Book #3: Sweet Magnolias Stealing Home

First off! I am already behind in my reading. Oops! I am hoping to get caught up. It's too early to be behind but with this series I think I can get caught up sooner than later.

Sweet Magnolias is an amazing series, both in book form and in the television series. Netflix turned this beautiful eleven book series written by Sherryl Woods, between 2007-2014, into a tv series that aired in 2020.

I saw the first four books of the series at Costco. If you know me, you know that I have been loving buying books from Costco lately. One reason I think Costco had only the first four books in a series is because that's how far the tv series is. I knew I loved the show series and figured the books would be just as good. Boy, was I wrong. They are 1,000 times BETTER!

With reading Stealing Home, I really struggled to get into the first few chapters but once I got through them, I couldn't put the book down. One day, recently, I read about 6 chapters, and these are long chapters. I hate to stop in the middle of the a chapter, I prefer to finish one, so to read more than one chapter in a day, for me, is a lot. I've become very proud of myself with how far my reading has come since I've started reading all these books.

The show, Sweet Magnolias, was filled with love, small town charm and friendship. The book is the exact same way! I felt like I was in the small town of Serenity. That I was apart of my friend's lives. Supporting their businesses, children and relationships.

As I was reading about the characters, I imagined the characters acting in the show. I think it helped to have those visuals as I read. I could see the characters and how they played out each scene.

Like most books vs movies, the book was a 1,000% more descriptive. I loved the way Sherryl Woods wrote and described certain things..*wink wink* and I wish that the show slowed downed some situations but as we all know, that isn't possible.

Stealing Home starts off with learning about Maddie Townsend, her three children and her marriage to Bill Townsend. We also see the relationship with her two best friends, Hellen and Dana Sue.

Throughout the book we learn about the struggles Maddie faces in her failed marriage. Seeing Bill with his new pregnant girlfriend, Noreen, and having her high schooler sons acting out due to their father's actions. We see Maddie trying to be a good mother while processing the struggles of her marriage and trying to continue to live her life.

When you live in a small town, everyone knows your business. The good, the bad and the ugly. Rumors flow and play a huge effect on your personal lives. Rumors of Maddie's family is in the limelight due to Bill's actions. The business Maddie's friends are starting in Serenity for the women of Serenity. Rumors also start flying about the friendship between Maddie and Cal Maddox, the head baseball coach of her son's Tyler's team.

Tyler, Maddie's oldest son, is sixteen years old and he understands what his dad has done and how he has ruin their family. All Tyler has in his life is baseball. He is one of the best, if not the best player on the team. His coach, Cal Maddox, was a former MLB player. Ty looks up to Cal and Cal has been there to support Ty and Maddie through the changes in their lives.

While Cal and Maddie pulled a friendship, the people of Serenity start talking. Rumors of their platonic relationship starts to ruin not only their personal lives but Coach's career. Cal's job is on the line for being supportive to a member of his team and his mother. Due to the rumors, the school board questions in he is being a good example for the students of Serenity.

The more Coach is there for Maddie, the more their feelings develop. Maddie can't think about a new relationship while her sons keep acting out, her divorce isn't finalized and Cal's job is on the line. Cal on the other hand can't think of anything but Maddie Townsend.

After a lot of conversations with the closest people in Maddie's life, she realizes that she can't always put her kids first. She, too, needs to be happy and let herself be happy for once. With leading to that she decides to follow her heart, which leads her to Cal Maddox.

With discussions with her children, Ty, Kyle and Katie, they support Maddie and Coach dating, as long as they are aware of any major changes that they didn't get from their father and Noreen. Cal promises to always include them and not keep secrets. He has always kept that promise.

The hearing in front of the school board comes and Cal makes his feelings known. Tyler even gets up to make a speech, showing his support. Bill was caught off guard, since Ty has had nothing but bad feelings towards him and Noreen and showed no support any time soon. The school board made their decision whether or not to keep Cal as a teacher and a coach.

While all of this is happening, Helen and Dana Sue have been talking about going into business together with Maddie by their side. They decide to open a women only health club and spa. The only gym in Serenity is a smelly, man filled gym. All three women have their own personal reasons to open this health club.

Helen, a very successful lawyer, puts up most of the money to make this happen. Dana Sue, a very success chef, who owns her own restaurant in Serenity, also puts up some money for the health club but she will be offering cooking classes as well as the food for the cafe for the health club. They want to bring Maddie in to manage the whole company. They know she cannot afford to put money up for the health club, due to the divorce, but they wouldn't take it, even if she could afford it.

Maddie made decisions of her own with going into business with Helen and Dana Sue as well as with Coach. Bill made his decisions with the relationships between him, Noreen and Maddie.

In this book we see relationships come and go, as well as a wedding. We see a family go through highs and lows. We see so much excitement lead up to book number two! I can't wait to read it, but before I start it, I need to finish book #4, which I hope you will see a blog in the next week! *fingers crossed*

Stay tuned for more blogs coming sooner than later!

Sarah ♥︎