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In Dixie #1
Magic In Dixie
“ Honey, there are secrets in this town for sure but I couldn’t believe there were so many-- all buried in one family. And of all places to start digging them up—a funeral.”
~Vivi McFadden Heart
Full Description:
“I was born into a house full of secrets and bad behavior.”
Rhonda Cartwright Bently is having the most important moment of her life. She has finally been asked to help cater the Governor’s ball at the Emmy Awards in LA— But before the big day she has to get home to Tuscaloosa, Alabama and bury her estranged father. What she discovers in the aftermath of the funeral turns her life upside down in a matter of seconds.
A gift from her father from the grave—a dilapidated southern mansion with an old trunk full of family secrets, will transform Rhonda’s life in an instant and make her question everything she’s ever believed about her family and herself. And then there’s that list--the one she made about her dream man when she was just a teenager. Her perfect love may be right here under her nose, but for Rhonda this is one last complication she could do without. She intended to get home, bury Daddy, sell that dilapidated monstrosity and get back to LA, as fast as she could. But plans never quite work out just as we hope.
Rhonda will have to call on her old BFF’s, Blake and Vivi, to help solve the family mystery. But what those original Sassy Belles finally create out of that pile of dust could change Rhonda’s life for good, make her Hollywood dreams fade to black, and maybe even help her uncover her heart right where she left it—in Dixie. But sometimes things aren’t as they seem. And people aren’t always who we think they are.
Beth Albright is at her southern best with this new series of sexy romance, laugh out loud comedy, and edge-of-your-seat mystery—exactly what we have come to love in the Beth Albright brand! So grab your girlfriends and put on your seatbelts for this one-- an exciting, unpredictable joy ride though the Deep South that will keep you guessing until the final shocking pages.
~Vivi McFadden Heart
Full Description:
“I was born into a house full of secrets and bad behavior.”
Rhonda Cartwright Bently is having the most important moment of her life. She has finally been asked to help cater the Governor’s ball at the Emmy Awards in LA— But before the big day she has to get home to Tuscaloosa, Alabama and bury her estranged father. What she discovers in the aftermath of the funeral turns her life upside down in a matter of seconds.
A gift from her father from the grave—a dilapidated southern mansion with an old trunk full of family secrets, will transform Rhonda’s life in an instant and make her question everything she’s ever believed about her family and herself. And then there’s that list--the one she made about her dream man when she was just a teenager. Her perfect love may be right here under her nose, but for Rhonda this is one last complication she could do without. She intended to get home, bury Daddy, sell that dilapidated monstrosity and get back to LA, as fast as she could. But plans never quite work out just as we hope.
Rhonda will have to call on her old BFF’s, Blake and Vivi, to help solve the family mystery. But what those original Sassy Belles finally create out of that pile of dust could change Rhonda’s life for good, make her Hollywood dreams fade to black, and maybe even help her uncover her heart right where she left it—in Dixie. But sometimes things aren’t as they seem. And people aren’t always who we think they are.
Beth Albright is at her southern best with this new series of sexy romance, laugh out loud comedy, and edge-of-your-seat mystery—exactly what we have come to love in the Beth Albright brand! So grab your girlfriends and put on your seatbelts for this one-- an exciting, unpredictable joy ride though the Deep South that will keep you guessing until the final shocking pages.
302 pages, Paperback
First published June 11, 2014
17 people are currently reading
488 people want to read
About the author
Beth Albright
19 books181 followersBeth Albright is a Tuscaloosa native, former Days of Our Lives actress, and former radio and TV talk show host. She is a graduate of the University of Alabama School of Journalism. She is also a screenwriter, voice-over artist and mother. She is married to her college sweetheart, Ted and mother to brilliant college student, Brooks. A perpetually homesick Southern Belle and a major Alabama Crimson Tide fan, she splits her time between San Francisco and, of course, Tuscaloosa.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 18, 2025
What a fun book! Reading the book made me want to move to the South and live in an old Southern style home drinking sweet. No matter where you move to and make a living, there is nothing like going home to be with family. Sweet story and wonderful read.
