Sweet Tea at Sunrise. Sherryl Woods

Sweet Tea at Sunrise
Sherryl Woods
Published: MIRA
Date: 2010
Format: Paperback
Pages: 389
Genre: Contemporary romance
Source: Local library

Emotionally wounded single mom Sarah Price has come home to Serenity, South Carolina, for a fresh start. With support from her two best friends; the newest generation of the Sweet Magnolias; she can face any crisis.

But sometimes a woman needs more than even treasured friends can provide. Sexy Travis McDonald may be exactly what Sarah's battered self-confidence requires. The newcomer is intent on getting Sarah to work at his fledgling radio station; and maybe into his bed, as well.

Sarah has learned not to trust sweet words. She'll measure the man by his actions. Is Travis the one to heal her heart? Or will he break it again?

Sweet Tea at Sunrise is #6 in the Sweet Magnolia series.  It is the second one in a trilogy about the younger generation in this South Carolina town.  It is the story of Sarah, friend of Annie and Raylene who is now living with Sarah.

Sarah has come through a difficult divorce, her past husband eroded her self-esteem by continually picking on her and pointing out her faults.  Therefore it is difficult for her to believe it when Travis starts to pay attention to her.  Unlike her past husband - Walter, he has only positive things to say. Will she believe him?

Sarah is a great mother, a forgiving woman and also a talented one.  I loved seeing her go from strength to strength on the new local radio station.  It was also interesting to see how her relationship develops with Travis and alongside that how Walter is tangled up in it all.  Travis' dad is not a great role model and for quite awhile Sarah seems to get mixed up with the idea that the apple does not fall far from the tree!  What is Travis real nature, is he is own man and can Sarah trust him.  I loved Raylene's gentle prodding in this area.  

All the usual characters waft in and out of the story, it seems a lot of them are pregnant, so the town is soon to have a boost in population.  Sherryl Woods always writes a good story and this one is just that.

Home in Carolina. Sherryl Woods

Home in Carolina
Sherryl Woods
Published: MIRA
Date: 2010
Format: Paperback
Pages: 375
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Local Library

There's no place like home, especially if it's Serenity, South Carolina. For Annie Sullivan, though, the homecoming is bittersweet. She'd always envisioned a life there with her childhood best friend, Tyler Townsend. But Ty's betrayal has cost her the family and the future they'd once planned.

For Ty, losing Annie was heartbreaking. Still, he can't imagine life without the three-year-old son whose mother left him for Ty to raise. Ty wants it all; Annie, his child and the future he'd dreamed about; and he's back home in Serenity to fight for it. But getting Annie to forgive and forget may be the hardest challenge he's ever faced. With the stakes so high, this is one game he can't afford to lose.

Home in Carolina is the fifth book in Sherryl Wood's Sweet Magnolia series.  Like the previous ones I enjoyed it, although I had one reservation.

We met Ty and Annie is the earlier books when Ty was struggling with his parents' divorce and his own promising possible future as a baseball player.  Now he is back in town to recuperate from an injury and with him is his son Ty.  

Annie has recovered from her bout with anorexia, and is now a sports injury therapist at the local women's spa.  When Ty returns she is not keen to meet up with him again because of his betrayal of her.

However Ty is out to woo her and win her back, knowing their love is deeper than she acknowledges. Yet the appearance on the scene of the mother of Ty's son seems to throw a huge curve ball not only for Ty but for Annie too.

I enjoyed the plot line and the addition of two of Annie's friends, between them they seem to be assembling a junior version of the Sweet Magnolias.  I can see that Sarah and Raylene will most likely feature in future books.

What I did quibble with a little was Annie, I just didn't enjoy her on again, off again attitude. Sure she had some reason to be cautious but I think the time was long past for that and it was time to be there for Ty.

Angel Mine. Sherryl Woods

Angel Mine
Sherry Woods
Published: Brilliance Audio
Date: 2013
Format: Audiobook
Length: 9hrs 28min
Narrator: Christina Traister
Genre: Contemporary romance
Source:Own Book

Heather Reed thought she was making the right choice when she decided to raise her daughter, Angel, on her own. But three years later, Heather realizes she needs help. Her career as an actress is faltering, and Angel’s more than she can handle alone. It’s time to track down Angel’s father…only problem is, he doesn’t know Angel exists.

