Valedictorian at New York med school, surgeon's daughter Zoe Hart declines an offer to join obscure Alabama Gulf town Bluebell's senior doctor Harley Wilkes to join his country practice, but he kept sending postcards. When she's told to get a year of practice experience to develop patient in order to be admitted to the surgical training, she finally accepts, to her mother Candice Hart's distress. Harley meanwhile died but named her heir to what's actually only his half of the practice which local Dr. Brick Breeland wanted to continue alone. Zoe hesitates whether to stay, appreciating helpful gentleman local lawyer George Tucker and ex-national sports hero Lavon Hayes, now the native mayor, but starting badly with womanizing estate caretaker Wade Kinsella and misled by her first patient who faked an eye test before running over George. Yet an unwanted pregnancy proves decisive.

Hoping it might help the residents of Bluebell accept her as one of their own, Zoe Hart agrees to join Mayor Lavon Hayes on his float during the Founder's Day Parade, but, unfortunately, accidentally crashing the float doesn't exactly help Zoe win over Lemon Breeland and the residents of Bluebell. To make matters worse, the town's golden boy, George Tucker, informs Zoe that contractually she needs to bring in thirty percent of the business or Dr. Brick Breeland will have the option to buy out her half of the medical practice.

Eagerto 'steal' a snake-bitten young patient from Brick, Zoe gets Wade to drive her to the site to identify the species, but gets bitten by the copperhead herself while Brick treats the child. Wade openly laughs, other locals smile or look down when Zoe decides to enter the annual gumbo cooking contest, without any culinary experience. The New York 'sceret weapon' she counted on to cheat falls prey to the mayor's 'domestic' alligator and she hurts a hand while cleaning shrimp, but George goes behind his fiancée's back to help her shop ingredients. They are however called away to farmer Oscar Balderrama, whose limb is caught under a tipped-over field machine. To save the patient, who can't be moved safely, they must call Brick to operate with her expert instructions. He takes sole credit afterwards, yet rewards her.

Stubbornly, Zoe refuses to give in to Bluebell's tradition that during a heath wave, like now, all non-criminal inhibitions are suspended. Still, shirtless men and Wade's sensual dive soon get her doubting, ultimately to give in. Against George's wise advice to go for informal, fiancée lemon attempts to impress his once more short-visiting parents with a dinner, but mother Tucker incessantly spits implied criticism, while Brick and father Tucker bicker endlessly about sports, rooting for rival teams.

Zoe discovers something shocking about the local minister and his wife, causing quite a stir among the residents of Bluebell. Lemon is determined to find the funds to renovate the town's historic bridge that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, but first she is put in the extremely awkward position of having to convince Lavon to choose her proposal over so many other worthwhile submissions.

In his playful way, Wade shows angelic patience with fickle Zoe's nocturnal fears, even spends a night on her bad couch. She not only crashes the mayor's borrowed car on a medical visit, but is convinced to have seen a fisherman whose portrait is on the pub's wall of deceased villagers. At examination, Leon Mercy, who seems to haunt her at night, was only reported missing, as she would have been looking for him in the wood hadn't Wade tracked them down. George finds the mayor unwilling to release on protected home for the happy couple to move into, but Lemon changes her mind about it after another incident with her unruly sister, which prompts George to make Brick face his parental duty.

Wade is pleasantly surprised by a visit from his ex, or to be: their marriage was never legally annulled, but now she wants to wed another. By the time Tucker has the papers done, Wade's agreeable agreement is withdrawn on account of the hated groom, Colt. Handsome, as pleasant as pleasing veterinarian Judson Lyons's perfect house call service gives him and Zoe opportunity to meet and plan a dinner date, but being out of the game for years after her single fiancé, she gets cold feet. The mayor is the only available sports celebrity to stand in for the Nascar star who was to present the town's annual turtle race, but not so willing to allow the traditional cheating in favor of eternal socialite winner Delia Ann Lee. Drunk Colton's armed effort to enforce a divorce proves painful for unfortunate mediator George.

