Hello Inspy Romance! I’ve been working hard and doing a lot of research all year for a new novel called Healing Skye! I decided to share an excerpt with you today!
My heroine is Skye who is a marine biologist. If you follow my on social media, you know I love taking pictures of creation. That made researching marine biology a lot of fun! God is an incredible artist!
Here’s part of the first chapter:
Almost to the Gulf. Almost to the part of the world she’d left behind nearly a decade ago. Skye Youngblood had loved these warm waters, the golden marsh grass bowing in the southerly breeze, the hungry herons peering out at the surf, the dolphins crowning in the golden light, the rhythm of the tides. Nature’s dependable laws had a way of soothing rattled emotions inside a cracked human soul. During her chaotic childhood, the humid salt air loosened the relentless feelings of hopelessness that had squeezed around Skye, allowing her to breathe. Days wading in the Gulf’s warm waters with her sister had chased out some of the darkness that haunted her.
Beneath the shining surface of the deep, the glory expanded and multiplied. The bays, marshes, and sea clamored with hidden life. Hidden death too. All shrouded below the frothy waters, where few took the time to observe.
She lived that hidden life, too, out of sight as much as possible, hoping her past wouldn’t catch up to her.
Because some horrors should stay buried.
~~~~
The hero Pete is a charter fisherman, a widower, and the father of a little girl. Here’s a little of his POV in the first chapter:
Frustration boiled, though he respected the way she cared for her haphazard trio. “You won’t be any good to your pets if you’re injured. You have to take care of yourself.”
Caramel-colored eyes met his and stayed there, evaluating him, piercing into his soul, it seemed.
She’s the one.
The words came clearly into his mind, sending a fresh burst of adrenaline.
What? No. I’m not ready. Probably never will be.
The stress of the situation had to have triggered the disturbing thought.
The door opened, and the girl slipped out. She stood before him. Not a girl, but a woman. He reached for her face, but she jerked back.
A scared wisp of a woman. There was nothing he could do if she wouldn’t let him near her.
~~~
I hope you enjoyed the sneak peek!
Here’s the back cover blurb:
People can’t be trusted.
Animals always made more sense than humans did to marine biologist Skye Youngblood. After her mother’s suicide, she left Alabama and never looked back. These days, she pours her heart into protecting nature’s sea creatures. When she returns to Dauphin Island, Alabama, for a temporary manatee migration study, her dark past is much too close. She can’t let her guard down. But how can she keep her heart hidden when a kind man with a genuine smile makes her want a fresh start?
Charter fishing pays the bills for widower Pete Thompson and his little girl, but like his father, a pastor, Pete can’t help but fish for men. Only, after growing up under constant scrutiny as a preacher’s kid, Pete’s ways are a bit more unconventional. And the bulk of his life revolves around raising his precious daughter.
When he witnesses the car wreck of a new marine biologist on the island, it doesn’t take a genius to see that more than just her physical pain needs tending. Pete feels called to help Skye find true healing, but he’s navigating dangerous waters. And he’s not at all sure he’ll walk away unscathed.
Preorder for the December 16th here!
Question for you: What careers would you enjoy researching?
Janet W. Ferguson is a Christy Award finalist and the FHL Readers Choice Award winning author of realistic inspirational fiction. An avid reader, she loved books so much she found a job as a librarian so she could be around them all day. Then she turned that love of story into writing faith-filled novels with characters who feel like best friends. You’ll laugh and cry as the quirky heroes and heroines chase their happily ever after. Janet and her husband live in Mississippi where they say y’all a lot, and she forces him to visit the beach as often as possible. They have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a cat that allows them to share the space. Connect with her at http://www.janetfergusonauthor.com/
I’d enjoy researching something very different from my life. That applies to most. Maybe a scientist in Antarctica………..
Hi Janet! Looking forward to reading Healing Skye. From the school system I retired , a colleague’s daughter is studying marine biology in Florida. Remember seeing manatees on our Florida trip in 1990. My 2. grade granddaughter is interested in dolphins. I have done lots of research on dolphins.
