Magnolia by Krisit Cook

Book Description:
In Magnolia Branch, Mississippi, the Cafferty and Marsden families are southern 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 a baby boy and girl were born to the families at the same time, the perfect opportunity seemed to have finally arrived.

Jemma Cafferty and Ryder Marsden have no intention of giving in to their parents’ wishes. They’re only seventeen, for goodness’ sake, not to mention that one little problem: They hate each other! Jemma can’t stand Ryder’s nauseating golden-boy persona, and Ryder would like nothing better than to pretend stubborn Jemma doesn’t exist.

But when a violent storm ravages Magnolia Branch, it unearths Jemma’s and Ryder’s true feelings for each other as the two discover that the line between love and hate may be thin enough to risk crossing over.

My Thoughts:
I am a total sucker for romance. Especially when the 2 characters hate each other. It's all about the conflict. But not so much that you are rolling your eyes and are dying for the book to be over just so they can finally get together. Nope there has got to be a right about of conflict and attraction to make it good.

This book had all that I was hoping for and enjoyed it. Yes there were times when I did roll my eyes but it was still enjoyable. Even though you knew they would get together eventually it's all about the journey.

This story follows Jemma and Ryder who's mothers have tried to get these two together since they were born. And even though they were good friends when they were children. It became a different story when they got older. Now we follow them as Jemma does anything to stay away from Ryder and whenever they have to mingle together it ends in disaster.

Through out the story it leaves you with wondering what vile thing Ryder did to make Jemma hate him so. But of course it keeps you guess for a majority of the story.

When a huge storm is about to hit Ryder is asked to help Jemma and keep each other safe. Since both parents happen to leave town. And of course that is when sparks fly. And then when you think things could work out....disaster strikes once again and more conflict.

At least the reason why Jemma hated Ryder so much was understandable but then again I would've gotten over it, probably because I am way to lazy to hold a grudge.

Overall it's a cute contemporary romance for YA that's typical but entertaining.

Sexual Content: moderate (kissing and some innuendos)
Language: heavy (too many F words for my liking with other choice words)
Violence: mild
Drugs/Alcohol: moderate (underage drinking)