The Zest Quest

Review of Where Azaleas Bloom by Sherryl Woods

After the loss of his wife, contractor Mitch Franklin is just trying to stay busy until his sons come home from college.  When his high school crush experiences financial disaster due to her soon-to-be ex-husband, Mitch can’t leave a damsel in distress, especially when she has two young children to support.  Will his high school crush be reciprocated, or is love too late for this empty nester and a struggling single mom?

 

Where Azaleas Bloom by Sherryl Woods
A Sweet Magnolia Novel, Book 10 – Available August 28, 2012
ISBN: 978-0778313694 | Rated 4 out of 5 Stars
Book and review courtesy of Romance Junkies.

When Lynn Morrow’s husband, Ed, walked away from their marriage, Lynn had no clue it was coming, or what he’d leave her to deal with, nor the reasons for such an upheaval in their lives.  She never expected him to leave her with no money for food, plus a house near foreclosure, forced to fend for herself and their two children alone.  Their marriage had never been passionate, but Lynn felt it had been comfortable.  How she moves on depends completely on putting her two children first, but will there be enough room for her to heal as well?

Mitch Franklin tries to stay busy with his contracting business so he spends less time thinking about the loss of his wife, who was killed by a drunk driver a year ago.  With his sons off to college, being an empty nester alone has caused more than one change in his lifestyle.  Luckily, his good friends and current clients, Raylene and Carter, invite him frequently for dinner after he’s spent the day working on their addition.  He loves the camaraderie but can he survive Raylene’s penchant for match-making?  Can Raylene help it if Lynn and her kids live right next door and are naturally invited for dinner too?

Mitch and Lynn knew each other as teens but Mitch’s crush on Lynn was never reciprocated because she only had eyes for Ed.  It doesn’t take Raylene long to recognize a boy’s crush being rekindled now as a man.  Will Lynn be able to resist the man who looks way too fine in a pair of jeans and who seems to be right there whenever she needs him most?  Or will Lynn’s soon-to-be ex-husband douse the flames with one obstacle after another?

Mitch and Lynn have so much to overcome to get even close to a happy-ever-after that their story often feels like waves ebbing, flowing and then crashing against a rocky shore.  Keep some tissues handy because they’re not the only ones in emotional upheaval in the small town of Serenity, North Carolina.  I especially enjoyed catching up with the Senior Magnolias ‒ Liz, Flo and Francis.  Problems hinted at in book eight and book nine are wrapped up in an often emotional, yet satisfactory, way for these three good friends.  Readers will also enjoy a catch-up with Karen and Elliott from book eight in the SWEET MAGNOLIAS series, MIDNIGHT PROMISES.

WHERE AZALEAS BLOOM completes this latest trilogy in the SWEET MAGNOLIAS series with a nostalgic feeling for good friends and how they make life’s best moments that much sweeter.  If you haven’t tried this series yet, this summer’s trilogy that includes MIDNIGHT PROMISES, CATCHING FIREFLIES and WHERE AZALEAS BLOOM is a great place to start.  Each story is unique, but revisiting with favorite characters is a big part of the fun.  Author Sherryl Woods excels at touching on sensitive subjects with realism, shaking rather than stirring, then resolving with love.

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