Praise for the novels of New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author
SHERRYL WOODS
âSherryl Woods writes emotionally satisfying novels about family, friendship and home. Truly feel-great reads!â
â#1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber
âWoodsâ¦is noted for appealing character-driven stories that are often infused with the flavor and fragrance of the South.â
âLibrary Journal
âSherryl Woods is a uniquely gifted writer whose deep understanding of human nature is woven into every page.â
âNew York Times bestselling author Carla Neggers
âWarm, complex, and satisfying.â
âLibrary Journal on Harbor Lights
âSparks fly in a lively tale that is overflowing with family conflict and warmth and the possibility of rekindled love.â
âLibrary Journal on Flowers on Main
âLaunching the Chesapeake Shores series, Woods (Welcome to Serenity) creates an engrossingâ¦family drama.â
âPublishers Weekly on The Inn at Eagle Point
âCompulsively readableâ¦Woodsâs novel easily rises above hot-button topics to tell a universal tale of friendshipâs redemptive power.â
âPublishers Weekly on Mending Fences
âSweetly satisfying, clever characters and snappy, realistic dialogueâ¦a delightful read.â
âPublishers Weekly on About That Man
Settled at her usual table near the kitchen of her momâs restaurant, Annie Sullivan ate the last of her omelet and opened the local paper to the sports section. Even though she and major league pitcher Tyler Townsend, a hometown boy, had been apart for a long time now, it was a habit she hadnât been able to break. She kept hoping that one day sheâd see his name in print and it wouldnât hurt. So far, though, that hadnât happened.
Today, with the baseball season barely started in mid-April, she was expecting nothing more than a small jolt to her system from the local weekly. Instead, her jaw dropped at the headline at the top of the page: Star Braves Pitcher Ty Townsend on Injured Reserve. The article went on to report that after pitching just three games, the baseball sensation from Serenity would be out indefinitely following surgery two weeks ago for a potentially career-ending injury to his shoulder. Heâd be doing rehab, possibly for months, and heâd be doing it right here in town. He was, in fact, already here.
Clutching the paper in a white-knuckled grip, Annie had to draw in several deep breaths before she could stand. Shouting for her mother, she headed straight for the restaurant kitchen, only to be intercepted by sous-chef Erik Whitney.
Regarding her with concern, Erik steadied her when she would have dashed right past him. âHey, sweetheart, whereâs the fire?â he asked.
âI need to see my mother,â she said, trying to wrench free of his grasp.
âSheâs in her office. Whatâs wrong, Annie? You look as if youâve seen a ghost.â
Though sheâd poured out her heart to Erik as a teenager, right this second she was incapable of speech. Instead, Annie simply handed him the paper.
Erik took one look at the headline and muttered a curse. âI knew this was going to happen,â he said.
Annie stared at him, her sense of betrayal deepening. âYou knew about this? You knew Ty was back in town?â
Erik nodded. âSince the day before yesterday.â
âMom, too?â
He nodded again.
Now it was Annie who uttered a curse, made a U-turn and headed back to the table to grab her purse. What had everyone been thinking, conspiring to keep something this huge from her? Especially her mom, who knew better than anyone the damage secrets, lies and betrayal could do.
Erik stuck with her. âCome on, Annie, donât blame your mother for this. Go to her office. Talk to her,â he urged as she stormed past him through the kitchen. âShe was just trying to protect you.â
At the door, she turned and asked angrily, âSo I could be blindsided, instead? Ty had surgery two weeks ago, Erik! Heâs been in town how longâa couple of days? A week? Itâs not as if this happened yesterday.â
âIâm sure Dana Sue thought it wouldnât make the paper here before she had a chance to tell you.â
âForget the stupid newspaper. Weâre talking about Serenity in an age of cell phones and the Internet,â Annie said incredulously. âGossip spreads in minutes, and around here Tyâs big news. Heck, even you knew, and youâre not tapped into the grapevine. You all knew before one word of this hit the paper.â
âHelenâs tapped in and Iâm married to her, to say nothing of working for your mom. Not much gets past the Sweet Magnolias. And in this case, they all knew what was going on the instant Maddie found out Ty had to have surgery.â
âWhich begs the question,â Annie said bitterly. âWhy didnât anyone think I had a right to know?â A thought suddenly struck her. âThatâs where Maddie went a couple of weeks ago, isnât it? She went to be with Ty when he had his surgery.â
Erik nodded. âLook, itâs not about you deserving to know,â he said reasonably. âYouâve been pretty touchy about anything to do with Ty for quite a while now. Nobodyâs known quite how to handle it.â