ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I’ve been waiting about six years to write these acknowledgments, and whenever I remember (about three times per day) that this book is, in fact, going to be published, I am overcome with the wildest joy. I still can’t believe that Romina and Alex will soon be out of my computer and in the hands of readers. To my amazing agent, Taylor Haggerty, who helped me polish the manuscript and who loves (this fictionalized version of) Moonville as much as I do—thank you, thank you, thank you. And thank you also to Jasmine Brown, Taylor’s assistant, for everything you do.

Putnam! You’re my heroes for making this dream come true. Kate Dresser, it was such a pleasure to work together on this book; because of you, Old Flames and New Fortunes is ten times more magical. Thank you, Tarini Sipahimalani, for all of your hard work. Eternal gratitude to everyone at Putnam who’s had, or will have, a hand in making this book the best it can be and bringing it to the world: Nicole Biton, Lara Robbins, Emily Leopold, Ashley McClay, Alexis Welby, Emily Mileham, Maija Baldauf, Marie Finamore, Ashley Tucker, Vikki Chu, Hope Breeman, Dorian Hastings, and Sally Kim.

One of the best parts of being an author is finding other authors who are My Kind Of People. Martha Waters, Sarah Grunder Ruiz, Chloe Liese, Zoulfa Katouh, Mazey Eddings, Sarah Adler, and everyone else I have had the incredible luck of celebrating romance with—you are diamonds. Please keep writing books that make us all laugh and swoon forever.

Shout-out to Nida, Bushra, Suhi Samannaz, Iqra, and Michelle Anwar for your kind help with my queries regarding Wafting Crescent. A huge debt of gratitude to the sources I used for floral meanings throughout the book: Garden Spells by Claire Nahmad, The Artistic Language of Flowers published by George Routledge & Sons, gardenofedenflowershop.com, countryliving.com, and notableinklings.wordpress.com. Any errors or creative license in meaning are mine alone.

A million hugs and kisses as always to my family, for making my life such a sweet one, and to my readers, who make it feel surreal. I am so grateful for each and every one of you.