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Apple Cart County Christmas #1
Christmas in Dixie
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation meets Sweet Home Alabama when Christmas goes south in this redneck romantic comedy.
I really want a ring before subjecting Collins to my redneck relatives. So I’m relieved when he has to work over the holidays.
All I want is a low-key Christmas in Alabama with my family. Well, that and the snow I believe is coming. My perfect holiday is ruined the moment Collins shows up in my mama’s kitchen … escorted by my county sheriff ex-boyfriend.
I can honestly say I haven’t been this surprised since my cousin went to jail.
Collins might be a successful surgeon in Atlanta, but I doubt he can last a few days in the small town of Wisteria, Alabama. However, if our love can withstand my gun-slinging, hog-killing family, then I’m sure we’re destined to be together.
We just have to make it through Christmas.
I really want a ring before subjecting Collins to my redneck relatives. So I’m relieved when he has to work over the holidays.
All I want is a low-key Christmas in Alabama with my family. Well, that and the snow I believe is coming. My perfect holiday is ruined the moment Collins shows up in my mama’s kitchen … escorted by my county sheriff ex-boyfriend.
I can honestly say I haven’t been this surprised since my cousin went to jail.
Collins might be a successful surgeon in Atlanta, but I doubt he can last a few days in the small town of Wisteria, Alabama. However, if our love can withstand my gun-slinging, hog-killing family, then I’m sure we’re destined to be together.
We just have to make it through Christmas.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2021
323 people are currently reading
427 people want to read
About the author
Kaci Lane
26 books269 followersKaci Lane is an Alabama girl whose mission in life is to write stories that relate to real-life issues with a bit of comic relief. While unsuccessfully trying to learn Spanish for a decade, she has become fluent in Sarcasm, Southern Belle and movie quotes. She is married to a true Southern gentleman and has two young children, all of which help keep her humility in check.
With a background and degree in journalism, Kaci has written almost everything about anything. Well, except for topics that would make any good Southern Baptist’s face turn the color of a Crimson Tide football jersey.
If you want to learn more about Kaci and fun, behind the scenes of her writing, sign up for her newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/v3v3p5.
With a background and degree in journalism, Kaci has written almost everything about anything. Well, except for topics that would make any good Southern Baptist’s face turn the color of a Crimson Tide football jersey.
If you want to learn more about Kaci and fun, behind the scenes of her writing, sign up for her newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/v3v3p5.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
December 1, 2025
This was such a delightful romp indeed! I found it quite amusing and even many times I laughed until I had tears with my own warped sense of humour....The adventures and droll comments from the crew in Alabama....such a hoot :) I love their Southern style with such a laid back way it seems..... I chuckled at the part where the wild boar was given a name even as the dog wasn't allowed in the same field until this same boar named "Myrtle was meat". The dog was kept inside the house "as the mutt down the road was in heat....again". A wholesome and fun read with some spiritual/Christian aspects interwoven so I am certainly able to recommend this for anyone who would like an amusing chic lit/rom com :D I will gladly read another by this author when in the mood for a pleasant read.
December 12, 2022
This book. Y'all I laughed so many times reading this. It was such a great redneck Christmas read. I loved that this book is different than most Christmas books in that we aren't seeing the two MC's fall in love. Lacie and Collins have been together for about a year. Collins is ready to take the next step and propose. But first, he wants to meet Lacie's family and ask her father. What follows is hilarious insanity in the small, backwoods town.
I can't wait to read more from this author!
I can't wait to read more from this author!
December 9, 2021
Great Christmas Read! If you enjoy Christmas stories from the Hallmark channel, this is perfect. Laci Sanderson and her boyfriend Collins O'Conner, a city boy, visit Laci's pure southern family. The nervousness Collins' goes through on top of trying to impress Laci's family is hilarious. Laci's family is delightful; guns, big boys and Bully (the dog :)). The misadventures for Collin never end. This reminds me of Meet the Parents meets Southern boys at Christmas. The writing is wonderful, it's a smooth, sweet love story.
