Lexington, Alabama

Reminiscent of her captivating, scandalous Mama Ruby series, New York Times bestselling author Mary Monroe crafts a story set in the Deep South during the Depression, in this tale of a woman determined to have a respectable life-no matter what it costs to keep it ... The daughter of a prostitute mother and an alcoholic father, Maggie Franklin knew her only way out was to marry someone upstanding and church going. Someone like Hubert Wiggins, the most eligible man in Lexington, Alabama-and the son of its most revered preacher. Proper and prosperous, Hubert is glad to finally have a wife, even one with Maggie's background. For Hubert has a secret he desperately needs to stay hidden. And Maggie's unexpected charm, elegance, and religious devotion makes her the perfect partner in lies ... Their surprising union makes the Wiggins' the town's most envied couple-complete with a son, Claude, whom Maggie idolizes. Until he falls in love with the worst possible fiancée. Terrified, Maggie won't let Daisy destroy her son. And when her employer's brother sexually harasses her, Maggie knows something needs to be done about him as well. In fact, she realizes there are an awful lot of sinning "disruptive" people who should be eliminated from her perfect world ... But the more Maggie tries to take control, the more obstacles are thrown in her way. And when it seems like the one person she always expected to be there is starting to drift away, Maggie will play one final, merciless game to secure what she's fought so hard to earn ...

In this scandalous follow-up to the Depression-era tale Mrs. Wiggins, award-winning and New York Times bestselling author, Mary Monroe, brings even more period drama as a proper church-going woman ensnares a widower living too many secrets-and lies... 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...

Award-winning New York Times bestselling author Mary Monroe delivers the latest thrillingly scandal-filled novel in her Depression-era saga of a church-going lady and her oh-so-upstanding husband racing to cover up their many sins-and gambling on one scheme too many . . . With mysterious serial murders putting peaceful Lexington, Alabama, on edge, Jessie and Hubert Wiggins' steadfast calm and devotion to each other reassures everyone that faith will see them through. But Jessie and Hubert have paid a terrible hidden cost to maintain their devout facade and respectable standing. Nothing can allay the guilt they feel-or stop the growing distrust between them . . . Hubert thought he and his secret lover, Leroy, could continue seeing each other on the down-low in peace. But when Leroy's ex-wife moves back in with him, a heartbroken Hubert is driven to distraction trying to keep Jessie in the dark-and quell his mounting jealousy. And his need for satisfaction is driving Hubert to reckless extremes-and desperate risks . . . Jessie believes the struggles between her and Hubert will all be worth it if she can connive him to finallyconsummate their marriage-no matter what she has to do. But his erratic behavior and her frustration soon has her trying yet another new lover, who is as charming as he is unreliable-and unexpectedly dangerous . . . Now with their secrets out of control-and the police perilously near-Jessie and Hubert discover who might be behind the deaths plaguing their town. But can they risk a pursuit that could expose their own web of lies? When their only choice pits them and their suspicions against each other, their next move will either bury their deceptions deep for good-or reveal the one truth they can't escape . . . Mary Monroe is the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of 25 novels and six novellas. She is a three-time AALBC bestseller and winner of the AAMBC Maya Angelou Lifetime Achievement Award, the PEN/Oakland Josephine Miles Award, and the J. California Cooper Memorial Award. The daughter of Alabama sharecroppers, she taught herself how to write before going on to become the first and only member of her family to finish high school. She lives in Oakland, California, and loves to hear from her readers via e-mail at Authorauthor5409@aol.com. Visit Mary's website at Marymonroe.org.