Throwback Thursday: Stealing Home by Sherryl Woods

Author: Sherryl Woods
First published on 2007 by Mira

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 sixteen-year-old son, a talkative fourteen-year-old who's suddenly gone silent, a six-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.

Stealing Home is the first book in the Sweet Magnolia series.  It's months after Maddie's husband tells her that he wants a divorce and that he is having a baby with his girlfriend.  She is now trying to figure out how to move on with her life and take care of her three kids.  With a little help from her friends she may find herself and a little love along the way.

This story was just an OK read for me.  I did enjoy watching Maddie come out of her shell and start sticking up for herself.    I also thought that her budding relationship with Cal was very sweet and fun to watch.  From a romance point of view, it was pretty clean and tame.  What I had a hard time with was the ridiculousness of the town's reaction to Maddie and Cal dating.  Yes, there is a 10 year difference. But really, the guy is in his mid 30s and she is in her mid 40s.  It's not like either of them are underage.  The principal threatening to get Cal fired from his teaching position was just over the top and unbelievable.  I think that whole story line could have been left out.  It made me almost make this a DNF.

I am curious to read the next book in the series, so stay tuned.  I'm sure it will show up here at some point in the future.