November 10, 2021
Oh my gosh! This story was just so adorable. No matter how much we all love our families, we know that the holidays bring out the best and worst in them. This book puts all aspects of that sentiment on display. Lacie loves her family, but she knows that calling them “eccentric” barely scratches the surface. Collins adores Lacie and knows how much her family means to her. However, he’s in no way prepared for the levels of crazy he’s about to encounter when he tries to surprise her with a Christmas engagement. I laughed. I winced. I cringed. There are some sneaky little truths in this story that creep up while you’re laughing. Things like the value of love, family, and community, growth and forgiveness, and the importance of getting the whole story. I had so much fun with these characters that I’m kind of sad to let them go now.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through Booksprout.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through Booksprout.
October 28, 2021
This book was hilarious! I've never laughed so hard while reading a book. This is a sweet romance that the author brings to life with her words, it played out like a movie in my mind. It will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. I loved it and highly recommend it.
January 1, 2023
4/5 stars
I received a free copy of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a fun and amusing Christmas read! It's a short, sweet romance about a redneck family Christmas where plenty of things go wrong for an unsuspecting boyfriend who's just trying to propose.
When Lacie's boyfriend surprises her by showing up at her family Christmas, she's not as enthusiastic about it as he expected. She never told him about her redneck family and had planned on keeping it that way. Meanwhile, Collins is determined to propose to her and wants to get close to her family first. However, nothing goes right for the couple, and chaos seems to follow them everywhere.
This book has quite the cast of characters! Lacie has a large, quirky family, and all of her and Collins's interactions with them were hilarious. The town itself is a small, southern town in the middle of nowhere with plenty of unique characters as well. The redneck/southern vibes were well-written, and I think this book makes for a pretty entertaining Christmas read!
There were a few tropes that I didn't really care for, but I was still able to enjoy the story overall. I'd suggest this book if you're looking for a quick, fun Christmas read, especially if you're from the south/a small town!
I received a free copy of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a fun and amusing Christmas read! It's a short, sweet romance about a redneck family Christmas where plenty of things go wrong for an unsuspecting boyfriend who's just trying to propose.
When Lacie's boyfriend surprises her by showing up at her family Christmas, she's not as enthusiastic about it as he expected. She never told him about her redneck family and had planned on keeping it that way. Meanwhile, Collins is determined to propose to her and wants to get close to her family first. However, nothing goes right for the couple, and chaos seems to follow them everywhere.
This book has quite the cast of characters! Lacie has a large, quirky family, and all of her and Collins's interactions with them were hilarious. The town itself is a small, southern town in the middle of nowhere with plenty of unique characters as well. The redneck/southern vibes were well-written, and I think this book makes for a pretty entertaining Christmas read!
There were a few tropes that I didn't really care for, but I was still able to enjoy the story overall. I'd suggest this book if you're looking for a quick, fun Christmas read, especially if you're from the south/a small town!
December 29, 2021
This one is so much fun, y’all 😁
If you enjoy Southern fiction pick this one up. I have laughed til I’ve cried at all the accurate depictions of rural southern life 😂
Lacie is a weather girl from rural Alabama living in Atlanta. She is in love with Collins, a general surgeon that she’s been dating for a year. Collins plans to propose on Christmas Eve and surprises Lacie by showing up at her parent’s house while she’s there visiting for the holiday. He’s never met her family before and he is quickly introduced to rural southern life and Lacie’s eccentric family.
I couldn’t get enough of G-Maw and her sweet tea, the Piggly Wiggly and Dollar General references and all the other southernisms that Kaci Lane absolutely nailed 🤣 The cast of characters is a bunch I’d say I’ll miss but I can assure you I’ve got them all in my family already 😅
4/5 ⭐️ - I liked it and it made me LOL!
