What do you think?
Rate this book
Sweet Home Carolina
Jaxie Parker is a sexy, savvy advertising executive content to savor Atlanta's nightlife in expensive suits, sipping martinis and gossiping with her best friend. She is enjoying life in the fast lane when, all of a sudden, she's put in charge of her firm's annual pro bono project.
Her to devise a plan for revitalizing the coastal town of Rumton, South Carolina. Years of declining population, lack of industry, and a poor economy threaten to leave Rumton broke and hopeless. But Jaxie doesn't "do" small towns, much less know how to pull off saving one.
She arrives in Rumton to discover that the lack of shopping and day spas is the least of her worries. There isn't even a hotel, and she must bunk down with an old man named Pop in an even older house. Determined to succeed---if only to get back home as quickly as possible---Jaxie sets out to meet the townsfolk and work on a plan.
Just when she decides that Rumton is dreadfully uneventful---and her coworker is painfully boring---things heat up pretty quickly. It turns out that there is an interesting man beneath his ever-present suit and tie, after all. And there is much more to Rumton than meets the eye.
A charismatic businessman arrives on the scene offering to buy up land---a development that Jaxie feels is too coincidental. A town resident is murdered, an intriguing history of piracy is uncovered, and a massive storm brews offshore. Although Jaxie is surrounded by danger, she hunkers down to complete the assignment she started, and in the process, she learns a thing or two about life and love.
Advance Praise for T. Lynn Ocean and Sweet Home Carolina
"City girl meets small town in T. Lynn Ocean's captivating Sweet Home Carolina . Sassy, sexy, sunny, and sure to please."
---Carolyn Hart, author of Dead Days of Summer
"A sassy city girl who's allergic to small towns suddenly finds herself living and working in one, the perfect setup for a great story. Jaxie Parker's adventures and misadventures make this a hilarious and highly entertaining book not to be missed!"
---Cassandra King, author of The Same Sweet Girls
"Take one sophisticated ad executive, drop her in the middle of a small Southern town, and get ready for surprises galore. Sweet Home Carolina mixes memorable characters, great humor, small-town Southern culture, history, and mystery for a delightful romp of a read."
---Emyl Jenkins author of Stealing with Style
"T. Lynn Ocean's novels give us characters to root for and laugh with. In Sweet Home Carolina, it's the spunky and intelligent Jaxie Parker who rethinks her career path after pushing a strappy Cole Haan sandal into a pile of horse dung, in the middle of a town that's in the middle of nowhere.… A fun and entertaining read."
---Susan Reinhardt, author of Not Tonight, Honey, Wait 'Til I'm a Size 6
Her to devise a plan for revitalizing the coastal town of Rumton, South Carolina. Years of declining population, lack of industry, and a poor economy threaten to leave Rumton broke and hopeless. But Jaxie doesn't "do" small towns, much less know how to pull off saving one.
She arrives in Rumton to discover that the lack of shopping and day spas is the least of her worries. There isn't even a hotel, and she must bunk down with an old man named Pop in an even older house. Determined to succeed---if only to get back home as quickly as possible---Jaxie sets out to meet the townsfolk and work on a plan.
Just when she decides that Rumton is dreadfully uneventful---and her coworker is painfully boring---things heat up pretty quickly. It turns out that there is an interesting man beneath his ever-present suit and tie, after all. And there is much more to Rumton than meets the eye.
A charismatic businessman arrives on the scene offering to buy up land---a development that Jaxie feels is too coincidental. A town resident is murdered, an intriguing history of piracy is uncovered, and a massive storm brews offshore. Although Jaxie is surrounded by danger, she hunkers down to complete the assignment she started, and in the process, she learns a thing or two about life and love.
Advance Praise for T. Lynn Ocean and Sweet Home Carolina
"City girl meets small town in T. Lynn Ocean's captivating Sweet Home Carolina . Sassy, sexy, sunny, and sure to please."
---Carolyn Hart, author of Dead Days of Summer
"A sassy city girl who's allergic to small towns suddenly finds herself living and working in one, the perfect setup for a great story. Jaxie Parker's adventures and misadventures make this a hilarious and highly entertaining book not to be missed!"
