Imperfect Rebel
Authors: Patricia Rice
Imperfect Rebel
The Carolina Magnolia Series
Book Two
by
Patricia Rice
New York Times Bestselling Author
Previously Titled:
Almost Perfect
Published by
ePublishing Works!
ISBN: 978-1-61417-398-4
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Copyright © 2002, 2013 by Patricia Rice. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
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IMPERFECT REBEL
Awards & Accolades
Romantic Times, 4.5 Stars, Top Pick!
"A love story and a story of personal growth."
~Jill M. Smith, Romantic Times
"highly recommend... a true high five!"
~
Deborah Barber, Escape to Romance Reviews
"...a must read..."
~Kathy Boswell, The Best Reviews
"Captivating, well-written... almost impossible to put down. A Perfect 10."
~Susan Lantz, Romance Reviews Today
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Roberta Tepper of the Mecklenburg DA's office for explaining the ins and outs of jail terms, federal supervision, and parole, and for keeping me from making major errors. Any that I do make are not her fault and could be entirely intentional on my part!
Kudos also to Katherine Bernardi and her obsessive compulsiveness. I'll never look another "that" in the face again.
And to my brainstorming group—where would I be without your peacocks and logic?
Last, but very definitely not least, my undying gratitude to Mary Jo Putney for telling me I definitely have a book here.
Chapter 1
I am a rotten person.
Biting her lip, Cleo Alyssum painstakingly printed this fact into her journal. She thought the whole idea of a journal of emotions about as silly as it got, but if the counselor wanted honesty, that's what he would get.
She would do anything to transform herself into the kind of mother Matty needed. Anything.
Of course, that's how she'd got into this situation in the first place. Sitting back in her desk chair, she gazed out the sagging windowpanes of the old house she was restoring. She missed Matty so desperately, her teeth ached, but the court had set December as the deadline for his return—provided she danced to the steps the counselor called.
Matty needed security and stability, they said, and her sister provided it.
She'd tried suburban life with Maya, but she just couldn't hack it. Trouble found her too easily in crowds. Out here on the island she could get her head together without too many people in her face. She was far less apt to jeopardize Matty's return if she stayed away from people.