From the minute Emily Dobbs welcomed Marcie Carter to her Miami neighborhood, she knew they were going to be friends, even though they are opposites. Emily is juggling motherhood and a career; Marcie is a devoted stay-at-home mom, and they become as close as sisters. Marcie's husband is a bit of a verbal bully, and Emily's is never around, but those were the only signs of discord. Ten years after their auspicious meeting, things change drastically. Marcie's son, a popular star athlete, is arrested for date rape. Emily tries her hardest to give him the benefit of the doubt, but as the investigation drags on, both families struggle with the fallout, and Emily and Marcie's friendship is on the line. How do you keep a relationship alive under such pressure? Woods hooks the reader by creating a wonderful, enviable friendship. Once the cracks begin to appear, her readers are fully engaged and have a stake in the outcome.--Hatton, Maria Copyright 2007 Booklist

Compulsively readable, the latest romantic drama from bestselling author Woods (Feels Like Family) traces beautifully and honestly two suburban Miami families' emotional crises, as they face their worst fears with help from friends. When her best friend's son, Evan, is accused of date rape, recently divorced teacher Emily Dobbs immediately stands by the young man who's become like a second son to her. The boy's mother, Marcie Carter, is grateful for the support, as her domineering husband, Ken, seems more interested in destroying the reputation of the accuser than in taking care of his family. The longtime friendship between the two women is pushed to its limits, however, when disturbing suspicions emerge that victims may not be limited to one girl-and as the investigation proceeds, Emily finds her own son and daughter getting pulled into the maelstrom. Moreover, Emily's unexpected attraction to a police detective on the case further tests her loyalty and conviction. Though the serious issues raised (date rape, verbal abuse) are handled with honesty and integrity, Woods's novel easily rises above hot-button topics to tell a universal tale of friendship's redemptive power. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved