Book Review: Leaving Amarillo by Caisey Quinn

Leaving Amarillo
Neon Dreams #1
Author: Caisey Quinn
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Romance
Released: March 17th 2015
Review Source: William Morrow Paperbacks

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.

What a heck of life, Dixie Lark. Not only did she loose her parents at a young age, but she and her brother have a passion in an industry that is hard to be successful. With this said, Dixie does not let this intimated her. She is strong headed. She knows what she is capable. With the help of her brother, whom is very focus to their music career, they are on the road to success.

So I loved this about Dixie, yet there were times that I felt she was very immature for her age. Sure her life haven’t been easy. Sometimes, this makes a person mature really quick. Which for the most part it did. However, when it came to her crush Gavin, boy was she very insecure about herself. For this, I was half annoyed while reading.

Don’t get me wrong, the story is interesting enough that I read this in one sitting. Yet, I did had to take breaks in between because her emotions were somewhat overwhelming. I totally felt like Bella, “You know, your mood swings are kinda giving me whiplash". When she finally decided to say, what the heck, I was cheering her… only to be put back into the mood swings. HA!

I liked how the book ended. Dixie took charged of her life and I want to know where she is headed. I want to see if she and Gavin will make it through.

Overall, Leaving Amarillo is a good read with a touch of sass. And if you love music, then this book would be perfect for you!

Book Review: Storm Warning by Elizabeth Lee & Caisey Quinn

Storm Warning
Broken Heartland #1
Author: Elizabeth Lee & Caisey Quinn
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: December 12th 2013
Review Source: Author

Sometimes you can’t see the storm coming until it’s too late...

Severe Storm Warning Tip #1:
Be alert to changing weather conditions. Look for approaching storms.

Severe Storm Warning Tip #2:
If you see approaching storms or any of the danger signs, be prepared to take shelter immediately.

Severe Storm Warning Tip #3:
They may strike quickly, with little or no warning.

Situated just outside of Oklahoma City, Calumet County is divided into two drastically different communities: Hope’s Grove and Summit Bluffs. One is the small backward town where dirt roads lead the way to field parties and railroad tracks. And the other, a sprawling suburb where paved drives lead to the landscaped lawns of the wealthy and over privileged.

For five teenagers smack in the middle of Tornado Alley, summer is heating up fast. The winds of change are blurring the invisible line that divides the rich and the rural.

One has a secret.
One has a crush.
One has been lying.
One will get caught.
And one might not make it out alive.

They’re from two different worlds…but one summer is about to change everything

This book was really really good. At the beginning there was times where I had to look back at certain pages because this book you will follow five characters. In the book the author will write from that character point of view. I always love to read books by authors that do that but it is always with just two characters. So this one was a little confusing from the beginning. But I was able to get through the book. When I did I loved it so much. I couldn't put it down. The book was always with me. When I was reading it I was cheering on the characters and hoping they would get together.

Cami, Hayden, Cooper, Kyle , and Ella Jane live different lives in different places. Cami and Hayden have everything you can imagine. They are the rich kids. Then you have Kyle, Cooper and Ella Jane that have to work really hard to earn what they have. Well Cami and Hayden date but decided because it's the summer that they will break up and date other people. Cami was suppose to go on a vacation with her mother and her mother said no and only she went on the vacation. Hayden was sent away to help out a landscaper family because the father left and the son is at college. So Cami and Hayden are ticked off because they are better then that and don't want to go and help out the family and Cami has to stay home from the summer. Well Kyle is going to help with some of the landscaping when he can so he goes over to this richy area and ends up mowing the lawns of Cami family estate. Well Hayden then goes to Ella Jane and Kyle house to help out with the business and Ella Jane best friend Cooper doesn't like him that much. So there ends up being a love triangle in this book and it gets so interesting because you keep cheering them on. Plus the rich kids learn some life lessons about working hard for things that you want and not to have them given to you. In this book you will read so much about different things and you will also learn some things to.

The one thing that ticked me off that the author did was the way she ended the book. I was so mad. After I got done reading the book I said are you serious and threw the book down. But thank god she is writing a sequel that will be out soon! It's like watching one of your favorite shows and they leave you on a huge cliffhanger and you have to wait until the fall to see what happens. So grab this book and give it a chance. You will love it. Because I really did.