SOLVED. southern murder mystery set in summertime [s]

[Michelle]

I read this book sometime between 2007-2013 and cannot for the life of me recall the title or any characters names. I recall that I loaned it to my Grandma and she could not get into it because the narrative had a strong southern way of speaking. Some of the following remembered plot points may have spoilers: I think the title was longish and may have had something nature related in it(a bug or a flower or something) One of the main characters had an odd name. Either one of the main characters or the author has a first name thatstarts with a T. The main characters mother is not in the picture and she is raised by an aunt or grandmother or something. She does not know who her father is but I believe it is revealed in the book and it is someone she knows. There is a murder in the town, I believe at some point the main girl is also nearly strangled to death. I think the killer is a young man that she likes, perhaps a life guard or camp counselor or something... I think the cover had purples and yelloiws and i think I can recall many mentions of song titles throughout the book... Ihave spent like an hour on google and am ready to pull my hair out lol. Please, if ANY of this sounds familiar please let me know, I could be intertwining novels together...

[☯ DαякєηRнαℓ ❛ ᶜʳᵒᵘᶜʰᶤᶰᵍ ʰᵘᵐᵃᶰ ; ʰᶤᵈᵈᵉᶰ ᵗᶤᵗᵃᶰ ❜]

This is such a long shot, but really some points do match up, so just for in case, here is my suggestion. Pardon if it's way off base.

Dead Until Dark

[Michelle]

Thank you for the suggestion, but I have not ever read anything by Charlaine Harris. (My boyfriend keeps telling me I should so maybe someday I will lol) I greatly appreciate the input though and encourage anyone else to give it a shot!

[Michelle]

I did not cease my googling and located it, I was intertwining two novels by Lesley Kagan, "Whistling in the dark" and "Land of a hundred wonders." I'm so excited that I figured it out! Thanks!!