ReviewsByErin

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Healing Skye by Janet W. Ferguson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Skye's temporary move to help Miss Lydia, the woman who is like a mother to her, takes a nosedive when circumstances leave Skye with nothing but her pets, the clothes on her back, and the furnished apartment she's rented. She's been in worse scrapes before, but how can she know who to trust while she puts her life back together? And when Miss Lydia's condition worsens, what will that mean for Skye's summer plans?

Pete Thompson isn't looking—in any sense of the word—for someone new. Still in love with his wife, who passed away six years earlier shortly after the birth of their only child, he has his hands full running his business and being a single parent. Not to mention being a spiritual leader to the small flock he preaches to on the beach each Sunday. But Skye clearly needs help, and the Holy Spirit keeps prompting him to open his heart to this wounded soul.

I really enjoy Janet W. Ferguson's stories. She does such a good job drawing characters you want to know more about, and there's always so much faith content. This novel touches on some very deep hurts, but it's done gently without naming the abuse or going into detail. You can infer plenty without having it spelled out. Skye's reactions because of her background are natural, and so is her gradual awakening to hope, faith, and love. I also appreciated Pete, who is certainly a man of faith but also has plenty of moments that prove he's human like the rest of us.

There's one side character that also stole my heart, and I'm happy to see she's to be the heroine of the next book in the series. I can't wait! I'll definitely want to see her story play out.

I received my copy of the book from JustRead Publicity. All thoughts in this review are my own. Keep reading for more information and a giveaway!

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ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Healing Skye
Series: Coastal Hearts
Author: Janet W. Ferguson
Publisher: Southern Sun Press LLC
Release Date: December 16, 2021
Genre: Christian, Contemporary Romance

People can’t be trusted.

Animals always made more sense than humans did to marine biologist Skye Youngblood. After her mother’s suicide, she left Alabama and never looked back. These days, she pours her heart into protecting nature’s sea creatures. When she returns to Dauphin Island, Alabama, for a temporary manatee migration study, her dark past is much too close. She can’t let her guard down. But how can she keep her heart hidden when a kind man with a genuine smile makes her want a fresh start?

Charter fishing pays the bills for widower Pete Thompson and his little girl, but like his father, a pastor, Pete can’t help but fish for men. Only, after growing up under constant scrutiny as a preacher’s kid, Pete’s ways are a bit more unconventional. And the bulk of his life revolves around raising his precious daughter.

When he witnesses the car wreck of a new marine biologist on the island, it doesn’t take a genius to see that more than just her physical pain needs tending. Pete feels called to help Skye find true healing, but he’s navigating dangerous waters. And he’s not at all sure he’ll walk away unscathed.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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 JANET: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a signed paperback copy of Healing Skye, a T-shirt supporting the Manatee Network, magnetic butterfly bookmarks, prayers to share, a creative Bible study journal, a magnet, and a seashell from the author!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight January 24, 2022 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on January 31, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Star Youngblood just received her one year sober chip and is preparing to move out of Reclaimed, the Christian addiction ministry which helped turn her life around. Although she has a job helping elderly Mrs. Kelly, she's also looking for something more permanent, though her choices are limited as a high school drop-out with addiction in her past.

Paul Kelly has worked hard to become a private pilot for his European boss. He's saving for the day he can return to the States and help his mom in her retirement. When his mom suffers a health crisis and Paul receives an anxious and accusing phone call from her assistant, he can't wait to give the woman a piece of his mind. 

Though Star and Paul don't like each other, their shared concern over Mrs. Kelly binds them together. He can't wait to find other arrangements for his mom's care, and he's tired of hearing Star's Bible talk. He had enough of that during his years as a missionary in Africa, and after the way his tenure on the field ended, he has no use for God or religion.

There were many things I enjoyed about this story. The characters feel real, they tackle deep issues, and there are laugh-out-loud moments. Janet W. Ferguson weaves an adventure that also has a strong faith focus. I appreciated how much Scripture was in this novel. Some readers might call it preachy, but I'm a Christian who does try to live her life by the guidance of the Bible, and I thought it was really great to see that here in this book.

This was my first time reading this author, but it won't be the last. I look forward to more of her works in the future!