streets and locales that I could picture. I also enjoyed the description of the rabid SEC football fans. Patton needs to check her French. As much as I hated French class in college, I can't believe that I observed word usage/spelling errors. There was another "science" error that I saw immediately. Finding science errors is a regular occurrence for me.

[Margo Lalli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute and easy read. Perfect for a day by the pool or lazy day. I thought it was better than the 1st and 2nd novel. I thought the 2nd novel wasn't necessary to read at all and if someone were to skip the second novel and go straight to this one, they wouldn't have any problems keeping up. The Southern stereotypes got old after a while, same with the North vs. South culture references Even after all she's been through, I really didn't feel that Leelee changed all that much.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

better of the three in the series.

[Westley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can't believe I bothered to finish this.

[Lorene Roseberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love it. Had a different ending that expected, but definitely enjoyed the read. Will recommend the whole series of leelee Satterfield abd her bunch to other's ♥️

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a Southern woman, I really wanted to love these books. The titles were what drew me to the series, but now, having read all three, I have to weigh in.
First, Leelee is not a good representation of Southern women. The instant she meets someone, she immediately begins to make a list of qualities (primarily external) that are negative.

Second, she has three friends who are all beautiful, and of course, none have any flaws the way everyone else does.

The third book was WAY too long, two reasons why.
First, she tells every single story from the first two again! Instead of three books, this could have been a stand-alone book for that reason. However, the author isn't even apparently a reader of her own work. Example: details change from the way they were first told.

Second, there are flashbacks to her life that I am guessing should add insight. One example that bugged me is a story of her making out with a boy and her lifelong family caretaker walks in & calls her Leelee Satterfield (her married name, not her maiden name). Ironically, I listened to the audio book and it was read by the author who apparently didn't catch it during the recording...

If I were rating the titles: 5 stars otherwise: 3 stars

[NATIVE TEXAN · Rating 2 out of 5]

Premise sounds promising and fun but it was spoiled by many little things. The four central wives-and-mothers acted like immature sorority girls. The Frenchman was too ignorant of English to have been in the States that long AND having worked in hospitality for many years. Riley's speech impediment was not consistent when the author was writing in Riley-speak. I managed to read the entirety but when I got to the final pages, I wanted to throw the book across the room... but I couldn't damage my Kindle. The name change was absurd! The building color is peach, interior is peach, and the gentle ambience begs to be named The Peach Blossom Cafe. Worse yet is that the quaint, intimate, elegant French restaurant now has a Moose head hanging in a prominent place. Everything she has worked so hard to achieve is now flushed down the toilet by such a crass, Redneck, disgusting object. My takeaway was being thrilled that I went to college way south of Ole Miss and State, the University of Southern Mississippi.

[Amorette · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fiction written in first person asks us to empathize with the narrating character, to occupy their headspace. By the third book of this steadily declining series, this character and her snobbish friends have surpassed annoying and landed on downright contemptible. First book was a kind of cute fish-out-of-water story. The second book moves the character back Memphis, where she and her catty overgrown sorority girl friends are entitled, immature, and self-absorbed. I was able to give the second book three stars only because I was rooting for our protagonist to fail. By book three, these phony shrews and their constant berating of the good people who serve them is unbearable. This protagonist is a cliche Southern Belle - victim-playing phony lobbing sugar-coated insults, seeing every person as a tool to serve her self-aggrandized beauty and privilege. Ick.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book about LeeLee, a southern girl and mom through and through. Now that her marriage is over she is back in Memphis, almost ready to open her Peach Blossom Inn. Her chef is the gorgeous Peter who has just professed his love to LeeLee. But in the few months he's been in Tennessee, it's become apparent that his direct northern ways and LeeLee's genteel manners could be heading for an impasse. I've enjoyed all Lisa Patton's stories even though the only Southern in me is my love for really good shrimp (and I do like cheesy grits). Patton's warmth and the humorous take on life's crises make me think of Lorna Landvik.

[Sandra Mistretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the last of the Whistlin' Dixie trilogy. I enjoyed getting to know Kissie, Leelee's surrogate mother and family housekeeper. Leelee realized that she had been self centered while she was growing up and never tried to know Kissie, even though she loved her.

Kissie revealed that her mother died around the same time as Leelee's mother. Leelee didn't even know. Leelee and her girls visited Kissie's church and gained an appreciation for her position in the church and the congregant's sincerity.

I understand Leelee's difficulty with confrontation. I am exactly the same and I have also been accused of not speaking out. Having lived in the south for most of my life after growing up in Minnesota, I could relate to some cultural differences between northerners and southerners.

