The Sirens of Soleil City: A Novel BY Sarah C. Johns

In "Synchronized Hearts," three generations of women confront their past mistakes and rekindle their bonds as they prepare for the South Florida Senior Synchronized Swimming Competition. Cherie Anderson, fifty-eight, is summoned from icy Minnesota to West Palm Beach in 1999 by a phone call. Dale, the mother who left her at five, faces eviction from her apartment complex, Soleil City. Meanwhile, Marlys, the mother who raised her, is terminally ill but refuses to admit it. Cherie must juggle helping Dale and supporting Marlys while finding a way to keep her pregnant daughter, Laura, whose marriage has recently collapsed, engaged and hopeful.

The competition offers a potential lifeline: the ten-thousand-dollar prize could save Soleil City, and the preparation provides a distraction for Laura, a former dance team captain, who steps in as their coach. Immersed in a lively community of determined women in their seventies, Cherie, Dale, Marlys, and Laura navigate their complex relationships and hidden wounds.

Throughout the month, the women learn to forgive each other and themselves, understanding that motherhood and life are about striving to get things right rather than being perfect. Amid laughter, tears, and synchronized routines, they discover the strength of their familial ties and the power of second chances. "Synchronized Hearts" is a touching, witty tale of resilience and redemption, celebrating the unbreakable bonds of family and the courage to rebuild what was once thought lost.