My happy place is at the beach, so it made sense to me to set my fourth novel there.
Walking along the sandy shores of Fort Morgan, Alabama, while a storm approached, the story fell together in my mind. A lonely (and quirky) romance writer who was the queen of bad dates lived in a little yellow cottage on that secluded area of the peninsula. She had terrible allergies, but she wanted a cat, which led to her owning a hairless cat named Mr. Darcy.
Now she just needed a hero.
Sam Conrad is a snarky wealth manager who had made appearances in all three of my previous novels. I really didn’t like the guy, but everyone has a back story, right? Everyone has a reason to act the way they do–some hurt that had jaded them, a disappointment that has left them hopeless and bitter. I had to figure out what made Sam tick and turn him into a hero.
When the proper-speaking, weird heroine Elinor and snarky, jaded Sam collide, sparks fly-of all kinds-and quite a few laughs.
I ended up having the time of my life writing about these two messed up people, so much so, I could barely write The End.
I hope you enjoy the story, too! Maybe even take a copy to the beach!!
This romantic and adventurous journey to the Gulf area of the American South comes highly recommended.
Ind’tale Magazine
I have loved all the books in the Southern Hearts series by Janet Ferguson, but Blown Together is my favorite of them all! It’s sweet and funny and ROMANTIC!!! Whew, that Sam Conrad cleans up nicely. 5 stars / Love it!
Reading is My SuperPower
Paperbacks: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million
Ebooks: Amazon
What’s your favorite vacation spot and why? (I’m always looking for a great place to travel. Ssshh, don’t tell my husband.)
I’m giving away one Kindle eBook copy of Blown Together to someone who comments by Sunday May 20!
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, this story looks fun:) I have many favourite holiday spots- for the beach, nothing beats September Beach on the Eyre Peninsula, for mountains, nothing beats the Australian High Country or the Central Plateau!
Blessings:)
Gulf Shores! We go camping there in the state park at least once a year.
I’ve stayed at Fort Morgan too! I just love anywhere with a beach.
Hi Janet! Sound like a delightful story! I have lived most of my life within a mile of the beautiful white sandy shores of Lake Michigan. We have beautiful sunsets! My favorite vacation is driving the entire length of Lake Michigan (350 miles) and stopping at beaches and lighthouses along the way! Michigan is unique being surrounded by the Great Lakes (Michigan, Superior, and Huron). Other lake I would love to visit again is the cleanest lake in Switzerland – Lake Berienz near Interlaken! Nestled among the Alps with Swiss homes on it banks – an idyllic spot. Prefer fresh water lakes over ocean beaches. Enjoy your weekend and happy writing!
I am now following you on Amazon. I love to go to NH where there are mountains and beautiful lakes where you can see every detail in the sand because the water is so clear. My favorite is Lake Sunapee but there are other beautiful lakes and mountains there too.
That book sounds interesting and the characters seems quite opposite. I love going to Florida for vacation. There’s so much to do there and then each is not far away
I totally share your happiness from going to the beach. When everyone seems to be looking for a new place to travel, I just want a quiet vacation at gramps beach house. I haven’t been in 7 years and I can definitely say it’s one of the things I’ve missed the most from living so far away. My husband seems to think the 7 hour car ride is not worth it but then he’s not a beach lover like myself. I hope to turn him into one now that the kids are coming into the picture.
That sounds like a fun read!
Weemble, I would love to go any of those places!! Making a list, ha!
Oh fun! You must be from down South! I hope to get to go to Gulf Shores again this year!
Renate, we will be on vacation this year in Chicago! Plan to stick my toes in the lake! Oh, I got to go to Switzerland with my sister in my 20s and see that! So beautiful!
Wow! Thank you so much for the follow!! I need to go to NH! It sounds beautiful! Maybe I can get the husband to agree some day! When is the best time to go? (I don’t like really cold weather, ha!)
HI Colleen! I do love Florida! We make to San Destin and Orlando fairly often! Love it!
That sounds amazing at gramps! You sound like a kindred spirit! I hope you get to go!!
Thanks, Melynda! I hope you like it!
Janet, I loved #1 in this series, and am very anxious to read all in the series! Thanks for your giveaway.
We used to go to beaches in FL….but, as we age, we stay closer to home…I do my traveling through books!!
Hi Janet,
My favorite place to vacation is the Oregon coast. It’s only a couple of hours away and I love being able to drive there and back for day escapes. (which I don’t really do)
I’ve only got 4 more weeks of work until summer break and I’m looking forward to it.
Even tho I love the coast, this year we aren’t going there. This year we’re going to Alaska and Arizona, two VERY different places from the Oregon coast!
Hi Jackie! Thank you so much for reading Leaving Oxford! I hope you like the rest of the series! Traveling through a book is always fun!!
I have always wanted to go to Oregon! I hear it’s beautiful! Hope you have wonderful trips this summer! Sounds awesome!!
Blessings and hugs!
