kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. Baby, Drive South is an entertaining novel that is fast paced and laced with humor. To read my review in its entirety, please visit http://bookreviewsandmorebykathy.com/?p=445
cm87's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
salene27's review against another edition
4.0
Very cute book, loved all the characters, and I am adding the others in this to my wishlist.
k_shoupe's review against another edition
1.0
Dnf at 50%. I so wanted to enjoy this book. I love the idea of rebuilding a town as a premise for a romance series. This was so contrived and fell so flat. I had to double check what year it was written. Nikki had the potential to be an awesome powerhouse of a character (I mean, a 21st century physician who leaves home to to become a doctor to a rural/primitive town—what’s not to love). Instead she spend the majority of the story bemoaning (or moaning about how she does not bemoan) her level of attractiveness (or lack thereof). Porter, who again had so much potential was at best an ass. And at worst a kidnapper. The extra women in the town were portrayed as the most stereotypical worst case females on earth. They knew they were moving to a town in progress—yet they expected restaurants and vegan food and apparently to never have to work again??
Finally, I’m all for suspending belief for the fun of a good story. However...we’re supposed to believe that they built a “boarding house” that houses 100 woman with individual rooms and bathrooms. That’s like a massive hotel. They did it with little to no resources and in a few months? And seriously, saying “god bless you” is not a ‘southern thing’, so there’s no way a grown woman is surprised to hear it.
Finally, I’m all for suspending belief for the fun of a good story. However...we’re supposed to believe that they built a “boarding house” that houses 100 woman with individual rooms and bathrooms. That’s like a massive hotel. They did it with little to no resources and in a few months? And seriously, saying “god bless you” is not a ‘southern thing’, so there’s no way a grown woman is surprised to hear it.
tasha_fullybooked's review against another edition
4.0
The Armstrong brothers are trying to rebuild their childhood hometown of Sweetness, GA. In an effort to speed things along, they have place an ad in the newspaper to recruit single women to the town with the promise of a fresh start.
Among these women is Dr. Nikki Salinger, who is what some may call a plain Jane. Nikki is trying to heal from a broken heart and is not at all interested in getting involved.
I enjoyed the storyline and the witty dialogue. The town of Sweetness seemed like a place one truly would want to be involved in the rebuilding of.
Nikki was a bit reserved but truly a good person who had taken a few bumps in life for not being the most beautiful. Where it was the total opposite for Porter. At times I didn't like him because of his comments and behavior toward Nikki. Every strike she had against her with him, involved her appearance. Because she wasn't among the most beautiful of the women that moved into town, Porter seemed to dismiss her.
The whole town of Sweetness and the additional Armstrong brothers great entertainment. I truly am invested in seeing how the town of Sweetness progresses.
Among these women is Dr. Nikki Salinger, who is what some may call a plain Jane. Nikki is trying to heal from a broken heart and is not at all interested in getting involved.
I enjoyed the storyline and the witty dialogue. The town of Sweetness seemed like a place one truly would want to be involved in the rebuilding of.
Nikki was a bit reserved but truly a good person who had taken a few bumps in life for not being the most beautiful. Where it was the total opposite for Porter. At times I didn't like him because of his comments and behavior toward Nikki. Every strike she had against her with him, involved her appearance. Because she wasn't among the most beautiful of the women that moved into town, Porter seemed to dismiss her.
The whole town of Sweetness and the additional Armstrong brothers great entertainment. I truly am invested in seeing how the town of Sweetness progresses.
witandsin's review against another edition
4.0
My review originally posted on Joyfully Reviewed: http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/new-reviews/baby-drive-south-by-stephanie-bond
Ten years ago, the Armstrong brothers’ home town of Sweetness, Georgia was completely destroyed by a tornado. Now, the brothers have managed to get government grants to rebuild Sweetness as an eco-friendly town. They’ve hired workmen and are making progress to meet the deadlines needed to keep their funding, but the lack of women in Sweetness is starting to hit everyone hard. The youngest Armstrong, Porter, comes up with a plan: place an ad in a northern newspaper offering free room and board for two years to a hundred women. His plan works out better than he could have expected. Unfortunately, Porter’s first sight of his victory comes when he’s on top of the water tower with a pair of binoculars. He’s so surprised by the caravan of women coming to Sweetness that he falls off the water tower. Luckily for Porter, one of Sweetness’s newest residents is the lovely Dr. Nikki Salinger…
A rakish Southerner too charming for his own good squares off with a smart Northerner unwilling to be taken in by his tricks in Baby, Drive South. The first book in Stephanie Bond’s Southern Roads trilogy is a delight to read, mostly because I loved watching Nikki knock Porter off his feet. Nikki is brilliant, but most of the men in Sweetness don’t seem to want to trust a female doctor. She’s also not drop-dead gorgeous like some of the other women who’ve moved to the town. Put these two problems together, and my heart broke for Nikki at times. I was cheering for her to get the recognition and appreciation she deserved, especially since she was stuck in Sweetness (thanks to Porter messing with her car so they wouldn’t lose their only doctor). As for Porter…he had a lot to prove before he could win me over. Porter doesn’t always think when it comes to Nikki, and – however unintentional it may have been – he was a bit of a jerk to her in the beginning of Baby, Drive South. Having read the prequel to the Southern Roads trilogy, Baby, I’m Yours, I knew Porter to be a genuinely good man, so I was willing to stick with him in his own book. Thankfully, Porter grew into the hero I was hoping for – namely, one who deserves Nikki.
