First line: Raylene stood in the kitchen doorway on a day that was surprisingly cool for the first of June.
From the back cover: 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.
My thoughts: This is the last of the Sweet Magnolia’s series and I am so bummed! I really enjoyed this series and am sad to have to let go the friends and small town I have come to love. This is Raylene and Carter’s story and is quite a roller-coaster ride! Each comes with so much emotional baggage, it’s hard to see how they will ever work things out. Again in Honeysuckle Summer as in her other books in this series, Sherryl Woods presents many real-life issues – spousal abuse, agoraphobia, eating disorder, and grief are at the heart of this book. Following Raylene as she rebuilds her self-esteem and finally believes that she deserves love and a full life will have you becoming her personal cheerleader. and when her ex-husband gets out of prison, the whole town comes together to help protect Raylene – the Sweet Magnolias really do stand up for their own! As this was the final book of the series all the side stories were tied up, too, most notably Walter and his relationship with Rory Sue. I really hope that Sherryl Woods will decide to visit Serenity again some day soon – the small town is definitely a place I wouldn’t mind coming back to!
(I purchased this book.)
I love to read a good book like you enjoyed this one. Hope you'll fine another engaging series!
I do always enjoy a good series. Especially one that makes you feel bittersweet when it comes to a close. This series sounds right up my alley and I'll have to check it out sometime.