Just before homecoming arrives Jimmy Praboo, who always pulled cruel pranks at Wade's and especially George's expense, so they vow revenge. Lemon initially protests at childishness, but is soon tempted to help them plot a 'smurf shower', which goes pear-shaped. The mayor has to fill in for the football coach, the first of a serious of apparent flu victims including the quarterback, but Zoe later diagnoses otherwise. Zoe is allowed to attempt socializing by taking over his pre-game party, but the New York buddy party planner she flies in takes over the Big Apple way, which pleases no local, nor even Zoe. Handsome veterinarian Dr. Judson Lyons generously gives Zoe another dating chance.

Brick pulls all the stops to prevent overconfident Zoe from reaching the 30% patients share required to stop him buying her out of the practice unilaterally. So she keeps delaying her flight to New York to celebrate a traditional Thanksgiving, rather then Bluebell's 'pirates version' Planksgiving. Wade refuses to admit to the mayor he has an eye on Zoe, hence actually wants her to need his handyman help. George's brother moved out of the family law firm, so father Tucker expects George finally to become a senior partner, and makes that palatable by offering part-time work besides his Bluebell practice and a free city home. Lemon's reluctance to be forced to spend days a week with the Tucker parents melts down when mother suddenly makes up big time, but she finds out that's just a ploy.

The Christmas tree Wade promises George for the town square, from one of his many exes, is measly, so the boys set out to cut one from another ex together. Lack of actual owner agreement and Wade's lip to the sheriff lands the duo in jail for the night. Back home, Lemon trains kid sister Magnolia to become the next generation of Breeland Cinnamon pageant winners, but Zoe enters Rose, and the coaches rival more ruthlessly then the candidates can handle. Lemon is shocked to hear that her mother, who left years ago to pursue an acting career, landed back in Alabama and still never contacted Brick's family.

George Tucker carefully planned to recent a supermarket chain from moving in and kill off Bluebell small businesses by convincing all surrounding owners to refuse allowing an access road, but overlooked the smallest patch. It belongs to Wade's deadbeat father 'Crazy' Earl Kinsella, who always sponges on his sons, but could become financially independent by selling. Even with wade's expert advice, the mayor finds returning to dating hard as Didi refuses to acknowledge that he isn't even interested, rather tells everyone he's taken by her, so Wade must coach getting rid of her too. Lemon, who presides, revives an old rule that allows all members a day of hazing, but Zoe is determined to stick it out even if it kills her. After Zoe finally discovers she has local family, including a living aunt, she learns having the legacy right to join the prestigious Dixie Belles society's local chapter.

Veterinarian Judson, whom Zoe still hasn't forgotten or 'forgiven' for intimacy with her New York friend, is called in for a cat who probably contaminated owner Sal Nutter and his mystery mistress. George grudgingly allows Lemon, who wants to succeed Delia Ann Lee as the Belles' local Jubilee Memory matron, to invite her and her equally obnoxious husband, fellow lawyer Lawrence Lee, a far from gracious winner. The mayor is told the truth, as he and Wade suspect Zoe of hiding a lover: she hosts a secret friend, AnnaBeth, who doesn't dare tell bossy Lemon she's consorting with 'intruder', but takes assertiveness training from the New Yorker, who despite an ingrate twist covers for her in delightfully surprised Judson's favor.

Veterinarian Judson Lyons accepts Zoe first asking him not to attend the town's annual Sweetie Pie dance 'too soon', then changing her mind after she notices even Rose manipulated her, but concludes she only really has eyes and thoughts for Wade and returns home. George realizes that he forgot mailing the wedding invitations out of Freudian frustration that Lemon spent all her time on vents since months, hardly any with him. A row with Brick leads to him and ultimately George learning she has been bottling up the frustration over her deserted mother. Zoe finally gets Wade to admit privately he has feelings for her, only to see him frolicking off with another easy date and the proceeds of a bet she wouldn't do it with Judson.

Wade accepts to help his latest conquest Joelle Sugarbaker appease her insanely jealous ex Ed by seducing a lookalike girl to pretend she's the one Ed saw dating Wade, but the ploy brings every party only grief. George accepts to defend popular local schoolteacher Eric Sunberg, who was fired after admitting during a school-related 'which celebrity am I' performance that he believes in aliens, like his obsessed wife Dotty. George hopes to plead a medical excuse and asks Zoe to find one. Zoe hesitates whether to help Didi trying to win back the mayor, hearing she found a picture o f lemon hidden in his home.

