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The Charleston Trilogy #2
Flirting with Disaster
Opposites attract, but they don't last. At least that's what improper Southern belle Maggie Forsythe thinks after being unceremoniously dumped two weeks before getting hitched to a man even her mother approves of. Maggie has never given two figs what anyone thinks, so why is she hiding away from her South Carolina Low Country home?
That is until concerned - albeit scheming - friends arrive with three options:
One: Sit and mope.
Two: Go home to her gallery.
Three: Help them build a house for a needy family and make a difference for once.
But one look at Maggie, and project foreman Josh Parker knows what kind of sweet-tea-swilling debutante he's dealing with. Even if she does know her way around a circular saw. Sure, they have enough sparks to ignite a bonfire, but he's corn bread to her caviar. And if there's anything he's learned from growing up broke, it's better to aim low than risk everything and lose.
That is until concerned - albeit scheming - friends arrive with three options:
One: Sit and mope.
Two: Go home to her gallery.
Three: Help them build a house for a needy family and make a difference for once.
But one look at Maggie, and project foreman Josh Parker knows what kind of sweet-tea-swilling debutante he's dealing with. Even if she does know her way around a circular saw. Sure, they have enough sparks to ignite a bonfire, but he's corn bread to her caviar. And if there's anything he's learned from growing up broke, it's better to aim low than risk everything and lose.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 29, 2005
843 people are currently reading
1559 people want to read
About the author
Sherryl Woods
554 books4,507 followersWith two other careers to her credit before becoming a novelist and four states in which she's lived for extended periods of time, Sherryl Woods has collected friends and memories, along with way too much unnecessary junk.
"The friends are the only things I've brought with me through the years that really matter," she says. "I could probably live without one more chintz teacup, another tin-litho sandpail or another snowglobe, but I need those friends."
The theme of enduring friendships and families is always central to Sherryl's books, including her latest Chesapeake Shores series — THE INN AT EAGLE POINT, FLOWERS ON MAIN and HARBOR LIGHTS.
Author of more than 100 romance and mystery novels, Sherryl Woods grew up in Virginia. Over the years she had lived in Ohio and Florida, as well as California. Currently she divides her time between Key Biscayne, Florida and Colonial Beach, Virginia, the small, river-front town where she spent her childhood summers.
A graduate of Ohio State University School of Journalism, Sherryl spent more than ten years as a journalist, most of them as a television critic for newspapers in Ohio and Florida. For several years she also coordinated a motivational program for the more than 8,000 employees at the University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Medical Center.
Her first book, RESTORING LOVE, was published in 1982 by Dell Candlelight Ecstasy under the pseudonym of Suzanne Sherrill. Her second book, SAND CASTLES, under the pseudonym of Alexandra Kirk, was published later that same year by Bantam. She began using her own name when she moved to the Second Chance at Love line at Berkley Publishing. In 1986, she began writing full-time and also began her long career at Silhouette Books with the Desire title NOT AT EIGHT, DARLING, set in the world of television which she covered for so many years.
In addition to her more than 75 romances for Silhouette Desire and Special Edition, she has written thirteen mysteries — nine in the Amanda Roberts series and four in the Molly DeWitt series.
When she's not writing or reading, Sherryl loves to garden, though she's not at her best on a riding lawn mower. She also loves tennis, theater, and ballet, even though her top spin has long since vanished, she's never set foot on a stage, and she's way too uncoordinated to dance. She also loves baseball and claims anyone who's ever seen Kevin Costner in "Bull Durham" can understand why.
"The friends are the only things I've brought with me through the years that really matter," she says. "I could probably live without one more chintz teacup, another tin-litho sandpail or another snowglobe, but I need those friends."
The theme of enduring friendships and families is always central to Sherryl's books, including her latest Chesapeake Shores series — THE INN AT EAGLE POINT, FLOWERS ON MAIN and HARBOR LIGHTS.
Author of more than 100 romance and mystery novels, Sherryl Woods grew up in Virginia. Over the years she had lived in Ohio and Florida, as well as California. Currently she divides her time between Key Biscayne, Florida and Colonial Beach, Virginia, the small, river-front town where she spent her childhood summers.
A graduate of Ohio State University School of Journalism, Sherryl spent more than ten years as a journalist, most of them as a television critic for newspapers in Ohio and Florida. For several years she also coordinated a motivational program for the more than 8,000 employees at the University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Medical Center.