---Cassandra King, author of The Same Sweet Girls
"Take one sophisticated ad executive, drop her in the middle of a small Southern town, and get ready for surprises galore. Sweet Home Carolina mixes memorable characters, great humor, small-town Southern culture, history, and mystery for a delightful romp of a read."
---Emyl Jenkins author of Stealing with Style
"T. Lynn Ocean's novels give us characters to root for and laugh with. In Sweet Home Carolina, it's the spunky and intelligent Jaxie Parker who rethinks her career path after pushing a strappy Cole Haan sandal into a pile of horse dung, in the middle of a town that's in the middle of nowhere.… A fun and entertaining read."
---Susan Reinhardt, author of Not Tonight, Honey, Wait 'Til I'm a Size 6
272 pages, Hardcover
First published May 16, 2006
About the author
T. Lynn Ocean
10 books40 followersT. Lynn Ocean was first published in the 'North Myrtle Beach Times' (a small town weekly) but only after getting on one knee to beg the editor and offering to write for free. That was in 1995 and T. Lynn wrote the 'Humor Me' column for a year.
She went on to write freelance for various magazines and newspapers but her passion has always been fiction. Her first book, 'Fool Me Once', was published by St. Martin's Press in 2005. The best thing about writing fiction, T. Lynn will tell you, is that you get to make everything up. (Although some would argue that much of what they read in the newspaper is pure fiction, too.)
Between extended visits with her computer keyboard, she enjoys impromptu road trips (in the name of research, of course), brainstorming with friends, and eating great food anywhere with a view.
An outdoor enthusiast, T. Lynn Ocean lives in Little River, SC, with her husband and a few furry critters.
She went on to write freelance for various magazines and newspapers but her passion has always been fiction. Her first book, 'Fool Me Once', was published by St. Martin's Press in 2005. The best thing about writing fiction, T. Lynn will tell you, is that you get to make everything up. (Although some would argue that much of what they read in the newspaper is pure fiction, too.)
Between extended visits with her computer keyboard, she enjoys impromptu road trips (in the name of research, of course), brainstorming with friends, and eating great food anywhere with a view.
An outdoor enthusiast, T. Lynn Ocean lives in Little River, SC, with her husband and a few furry critters.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 31, 2020
Great characters, interesting setting. A story that I was happy to immerse myself in during these Coronavirus times.
February 26, 2017
Quick, fun weekend read for a Southern girl! Mystery in a small town with a bit of romance.
June 14, 2021
This is an interesting read. The story is just perfect for reading when the weather is just too hot to go outside.
January 10, 2009
Okay, so it's a little bit like Devil Wears Prada meets Walking Across Egypt-- resident chick lit PR/ad person gets plunked down in the middle of a folksy town with quirky characters. But it works it it's own way. Unfortunately for me, I spent half the time I was reading the book trying to figure out where on the Carolina coast the author was imagining Rumton to be.
This is an Advanced Readers copy that somehow found its way to my bookshelf, and I shall pass it on at the Convention.
From the Publisher
Jaxie Parker is a sexy, savvy advertising executive content to savor Atlanta's nightlife in expensive suits, sipping martinis and gossiping with her best friend. She is enjoying life in the fast lane when, all of a sudden, she's put in charge of her firm's annual pro bono project.
Her assignment: to devise a plan for revitalizing the coastal town of Rumton, South Carolina. Years of declining population, lack of industry, and a poor economy threaten to leave Rumton broke and hopeless. But Jaxie doesn't "do" small towns, much less know how to pull off saving one.
She arrives in Rumton to discover that the lack of shopping and day spas is the least of her worries. There isn't even a hotel, and she must bunk down with an old man named Pop in an even older house. Determined to succeed--if only to get back home as quickly as possible--Jaxie sets out to meet the townsfolk and work on a plan.
Just when she decides that Rumton is dreadfully uneventful--and her coworker is painfully boring--things heat up pretty quickly. It turns out that there is an interesting man beneath his ever-present suit and tie, after all. And there is much more to Rumton than meets the eye.
A charismatic businessman arrives on the scene offering to buy up land--a development that Jaxie feels is too coincidental. A town resident is murdered, an intriguing history of piracy is uncovered, and a massive storm brews offshore. Although Jaxie is surrounded by danger, she hunkers down to complete the assignment she started, and in the process, she learns a thing or two about life and love.
