Mending Fences »

With her roots firmly planted in the South, Sherryl Woods has written many of her more than 100 books in that distinctive setting, whether her home state of Virginia, her adopted state, Florida, or her much-adored South Carolina. She's also especially partial to small towns, wherever they may be. A member of Novelists Inc., Sisters in Crime and Romance Writers of America, Sherryl divides her time between her childhood summer home overlooking the Potomac River in Colonial Beach, Virginia, and her oceanfront home, with its lighthouse view, in Key Biscayne, Florida.

For ten years Emily Dobbs and Marcie Carter have been the closest of friends. They've raised their kids together, shared joy and heartache, exchanged neighborhood gossip over tea. But when Marcie's son, now a college freshman sports star, is arrested for date rape, the bond between the families could be shattered forever.

As the Carters try to deal with the unthinkable, Emily discovers her daughter has been hiding a terrible secret…a secret that threatens the futures of both families. Recently divorced, Emily struggles to keep it all together—to support her terrified daughter, to maintain her friendship with Evan's mother and to have faith in the detective who could change all of their lives.

When things seem darkest, both she and Marcie discover that sometimes the first step toward a better future is mending fences with the past.

Publishers Weekly

Compulsively readable, the latest romantic drama from bestselling author Woods (Feels Like Family) traces beautifully and honestly two suburban Miami families' emotional crises, as they face their worst fears with help from friends. When her best friend's son, Evan, is accused of date rape, recently divorced teacher Emily Dobbs immediately stands by the young man who's become like a second son to her. The boy's mother, Marcie Carter, is grateful for the support, as her domineering husband, Ken, seems more interested in destroying the reputation of the accuser than in taking care of his family. The longtime friendship between the two women is pushed to its limits, however, when disturbing suspicions emerge that victims may not be limited to one girl-and as the investigation proceeds, Emily finds her own son and daughter getting pulled into the maelstrom. Moreover, Emily's unexpected attraction to a police detective on the case further tests her loyalty and conviction. Though the serious issues raised (date rape, verbal abuse) are handled with honesty and integrity, Woods's novel easily rises above hot-button topics to tell a universal tale of friendship's redemptive power. (Oct.)