Summer Rental

April 18, 2011
Andrews (Savannah Blues) spins a beach blanket sizzler around three lifelong friends who grew up together in Savannahâunemployed banker Ellis, model Julia, teacher Dorieâand reunite in Nags Head, N.C., for a month-long holiday at a rundown rental elegantly named the Ebbtide. But when the 30-somethings BFFs, each of whom is struggling with life-changing crises, take in Maryn, a stranger and runaway-wife, the beachy holiday takes on a dangerous edge. To the rescue comes handsome landlord Ty, who's renting out his ramshackle family home in hopes of staving off foreclosure. Amid all the romantic entanglementsâJulia with her marriage-phobia, love-shy Ellis, and Dorie with her truckload of dramaâAndrews pulls off an exciting tale of Maryn's abusive embezzler husband. This warm weather treat has a lot going for it, not least the sunny forecast that summer love can blossom into a four-season commitment.

Starred review from May 1, 2011

Andrews (The Fixer-Upper) is at her warm and funny best with this story of three girlfriends who rent a beach cottage on North Carolina's Outer Banks. A month of fun, frolicking, romance, and self-discovery ensues, while the arrival of a fourth roommate ratchets up the drama. Andrews simply excels at creating the kind of characters readers can relate to, and she has a fabulous sense of humor to boot. For all women's fiction fans, especially those who enjoy ensemble fiction. [National tour; see Prepub Alert, 12/20/10.]

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2011
In this tailor-made beach read, three longtime friends escape for a month-long vacation in North Carolinas Outer Banks. The break comes at just the right time for each woman. Ellis has just been laid off, and she hasnt been with a man since her disastrous, short-lived marriage years ago. Julias modeling career is coming to a close, but shes not sure if shes ready to settle down to marriage and children with her longtime boyfriend. Dories husband left her just as she found out that shes pregnant. In their ramshackle rented beach house, Ebbtide, the women share laughs, tears, plans, and setbacks. They cheer Ellis on as she starts a fling with Ebbtides handsome, surly owner, and plot how to save Ebbtide from foreclosure. Andrews, author of The Fixer Upper (2010), writes another charmer with a picturesque southern setting and winsome female characters.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)