Sweet Home Carolina

In her latest contemporary romance, Rice skillfully explores rocky emotional territory with a comforting North Carolina backdrop and a rich cast of characters. When the old fabric mill goes bankrupt, recently divorced mom and textile designer Amy Warren is out of a job—along with most of the small town of Northfolk. The sensible, hardworking Amy, hoping to keep a roof over her two kids' heads and get the town back to work, makes it her mission to get the mill up and running again. Amy's well-laid plan hits a snag in the form of a tall, handsome European named Jacques Saint-Etienne, who has his own designs on the mill, and they don't include hiring back the laid-off workers. Unfortunately, Amy is immediately smitten with the well-dressed hunk, and it isn't long before Jacques, despite his ruthless professional instincts, begins feeling the same. Though the familiar story may drive off some readers and a last-minute disaster pushes the story over the top, Rice's appealing characters and knack for capturing the subtleties of relationships—familial, romantic and otherwise—makes for another charming, addictive read. (Feb.)