My favorite beaches are on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, on the wild Pacific shore. We experienced the Oregon coast (from Eureka California then north along the entire Oregon coast) last October, and it is beautiful, too, but not as wild as the beaches near Ucluelet and Tofino. This June our vacation takes us to Bella Coola, BC, which is at the tip of a long ocean inlet. I’m not sure it will provide the ocean “fix” I need to get me through another year. We might have to get out to The Island in September anyway!
I’ve read your first three books in this series, Janet. Can’t wait to get to Blown Together. Although… may I just say I’m not a fan of hairless cats?!?! Maybe Mr. Darcy will win me over.
I live near the ocean, so get to go there often. So vacation time comes, I prefer the mountains. One favorite is Lakes Basin. It’s in the high Sierras of northern California, and there’s all sorts of lakes to explore. For swimming, there’s Sand Pond – left behind from a mining operation. When we were young, my cousins swam across it. The bottom is all sand, and the scenery around is breathtaking – wish I could add a picture here!
Your book sounds very interesting! I would love to read it. One of my favorite beaches is Treasure Island near St Petersburg, FL. Have a wonderful day!
I love sitting at the beach reading, but I would love to go to Europe even more. Scotland is high on the countries I would like to visit, as is England.
Janet, I’m laughing already just reading your description of the story! Love seeing the quirky unlikable characters redeemed. And that cat – just looking at hairless cats cracks me up, poor naked things!
This sounds like a must-read!
Janet, this sounds so fun. I look forward to reading it. My first series is based on the Adirondack Mountains in Upstate NY. I highly recommend traveling there, especially during “leaf peeping” season.
Oh, Valerie! I want to see those areas! Thank you for reading my books, too! I hope you like Blown Together :) It’s my favorite!
Autumn, You are so sweet! I hope you laugh if you read it!
Oh wow, Margaret! That sounds beautiful! I wish I could see a pic! I’ll to go Google :)
Hi Judy! It’s been decades since I’ve been to St. Petersburg. I need to check out Treasure Island. Sounds intriguing. I love to collect seashells.
Hi Tammy! Now we’re talking! My husband is doing his ancestry, and it looks like either Scotland or Ireland. I’m trying to convince him we need to when he figures it out. :)
Hi Janet,
I agree with you, the beach is my happy place too. I live 30 minutes from the beach (VA) and we do go there, but I like Nags Head, NC for all the rentals and family beach feel there. I’ve already been to Destin, FL in April because by that time of year I must get somewhere warmer! I’ll be vacationing in Myrtle Beach, SC the first week in June. As you can see I’m a beach person, I’ve never met a beach I didn’t like. I’d love to have a beach book to read at the beach, your newest sounds like just the one. I love quirky characters!
I bet it’s so lovely with the turning leaves!
Tracey, You are so blessed to live so close! I’d love to go to Nags Head! Love Destin for sure! A family fav for us! You are a kindred spirit, too! I like quirky because I have to…I’m a bit quirky, ha!
I’m a mountain person. I live in a valley surrounded by mountains. We are only about 4-5 hours away from Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. I love to go there. The scenery is so gorgeous. I also love Glacier National Park.
I’ve seen pics, and it looks breathtaking, Winnie! Mountains are so majestic!
If I lived nearer to an ocean, then that would definitely be my favourite place to vacation. Love spending time at Ocean City, NJ – alas it is too far to drive to. Next favourite would be Minneapolis. We love exploring the city itself and it’s also near to great state parks. The State Fair is also a highlight.
Sorry you aren’t close! I’ve never been to Ocean City. Sounds fun! How cool about Minneapolis! I haven’t thought of it as a vacation spot. We’ll have to check it out!
Looks like a cute story! My favorite way to travel is a cruise to anywhere!
Hi Linda! My sister cruises all over the world and loves it, including transatlantic. I’m not sure I can do that yet :). I’ve only been on a 3-day Disney cruise, and it was really nice, though.
My favorite place is Vermontville, Michigan; the Sweetest Place on Earth! I grew up there and the majority of my family lives within 20 miles of the family farm. I live in Lubbock, Texas. My vacations are going home. We enjoy horseback riding, gardening, walks in the woods and wildlife out the back door. Come join us!
Oh, Jennifer! That sounds lovely! I’m a bit scared of riding horses, but I like looking at them. Nature walks are the best! Vermontville, Michigan and Lubbock bot sound wonderful!
Since I’m from Alabama, this sounds particularly good. I love the beach and I love mountains. If I could combine both into one it would be heaven on earth.
Hi, Patricia, my neighbor from the South! (I’m in Mississippi.) You probably know Fort Morgan since you’re from Alabama. Beaches and mountains are both so beautiful :)
We love going to different places. We’ve been to Gatlinburg a lot! I love it there. I also love Destin for the beach. We don’t have one specific place we like to go!
Hi Nancy! I do love Galinburg! And Destin, too! You must be in my neck of the woods :)
One of the best vacations I have been on was to Garden City Beach, just a little bit south of Myrtle Beach, SC. I also really enjoyed a trip that I took to NYC once.
I need to got back that way, Jessica! It’s been many years since I went to Myrtle Beach or NYC. I’ve been to Hilton Head on the east coast a lot, simply because my sister has a place there. We love free, ha!