Driftwood Dreams

Josie Slater has allowed the circumstances anchoring her in Sunset Cove to become a life sentence. Since her mother’s death years before, she’s spent most of her waking hours helping her dad run the Driftwood Diner. As her best friends, Opal and Sophia, make their dreams come true, Josie watches her own art school aspirations drift on by. But when a French-speaking Southern gentleman from her past moves back from Europe, Josie is launched into a tizzy of what-ifs and I-sure-do-hope-sos.

August Bradford left Sunset Cove six years ago to sow some life oats and conquer his ambitious career goals. Finally ready to lay down some roots, the successful artist is back in town and determined to win Josie’s heart. When he enlists Josie’s help in the preparations for a children’s art camp, Josie finds herself unleashing her artistic side in a way she hasn’t since before her mother’s death. August hopes to convince Josie to paint a life with him, but the problem is convincing her to let go of her apprehensions and give him—and her dreams—a fair chance.

My thoughts: Let me say, this story is the perfect summer read! Okay, the perfect anytime read, but the cover screams "pick me up and take me to the beach" to me. lol. 

This story is delightful. I enjoyed the characters and could relate to Josie, a young woman who has put her dreams on hold to help her father run his restaurant. I could relate to her working for a family business (though, I don't feel like I put my life on hold to work in my family bakery, since it was what I enjoyed) and feeling responsible for her dad after losing her mom. And August. He is such a wonderful, swoon worthy  hero! 

This book is such a beautiful story to pick up, any time of the year. 

I received this book from Celebrate Lit. This is my honest review.

Purchase a copy here! This post contains affiliate links.

About the Author

Tonya “T.I.” Lowe is a native of coastal South Carolina. She attended Coastal Carolina University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where she majored in Psychology but excelled in Creative Writing. In 2014, Tonya independently published her first novel, Lulu’s Café, which quickly became a bestseller. Now the author of 12 published novels with hundreds of thousands of copies sold, she knows she’s just getting started and has many more stories to tell. She resides near Myrtle Beach with her family.

 

 

 

 

Read an Excerpt

Josie’s reverie came to a screeching halt as the screen door squeaked open and ushered in not only a briny breeze, but also a vision from her past.

With a pronounced air of confidence, August Bradford walked over to the counter and halted in front of a dazed Josie. Her heart jolted at the sight of him, something only this man could elicit. He spoke—or at least his lips moved—but she couldn’t hear anything over the roar suddenly residing in her eardrums.

The Knitting Club’s table kicked up in volume, sounding like a bunch of hens clucking away, but there was no focusing on what they were clucking about either. She knew the answer anyway and had a feeling their timing wasn’t coincidental. All Josie could do was just stand there and stare, as if looking into his silvery-blue eyes had turned her to stone. With a hint of purple near the center, those uniquely hued eyes were made to belong to an artist such as August Bradford. The thick fringe of black eyelashes only emphasized their beauty. It was enough to spawn jealousy in Josie, her own fair lashes barely visible, but it didn’t. It only tempted her to stand there and stare unabashedly. Mouth agape, that’s exactly what she did.

“Are you okay?” A throaty voice penetrated the roar in her ears as a hand waved in front of her face.

Oh, my . . . that voice . . .

The words simply wouldn’t come—only pitiful squeaks of breaths escaped—so Josie did the only thing to come to mind. She hightailed it into the kitchen.

 

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 27

The Power of Words, May 27

Batya’s Bits, May 28

CarpeDiem, May 28

Through the Fire Blogs, May 29

Back Porch Reads , May 29

Livin’ Lit, May 30

Hallie Reads, May 30

Adventure of a Travelers Wife, May 31

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 31

She Lives To Read, June 1

Soulfully Romantic, June 1

Remembrancy, June 2

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, June 2

Texas Book-aholic, June 3

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 3

Just the Write Escape, June 4

deb’s Book Review, June 4

Inklings and notions, June 5

For Him and My Family, June 6

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 6

Artistic Nobody, June 7 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Simple Harvest Reads, June 7 (Guest review from Joni Truex)

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 8

Daysong Reflections, June 8

Cultivating Us , June 9

Pause for Tales, June 9

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, T.I. is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 gift certificate to the bookstore of his or her choice and one copy of Driftwood Dreams!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/fd05/driftwood-dreams-celebration-tour-giveaway