Mending Fences-Sherryl Woods

Mending Fences
Sherryl Woods
Mira, Oct 2007, $6.99
ISBN: 9780778324577

For over ten years neighbors Marcie Carter and Emily Dobbs have been best friends helping each other raise their two offspring each. Whereas Marcie is married to Ken, Emily is a single mom, but marital status has not interfered with their friendship.

However, both moms are shocked when Marcie’s son Evan, a University of Miami football star with an NFL future, is accused of date rape by Lauren Brown. Emily Dobbs refuses to believe it as she knows Evan and his sister Caitlyn quite well from them playing with her kids Josh and Dani as much as from babysitting and family gatherings. However, as Ken tries to prove his son’s innocence regardless of the cost to others even his wife and daughter, Emily notices Dani is acting strange at a time when Police Detective Grady Rodriguez has a hunch that the teen can shed a light on the dark side of Evan.

MENDING FENCES is a tense family drama starring a fully developed cast. The story line is driven by the characters. Each of the Carters and Dobbs react differently to the news of Evan’s arrest; however, the fascination is how the attitudes of the two moms change as the truth is revealed while Ken would sacrifice his daughter for his son. Although a romantic subplot between Grady and Emily seems unnecessary except to please romance readers, Sherryl Woods provides a strong look at the impact of a trauma on the friendships between two next door families.

Harriet Klausner