A Glimmer of Hope: A Novella Prequel to Isle of Hope (10 page)
Read A Glimmer of Hope: A Novella Prequel to Isle of Hope Online
Authors: Julie Lessman
“Well, it’s about time, Jack O’Bryen—you’ve always been way too serious and focused.” She glanced out the window where the blonde was buffing her nails while shooting laser looks their way. “And speaking of ‘serious,’ I think
your
significant other may be getting tired of waiting.”
He glanced over his shoulder and grinned, the sound of his husky chuckle bringing back a rush of memories. “Yeah, Jasmine’s not the patient type, that’s for sure.” He turned back, a gleam of trouble in his eyes so foreign to the studious boy she used to know. “Everybody keeps telling me I’m the perfect age and place to settle down, but I’m not buying it.” He flashed perfectly white teeth, his manner suddenly bold and edged with a wild streak that hadn’t been there before. “Having way too much fun.”
She fidgeted with the studs on the front of her purse, uneasy with this new Jack, a man-about-town who seemed light years away from the sweet, intense seminary student with whom she’d fallen in love. Brushing the hair from her eyes, her hand was as shaky as her smile. “Well, it’s been great seeing you, Jack. I’m sure our paths will cross again since we’re both in the wedding.” With an awkward wave, she turned to manhandle the knob, struggling to open a door that refused to budge.
He reached around and turned it for her, giving it a light shove. It wheeled open as slick as the oil in the pumps. “I’m sure you will,” he said quietly, the warmth of his breath against her neck causing her skin to tingle. “If you’re home to build bridges, I assume that includes Mom and the twins?”
She peeked over her shoulder. “It does,” she whispered, feeling as awkward as if this were the end of a first date. She paused. “How is your mom, by the way—and your sisters?” She rested her hand on the knob to keep her fingers from trembling. “I keep tabs on them through Nick, of course, but I know she hasn’t been in touch with your sisters since …” Her words trailed off, not wanting to put voice to the awful tragedy that had befallen them all.
He cleared his throat, hands back in his pockets. “She’s good. Praying up a storm, as always. Still hounding me to go to church, which I occasionally do for her, but I’m not into that stuff anymore.”
Lacey blinked.
Oh, Jack, no …
“B-but that used to be your thing,” she whispered.
He studied her through a shuttered gaze. “It used to be my dad’s thing, too, remember?”
“Excuse me, please.” They both jolted at the presence of an elderly woman who took them by surprise.
“Oh, pardon me,” Lacey said as she held the door open for the lady to enter.
“Thank you, young lady.” The woman toddled past, and Lacey exhaled slowly when the door closed behind her, her gaze flitting back to Jack. “Well, unless I plan on taking a summer job as BP doorman, I think I better scoot. Take care, Jack, and please tell your mom and sisters I’ll be in touch.”
The blue eyes all but burned into hers as he nodded, a shadow of a smile grazing his lips. “Will do.” Turning, he made his way to the door where the blonde with the perfect nails waited with a pout.
Lacey entered the restroom, numb while the door thudded hard behind her. Eyelids sinking closed, she sagged against the worn and peeling wood while she sucked in a sharp breath, fingers kneading the seeds of a headache in her temple.
“Dearie, are you all right? You look as if you’re about to be sick.”
Lacey’s eyes popped open. She managed a smile at the sweet, gray-haired lady who was blow-drying her hands. “I’m fine, thank you,” she said, ducking into the nearest stall. She slid the bolt closed and collapsed against the door, palms flat to the dirty beige steel while her eyes stared straight ahead. She swallowed hard.
Or will be in about two months.
Be sure to check out Julie Lessman’s Isle of Hope web page for celebrity lookalike pictures of Jack and Lacey and more excerpts, quotes, and reviews. Here’s the link:
To order Isle of Hope, Book 1 in the Isle of Hope Series, here’s the link:
Note from the Author
Although this is largely a work of fiction, two things are very real.
