I have the pleasure of introducing you to author Audrey Wick. She and I both write contemporary romance, and I had the privilege of reading Island Charm, her latest novel. I’ll let Audrey tell you about it, but scroll down to the end to hear my thoughts.

Are you getting ready for summertime? I love the warmer weather and breezy evenings, which my characters also experience in my latest book, ISLAND CHARM. I’m excited to share this standalone novel with readers that’s a perfect beach book—so even for people who can’t physically travel, they can enjoy a getaway through this book!

When Anna Worthington’s twin sister gets jilted by her fiancé, Anna steps in with a plan for a girls’ Key West getaway instead of a honeymoon trip. Yet when her twin has her own crisis of commitment and doesn’t board the plane, Anna finds herself on a romantic getaway that she’s forced to navigate alone.

Gunnar Lockhart, whose specialty is island tourism, is the perfect match for helping Anna complete her vacation bucket list, but time together forges a connection more personal than either anticipates. As they make island memories, Anna has to untangle her mixed emotions. Are her feelings toward Gunnar real? Or like her sister’s wedding day, has this connection been doomed from the start?

In ISLAND CHARM, readers see how one woman navigates twists and turns in life’s journey. In the novel, readers meet the protagonist, Anna, who has to react to a surprise decision by her twin sister that creates a situation not of her own making.

Having to react to someone else’s choices is not uncommon. But it can be frustrating, for when this happens, we are an innocent party having to cope with a difficult situation we didn’t cause. But God assures us that we are not alone, and that with His grace, the unjust issues that plague us will be dealt with in a righteous way.

In many cases, God’s solutions are very elegant and have more far-reaching effects for the good of all. How joyful indeed!

In ISLAND CHARM, the protagonist has to pick up the pieces when someone else’s decision impacts her life. When she meets just the right person to help her through her unexpected situation, she is swept into a whirlwind of second chances aimed at helping someone else rise above unfairness. Her commitment to her task brings joy to more than one person, and her own circumstances are given a surprising twist that brings peace to her heart and soul.

My thoughts:

Island Charm was like revisiting Key West. Audrey captures the setting perfectly. I remember the wild turkeys, seeing a shark off the pier, and the tiny local shops that made Key West even more charming than I expected. I enjoyed how the novel stored such fun vacation memories for me. Pls, the story is sweet, clean, and a perfect summer read.

Question:

Now, here’s a question for readers: HAVE YOU EVER FOUND YOURSELF IN A SITUATION NOT OF YOUR OWN MAKING THAT WAS DIFFICULT TO HANDLE? If so, share a bit below so we can encourage one another and learn that we are not alone.

Audrey Wick is a full-time English professor at Blinn College and author of women’s fiction/romance. Her writing has also appeared in college textbooks, and she is a guest blog columnist with Writer’s Digest. Wick believes the secret to happiness includes lifelong learning and good stories. But travel and coffee help. She has journeyed to over twenty countries—and sipped coffee at every one. See photos on her website audreywick.com and follow her on Twitter and Instagram @WickWrites.