Sweet as Pie: A Small Town Romance

by Alicia Hunter Pace

Overview

A pro hockey player learns that home is where the heart is in the first novel of a delightful new series from USA TODAY bestselling author Alicia Hunter Pace

Evans Pemberton has always had a problem saying no. To her overbearing Mississippi Delta family, to her business mentor’s push to expand her thriving pie shop and to her lifelong crush, Jake Champagne. But Jake chose her beauty queen cousin three years ago and ghosted on their close friendship. When he comes to her small town in Alabama with a new pro hockey franchise, Evie fears she’ll lose her heart all over again. Of course, she'll forgive him like the good Southern woman she is, but anything more than that is off the table.

So why can’t she stop baking for him?

Jake is looking forward to a new team, a new town and a clean slate in Laurel Springs. After a disastrous year, the hockey hotshot is leaving his past behind—even betting his best friend that he can stay away from women. But he’s happy to reconnect with a piece of home when he visits Evie. Between slices of Mississippi mud pie and chicken potpie, he’s starting to remember all the good times they had and the man he always intended to be. Not to mention what a fool he was to let Evie get away…

How will they find a future together when she can’t say no and he can’t say yes? The path to true love isn’t quite easy as pie, but it sure is sweet in the end.


Good Southern Women
Book 1: Sweet as Pie
Book 2: Smooth as Silk
Book 3: Shine Like Silver

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781335424846
Publisher:	Carina Press
Publication date:	08/24/2021
Series:	Good Southern Women , #1
Edition description:	Original
Pages:	416
Product dimensions:	4.08(w) x 6.58(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Stephanie Jones and Jean Hovey live in Alabama and write together as Alicia Hunter Pace.Stephanie is an English teacher and native Alabamian who likes football, history, and people who follow the rules.Jean is a former public librarian. She likes to cook but has discovered the joy of Mrs. Paul's fish fillets since becoming a writer.Stephanie and Jean write Southern contemporary stories and love to hear from readers.

Editorial Reviews

07/19/2021

Pace (the Gone South series) brings a large helping of charm to the sweet sports romance that launches her Good Southern Women series. Divorced hockey player Jake Champagne is in bed with the latest in a string of one-night stands when he gets the news that his beloved Uncle Blake has died of a heart attack. To honor his memory, Jake resolves to become the kind of man Uncle Blake would have been proud of and put an end his horndog ways. For added incentive, he makes a substantial bet with a teammate that he can stay celibate for three months. This proves harder when Jake and friends are traded to a new team, taking them to Birmingham, Ala.—which happens to be where Jake’s childhood friend Evans “Evie” Pemberton runs a pie shop. Jake and Evie haven’t spoken since before Jake’s divorce from Evie’s callous cousin nearly three years ago, but Evie’s still holding a torch for Jake. Jake slowly realizes that he feels the same way, but can their romance survive after Evie learns of his bet? Pace’s solid storytelling is enhanced by drool-worthy descriptions of Evie’s decadent desserts and a stellar supporting cast. This is a treat. Agent: Tara Gelsomino, One Track Literary. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

Pace’s solid storytelling is enhanced by drool-worthy descriptions of Evie’s decadent desserts and a stellar supporting cast. This is a treat.” — Publishers Weekly


"A decadent read packed with lovable characters, witty dialogue and a sigh-worthy happily-ever-after that leaves me craving more." —New York Times bestselling author Rhonda Russell

"Alicia Hunter Pace writes the kind of small-town Southern romance I love!" —New York Times bestselling author Lynne Raye Harris

From the Publisher