Bluebell has one of its rare snow episodes, pleasantly reminiscent of home to New Yorker Zoe, but believed to bring disaster by all natives. Wade does a poor job assuring the mayor it won't affect his parents' visit, when he wants to present Didi as his fiancée. Indeed, the senior Hayes couple announces its divorce, which is averted, but Didi bails out. George urges Lemon to seriously consider her impulsive suggestion to elope rather then have her elaborate dream wedding.

Everybody expected Bluebell's Man of the Year (MOTY) award to go to a usual suspect like Brick, but this time it's George. As the mayor finds hosting the traditional cocktail party in the MOTY's honor awkward, having secretly cheated don him with Lemon, Zoe offers to organize it for him and ends up covering his inability to hold the crucial congratulatory speech. Wade exceptionally extends his musical ambitions, so far reserved for a band which never happens, to writing a song to perform in George's honor with Magnolia, who begged him to do so. George decides, despite suspicious Lemon, to invite his father to proudly share in his hour of fame.

Zoe's father comes to Bluebell to perform a heart operation on George's father. She is conflicted about seeing him. Lemon befriends Zoe in hopes she will not tell George about seeing her with Lavon. Rammer Jammer hosts a drink competition.

George wonders if he really saw Lemon and Lavon kiss, and asks Zoe if she knows anything. Wade plans a fishing trip for George's bachelor party, and Magnolia plans a stripper party bus trip for Lemon's bachelorette party. Zoe dates a patient.

George is upset about Lemon's deception and drives off to New Orleans. He invites Zoe to go with him. They share their first kiss. Lemon has to tell Brick why the wedding is off. Wade wakes up in the morning without remembering the night.

Zoe is convinced she and George are meant to be but he thinks they should just be friends. Zoe and Wade, as well as George & Lemon are reluctantly paired for the Bluebell Battle. Rose goes on a date with Frederick. Lemon and George see a minister

Zoe misinterprets Rose's symptoms for love sickness, but is really a appendicitis. The town turns cold to Zoe. Lemon tries to win George back with a romantic dinner. Zoe's father visits Bluebell again, and Zoe considers leaving.

It's George and Lemon's wedding day, but George is still uncertain. A thunderstorm hits Bluebell and the town tries to keep everyone safe. Wade and Zoe are caught in a barn outside of town give into their emotions. George calls off the wedding.

Zoe must choose between George and Wade, each wanting a fast answer. A former resident returns to Bluebell, and Zoe makes a friend with Ruby. Lemon starts to rebuild her life by trying to find a job so she can move to her own apartment.

Rose wants to host a musical extravaganza to compete with a classmate going to a major concert. Zoe helps Rose line up a singer, but when that falls through, they get George to sing. The party is a hit. Lemon is a terrible waitress.

Zoe reads her Alumni magazine and is jealous over a classmate's big achievement. Zoe invites a reporter to see her success in Bluebell, but nothing happens. Ruby is running against Lavon for mayor. George tells Lemon he is going on a date.

Lemon is Lavon's campaign manager against Ruby. Lemon thinks she is pregnant and takes a test kit from the store without paying. Lavon pretends he meant to buy it. It causes a problem for the campaign. Brick and Magnolia fail at housekeeping.

George is sleepwalking, sometimes going to Zoe's place while she is with Wade. The mayor race between Lavon and Ruby is close; AnnaBeth convinces Lavon to pretend date her to win votes with a large voting family. Lemon gets jealous.

Election day and the town is equally split. Lavon's friends scramble to get more votes for him. Meanwhile, Annabeth likes Lavon, Lemon is jealous, and Lavon likes Ruby. Zoe teaches Magnolia to drive in exchange for examining Brick.

Zoe treats the school football star and he develops a crush on Zoe. She tries to brush him off, but town wants her to wait until after the big game. Lemon wants to start a catering business or something. Lavon and Ruby start dating.

