Welcome to Serenity (Sweet Magnolias)

This book was good, however it was a slower read for me. I didn't quite enjoy this book as much. I love that we get to see the lives of all the characters but this one with Mary Vaughn and Jeannette seems like it drug on. Most of the stuff that kept me turning pages was towards the end of it. I did enjoy reading it though.

This book arrived in pretty good condition - a small bit worn - and arrived on time.

Sherryl Woods is a wonderful writer, and really did a great job on this book. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

I read this book in one night. After reading the first three in the series, I feel like I personally know the characters and all of the major characters from the first three books were in this one. I loved Tom's persistence in gaining Jeanette's trust. Although I was not as interested in the secondary story, it certainly did nothing to take away from the overall story. If I have any complaint with the book, it is in the way Ty and Annie were thrown in at the end as a precursor to the next book. It felt too artificial somehow to have them suddenly mentioned in the last few pages. Of course, that's not to say I won't immediately buy and read their story!

I have read every book in this series and LOVE them all. Don't we all wish for a group of loyal friends like this and a cute town to hang out in?

In Serenity, South Carolina, Jeanette Brioche has mixed feelings about her new friends. On the one hand, she welcomes for the first time in her lonely life people who care for her. However, on the other hand although she feels good for her new friends, she envies the loving marriages of Maddie, Helen and Dana Sue as she has no man in her life, never has had one, and never will. Town manager, Tom McDonald meets Jeannette and does not hide is interest in her. Maddie realizes this and signs up Jeannette as a volunteer on the Serenity's annual Christmas festival committee. Jeanette and Tom are teamed up with each attracted to one another. However, both have had losses in their lives; whereas Tom has moved on and wants to start again with Jeannette, she has not and fears relationships mean loss. The return to Serenity for another Sweet magnolia contemporary romance FEELS LIKE FAMILY visiting as the audience finds out what is happening to the stars of previous tales (see STEALING HOME). The lead couple is a fine matching as Tom is a nice person and Jeannette is the last one standing alone although Sherryl Woods hopefully has a few more singles in Serenity. Although there is little action, fans will feel the warn holiday WELCOME TO SERENITY. Harriet Klausner