Helen Decatur was the obsessive, compulsive member of the group of three friends, Maddie, Helen & Dana Sue commonly referred to as the Sweet Magnolias. Her life revolved around her career as a lawyer specializing in divorce and settlement cases. As far as family life was concerned she was very content with her role as doting aunt to her best friends children after all she could spoil them rotten and then send them home to their parents. Helen was a strong advocate for the abused or cheated wife left to carry on and support a family sometimes in the face of violence. Her picture of married life was somewhat colored by what she witnessed day after day and cemented her choice to remain single. What she didn't count on -- what didn't make it onto one of her many lists -- was turning 43 and having her biological clock start ticking -- rather loudly too. She became obsessed with the idea of having a child of her own and started to implement a plan to make it happen. But as with all plans -- obstacles present themselves and for Helen this obstacle had a name Erik Whitney. As relationships go Helen and Erik were very happy with their mutually agreed uncommitted passionate affair. But Erik was unaware of Helen's desire to have a child and adamantly against marriage and children. This presents quite an ethical dilemma for attorney Helen Decatur. Does she trick Erik into getting her pregnant knowing full well that will be the end of their friendship or give up on her dream of having a child? Either way she will lose something that has become very important to her.

FEELS LIKE FAMILY is the final installment of the Sweet Magnolia series and it revolves around the importance of family and how differently families are defined. The story about Helen brings forth a disquieting atmosphere amongst these friends. Friends may seem to love unconditionally but when their trust is in question a chasm may develop that seems to be insurmountable. Helen's family has always been her friends, their children and spouses as well as her many clients. She readily notes the influence her actions have had on her client's lives. Now she has to evaluate her own actions and the effect it will have on her future with her Serenity family. Woods created a well thought out closure to this fine series on life in a small town whose inhabitants were anything but small in fact many of them were larger then life and that's what made these stories so intriguing. Sherryl Woods weaves a thoughtful and intelligent tale. Enjoy them all!