Her first book, RESTORING LOVE, was published in 1982 by Dell Candlelight Ecstasy under the pseudonym of Suzanne Sherrill. Her second book, SAND CASTLES, under the pseudonym of Alexandra Kirk, was published later that same year by Bantam. She began using her own name when she moved to the Second Chance at Love line at Berkley Publishing. In 1986, she began writing full-time and also began her long career at Silhouette Books with the Desire title NOT AT EIGHT, DARLING, set in the world of television which she covered for so many years.
In addition to her more than 75 romances for Silhouette Desire and Special Edition, she has written thirteen mysteries — nine in the Amanda Roberts series and four in the Molly DeWitt series.
When she's not writing or reading, Sherryl loves to garden, though she's not at her best on a riding lawn mower. She also loves tennis, theater, and ballet, even though her top spin has long since vanished, she's never set foot on a stage, and she's way too uncoordinated to dance. She also loves baseball and claims anyone who's ever seen Kevin Costner in "Bull Durham" can understand why.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
June 12, 2018
DNF
I won't condone this crap or the authors who write it.
The start to this book was so bad. There was the over-used, stereotypical scene of the woman gorging on ice cream after the breakup. I am so sick of that. As someone who doesn't eat ice cream for comfort or indulge when I'm feeling down, it's severely irritating. Maggie had been engaged and about to marry someone who she wasn't in love and who was her total opposite, just because her parents and friends liked him. They had only been engaged for 2 weeks, meaning they were to marry a mere 4 weeks after the engagement because our Maggie wanted to rush to the altar because her friend, Dinah, had gotten married. That's when I thought of how much a pathetic loser Maggie was.
Dinah, by the way, is married to Cordell, who Maggie tried to seduce. Cord didn't go for it, only likes Dinah, so I found it terribly awkward that Dinah, Cord and Warren came to see Maggie and stage an intervention. What kind of friend would bring the man who had dumped you to see right after? Stupid. And it was so insensitive that Cord winked at Maggie. You know a woman liked you, and you married her friend after said woman tried to seduce you. Maybe not make gestures like that to her. Idiot.
Meanwhile Josh is down on the opposite gender just as Maggie is. He's vowed to be celibate because of it, but it's only been a week since he's had sex. Thanks for sharing.
Dinah tried to set up Maggie with Josh, and Josh with Maggie. That's the whole reason she wanted the both of them on the home-building project. I hate matchmakers. They're meddlesome and nosy and need to mind their own business.
Amanda asked if Josh was married, said he should be, so his compassion and sensitivity don't go to waste. She also said she needed time to find him the right woman. That made me so mad. She's a stranger to him, they'd talked for a few minutes, and suddenly she knows all about him enough to pair him up with someone. I could barely comprehend the stupidity of that.
I hate when authors throw in a slew of side drama and get sidetracked on side characters and
His mom, Nadine, had to turn up after another broken marriage, wanting money from him. He made a comment about not being with anyone and she vowed to find the right woman for him. That made 3 women trying to hook him up. My patience spiraled out of control.
Warren--her ex--commented to Josh that Maggie needed an edgy, mysterious man, a man like Josh. Matchmaker #4.
Just a show of hands, who has this many people coming up to you and commenting on your love life and trying to set you up with people?
Nadine even had the idea to find the perfect woman for Warren. This book morphed into a crazy, stupid story of everyone telling everyone everything and trying to hook up everybody else.
Amanda's stupid 5 year old said she loved Josh and wanted to marry him. Ew. And Josh thought Amanda was having ideas. He was irritated when she said she wasn't. Why get irritated when a woman you don't like says she isn't interested? This asshole asked why not him, said they get along and admitted she bruised his ego. Wtf? He went on to suggest they "test things" and he kissed her. My mouth literally dropped open and I was pissed as hell.
What a bastard. I can't freaking get away from this crap.
He thought his life would be easier if he fell for a woman like her and not Maggie. Amanda even called him on it for being scared of things with Maggie, because everyone is so intuitive and in tune with the feelings of strangers whose tendencies and personalities and likes and dislikes THEY DO NOT KNOW.
I skimmed the next page to see if Maggie had seen that and this f***er caught her looking and actually had the nerve to sigh and wonder what made her mad today. What a stupid asshole. You just freaking kissed another woman moments ago, you dumbass. You asked Maggie to go to dinner with you and your loser mom and her EX-FIANCÉ and you've got the nerve to make some aggrieved comment about hearing about what's wrong with Maggie? Screw you. You're gonna set there and have Maggie intervene and take the spotlight off of you with your mom cuz you can't handle your own crap. Why don't you act like a grown man and handle your own shit? Loser.
