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Recently divorced, Merilee Talbot Dunlap moves with her two children to the Atlanta suburb of Sweet Apple, Georgia. It’s not her first time starting over, but her efforts at a new beginning aren’t helped by an anonymous local blog that dishes about the scandalous events that caused her marriage to fail.

Merilee finds some measure of peace in the cottage she is renting from town matriarch Sugar Prescott. Though stubborn and irascible, Sugar sees something of herself in Merilee–something that allows her to open up about her own colorful past.

Sugar’s stories give Merilee a different perspective on the town and its wealthy school moms in their tennis whites and shiny SUVs, and even on her new friendship with Heather Blackford. Merilee is charmed by the glamorous young mother’s seemingly perfect life and finds herself drawn into Heather’s world.

In a town like Sweet Apple, where sins and secrets are as likely to be found behind the walls of gated mansions as in the dark woods surrounding Merilee’s house, appearance is everything. But just how dangerous that deception can be will shock all three women….

Two words: split timeline.

If you know me, you know that’s a big ick in my book, but I wanted to see how this turned out, so I kept reading. For most of the book, I enjoyed the story–I loved the dynamics between Merliee and Sugar. They were great leading ladies, and their relationship was delightful.

Of course, I wasn’t a fan of the flashbacks. I also lost some sympathy for Merilee at the end. (She really needed someone to smack some sense into her.)

Overall, though, the story pulled me in and held my attention. If you’re looking for a friendship story without the romantic emphasis, I recommend this book.

Rated PG/PG-13.

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For more general market Southern fiction, check out:

Whistlin’ Dixie in a Nor’easter by Lisa Patton
The House on Tradd Street by Karen White