Sweet Magnolias by Sherryl Woods is a 2007 MIRA publication.

Sherryl Woods is a seasoned author of contemporary women’s fiction and by all accounts her books should have been right up my alley- but for some reason the few times I tried her books they just didn’t impress me much. But I noticed this book was in the KU program and of course, I know a Netflix show is based on this series, so although I don’t have a very good track record with this author, I decided to give her another chance.

As it turns out, I liked this one!

Maddie and her husband are finalizing their divorce after he had an affair with his much younger nurse, who is now expecting a baby. Now, being a single mother to three children means Maddie needs to find a job and get on with her life. As it turns out, a few of her friends are thinking of opening a spa and they want Maddie to join them in the business adventure- which she seriously considers… but her oldest child, a baseball prodigy, is struggling with the divorce and his father’s new girlfriend. This causes Maddie and the baseball coach to team up to help Ty retain his focus on his studies and his baseball prospects- but a strong attraction develops between them- a little flirtation- which doesn’t go unnoticed by the small-town gossips…

The theme of the book is double standards- the difficulty of divorce- and the effect it has on the children. But it also about picking yourself up, dusting yourself off, and getting on with life… and maybe taking a chance on love… true love this time around… with the help of your friends and family, too, of course.

I loved Maddie’s age- and liked that her love interest was younger than her. Maddie is very relatable and likable, as are her friends, and of course Cal is simply dreamy. My one criticism is that our beloved characters do things out of the order in which they should- marriage, intimacy, then children. But the intimacy is, in this first book in the series, thankfully behind closed doors. A small amount of language here and there- but mostly it’s PG13 material. It also seemed to run just a bit longer than was absolutely necessary- but overall, this is good start to the series- there is slight datedness in one or two places- but overall, it stands the test of time quite well. I’m glad I gave this author another chance.

4 stars ( )

I love books that are in a series. I like knowing that the second book will pick up where the first left off and so on and so forth. It is like a TV series in paperback.

This book was a joy to read. Marriage, divorce and then finally finding the one you should have married from the get go. My life in a nutshell LOL ( )

This was a beautiful story. Had all the elements of a heartfelt and believable story. I love how Sherryl Woods pulls the reader in.

I enjoyed the lovable characters and the way they come together. On so many levels I can and do identify with Maddie as she and her kids pull themselves back together after their world is turned upside down.

I love the interaction between Maddie, Helen and Dana Sue and their bond of friendship and sisterhood. Makes me think of my own friends.

This is a series I can’t wait to keep reading. ( )

Well done, good and interesting story, well narrated. Light entertainment, great for just relaxing.

FROM AMAZON: 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 16-year-old son, a talkative 14-year-old who's suddenly gone silent, a 6-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. ( )

Maddie's story is about family, friendship, betrayal, and finding new love. Great characters that become the support that Maddie needs as she's preserving to pick up the pieces of her life. Cal comes along and becomes a man her kids can look up to and gives Maddie a reason to hope for a future with Cal. ( )