Since November often features 30 days of gratitude, the careers often neglected in stories are the careers essentials to a comfortable home life. So often we take the utility workers for granted until we are without power or have flooding. The electricians, plumbers, cable / internet workers, the utility workers putting up new electrical poles in not the best of conditions. My beautician’s son is an electrician apprentice, so monthly I receive updates on his journey. It is sad that high schools don’t promote these career choices more (vocational). Out of sight, out of mind. In several Michigan towns there is concern with lead in the water from lead pipes. Our city is also replacing many sewer pipes, which disrupted the traffic into town for most of the summer. City workers aren’t mentioned often. Best wishes and happy writing.
That would be different! And interesting!
Dolphin study with your granddaughter sounds sweet! Yes, those are great choices of careers! One of my good friend’s husband and son are lineman. For every big emergency after a weather event, they are on the road getting things going again. With all the hurricanes in the past two years, they’ve been gone a lot.
Your book sounds good!! I know a couple of people that have degrees in Marine Biology. I used to like meteorology, and still find weather fascinating, maybe because I’m a native Floridian and have been through so many hurricanes!
YAY! Another Coastal Hearts Novel!
Love them <3
I wouldn’t like researching anything for a career maybe only something in child care cause I love babys and little kids and I come from a family of 13.
I’d love to research plants & insects. Or I think a fun one would be a forensic entomologist, the study of bugs found at a crime scene….more specifically on or near a body. I know it sounds really disgusting, but I read a book series a few years ago where the main character is one. He helped solve murders that would otherwise not have been solved. I also read a book recently where the heroine was a forensic anthropologist (study of bones to solve a crime) and she helped solve a 10 year old cold case & finally brought closure to a family.
So maybe more specifically, something to do with forensics would be an interesting research career! And no, I don’t think I don’t think I could work around bodies. I’d be in a lab working with the evidence, whether it be bugs, bones, or plant life found at a crime scene, lol!
I’m the same about weather. It’s fascinating!
Thank you 😘
Oh how sweet!!
I read a book like that! It was interesting!!
This book sounds like a sweet read! The cover is Gorgeous I love it! I would love to research forensics.
Hi Mary, My former GP spent a year as the doctor in Antarctica (forget which base)
not sure what I would research maybe an Animal Behaviorist (but that could be cos I my cats have issues). A forensic scientist would be fun too. (We had a guy speak about it here a couple years ago and it was very interesting not like you see on CSI)
PS I actually like researching.
I love both of those!! I enjoy research too!
Thank you! I love forensics shows! I hope it’s sweet :)
See comment below. Oops
Was that Tim Downs’ Bug Man series? He and his wife are such a treasure. I met them a few years back just to say thanks for their work with the Family Life marriage conferences. He wrote several stand-alone thrillers as well as the Bug Man books. They have several non-fiction books (both about marriage and about the Christian life) that are really good, too.
Hi, Janet!
Congratulations on the new release! I like the idea of the fisherman fishing for men. :-)
I really enjoy learning about almost any science-related career, but I think what I like the most is someone who can express their passion for what they do, no matter what it is.
Thank you! Yes, I read one of the Bug Man series set in New Orleans after Katrina.
Thank you! I think science is interesting too!
Hi Lincoln! Yes, those are the books I was referring to, just couldn’t remember the author. I kept waiting for one more book to come out because the last one left me hanging, but I LOVED the series. It certainly kept my interest.
That’s very cool that you got to meet him and his wife! I didn’t know they worked with Family Life marriage conferences.
I will have to see if I can get a hold of his other stand-alone thriller books. Thanks for letting me know about them.
Have a blessed weekend!
Hi, Trixi! The other thrillers are “Plague Maker” (in which the Bug Man has a very brief cameo) and “Head Game”. The end of the Bug Man series (which resolves the cliff hanger of the marriage proposal) is “Nick of Time”. I always enjoyed how these dark stories not only had a growing romance in them as Nick matured but Tim always had an element of Christian life positively portrayed. One of his non-fiction books was about engaging with the popular culture, making the connection as a way to open the discussion of eternal things. I thought he did it extremely well.
Fabulous cover. Thanks so much for sharing. I would like to research, a zoo keeper, librarian or maybe a writer. God bless you.
This book looks so interesting. Can’t wait to get a copy.
I’m not into that type of work but love working with people. This book sounds interesting
Thank you! It’s a blessing that you love working with people! I hope you enjoy the story!
Thank you so much, Amy!
Thank you! Those are fabulous ideas! I was a librarian at a high school, so I have some experience with that. Zoo Keeper would fun research!
That’s amazing! What an experience!