A couple of years ago, my family spent our vacation on the Georgia coast at St. Simons. The large oaks lining the roads dripped with moss, giving it a romantic yet suspenseful feel to my vivid imagination.
We toured the historical Christ’s Church, thought to have begun around 1776. We walked the town and toured the lighthouse, then drove over to Fort Frederica and Jekyll Island, soaking in the history.
But my favorite was my happy place-the beach!
During our tours, we heard historical and current stories of how people had been caught on sandbars in St. Simons quickly-rising tides and about lives lost. While watching little crabs scurry around us, my mind brewed a story of a tragic loss due to the tides- a loss that ripped a family apart. Yes, that’s how I have fun on vacation, ha!
Two years and some sleepless nights later, I’ve finished that story. I believe it grapples with a tough issue, too, that of addiction. I hope you will enjoy reading it!
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.
Preorder here for only 99 cents!
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Other Coastal Heart stories: Magnolia Storms and Falling for Grace
I read or make up stories when I relax on vacation, what do you do?
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/
Hi Janet, thanks for sharing photos from your trip- and the cover is great! Hehe, I love that you make up stories when you are on holiday, because I love to read stories when I am on holiday- great combination:)
Blessings:)
Hi Janet! The Art of the Rivers is preordered. Living close to the shores of Lake Michigan, our family has respect for the strength our beautiful lake, which at times has a strong undertow. Especially during the summer, our hearts quicken when we hear sirens knowing a tourist (rarely a resident) is in distress and there might have been a drowning. Even with red flags flying and lots of signs on our beaches and the pier going to our historic lighthouse, folks take chances in the water. This winter people had to be rescued from the ice flows, putting themselves and our rescuers at risk. People watching is fun, at times annoying which has one making up stories. Looking forward to your release. Best wishes.
Hello, Janet! What an interwsting research. And wow in your new book. The Art of Rivers sounds amazing!
That’s so scary. I guess they may be young and thinking they are invincible! I’m an old worrier now, myself! I bet you make up some good stories!
Thank you for preordering!
Hugs,
Janet
Thank you, Alexa! Research can be fun!!
Hi Wemble! I’m happy to share! I also read stories on holiday! One of my favorite pastimes!
Blessings
Sounds like a fabulous vacation. This is a pretty cover. It says a lot. The excerpt makes this sound like an interesting read.
Hi Janet! Congratulations on your new book! The cover is gorgeous and the story sounds wonderful!
Pre-ordered! I love books set on the Georgia and Carolina coasts and islands! I blame Eugenia Price! :)
I enjoy hearing how artists get their inspiration, Janet! Thanks for the post and pictures. I’m looking to reading your book soon!
I already have the book on pre-order, and I loved it! Amazing, heart breaking and truly a story full of emotions and God’s forgiveness. I am so looking forward to sharing my full review on the blog soon, everyone must read this story!
I have pre-ordered! Since I live in GA (about 5 hrs from your scenes) I am really anxious to read this book!
Thanks, Lori! It was a fun vacation! I’m glad you like the cover, and I hope you enjoy the story!
Blessings
Thanks, Sally! I do like how the cover turned out!
Oh thank you, Regina! It’s such a beautiful area! I hope you like it!
Blessings
Thank you, Winnie! You’re such a great supporter to me!
Thank you, Paula Marie for your constant encouragement!!
Thank you, Jackie!! My daughter and sisters live in Atlanta, so sometimes we vacation on the eastern coast! I hope you enjoy the story!
My recent vacations have been about visiting new places or playing with grandchildren.
Oh I bet you enjoy those grandchildren! I don’t have any yet, but I do look forward to it!
Jan I can’t wait to read all three of those books. I am currently reading Share With Me and I absolutely love it. You have now become one of my favorite authors and I look forward to reading more of your books.
Even though the book I mentioned is another author I really look forward to each of these books.
Oh how sweet! I so appreciate that, Linda! I feel blessed!
LOL, I understood!
Hi Janet! I read, cross-stitch, and write letters to relax on vacation.
I love that Ellie! I hadn’t thought of cross-stitch! Probably because I’m not very good at it from what I remember, though, LOL!
Linda – Jan here :-) Thank you so much for mentioning my books set on St Simon’s Island, and I’m glad you’ve enjoyed reading the series. The series is not done yet, so there will be more books to come…
Janet – That’s wonderful that you had a wonderful time on St Simon’s. I hope you get to go back there again soon. It’s such a memorable place, isn’t it! Ever since I heard Eugenia Price and her historical novels set there, I’ve been glad that more and more people are discovering the laidback island and writing about it, myself included. I’m delighted that you are too.
Ladies, maybe if our paths cross on the island sometime, we should get together to have some southern tea. Wouldn’t that be delightful!
Thank you again, Linda, for mentioning me. And congrats, Janet, on the new book. It sounds great and a must read!
Well, getting together would be fun! I do hope I get to go back!
I’ve heard that St. Simons is a beautiful place!
It really is, Dianna!
I’ve got the book pre-ordered and am looking forward to it. I too first learned about St Simons Island through Eugenia Price’s books. Then more recently Rachel Hauck’s Once Upon a Prince! I’d love to go there some day.
On vacation I enjoy reading, hiking, and visiting friends and relatives. Tomorrow we’re heading up 3 hours north to see my aunt, my 2 nieces, and my great-nephew who turns 20 on Sunday!
Thank you, Margaret! Isn’t it interesting how we learn things through books? I love the same things, too! I hope you have a great trip!
Blessings,
I love to read when I’m traveling and once I reach my destination. I always plan ahead to make sure I have some good books with me.
Me, too, Jessica! You’re a woman after my own heart!