About That Man

Sherryl Woods never disappoints. This is an excellent read. I would recommend to anyone. Fast reading, and page turner for sure.

Daisy Spencer, the repressed 30-year-old daughter of the richest man in Trinity Cove, Virginia, fears that the most important things in life have passed her by--a husband and family. Then she catches a scared, defiant, runaway orphan hot-wiring her car, and it seems like a sign from heaven. Finally someone really needs her, and she is determined to take troubled, young Tommy into her heart and home. Her family vociferously disagrees with her decision, and her brothers track down Tommy's only relative, an uncle. They believe Walker Ames, a tough D.C. cop, is a far better choice for dealing with a juvenile delinquent than their naïve sister, and they strongly hope the policeman will take his nephew away quickly, before the boy breaks Daisy's heart. In the beginning, Walker is more than willing to fall in with the plans of Daisy's brothers, but after he meets the woman herself, all bets are off, and nothing will ever be the same for him again.As a Northern Virginia resident, I really enjoyed this lively contemporary romance set in my own back yard. The Virginia small-town life is done accurately and well, and the hero is a very authentic D.C. policeman. In addition, while redemption stories like this one are usually unremittingly grim, this book is refreshingly written in a wonderful, light tone which makes the emotion of the story line even more deeply felt. All of the characters are unique, with distinctive voices, and their strong needs lead to vigorous antagonisms that keep the plot briskly rolling along.I have previously read several of Ms. Woods' short contemporary romances and enjoyed them very much, so it was a real pleasure to be able to bask in one of her longer books and hear, even more happily, that this book is the start of a series. I am eager to get my hands on the next installment!

Beautiful, intelligent Daisy Spencer completely redefines the term "spinster" in Sherryl Woods latest romp, ABOUT THAT MAN. Unable to conceive, Daisy despairs of ever having a family of her own except for her lovable but domineering father, whom she skillfully keeps from running her life, and her two loyally overprotective brothers. Things change, however, when recently-orphaned Tommy Flannigan steals her heart while trying to steal her car. Instinctively, Daisy knows that she and the troubled ten-year-old need each other. Daisy's father, King Spencer, and her brother Tucker, the local sheriff, aren't so sure.Daisy withstands pressure from King and Tucker, but she meets her match in Walker Ames, hot-shot detective from the big city and Tommy's uncle. Losing track of his runaway sister years ago, Walker doesn't even know his nephew exists until a social worker calls to give him the news. Walker doubts he would make a good surrogate father for Tommy, but in spite of himself, Tommy--and Daisy--win his heart.The novel has everything for a light summer read: sizzling romance, main characters who overcome obstacles with wit and determination, family with all of its strengths and foibles, and friends--including the surprising Anna-Louise Walton, a minister whose sense of humor is as well-honed as her compassion. Not to be outdone by the human characters is the town in which they live. Trinity Harbor provides the perfect setting. It is a place where people know one another, meddle in each other's lives, take offense and sit in judgment, and--most wondrous of all--rally around one another in the best sense of community.

In the small town of Trinity Harbor, Virginia, Daisy Spencer has decided to take in Tommy Flanagan, an orphaned ten-year-old. Though Tucker, Daisy's brother and the town sheriff, sees Tommy trying to steal some of Daisy's jewelry, she wants Tommy anyway. Because Tommy's mother has just died, and he has nowhere to go, Daisy wants him to live with her as long as possible. Enter Walker Ames, the D.C. cop who is the uncle that didn't even know that he had a nephew. Having lost contact with his sister, Tommy's mother, years before, Walker is surprised when the social worker calls him about Tommy. More than that, Walker has no idea whether he would make a good father to Tommy considering that his own marriage ended in divorce, and his wife moved away with his sons. Though Daisy is attracted to Walker, she is terrified that he will take Tommy away from her and end her hopes of ever having a child of her own. Walker is equally attracted to Daisy but is reluctant to act on that attraction for fear that a complicated situation will become even more complex. Walker believes that he would never be content in Trinity Harbor, and the ninety-mile drive from there to D.C. would be too much to make on a daily basis. What type of relationship will Walker and Daisy have, and how will Tommy fit into their lives? Sherryl Woods has provided readers with a hearwarmingly tender novel. The manner in which patriarch King Spencer interferes in his daughter's life, much to her dismay, adds a touch of humor to this read full of complex characters. Daisy's brothers are wonderful, very much men's men but clearly over-protective of their sister. Anna-Louise, as the town's minister, adds a reality-check when events in Daisy's life get really out of kilter. One can hardly wait to see who will snare the heart of Daisy's brother Bobby in the next installment in this series.

No one does southern romances quite like Sherryl Woods and ABOUT THAT MAN is simply delightful. When Daisy Spencer catches newly-orphaned Tommy Flanagan trying to hot-wire her car, she decides that he needs someone to love him as much as she needs a child to love. So she moves him into her house and keeps him. However, keeping Tommy as her own soon develops complications for Tommy has an uncle, Walker Ames, and one look at the handsome cop has Daisy's heart palpitating. Walker feels the same but he's been burnt once at love and he's wary.Watching Daisy and Walker dance around each other while struggling to deal with Tommy, Daisy's interfering father, and her two brothers, is pure enjoyment. Don't miss this novel - it's terrific.

In Trinity Harbor, Virginia, no one, not her father nor her brothers, or even the townsfolk, can believe that spinster Sunday school teacher Daisy Spencer would take the miscreant into her home. However, no one takes the time to understand that Daisy needs ten-year-old Tommy Flanagan to love as a mother even if the lad tried to steal her car. Perhaps if they knew how she learned over a decade ago that she could not have children that, in turn, ended her relationship with her beau Billy Inscoe, they would better understand her.Her father King and her two brothers find a relative of Tommy's, DC police officer Walker Ames, who they demand take the urchin away before he steals more than just some loot from Daisy. However, when Daisy and Walker meet, an attraction immediately springs up between them. Still, both have demons from their respective pasts that make a permanent relationship seem impossible.Though the story line follows romance textbook guidelines, the characters are very deep, which in turn provides freshness to a plot that could have been insipid. The lead couple is three-dimensional and very likeable. Their interrelationships with one another, with Tommy, and with her family make Sherryl Woods' contemporary romance fun to read.Harriet Klausner