Lemon is not happy with Lavon & Ruby's relationship, and Zoe thinks Ruby is not on the up-and-up. George wants to ask out Wade's ex-wife, but Wade is afraid of his finding out about Wade & Zoe's relationship. Brink wants more from Emily.

Bluebell holds a charity auction with the women bidding for the men's picnic baskets. The winning bets are unexpected the winning men do not get the women they expected, and the women do not get the men they expected.

Zoe gives the town Santa the day off, and has to get Crazy Earl to play Santa. Ruby is set to leave town, but Lavon wants her to stay and marry him. George and Tanzi exchange gifts. Zoe tells Wade she wants to date him in public.

Bluebell celebrates Pioneer Day. Lemon wants to cater the event, but Lavon does not want her. Lemon and AnnaBeth work out a plan to cater anyway. Zoe and Wade portray the First Family. Zoe tries to ignore Wade's shortcomings, which upsets Wade.

George's parents visit and do not approve of Tansy as his girlfriend. Wade finds he has to do things that Zoe enjoys even if he doesn't. Brick wants to tell his kids who he is dating. AnnaBeth meets a visitor in town; Lavon is suspicious.

George and Lavon make a strawberry commercial. Wade's band has an out-of-town job and a flu epidemic keeps him away from Bluebell. Lemon and Walt plan to take the next step in their relationship. Zoe deals with the flu epidemic.

Since helping the town battle the flu, Zoe is pleased everyone wants to see her. However, it means less time for Wade. Lavon pursues Annabeth who is uncomfortable because he used to date Lemon. Shelby plans Brick's birthday party.

Wade enters a music contest to win the prize money. Zoe wants George in the band. Lemon and Magnolia spend the day together, until Lemon's boyfriend shows up. AnnaBeth tries to get in Lemon's good grace again. Tom & Wanda get engaged.

Tom & Wanda decide to get married in 2 days. She asks Zoe to be her maid-of-honor, and to keep her mother busy. Lavon and George fight the mayor against a mall being built nearby. Zoe realizes Wade cheated on her. Lemon & Annabeth make up.

Zoe tries to get over Wade cheating on her, but thinks she sees deceit in others. Zoe thinks Max is cheating on Rose and tries to prove it. Lemon continues her quest to break up Brick and Shelby; she asks George to help her.

Lavon promotes Bluebell as a spring break destination. Wade & Lemon compete in a hands-on-boat contest to win money after Wally announces he wants to sell the RammerJammer. Zoe hangs out with Jonah which upsets George. Ruby is back in town.

Tansy is insecure about George's feelings for Zoe, and Zoe develops feelings for George again. Zoe & George are to kiss in the town play, causing problems. Lemon & Wade open their restaurant. Brick hosts Mental Health Day in Bluebell

Tansy moves in with George. Zoe tells George her feelings, but he rebuffs her since he is with Tansy. Tansy's brothers visit. Wade & Lemon each try to change the Rammer Jammer's customer base. Brick has an operation and proposes to Shelby.

Zoe looks for a new boyfriend; Max & Rose set her up with Max's father. Lemon & Wade's restaurant is closed due to code violations; Brick lends them money for the repair. Shelby questions her role with Brick. George & Tansy argue over Zoe.

Tansy leaves George. Zoe is embarrassed she slept with Wade. Zoe decides to fly to New York for a vacation; on the flight, she deals with a medical emergency. Mayor Gainy kidnaps Lavon's alligator. Lemon gets Gloriana to perform at the bar.

In the season premiere, after a summer in New York, Zoe is ready to move permanently, but first she must return to BlueBell. Lemon has a plan to help out Wade in front of Zoe.

Lavon and AnnaBeth invite Zoe and Joel (JOSH COOKE) over for a quiet dinner, but when Lemon invites herself and Alabama's most eligible bachelor (RYAN McPARTLIN), things go awry.

Lemon finds herself in hot water. George finds himself needing medical attention during a tutoring session with Lynly (ANTOINETTE ROBERTSON), forcing him to call Zoe for help.

Lavon plans a special night for Annabeth that does not work out. Lemon asks her grandmother to get her a date & invitation to a Halloween party. She meets someone she likes. Wade has dates with different women every nights.

