On Tour with Prism Book Tours
The Art of Rivers(Coastal Hearts #3)
By Janet W. Ferguson
Christian Contemporary Romance
Paperback and ebook, 299 Pages
June 30th 2019 by Southern Sun Press LLC
Rivers Sullivan bears both visible and invisible scars—those on her shoulder from a bullet wound and those on her heart from the loss of her fiancé during the same brutal attack. Not even her background as an art therapist can help her regain her faith in humanity. Still, she scrapes together the courage to travel to St. Simons Island to see the beach cottage and art gallery she’s inherited from her fiancé. When she stumbles upon recovering addicts running her gallery, she’s forced to reckon with her own healing.
After the tragic drowning of his cousin, James Cooper Knight spends his days trying to make up for his past mistakes. He not only dedicates his life to addiction counseling, but guilt drives him to the water, searching for others who’ve been caught unaware of the quickly rising tides of St. Simons. When he rescues a peculiar blond woman and her sketch pad from a sandbar, then delivers this same woman to his deceased grandmother’s properties, he knows things are about to get even more complicated.
Tragic circumstances draw Cooper and Rivers closer, but they fight their growing feelings. Though Cooper’s been sober for years, Rivers can’t imagine trusting her heart to someone in recovery, and he knows a relationship with her will only rip his family further apart. Distrust and guilt are only the first roadblocks they must overcome if they take a chance on love.
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Book Excerpt
Rivers leaned into Cooper’s chest. The move
felt like betrayal to Jordan, but she could no more pull herself away than she
could erase her past.
His arms
wrapped around her, the hold feeling so different from Jordan’s. Cooper was
lankier, leaner, but she fit nicely in the crook of his shoulder.
“I’m
sorry,” Cooper whispered next to her ear. “I would trade places with Jordan if
I could.”
She glanced
up at his face between the cracks of her soaked eyelashes.
“I didn’t
mean…” His head dropped, and his dark hair shadowed his brows. “I mean, he
should be here with you, and I should be the one in a grave. I deserve it, but
he didn’t.”
The song
echoed on through the cottage living room, Ed Sheeran crooning about falling in
love and starting a family. Why hadn’t she deleted it already? Crying exhausted
her, and she sunk closer, deeper against Cooper’s chest and the curve of his
shoulder. She should say something. Part of her thought he might be
right—Jordan did deserve to be here more than Cooper. Her human nature craved
having somewhere to pour her pent-up blame, someone on whom to spew her anger.
But another
part whispered that no one was righteous. There was only One who hadn’t fallen
short. But for God’s grace, all would be lost.
Sniffling,
she found her voice. “It’s not your fault. We live in a broken world, but
someday everything will be made right.” Though her head knew the truth, often
her heart lagged behind. But even after the short time she’d known Cooper,
she’d discovered worthwhile qualities in him, no matter how she tried not to.
And he
still held her. The blasted song finally switched, and the beat of her breaking
heart slowed. She was suddenly aware of the thump of his heart pulsing in his
chest. She forced herself to inch away.
“Sorry. I
still fall apart sometimes.” Rivers cleared her throat against the tightness
there. “A little thing can trigger it—a commercial for a show we binged-watched
or the scent of his shampoo. A friend and I went to eat sushi, and a memory of
Jordan trying to use chopsticks just about strangled me.”
A soft
chuckle came from Cooper. “Yeah, he was never a fan of sushi, and for a
talented architect, chopsticks were his kryptonite. He must’ve really loved you
to try.”
“What? He
didn’t like sushi?”
“He used to
hate it. He’d gotten a stomach virus after eating crab one time, and something
about sushi reminded him of being sick.” He shrugged. “Maybe he got over it.
What do I know?”
“He could
have, but he never seemed overly enthusiastic, now that I think back.” She
couldn’t help smiling at the realization that he’d gone only to make her happy.
Learning more about Jordan through Cooper’s perspective, though painful, might
be part of her healing journey. Her eyes met his dark gaze for a moment. It
might be too dangerous a journey, though.
Other Books in the Series
And coming January 2020...
About the Author
Janet W. Ferguson grew up in Mississippi and received a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Mississippi. She has served as a children’s minister and a church youth volunteer. An avid reader, she worked as a librarian at a large public high school. She writes humorous inspirational fiction for people with real lives and real problems. Janet and her husband have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a cat that allows them to share the space.
Tour Schedule
Tour Giveaway
One winner will receive a $10 Chick-fil-A gift card and signed copies of the first two books in the series, Magnolia Storms and Falling for Grace.
Thank you! I hope your readers enjoy!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading this one!
ReplyDeleteThank you!! I hope you enjoy :)
DeleteWow sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI hope you like it!
DeleteThis book sounds amazing
ReplyDeleteIt was hard to write, but I believe worth it. So many people are struggling these days.
DeleteBlessings,
I think the covers are pretty
ReplyDeleteThank you! I loved how they turned out :)
DeleteThat is a good synopsis.
ReplyDeleteI hope you like the story :)
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