Friday, August 7, 2015

Leaving Amarillo (A Neon Dreams Novel, #1) by Caisey Quinn ~ Review

Source:  I purchased a paperback copy.

Nashville meets New Adult in Neon Dreams, a dramatic, sexy series from bestselling author Caisey Quinn, about a country band’s rocky road to fame—and the ambition, dreams, and love of the people who make the music.

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, 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.




Available from William Morrow Paperback

Review...


O..M..G.. Really?  That just happened?  Cliffhanger.  No!

But it did.  And while I'm about to open book number two, it's clearly not the continuation of Dixie and Gavin's story.  Book two is clearly Dallas, her brother's story.  So I'm in misery.  I NEED more Gavin.  I need to understand what happened when Dixie was in Houston.  I need to understand what she's doing.  Yes, I need to know what's up with the band too.  And I'm hoping to get some glimpses of things in Loving Dallas.  BUT is it OCTOBER YET????

Guess you can tell that I love these characters.  

Dixie has loved her brothers best friend, Gavin, FOREVER.  But her brother has determined her off limits.  And Gavin isn't breaking a promise to him.  So they avoid touching each other and being alone together.  And it's killing them both.  Being in the same hotel room for a week may do them both in.  But Dixie has a plan.

Yeah, her plans aren't always the best ideas.  But I love that she's willing to take hold of something she so desperately wants.  She needs to grown up and relieve her brother of the responsibility he took on when their parents died.  She makes some progress in this book and I see hope for more.  She's tired of her overprotective brother trying so hard to make her life better.  She needs to do it herself.  I was glad she figured that out.

Gavin.  My heart breaks for the boy.  He needs cuddle time.  LOTS OF CUDDLE TIME.  He raised himself with a drug addict mother and who knows who he is father.  When Dixie's grandparents take them in, they take Gavin in as well.  They are inseparable.  His only meals are at their house.  But Gavin still has to go home at night.  He still has to deal with his mother's messes.  And even now, he can't get past that.  It's part of that mystery that didn't get answered in this book.  I NEED TO KNOW.  Oh, and did I mention he's the drummer! He's the beat and heart of this band.  And I so love drummers!!! SO LOVE THEM. 

Dallas is overprotective and very focused on the success of the band.  He's given up a lot to get the band where it is but once he gets there, things aren't what he expected.  I'm excited to see how that works out for him.  I know what I want to see happen.  I am not a fan of his manager.  Don't trust the woman.  

Lots of sexy and lots of story in this one.  Add some music and trying to figure out who you are and this is one great story.  If you haven't jumped on the bandwagon that's desperately waiting for Losing Dixie, then you probably want to fix that before October.


2 comments:

  1. I have heard this book rips your heart out which is why I'm kinda scared of it. I think I'm going to wait until both books are out in the wild. Great review!

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  2. Hate that there is a cliffhanger. I will probably wait until this series finishes being released before I dive into it. Gavin sounds like a hottie!

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