Where Azaleas Bloom

Good book. Lynn is in the midst of a crisis. Her soon to be ex-husband has missed child support payments and hasn't been paying the mortgage on the house. She's down to her last few dollars with little food in the house and no way to pay the bills. She is justifiably angry at Ed, but determined to protect his relationship with their children. This is especially difficult with their fourteen year old daughter, who is old enough to understand what is happening. She has one part-time job with friend and neighbor Raylene, but needs something else. While looking for a job in a bad part of town, she is spotted by Mitch, who offers her a job with him instead.

Mitch is a widower who lost his wife to a drunk driver a year earlier. He is slowly show more working himself out of the overwhelming grief he had felt at the beginning. Mitch and Lynn have known each other since they were kids. Mitch had had quite the crush on her when they were thirteen, but she was already fixated on Ed, so he never did anything about it. Now he can't help but want to make things better for her.

I loved Mitch. He is sweet and protective and he understands Lynn very well. I really liked the way that he didn't stomp on her pride in his eagerness to help, but instead made it possible for her to help herself. I really liked how they began with friendship that slowly grew into more. Mitch is careful to ensure that he is truly ready to move on after his wife's death before he tries to advance things with Lynn. I also enjoyed his interactions with her kids, especially taking Jeremy under his wing.

I liked Lynn's determination to take care of her family. There were times when her pride refused to allow her to seek the help she needed, but her children's welfare was always at the top of her priorities. I liked watching her stand up to Ed when she needed to.

The development of their relationship was slow and sweet, with a hint of fire lurking under the surface. I liked the way that Mitch made his interest clear without pushing Lynn to move faster than she was ready for. Lynn was surprised by her attraction to Mitch, and a bit wary of her feelings at the beginning. There was one stumbling block that had to be dealt with, but I thought that Mitch handled it very well. When Ed decided to use Lynn's relationship with Mitch during the divorce proceedings, I ached for Mitch and what he decided to do. There was also a little bit of drama with Mitch's sons, but again, maturity and communication went a long way toward resolving that issue. I loved the ending and seeing Mitch and Lynn get the future they wanted.

The drama of the divorce was well portrayed. The problems faced by Lynn are all too common. I loved seeing Helen's reactions to Ed's antics and her determination to protect Lynn and the kids. The mystery of what Ed and his lawyer were up to was interesting, and had me considering several possibilities. What it turned out to be never crossed my mind. There were times I detested Ed and others when I felt sorry for him. In the end, I felt that Lynn handled everything quite well, including her dealings with Ed's mother. I also ached for the two kids, most especially for Lexie. Her feelings for her father were affected by his actions and she was torn in how she wanted to treat him. I liked the way that Lynn helped her to accept her feelings, but also to look at things from other perspectives.

Also running through the book was a continuation of what is happening with the three senior Magnolias. In the previous two books we had seen that Frances is having health problems that have begun to escalate. I hurt for her and her fears and frustration, and ached for Liz and Flo as they helped her deal with them. Their problems were lightened somewhat by Flo's revelation of what she has been up to. Helen's reactions are just what is expected, and seeing the two of them resolve the strain between them was both funny and heartwarming.

As always, the deep friendship among the Magnolias and their support of each other through thick and thin is a force to be reckoned with. I loved Lynn's acceptance into the group and how each of them helps her in their own way. I hope that there will be more books in the future, when the younger generation, who have already shown Magnolia values, are ready for stories of their own. show less

Another sweet romance from Sherryl Woods, and a romance dealing with real issues. Nothing is too sweet when real life comes between this couple.

We have Lynn who is going through a hard and messy divorce. She is trying to do her best but it isn't easy. She is honest, hard-working and loves her kids. In comes Mitch who is fixing something next doors. Now this was sweet as he had a crush on her when their were younger. But he got married, she got married, and now he is a widower and she is separated. He is kind and thoughtful and wants to take care of her, but at the same time let her find her own way.

They take it slowly, as they should, no rushing, no being all lovey-dovey. No these two become friends while thinking if they can be more. show more Between them is a nosy small-town, an idiotic ex and life in general. But you have to work for love sometimes and they do it, and they show that it can be done.

A great smalltown romance with a real couple. show less

Very sweet book. All sex is behind the closed door.Typical Sweet Magnolias story. Woman done wrong (this one has children), does what she has to do to survive and thrive, meets the perfect man and all problems are dealt with swiftly with the best possible outcome.
There is a but of a twist with the reason her first man done her wrong, but it is telegraphed fairly early n and the reveal is no big surprise. What is a surprise is that the issue is not definitively dealt with. That was why I made this a 3 star.

Very sweet book. All sex is behind the closed door.Typical Sweet Magnolias story. Woman done wrong (this one has children), does what she has to do to survive and thrive, meets the perfect man and all problems are dealt with swiftly with the best possible outcome.
There is a but of a twist with the reason her first man done her wrong, but it is telegraphed fairly early n and the reveal is no big surprise. What is a surprise is that the issue is not definitively dealt with. That was why I made this a 3 star.

Very sweet book. All sex is behind the closed door.Typical Sweet Magnolias story. Woman done wrong (this one has children), does what she has to do to survive and thrive, meets the perfect man and all problems are dealt with swiftly with the best possible outcome.
There is a but of a twist with the reason her first man done her wrong, but it is telegraphed fairly early n and the reveal is no big surprise. What is a surprise is that the issue is not definitively dealt with. That was why I made this a 3 star.

Review:Where Azaleas Bloom by Sherryl Woods
5 STARS This was a moving story in so many ways. This is the third book of this series that I have read. I look forward to reading more about thier town in the A Sweet Magnolia Novel. Most of the characters I have seen in the other books and Its like coming back to visit old friends. Lynn is going through a divorce at the start of the book. She only has less than 25$ in her checking book. She has not got support for the last two months. Just found out her exhusband has not paid the morgage on house for two months. Lynn has one part time job and looking for another to help and than a third job. Mitch is working to remodel lynn's boss house which is also right next to Lynns house. Lynn broke his show more heart when she would not go out with him when he was 13 years old. Mitch's wife was killed a year ago by a drunk driver. He coped by drinking to much and when he realized stopped drinking. Mitch has two grown sons in collage. Lyn has two kids at home the oldest a teenager. Thier is a lot in the book about the three Old Sweet Magnolias and thats really touching. Lynn divorce is getting really nasty. Her daughter does not want to even go over to her grandmas house until she tells her she is sorry. Everyone seems to take sides in the divorce. Lynn tells her friends that if everyone stops buying insurance from her husband it will hurt her kids even more. I like the book club questions at the end of the book. I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review from Netgalley. 08/28/2012 PUB Harlequin Mira show less

Lynn is struggling to get divorced and to feed her two children. She doesn't need a,romance with a hulky contractor, and why is her husband being so evil?