UNDER A SUMMER SKY
Follow Your Heart, Book 3
By Melody Carlson
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Christian / Inspirational
Publisher: Revell
Date of Publication: June 6, 2017
Number of Pages: 320
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High school art
teacher Nicole Anderson is looking forward to a relaxing summer in Savannah, house-sitting and managing an art gallery for a family friend. The house is luxurious in a way that only old money could make it, and the gallery promises interesting days in a gorgeous setting. Yet it isn’t long before her ideal summer turns into more than she bargained for: a snooty gallery employee who’s determined to force her out, a displaced adolescent roosting in the attic, and two of her childhood friends—who also happen to be brothers—vying for her attention.
With the backdrop of a gorgeous historical city, incredible architecture, and even an alleged ghost or two, combined with the opportunity for romance . . . anything can happen!
Bestselling and award-winning author Melody Carlson invites you to spend the summer surrounded by splendor . . . and tantalizing possibilities.
PRAISE FOR THE FOLLOW YOUR HEART SERIES:
“Heartwarming and uplifting.”—Library Journal on Once Upon a Summertime
“Sweet, romantic, and endlessly entertaining.”—Radiant Lit on Once Upon a Summertime
“This winsome romance [is] a perfect summer read.”—Publishers Weekly on All Summer Long
PURCHASE LINKS
BAKER BOOK HOUSE AMAZON CHRISTIANBOOK.COM
iBOOKS KOBO LIFEWAY BARNES & NOBLE
Excerpt: Chapter 1, Part 3
continued from the 6/22/17 Lone Star Book Blog Tours stop
“Well, Vivian called me up this morning. Straight out of the blue. I don’t think we’ve had an actual conversation since her grandbaby was born.”
“Vivian has a grandbaby?”
“Oh, I’m sure I told you about it before. You remember that Alex got married—that was years ago. Poor Vivian was so disappointed they didn’t have a wedding. The selfish kids ran off to Vegas.”
“Oh yeah.” Nicole nodded, remembering how vexed her mom was that there hadn’t been a wedding. Nicole herself hadn’t been too pleased to hear that Alex had gotten married. “So back to Vivian, Mom. She called you this morning?”
“Yes. I couldn’t have been more surprised. Oh, we still exchange Christmas and birthday cards, but we haven’t actually spoken in years. Viv has encouraged me to join one of those online social clubs, but you know me, Nikki, I hate computers.” She snagged a parking place near the neighborhood Starbucks. “All that electronic stuff just gives me the heebie-jeebies. Don’t know how your father can waste so much time on his computer. It’s just plain silly.”
Nicole laughed as she pointed to her mom’s smartphone sticking out of her purse. “Well, at least you know how to use that now. That’s better than nothing.”
Caroline turned off the engine and reached for her phone. “That reminds me, I have to show you the pictures I took at JJ’s ball game yesterday—”
“How about you send them to me?” Nicole said as they got out of the car.
“Anyway, Viv and I had a very interesting conversation.” Caroline’s brows arched.
“That is somehow related to me?” Nicole held the Starbucks door open for her mom.
“Well, as it turns out, it just might be. You see,” Caroline continued as they stepped into the short line, “Vivian and Robert are celebrating their fortieth anniversary this summer by taking a world cruise. Can you imagine three months of being pampered on a luxurious ship that goes all around the world?” She sighed. “But then they’re rich.”
“What does this have to do with me?”
“I’m sure that Vivian called me to brag a little. Really, I can’t blame her. I’d tell everyone I know if your dad was taking me on a trip like that.” She paused to order an iced mocha, and Nicole followed suit, trying to make sense of her mother’s monologue about Vivian’s charmed life.
“But Robert comes from money. Old money. According to Viv, they inherited quite a sum after his dad passed away.” She shook her head. “I can only imagine.”
“You’re not exactly impoverished,” Nicole said.
“I know that. But we’re not the Grahams.”
Nicole smiled. “And I’m glad you’re not.”
As they picked up their iced mochas, Caroline continued to rattle on about how “fortunate” Vivian and Robert were. After they were seated, Nicole held up her hand. “Okay, Mom, can you please get to the part about why this involves me? I’ve had a long day and an even longer school year, and my brain is starting to get a little fuzzy.”
Caroline gave her a sly-looking smile. “Well . . . do you recall that Vivian owns a gallery in Savannah?”
Nicole tipped her head to one side. “That kind of rings a bell. Didn’t we look at a vacant building when we were in Savannah that last time? Vivian was talking about getting it for an investment?”
“Yes, that’s right. Vivian bought that building. A few years later she opened an art gallery—I guess it was about a dozen years ago. The Graham Gallery, she said it’s called. It took a while for it to catch hold, and then there was the recession. But apparently it’s fairly well established now. I guess it’s been kind of like her baby—even more so after her boys were grown and all. It actually sounds rather nice.”
“Uh-huh.” Nicole tried to imagine it as she sipped her iced mocha.
“Viv was telling me all about her gallery and these art exhibits she has lined up for the upcoming summer, complaining about how hard it would be to leave it all behind—to go off on her fabulous world cruise.” Caroline rolled her eyes, then laughed. “In the meantime, I got this brilliant idea.”
“Oh?” Despite her weariness, Nicole’s curiosity was piquing.
“It was slightly miraculous how this idea occurred to me—almost like a divine inspiration.”
“Seriously?” Nicole frowned.
Caroline nodded firmly. “Don’t be such a skeptic, Nikki. It’s entirely possible that God gave me this idea. Anyway, I suddenly realized that you, my dear, are exactly what Vivian needs.”
“What she needs?”
“To manage her gallery.”
“To manage her gallery?”
“Good grief, is there an echo in this room?” Caroline glanced dramatically around, then narrowed her eyes at Nicole. “Please, dear, stop repeating everything I say.”
Nicole just stared at her mom. Did she honestly think Nicole could simply drop everything, uproot her life for an entire summer, and relocate to Savannah? Furthermore, did she really think Nicole knew the first thing about running an art gallery?
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than 6.5 million, including many bestselling Christmas novellas, young adult titles, and the contemporary romances Once Upon a Summertime and All Summer Long. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including Finding Alice. She and her husband live in central Oregon.
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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
Grand Prize:
Print copies of the three books in the Follow Your Heart series, Thanks You’re A Peach Tea Gift Tin,12×18 Savannah travel poster, & Georgia Peach Cookies Tin
1st Runner-Up: Full series + $15 Barnes & Noble Gift Card
2nd Runner-Up: Full Series + $10 Starbucks Gift Card
June 17-26, 2017
(U.S. Only)
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CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR
| 6/17 | Excerpt 1 | Chapter Break Book Blog |
| 6/18 | REVIEW | Momma On The Rocks |
| 6/19 | Guest Post | CGB Blog Tours |
| 6/20 | Author Interview | Books and Broomsticks |
| 6/21 | REVIEW | My Book Fix Blog |
| 6/22 | Excerpt 2 | StoreyBook Reviews |
| 6/23 | Scrapbook | Books in the Garden |
| 6/24 | REVIEW | Margie’s Must Reads |
| 6/25 | Excerpt 3 | The Page Unbound |
| 6/26 | REVIEW | Reading By Moonlight |
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