Beach Town

April 15, 2015
Bestseller Andrews introduces Greer Hennessy, a third-generation worker in the film industry, whose difficult background and current job trigger a flood of problems. Greer's personal life is a mess, and her professional one is no laughing matter, either. Following an incident involving a fire on her previous job, the location scout/manager is hoping to redeem herself working for Hollywood's newest golden boy, director Bryce Levy. Although the script for his latest movie is vague and ever changing, Greer finds him the perfect location, a small dot on the map along Florida's Gulf Coast fraught with heat, humidity, palmetto bugs, and little else. Economically stagnant Cypress Key has seen better days, and Greer assumes its citizens will jump at the opportunity to make some quick cash and spotlight their town. The area also features an old ramshackle building along the waterfront that's perfect for the final scene-so long as Greer can secure permission to blow the erstwhile Cypress Key Casino to smithereens. Mayor Eb Thibadeaux (who apparently emulates Dr. Seuss' Bartholomew Cubbins in the hat-wearing department: he's also co-owner of a local motel, a realtor, grocery store and boat repair shop owner, and town engineer) is skeptical about the benefits of having a film crew invade the town, and he's definitely against Greer's plans for the historic structure. But he's attracted to Greer, and she to him. A romance quickly develops, then ebbs and flows as a tidal wave of complications creates misunderstandings between the two-and there are plenty as Andrews floods the story with several secondary characters and subplots. The author uses her tried-and-true formula to good effect, though. As in many of her preceding novels (Save the Date, 2014, etc.), Andrews masterfully creates an entertaining story filled with likable characters and a few lightweight, havoc-wreaking troublemakers. Although far-fetched, it's entirely fun. A perfect fit for the romance lover's beach bag.

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May 1, 2015
In her latest big, enjoyable novel, with a title strongly suggesting beach read, perennial best-seller Andrews (Save the Date,2014) introduces us to movie-location-scout Greer Hennessey as she finds the perfect undeveloped Florida coast town for a demanding director's current shoot. But the town's mayor, Eben Thinadeaux, who is also a real-estate agent, environmental engineer, grocery-store owner, and motel co-manager, isn't too keen on Hollywood taking over sleepy Cypress Key. Sparks fly between Greer and Eben as their disagreements about the movie can't burn out their mutual attraction. Things are explosive on set, too, as the movie's self-destructive star wreaks havoc on the cast, crew, and townspeople. Greer must find a way to balance her growing love for Eben and Cypress Key with choices that may well make or break her career. Andrews expertly combines an intriguing love story with small-town quirkiness and cinematic action to highly entertaining effect.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: This enticing romance arrives right on time for summer's lighter reading season with a hefty 250,000 initial print run and lots of promotion pizzazz, and it will be a popular pick.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)