If you enjoy Southern fiction pick this one up. I have laughed til I’ve cried at all the accurate depictions of rural southern life 😂
Lacie is a weather girl from rural Alabama living in Atlanta. She is in love with Collins, a general surgeon that she’s been dating for a year. Collins plans to propose on Christmas Eve and surprises Lacie by showing up at her parent’s house while she’s there visiting for the holiday. He’s never met her family before and he is quickly introduced to rural southern life and Lacie’s eccentric family.
I couldn’t get enough of G-Maw and her sweet tea, the Piggly Wiggly and Dollar General references and all the other southernisms that Kaci Lane absolutely nailed 🤣 The cast of characters is a bunch I’d say I’ll miss but I can assure you I’ve got them all in my family already 😅
4/5 ⭐️ - I liked it and it made me LOL!
December 17, 2025
Super cute!!
August 3, 2022
A RomCom that’s heavy on the comedy and so full of small town family crazy, you’ll be down on your knees giving thanks for your own relatives!
Lacie loves all things weather and has been smitten by it since she was 8 years old. She also loves Collins, a surgical intern who’s kind, caring and head over heel for her. Lacie works for the weather channel in Atlanta, her dream job, and wants to be an on screen host. Prior to leaving for small town Alabama to visit her family for the Christmas holiday, she predicts a significant snowstorm will bring a white Christmas to the area. Her fellow workers are all smiles and nods but skeptical.
Unbeknownst to Lacie, Collins has managed to get time off for Christmas. He has his grandmother’s antique diamond ring cleaned and sized for her and he is headed for Alabama to meet Lacie’s family and ask her father’s permission prior to making a romantic, Christmas Eve proposal. The amount of hyjinx and tomfoolery that happen over this long weekend would make Lucy & Ethel’s hall of fame, redneck-southern style, fo’ sure!
Author, Kaci Lane, did a great job creating a cast of characters for this book. Any one in Lacie’s family could anchor a book of their own and the supporting townspeople are southern quirk gold. If you’ve ever spent time south of Virginia or west of I-81, you’ll recognize the redneck vibe right away. It’s proud, family centered, church & neighbor social, God Bless America, 2nd Amendment supporting, non-apologetic, loud, completely unwoke and honest - painfully honest, at times.
Tropey & predictable but I didn’t care because the story had humor and heart. There’s conflict, a baby, love and of course, there’s Christmas; an enjoyable read📚
Christmas in August 2022 #3
Lacie loves all things weather and has been smitten by it since she was 8 years old. She also loves Collins, a surgical intern who’s kind, caring and head over heel for her. Lacie works for the weather channel in Atlanta, her dream job, and wants to be an on screen host. Prior to leaving for small town Alabama to visit her family for the Christmas holiday, she predicts a significant snowstorm will bring a white Christmas to the area. Her fellow workers are all smiles and nods but skeptical.
Unbeknownst to Lacie, Collins has managed to get time off for Christmas. He has his grandmother’s antique diamond ring cleaned and sized for her and he is headed for Alabama to meet Lacie’s family and ask her father’s permission prior to making a romantic, Christmas Eve proposal. The amount of hyjinx and tomfoolery that happen over this long weekend would make Lucy & Ethel’s hall of fame, redneck-southern style, fo’ sure!
Author, Kaci Lane, did a great job creating a cast of characters for this book. Any one in Lacie’s family could anchor a book of their own and the supporting townspeople are southern quirk gold. If you’ve ever spent time south of Virginia or west of I-81, you’ll recognize the redneck vibe right away. It’s proud, family centered, church & neighbor social, God Bless America, 2nd Amendment supporting, non-apologetic, loud, completely unwoke and honest - painfully honest, at times.
Tropey & predictable but I didn’t care because the story had humor and heart. There’s conflict, a baby, love and of course, there’s Christmas; an enjoyable read📚
Christmas in August 2022 #3
November 5, 2021
This was a hilarious southern romantic comedy. The characters were well developed and the story was well paced. Highly recommend.