Why did he have to kiss her to tell is there was something there? He already knew that. If he's going to kiss someone he knows he doesn't like, then I'm afraid to see what he does when he does like someone else. He knew he liked Maggie, so he kisses Amanda. He doesn't deserve Maggie. Asshole. And it's such a shame because Maggie had some good moments where she stuck up for her employee, Ellie, admired her artwork and advocated to get her a showing at her gallery, and protected her against her crazy bf. On the whole I liked her, aside from her being weeks away from marrying a man she didn't love just to please her parents.
What pissed me off even more was that he was so against being set up with Amanda. He thought that's what at least 2 side characters were trying to do, probably more, because everybody in here is a matchmaker, and he got mad. He didn't want to be set up with anyone. So, after making such a stink about it to everyone, telling them not to set him up, he didn't need help, he goes and kisses the very woman he didn't want to be set up with. Thought you didn't want to be with her. Dumbass.
I thought I could get past the meddlesome side characters trying to set up everybody and their mother's uncle, and I was resolved to ignore it and get past it. This, though, I could not and will not. Her friend Dinah, who Josh called drop-dead gorgeous and admired her legs, coyly set them up on the project, because everyone needs to be set up, but denied doing so to both of them. When Maggie stared at Josh admiringly, Dinah got worried that Maggie was going to go to bed with him too soon and fall for another bad guy. She wondered about his history, thought he could be a bad guy. That was like bipolar to go from setting him up to wondering if he's safe to be around and thinking he isn't good enough for Maggie. Like, you just wrote a crazy character who contradicted her own self. Then there's Nadine, who has lousy taste in men, but for some reason catches the attention of Warren, the psychologist. Everyone thinks he likes her, even Nadine, who made sleezy jokes about undressed in front of him. Ew. Warren claims to be interested in Vegas, where Nadine was. Okay. That's weird. She's 50+ and he's 35. Just ew. So many side characters involved in everyone else's business, all of them throwing the MCs together and it was massively annoying.
The "flirting" was almost nonexistent. They had a couple flirty scenes that were really short and went nowhere, because side drama of the characters got in the way. They were both solving other people's problems and I like my books to be focused on the MCs and not the whole town.
I only got this book because my library's bookshop where I volunteer was going to throw it out and I felt bad and took it home. In my reading experience, I know better. I know this author doesn't write sex and what's the point of a romance book without sex? I don't consider a book without sex to be romance. But I got sucked in by the summary, about the rich girl with the constructor worker, which I happen to like. But I can't do it. Not after he kissed another woman who he didn't even like. Josh is a total loser, not worthy of my time.
I won't condone this crap or the authors who write it.
The start to this book was so bad. There was the over-used, stereotypical scene of the woman gorging on ice cream after the breakup. I am so sick of that. As someone who doesn't eat ice cream for comfort or indulge when I'm feeling down, it's severely irritating. Maggie had been engaged and about to marry someone who she wasn't in love and who was her total opposite, just because her parents and friends liked him. They had only been engaged for 2 weeks, meaning they were to marry a mere 4 weeks after the engagement because our Maggie wanted to rush to the altar because her friend, Dinah, had gotten married. That's when I thought of how much a pathetic loser Maggie was.
Dinah, by the way, is married to Cordell, who Maggie tried to seduce. Cord didn't go for it, only likes Dinah, so I found it terribly awkward that Dinah, Cord and Warren came to see Maggie and stage an intervention. What kind of friend would bring the man who had dumped you to see right after? Stupid. And it was so insensitive that Cord winked at Maggie. You know a woman liked you, and you married her friend after said woman tried to seduce you. Maybe not make gestures like that to her. Idiot.
Meanwhile Josh is down on the opposite gender just as Maggie is. He's vowed to be celibate because of it, but it's only been a week since he's had sex. Thanks for sharing.
Dinah tried to set up Maggie with Josh, and Josh with Maggie. That's the whole reason she wanted the both of them on the home-building project. I hate matchmakers. They're meddlesome and nosy and need to mind their own business.
Amanda asked if Josh was married, said he should be, so his compassion and sensitivity don't go to waste. She also said she needed time to find him the right woman. That made me so mad. She's a stranger to him, they'd talked for a few minutes, and suddenly she knows all about him enough to pair him up with someone. I could barely comprehend the stupidity of that.
I hate when authors throw in a slew of side drama and get sidetracked on side characters and
His mom, Nadine, had to turn up after another broken marriage, wanting money from him. He made a comment about not being with anyone and she vowed to find the right woman for him. That made 3 women trying to hook him up. My patience spiraled out of control.
Warren--her ex--commented to Josh that Maggie needed an edgy, mysterious man, a man like Josh. Matchmaker #4.
Just a show of hands, who has this many people coming up to you and commenting on your love life and trying to set you up with people?
Nadine even had the idea to find the perfect woman for Warren. This book morphed into a crazy, stupid story of everyone telling everyone everything and trying to hook up everybody else.
Amanda's stupid 5 year old said she loved Josh and wanted to marry him. Ew. And Josh thought Amanda was having ideas. He was irritated when she said she wasn't. Why get irritated when a woman you don't like says she isn't interested? This asshole asked why not him, said they get along and admitted she bruised his ego. Wtf? He went on to suggest they "test things" and he kissed her. My mouth literally dropped open and I was pissed as hell.
What a bastard. I can't freaking get away from this crap.
He thought his life would be easier if he fell for a woman like her and not Maggie. Amanda even called him on it for being scared of things with Maggie, because everyone is so intuitive and in tune with the feelings of strangers whose tendencies and personalities and likes and dislikes THEY DO NOT KNOW.
I skimmed the next page to see if Maggie had seen that and this f***er caught her looking and actually had the nerve to sigh and wonder what made her mad today. What a stupid asshole. You just freaking kissed another woman moments ago, you dumbass. You asked Maggie to go to dinner with you and your loser mom and her EX-FIANCÉ and you've got the nerve to make some aggrieved comment about hearing about what's wrong with Maggie? Screw you. You're gonna set there and have Maggie intervene and take the spotlight off of you with your mom cuz you can't handle your own crap. Why don't you act like a grown man and handle your own shit? Loser.
Why did he have to kiss her to tell is there was something there? He already knew that. If he's going to kiss someone he knows he doesn't like, then I'm afraid to see what he does when he does like someone else. He knew he liked Maggie, so he kisses Amanda. He doesn't deserve Maggie. Asshole. And it's such a shame because Maggie had some good moments where she stuck up for her employee, Ellie, admired her artwork and advocated to get her a showing at her gallery, and protected her against her crazy bf. On the whole I liked her, aside from her being weeks away from marrying a man she didn't love just to please her parents.
What pissed me off even more was that he was so against being set up with Amanda. He thought that's what at least 2 side characters were trying to do, probably more, because everybody in here is a matchmaker, and he got mad. He didn't want to be set up with anyone. So, after making such a stink about it to everyone, telling them not to set him up, he didn't need help, he goes and kisses the very woman he didn't want to be set up with. Thought you didn't want to be with her. Dumbass.
I thought I could get past the meddlesome side characters trying to set up everybody and their mother's uncle, and I was resolved to ignore it and get past it. This, though, I could not and will not. Her friend Dinah, who Josh called drop-dead gorgeous and admired her legs, coyly set them up on the project, because everyone needs to be set up, but denied doing so to both of them. When Maggie stared at Josh admiringly, Dinah got worried that Maggie was going to go to bed with him too soon and fall for another bad guy. She wondered about his history, thought he could be a bad guy. That was like bipolar to go from setting him up to wondering if he's safe to be around and thinking he isn't good enough for Maggie. Like, you just wrote a crazy character who contradicted her own self. Then there's Nadine, who has lousy taste in men, but for some reason catches the attention of Warren, the psychologist. Everyone thinks he likes her, even Nadine, who made sleezy jokes about undressed in front of him. Ew. Warren claims to be interested in Vegas, where Nadine was. Okay. That's weird. She's 50+ and he's 35. Just ew. So many side characters involved in everyone else's business, all of them throwing the MCs together and it was massively annoying.
The "flirting" was almost nonexistent. They had a couple flirty scenes that were really short and went nowhere, because side drama of the characters got in the way. They were both solving other people's problems and I like my books to be focused on the MCs and not the whole town.
I only got this book because my library's bookshop where I volunteer was going to throw it out and I felt bad and took it home. In my reading experience, I know better. I know this author doesn't write sex and what's the point of a romance book without sex? I don't consider a book without sex to be romance. But I got sucked in by the summary, about the rich girl with the constructor worker, which I happen to like. But I can't do it. Not after he kissed another woman who he didn't even like. Josh is a total loser, not worthy of my time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2011
I got a kick out of this cute story about a specialty-store owner with a snooty mother and a carpenter with a Vegas-broad mom. She's not the snob her mother is, and he's not the classless act his mom is, but these two from the opposite side of the tracks have trouble meeting in the middle when there's a train comin'.
This isn't a Christian romance, but it's also not the soft porn of mainstream romance. Language is limited to the mildest of the naughty words, and sex scenes are tame compared to other books in this genre.
This isn't a Christian romance, but it's also not the soft porn of mainstream romance. Language is limited to the mildest of the naughty words, and sex scenes are tame compared to other books in this genre.
March 11, 2018
This was a fun story to listen to for the drive in and from work. We have returning characters from book 1 in the series, (Dinah and Cordell, who are now married). This installment is all about Dinah's friend Maggie. She was dating Warren, Dinah's shrink and apparently between book 1 and this one, they were engaged to be married, but he called it off two weeks before, realizing how different they are and not wanting to go into a marriage that was bound to fail.
Now Maggie has left town on a bit of a depression retreat. She knows in the back of her mind that she just wanted to settle down and get married and Warren was convenient. Since Dinah got married, she just wanted to. But now, Dinah, Cord and Warren all show up to put a stop to her pity party, get her back to reality, (and her art gallery) and ask her to help them with a project.
Cord has enlisted his best restoration man, Josh, to help out a woman whose husband had died a year prior, leaving her with a mountain of debt. The church is helping her with the rent on her apartment to keep her from being evicted, but the congregation has decided to build them a house out of the goodness of their hearts, and they can use as many volunteers as possible to help out every Saturday. So Maggie agrees and comes back to town.
Josh never had much of a family. Growing up, he and his mama went from place to place as she went through man after man. Never putting down roots anywhere, he can't even imagine what a life like that would even be. But once Maggie strolls into his life and onto his project, sparks fly between the two.
Lots of story going on in this book:
1. We meet Josh's mother Nadine, who really steals the show. She comes in looking for a handout from her son, who puts her to work on the house. This outspoken woman turns out to be a real treat.
2. Amanda, the woman who is in need of the house comes from a wealthy family. But once her father didn't approve of her marrying the man she chose, he disowned her. A lot of people don't believe she needs a house built for her, that she should go back and grovel for her daddy to take her back into his life.
3. George Winslow, an ally of Amanda's father who is trying to put a stop to the housing project, thinking it's best Amanda make amends with her father.
4. Caleb: The minister who got the housing project going. George is threatening to have him removed from his job, as he has the clout to make things happen in this town
5. Ellie: She works in Maggie's art gallery and is a talented artist. However, she has a very jealous ex-boyfriend Mark, who has a violent streak, destroying some of Ellie's work. Once Maggie gets involved, the danger is high. This maniac will do anything from keeping Ellie from having an art show and being successful, when that's exactly what he wanted to happen with his career, but isn't good enough.
Lots of high drama in this book. A really good story and I'm sure it would've been a page turned if I wouldn't have been listening to it. On to the last book in the series.
Now Maggie has left town on a bit of a depression retreat. She knows in the back of her mind that she just wanted to settle down and get married and Warren was convenient. Since Dinah got married, she just wanted to. But now, Dinah, Cord and Warren all show up to put a stop to her pity party, get her back to reality, (and her art gallery) and ask her to help them with a project.
Cord has enlisted his best restoration man, Josh, to help out a woman whose husband had died a year prior, leaving her with a mountain of debt. The church is helping her with the rent on her apartment to keep her from being evicted, but the congregation has decided to build them a house out of the goodness of their hearts, and they can use as many volunteers as possible to help out every Saturday. So Maggie agrees and comes back to town.
Josh never had much of a family. Growing up, he and his mama went from place to place as she went through man after man. Never putting down roots anywhere, he can't even imagine what a life like that would even be. But once Maggie strolls into his life and onto his project, sparks fly between the two.
Lots of story going on in this book:
1. We meet Josh's mother Nadine, who really steals the show. She comes in looking for a handout from her son, who puts her to work on the house. This outspoken woman turns out to be a real treat.
2. Amanda, the woman who is in need of the house comes from a wealthy family. But once her father didn't approve of her marrying the man she chose, he disowned her. A lot of people don't believe she needs a house built for her, that she should go back and grovel for her daddy to take her back into his life.
3. George Winslow, an ally of Amanda's father who is trying to put a stop to the housing project, thinking it's best Amanda make amends with her father.
4. Caleb: The minister who got the housing project going. George is threatening to have him removed from his job, as he has the clout to make things happen in this town
5. Ellie: She works in Maggie's art gallery and is a talented artist. However, she has a very jealous ex-boyfriend Mark, who has a violent streak, destroying some of Ellie's work. Once Maggie gets involved, the danger is high. This maniac will do anything from keeping Ellie from having an art show and being successful, when that's exactly what he wanted to happen with his career, but isn't good enough.
Lots of high drama in this book. A really good story and I'm sure it would've been a page turned if I wouldn't have been listening to it. On to the last book in the series.
September 1, 2011
Good premise, lukewarm romance, bad follow-through. As much as any other hopeless romantic, I enjoy the typical romantic plot – couple’s obvious attraction, reluctance to get along, outside difficulties preventing easy relationship, pending happy ending. However, if I have too much confusion to trip me up, I can’t enjoy the rocky ride that builds up to the romance.
It felt like I was going in so many circles that I felt dizzy from the same conversations about Maggie and Josh worrying about whether they’d fall in-love or break each others’ hearts. And, with everyone putting in their two-cents about Josh and Maggie, the couple should have been rich by the end of the book.
Friends and family members play so many head games in order to try to match up the stubborn couple, I felt like my own head needed therapy after all of the confusion. Does the friend want the couple together or is she warning them off? Are these characters worried that Josh and Maggie will hurt each other, or are they just playing reverse psychology, again? There’s so much contradiction and interference from everyone that I almost forgot who the main characters were… oh yeah, Josh and Maggie.
What was worse was watching Josh and Maggie second-guess themselves so many times that “hundredth-guess” should now be the term for characters as indecisive as them. Yes, there is plenty of flirting; enough to almost make up for their bickering. So, in essence, the novel was justly named.
The tension that was supposed to be the “disaster,” which both Josh and Maggie were trying to avert, lost appeal to me when so many people tried to warn the couple off of each other. At that point, I felt as rebellious as Maggie and Josh; I just wanted them to throw caution to the wind and get past the flirtation, already. Flirting with frustration would also be an apt description.
- EZRead Staffer, Amelia
Buy the book: http://www.ezread.com/book.asp?EAN=97...
Watch the short video discussion:http://vimeo.com/28467099
It felt like I was going in so many circles that I felt dizzy from the same conversations about Maggie and Josh worrying about whether they’d fall in-love or break each others’ hearts. And, with everyone putting in their two-cents about Josh and Maggie, the couple should have been rich by the end of the book.
Friends and family members play so many head games in order to try to match up the stubborn couple, I felt like my own head needed therapy after all of the confusion. Does the friend want the couple together or is she warning them off? Are these characters worried that Josh and Maggie will hurt each other, or are they just playing reverse psychology, again? There’s so much contradiction and interference from everyone that I almost forgot who the main characters were… oh yeah, Josh and Maggie.
What was worse was watching Josh and Maggie second-guess themselves so many times that “hundredth-guess” should now be the term for characters as indecisive as them. Yes, there is plenty of flirting; enough to almost make up for their bickering. So, in essence, the novel was justly named.
The tension that was supposed to be the “disaster,” which both Josh and Maggie were trying to avert, lost appeal to me when so many people tried to warn the couple off of each other. At that point, I felt as rebellious as Maggie and Josh; I just wanted them to throw caution to the wind and get past the flirtation, already. Flirting with frustration would also be an apt description.
- EZRead Staffer, Amelia
Buy the book: http://www.ezread.com/book.asp?EAN=97...
Watch the short video discussion:http://vimeo.com/28467099
December 13, 2017
Maggie (Magnolia) was dumped by .Nowher fiance Warren.Her friend Dinah has just married Cordell (Cord),a builder.Now Maggie moopes till the three arrive on her doorstep and offer her a job:to help build a houyse for a needy family.
Maggie owns Images- an art gallery.Her assistant Ellie is a painter.Ellie's teacher/ boyfriend ,Brian,is jealous of her work.He ruins most of her pictures.When the pictures are transferred to Images,Brian tries to set them on fire.
Josh woirks with Cord.He loves to restore old furniture.Now he is responsible for building the house and organizing the volunteers.Nadine,his errant mother, appears and wants money.Josh puts her to work and teams her with Maggie.
Amanda O'Lear is young widow with 3 small children (8,6 and 4).Her husband has left debts anbd she had to declare bancrupcy.Her wealthy fatber has disowned her and never seen his grandchildren.Amanda asked him for hbelp only once -and was refused.She is too proud to ask again. Cal.eb, the local minister, supports her.
George, a friend of Amanda's father,Maxwell, is against the idea of building Amanda a house.He thinks that Amanda isn't really needy since she can ask her father for help.George also tries to stop Caleb from building it.Tiull one day George and Nadine meet and have some words...Result- he changes his mind.
Several story lines in the book : Dinah and Cord (heroes of "The Backup Plan) play important part.
Parents-children:Nadine and Josh, Juliette and Maggie -different family dynamics.
A disasterous relationship between Ellie and Brian causes lots of damage.Ellie's self-esteem is non-existent.Could Warren become interested in her?
I started liking George as the story developed.
