Caramel and Magnolias

A woman desperate for a family finds herself the center of a murder investigation in this captivating tale from USA Today bestselling author Tess Thompson.
Sylvia wants nothing more to be a mother, so when an unorthodox arrangement presents her with the opportunity, she jumps at the chance — no questions asked. But her dream-come-true quickly unravels when a pregnant teen is murdered and the case hits far too close to home.
As Detective Peter Ball pieces the crime together, his sleuthing threatens to destroy Sylvia’s family in a web of darkness and deception that uncovers an illegal adoption. Though he’s simply doing his job, he may be forced to rip motherhood from Sylvia’s grasp.
USA Today bestselling author Tess Thompson serves up suspense with important life lessons in this unforgettable read that reminds us all of the possibilities that await in both life and love. That is, if we’re brave enough to accept them.

Reviews

“This novel kept me so engaged I read the whole thing in one night. This author has a talent for developing characters that are so believable and also somehow speak directly to you. The storyline takes you through fun travels, suspenseful twists and heart-clenching moments. Its everything I look for in a good book. I think it takes a real talent to build characters that really speak to your own experiences yet are so likeable you root for them from beginning to end. And to have love, spice, romance, suspense, action all in one book just makes this all the more enjoyable.” —Amazon Reviewer

“This book is written as an ensemble piece – the points of view of three characters that have been wounded in love are highlighted and provide the majority of the `feel’ for the plot. While it starts as a mystery, the romantic interludes soon take over and the story takes on a whole different feel. Tess Thompson has created incredibly realistic characters, with real and tangible issues, concerns and fears that are easy for the reader to relate to. Set in the lushly defined and described Pacific Northwest, the intersection of the stories all worked together to enrich the impact of each individual’s personal story.” —Top 100 Amazon Reviewer (Gayle)