I have been to some Ole Miss football games and I remember being amazed at seeing female fans wearing huge lacy collars, elaborate hairstyles, and high heels at a football game! The tailgating was just full of alumni. I had never seen anything like it!

The ending of the story was just as expected. Wonderful and heartwarming.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 3 in the series is a bit of a disappointment because it seems like a recap of book 1. Also, I feel like some of the issues were left unresolved. Leelee and her girlfriends are up to a few humorous antics again. I liked the description of the Pampered Chef Christmas cookie exchange. Leelee is forced to go through some challenging times. Also, the author points out the cultural differences between the north and the south. Having lived in both areas, I was aware of these, but some people are not. After reading about Lisa Patton, I think this series is autobiographical.

[Dona R. Gant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Third time may not be a charm.....

I enjoyed the first book and found so many truths about being raised in the South yo be in there. The story was catching and so believable. The second book was enjoyable although the repeating of many of the first book’s story line was tedious. I knew where the story would end up, but I like to finish a series, but I did breeze over much of the third book where it was a repeat of book one and book 2.
There were aspects of the third book which were unexpected and I enjoyed as they added to the story.

[Judi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Dixie series. I read the first two some time ago and when I piked this one up, it fell right into place.
The characters in this/these books are real with no game playing. I enjoyed each and every one of them.
The Christmas Cookie Swap was a hoot!
This book, to me, could have been a stand alone read but I am glad it followed the two before it. The story is fun and keeps you interested.
Thank you, Lisa Patton, for sharing your talent with us all.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Lisa Patton's writing and enjoyed this trilogy. I think she just ran out of enough story to make this 3rd book robust and interesting. I also suspect that since this part of the three-part story takes place entirely in the south, the dialogue between the characters seemed a little more cliche and not as clever. Therefore I gave it only three stars because it wasn't a strong novel, but it is a good book and I do recommend it.

[Emily Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dont know what it was about this series that I loved so much, but it really sucked me in. I found that I couldn't wait to find time to read again and find out more about the characters even at the end of the third book, which I read all in a row. I wasn't tired of them at all. My favorite characters were her group of freinds: Virginia, Alice and Mary Jule. I would definitely read a book all about them! Their classic southern style and attitudes were so enchanting, I just want more! Though, everyone was interesting and came together to create a fun setting for LeeLee's story. I could only wish to have a cast like that in my life. I liked how LeeLee's character developed from the complaint wife who was walked all over to an independent bad ass single mom. I feel connected to single mom characters because I am a single mom as well, so I love seeing them do well in life. Though, it would be a lot easier with the type of support LeeLee has. She goes out all the time for fun outings with her freinds (who are also all moms). I don't remember the last time I went out for fun, especially without feeling guilty about it. That just makes her life more attractive to me. In conclusion, I really loved this series as a fun break from my current, midwestern life and would easily read it again.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not much to recommend this one. It was a simple read with not very charming characters or interesting story line. I had no sympathy for the main character Leelee, moving back home after being abandoned by her husband up north. She was just dull and lacked back bone. The characterization of stereotype southernism left a bad taste, there was nothing endearing about anybody that made me want to cheer for them.

[Mary Swenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite character, hands down, was Kissie. Her committment, love, strength, loyalty and all was incredible. I believe that there were many like her back in the day. I don't know how I feel about it because I feel that maybe they felt they had to? I just simply don't know.

The whole slavery history is so dark and awful.

I hope that Kissie and the others that followed similar paths were happy. And that they were treasured and adored.

[Brenda Fox · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh GAWD! I'll just put it right out there. I thought this book was terrible! 80% was spent rehashing the first 2 books (which were better, but not memorable) of the series. By the end I couldn't stand the main character, Leelee. or her group of friends. Such a phony, gossiping, stuck-up bunch they were. So boring!
Imo this series would've been better (still not anything I'd EVER recommend) if the 3rd book was never added. Ugh!

[Karen Manuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is in a series, with the first being, "Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter."
Having survived her time running an inn in Vermont, Leelee Satterfield is back home in the South. Opening up her restaurant in Memphis is harder than Leelee Satterfield anticipated. Her three unpredictable bests friends are involved in helping her. This is an enduring and chuckle-inducing story.

[PJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the final book in the Dixie Series. If I would recommend this series, I would definately tell the reader to skip the second book. Number 1 and 3 flow and are really cute. The character moves back to Memphis and starts a restaurant. Beloved characters from the first book reappear. Cute ending. I do have to say I listened to it on Audible and the male character voices sounded awkward.