Review: The Vixen and the Vet by Katy Regnery

SYNOPSIS:

Burned by an unreliable source, Savannah Carmichael, returns to her hometown of Danvers, Virginia with her once-promising journalism career in ruins. Given the opportunity to get her skin back in the game by writing a patriotic human interest piece, Savannah turns her attention to the town hermit, Asher Lee, a wounded veteran who returned to Danvers eight years ago, and hasn’t been seen since.

After an IED explosion in Afghanistan took Asher’s hand and disfigured half of his face, he's lived a quiet life on the outskirts of Danvers where the locals respect his privacy…that is, until Savannah Carmichael comes calling in a borrowed sundress and a plate of homemade brownies. When Asher agrees to be interviewed by Savannah, he starts feeling things for the beautiful reporter that he hasn’t felt in years.

Misfits in small-town Danvers, Savannah and Asher create a bond right away, touching each other’s hearts in ways neither thought possible. When a terrible mistake threatens to drive them apart, they’ll have to decide if the love they found in one another’s arms is strong enough to fight for their hard-won happily ever after.

MY THOUGHTS:

3 out of 5 stars

This book was probably one of my toughest reviews.  While I still dream of the day that I can give half-star ratings on Goodreads, I now wish I could give multiple ratings for different aspects.  

There were so many things I really really liked about this book. I'll even go as far as to say there were some things I even loved. I LOVED the concept. I'm a sucker for anything Beauty and the Beast-esque, which this story is. Cute girl, scarred boy (both physically and emotionally in this case) who doesn't let anybody in until they are thrown together. Walls come down, emotions take over...yeah. Like I said, SO many good things about this book. I loved Savannah and Asher together. Sure there were times when I wanted to tell her she was stupid and tell him to get over himself, but you can say that about any couple in any book.

Now, here is what brings down my rating. To be quite honest, I wish there was a way I could rate this book twice. For the characters and the story itself, I'd give it a solid 4-4.5 stars.

But OMG, the ridiculous over the top Southern stereotypes drove me up the wall. I live in the South and have for my entire life. My family lives all over the South. We DO know how to pronounce the 'g' sound in -ing words. Not every single active verb has to end in an '. Callin', comin', visitin', talkin',. Does it happen occasionally, absolutely. Does it happen every time we talk. Nope. And I have never ever heard anybody say "Oh my stars!" What's next? Smelling salts?

And the names. Katie Scarlett? Really? I was totally waiting for a character in the story to be named Rhett. Or Ashley.

I've made no secret of the fact that I am an emotional content reader. If the story captures my attention, I can overlook just about anything. But it was just too much this time. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't offended or feel like the author was making fun of those of us that speak with a bit of a drawl (again, OCCASIONALLY)...it was just WAY WAY WAY too much icing on the cupcake. The fluff distracted from the substance which really really makes me sad because there were so many things that I loved.

That being said, I do plan on searching out other works by this author. Maybe just not one set in the South.


**on an unrelated yet particularly awesome note, 50% of the June and July proceeds from this book will be donated to Operation Mend which helps wounded veterans. You can learn more about this program while reading Savannah and Asher's story :)