The Good Woman

Praise for the novels of Jane Porter

She’s Gone Country

“I’ve always been a big fan of Jane Porter’s. She understands the passion of grown-up love and the dark humor of mothering teenagers. What a smart, satisfying novel She’s Gone Country is.”

—Robyn Carr, New York Times bestselling author of
the Virgin River novels

“A celebration of a woman’s indomitable spirit. Suddenly single, juggling motherhood and a journey home, Shey embodies every woman’s hopes and dreams. Once again, Jane Porter has written her way into this reader’s heart.”

—Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author

“Richly rewarding.”

—Chicago Tribune

“Strongly plotted, with a heroine who is vulnerable yet resilient…engaging.”

—The Seattle Times

Easy on the Eyes

“An irresistible mix of glamour and genuine heart…Easy on the Eyes sparkles!”

—Beth Kendrick, author of The Pre-nup

“A smart, sophisticated, fun read with characters you’ll fall in love with. Another winning novel by Jane Porter.”

—Mia King, national bestselling author of Good Things and Sweet Life

Mrs. Perfect

“With great warmth and wisdom, in Mrs. Perfect Jane Porter creates a richly emotional story about a realistically flawed and wonderfully human hero who only discovers what is important in life when she learns to let go of her quest for perfection.”

—Chicago Tribune

“Porter’s authentic character studies and meditations on what really matters make Mrs. Perfect a perfect summer novel.”

—USA Today

“The witty first-person narration keeps things lively in Porter’s latest. Taylor’s neurotic fussiness provides both vicarious thrills and laughs before Taylor moves on to self-awareness and a new kind of empowerment…a feel-good read.”

—Kirkus Reviews

Flirting with Forty

Basis for the Lifetime Original Movie

“A terrific read! A wonderful, life-and love-affirming story for women of all ages.”

—Jayne Ann Krentz, New York Times bestselling author

“Fits the bill as a calorie-free accompaniment for a poolside daiquiri.”

—Publishers Weekly

Odd Mom Out

“Jane Porter must know firsthand how it feels to not fit in. She nails it poignantly and perfectly in Odd Mom Out. This mommy-lit title is far from fluff…Sensitive characters and a protagonist who doesn’t cave to the in-crowd gives this novel its heft.”

—USA Today

“[Porter’s] musings on balancing work, life, and love ring true.”

—Entertainment Weekly

“The draining pace of Marta’s life comes across convincingly, and Porter’s got a knack for getting into the heads of the preteen set; Eva’s worries are right on the mark. A poignant critique of mommy cliques and the plight of single parents.”

—Kirkus Reviews

The

Good

Woman

JANE PORTER

BERKLEY BOOKS, NEW YORK

BERKLEY BOOKS

Published by the Penguin Group

Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.) • Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England • Penguin Group Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.) • Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.) • Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi—110 017, India • Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632, New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.) • Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa

Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

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. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

This book is an original publication of The Berkley Publishing Group.

Copyright © 2012 by Jane Porter.

Excerpt from The Good Daughter copyright © 2012 by Jane Porter.

Cover design by Rita Frangie.

Book design by Laura K. Corless.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

BERKLEY is a registered trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

The “B” design is a trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

PUBLISHING HISTORY

Berkey trade paperback edition / September 2012

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Porter, Jane, date.

The good woman / Jane Porter.

p. cm.

ISBN: 978-1-101-61128-9

1. Sisters—Fiction.   2. Married people—Fiction.   3. Families—Fiction.   4. Adultery—Fiction.   5. Wineries—Fiction.   6. Chick lit.   I. Title.

PS3616.O78G66      2012

813’.6—dc23

2011050908

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

10   9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1

ALWAYS LEARNING

PEARSON

For Patricia Lynn Gurney

1934–2011

So lucky to call you Mom, loyal reader, and good friend.
Thank you for your love, your spirit, your humor,
your quilts, and your beautiful son.

Acknowledgments

As a native Californian I have always loved California history, in particular San Francisco, with its glittering gold rush years and devastating earthquake and fire of 1906. San Francisco was my father, Tom Porter’s, favorite city and three of his four children lived there at one point, my brothers in the Marina and Cow Hollow, and I in Noe Valley.