Honeysuckle Summer

By Sherryl Woods

The Sweet Magnolias is now a Netflix Original Series! From No.1 New York Times Bestselling Author Sherryl Woods

Her devastating marriage behind her, Raylene Hammond is truly thankful for her best friends, the Sweet Magnolias. They've taken her in, shielding her from the world. Then she meets sheriff's deputy Carter Rollins, and suddenly Raylene's haven no longer feels quite so safe.

Carter understands why Raylene is trapped inside. He's even taken to bringing the outside world to her. But with two kid sisters to raise, just how much time can he devote to this woman who's stolen his heart?

Raylene knows Carter is a man worth loving, but she may never be strong enough to accept what he's offering. How long can she ask him to wait? Maybe they'll never have more than this one sweet summer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Sep 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781488726774

Sherryl Woods

With her roots firmly planted in the South, Sherryl Woods has written many of her more than 100 books in that distinctive setting, whether in her home state of Virginia, her adopted state, Florida, or her much-adored South Carolina. Sherryl is best known for her ability to creating endearing small town communities and families. She is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 75 romances for Silhouette Desire and Special Edition.

Reviews for Honeysuckle Summer

[librarystep · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have really enjoyed getting to know all the characters in the Sweet Magnolias series. My boss at work introduced me to this author. I needed someone new to read and so my love for Sherryl Woods stories have developed. She takes you into the small town of Serenity and you feel like you know the place and the people. Now onto the Chesapeake Shores series and I can’t wait.

[jenniferrobb · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I've only read one other book in this series--though I was somewhat familiar with the characters, this author doesn't do a great job of reminding you who is who--so there were times that I was stuck trying to remember who a character was and how he or she related to the other characters. The main female character in this book is Raylene. She is a woman who has come out of an abusive marriage and has confined herself to her friend Sarah's home in a sort of agoraphobia. This book deals with both those topics as well as anorexia in the form of one of the supporting female characters.Carter, the main male character, comes into Raylene's life when he locates a lost child. He comes in quite judgemental, but as he learns more about Raylene, I think he begins to appreciate her struggles and admire her strength in trying to deal with them. He seems a bit too good to be true in that he seems to have the patience of a saint in dealing with her.The yo-yoing of the on-again, off-again relationship of Raylene and Carter gets a bit old. How many times is she going to tell him to go away? How many times is he going to keep coming back? I also don't like that the author has her characters sleeping with each other before they're married (Walter and Rory Sue--as well as Carter and Raylene--I couldn't believe one of them proposed sharing a bed to sleep without expecting that they'd end up being intimate!)The good things: the friendships. Though the original Sweet Magnolias aren't featured as much in this book as in the other one from the series that I read, the second generation of Sweet Magnolias are in full force friendship. It seems most of the town rallies with Raylene to help protect her when her abusive ex-husband is granted parole. Those who care about Carrie are determined to get her help, even if it means she won't talk to them or will shut them out for a time. These are friends who aren't afraid to tell each other the truth, even if the truth doesn't make them popular with the other person. I also liked that the romance between Raylene and Carter got to develop throughout the book. They got to know each other first and talk about serious issues as friends rather than just rushing headlong into a relationship. I don't agree with Rory Sue's assessment of what constitutes a good relationship--at least not with its entirety.

[judithdcollins · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

"You will want to read all Sherryl Woods collection of masterpieces - her old works and new will leave you wanting more! "