Heather’s search leads her to Whispering Wind, Wyoming. If Todd Winston is dismayed to see his old girlfriend show up in town, he’s shocked when he looks into the angelic eyes of the little girl who is clearly his daughter. Todd flatly refuses to open his life to Angel. Heather flatly refuses to leave town until she finds out why. Amazingly, they discover that through compromise and understanding lies the road straight to family.

Angel Mine was a very pleasant enjoyable listen.  Christine Traister did an admirable narration that kept me engaged and I am certain it added to the story in general.

This is the story of Heather who arrives in a small town in Wyoming to introduce her daughter to her Daddy.  Unsuspecting Todd is taken completely by surprise.  Because of an incident in his childhood when he had been watching his sister, Todd is wary of children and doesn't see himself as father material.  Heather and the inimitable  three year old Angel, set about changing attitudes and beliefs.

There is also a small cast of minor characters that flesh out the book and give it a warm, small town, family appeal.  It is pretty much a typical Sherryl Woods story that I enjoy.

Welcome to Serenity Sherryl Woods

Welcome to Serenity
Sherryl Woods
Published: Harlequin Mira
Date: 2008
Format: Paperback
Pages: 408
Genre: Contemporary romance
Source: Own book

When Jeanette Brioche helped launch The Corner Spa in Serenity, South Carolina, she found a whole lot more than professional satisfaction. She discovered the deep and loyal friendships that had been missing from her life. But even the Sweet Magnolias can't mend the terrible rift between Jeanette and her family or persuade her that the holidays are anything more than a season of misery.Pushed into working on the town's much-loved annual Christmas festival, Jeanette teams up with the sexy new town manager. Tom McDonald may be the only person in Serenity who's less enthused about family and the holidays than she is.

But with tree decorations going up on the town square and a bit of romance in the air, Jeanette and Tom take a fresh look at the past and a hopeful look into the future. Together they discover that this just may be a season of miracles after all.

Welcome to Serenity is #4 in Sherryl Woods' Meddling Sweet Magnolia series.  This one was every bit as enjoyable as the previous books and for all the same reasons.  A small town group of people who on the whole get on well together, support each other and are there when it counts.

Jeanette works at the spa and it is her turn to find someone to love.  She has a sad background that has caused a rift from her parents, not of her making, but due to circumstance and illness.  She is not the quiet retiring type though, if someone steps on her toes she can deal with it and speak her mind.

Tom who is new to town has family issues too.  While he comes from a wealthy background he wants to make his own way and choose his own work.  This doesn't please his parents, especially his Mom, who is a little bit of a snob - which is putting it mildly.

With the help of Dana Sue, Maddie and Helen - all in the background of course - Jeanette and Tom begin to form a relationship with all the ups and downs along the way.  Tom is very keen, Jeanette a little more reluctant and dubious.  She sees Tom has having bigger ideas than Serenity and she does not want to leave the place.

As well we have a smaller story of Mary Vaughn and Sonny.  The were divorced ten years ago because Sonny didn't want to be second best in Mary Vaughn's eyes.  Now as time goes by, Mary Vaughn is beginning to see things differently, and she is also appreciative of the friendship forming between her and Jeanette.

Another enjoyable read in the series, I plan to read through most of the books in the series by the end of the year - I came to these books by reading #10 Swan Point!

A Slice of Heaven. Sherryl Woods

A Slice of Heaven
Sherryl Woods
Publisher: Mira
Date: 2007
Format: Paperback
Pages: 388
Genre: Contemporary
Source: Local library

Dana Sue might run the best little restaurant in Serenity, but when you're feeding a small town of neighbors, busybodies and best friends, things can get a bit hot in the kitchen. Never mind that she's putting on too many pounds (an occupational hazard for a chef)—she's worried about her too-skinny teenage daughter, Annie, who has been slowly starving herself since the loud, suitcase-tossing, name-calling fit on her front lawn that left Dana Sue minus one cheating husband.

