About the Book

Book: A Season at the Grand

Author: Sherri Wilson Johnson

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: May 9, 2023

Can the perfect picture reveal the truth before it’s too late?

Photographer Amelia Harris has had enough of her aunts’ meddling matchmaking. So when The Photographic Times commissions her to spend the summer on Mobile Bay taking portraits of the elite and capturing nature for penny postcards, Amelia happily accepts. But this job is not as simple as it appears, and Amelia must defend against naysayers if she’s to ever gain respect in a man’s world. And that doesn’t leave any room for romance.

Point Clear Resort General Manager Titus Overton never wanted the position he inherited when his cousin passed away. If it were up to him, he would be traveling with the Audubon Society to far-off places, enjoying the solitude of nature instead of providing relaxation for his guests. And now he has to deal with the big-city photographer stomping her way through sand dunes that house the migratory birds nesting there. But when she reveals an admiration for his feathered friends, it reawakens a longing in his heart he’d buried after the death of his fiancé.

When threats arise against Amelia and the other resort guests, Titus knows he must step in to help. But she insists they trust God for deliverance. How can he turn to a God who took away his first beloved?

As the danger closes in, he must find the courage to overcome his past before someone gets hurt—especially the woman he’s come to love.

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About the Author

Sherri Wilson Johnson is an Inspirational Romance novelist, graphic designer and lover of all things book related. She’s always been a sucker for a good love story—whether it’s real life or fiction (both historical and contemporary). Completing her first novel at the age of eighteen, and later burning the only copy in the fireplace, she continued learning the craft of writing and now writes Contemporary Romantic Suspense and Historical Romance with a splash of suspense and/or mystery. When not writing, she’s usually assisting other publishing professionals or helping authors realize their dreams of becoming published. Sherri and her husband are empty-nesters and live in Georgia with their two dogs. She loves spending time with family, vacationing at the beach, curling up with a good book or working on her current work-in-progress. She dreams of a second home on some beach somewhere some day, where she can plot and write romantically suspenseful novels.

More from Sherri

A Season at the Grand is set in Point Clear, Alabama on Mobile Bay, because it is one of my favorite vacation spots. I adore sitting on the dock and watching dolphins while birds of all types fly overhead. I am always inspired by the ocean, and many stories have come out of my time in the Mobile Bay area.

Point Clear is also the setting of my novella, Bayside Betrayal, which also involves the Grand Hotel but under a fictitious name. Bayside Betrayal is the launching story of my Jeopardized Reunions series, which is a series filled with contemporary reunion romantic suspense stories. Why am I telling you about this series? Well, book five, which I am writing now, holds a special attachment to A Season at the Grand because one of the characters is a descendent of the couple in the story. I’m so attached to this setting that I think I may have to keep writing stories set there for years to come. I hope you’ll check out A Season at the Grand and my other books too.

I’d love it if you’d follow me on social media and join my subscriber list. I’m always excited to hear from readers!

MY REVIEW

This has been a very enjoyable book to read with a bit of intrigue, romance and faith blended to make a story that will keep you glued to the story. I really liked getting to know Amelia and her ambition to be a photographer which was almost unheard of during this time period. The mindset for some were that women should be at home and not out working a job meant for men. Her determination to succeed is guided by her strong faith. She is kind but also will stand up for what is right. Her journey takes her to a beautiful resort where adventure awaits her.

Titus is the general manger of the resort and attends to his guests needs with grace and careful attention. He is not completely happy with his job because he really wants to be out there in nature where he feels peace. He has struggled with his faith for awhile and also isn’t sure he could ever commit to a woman again. Tragedy has taken his joy and he is bitter at times with God.

I liked how he and Amelia don’t hit it off right away because it leads to some moments where trust will come into play. The author slowly develops a relationship between the two which for me was just the right amount of time span so it wasn’t focused all on them getting together.

I didn’t expect the danger in the story at all but the author does a great job of exposing how racism still existed during this time period. One man is against anything that takes away from his wealth and he will stop at nothing to get his agenda approved by others. It is a reminder that greed and pride follow each other as threats start coming at not only Amelia but other guests as well.

The ending was not without tragedy as a man’s need for revenge is taken out on people at the resort. We witness a true hero as Titus steps up to protect Amelia and others at the resort. But for me the best part of the entire story is when Titus has a talk with God. I could feel his joy return and the bitterness he has lived with so long disappear. When Amelia explains certain scriptures to him, I loved how the author shows that it is never too late to ask for forgiveness.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.