LADIES OF THE LAKE by Haywood Smith
Haywood Smith, author of THE RED HAT CLUB, has written a fairy tale for the 21st century. In her new novel LADIES OF THE LAKE she tells the story of a new type of “Cinderella.” This one has three sisters and a wicked ex-husband. Now these sisters are not evil, just cranky some of the time. There is also a Prince Charming in the story and a question as to whether or not these two lovelorn characters can ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after.
Dahlia Barrett Cooper is middle aged and divorced. She runs a ballet school in Atlanta but times are tough and she is on the verge of losing her home. Her only child, a son, has run off with his father and has no communication with her. She would be totally on her own were it not for her three sisters Iris, Violet and Rose.
A way out of her dire situation arises when her beloved grandmother Cissy dies. She owned a lot of real estate in the Lake Clare area of North Georgia. Dahlia and her sisters are left the property but there is a caveat. They have to spend ninety days in the grandmother’s house before they can acquire ownership.
For Dahlia this is a rough prospect because she has an allergy to just about anything and everything, and also because she and her sister Iris do not get along. Her sister of choice is Violet, with Rose running a close second. She and Iris have been bickering since childhood and can really get under each other’s skin.
When she arrives at her grandmother’s house at the lake, she soon meets a handsome man in her age range. His name is Clete and he seems to be everything she could ever want in a partner/spouse. He seems to care for her but there is some mystery in his past that keeps her on guard.
Will Dahlia and Clete find happiness? Will Dahlia solve her money woes? Will she ever be able to tolerate Iris? Answers to these and many more questions make up the core of the book. It is also what keeps readers turning the pages searching for answers.
Smith writes with an ease that is comforting. She knows her characters, knows her story, and knows ho to make it all flow effortlessly from beginning to end. Her fans have grown used to this style and expect her books to have a little romance, a little conflict, and a lot of natural humor. Smith checks all those squares in LADIES OF THE LAKE.
For a book that is easy to read and even easier to enjoy, pick up Haywood Smith’s latest novel LADIES OF THE LAKE. You will find yourself quickly immersed in a modern day fairy tale that will have you wishing and hoping for a happily ever after ending.
LADIES OF THE LAKE is published by St Martin’s Press. It contains 372 pages and sells for $24.99.