Until April by Janet W. Ferguson is this week’s Reader Friday post. Here’re the first three lines. “This is freedom.” Wind whipped through Michael Galloway’s hair. Warm water sprayed his tanned skin. A palette of blues and greens shimmered beyond the tip of his jet ski.
This is the calm before the storm…But first the photo and verse. I took this last June of the Strawberry Moon, when I was at Dauphin Island, Alabama. When the moon first rose, it was a reddish color, but by the time I captured the photo it had turned golden. I thought the verse went well with it.
Now for Until April by Janet W. Ferguson. Here’s the cover and back copy:
Michael Galloway has always believed freedom means living life on his own terms. His career is dedicated to saving the environment and teaching others the importance of taking care of the earth, rivers, and oceans. He’s building a life with no room for complications. Especially in his love life.
Then tragedy turns April Yancy’s world upside down.
After her husband’s death, April discovers he’d been hiding devastating secrets, leaving her buried in debt and struggling to protect her children’s future. The last person she expects to come to her rescue is Michael—the man who shattered her heart years ago.
Michael has few regrets, but hurting April back in grad school still haunts him. When her situation grows desperate, he devises a risky plan to help her rebuild her life…even if it means jeopardizing his carefully guarded independence.
Accepting Michael’s shocking offer could cost April more than her pride. His resistance to her faith clashes with the convictions she holds dear, and trusting him again feels impossible. Yet as doors keep opening and her prayers keep nudging her toward him, April begins to wonder if God is offering her a second chance at more than survival.
An emotional second-chance love story of forgiveness, redemption, and unexpected faith.
My take:
This story grabbed me from the first chapter when Michael saved April’s son, Jack, after a devastating crash between two jet skis, and held me to the very end. Just like Michael, I quickly connected with Jack. and April. I also understand why she doesn’t want to have anything to do with Michael.
I love second-chance romances, and this is a great one. The characters are well-developed, and Ferguson has created a setting that makes me want to move to Dauphin Island, Alabama.
The story quickly engaged my heart with April losing her husband, and then losing almost everything else when she discovered her husband had gotten them in debt and they’d lost their medical coverage. Michael offered April a solution to her problems–a marriage of convenience. Michael isn’t a believer, and I enjoyed watching him weigh his scientific logic against faith in something he couldn’t see. Ferguson did a wonderful job contrasting the two.
Michael and April are great characters, and Jack quickly captured my heart the same way he did Michael’s. The rest of the characters are engaging, and I hope some of them get their own story. This is a book that readers of Inspirational romance will love. You can purchase Until April at Amazon or read it in KU.
Okay Readers, what are you reading this week? Leave the title or first line in the comments and I’ll enter you in a July drawing for…something. 🙂
Here’s today’s song. It’s one I’ve enjoyed listening to for many years.
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Comments 39
I’m reading The Husband Tree by Mary Connealy. “Belle Tanner pitched dirt right on Anthony’s handsome, worthless face.”
I started reading this book last night and am having a hard time putting it down to do anything else. I stay up much later than my husband and found myself chuckling out loud a few times as I was reading.
Love the photo of the moon! God’s creations continually amaze me.
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Me, too, Gail! I have one of Mary’s books on my Kindle and I need to bump it up to the top!
I just purchased this book a couple of weeks ago so it is on my TBR list may have to bump it up on the list,
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I love Janet Ferguson’s books, Sharon. She is so good.
Patient 7 by Sabrina Wade
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The Patient 7 intrigued me so much, BN100, I hopped over to Amazon and to check it out and immediately downloaded it from KU. I will start this one tonight.
Your moon photo is amazing. Until April sounds like a sweet read.
Never shop at 12:30 in the morning when you have insomnia. I was in the mood for a classic, so I picked up the Pulitzer-Prize-winning novel Tinkers by Paul Harding. The first line: “George Washington Crosby began to hallucinate eight days before he died.” Oh goodness, what have I got myself into?