But sometimes life picks strange ways to mend fences. When Annie lands in the hospital, Dana Sue reaches out to the man she loves to hate: Ron, the husband who took her heart when she tossed him out. Ron is still Annie's white knight, even if he's decidedly more tarnished in Dana Sue's eyes. But he still looks good enough to eat, and maybe, just maybe, to forgive. Once, Ron made the mistake of letting go without a proper fight. But now Dana Sue is about to get another taste of sweet devotion from a man tired of feeling like a fool, hungry for that slice of heaven he found with her.—

A Slice of Heaven by Sherryl Woods is #2 in her Sweet Magnolias series.  It is a series that I am reading through, after reading Swan Point which is her latest in this series.

Dana Sue, Maddie and Helen are all good friends and I love how they support each other and also call each other to account when necessary.  This book is Dana Sue's story and that of Annie her daughter and Ronnie her husband.  Ronnie really regrets his one time that he had a one time fling with another woman.  He wants to woo Dana Sue back and he sets about it in a way that is hard for her to resist.

What really interested me in this book was the exploration of eating disorders.  Dana Sue had a mother who died from complications of diabetes, and now Dana Sue is at risk of developing the disease as well unless she takes steps to prevent it getting out of hand.  It made me conscious of sugar!  It is not an easy thing to avoid.

However it is Annie's disease that I was really interested in.  Anorexia is a serious condition and I thought Sherryl Woods handled it well.  It affects the whole family when a person is taken over by it, has a variety of triggers and is not easy to overcome.  People with it are very wily - extraordinarily so.  I know as I have a sister who suffered with it.  She recovered but never to full health. Some recover, some don't. Fortunately in this book there is a process that is successful for Annie. 

I liked the glimpses of Maddie and her family life and the part played by Ty in Annie's recovery. That boy sure knows how to speak his mind!  He is going to be someone to contend with. I hope one day he gets his own book.

Sweet Magnolias

Stealing Home

A Slice of Heaven

Feels Like Family

Welcome to Serenity

Home to Carolina

Sweet Tea at Sunrise

Midnight Promises

Catching Fireflies

Where Azaleas Bloom

Swan Point

Stealing Home. Sherryl Woods

Stealing Home
Sherryl Woods
Publisher: Brilliance Audio Inc
Date: 2010
Format: Audiobook
Length: 10 hrs 32 min
Narrator: Janet Metzger
Source: Own book

Maddie Townsend might live in a town called Serenity, but there's been nothing calm or peaceful about her life since her marriage broke up. This stay-at-home mom has no job skills, an out-of-control sixteen-year-old son, a talkative fourteen-year-old who's suddenly gone silent, a six-year-old daughter whose heart is broken, an ex-husband whose younger girlfriend is expecting their baby and two best friends who think she's somehow qualified to help them open a fitness spa for women. But if Maddie is a tad on edge with all that on her plate, it's nothing compared to the chaos that ensues when she discovers that her son's baseball coach has feelings for her and the whole town disapproves. Maddie's faced a lot of challenges lately with strength and resolve, but Cal Maddox may turn out to be more than she can handle. Then again, he could just be the one man in all of South Carolina who can help her find serenity.

Stealing Home is #1 in the Sweet Magnolias series by Sherryl Woods.  I read #11 first, so they can stand alone, but I enjoyed Swan Point her latest in this series, so much I have gone back to begin at the beginning.  I like these kind of books - they are about rethinking life, looking at the choices you have made and sometimes starting out again.  If you have reached or passed mid-life then you probably know what I mean.

Maddie is a great mother and just a downright lovely woman.  She is just a little unsure of herself, while her husband has furthered his career she has been a supportive stay at home wife.  When her husband leaves her for a younger woman Maddie is thrown.  But not for long, she has guts and some very good friends - Helen a lawyer and Dana Sue who runs a restaurant.  With their help Maddie is on her feet again and taking big strides in finding out who she is now.