May 30, 2017
I. loved this book. can't wait to read the next book in the series.
October 13, 2016
A really fun spin off from the Sassy series. Laugh out loud parts and visits with old friends make this an enjoyable read. Looking forward to the next books in the series.
April 10, 2016
Southern romance at its finest! Beth did not disappoint. I fell in love with the southern romance from page one!
A southern romance without a few deep seated secrets just isn't southern at all!
Rhonda grew up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She loved her home town but she always wanted to make her escape and start fresh. Well she met her now ex-husband and she had her wish. They ran away to LA and were ready to start a family. When that dream fell apart, Rhonda had started her own life in LA, single with no intentions of returning to her southern roots.
She as finally making a name for her self in LA - even though she didn't have a store front or barely any money to her name - he company Southern Comforts was just asked to cater the Governor's Ball for the Emmy Awards! This was her chance!
An then she got the call. Her daddy had passed and she needed to return to Alabama. She packed for a few days and planned to fly in and fly out again with a very short turn around time.
What happens at her fathers will reading changes her life forever. She will inherit the family home, Granny Cartright's home to be exact. It didn't seem all that bad till her realized the house was literally falling apart and there were back taxes on the property that she could not afford.
There are so many twist and turns, you will be unable to put this book down! Mysterious family happenings, a handsome boy returns from the past, best friends helping in anyway they can and of course Roll Tide football at its finest!
So sit back, grab some Sweet Tea or in my case a bottle of wine and enjoy this wild and crazy ride!
A southern romance without a few deep seated secrets just isn't southern at all!
Rhonda grew up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She loved her home town but she always wanted to make her escape and start fresh. Well she met her now ex-husband and she had her wish. They ran away to LA and were ready to start a family. When that dream fell apart, Rhonda had started her own life in LA, single with no intentions of returning to her southern roots.
She as finally making a name for her self in LA - even though she didn't have a store front or barely any money to her name - he company Southern Comforts was just asked to cater the Governor's Ball for the Emmy Awards! This was her chance!
An then she got the call. Her daddy had passed and she needed to return to Alabama. She packed for a few days and planned to fly in and fly out again with a very short turn around time.
What happens at her fathers will reading changes her life forever. She will inherit the family home, Granny Cartright's home to be exact. It didn't seem all that bad till her realized the house was literally falling apart and there were back taxes on the property that she could not afford.
There are so many twist and turns, you will be unable to put this book down! Mysterious family happenings, a handsome boy returns from the past, best friends helping in anyway they can and of course Roll Tide football at its finest!
So sit back, grab some Sweet Tea or in my case a bottle of wine and enjoy this wild and crazy ride!
April 13, 2016
This book grabbed me from page 1 and pulled me right inside. I felt like I was a part of the story and I am surprised I am not speaking with a Southern accent.
This is Rhonda's story and what a story she has to tell. She left her hometown many years ago for LA and had not been back very often, but is called home when her father passes. She inherits the old homestead that is falling down around her, she just wants to sell it and get the heck out of town. Of course life has other plans for her. Rhonda reconnects with old friends as she tries to repair the house and unravel some mysteries surrounded her mom.
I love that we get revisit some of the characters from the Sassy Belles books and meet some new people that we are now dying to know their stories as well.
This book made me feel a variety of emotions, I cried, I sighed, I laughed out loud (you know the snorting kind,) and cheered Rhonda on to get her HEA.
I recommend this book if you are looking for a feel good book that will suck you into the story and warm you heart. I truly felt like I was one of the characters and I could taste and smell all the wonderful Southern things in this book even though I have never been to Alabama!
This is Rhonda's story and what a story she has to tell. She left her hometown many years ago for LA and had not been back very often, but is called home when her father passes. She inherits the old homestead that is falling down around her, she just wants to sell it and get the heck out of town. Of course life has other plans for her. Rhonda reconnects with old friends as she tries to repair the house and unravel some mysteries surrounded her mom.