Zoe is blissfully happy when she sees how well Joel is adjusting to BlueBell, until she learns the townspeople might have a different opinion of him. Wanting to make things better, Zoe volunteers herself and Joel to chaperone the Go Girl Tween Adventure Camp, but when Joel refuses to go along, she is left to fix the town's perception on her own. After a rough start with Lynly, George is pleasantly surprised when he learns they work well together. Meanwhile, Lavon is desperate to be part of the Gazebos of Alabama calendar, but when a crucial flower mistake jeopardizes his plan, Lavon begs Lemon to help save the day.

Zoe and Joel are ready to find a more permanent place to live and find the perfect place is actually owned by a relative of Zoe's biological father's relatives. After tracking the relative down, however, Zoe is unsure whether she is ready to face her extended family. Due to the success Lemon and Wade have had with the Rammer Jammer, Lemon receives an offer that she may not be able to refuse. AnnaBeth seems eager for Lavon to go out of town, causing him to wonder what she is up to. Meanwhile, George and Lynly's connection continues to grow, but George is still reluctant to make a move.

Zoe beings to grow leery of how much time Joel and Wade hang out, especially when it begins to interfere with Joel's writing. Ready to blame it all on Wade, Zoe does her best to entice Joel back into writing. Lavon is using the excuse of coaching his track team to avoid talking to AnnaBeth. Meanwhile, Lemon encourages Brick to start dating again, and George and Lynly discuss whether they want to talk to Lavon about their feelings for each other.

Joel's grandmother visits for an early Hanukkah party and tells Zoe to invite her relatives. Zoe manages to get her uncle to attend. Brick learns he is not the father of Shelby's child. Wade has a toothache. Vivian & Zoe become friends.

When Zoe learns that Wade is interested in dating someone close to her, she tries everything she can do to put a stop to it. Lavon enlists George to help save BlueBell from merging with another town. To help keep the town in the dark about the planned merger, Zoe uses Joel and AnnaBeth to create a scandalous distraction to throw people off the trail. Meanwhile, Brick starts dating again, but finds himself in a tough predicament when someone from his past resurfaces.

When Brick is asked to help with the local cabaret, he nominates Zoe to save the day. Lavon feels defeated about the possible merger with Fillmore, so it is left up to AnnaBeth and Lemon to motivate him to put up one last fight. Lynly continues to become more jealous of George's close friendship with Tansy, and keeps a close on eye him. Meanwhile, Wade is excited about his new romance, but grows concerned when he notices that she is pulling away.

Lavon Hayes enlists the whole town of Bluebell to try convince the Lt. Governor that city should be named a historic town. Zoe and Joel are still house hunting, which brings them to meet Zoe's aunt, who does not like New Yorkers. Wade is ready to take his relationship with Vivian to the next level but must face the opposition of her son. Meanwhile, Lynly and George are having relationship issues. A secret about Shelby's pregnancy is revealed.

Zoe and Joel finally buy a house, but realize that an huge amount of work and money is necessary to fix up the place. It's Health and Wellness Month in Bluebell and Zoe makes a bet with Brick that if she can get the townspeople to lose 500 pounds collectively he'll make her partner again. After a not so good review of his novel's draft, Joel follows Wade around for inspiration, but ends up in some trouble. A last-minute bachelorette party is source of serious thoughts for AB.

Zoe reluctantly agrees to allow Joel to throw her a birthday party at Lavon's to help cheer him up, but things go awry when her mom surprises her with a visit. Vivian wants to meet Wade's dad, but Wade is leery of how she might react. AnnaBeth gets an interesting request from the Belles that she was not expecting but, in light of recent developments it might be the perfect distraction for her. Meanwhile, George is determined to prove to Tansy that his nemesis Scooter McGreevy has not changed and is fooling everyone.

When Zoe's mom takes her on as a client, Zoe is secretly thrilled that she will finally get her mother's undivided attention. Brick is surprised to hear that Lemon is returning to town soon, so he enlists Lavon's help to throw a welcome home party for her. However, her return hits an unexpected snag and she is forced to turn to Wade for help. Meanwhile, George is roped into helping Magnolia.