First, Isle of Hope, Georgia is not only a real place, it’s one of the most beautiful and historical locales in the United States. Located fifteen minutes from Savannah on a peninsula that becomes an island at high tide, Isle of Hope possesses a unique low-country charm along with a rich and vibrant history.
Almost a world apart from the continental U.S., Isle of Hope is a sleepy tidal island with a strong sense of community where picture-perfect cottages reside side-by-side with lush waterside manors and the historic Wormsloe Plantation. Dating back to the early 1700s, Wormsloe Plantation is the oldest of Georgia’s tidewater estates and has served as a military stronghold, plantation, country residence, farm, tourist attraction, and historic site.
With a unique Southern charm all its own, Isle of Hope’s seaside beauty and low-country allure has drawn moviemakers and photographers to its shores for years, boasting such films as the Oscar-winning
Glory
, the original
Cape Fear
,
The Last of the Belles
,
Forrest Gump
, and
The Last Song
. And, with a name like “Isle of Hope,” it was—for me—the perfect setting for a story of hope restored.
The second “real” thing about the Isle of Hope series is the estranged relationship between heroine Lacey Carmichael and her father, which purposely mirrors my own relationship with my dad. Although Lacey’s circumstances and mine are totally different, the bitterness and unforgiveness is much the same, as is the road to restoration for both Lacey and me, miraculously wrought through the unfailing love of Jesus Christ, truly a God of hope and healing.
I hope you enjoy Jack and Lacey’s story and that of the Carmichaels and O’Bryens, two families who had to learn—as I did—that the true “Isle of Hope” resides in the heart of a Savior Whose love never fails.
Hugs,
Julie Lessman
Author Bio
Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. A lover of all things Irish, she enjoys writing close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together.
Award-winning author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, and Heart of San Francisco series with Revell Publishing, Julie Lessman was named American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered 17 Romance Writers of America and other awards. Voted #1 Romance Author of the year in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie was also named on Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction list. Her latest novel, Surprised by Love, appeared on Family Fiction magazine’s list of Top Ten Novels of 2014, and her independent novel A Light in the Window is an International Digital Awards winner, a 2013 Readers' Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best Award winner. Julie has also written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets.
You can contact Julie and read excerpts from her books at
www.julielessman.com
, or through
Facebook
,
Twitter
,
Google Plus
, or
Pinterest
, as well as sign up for her
newsletter
. Check out Julie’s group blog,
The Seekers
,
Writers Digest
2013 and 2014 “Best 101 Websites for Writers,” and Julie’s own personal blog,
Journal Jots
, voted blog of the month in the Readers’ Choice poll of
Book Fun Magazine
.
Other Books by Julie Lessman
Following is a listing of Julie’s books, available in both paperback and e-book except for the novellas, which are e-book only.
Note
:
The links below are Amazon, but most of the following books (except all the novellas,
A Light in the Window
,
Isle of Hope
, and
Romance-ology 101
) are also available on Barnes & Noble, CBD, Deeper Shopping Christian Bookstore, Family Christian Stores, and Lifeway.
The Daughters of Boston Series
Book 1:
A Passion Most Pure
Book 2:
A Passion Redeemed
Book 3:
A Passion Denied
The Winds of Change Series
Book 1:
A Hope Undaunted
Book 2:
A Heart Revealed
Book 3:
A Love Surrendered
Prequel to The Daughters of Boston and Winds of Change Series
A Light in the Window: An Irish Love Story
The Heart of San Francisco Series
Book 1:
Love at Any Cost
Book 2:
Dare to Love Again
Book 3:
Surprised by Love
Novellas
Hope for the Holidays Historical Collection
With This Kiss Historical Collection
Home for Christmas Historical Christian Romance Collection
Writer’s Workbook
Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Inspirational and Sweet Markets
Prequel to Isle of Hope Series
Isle of Hope Series
Bookmark: Copyright
Published by Julie Lessman, LLC
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Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. To obtain permission to excerpt portions of the text, please contact the author through her website at
http://www.julielessman.com/contact-julie/
.
