Sneak Peek at GENTLE LIKE THE RAIN by JoAnn Durgin

“I take it you’re the store manager?”

“Yes. I’m also the owner.”

Sidney’s brows lifted with obvious surprise. “Impressive. You seem fairly young to be the owner.”

“Thanks, I guess.” Fairly young? She’d gotten the same reaction when she’d first moved to town. Maybe she should consider dressing a little older, a bit more professionally. Still, this was a store with hardwood floors, ceiling fans, dust bunnies, and an unfortunate hint of mildew she’d need to seek out and eradicate. Her T-shirts, cotton tops, jeans, and shorts allowed her to climb ladders, scrub and clean, sort through stock in the backroom, and run around the store with freedom. Besides, she’d had enough of high heels and power suits in Hartford to last a lifetime.

“I meant that as a compliment.” Sidney’s comment broke into her musing.

“My aunt and uncle opened the store back in the mid-70s,” she told him. “Uncle Phil died a few years ago, and then a little over a year ago, Aunt Clara retired and sold the business to me. She still lives in Evergreen and pops in on occasion to help out.”

“Did you grow up around here? I’m not detecting the accent.”

“No. I grew up in California and ended up in Hartford before coming here.”

“How long did you live in Hartford?”

She hesitated. “Why do I feel like I’m a defendant on the witness stand?”

“I’m sorry, Isabella.” Sidney’s cheeks flushed, and he had the grace to lower his gaze.

“Since I finished school,” she said. He didn’t need to know details.

“I guess I’m trying to figure out why someone would purposely—”

“Move to a little no-name town like Evergreen, Maine?” Isabella leveled her gaze on him. “Because after actively pursuing the corporate dream, I woke up to the fact that taking care of my soul was more important than padding my bank account. Not that my path is for everyone, but it’s what I needed to do.”

About Gentle Like the Rain

(Sequel to Heart’s Design by JoAnn Durgin)

Isabella Caccavale’s stable life plunges into a tailspin after she buys her aunt’s general store in Evergreen, Maine. When “runaway” lawyer Sidney Prescott roars into town, he jump-starts her wounded heart. Will Sidney find what he seeks in quaint little Evergreen or will he take Isabella’s heart with him when he returns to Boston?

From JoAnn:

In Heart’s Design, heroine Caroline Prescott’s eldest brother, Sidney, was mentioned but never made an appearance. When I was invited to contribute a book to the Whispers of Love project, I began to contemplate sharing Sidney’s journey. Driven to succeed his entire life, he’s a man burdened with high expectations and recent loss. In small-town Maine, Sidney encounters intriguing individuals who impact his life in unforgettable ways. While Gentle Like the Rain is primarily a love story between a man and a woman, it is also the story of one man’s journey in finding the immeasurable grace, mercy, and love in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

About JoAnn Durgin

JoAnn Durgin is the author of the beloved contemporary Christian romance series, The Lewis Legacy Series, including Prelude, the prequel to the series. Her other novels include the Amazon bestselling Catching Serenity, Heart’s Design (the forerunner of Gentle Like the Rain), Love So Amazing and Love So Divine (The Wondrous Love Series, Books 1 and 2), Perchance to Dream, Echoes of Edinburgh, and the popular Starlight Christmas Series. JoAnn loves to hear from her readers! Please feel free to contact her: Website: http://joanndurgin.com or Facebook: http://facebook.com/authorjoanndurgin

Read Gentle Like the Rain in Whispers of Love! Pre-order now for Kindle, Kobo, Nook, and iBooks.