I love that we get revisit some of the characters from the Sassy Belles books and meet some new people that we are now dying to know their stories as well.
This book made me feel a variety of emotions, I cried, I sighed, I laughed out loud (you know the snorting kind,) and cheered Rhonda on to get her HEA.
I recommend this book if you are looking for a feel good book that will suck you into the story and warm you heart. I truly felt like I was one of the characters and I could taste and smell all the wonderful Southern things in this book even though I have never been to Alabama!
August 20, 2014
I'm a huge fan of Beth Albright's "Sassy Belles" series, and was delighted to find she is continuing the stories of smart and sassy gals from the South! "Magic in Dixie" is a wonderful story of friendship at it's best - girlfriends who stick together can always figure out the most daunting problems, and this is the case in this tale.
Beth takes her readers right into the heart of Dixie with her storytelling and it is always a delight to pick up one of her novels. "Magic in Dixie" can be read as a stand-alone novel, but treat yourself to the entire "Sassy" experience and pick up the previous three novels as well. I took this book on vacation with me, and it just so happens we were in the region of Alabama that this story is set in - and I guarantee that Beth has the entire Southern experience down pat in her stories! You can almost feel the heat and hear the sweet, soft accents as you read.
I highly recommend this book, and any and everything Beth Albright writes!
Beth takes her readers right into the heart of Dixie with her storytelling and it is always a delight to pick up one of her novels. "Magic in Dixie" can be read as a stand-alone novel, but treat yourself to the entire "Sassy" experience and pick up the previous three novels as well. I took this book on vacation with me, and it just so happens we were in the region of Alabama that this story is set in - and I guarantee that Beth has the entire Southern experience down pat in her stories! You can almost feel the heat and hear the sweet, soft accents as you read.
I highly recommend this book, and any and everything Beth Albright writes!
March 27, 2017
I loved it! This book has the background details on Rhonda and her mansion. It explains how she got it and her struggles to keep it. As an aspiring chef in Los Angelos, Rhonda makes, what she thinks is going to be, a quick trip back to her home town. Of course things never go as planned and she finds herself in the middle of a family drama. Will her friends or first love be able to convince her to stay?
July 4, 2015
I have discovered another "southern" writer. It's a light hearted, easy read. Girl gets into stuff that sounds like something that would only happen to you but it all works out cause she has her family and friends at her side. The only down side (if there is one) is that this writer is 100% a Bama fan! Lol Story is set is Tuscaloosa and she makes references to good ol' U of A. That's ok. This War Eagle girl loves her story-telling ability and can't wait to read more!
February 4, 2017
This was a sweet southern romance novel with some quirky and very funny incidents thrown in. My only complaint was the angst-ridden mental roundabouts in Rhonda's head. She took an awfully long time to realize what she really wanted and hemmed and hawed too much. Finally she got to the point and her problems were resolved. Light reading.
September 13, 2014
This was a lovely book about southern women. It brought back a lot of memories for me since I grow up in the south. I really love all the characters this was a beautifully written romances novel. I recommend this book to everyone who likes a good romance. I won this book on Goodreads Thank you.
May 6, 2016
I think I Grew Up With These people!
I think I grew up with these characters. Ms Albright certainly speaks with the voice from the South. Looking forward to reading more of her books!
I think I grew up with these characters. Ms Albright certainly speaks with the voice from the South. Looking forward to reading more of her books!
August 24, 2014
Albright does it again!
I love reading Beth Albrights books! She makes me laugh,fall in love & make me proud to to be southern!
I love reading Beth Albrights books! She makes me laugh,fall in love & make me proud to to be southern!
September 24, 2016
Poor storyline
Too many moving parts and unexplained situations to be truly engaging. Inconsistent sentence structure. I wanted to like this story .
Too many moving parts and unexplained situations to be truly engaging. Inconsistent sentence structure. I wanted to like this story .
June 3, 2016
Sweet as Southern Sweet Tea!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews