Maddie Townsend has lived a pretty stable and peaceful life in Serenity, South Carolina, until one evening when Bill, her husband of 20 years, tells her he wants a divorce. And to add insult to injury, he's fallen in love with his young nurse and she's expecting his child. Now Maddie is left to raise three kids, get a job and face the gossip of a small town. So how can opening a fitness spa with her two best friends help her get through any of this?

While Maddie throws herself into her work at the spa, all of her kids are having a difficult time adjusting to their dad leaving. Her oldest son, Tyler, starts to rebel and his performance as the star pitcher for the school's baseball team suffers. When his coach, Cal Maddox, approaches Maddie about the problem, he sees her as more than Tyler's mom. Things begin to get steamy and the town doesn't like it. Even Maddie's soon-to-be-ex has an opinion.

Maddie can handle the gossip, but Cal's job is in jeopardy. A special meeting of the school board is called and Cal must defend himself, his job and his feelings for Maddie. Then Bill starts to see Maddie as a "new woman." Serenity is anything but serene.

STEALING HOME, the first installment in Sherryl Woods' Sweet Magnolias trilogy, is a wonderful story of family drama, romance and friendships. Not all of the characters are likable, but they are believable. I can't wait for the next book, A SLICE OF HEAVEN.