Maggie owns Images- an art gallery.Her assistant Ellie is a painter.Ellie's teacher/ boyfriend ,Brian,is jealous of her work.He ruins most of her pictures.When the pictures are transferred to Images,Brian tries to set them on fire.
Josh woirks with Cord.He loves to restore old furniture.Now he is responsible for building the house and organizing the volunteers.Nadine,his errant mother, appears and wants money.Josh puts her to work and teams her with Maggie.
Amanda O'Lear is young widow with 3 small children (8,6 and 4).Her husband has left debts anbd she had to declare bancrupcy.Her wealthy fatber has disowned her and never seen his grandchildren.Amanda asked him for hbelp only once -and was refused.She is too proud to ask again. Cal.eb, the local minister, supports her.
George, a friend of Amanda's father,Maxwell, is against the idea of building Amanda a house.He thinks that Amanda isn't really needy since she can ask her father for help.George also tries to stop Caleb from building it.Tiull one day George and Nadine meet and have some words...Result- he changes his mind.
Several story lines in the book : Dinah and Cord (heroes of "The Backup Plan) play important part.
Parents-children:Nadine and Josh, Juliette and Maggie -different family dynamics.
A disasterous relationship between Ellie and Brian causes lots of damage.Ellie's self-esteem is non-existent.Could Warren become interested in her?
I started liking George as the story developed.
May 5, 2013
This book is all blah blah blah and absolutely no sexy funtimes. Before there's even the slightest glimmer of heat, absolutely everyone in the whole town has to sound off about how much the H/h should get together. Everyone!!! His mother has to give her opinion. Her best friend. Her best friend's husband. Some lady who is completely unrelated to either of them. And they all have to tell the H first, and *then,* in a separate scene tell the h. All of them going in one big circle. And where's the heat anyway? I'll tell you where: gone a long time ago, because how could anyone get worked up with all the yammering going on? If *only* they were flirting with disaster. More like flirting with laryngitis. Will these crazy kids ever get it together? Who cares?
May 22, 2017
Jugando con el destino
Segundo libro de esta serie.dos personas que evitan los compromisos serios en el amor.tratarán de evitarse mutuamente hasta que evidentemente no lo lograran.tendrán que superar el miedo a las relaciones duraderas para lograr lo que siempre han deseado un hogar y el amor.muy buena.
Segundo libro de esta serie.dos personas que evitan los compromisos serios en el amor.tratarán de evitarse mutuamente hasta que evidentemente no lo lograran.tendrán que superar el miedo a las relaciones duraderas para lograr lo que siempre han deseado un hogar y el amor.muy buena.
April 10, 2019
This is a very satisfying romance set in Charleston and part of the Charleston Trilogy. The characters are engaging and complex, and the plot is good. It is a good read with a happy ending.
June 19, 2025
This is number two in the trilogy. I absolutely enjoyed both protagonists and their story was captivating. Kudos on integrating past, present and future characters in a cohesive way. There were all kinds of women to root for. The pace with spot on. Good summer reading. Yahoo!
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May 1, 2018Miniseries: The Charleston Trilogy
June 17, 2018
Can 2 people who have avoided commitment get over their fears?
Sherryl Woods has, once again, presented us with people who want lives that are the opposite of what they saw growing up. She grew up in a wealthy, society governed southern life. He grew up with a mother who turned from one man to the next, with no stability or security.
Now they have been pressured to build a house for a woman who husband died, leaving her with enormous debt and three young children. As they struggle with having to deal with each other and the disapproval of their families, they begin to learn about themselves and each other. This book is the story of how they change and grow and learn what is really important to them.
There were times when I felt annoyed and irritated by the actions of the people in this story. But, overall, I enjoyed the changes, struggles and subterfuges that the people populating this story went through.
Sherryl Woods has, once again, presented us with people who want lives that are the opposite of what they saw growing up. She grew up in a wealthy, society governed southern life. He grew up with a mother who turned from one man to the next, with no stability or security.
Now they have been pressured to build a house for a woman who husband died, leaving her with enormous debt and three young children. As they struggle with having to deal with each other and the disapproval of their families, they begin to learn about themselves and each other. This book is the story of how they change and grow and learn what is really important to them.
There were times when I felt annoyed and irritated by the actions of the people in this story. But, overall, I enjoyed the changes, struggles and subterfuges that the people populating this story went through.
