Sherryl Woods - Where Azaleas Bloom

Theres no place like home, especially ifits Serenity, South Carolina

For more warm and inspiring stories of friendship, families andheartfelt emotions, dont miss the rest of the Sweet Magnolias series:

Stealing Home

A Slice of Heaven

Feels Like Family

Welcome to Serenity

Home in Carolina

Sweet Tea at Sunrise

Honeysuckle Summer

Midnight Promises

Catching Fireflies

Do you love to cook? Sherryl Woods shares delicious down-homeSouthern recipes and exclusive behind-the-scenes stories in The Sweet Magnolias Cookbook . Available now!

Looking for even more? Check out the Chesapeake Shores series,and dozens of other titles by New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods, all available in ebook format.

Woods is noted for appealing, character-driven stories thatare often infused with the flavor and fragrance of the South. Library Journal

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New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Sherryl Woods explores the healing power ofa love strong enough to join two wounded families

Single mom Lynn Morrow is determined to put food on the tablefor her son and daughter. Her soon-to-be-ex-husband has failed to meet hisobligations time and againbut it turns out that Ed is struggling with his owndemons.

Enter contractor Mitch Franklin, an unlikely knight inshining armor. A widower with two grieving sons, Mitch once admired Lynn fromafar. Now he sees in her not only the sweet girl who got away, but a womandesperately in need of support. While rushing to the rescue of Lynn and herchildren comes naturally, hes also wise enough to encourage Lynn to find herown wayhopefully straight into his arms.

Also by NewYork Times and USATODAY bestselling author SherrylWoods

CATCHING FIREFLIES*
MIDNIGHT PROMISES*
THESUMMER GARDEN***
AN OBRIEN FAMILY CHRISTMAS***
BEACHLANE***
MOONLIGHT COVE***
DRIFTWOOD COTTAGE***
RETURN TO ROSECOTTAGE
HOME AT ROSE COTTAGE
A CHESAPEAKE SHORESCHRISTMAS***
HONEYSUCKLE SUMMER*
SWEET TEA AT SUNRISE*
HOME INCAROLINA*
HARBOR LIGHTS***
FLOWERS ON MAIN***
THE INN AT EAGLEPOINT***
WELCOME TO SERENITY*
SEAVIEW INN
MENDINGFENCES
FEELS LIKE FAMILY*
A SLICE OF HEAVEN*
STEALINGHOME*
WAKING UP IN CHARLESTON
FLIRTING WITH DISASTER
THE BACKUPPLAN
DESTINY UNLEASHED
FLAMINGO DINER
ALONG CAMETROUBLE**
ASK ANYONE**
ABOUT THAT MAN**
ANGEL MINE
AFTERTEX

*A Sweet Magnolia Novel
**TrinityHarbor
***Chesapeake Shores
The Rose Cottage Sisters

Look for Sherryl Woodss next originalnovel
CASTLES BY THE SEA
Available May 2013

W hen Lynn walked next door on Tuesdayevening for the Sweet Magnolias margarita gathering, she was relieved to findthat Helen had arrived ahead of her. Though Helen seemed to be engrossed insupervising younger women in the fine art of making margaritas, Lynn was able topull her aside.

Did Ed get a check to you today to reimburse you for thatloan? Lynn asked.

Helen nodded. Surprised the heck out of me, to be honest.Howd you know?

He stopped by the house to scold me for upsetting hissecretary and for stealing from petty cash, Lynn said, fighting a grin. Iguess I stirred up more of a hornets nest than Id realized. Noelle apparentlygave him quite an earful.

Good for her, Helen enthused.

I know. Yea, sisterhood! Lynn said. And when I told Ed whyId done it, I think I could have knocked him over with a feather.

No doubt, Helen said. He was still looking chagrined when Isaw him. He delivered the check personally and assured me it would never happenagain.

Did you believe him?

Helen shrugged.

Me, neither, Lynn said. Oh, he looked shocked by what JimmyBob did, disappearing the way he has and not making payments, but having him asthe fall guy is probably very convenient. We only have Eds word that heactually gave that money to Jimmy Bob in the first place.

My thoughts, as well, Helen said.

Any leads on Jimmy Bobs whereabouts?

Unfortunately, no. And we go to court on Friday for anotherhearing. I have no idea what to expect. Could be a last-minute postponement oran absent lawyer. I can tell you the judge wont be happy if Jimmy Bob justfails to show up. Hal Cantor hates having his time wasted, especially by anattorney who should know better.

That could work in our favor, couldnt it? Lynn askedhopefully.

In the long run, possibly, but short-term hell have no choicebut to grant Ed a continuance. He wont allow him to continue without legalrepresentation. Id like to get this settled once and for all so you can getyour life back on an even keel.

No one wants that more than I do, Lynn said fervently.

Helen glanced around, clearly looking to make sure they werestill alone. Can I ask you something? Do you know why Ed wants this divorce sobadly?

Lynn frowned at what seemed to be an obvious question. Hedoesnt love me anymore. Hes made that plain. Earlier he all but told me Idexpected too much from him from the beginning.

Is there another woman?

Lynn hesitated, then shook her head. Not that I know of. To beblunt, our sex life never exactly burned up the sheets, so its not as if itsuddenly cooled down. And even if I were the stereotypical clueless wife, dontyou think someone else in town would have dropped a hint by now? Grace usuallyfinds out everything.

Could be whoever hes seeing isnt local, Helen speculated.He has been going out of town a lot, supposedly on golfing trips, right?

Thats what Ive heard, Lynn said. It kinda surprised me,because Ed wasnt into golf at all when we got married. He only took it upbecause of business. A lot of clients like going to the club to play. I thinkthe day Ed joined that country club was the proudest day of his life, barringnone. Not even our wedding day or the birth of our kids ever seemed to mean asmuch to him. He equated getting in with success. Not that it was any bigsurprise, since his father was a founding member.

Helen nodded, her expression thoughtful.

What are you thinking? Lynn asked, puzzled by this whole lineof questioning.

Nothing, really, Helen insisted. You know how nature abhorsa vacuum. My minds the same way. When Im missing a piece of a puzzle, I canthelp trying to find things that might fit.

Lynn had no idea what to make of that, but before she couldpursue it, the front door opened and more guests poured in, including FloDecatur. Helen took one look at her mother, muttered an excuse to Lynn andmarched purposefully in Flos direction. Two seconds later, Flos eyes wereflashing sparks and shed latched onto her daughters arm and dragged heroutside.

Uh-oh, Maddie Maddox murmured in Lynns ear. Somebodys introuble.

Lynn chuckled. Really? Helen? What could she possibly havedone to tick off Flo?

Im not sure, but I think it might have something to do withHelen figuring out that her mother has a boyfriend. I imagine Helen objects.She grinned. What I wouldnt give to be a fly on the wall for thatconversation. Two stubborn, immovable women on a collision course.

Lynn gave her a conspiratorial look and suggested in jest, Wecould open the windows. Its a nice night.

Maddie gave her a long look, then burst out laughing. Youregoing to be the perfect addition to this crowd. She winked. Lets do it.