Lacie Sanderson is a weather person for the Weather Channel in Atlanta. She has been dating Collins since New Year's Eve and they are in love. She comes from a tiny town in Alabama called Wisteria where all her eccentric relatives still live. She is going home for the Christmas holiday.
Collins O'Connor is a surgeon in Atlanta. He intends to surprise Lacie by following her to her home town and proposing over the holiday. He gets lost trying to find her parent's home and is escorted there by Sheriff Bradley Manning, Lacie's exboyfriend. What follows is a comedy of errors with a touch of Deliverance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Lacie Sanderson is a weather person for the Weather Channel in Atlanta. She has been dating Collins since New Year's Eve and they are in love. She comes from a tiny town in Alabama called Wisteria where all her eccentric relatives still live. She is going home for the Christmas holiday.
Collins O'Connor is a surgeon in Atlanta. He intends to surprise Lacie by following her to her home town and proposing over the holiday. He gets lost trying to find her parent's home and is escorted there by Sheriff Bradley Manning, Lacie's exboyfriend. What follows is a comedy of errors with a touch of Deliverance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 10, 2022
Cute and Funny Country Christmas
Pretty funny. If you're from the South or a small town (which I am both) you'll totally relate. If you're not, you'll still find it hilarious. A lot is surprisingly true. 😅 It's described as National Lampoon meets Sweet Home Alabama and that has got to be the best description/comparison ever. If you love that type of humor and everything going wrong at every turn this is for you. Towards the end it started to feel a little drawn out. I think this would have been better as a novella. But overall a fun read.
Ex-boyfriend drama. Dual POV. They're already in a relationship which was a nice surprise!
🎧 narrator is not my favorite but she seems to be very popular for RomComs so I'd say definitely listen to the sample and see.
💕RCRS: 2 (brief kissing)
Pretty funny. If you're from the South or a small town (which I am both) you'll totally relate. If you're not, you'll still find it hilarious. A lot is surprisingly true. 😅 It's described as National Lampoon meets Sweet Home Alabama and that has got to be the best description/comparison ever. If you love that type of humor and everything going wrong at every turn this is for you. Towards the end it started to feel a little drawn out. I think this would have been better as a novella. But overall a fun read.
Ex-boyfriend drama. Dual POV. They're already in a relationship which was a nice surprise!
🎧 narrator is not my favorite but she seems to be very popular for RomComs so I'd say definitely listen to the sample and see.
💕RCRS: 2 (brief kissing)
November 11, 2021
Southern Hospitality . . .
Lacie Sanderson comes from a very small Southern town and didn’t want to bring her surgeon boyfriend home to meet the family yet, especially without having received a ring from him. Her boyfriend, Collins O'Connor, decides that he will surprise her for Christmas with the best “gift” of all, not realizing what he’s heading into, especially when the county sheriff, Lacie’s ex-boyfriend Bradley Manning, drags him into her mom’s kitchen. Is love going to save the day for them? Can they survive the holidays despite all the turmoil that may erupt?
Join Lacie and Collins as you laugh at the wonderfully crazy family and all that they get up to. If this doesn’t test their resolve to be together, then nothing will!
Lacie Sanderson comes from a very small Southern town and didn’t want to bring her surgeon boyfriend home to meet the family yet, especially without having received a ring from him. Her boyfriend, Collins O'Connor, decides that he will surprise her for Christmas with the best “gift” of all, not realizing what he’s heading into, especially when the county sheriff, Lacie’s ex-boyfriend Bradley Manning, drags him into her mom’s kitchen. Is love going to save the day for them? Can they survive the holidays despite all the turmoil that may erupt?
Join Lacie and Collins as you laugh at the wonderfully crazy family and all that they get up to. If this doesn’t test their resolve to be together, then nothing will!
