SAVE THE DATE (Mary Kay Andrews)

Mary Kay Andrews is always entertaining.  She's an author that you can always count on for an enjoyable few hours of escape from the annoyances of everyday life and her characters are always appealing.  This novel has everything you could wish for: a cynical wedding florist, a runaway bride, a blossoming romance, a dysfunctional family, and an evil professional rival, plus lots of interesting details about the flower business.

Cara Kryzik is a recently divorced, financially struggling Savannah florist who has invested everything in her business.  She is still trying to become Savannah's go-to florist for society weddings when her father calls in the loan he gave her.  Faced with admitting failure and returning back home, Cara is determined to drum up new business so she can pay back her father and establish her reputation.  With her loyal assistant, Bert, at her side, she is working day and night to succeed, even taking on the role of wedding planner for some of her clients.  She realizes that the same, handsome man, Jack Finnerty, keeps showing up at all of her weddings.  He is always an old college friend of the groom's, cousin to the bride, but we, the reader, know what he's really doing there, because what would an MKA novel be without romance?

I like Andrews' deft combing of the romantic aspects, cut-throat business dealings, and high-society shenanigans into really fun novel.  I give it 2 thumbs up, and if I had another hand I'd give it 3!