Blurb:
Dixie Lark hasn’t had it easy. She lost her parents in an accident
when she was young and grew up in a ramshackle house on a dirt road in Amarillo
with her ailing grandparents and overprotective older brother. Thanks to her
grandfather, Dixie learned to play a mean fiddle, inspired by the sounds of the
greats—Johnny and June, Waylon, and Hank. Her grandfather’s fiddle changed
Dixie’s life forever, giving her an outlet for the turmoil of her broken heart
and inspiring a daring dream.
Ten years later, Dixie and her brother Dallas are creating the music they love and chasing fame with their hot band, LEAVING AMARILLO. But Dixie isn’t enjoying the ride. All she can think about is Gavin Garrison, the band’s tattooed, tortured drummer who she’s loved since they were kids. She knows he feels the connection between them, but he refuses see her as more than his best friend’s little sister.
Convinced that one night with Gavin will get him out of her system, Dixie devises a plan. She doesn’t know that her brother has forbidden Gavin from making a move on her—a promise he swore he’d always keep—a promise that once broken will unexpectedly change the future for Dixie, Gavin and the band. Will Dixie and Gavin risk it all for a possible love neither has ever thought possible?
Ten years later, Dixie and her brother Dallas are creating the music they love and chasing fame with their hot band, LEAVING AMARILLO. But Dixie isn’t enjoying the ride. All she can think about is Gavin Garrison, the band’s tattooed, tortured drummer who she’s loved since they were kids. She knows he feels the connection between them, but he refuses see her as more than his best friend’s little sister.
Convinced that one night with Gavin will get him out of her system, Dixie devises a plan. She doesn’t know that her brother has forbidden Gavin from making a move on her—a promise he swore he’d always keep—a promise that once broken will unexpectedly change the future for Dixie, Gavin and the band. Will Dixie and Gavin risk it all for a possible love neither has ever thought possible?
My Review
There are only a few authors who can write books
that intertwine music into their stories so much that you get so pulled in that
you can visualize every performance and feel every emotion. Caisey Quinn is one
of those authors. I loved every bit of Leaving Amarillo. I am from the
Nashville area, so I have seen the live shows played in those downtown bars and
let me tell you, when I was reading this it was like I was transported to one
of those places watching Dixie, Gavin and Dallas playing their hearts out.
Granted the story wasn't based in Nashville but I imagine all honky tonks are
similar!
Dixie, Dallas and Gavin make up the band Leaving
Amarillo. Dix and Dallas are brother and sister and Gavin is Dallas' best
friend. Dixie has been in love with Gavin for as long as she can remember and let me tell you, I don't blame her! Gavin is hot, but there is so much more about him under the surface and Dixie can see it all.
Dixie and Gavin are off the charts hot! I love
Dixie and how she finally just says what she wants and then takes it. The whole
time I was in her cheering section, cheering her on! Gavin is hot and troubled.
Did I say hot? Him and Dixie together are smoking. It's sexy and a tearjerker
all in one.
"I want you to touch me. To take me, to own and possess me like you know you already do. I want you- all of you. the good, the bad, and that secret darkness inside you that you never show anyone else. I want to be the one you spend your nights with, the one you wake up with, and the one you can't stop thinking about."
I have loved everything I have read by Caisey, but this one is one of my absolute favorites and I will be screaming from the rooftops for everyone to read this!
Caisey Quinn does not disappoint and I cannot wait for more. I love
Dallas and want his story, but am DYING for the rest of Dixie and Gavin. Pick this one up, you will not regret it! This is one of those books I could read over and over again.
5 bluebird stars!
Caisey Quinn’s Inspiration for the
Neon Dreams series
Not too
long ago (barely over a year), I took a trip to Nashville with some friends. It
was one of those last minute “oh my gosh, we have to see this super big artist
doing a concert in a tiny venue because they just Tweeted that they’ll be
there” type road trips. Unplanned, beef jerky, big gulps, and random road mix
cd style adventure. My favorite kind.
However, by
the time we arrived at the venue it was packed. Literally. Wall to wall
crammed, people spilling out onto the sidewalk, full to maximum capacity packed.
Apparently we weren’t the only ones who caught word that a big name artist was
going to be there.
Sigh.
We decided
to just check out a few local spots instead. In a bar called Crossroads we got
comfy, ordered drinks, and started chatting about how bummed we were that we
didn’t get to see the original artist we intended to. I can’t even remember now
who it was. Here’s why.
As we’re
ordering a second—okay, maybe a third—round and deciding if we’re going to just
call it a night and get a hotel room or head home (Birmingham is only about
three hours away), this glorious sound fills the air. No, it pierces the air, rips through it and
grabs everyone in hearing range by the eardrums.
Our
conversation—along with many others—ceased instantly. Chill bumps ran up my
arms even though it was quite warm and I was wearing a jacket.
Most of
the patrons gaped in awe as this young woman played the fiddle as if she’d been
born to do that and only that. It was the solo from “Devil Went Down to
Georgia” by the Charlie Daniels band and she was rocking it beyond
comprehension. Pretty sure even the bartenders stopped what they were doing. The
rest of the night was a little blurry, but I know we didn’t leave until that
band had played their entire set.
We ended
up getting a hotel room but none of us slept. All we could talk about was that
band and how amazing they were and how we were kicking ourselves that we didn’t
get their name so we could check them out online and hear more. I still look
for them when I’m in Nashville and one day I fully expect to hear them on the
radio. Whoever they are, they will forever be the band that inspired the Neon
Dreams series.
This isn’t
the exact band but they’re pretty close! The search continues!
VIDEO
LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SKAl1lBDEY
About the Author:
Caisey Quinn lives in Birmingham, Alabama with her
husband, daughter, and other assorted animals. She is the bestselling author of
the Kylie Ryans series as well as several New Adult and Contemporary Romance
novels featuring Southern girls finding love in unexpected places.
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