Wednesday 8 August 2018

Book ~ "Beach Town" (2015) Mary Kay Andrews

From Goodreads ~ Greer Hennessy needs palm trees.

As a movie location scout, picture-perfect is the name of the game. But her last project literally went up in flames and her career is on the verge of flaming out. Greer has been given one more chance, if she can find the perfect undiscovered beach hideaway for a big-budget movie. She zeroes in on a sleepy Florida panhandle town called Cypress Key. There's one motel, a marina, a long stretch of pristine beach and an old fishing pier with a community casino-which will be perfect for the film's explosive climax.

There's just one problem. Eben Thibadeaux, the town mayor, completely objects to Greer's plan. A lifelong resident of Cypress Key, Eben wants the town to be revitalized, not commercialized. After a toxic paper plant closed, the bay has only recently been reborn and Eb has no intention of letting anybody screw with his town again. But Greer has a way of making things happen, regardless of obstacles. And Greer and Eb are way too attracted to each other for either of them to see reason.

Between an ambitious director and his entourage-including a spoiled "It Boy" lead actor who parachute into town, a conniving local ex-socialite and a cast of local fangirls and opportunists who catch the movie bug, nothing is going to be the same in Cypress Key. Now Greer is forced to make some hard choices: about the people and the town she's come to care about and about her own life. True love is only for the movies, right? Can Greer find a way to be the heroine in her own life story?

Greer is a scout and travelling around Florida for the perfect location for a soon-to-be-made movie.  She has a big list of "need-to-haves" and finds the perfect spot in Cypress Key.  Filming starts right away, the script isn't even finished, and the cast and crew take over the town.  There is tension between Greer and Eb, the mayor ... Greer is focused on getting the movie made (and keeping her job) and Eb is concerned about preserving the town after a paper plant had left.  It doesn't help that they are attracted to each other.

As the filming begins, everything doesn't go as smoothly as it should.  The rapper-turned-actor male star isn't on his best behavior, the director is moody and demanding, a permit is being denied and Greer's long-lost father tries to connect with her.

I've read a few books by this author and I liked this one.  I liked the writing style and found the storyline entertaining (it's a fun summer book).  It is written in third person perspective focusing on Greer and Eb.  As a head's up, there is swearing and adult activity. 

I liked the characters.  There was an array of different personalities.  I liked Greer ... she had a lot going on in her life.  I liked Eb too ... he seemed to be everything to everybody.  Aunt Gin seemed gruff but was caring.  Eb's teenage niece, Allie, wasn't annoying and was fairly well-behaved and responsible.  I found CeeJay, Greer's best friend who was the make-up artist on the movie, a bit too "whatever" about her relationship with the director, though.

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