To my spectacular agent, Sarah Younger, thank you for believing in me, and for busting your ass to help make this book the best that it could be. My dream wouldn’t have come true without your faith, frankness, support, and hard work. You are truly a blessing in my life.
To my editor, Tiffany Shelton, and your wonderful team at St. Martin’s Griffin. Your passion and excitement for this book inspired me, and made me work harder than I thought possible. I hope our hard work enriches the lives of our readers, the way it enriched ours.
And to the very first people who read this book for me—my best friend, Lulu Lin, Eleanor Welke, Traci Critton, and author Jennifer Hoopes. Thank you for your loving support and for helping me believe in myself as a writer. Without you, I would not have finished this book.
To Judi Lauren, my freelance editor, who did my very first professional editorial letter. Thank you for convincing me not to shelve this book, and also for introducing me to Sonya Weiss, my straight-shooting mentor. Sonya, you taught me so much about writing and about life. You are an inspiration.
To my baker friend, Allison Holcher, thank you for coming into my life at the perfect moment—literally not a day too late or early—to create a delicious, A Sweet Mess–inspired cookie recipe for my readers. You are too sweet. And to Simone Dole, thank you for teaching me everything about the ins and outs of running a bakery. Aubrey sounds realistic and knowledgeable about running a bakery because of your help. Also, to the lovely duo of Shaida Kafe-ee and Luis Armando Gomez, thank you for patiently teaching me about the intricacies of commercial real estate and the work that goes into leasing a new location for a bakery.
And to my dearest family, thank you so very much for always being there for me. Especially to my dad, a poet, for giving me the writing gene, and my mom for teaching me the tenacity to persevere against all odds. I know your hearts broke to watch me struggle, but I hope you will be healed as I have been through the publication of this book, and the hope it carries with it. Now, I want your hearts to soar not sink when you watch me, because my struggles have made me stronger and made me the truest version of myself. Thank you for loving me without faltering through every stage of my journey. Your constant, unconditional faith in me is everything.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JAYCI LEE writes poignant, sexy, and laugh-out-loud romance every free second she can scavenge and is semi-retired from her fifteen-year career as a defense litigator. She loves food, wine, and travelling, and incidentally so do her characters. Jayci lives in sunny California with her tall-dark-and-handsome husband, two amazing boys with boundless energy, and a fluffy rescue whose cuteness is a major distraction. She is the author of A Sweet Mess. You can sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Bulgogi Recipe
Pecan Cranberry Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
First published in the United States by St. Marin’s Griffin, an imprint of the St. Martin’s Publishing Group
A SWEET MESS. Copyright © 2020 by Judith J. Yi. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Publishing Group, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.
www.stmartins.com
Cover art: cake (c) Kathykonkle/Getty Images
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Names: Lee, Jayci, author.
Title: A sweet mess / Jayci Lee.
Description: First edition. | New York : St. Martin’s Griffin, 2020. |
Identifiers: LCCN 2020001336 | ISBN 9781250621108 (trade paperback) | ISBN 9781250621115 (ebook)
Subjects: GSAFD: Love stories.
Classification: LCC PS3612.E2239 S94 2020 | DDC 813/.6—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020001336
e-ISBN 9781250621115
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First Edition: 2020