Magnolia

Author: Kristi Cook

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Publisher: Simon Pulse, 2014

Pages: 336

Rating: Recommend

Synopsis: Jemma and Ryder are far from friends—until a storm stirs up their passion in this contemporary southern romance from New York Times bestselling author Kristi Cook.

In Magnolia Branch, Mississippi, The Cafferty and Marsden families are practically royalty. Neighbors since the Civil War, the families have shared vacations, holidays, backyard barbecues, and the overwhelming desire to unite their two clans by marriage. So when the families finally have a baby boy and girl at the same time, the perfect opportunity seems to have arrived.

Except Jemma Cafferty and Ryder Marsden have no intention of giving in to their parents’ wishes. They’re only seventeen—oh, and also? They hate each other. Jemma can’t stand Ryder’s nauseating golden-boy persona, and Ryder would prefer it if stubborn-headed Jemma didn’t exist. And their communication is not exactly effective: even a casual hello turns into a yelling match.

But when a violent Mississippi storm ravages through Magnolia Branch, it unearths feelings Jemma and Ryder didn’t know they had. And the line between love and hate just might be thin enough to cross…

Review: Once I got past the YA vernacular this ended up being a pretty cute read. I couldn't help think throughout how good this would be as the premise for adult fiction. I had expected there to be a bit more historical fiction sprinkled throughout somehow, but again, it was a cute story.

This book could have done without the f bomb the couple times it was dropped, and the sexual innuendos. YA fiction certainly has taken on a more risque tone since I was a 14-17 year old, which is the age range for whom this book is recommended. That said, this isn't a book I'd want my 14 year old reading for those reasons.