The Sweet Smell of Magnolias and Memories

March 27, 2017
Tracking down a story in southern Louisiana, Jacey gets more than she bargained for when she, along with a young family and an attractive mystery man named Colin, is held captive on a roof by a massive flood for three days. Falling in love during their harrowing time on the roof, Colin scribbles out his phone number and shoves it in Jacey’s pocket before she and the family board the rescue boat, leaving Colin behind. However, a terrible accident on the boat steals Jacey’s memories, as well as the scrap of paper holding Colin’s number. Struggling to keep afloat mentally for the next year, Jacey pushes away the memories of that night, knowing in her heart that the accident took much more than she wants to remember. When Colin unexpectedly reappears in Jacey’s life, they pick up right where they left off, with several bumps along the way. McHale (The Secret to Hummingbird Cake) has a way of creating characters who are believably flawed and human. Her wit and hilarity are perfect matches for the heartfelt romance in this winsome book. Agent: Liza Fleissig, Liza Royce Literary Agency

June 1, 2017

Three days stranded on a rooftop waiting for rescue from Mississippi floodwaters marks the start of a relationship between Jacy and Colin. When a rescue boat arrives with limited room, he gives her his phone number and extracts a promise from her that she will call. A year passes with no contact between the two until Jacy attends best friend Willow's wedding as the maid of honor and realizes that the officiating minister is none other than Colin. He is as shocked as she is. Neither Jacy, who is just recovering her memories of the traumatic event, nor Colin know if there is more between them than a natural disaster. Only time will tell if they are meant to be. VERDICT McHale's (The Secret to Hummingbird Cake) conversational tone, flawed characters, and feel-good ending make for an uplifting read that incoporates themes of healing and redemption.

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

In this contemporary romance, narrator Nan Kelley recounts the events that bring Jacey Lang and Colin Jennings together during a flood and then tear them apart. Initially, Jacey is unable to recall much about the flood except her tragic inability to save the life of a little boy. Nor can she sort out her feelings for the man who saved her and then disappeared. Later, Kelley evocatively delivers the scene in which, several years down the road, a stunned Jacey recognizes the minister at her friend's wedding. It's Colin. Depicting the series of missteps that derail their romance with maddening frequency, Kelley's deft reading keeps listeners on pins and needles to hear how it all turns out. C.L.S. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine