The Sweet Gum Tree
Katherine Allred
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars
4.08
· Steam/Spice level: 3 of 5
Open door [?]
· 102 ratings · 304 pages · Published: 01 Dec 2005

Through childhood disasters and teenage woes they cling together as friendship turns to love. The future looks rosy until the fateful night when Frank Anderson, Nick's abusive father, is shot to death in his filthy trailer.
Suddenly, Nick is gone—leaving Alix alone, confused and pregnant. For the next fifteen years she wrestles with the pain of Nick's abandonment, a bad marriage, her family and friends. But finally, she's starting to get her life back together. Her divorce is almost final, her business is booming, and she's content if not happy—until the day she looks up and sees Nick standing across the counter. He's back…and he's not alone.
Once again Alix is plunged into turmoil and pain as Nick tries to win her love, something she resists with all her strength. Only one thing might break the protective wall she's built around her emotions—the truth about Frank Anderson's death. But when that truth comes out and those walls crumble, neither Alix nor Nick is prepared for the emotional explosion that could destroy as well as heal.
Tagged as:
- pregnancy 24
- second chances 24
- virgin heroine 23
- friends to lovers 23
- contemporary 22
- cheating 21
- mystery 20
- forbidden love 19
- love triangle 19
- alpha male 17
- bad boys 16
- angst 14
- secret child 12
- military 9
- virgin hero 9
- small town 8
- tortured hero 8
- marriage of convenience 7
- class difference 6
- slow burn 4
- dark romance 4
- high school 4
- m-f romance 4
- betrayal 4
- other man/woman 3
- secret relationship 3
- rich heroine 2
- white collar heroine 2
- sweet/gentle hero 2
- college 1
- cruel hero/bully 1
- sweet/gentle heroine 1
- height difference 1
- good grovel 1
- hurt/comfort 1
- Add topics
- content warnings
- abuse 22
- rape 21
- death / grief 3
- alcoholism 3
- child death 3
- third party sexual assault 3
- child sexual abuse 2
- slut shaming 2
- mental trauma 2
- past child abuse 2
- past child neglect 2
- misogyny 1
- geography
- north america 1
- usa 1
- arkansas 1
- Format
- first person pov 2