When she was 18 Amber Madison thought she was in love with Logan Van Dell and that the two of them were running away from small town life in Belle Rive, Mississippi to their future in NYC. Only Logan left her at the bus station and for the past 8 years Amber has struggled to get by. She's got a shoebox of an apartment and is working as a salesgirl but has discovered her passion - making and designing jewelry. Then Logan shows up on her doorstep - Amber tries to hide the sad facts of her life, but it's pretty plain to Logan that she's not doing well - she's lost weight, looks twice her age or so, and when she knocks over a screen it's pretty clear that she's living in her "workshop." Logan blackmails her into going back to Belle Rive to be the Magnolia Queen for their annual pilgrimage (he won't tell everyone about how awful her life is if she agrees).
Amber always swore she would never be Queen, as she always hated that sort of elitist activity that her mother loves so much, but she is kinda miserable in NYC and she misses her grandmother so there she is. Plus Logan's family's alternative pilgrimage has been combined into the main event this year, and his mother Gigi (a former showgirl) is the Chairman - something Amber's mother isn't thrilled about. Amber gradually starts to understand Logan's concern that his family be accepted into town society, for instance his grandmother is banned from joining the country club mainly due to her family. Can they survive the pilgrimage and work things out?
I'm a sucker for these girl goes away from her hometown but suffers sorts of stories and this one really works for me. Logan is my sort of hero, caring, compassionate and sexy. I feel for Amber when it seems Logan is a little *too* into the whole pilgimage thing, but they work it out. And you've gotta give the author props for *not* having Amber stayed a virgin for Logan or some other rediculousness that is only all too common. They don't even mention it, it's great! And the book even touches on serious seniors' issues, with MeeMaw having a gambling problem. Highly recommended.