Cal, the local coach of softball, finds that he is attracted to Maddie and his boss - the local Principal, takes a rather self righteous affront to the growing relationship.  We also gain insight into what is happening for Bill, Maddie's soon to be ex husband and his new woman - Noreen. I rather appreciated Noreen in the end and I thought she made some wise decisions.

Maddie's eldest son Tye is a talented softball player, however his parents pending divorce is upsetting for him and he is off his game.  I liked the three children and enjoyed the moment when Tye has a strong casting vote.  Divorce is an unsettling time for children and this book, gently explores that issue.

Janet Metzger narrated the book well, I enjoyed listening to her and I am looking forward to reading through the rest of the books in this series.

Swan Point Sherryl Woods

Swan Point
Sherryl Woods
Published: Harlequin MIRA
Date: 29th July 2014
Format: e-ARC
Pages: 368
Genre: Contemporary
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Determined to build a new life for her family after her divorce, Adelia Hernandez has bought a home in the historic Swan Point neighborhood of Serenity. Promoted to manager of Main Street's most fashionable boutique, she feels revitalized and ready for a fresh start as a single mom. But barely into this new independent phase, she crosses paths with the sexiest man to hit Serenity in years.

Gabe Franklin, back in town to make amends for past mistakes, has no intention of settling down, but Adelia's proving irresistible. Cheered on by their friends, "the Sweet Magnolias," Gabe is bringing long-absent passion and laughter into Adelia's life. To his surprise—and hers—sometimes a rolling stone is just what it takes to build the rock-solid foundation of a family.

Swan Point is # 11 in Sherryl Woods Sweet Magnolias series.  It is set in the vicinity of Serenity, where a band of strong, caring women live and work - the Sweet Magnolias.  Each of these women have had their own challenges and come through on the other side.  They are willing to extend a hand of friendship and support to others in a time of need.  

I really enjoyed this book, I liked Adelia, a woman who was facing the challenge of bringing up her four children, after her husband has been unfaithful to her.  She's had to face the disapproval of family members who think marriage should last, whatever the circumstance.  Her children are pretty normal, and I liked the part Tomas and Serena played in the book.  I am never adverse to having children play the role of a cute or a strong character in my reading.

Gabe has returned to the area after some time away, he grew up in this neighborhood and has been the victim of scorn and derision, because of his mother, who had numerous lovers.  There is no easier way to wound a boy, that to taunt him about his mother.  Gabe earns a name as a troublemaker, yet his motive was to stand up for his mother.  At first he finds it a struggle to accept the gossip side of the town.  Go somewhere, do something, kiss someone and the message spreads like wildfire!

Adelia and Gabe begin to develop a good relationship, and Gabe wins the hearts of Adelia's three girls and Tomas.  He brings back 'family' for them, being a father to them in a way their own father never has.  However is this going anywhere?  Adelia's family are on the watch, the Sweet Magnolias are putting in their penny's worth, and Adelia's divorced husband begins to wield his own ways of putting a spanner in the works.  Gabe too is used to spending only a certain time in a place before moving on.  Does he want the responsibility of a ready made family?

This is the kind of small town series that I really enjoy, there is friendship, family, loyalty, support in times of challenges and the fun of everyone working towards the best outcome.  

Wind Chime Point. Sherryl Woods

Wind Chime Point
Sherryl Woods
Published: Harlequin Mira 2013
Format:Paperback
Pages: 393
Genre: Contemporary
Source: Own book

Facing a personal crisis, ambitious and driven Gabriella Castle retreats to the welcoming arms of her family. Everything she's worked for has been yanked out from under her, and she seeks the serenity of her grandmother's home on the North Carolina coast. With difficult decisions to make about her future, the last thing she wants is an unexpected love.

Wade Johnson fell for Gabi the first time he saw her. It's not the only time he's found himself in the role of knight in shining armor, but Gabi isn't looking for a rescuer. To get her to stay, Wade will need a whole lot of patience and gentle persuasion and maybe the soothing sound of wind chimes on a summer breeze.

