In this gripping follow-up to the Depression-era saga Mrs. Wiggins,
the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author transports
readers to the Deep South, as a proper church-going woman determined to
snare Alabama's most-sought after widower finds his secret desires and
righteous lies come as a package deal...
Forty-something widow Jessie Tucker is beloved throughout Lexington,
Alabama, for her kind heart and endless generosity. But she feels it's
past time she rewarded herself--especially when upstanding Hubert
Wiggins tragically loses his wife and son. Making herself indispensable,
yet discouraged by Hubert's lack of romantic interest, Jessie cooks up a
deception she knows will make pious Hubert do right by her...
Hoax or not, Hubert couldn't be happier. The passionate self he's long
hidden from everyone has a new, much-riskier secret love. And the
unsuspecting second Mrs. Wiggins will help him maintain his
ever-so-devout image in the community...
But when Hubert is not the ardent lover Jessie always dreamed he was,
she turns her desires to handsome younger man Conway. Suddenly the "good
church wife" can't resist temptation at all. And someone is watching:
Conway's new girlfriend--and Jessie's longtime rival--Blondeen. Now
Blondeen has the perfect opportunity to harass Jessie, destroy her
reputation, drive her out of town--then become the real wife Hubert
should have had all along...
In one shattering night, Jessie, Blondeen, and Hubert will each go too
far. And when their web of deceit threatens to drag them under for good,
they will have only one chance to erase the past and claim everything
they've ever wanted. If their secrets don't destroy them first...