Television talent producer Bailey Rhodes returns to rural Virginia for a quick visit. She knows she won't be missing her commitment-phobic boyfriend back in New York, who recently panicked because she offered him an empty dresser drawer for his toiletries. She's much more worried when she can't get a signal for her cell phone to check up on her scheming assistant back at Expedition Networks. Her main concern is spending time with her mother, who's recovering from a stroke.

Bailey's first surprise upon arrival is the quiet farmer who chauffeurs her and her aunts in his battered truck. At her aunts' house, Bailey discovers that her mother doesn't want her help or her company. Aunt Bubble and Aunt Bits are supposed to be taking care of her mother, but instead the house is full of preening, singing and desperate young ladies preparing for the Miss Tidewater Butter Bean Pageant. Bailey refuses to help coach beauty contestants, and she accepts rides into town from Taylor, the farmer next door, so that she can get a cell phone signal and call her assistant. Bailey feels more left out when her rebellious younger sister turns up pregnant and is welcomed with open arms.

With everyone in her family acting so different and the house chaotic, Bailey finds solace in her conversations with Taylor, who is more than just a simple farmer. As the Butter Bean pageant approaches, Bailey's mother makes a big request that the entire family has to carefully consider. At the same time, Bailey's assistant creates a contract negotiation nightmare, and Bailey's friends are on their way south with a camera crew close behind. Can good old- fashioned Southern manners and mile-high hair help Bailey save her job, reunite her family and maybe even find love?

The natural and unhurried pacing of the developing romance between Bailey and Taylor captivated my interest. In my opinion, the most romantic scene amounted to little more than handholding under the stars. Holding hands with the right man can be very sexy though, and Taylor is an ideal man -- handsome, intelligent, compassionate, hard-working and charming. The sweet moments outweigh the sexy moments in this love story, and laughter outweighs the tears in the family drama between several generations of mothers and sisters. Neale expands her story into a world beyond New York City chick-lit without forcing her characters into Southern stereotypes from "To Kill a Mockingbird" or "The Dukes of Hazzard" or anything in between. I definitely recommend picking up this delightful Southern romance, although teasing your hair up really high and sitting on the front porch with a big glass of sweet tea are optional.