Zoe learns that Joel has hired some unreliable workers to help with the renovations, but when one gets hurt on the job he becomes litigious. Lavon has organized BlueBell's Renaissance Faire to help keep busy, but when no one wants to buy tickets, he decides to use Lemon's two suitors as the main event. Meanwhile, Wade is excited about his upcoming anniversary with Vivian, but her son has other ideas.

Zoe and Joel are frustrated by all the snags they keep running into while trying to remodel their new home. Rose persuades Lavon to agree that BlueBell will be sister cities with a town in France. Lemon convinces George to help her out with a business venture, but in order for things to go smoothly, Wade has to play peacemaker. Meanwhile, Brick sees an opportunity to become BlueBell's Man of the Year, but he soon discovers he has some tough competition.

Zoe is convinced that she and Lavon are cursed and the only way to make things right is to fix the past. When Vivian's son asks Wade for some advice, he is happy to help, but not everyone is excited about his methods. After an unplanned encounter, George and Lemon try to avoid each other, but it is more difficult now that they are business partners. Meanwhile, AnnaBeth is getting fed up with one of Brick's patients, Davis, until she learns the real reason behind his ailments.

Zoe and Lemon seem to find some common ground and turn to each other for some much-needed girlfriend advice. Wade is excited to take Vivian out for a nice night out, but when her ex-husband begins texting her, Wade becomes suspicious of her ex's true intentions. Lavon has the opportunity to bid to have the County Fair in BlueBell, but he loses focus when learns that AnnaBeth is now dating. Meanwhile, Magnolia concocts a plan to get Brick away from his house to throw a party.

Zoe finds herself in the middle of Wade and Vivian's relationship, putting her in an awkward position. Things between Lavon and AnnaBeth are getting worse and starting to affect the town. Lemon is upset when she receives a less-than-perfect health inspection grade and devises a plan to get it changed. Meanwhile, George needs a distraction and begrudgingly agrees to go on a date with a Bible School teacher.

While Wade is upset with Zoe over his relationship issues, she decides to lay low and help George out with his problems with Lemon. Meanwhile, Lemon and Wade decide to play hooky from their respective problems. AnnaBeth is excited to introduce her new boyfriend to her parents, until they decide they would rather spend time with Lavon. Brick tries to help Wanda and Tom cope with infertility issues.

When Wade's dad, Earl, asks Zoe for help with his love life, she is happy to get involved, until Wade advises her that no good can come from it. Lavon recruits George to help persuade the city comptroller to change BlueBell's billing on an exit sign, but finds himself in competition against his rival, Mayor Gainey. Meanwhile, Lemon continues to try to raise the profile of Fancie's, but all her plans seem to go up in flames.

Zoe tries to be a supportive friend to Wade, but when she makes a grand gesture, Wade is forced to make a tough decision about his future with the Rammer Jammer and BlueBell. Lavon and George meet their hero, Don Todd, who helps them see things in their life more clearly. Grandma Bettie tries to convince Lemon that she has to take her search for a suitable husband more seriously. Meanwhile, AnnaBeth tries to picture her future with Davis.

Zoe is excited that Wade decided to stay in Bluebell and fights to win him back. Bluebell tries to get its own fire department. Lavon and George fight over Lemon. Brick gets involved in an old romance.

Zoe buries herself in work and, confused by Zoe's behavior, Wade seeks love advice from Lemon. Lemon and Brick are trying to keep the truth about their love lives from Grandma Bettie. In the meantime, Lavon and George reluctantly work together to find out more about Lemon's new boyfriend, Henry.

Zoe goes to New York and Wade follows. After so many ups and downs, they are finally making progress in their relationship. Meanwhile, Lemon, Annabeth, George and Lavon remember their high school days and make decisions about their love lives too.

In hope of helping Lemon's financial woas, Lavon organizes a talent show featuring a cash prize; Wade and Zoe wind up in a compromising situation.

Wade tries to bring customers back to the Rammer Jammer by securing a surprise musical performance; Lemon and Lavon try to move on, but run into each other at a singles event.

Zoe and wade find out that they are having a boy and start to freak out about raising an Alabama boy. Meanwhile, George and AB try to figure out their feelings.