This is the second book in the Ocean Breeze novels by Sherryl Woods.  Gabriella has lost her job and  has returned to the arms of her family and her ever wise grandmother Cora Jane.  I was surprised that anyone in today's world (even in a book) would lose a job for the reason given to Gabriella.  However it is an opportunity for her to reassess her life, and to stop and seek out what really speaks to her heart.  Even if she was given her old job back would she take it? Or was it a job that sucked her dry, and was a means to obtain the approval of her distant father.

Wade we met in the first book in this series, and the ever scheming Cora Jane had plans for him besides building cabinets for her restaurant.  Wade waits an enormously long time for Gabriella to sort herself out, ever patient, ever willing to give Gabriella all the space she needs as she sorts through her issues and fears.

In this book Sam, the girls father shows signs of significant change, and he takes a special interest also in Jimmy who aspires to study and become a biomedical engineer.  This makes an interesting minor story as Wade and the family set out to help Jimmy make his dream come true.

A gentle, family orientated story - a very mild romance.

Ocean Breeze Novels.

1. Sand Castle Bay

2. Wind Chime Point

3. Sea Glass Island

Sand Castle Bay by Sherryl Woods

Sand Castle Bay
Sherryl Woods
Published: Harlequin Mira
Date: 2013
Format: Paperback
Pages: 376
Genre: Contemporary romance
Source: own book

In a trade-off she's lived to regret, Emily Castle left home years ago to become an interior designer. The youngest of three sisters, Emily desperately wanted to prove herself. Success, though, came at the cost of leaving behind the man she loved.

For Boone Dorsett, losing Emily left his heart shattered, but another woman was waiting in the wings. Now a widower with a young son, Boone has a second chance with Emily when a storm brings her home. But with his former in-laws threatening a custody suit, the stakes of loving her are higher than ever.

Will fate once again separate them; or is the time finally right for these two star-crossed lovers?

My thoughts:
This book was a very pleasant read, starting off the Ocean Breeze series.  It is set in a small town in North Caroline and introduces three sisters, their Grandmother, distant father and some of the men they love.  Cora Jane the grandmother is delightful and full of wisdom and old fashioned charm. The other character I really liked was B. J. the son of Boone Dorsett. I'm a reader who always enjoys the perspective of a young, delightful, innocent view of life.

The story centres around Boone and Emily, the youngest Castle in a family of three girls - Samantha, Gabi and then Emily. Emily has become a successful interior designer, after leaving the small North Carolina area.  In leaving she left behind Boone and a love that has never died.  The whole issue for Boone and Emily is - can Emily have a meaningful relationship with Boone and still hold to her dream and love of interior design.  Will she have to give it up to be able to be with Boone? Can she give it up? Or does she even have to?  The story goes right down to the wire, before eventually it is worked through satisfactorily.

A more minor issue is the way Boone looks out for his son B. J.  If he is to renew his relationship with Emily, he wants it in a way that will never hurt B. J.  There is the added tension of a grandmother that will get down and dirty to protect B. J. from the 'evil' Emily!

Sean's Reckoning

Category Romance #1495 Silhouette
Sean's Reckoning by Sherryl Woods.
Paperback. 2002.

Goodreads summary:
Son of a shattered family, fireman Sean Devaney knew love never lasted--so he refused to chance it. Then he encountered scrappy but vulnerable single mom Deanna Blackwell and her pint-sized son--who had just lost everything in a devastating fire....



I read this out of my TBR pile for the TBR challenge which I am taking part in - a category romance. I had to look that up as I hadn't heard of a category romance. Turns out I have read them, but these days mostly not.  They are a shorter romance novel, that come out monthly from publishers like Harlequin and Silhoutette.  When I was growing up I read many Mills and Boon and another one that came out of Britain.

I have read a few of Sherry Woods already and will no doubt one day read more of them.  This was a gentle and pleasant story and I enjoyed it without being totally carried away by it. This is part of a series about brothers lost to each other when their parents disappeared when they were young.  This was the story of the second brother, however it is fine as a stand alone.

Bookish TBR challenge 

Personal Challenge 2013: sub genre rarely read.

Wendy TBR Challenge category romance