Sherryl Woods - Sweet Tea at Sunrise

Dear Readers,

Welcome back to Serenity for Sarahs story! The Sweet Magnolias series is all about long-standing friendships, and the one between Annie, Sarah and Raylene, despite an interruption by time and distance, is now stronger than ever.

Many of you may identify with Sarahs self-esteem issues. I know there have been times in my life when I certainly would have. And for a woman like Sarah, whose husband planted seeds of doubt in her head for many years, finding her way back to being self-confident cant happen overnight.

It seems at first glance that a sweet-talking man like Travis McDonald is exactly what Sarah needs, but will she find the courage to trust his pretty words? Recovering from years of self-doubt isnt easy, but Travis is a determined, patient man, one definitely worthy of loving.

I hope youll enjoy their story, along with catching up with a very unexpected turn of events for Mary Vaughn and Sonny. For me one of the greatest joys of writing these books is the chance to catch up with old friends. I hope youll feel the same way, and that youll be anxiously awaiting the conclusion of this latest Sweet Magnolias trilogy, Honeysuckle Summer, in stores next month.

All best,

F or a few days now the same man, clad in snug denim and a T-shirt that caressed impressive biceps, had spent precisely thirty minutes in the back booth at Whartons, lounging against the red vinyl as if he owned the place, and studying Sarah as if he found her to be the most fascinating creature on the planet. No man had looked at her like that since shed first crossed paths with her ex-husband back in college. And even before the divorce, it had been a couple of years since Walter had regarded her with that degree of interest. It was unnerving.

Of course, a lot about her life these days was unnerving. With a whole lot of support from her two best friends, Annie Sullivan Townsend and Raylene Hammond, Sarah had finally gotten up the gumption to divorce Walter andequally importanthis entire controlling, uptight family. Shed fought to win custody of her two kids, Tommy and Libby.

And, mostly in the interest of getting out of the house and doing something, shed taken a part-time job waiting on tables at Whartons, where just about everyone in Serenity congregated at one time or another during the week. It might not be making use of her degree in elementary education, but it was surprisingly satisfying. Shed discovered she had a knack for getting people to open up, a necessity in a restaurant that prided itself on being the hotbed of local gossip.

No one, however, seemed to have any idea of who the mysterious man in that back booth might be. Sarah had asked.

Just now, shed even asked the man himself point-blank if he was new in town, here to stay or just passing through. He responded with a slow, sexy, dimpled grin that had unexpectedly sent her recently comatose libido into overdrive.

I suppose I could be persuaded to stay if the right offer came along, he said in a low voice that hummed across her senses. You offerin, sugar?

Sarah was so taken aback by the flirtatious question, she scurried straight off to the kitchen to place his order. It was one thing to chat up old man Watson from the feed and grain, or the town mayor, whom shed known since she was in diapers. It was quite another to have a man with dreamy eyes and a voice that could lure a woman straight to bed act almost as if he wanted to take herwell, straight to bed.

Which, of course, he didnt. She knew that. Hadnt she heard often enough about all her flawsher weight, her disorganization, her lack of mothering skillsfrom her ex-husband? In retaliation for her decision to file for divorce before he had a chance to, Walter had made it his personal mission in life to see that she had not one shred of self-esteem left by the time they ended their marriage. Worse, even knowing that he was just being his ornery old self, shed been so low that shed taken every mean-spirited word to heart.

In the past few months, shed worked hard to get herself back into shape. Annie had been her personal trainer at The Corner Spa, and Sarah had finally knocked off most of the weight shed gained during two pregnancies. She had another ten pounds shed like to sweat off, but if it didnt happen, well, she could live with that, too. Despite her success, though, she sometimes still saw herself through Walters eyes, which annoyed the daylights out of her friends. It irked her, too, but the stream of a few years of nonstop criticism was embedded so deep, it was almost impossible to shake.

Grace, you need to take that burger and fries to table nine, she told the owner of the old-fashioned soda fountain. The down-home cooking continued to bring in business even now that the pharmacy side of the operation was taking a hit from some of the bigger discount pharmacies in the region. In Sarahs opinion it was friendly service and gossip that had kept it afloat.

Grace Wharton eyed her curiously. Why would you suddenly want to turn a man who looks like that and tips like a city slicker over to me?

Just do it, please, Sarah pleaded, not wanting to admit he made her nervous.

Graces eyes narrowed. Did he say something to offend you? If he did, Ill throw him out of here on his backside, attractive though that backside might be.

Sarah turned pink with embarrassment. No, he was just joking around, thats all. You know, flirting the way some guys do. I should be used to it.

Grace observed her thoughtfully. Seems to me you could use a sweet-talkin stranger to put a little color back into your cheeks.

I most definitely do not need a man, Sarah declared emphatically. I just got rid of the one I had.