Song of Sugar Sands

by Debra Coleman Jete

 

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GENRE:   Romance

 

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BLURB:

 

A deeply committed young man falls in love with the beautiful but troubled Acadia, who knows herself too selfish, too sinful, and too skeptical in her faith to marry a preacher.

Acadia Powers nearly lost her faith at an early age due to what she saw as the hypocrisy of her parents’ generation. In college—where the novel begins—she meets and falls in love with Peter O’Neil, who is fervent in his faith and wants to share the good news with the world.  Despite serious doubts about her ability to survive as a preacher’s wife, Acadia finally agrees to marry Peter. The two embark with high hopes on a new life in Sugar Sands, Alabama, where Acadia takes a position as a high school teacher while Peter becomes pastor of a small church. SONG OF SUGAR SANDS recounts Acadia’s struggle to come to terms with issues of faith, while also telling the story of Peter and Acadia’s falling in love and the traumatic first year of their marriage. When one of her students attempts suicide after confiding her problems in Acadia, and a new friend and mentor, Beatrice Wood, reveals that she has terminal cancer, Acadia almost quits.  Can she reach deep enough inside, or beyond herself, to find what she needs to keep on trying, or has she made too many mistakes already?

EXCERPT:

Malibu, California

 

My acne finally cleared up about the time I started college. By junior year, I had come into myself, into my comfort zone so to speak, and was having the time of my life. Or so I told myself. Then I met Peter. Something about him jarred me out of this zone so completely that, try as I might, I simply could not find my way back.

 

The first time I saw him, I was at an off-campus party. Bored, I looked around for a cute guy to talk to. With his long blonde hair, intense green eyes, and especially the way he laughed—as if all the joy of the universe radiated from him—he certainly fit the bill.

 

I made my way across the room toward him. The record player blasted “We are the Champions” by Queen. Pretty coeds in miniskirts and wedge-heeled boots or knee socks were everywhere. Peter was absorbed in conversation with a classmate of mine named Greg and paid me no attention as I edged into his path of vision.

 

I’d recently learned the power of eye contact, having gained enough self-confidence to take risks—once my acne cleared up. Today, though, not only Peter, but Greg as well, seemed oblivious to my approach.

 

 

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REVIEW

4.5 stars

Acadia "Cadi" is a college student. Peter is studying to be a preacher. These two meet at a college party and hit it off immediately! However, they are complete opposites right down to their religious views. Will these two be able to overcome all their differences and can Cadi be a good preachers wife?

I like the connection that Cadi & Peter had right from the start. I also thought that although the were so both different it brought out something good in each other. Their differences also created a bit of intensity and guessing where they were headed next. Even the supporting characters had such a strong impact on me. I thought the story was interesting with full of emotions that I felt like I was on a rollercoaster with all the ups and downs and highs and lows. This is a new author for me and I look forward to reading more.

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

A Professor Emerita at Vanderbilt University, Debra Coleman Jeter has published in popular magazines, including Working Woman, New Woman, Self, Home Life, Savvy, Christian Woman, and American Baby. Her first novel, The Ticket, was a finalist in two categories for a Selah Award. Her short story, “Recovery,” won first prize in a competition sponsored by Christian Woman; and her book “Pshaw, It’s Me Grandson” was a finalist in the USA Book News Awards. She is a co-writer of the screenplay for Jess + Moss, a feature film which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, screened at nearly forty film festivals around the world, and captured several international awards.

 

She loves to be in the water—whether snorkeling, water skiing, boogie boarding, or just floating around—which may explain the setting for her newest series. Her family suspects her of being selkie. The Sugar Sands novels are set in a small beach community in LA (lower Alabama). Each book in the series stands alone.

 

The Amazon page:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/1941103863/

Author website:  www.debracolemanjeter.com

Author blog: http://www.debracolemanjeter.com/blog

Guest Blog on Pushing Boundaries: http://freshfiction.com/page.php?id=7259

https://www.pinterest.com/njjeter/the-ticket-a-novel/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard

https://twitter.com/DebColemanJeter

Info on Song of Sugar Sands http://askdavid.com/reviews/book/christian-romance/17332 

links to info on all Jeter’s books http://askdavid.com/books/18723

 

This book is on sale for only $0.99.

 

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Debra Coleman Jetter will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Enter to win a $10 Amazon/BN GC - a Rafflecopter giveaway