Save the Date

September 1, 2014
Cara Kryzik, a transplant from Ohio to Savannah, Ga., is struggling to make a go of it at her floral design business. Everything is going wrong: her shop’s cooler conks out, ruining thousands of dollars worth of elaborate flower arrangements and leaving her with nothing for the huge wedding she’s doing the next day; her father is demanding that she repay the money he lent her to open the shop or he’ll shut it down; her landlady decides to sell the building without telling her—and wants to sell it to Cara’s biggest competitor; and then there’s handsome-but-exasperating contractor Jack Finnerty, whom she meets when he accidentally steals her dog. Narrator McInerney reads in a lively tone, bringing both empathy and humor to Cara’s tumultuous life. She flawlessly delivers fun character voices, from the elderly landlady’s crotchety “get off my lawn”-style sniping to Jack’s sexy “aw shucks, ma’am” Southern drawl. This entertaining chick lit/romance novel is perfect for a lazy summer listen at the beach. A St. Martin’s hardcover.

May 1, 2014
Andrews (Christmas Bliss, 2013, etc.) produces another happily-ever-after with the usual complications; her heroine this time is a Savannah florist trying to gain a foothold in the bridal industry. Bloom owner Cara Kryzik is barely keeping her business afloat creating innovative flower arrangements for weddings, and the last distraction she anticipates is historic-building restorer Jack Finnerty. The two met when Cara accused him of stealing her runaway goldendoodle puppy, and now Jack seems to show up at every wedding she designs. Cara isn't immune to Jack's charms, but she initially attempts to ignore their developing attraction. Her experience growing up with an emotionally distant and sometimes physically absent military father and her recent divorce from a philandering husband have left her feeling jaded when it comes to love. But Jack's sincerity and persistence win her over, and soon they're sharing a bed. Cara's career also is looking up. She wins a lucrative contract to design and direct a society wedding, and the money she's slated to receive upon completion will enable her to pay off a loan, solidify her reputation as a floral designer and plan some much-needed improvements for her business. However, troubles multiply, and it's not long before Cara is juggling her time between the unhappy bride and the bride's micromanaging stepmother. In addition, Bert, her assistant and friend, becomes increasingly distant and unreliable; a competitor tries to undermine her business; and a client's family heirloom goes missing. As Cara tries to sort out problems and repair damage, she's ultimately forced to face her own beliefs and make some tough decisions. But, in trademark Andrews style, things end on a high note in another light, predictable and pleasant diversion.A deft mixture of romance and humor in a story featuring a likable protagonist and cute critters: It's a date Andrews fans won't want to miss.

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June 15, 2014

Savannah is filled with plenty of high society brides-to-be, but for newcomer florist Cara Kryzik, the right bride in the right circles could make or break her career. Cara strives to rebuild her life in Savannah after her divorce, ironically working mostly with weddings. Her luck changes when Brooke Trapnell and her wealthy fiance Harris Strayhorn book Cara as their florist and wedding planner. If this event goes off perfectly, she will have enough money to repay her father and make necessary improvements to her shop. Unfortunately, big-shot florist Cullen Kane wishes to do this wedding, too, and he'll stop at nothing to get what he wants. Meanwhile, Cara meets handsome Jack Finnerty, a local contractor who mistakes her dog for his own. Now Cara is charged with pulling off the wedding of the season, fighting the competition, and maintaining her relationship with Jack, despite her trust issues with men. VERDICT Andrews (Ladies' Night) has written the perfect beach read with plenty of humor, romance, and a little mystery. Don't let the size of the book turn you away; it's a very quick and entertaining novel. [See Prepub Alert, 11/18/13.]--Brooke Bolton, North Manchester P.L., IN

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2014
The latest charming summer romance from best-selling Andrews (Ladies' Night, 2013) arrives just in time for wedding and beach-reading season. Savannah florist Cara Kryzik is making a name for herself designing society weddings, and her latest event, planning an enormous country wedding between two important southern families, will allow her to pay back the loan her father gave her. Divorced not long ago, she may be ready to finally reopen her heart, and by some sweet chance, local heartthrob Jack Finnerty keeps popping up at her weddings. Though Andrews does rely on a few contemporary-romance conventionsa protagonist with a fun, feminine job; a down-to-earth hero from a well-connected family; and a misunderstanding that nearly keeps them aparther lively and expansive variations on tried-and-trusted tropes are fresh and pleasing. Readers will cheer Cara on as she deals with a runaway bride and a smarmy and cutthroat competing florist, and all will swoon over her steamy scenes with Jack, right up to the wholly satisfying happy ending.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: The latest from perennial blockbuster novelist Andrews launches with a 250,000 print run and a high tide of national promotions in print and on all other media platforms.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)