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Thanks, Priscilla. I love taking moonshots, but don’t always have my 35 mm around. I’ve gotten a few of the moon with my phone that were good, but the moon has to be really low for me to get the craters with my phone. 🙂 I’ll have to check out Tinkers, Priscilla! That is an intriguing first line!
Indeed, God easily and quickly created the entire universe. Nothing is too hard for Him. Great photo.
I’m reading “Conspiracy” by Colleen Coble. It’s part of her Sanctuary series. The Sanctuary is a wildlife preserve set in the South. Conspiracy has a double meaning; the one we usually think of, and if your thinking of an animal group it refers to a bunch of lemurs which fits the story. The first line is: “Wild life veterinarian Paradise Alden smiled at the two tiny lemurs as they nudged closer to their mother, Fiona.”
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Hi Tim! I got to catch up with this series! I’ve read the first one, and maybe the second one…maybe one I get this book in, I’ll have more time to read. 😉
That sounds like an intriguing plot scenario, and I read 4 chaps. in Jeremiah this morn. including that verse, which is also a great song!
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I love that verse, Delores! I think you would like Until April.
Ah…. what a photo & verse! I always look forward to reading Janet Ferguson’s books!
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Janet is so good, isn’t she, Becky! And thanks. I’m glad you enjoyed the photo and verse.
I just finished your book Matthews Choice. There were times when I teared up hurting for the characters. Loved the book!
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Aww, thank you, Judy. I really enjoyed writing Matthew’s Choice.! For the cover, I envisioned him on a carousel reaching for a brass ring, but they went with something else. In fact the working title was The Brass Ring. If I ever get the rights back, I’ll republish it under that title and put the cover I envisioned. 🙂
I am reading Protecting the Baby by Jodie Bailey. It is the 4th book in Love Inspired Suspense’s Colorado K-9 Unit continuity series.
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I’m not sure if I read that or not, Carolyn…I’ll have to check and see because I do enjoy Jodie Bailey’s LIS!
I am reading Elizabeth Goddard’s new book When The Silence Breaks !
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Ohhh! I have that on audio, Sarah, and I can’t wait to listen to it!
Finishing up two books for review.
The Reimagined Life of Jane Morrow by Vanetta Chapman
Twilight Tactics by Lynette Eason.
I have read at least one Janet Ferguson book and loved it.
Sorry, That’s Jade Morrow
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Hi Paula! I haven’t ready Vanetta’s book, but I have Lynette’s on Audible.
Great photo. Until April is on my wishlist.
Why do all the bad things happen at night?
Miss Beth Bettencourt by Eva Marie Everson
(which I won from JustRead Tours. Yay!)
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Thanks, Gloria! I love Eva Marie Everson’s writing.
This is from The Keepsake Sisters by Lori Wilde: In her nightmares, the elderly midwife can’t escape her sins. Alzheimer’s has eroded her ability to read and recall details, but her dreams are as lucid and real as the night it happened. She’s a faded shell of who she used to be . . . until she sleeps . . . . Slumber sends her sliding back to Moonglow Cove Memorial Hospital. Back to 1986. Back to the grave mistake that changed everything.
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Diana, that opening really draws the reader in! I’ll have to add that one to my TBR list!
currently reading Critical Threat!
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I can’t wait to read it, Shelia…so many books, so few hours!
I love the picture and verse. I haven’t heard that song before, but that was a beautiful rendition.
I hate to say it, but I’m still reading the same book I had started last week. I have had very little time to sit and read for several weeks. I’ve got to finish this one so I can do a first read for another author. I meant to start it on Wednesday, but didn’t think about it until today.
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Edward, a friend introduced me to that singer and the song several years ago. Not sure what she’s up to now…And I understand about not having any time!
I am reading The Lake House by Lori Foster.
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Hi Deborah. I haven’t read any of Lori Foster’s books…will have to change that!
I’m reading an ARC of Twilight Tactics by Lynette Eaon.
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That’s on my TBR list, Joan!
ARC – Endless as the Rain by Melissa Koslin
“She was good at quiet.”
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That one is definitely on my TBR list, Natalya!
That moon picture is amazing!
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Thanks, Sally Jo!