Perennials

Perennials 
by Julie Cantrell

This is the story of a girl who lost herself. It's a story about sisters. It's a story about parents. And it's a story about flowers that always come back. I love how Cantrell uses the metaphor of flowers throughout this novel. There is so much to learn from the flowers and there is so much about God's creation that is not only beautiful, but mind-blowing when you realize the object lessons He included in almost everything He made.

The father in this story is full of wisdom, and he likes to share that wisdom with his adult daughters, whether they like it or not. There is love lost, hope lost, and time lost, yet there is an wonderful undercurrent of hope.

For the experienced gardener, there is much detail to love in this novel. For those without a green thumb? You'll still love it. One detail in particular that I must share - the daughter who gets sort of lost runs from the lush land of Mississippi, to the Arizona desert, where almost nothing grows. When she returns to her childhood home, her senses are overwhelmed by everything that is growing everywhere. The scents, the sights, the blooms. I love this dichotomy, and you will love how the author uses the setting as a character.

Do you like to garden? Do you prefer to observe nature from a distance? Leave us a comment to get your name in the drawing for The Healer's Touch by Amber Schamel! Giveaway ends 2/11/18. Winner will be announced in the February 12th edition of the weekly windup.

Jennifer Fromke writes from North Carolina and can be found at jenniferfromke.com or shetalksbook.com

Leaving Oxford - Book Review

Leaving Oxford is everything good Southern Fiction is supposed to be—engaging, entertaining, and authentic. As a Southerner, I found it easy to get engrossed in the story line of Sarah Beth and Jess’s bumpy romance. Author Janet Ferguson weaves the story and builds the characters in a believable way. The tension between Sarah Beth and Coach Jess is romantic and at other times comedic. Having dealt with panic attacks myself, I found Sarah Beth’s experience to be very authentic. The author did a good job of weaving this into the plot without it taking over. The faith element within the story was beautifully displayed in the characters. Janet’s descriptions of Oxford, Mississippi, left me feeling like I’d actually been there! The next book in the Southern Hearts Series is Going Up South and equally compelling. You can’t go wrong with any of Janet’s books. 

Book Description: 

Escaping home to Oxford, Mississippi, seemed like a good idea. Until it wasn't. A year after a tragic accident in Los Angeles flipped her world upside down, advertising guru Sarah Beth LeClair is still hiding away in her charming hometown of Oxford, Mississippi. And she may well be stuck there forever. Suffering from panic attacks, she prays for healing. Instead, her answer comes in the form of an arrogant football coach and an ugly puppy.

Former celebrity college quarterback Jess McCoy dreamed of playing pro football. One freak hit destroyed his chances. Although he enjoys his work as the university's offensive coordinator, his aspirations have shifted to coaching at the highest level. His plans of moving up are finally coming together--until he falls for a woman who won't leave town.As the deadline for Jess's decision on his dream career looms, the bars around Sarah Beth's heart only grow stronger. But it's time to make a decision about leaving Oxford.

What are you reading this summer? Maybe it's one of Janet's books or another Southern fiction. Leave a comment and join the conversation for a chance to win a Kindle copy of my latest book, The Trouble With Jasmine.