Wallflower in Bloom

Book excerpt: "Wallflower in Bloom is absolutely, hands-down, Claire Cook's best novel to date. Cook's characters are delightful and quirky, and the storyline is fast paced and lively with just the right touch of humor and romance. Slip on your dancing shoes and enjoy a few spins around the floor with this charming novel!"—Fresh Fiction Deirdre Griffin has a great life; it’s just not her own. She’s the around-the-clock personal assistant to her charismatic, high-maintenance, New Age guru brother Tag. As the family wallflower, her only worth seems to be as gatekeeper to Tag at his New England seaside compound. Then Deirdre’s sometime boyfriend informs her that he is marrying another woman, who just happens to be having the baby he told Deirdre he never wanted. While drowning her sorrows in Tag’s expensive vodka, Deirdre decides to use his massive online following to get herself voted on as a last-minute Dancing with the Stars replacement. It’ll get her back in shape, mentally and physically. It might even get her a life of her own. Deirdre’s fifteen minutes of fame have begun. Irresistible and offbeat, Wallflower in Bloom is an original and deeply satisfying story of having the courage to take a leap into the spotlight, no matter where you land. From the critically acclaimed and New York Times bestselling author of Must Love Dogs—a winning and witty novel about a woman who emerges from the shadow of her overbearing family and finds herself dancing with the stars. “A fun-filled romp of a middle-aged woman coming into her own. Through Claire Cook’s skilled narrative, readers won’t realize till the very end they’ve been taught a wonderful lesson. It is never too late to find your place in the world.”—San Francisco Book Review “A fun and inspiring read . . . Cook’s humor and narrative execution are impeccable.”— Publishers Weekly “Filled with sweet humor and all the eye-rolling moments of jumbled yet ultimately loving family relations, romance, and coming into one’s own, this women’s fiction is a definite pleaser.”— Booklist “Cook’s penchant for hitting the emotional sore spot and combining it with humor hits the mark. … A thoroughly enjoyable and amusing read, this story is sure to delight.”—New York Journal of Books “Cook has a light, fun voice and always infuses her stories with great wit and heart.”—Cape Cod Times “The perfect summer read . . . Showcases Cook’s ability to create likable, realistic characters who are placed in situations in which they must do some serious soul searching–and the reader will love the results.”—Examiner “The exuberant and charming Claire Cook is one of the sassiest and funniest creators of contemporary women’s fiction.”—The Times-Picayune “Claire Cook has built a brand writing women’s fiction blending kernels of the absurd and comedic in compulsively readable combinations.”— Shelf Awareness “Claire Cook has an original voice, sparkling style, and a window into family life that will make you laugh and cry.”—Adriana Trigiani “A master in creating funny, warm, relatable characters you root for from the very first page.”— Allison Winn Scotch “Inimitably warm and witty . . . Tender, touching, and terribly, terribly funny!”—Mary Kay Andrews “Charming, engagingly quirky, and full of fun, Claire Cook just gets it.”—Meg Cabot “Reading Claire Cook might be the most fun you have all summer.”—Elin Hilderbrand