Zoe forces Wade to change his ways after seeing him flirting with some women; Lemon is blindsided by a person from her past; George and Annabeth find it difficult to make new adventures together.

Zoe and Wade look for an heirloom to pass down to their child. When Lavon and Wade invite Brick on a fishing trip, Brick thinks it's a surprise birthday party. George's new job and romance shocks his parents.

Wade and Zoe have different opinions on marriage; George gets a potentially life-changing offer.

When Zoe makes an important decision, Wade tries to take care of everything before the baby is born.

Tom & Wanda decide to get married in 2 days. She asks Zoe to be her maid-of-honor, and to keep her mother busy. Lavon and George fight the mayor against a mall being built nearby. Zoe realizes Wade cheated on her. Lemon & Annabeth make up.

Zoe and Joel are frustrated by all the snags they keep running into while trying to remodel their new home. Rose persuades Lavon to agree that BlueBell will be sister cities with a town in France. Lemon convinces George to help her out with a business venture, but in order for things to go smoothly, Wade has to play peacemaker. Meanwhile, Brick sees an opportunity to become BlueBell's Man of the Year, but he soon discovers he has some tough competition.

Zoe tries to get over Wade cheating on her, but thinks she sees deceit in others. Zoe thinks Max is cheating on Rose and tries to prove it. Lemon continues her quest to break up Brick and Shelby; she asks George to help her.

George Tucker carefully planned to recent a supermarket chain from moving in and kill off Bluebell small businesses by convincing all surrounding owners to refuse allowing an access road, but overlooked the smallest patch. It belongs to Wade's deadbeat father 'Crazy' Earl Kinsella, who always sponges on his sons, but could become financially independent by selling. Even with wade's expert advice, the mayor finds returning to dating hard as Didi refuses to acknowledge that he isn't even interested, rather tells everyone he's taken by her, so Wade must coach getting rid of her too. Lemon, who presides, revives an old rule that allows all members a day of hazing, but Zoe is determined to stick it out even if it kills her. After Zoe finally discovers she has local family, including a living aunt, she learns having the legacy right to join the prestigious Dixie Belles society's local chapter.

Valedictorian at New York med school, surgeon's daughter Zoe Hart declines an offer to join obscure Alabama Gulf town Bluebell's senior doctor Harley Wilkes to join his country practice, but he kept sending postcards. When she's told to get a year of practice experience to develop patient in order to be admitted to the surgical training, she finally accepts, to her mother Candice Hart's distress. Harley meanwhile died but named her heir to what's actually only his half of the practice which local Dr. Brick Breeland wanted to continue alone. Zoe hesitates whether to stay, appreciating helpful gentleman local lawyer George Tucker and ex-national sports hero Lavon Hayes, now the native mayor, but starting badly with womanizing estate caretaker Wade Kinsella and misled by her first patient who faked an eye test before running over George. Yet an unwanted pregnancy proves decisive.

Zoe misinterprets Rose's symptoms for love sickness, but is really a appendicitis. The town turns cold to Zoe. Lemon tries to win George back with a romantic dinner. Zoe's father visits Bluebell again, and Zoe considers leaving.

When Zoe makes an important decision, Wade tries to take care of everything before the baby is born.

Tansy is insecure about George's feelings for Zoe, and Zoe develops feelings for George again. Zoe & George are to kiss in the town play, causing problems. Lemon & Wade open their restaurant. Brick hosts Mental Health Day in Bluebell

Joel's grandmother visits for an early Hanukkah party and tells Zoe to invite her relatives. Zoe manages to get her uncle to attend. Brick learns he is not the father of Shelby's child. Wade has a toothache. Vivian & Zoe become friends.

Stubbornly, Zoe refuses to give in to Bluebell's tradition that during a heath wave, like now, all non-criminal inhibitions are suspended. Still, shirtless men and Wade's sensual dive soon get her doubting, ultimately to give in. Against George's wise advice to go for informal, fiancée lemon attempts to impress his once more short-visiting parents with a dinner, but mother Tucker incessantly spits implied criticism, while Brick and father Tucker bicker endlessly about sports, rooting for rival teams.