April 17, 2020
This is flirting taken to an art form. Wow! I didn't want them to get together, I just wanted the witty banter and teasing to continue forever. Maggie is a selfish, haughty wreck with a strong streak of stupid. Oh well, even being that bad, Josh can love her. Because he is IT, the ultimate romance novel heartthrob. Gorgeous, compassionate, protective, and great with kids, along with a passel of other things. The book is really just an excuse to fall in love with Josh. Mission accomplished. I will read the third book in the novel just so I don't have to say goodbye to Josh.
May 29, 2023
Another high-classed debutante finds her soul mate in a working guy. Josh is a historical restoration specialist who works on Cord's projects. When he is asked to work on a charity project, building a house for a single mom of three and recent widow, he wonders why. Cord and Dinahhave an ulterior motive, to bring Josh and their friend Maggie together. There begins the saga, and it is somewhat entertaining. When peripheral characters begin to show up, including Josh's mother, it gets a little crazy. There is a resolution, however.
January 21, 2023
I wasn’t sure about this book from the beginning. It was cheesy and seemed a little YA. But it got better towards the middle, I started getting invested in the characters and wanted to know what happened. But the women in this book are weak and vulnerable, there’s so much reliance on men it’s kinda gross. The end is what made me write this review. There was no buildup, it was drastic and rushed. Definitely not my favorite.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2025
I can’t decide whether I like this book or not like the first one in the series is very predictable and the characters are very similar in their personalities. This author is definitely not gonna be a favorite. For some reason the same issues are discussed over and over again. Okay we get it already, they are both hot, both broken, both love spending time in bed. Both are not sure why they care for each other. We get it. You don’t need to say it in every single chapter
June 21, 2018
I am a very big fan of ms. Woods. I have read all her books so far. She never disappoints me. Once I start reading her books it is very hard to put them down. This book like all the rest of hers,to me are tops. I do enjoy reading books,but then I must pit them down for awhile to get my house Wook done.
November 27, 2020
True, sweet romance. You can read such kind of book once a year and enjoy it. Reading more often would get tiresome and boring. Maggie is a disaster, indecisive and afraid. Josh probably should be as well but in my opinion came out stronger and more level headed. I liked Nadine a lot. The whole book was a bit naive and a bit hilarious and out of this world. Typical Hallmark movie romance.
March 9, 2022
Second book in this series was a bit better than the first featuring Maggie a gallery owner that was practically left at the altar. When she returns home her friends introduce her to historical restorer Josh. Sparks fly, but they both have commitment issues. Getting to their HEA was filled with road blocks.
December 7, 2022
Second Book in the trilogy by Sherryl Woods set in Charleston. Focuses on Maggie Forsythe, the best friend of Dinah from The Backup Plan. Maggie's insecurities keep her from trusting she'll find the right man to spend her life with. Good story with well developed characters. Another winner by Sherryl Woods
May 4, 2023
Audiobook. A so-so simple story. Because it was an audiobook, I listened to it. If I were to physically read it, I wouldn’t probably choose this author. But, the audiobooks pass the hours in the car. Girl meets boy. They clash. They end up falling in love and etc. Pretty formulaic. And the backstory is only so-so interesting.
February 26, 2024
I didn't finish Book 1 because I couldn't stand the Narcissistic heroine but I did like Maggie so I decided to give Book 2 a chance. I still liked Maggie much better, especially because she bluntly calls Dinah out on her BS but...I couldn't get into this couple at all and didn't like the H. Absolutely zero chemistry and no sexy romance either. Not my thing.
February 20, 2018
Woods never fails to produce a good romance. This one is no exception. Characters fully described with wry humor. Maggie and Josh were made for each other. The best part of the book was naming the heroine Magnolia. What a hoot!
June 18, 2018
Fun read
This was a nice story about two people from totally different social circles and upbringings who are able to overcome their differences and fears to find their happily ever after.
This was a nice story about two people from totally different social circles and upbringings who are able to overcome their differences and fears to find their happily ever after.
July 20, 2018
2nd in the Charleston Trilogy; Flirting with Disaster is a story full of humor, characters are fun and interesting. A really delightful read, with balance of strong women, and good men, where the community comes together to build a house for a single mom who has run into a streak of bad luck.
June 27, 2017
A good and easy to listen to.
April 17, 2019
Enjoyable read from Ms. Woods. Look forward to more from her.
May 4, 2019
Good
Liked this book but usually love all her books enjoyed this book dud Not want to put it down really enjoyed book
Liked this book but usually love all her books enjoyed this book dud Not want to put it down really enjoyed book
June 15, 2019
This one just wasn't for me. The characters didn't draw me in.
August 26, 2019
Fun redictable read for long driving trip- on audio.
April 5, 2020
I read this before the back up plan. I debating on going back to read it, since it was the first book.
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