When Valleys Bloom Again - JUSTREAD Blog Blitz
Welcome to the Blog Blitz & Giveaway for When Valleys Bloom Again by Pat Jeanne Davis, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: When Valleys Bloom AgainAuthor: Pat Jeanne Davis
Publisher: Elk Lake Publishing
Release Date: January 16, 2019
Genre: Historical Romance
As war approaches in 1939 Abby Stapleton’s safety is under threat. Her father, a British diplomat, insists she go back to America until the danger passes. Abby vows to return to her home in London—but where is home? With her family facing mortal danger so far away and feeling herself isolated, she finds it hard to pray or read the Bible. Did she leave God behind in war-torn London too? Then Abby becomes friendly with Jim, a gardener on her uncle’s estate.
Jim can’t get Abby out of his mind. Did she have a sweetheart in England? Was it foolish to think she’d consider him? He curses his poverty and the disgrace of his father’s desertion and drunkenness haunts him. Can he learn to believe in love for a lifetime and to hope for a happy marriage? Abby couldn’t know the war would last a long time, nor that she would fall in love with Jim—soon to be drafted by the U.S. Army—or that she’d have to confront Henri, a rejected suitor, determined by his lies to ruin her reputation and destroy her faith in God’s providence. Will she discover the true meaning of home?
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Christianbook
EXCERPT
June 1940
Abby’s
first year at Weston Teachers College over and classes out for the summer, she
again offered to help out in the greenhouse. She’d overlook Jim’s response to
her question two months ago on America joining the war and would work alongside
him. She found him in the potting area, a large red, white, and blue
handkerchief around his neck.
“I’m
glad you’re here,” Jim said, grinning. He gestured toward empty ceramic pots on
the ground. “I think we’ll tackle those, if that’s all right with you?”
Abby
flashed a quick smile. Did he remember his curt reply back in April and her
hasty departure afterwards? She squatted next to a jumble of ornamental
containers.
Jim
rummaged through them, then thrust his trowel into a bucket of thumb-sized
stones. “About two inches of these should do.” He tipped the stones into one of
the pots. “They provide slow drainage so the plant won’t dry out.” He crouched
beside her. “Then fill up the container with compost—your ‘muck’—and a little
top soil.”
Abby scooted to one side. Still he was
good at his job. “How much of each?”
“I’m
sorry, I forgot this is still new to you.” Jim moved in closer. “Half-and-half,
see? Put tall daisies in the back, red impatiens in the center, and lastly
along the outer edges of each container, the trailing begonias, petunias, and
nasturtium so they cascade down the sides.” Suiting action to words, Jim
completed one arrangement and set it beside her. “Use this as your guide,
leaving two to three inches between each plant.” He smiled. “If you have a
question, I’ll be nearby.”
As
she toiled, Abby sensed Jim’s eyes on her and tried to catch him at it. But
whenever she’d glance over, he’d look down at his hands and whistle, making a
game out of it and beating her every time. Then Jim set down his trowel and
strolled over, giving her one of those captivating smiles. “Off for the summer,
are you?”
Abby
nodded, focusing on the flowers in her hands. Please don’t come any nearer.
He
removed his hat and twirled it in his hands like the first day she saw him. “Is
college all you expected it to be?”
Abby’s
wall of indifference collapsed, and she gazed up into those intense blue eyes
below his dark eyebrows. “I’m looking forward to going back.” Her throat
tightened. “Still, sometimes I feel se-se-selfish. There’s so much I could be
doing at home for the war effort.”
Jim
rocked back. “Selfish?” His brow furrowed. “When you complete your training,
you’ll be teaching kids who’ll be future citizens.”
Abby—without breaking the lock of his
eyes—flinched, taken aback by his response.
“My
squirt sister with the big mouth says she wants to quit high school.” Jim
hunched beside her, lowering his voice. “And the older one who had great dreams
didn’t finish school.” He looked into the distance. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t go
on like that.”
Surprised
by his revelation, her cheeks grew warm.
“I’ll
probably be one of the first call-ups if we enter this war.” He stood and
swatted his hat against his thigh. “But until and if that happens my duty lies
at home.”
In
a flash of self-reproach, she understood. She’d misjudged him. His mother and
sisters needed him, and he doesn’t want to leave them. And what had he said
about his job, and how grateful he was to have it?
Jim
slapped his palms together to dislodge the dirt. “It’s none of my business, but
you might think about teaching on the estate during summer.” He plunged his hands into a watering can. “I
know some of your uncle’s staff have youngsters who could use help with their
schooling.”
How
clever he is. “That would never have occurred to me.”
Jim
bent to pick up a toppled container. “I must go. It’s trout season,” he said,
as if to explain the urgency of his mission.
Abby’s
stomach dropped as he strode off between the long rows of tables. She wished
he’d stay longer. When he headed back in her direction, her pulse quickened.
“You’re
doing fine here.” He grinned. “If you like, when I get back I’ll take you to
see the new bonsai collection.”
She
let out a breath. “Let me know when you return.” What was it about the young
gardener that stirred her senses?
Abby
craned her neck to keep him in view as he strode off. He opened the door to his
truck and glanced back. Their eyes met.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CONNECT WITH PAT: Website | Facebook | Instagram
TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive a $15 Amazon gift card!
Giveaway will begin at midnight April 13, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on April 20, 2020. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US mailing addresses only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Visit JustRead Tours for bonus giveaway entries!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
Comments
Post a Comment