Woods, Sherryl 1944- (Alexandra Kirk, Suzanne Sherrill)

PERSONAL:

Born July 23, 1944, in Washington, DC; daughter of George R. (an internal revenue agent) and Katharine (in direct-mail advertising) Woods. Education: Ohio State University, B.A., 1966.

ADDRESSES:

Home and office—Key Biscayne, FL. Agent—Denise Marcil, Denise Marcil Literary Agency, Inc., 685 West End Ave., Ste. 9-C, New York, NY 10025.

CAREER:

Writer, journalist. Columbus Citizen-Journal, Columbus, OH, television and radio editor, 1966-69; Today, Cocoa, FL, journalist, 1969; Palm Beach Post, Palm Beach, FL, amusements editor, 1969-70; Columbus Citizen-Journal, television and radio editor, 1970-74; Miami News, Miami, FL, television and radio editor, 1974-80, associate "Lifestyle" section editor, 1980; University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Medical Center, Miami, FL, coordinator of CARE Program, 1981-86; full-time writer, 1986—.

MEMBER:

Romance Writers of America, Miami Theater Arts League.

WRITINGS:

(Under pseudonym Suzanne Sherrill) Restoring Love, Dell (New York, NY), 1982.

(Under pseudonym Alexandra Kirk) Sand Castles, Bantam (New York, NY), 1982.

(Under pseudonym Alexandra Kirk) Images of Love, Bantam (New York, NY), 1982.

(Under pseudonym Suzanne Sherrill) Desirable Compromise, Dell (New York, NY), 1984.

Thrown for a Loss, New American Library (New York, NY), 1984.

Jamaican Midnight, Avon (New York, NY), 1985.

(Under pseudonym Alexandra Kirk) Shadow on the Hill, Golden Apple (New York, NY), 1985.

A Kiss Away, Berkley Publishing (New York, NY), 1986.

A Prince among Men, Berkley Publishing (New York, NY), 1986.

Not at Eight, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1986.

All for Love, Berkley Publishing (New York, NY), 1986.

Yesterday's Love, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1987.

Best Intentions, Berkley Publishing (New York, NY), 1987.

Come Fly with Me, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1987.

Younger Than Springtime, Berkley Publishing (New York, NY), 1987.

A Personal Touch, Berkley Publishing (New York, NY), 1987.

Safe Harbor, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1987.

A Gift of Love, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1987.

Two's Company, Berkley Publishing (New York, NY), 1987.

Never Let Go, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1988.

Second Chance at Love, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1988.

Edge of Forever, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1988.

Prince Charming Replies, Berkley Publishing (New York, NY), 1988.

Can't Say No, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1989.

Heartland, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1989.

In Too Deep, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1989.

One Touch of Moondust, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1989.

Miss Liz's Passion, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1990.

Tea and Destiny, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1990.

Next Time … Forever, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1990.

Joshua and the Cowgirl, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1991.

Fever Pitch, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1991.

My Dearest Cal, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1991.

Dream Mender, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1992.

Kate's Vow, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1993.

A Daring Vow, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1993.

After Tex, Mira Books (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 1999.

The Cowboy and the Unexpected Wedding, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1999.

Angel Mine, Mira Books (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2000.

Marrying a Delacourt, Silhouette (New York, NY), 2000.

About That Man, Mira Books (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2001.

A Love beyond Words, Silhouette (New York, NY), 2001.

Do You Take This Rebel?, Silhouette (New York, NY), 2001.

Courting the Enemy, Silhouette (New York, NY), 2001.

To Catch a Thief, Silhouette (New York, NY), 2001.

Wrangling the Redhead, Silhouette (New York, NY), 2001.

Ryan's Place, Silhouette (New York, NY), 2002.

Sean's Reckoning, Silhouette (New York, NY), 2002.

The Adams Dynasty, Silhouette (New York, NY), 2002.

The Unclaimed Baby, Silhouette (New York, NY), 2002.

The Calamity Janes, Silhouette (New York, NY), 2002.

Ask Anyone, Mira Books (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2002.

Along Came Trouble, Mira Books (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2002.

Daniel's Desire, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Michael's Discovery, Silhouette (New York, NY), 2003.

Flamingo Diner, Mira Books (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2003.

(With Anne McAllister) Bachelor … and Baby!, Silhouette (New York, NY), 2003.

Patrick's Destiny, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2003.

(With Fern Michaels and Emilie Richards) Maybe This Time (novella), Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Destiny Unleashed, Mira (Don Mills, Ontario), 2004.

Isn't It Rich?, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Priceless, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Treasured, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2004.

The Backup Plan, Mira Books (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2005.

The Laws of Attraction, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2005.

Three down the Aisle, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2005.

What's Cooking?, Silhouette (New York, NY), 2005.

Flirting with Disaster, Mira (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2005.

For the Love of Pete, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2005.

(With Margot Early and Beverly Barton) So This Is Christmas, Harlequin/Mills & Boon (Australia), 2005.

(With Darlene Gardner and Holly Jacobs) Dashing through the Mall (novella), Harlequin (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2006.

(With Joan Elliott Pickart) Best Friends and Lovers, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2006.

(With Nora Roberts) Happy New Year Darling, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2006.

Waking Up in Charleston, Mira (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2006.

A Slice of Heaven, Mira (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2007.

Feels Like Family, Mira (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2007.

Stealing Home, Mira (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2007.

Mending Fences, Mira Books (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2007.

Seaview Inn, Mira Books (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2008.

Welcome to Serenity, Mira Books (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2008.

(With Linda Lael Miller and Curtiss Ann Matlock) More Than Words: Volume 4, Harlequin (New York, NY), 2008.

"AMANDA ROBERTS" SERIES

Reckless, Warner Books (New York, NY), 1989.

Body and Soul, Warner Books (New York, NY), 1989.

Stolen Moments, Warner Books (New York, NY), 1990.

Ties That Bind, Warner Books (New York, NY), 1991.

Bank on It, Warner Books (New York, NY), 1993.

Hide and Seek, Warner Books (New York, NY), 1993.

"MOLLIE DEWITT" SERIES

Hot Property, Dell (New York, NY), 1992.

Hot Secret, Dell (New York, NY), 1992.

Hot Money, Dell (New York, NY), 1993.

Hot Schemes, Dell (New York, NY), 1994.

"VOWS" SERIES

Love, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1992.

Honor, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1992.

Cherish, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1992.

Amazing Gracie, Wheeler (Rockland, MA), 1998.

SIDELIGHTS:

"Sherryl Woods can be counted on to provide a good, solid love story with entertaining characters," declared Barbara E. Kemp in Twentieth-Century Romance and Mystery Writers. In her best romances, Kemp continued, Woods "goes beyond entertainment to provide more thought provoking, poignant stories." Kemp drew attention to the "Vows" series as an example of Woods's better work. In this series, which includes Love, Honor, and Cherish, the author illustrates common problems between couples through the lives of three generations of a rich Boston family. Love revolves around Jason Halloran, a vice president of a textile firm whose orderly life is disrupted by a street-smart young woman; Honor examines the lives of Jason's parents; while Cherish focuses on the overbearing patriarch of the Halloran family, Brendon Halloran.

"Woods has also displayed a talent for suspense mixed with romance," remarked Kemp. That talent is evidenced in the books featuring Amanda Roberts, an investigative reporter, and her romantic interest, Joe Donelli, a former policeman. The two New Yorkers meet in their adopted state, Georgia, and become rivals while investigating a mystery. Eventually, their relationship matures and leads to marriage.

Woods created another adventurous heroine in Molly DeWitt, a public relations expert with the Miami/Dade Film Commission. As she accidentally becomes involved with one murder after another, Molly meets an attractive Latino homicide detective, Michael O'Hara. "Woods shows a real talent for creating funny, bright dialogue that brings these characters to life," stated Kemp. Reviewing Hot Schemes, a Publishers Weekly contributor found that "with an eye for detail that captures the essence of Cuban Miami, Woods's latest offers an engaging combination of mystery, romance, travelogue and politics."

Kemp concluded that after many years of providing reliable, high-quality love stories, Woods has ventured beyond the field of competent romantic fiction: "Her treatment of serious, emotional subjects combined with her ability to create romantic suspense filled with humor make her appealing to a wide range of readers."

Of Woods's other romance novels, a Publishers Weekly writer stated that in After Tex, Woods "redeems a silly plot contrivance with energetic pacing, snappy dialogue and an appealing romantic hero." Kristin Ramsdell, writing in Library Journal, described Marrying a Delacourt as "heartwarming, charming, and sensual." Ramsdell added that the book is a "story [that] tackles the serious issue of foster care with sensitivity and insight." A reviewer for Publishers Weekly, reviewing About That Man, stated that "clever characters and snappy, realistic dialogue add zest to an all-too-predictable story line, making this a delightful read for contemporary romance readers."

In Woods's The Backup Plan, the first in a trilogy set in Charleston, South Carolina, Dinah Davis is a foreign correspondent with a confidence problem that she fears may have just ended her career. While covering a story, she was the victim of a car bombing, and although she escaped with her life, her cameraman and lover was killed in the subsequent explosion, and Dinah herself is now experiencing frequent and debilitating panic attacks that make it impossible for her to do her job. Knowing she needs to somehow get hold of herself, she quits and heads home to South Carolina with the idea of starting an entirely new life—one that is calm and far away from any war zones. Her childhood sweetheart Bobby Beaufort proposed to her ten years earlier, and she intends to accept the offer if it is still on the table. However, when she arrives, it's to discover that Bobby's older brother Cordell, who always drove her to distraction, is all grown up and a responsible adult, complete with his own successful restoration business and, apparently, feelings of his own for Dinah that he has secretly been harboring for years. Ultimately it is Cord who manages to help Dinah work through her issues and puts her on the road to recovery. Lynne Welch, reviewing for Booklist, commented of the novel that "strong supporting characters, a vivid sense of place, and a strong appreciation for the past add to the appeal."

Woods revisits her Charleston, South Carolina, setting in Flirting with Disaster and again with Waking Up in Charleston. With Waking Up in Charleston, she introduces readers to Amanda O'Leary, a young woman who has just moved into a small house that the congregation of the local church has built for her and for her orphaned children. Caleb, who runs the church, finds himself drawn to Amanda and finally decides that he is going to approach her and see where things lead. Not only is he attracted to her, but he feels like she is only half living her life, virtually sleepwalking through her days with very little appreciation for what it has to offer, and nothing would make him happier than to be the one to wake her up to life's opportunities and blessings. Caleb's overtures are somewhat complicated by the fact that Amanda's estranged father is suffering from Alzheimer's, and is intent on bringing his daughter back into his life before he deteriorates too far for that to be possible. Caleb is aware of the man's illness but has been sworn to secrecy, as Amanda's father is not interested in regaining her good will through pity. Lynne Welch, again reviewing for Booklist, remarked that "Woods has invested the final installment of her … series … with charm and pathos."

Stealing Home is once again set in the type of generic small southern town—Serenity, South Carolina—for which Woods is famous for using as background to her stories. In this book, Maddie Townsend is newly divorced and still somewhat in shock as a result of her now-ex-husband's affair with a nurse at his pediatric practice and the woman's resulting pregnancy. However, a number of incidents arise that force her to take control of her life. First, her oldest son Ty begins struggling both in school and in his role as all-star pitcher for the town's successful baseball team. When his coach, former major league player Cal Maddox approaches Maddie about Ty's concentration issues, the two team up to try to help the boy regain his equilibrium—and eventually find themselves drawn to each other for more personal matters. In addition, Maddie finds herself managing the town's new all-female gym and day spa, the brainchild of her two best friends who agreed to finance the endeavor if Maddie would run it. Lynne Welch, in a review for Booklist, praised Woods for her acknowledgment of how divorce can affect the children in a marriage, noting that the detail "adds depth and emotional intensity to the romantic relationship."

A Slice of Heaven serves as a follow-up to Stealing Home, once again showing how divorce can damage the children who suffer from the fallout when a relationship fails. Dana Sue has her hands full in the wake of her husband's affair, as she struggles to juggle her restaurant business with raising a teenage daughter with anorexia and attempting to be there for her friends and their own issues. However, leading such a busy life has led her to neglect her own health, and only when her daughter's condition leads to a heart attack and her ex returns with promises of support can Dana finally take care of herself and her own issues with eating and stress-induced behavior. Lynne Welch, once again reviewing for Booklist, praised Woods for her judicious use of details that create a vibrant, accessible story, including "the southern small-town atmosphere, the supportive network of friends and family, and the heartwarming romance."

Seaview Inn tells the story of Hannah and Luke. Hannah has recently undergone a mastectomy, but it is her family and their demands that are slowly killing her. She has spent years as a high-powered executive and a single mother, but now she returns to Seaview Inn off the Florida coast to convince her grandmother it is time to retire. Her own mother has recently died from breast cancer, and her daughter has dropped out of college, pregnant at twenty. What's more, Luke, her high school crush who has recently returned injured from a tour in Iraq, has been abandoned by his wife and finds his own children barely know him. Hannah must decide whether adding Luke's burdens to her own will make things better or worse. Booklist reviewer Patty Engelmann remarked that "Woods imbues her characters with determination and humanity."

Woods once told CA: "Whether in romances or mysteries, I am most interested in characters and relationships. I am fascinated by the powerful emotions of love and hate, and the effect they have on the lives of everyday people."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

BOOKS

Twentieth-Century Romance and Historical Writers, St. James Press (Detroit, MI), 1994.

PERIODICALS

Booklist, March 1, 2005, Lynne Welch, review of The Backup Plan, p. 1149; April 1, 2006, Lynne Welch, review of Waking Up in Charleston, p. 27; January 1, 2007, Lynne Welch, review of Stealing Home, p. 68; February 15, 2007, Lynne Welch, review of A Slice of Heaven, p. 43; February 15, 2008, Patty Engelmann, review of Seaview Inn, p. 42.

Library Journal, August, 2000, Kristin Ramsdell, review of Marrying a Delacourt, p. 82.

Publishers Weekly, August 8, 1994, review of Hot Schemes, p. 422; September 6, 1999, review of After Tex, p. 99; April 30, 2001, review of About That Man, p. 63.