Every Bride Has Her Day

Austin’s engaging second Magnolia Brides contemporary (after The Best Laid Wedding Plans) brings a Yankee into the heart of the South. N.Y.C. detective Sam DeLuca rides his Harley into Misty Bottoms, Ga., to claim the neglected house he inherited from his aunt. Wounded both mentally and physically by the betrayal of a woman, Sam needs a place to heal, and where better than the small town where he spent boyhood summers? He feels like he’s being watched, and his city instincts scream danger, but across the country road, trusting Cricket, the new owner of the flower shop in town, doesn’t even lock her doors. Sparks fly when the two meet, and the attraction increases as Sam, claiming he’ll only stay long enough to fix up his old house, gets sucked into Southern life via an old man, an abandoned dog, and a juvenile delinquent. The charming side of small-town living and some creative flower-arrangement tips make this sweet romance a delightful read. Agent: Nicole Resciniti, Seymour Agency. (May)