This is an Advanced Readers copy that somehow found its way to my bookshelf, and I shall pass it on at the Convention.
From the Publisher
Jaxie Parker is a sexy, savvy advertising executive content to savor Atlanta's nightlife in expensive suits, sipping martinis and gossiping with her best friend. She is enjoying life in the fast lane when, all of a sudden, she's put in charge of her firm's annual pro bono project.
Her assignment: to devise a plan for revitalizing the coastal town of Rumton, South Carolina. Years of declining population, lack of industry, and a poor economy threaten to leave Rumton broke and hopeless. But Jaxie doesn't "do" small towns, much less know how to pull off saving one.
She arrives in Rumton to discover that the lack of shopping and day spas is the least of her worries. There isn't even a hotel, and she must bunk down with an old man named Pop in an even older house. Determined to succeed--if only to get back home as quickly as possible--Jaxie sets out to meet the townsfolk and work on a plan.
Just when she decides that Rumton is dreadfully uneventful--and her coworker is painfully boring--things heat up pretty quickly. It turns out that there is an interesting man beneath his ever-present suit and tie, after all. And there is much more to Rumton than meets the eye.
A charismatic businessman arrives on the scene offering to buy up land--a development that Jaxie feels is too coincidental. A town resident is murdered, an intriguing history of piracy is uncovered, and a massive storm brews offshore. Although Jaxie is surrounded by danger, she hunkers down to complete the assignment she started, and in the process, she learns a thing or two about life and love.
September 3, 2009
Although a good bit different from the other T. Lynn Ocean books I've read, there was still some mystery and suspense involved. I knew this was more of an indulgent chick-lit novel than a mystery, so there was no disappointment there.
Jaxie Parker is a lively, fun and highly intelligent character. Although she protests her temporary relocation to the small South Carolina town of Rumton, she learns to love not just the small town life, but it's quirky residents. Jaxie becomes to attached that she refuses to back down from defending them, and soon starts to consider Rumton home herself.
Jaxie Parker is a lively, fun and highly intelligent character. Although she protests her temporary relocation to the small South Carolina town of Rumton, she learns to love not just the small town life, but it's quirky residents. Jaxie becomes to attached that she refuses to back down from defending them, and soon starts to consider Rumton home herself.
October 5, 2009
A "beach-read" novel about a small beach town in SC, and the quirky people of the town. Big-town girl, Jaxie Parker goes to Rumton with the assignment to revitilize the town. Jaxie, not only learns to love the town, but is able to pump life into the dying town. The story is a Southern novel novel, without the hard core crime and violence. The story makes one hope to find a Rumton in which to live. Not all the characters are well-developed, but the setting is good. The plot could be better.
December 1, 2011
So this was book 200 this year for me.
A cute story, a fast read. A heroine with an obnoxious name "Jaxie" (I spent the whole book wondering if it was supposed to be Jackie or actually Jax-E). Sent to a small town to do good. Surprisingly un-preachy about the whole thing, which was refreshing for a book set in the South.
A cute story, a fast read. A heroine with an obnoxious name "Jaxie" (I spent the whole book wondering if it was supposed to be Jackie or actually Jax-E). Sent to a small town to do good. Surprisingly un-preachy about the whole thing, which was refreshing for a book set in the South.
July 30, 2014
In Sweet Home Carolina, Jaxie Parker rethinks her career path after pushing a Cole Haan sandal into a pile of horse dung, in the middle of a town that's in the middle of nowhere. So starts a so so novel that hints lightly of the south.
December 7, 2008
cute quick story. Likeable characters. An ok book for a quick vacation read.
June 15, 2009
City girl Jaxie is sent to the small town of Rumton to try to revitalize it. She meets crazy locals and stuff happens. Not a very good book, but could make a great chic flic.
August 27, 2009
Found it very enjoyable and super easy read...finished in two days!
July 9, 2011
Easy read and worth the little time required to read it.
December 23, 2012
Oh brother, this was not enjoyable for me. I was irritated by everyone in this story.
August 7, 2015
Didn't want to finish reading. Started strong and then became predictable.
December 30, 2014
A very sweet story
April 17, 2017
Cute book. In the vein of Mary Kay Andrews. Great characters, good pacing; I didn't even have my usual Act II drag. I'd definitely check out her other books!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews