Fantastic storyline! Loved the interplay of the characters. Can't wait to read the other two in this trilogy!

A very heartwarming story. Enjoyed it & it's very well written.

a GRIPPING EMOTIONATTy











A gripping emotionally wrenching but satisfying tale,,,, foreign correspondent Dinah Davis who spent years wriggling out of international hot spots,,,Now she's come to South Carolina's low Country to hook up with the dependable man who long ago promised his devotion .But instead of finding the safety she 's seeking she winds up in the arms of his black sheep brother,Cordell would go after Dinah himself if the opinionated debutante weren't so much trouble ,But when Dinah lets down her guard long enough for Cord to see the real woman . he starts to wonder if his judgment wasn't just like a little too harsh, maybe ther's a reason he can't stand the thought of Dinah traipsing down the aisle with his brother Cord was the last man on earth Dinah would choose,,,but it seems fate has other ideas,IT TURNS OUT EVEN THE BEST BACKUP PLAN CAN TAKE AN UNEXPECTED twist,copyrights 2005

A great romantic story, a quick read. "Every woman needs a back-up plan...And no one knows that better than foreign correspondent Dinah Davis, who's spent years wriggling out of international hot spots. Now she's come home to S.Carolina to hook up with the dependable man who long ago promised his devotion. But instead of finding the safety she's seeking, she winds up in the arms of his black sheep brother. Cord was the last man on earth Dinah would choose, but it seems fate has other ideas. Turns out even the very best backup plan can take an unexpected twist."

Intrepid foreign correspondent Dinah Davis fears that she is all washed up. After escaping the car bomb that killed her cameraman and lover, she is subject to panic attacks, so she quits her job and comes home to Charleston, South Carolina. She plans to finally accept childhood sweetheart Bobby Beaufort's 10-year-old marriage proposal, but his big brother, Cordell, always a thorn in Dinah's rose garden, has other ideas. The quintessential bad boy has grown up to be a successful and respected building restoration expert, and he has always been in love with Dinah. Cord is alternately tender and supportive, then teasing and seductive, as he helps her work through her post-traumatic stress and encourages her to revisit her priorities.

Great read.... the first of 3

Intrepid foreign correspondent Dinah Davis fears that she is all washed up. After escaping the car bomb that killed her cameraman and lover, she is subject to panic attacks, so she quits her job and comes home to Charleston, South Carolina. She plans to finally accept childhood sweetheart Bobby Beaufort's 10-year-old marriage proposal, but his big brother, Cordell, always a thorn in Dinah's rose garden, has other ideas. The quintessential bad boy has grown up to be a successful and respected building restoration expert, and he has always been in love with Dinah. Cord is alternately tender and supportive, then teasing and seductive, as he helps her work through her post-traumatic stress and encourages her to revisit her priorities. The first in a trilogy, Woods' latest also sets the stage for Dinah's best friend, Maggie, to find romance, while Dinah's parents rekindle the passion they once knew. Strong supporting characters, a vivid sense of place, and a strong appreciation for the past add to the appeal of Woods' contemporary romance.

Dinah leaves the high stress of her job to go back to the safety of an old boyfriend. She gets more than she bargains for when she ends up with his brother, Cord instead. A good fun read.

When her producer suggests that it's time she quit her job to have a "real life" in the States, seasoned foreign correspondent Dinah Davis is irate. Eventually seeing reason, Dinah decides to put her backup plan—seeking out and marrying her friend Bobby Beaufort—into effect.

She quickly hits a major snag: While looking for Bobby, she can only find is his brother Cordell. Dinah has always found ne'er-do-well Cord annoying, and she makes no secret of it now.

Irked by her attitude, he fails to tell her that he and Bobby have made good in the construction business in her absence—and that Bobby's engaged! By the time Dinah learns the truth about Bobby's and Cord's feelings for her, it's almost too late.

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First book in Charleston Trilogy

Book 1. "The Back Up Plan"
Book 2. "Flirting With Disaster"
Book 3. "Waking Up In Charleston"


Dinah Davis has been a big time, big name reporter for the past 10 years spending her days on the front lines of war to cover the stories to share back home. After suffering a terrible tragedy while overseas that killed her lover/ best friend/camera man, she is forced to take some time off to get herself together and figure out what to do with her life. Returning back home to Charleston, SC seems like the only thing to do. I mean, there she has her family, who adores her, a best friend who supports her, and good ole Bobby Beaufort, the boy who once said he would marry her if she ever decided to come home to saty.

When Dinah gets home she discovers that Bobby is nowhere to be found - well, at least nowhere that anyone will talk about to HER. Instead she is left to deal with his brother Cord, her sworn enemy - the thorn in her side - a lying weasel - who makes her hot and bothered even when she does her best to deny deny deny.

Dinah is trying to recover from a tragedy and battle scars that cause terrifying panic attacks and major bouts of PTSD. Cord has been there and done that after serving time in the Gulf War. He becomes her lifeline when the world seems to be falling apart and a shoulder to cry on when she can't hold back her tears any longer. Through it all she finds a man who is not the same silly boy he once was and a love that heals her broken heart for good.

Another great great book from Sherryl Woods. This first installment of the trilogy has all the humor, romance, and friendship that all of her books have, but this one is a bit more serious than books 2 and 3 because of Dinah's story and her struggles. Couldn't put it down!!!

Good Book!

Really enjoyed this book. A+

every woman needs a backup plan, and noone knows it better than friegn correspondent Dinah Davis, who's spent years wriggling out of international hot spots.Now shes home to S. carolinas Low country to hook up with the dependable man who long ago promised his devotion. But instead of finding the safety shes seeking, she winds up in the arms of his black sheep brother.
Cordell Beaufort would go after Dinah himself if the opinionated debutante wasn't so much trouble. But when Dinah lets down her guard long enough fo Cord to see the real woman he starts to wonder if his judgement wasn't a little too harsh. Maybe theres a reason he can't stand the idea of Dinah traipsing down the aisle with his brother

Nice, emotional love story. Parts about post traumatic stress kept my interest.

Another of the "Sweet Magnolia's" bites the dust, this is a fun series about the love lives of these Southern Beauties.I enjoyed the entire series

heroine is flaky. hero deserves much better than that.

Very good book

Wonderful book. The characters were so believable.

Every woman needs a backup plan and no one knows that better than foreign correspondent Dianah Davis, who's spent years wriggling out of international hot spots. Now she's come home to South Carolina's low country to hoop up witht he dependable man who long ago promished his devotion. But instead of finding the safety she';s seeking, she winds up in the arms of his black sheep brother.

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