December 27, 2022
I think was the funniest redneck romance I've ever read! I know the title states sweet southern romance...I'll say it's definitely southern but not necessarily sweet, just redneck! Great book to just make my palate taste like I've dived into a book of funkily decorated sugar cookies!!! You won't regret this read.
December 12, 2021
Good book
Christmas in Dixie was a good book with some funny events, it just wasn't my cup of tea.
Some things that annoyed me:
1. They had been together a year and Collins didn't know anything about her family but he was serious enough to propose. She doesn't seem that serious about it though.
2. Collins calls her dad by his first name on their first meeting. I didn't grow up in the south but I live here now and I married a southern family and I know that is not a southern thing.
3. He jumps to conclusions and is very insecure about their relationship, but he thinks he's serious enough to get married. Those 2 don't fit together.
Redeeming qualities:
1. Some of the events are so far "out there" but after living in the south I could see them playing out in real life.
2. The 'bad guy' really is a good guy and you can see some growth by the end.
Christmas in Dixie was a good book with some funny events, it just wasn't my cup of tea.
Some things that annoyed me:
1. They had been together a year and Collins didn't know anything about her family but he was serious enough to propose. She doesn't seem that serious about it though.
2. Collins calls her dad by his first name on their first meeting. I didn't grow up in the south but I live here now and I married a southern family and I know that is not a southern thing.
3. He jumps to conclusions and is very insecure about their relationship, but he thinks he's serious enough to get married. Those 2 don't fit together.
Redeeming qualities:
1. Some of the events are so far "out there" but after living in the south I could see them playing out in real life.
2. The 'bad guy' really is a good guy and you can see some growth by the end.
October 25, 2021
I howled over this book! It was hilarious at times! Other times, it made me cringe.
Collins was a pretty good sport. And I loved how loyal he was to Lacie.
Some of the other characters, (think Aunt Misty) were eccentrically hilarious and cringe worthy all at the same time. And the antics that went on were just ridiculous!
Plus, there was a great ending.
However, it didn’t totally resonate with me. Probably because my life is so different, lol. Hence, only four stars instead of five.
But, it was very well written, and an entertaining read.
I received an ARC copy for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Collins was a pretty good sport. And I loved how loyal he was to Lacie.
Some of the other characters, (think Aunt Misty) were eccentrically hilarious and cringe worthy all at the same time. And the antics that went on were just ridiculous!
Plus, there was a great ending.
However, it didn’t totally resonate with me. Probably because my life is so different, lol. Hence, only four stars instead of five.
But, it was very well written, and an entertaining read.
I received an ARC copy for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
October 29, 2021
I was given this book for an honest review.
I enjoyed this clean, romantic,humorous read. I enjoyed visiting Wisteria,a small southern town where you can run for the Applesauce Queen or play the cow patty drop game. The characters and the places in the town are described in such a way that you can not put the book down,because you have to see what happens next. Laci and Collins are the main characters, but you will meet lots of other heart warming family members and friends. A great read for the Holidays!
I enjoyed this clean, romantic,humorous read. I enjoyed visiting Wisteria,a small southern town where you can run for the Applesauce Queen or play the cow patty drop game. The characters and the places in the town are described in such a way that you can not put the book down,because you have to see what happens next. Laci and Collins are the main characters, but you will meet lots of other heart warming family members and friends. A great read for the Holidays!
November 12, 2021
This Christmas story is SO redneck, but also so entertaining! Although this book does include a family tradition of killing a hog for Christmas, which is talked about all throughout the book, I was very grateful that there was nothing too descriptive other than mentioning what they do with the head...
Anyway, poor Collins, pretty much anything that can go wrong, does go wrong, but it is highly entertaining, and I especially thought the scene with the squirrel at the hotel was funny. Collins has such a great attitude through all of it, and in the end, the one thing that really matters goes right!
Anyway, poor Collins, pretty much anything that can go wrong, does go wrong, but it is highly entertaining, and I especially thought the scene with the squirrel at the hotel was funny. Collins has such a great attitude through all of it, and in the end, the one thing that really matters goes right!