Baby, Drive South is the first full-length book in the Southern Roads trilogy, but Ms. Bond has written a prequel, Baby, I’m Yours, that is currently free. Readers who enjoy Baby, Drive South will no doubt delight in seeing Porter when he was ten years younger, not to mention the town itself before it was devastated by the F-5 tornado.
Ms. Bond is a writer whose books I always enjoy and Baby, Drive South is no exception. I finished Porter and Nikki’s story a well-satisfied reader and I was happy to have the second book in the series (Baby, Come Home) on hand so I could dive into Kendall Armstrong’s story right away – the series is that addictive!
Ten years ago, the Armstrong brothers’ home town of Sweetness, Georgia was completely destroyed by a tornado. Now, the brothers have managed to get government grants to rebuild Sweetness as an eco-friendly town. They’ve hired workmen and are making progress to meet the deadlines needed to keep their funding, but the lack of women in Sweetness is starting to hit everyone hard. The youngest Armstrong, Porter, comes up with a plan: place an ad in a northern newspaper offering free room and board for two years to a hundred women. His plan works out better than he could have expected. Unfortunately, Porter’s first sight of his victory comes when he’s on top of the water tower with a pair of binoculars. He’s so surprised by the caravan of women coming to Sweetness that he falls off the water tower. Luckily for Porter, one of Sweetness’s newest residents is the lovely Dr. Nikki Salinger…
A rakish Southerner too charming for his own good squares off with a smart Northerner unwilling to be taken in by his tricks in Baby, Drive South. The first book in Stephanie Bond’s Southern Roads trilogy is a delight to read, mostly because I loved watching Nikki knock Porter off his feet. Nikki is brilliant, but most of the men in Sweetness don’t seem to want to trust a female doctor. She’s also not drop-dead gorgeous like some of the other women who’ve moved to the town. Put these two problems together, and my heart broke for Nikki at times. I was cheering for her to get the recognition and appreciation she deserved, especially since she was stuck in Sweetness (thanks to Porter messing with her car so they wouldn’t lose their only doctor). As for Porter…he had a lot to prove before he could win me over. Porter doesn’t always think when it comes to Nikki, and – however unintentional it may have been – he was a bit of a jerk to her in the beginning of Baby, Drive South. Having read the prequel to the Southern Roads trilogy, Baby, I’m Yours, I knew Porter to be a genuinely good man, so I was willing to stick with him in his own book. Thankfully, Porter grew into the hero I was hoping for – namely, one who deserves Nikki.
Baby, Drive South is the first full-length book in the Southern Roads trilogy, but Ms. Bond has written a prequel, Baby, I’m Yours, that is currently free. Readers who enjoy Baby, Drive South will no doubt delight in seeing Porter when he was ten years younger, not to mention the town itself before it was devastated by the F-5 tornado.
Ms. Bond is a writer whose books I always enjoy and Baby, Drive South is no exception. I finished Porter and Nikki’s story a well-satisfied reader and I was happy to have the second book in the series (Baby, Come Home) on hand so I could dive into Kendall Armstrong’s story right away – the series is that addictive!
55bookworm63's review against another edition
4.0
This is going to be a good series. From the first few pages it had me laughing. Nothing better than the dynamics of a trio of brothers!! I do admit it was a bit repetitive at times, but I enjoyed it none the less.
smiley7245's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book. It was fun, fast paced, and interesting. I was not a fan of Porter to begin with, but he grew on me. I really liked Nikki and found her insecurities extremely relatable. I liked how she had her preconceived notions about other women completely debunked. It was nice to see women coming together to help build each other. The relationship between Porter and Nikki ended up being organic and I really liked that. I did not like that it took Darren coming to spur his jealously and get him moving. I was upset that it took me so long to realize that her friend Amy was the same Amy that Kendall was upset over, and that he put the add in that specific paper for her. I am very much looking forward to the next book. I cannot wait to find out what happens with for Kendall and Marcus!
cranberrytarts's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great start to a new series. I really liked the setting and the concept behind the town the brothers are trying to rebuild. The idea of building a green town from the devastation of a tornado is pretty awesome. I'm excited to continue on with the series.