October 8, 2022
This was a fun Christmas romance. Having never lived in the south, I have no idea if this was a caricature of southern life or an accurate depiction but it was fun. Almost slapstick comedy except it didn't feel that farcical. It felt like actual events that just happened to end badly for Collins. Every. Time. Poor Collins. He was a trooper though. Kept trying his best to fit in and be accepted by Lacie's family. What fortitude.
I love stories with big families and it seemed like this whole town was one big family. I loved all the Christmas traditions that seemed never ending. Not sure I'd have the energy for that much entertaining but it does sound fun.
Enjoyable story. Fun characters. And a wonderful happily ever after.
No sex, language or violence
I love stories with big families and it seemed like this whole town was one big family. I loved all the Christmas traditions that seemed never ending. Not sure I'd have the energy for that much entertaining but it does sound fun.
Enjoyable story. Fun characters. And a wonderful happily ever after.
No sex, language or violence
November 10, 2021
If you are looking for a hysterical and a cute holiday romance story this is it. All the characters are wonderful and relatable. I love the small town everyone knows everyone and almost everything about you, it leads to a lot of funny moments. The ending and epilogue were the perfect happily ever after. Can not wait for more from this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 25, 2022
There were several times I laughed out loud while listening to this book. Lacie's family is definitely quirky but don't we all have family members this way? Maybe it's just my family. They are lovable and so welcoming to Collins who I loved. Most romance books I read the story is about getting the couple together this one was different in that they were already together. A different take that I really enjoyed. The narrator did an amazing job of switching voices and making me feel a part of the story.
October 28, 2021
I laughed and groaned out loud. Imagine meeting girlfriend’s family after a year dating as a total surprise at Christmas. Lots of drama and seems bad luck is following him. Quirky family, an ex boyfriend whose police officer and not knowing country folks rituals. I recommend as mood lifter.
*I was given a copy and am voluntarily giving my honest review.
*I was given a copy and am voluntarily giving my honest review.
December 22, 2021
A fun, sweet Christmas Romance that caught my eye thanks to Kindle Unlimited. The book was a fun romance that had Meet the Parents meets Sweet Home Alabama vibes. Poor Collins has a deep love for Lacie, but just can’t catch a break as he’s navigating his heart and her family dynamics. A fun, sweet read perfect for a stress free escape during the holidays!
December 12, 2022
A Whopping Good Time
This was a funny but sweet and romantic southern tale that really keeps you guessing. I loved the sense of family and community as well as a true taste of small town southern culture.
This was a funny but sweet and romantic southern tale that really keeps you guessing. I loved the sense of family and community as well as a true taste of small town southern culture.
November 8, 2021
This book is hilarious as funny I love the characters in the story the storyline is great this is a great book for the holidays to read you won't regret it
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 24, 2021
This book was very well written. It was funny, yet had it's emotional moments. I love a good Rom-Com & this one hit the target. Lacie & Collins were a great couple.
December 7, 2021
A quirky screwball HEA
It has some unpredictable events that made me laugh and a clean HEA ending. I look forward to reading more by this author.
It has some unpredictable events that made me laugh and a clean HEA ending. I look forward to reading more by this author.
December 20, 2021
Cute, easy holiday read
October 28, 2025
The family you want to hide might just turn out to be perfect. This was a fun story. Worth the read.
November 30, 2021
A fun read
Really enjoyed the antics going on . The characters were well thought out and had personalities of their own . They were all likable in their own way .
Really enjoyed the antics going on . The characters were well thought out and had personalities of their own . They were all likable in their own way .
December 2, 2021
Quick, cute, hilarious read! It caught my attention with the tag line of “Christmas Vacation meets Sweet Home Alabama” and exceeded my expectations. The characters were a bit over the top but it worked. Collins was a good sport throughout the story, though I definitely felt some second-hand embarrassment with some of the situations he found himself in.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews