Maggie Marovich couldn’t save her father or her home from Hurricane Katrina, but she’s dedicated her life to meteorology so she can warn others when the monster storms approach. Except…she works three hours inland and rarely risks returning to her childhood hometown of Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Both her single-parent sister and the ship pilot Maggie once loved refused to leave the Coast, … despite Maggie’s requests. Now a hurricane’s headed toward Mississippi, and Maggie’s sister is seriously injured, leaving Maggie little choice but to head south—into the storm.
The water and tides flow through Josh Bergeron’s veins, and he can’t imagine giving up piloting—even for the love of his life, the infuriating Magnolia Marovich. He tried to move on without her, marrying and having a child. But after his wife abandons him and his little boy, his career choice is threatened by the weight of his parental responsibilities. Moving next door to Maggie’s sister and sharing their child care seems like the perfect set-up. Until Maggie blows back into town.
Being forced to lean on Josh for help washes up the wreckage in Maggie’s faith. Where was God during the destruction of Katrina? Why do some prayers seem to go unanswered? Between the hurricane looming in the Gulf and another gale raging in her heart, can Maggie overcome her past and find the trust to truly live?
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This is my favorite book yet of this author! Definitely a great story and characters you’ll love right away. The story is especially timely with all the people affected by hurricanes lately. Great example of hope!
Janet W. Ferguson
Perfect Storm – A Masterpiece!
“O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Magnolia reminds me of Peter when storms happen in her life.
We can all become so fixated on the problems around us that we lose sight of our Savior standing beside us. I’ve been encouraged by this story! A reminder that God is in control, He is my anchor and He will not let me drown.
Incredible writing and narration!!!
Maggie Marovich left home years ago because she could stand to take the chance of loosing everything she has, again, by a hurricane. But when the call comes that her sister has been in an accident, she is forced to go back to the coast. Back to her sister, niece and aunt. Back to the love of her life, the one who picked piloting over her. And to find out Josh is living next door to her sister, Maggie knows she has to leave as soon as possible, convincing her family to come with her.
I really enjoyed this book and I enjoyed these characters. Of course my favorite is J.D.! He is just too adorable, who couldn’t love him? The emotions between Josh and Maggie run high throughout the story, both of them seem to still have feelings for each other. But can it work, or are they both still so stubborn neither will change?
I also like the strong encouragement to live the christian life that is throughout the book, as well as the scripture given in times that is needed. And this is not in a preachy way, it’s very subtle and nicely done.
This is my first from this author and I’m looking for more from Janet W. Ferguson. And the was a Blind review from JustRead Tours, which was a lot if fun and a new way to meet new author’s and I love it!
A copy of this book was given to me by the author or publisher. I am not required to write a positive review. The opinions here in this review are totally mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Good read.
Though it took me a while to warm up to main character Maggie, I ended up enjoying this sweet story of second-chance love. My favorite characters are the adorable JD and the resilient Aunt Ruth.
Through this story, the author also provides a moving tribute to all those impacted by Hurricane Katrina, as well as the concept of learning to move past life’s bitterest disappointments and continue living.
Looking forward to continuing the Coastal Hearts series!
5 things from Magnolia Storms
by Janet W. Ferguson
1) Meteorologist, Magnolia Marovich, left the Gulf Coast when Hurricane Katrina took her father and her dreams. She returns only when her sister has had a dire emergency.
2) Josh Burgeron is a ship pilot specializing in dangerous rescues and Maggie’s first love.
3) J.D., Josh’s adorable son, steals Maggie’s heart before Josh does.
4) A storm that rips away Maggie’s safety and control, and forces her into the arms of God.
5) At the mercy of the violent seas he’d fail, but at the mercy of a good God he had a chance to get himself and a few thousand vacationers through water and
to safety.
This was my first book by this author. I enjoyed the characters and their real situations. Old sweethearts learning why they were so good together before and learning to trust each other again. I listened on Audiobook. And looked forward to doing
chores so I could listen more.
I enjoyed this audiobook, narrated by Connie Shabshab. It is a story of overcoming fears, embracing faith, and healing relationships. I loved the characters, vulnerable, yet strong and resilient. Set in the South, with storms heading their way, Josh and Maggie begin to realize they just might be able to weather them together. Magnolia Storms is a captivating contemporary romance and I look forward to reading more in the Coastal Hearts series by author Janet Ferguson. I was given a complimentary copy of the book and not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.
With Hurricane Dorian bearing down on the Bahamas as a Cat 5 this Labor Day weekend, I decided to finish reading this emotional novel of devastation, hope, and love.
The author skillfully achieves a sense of foreboding from the very beginning. Hero and Gulf Coast river bar pilot Josh Bergeron attempts to board a cargo ship in rough water and his foot slips off of the rung of the metal ladder. I am mostly a detective story reader and/or action-adventure. The most exciting parts of this novel for me were Josh’s scenes out on tumultuous seas.
Later in the story, we learn that heroine Maggie Marovich’s father, also a bar pilot and Josh’s mentor was swept away and lost during Hurricane Katrina. She left the Gulf Coast, never to return, but now her sister Cammie’s horrid accident and hospitalization forces Maggie back to their childhood home as another hurricane looms.
As a Christian reader, I appreciated the Bible verse that kept repeating: “Though he slay me, yet I will trust in Him.” Job 13:15
All of the characters were highly likeable and well developed in this emotional romance story. I’m not a romance reader and didn’t absolutely and totally fall into their lives. My favorite character was Aunt Ruth. I do recommend this novel to romance readers who enjoy a realistic, exciting clean read.
True love at the end!
Enjoyed this book so much will probably reread in the future!
Great characters who grow and develop through the story and as their relationship evolves.
I loved this book. I actually lived on the coast during Hurricane Katrina, so everything in the book really struck home with me. Can’t wait to read more from this author!
I found this book interesting. It is amazing how people can see the same situation in different ways.
Pretty basic real life story.
Magnolia Storms by Janet W. Ferguson
A Coastal Hearts Novel Book One
Magnolia “Maggie” Marovich had much taken from her when the unladylike Katrina passed through their Mississippi town. Since then, maybe it was Maggie who took more from herself when she moved further inland. Leaving behind her family, her love, and perhaps even some of her faith.
Josh Bergeron loved being a bar pilot. Guiding ships to safety. Saving lives. Knowing he had to stay safe because another life depended on him. After Katrina, he had chosen this life over love. The past was behind him and he had moved forward. Staying in the place he loved even after it had been so destroyed.
When Maggie’s sister has a freak accident…Maggie has to make a choice. Will she go back to the Coast and help her family—or will the storm that is brewing keep her away? She knows she only has one choice. To face her fears and return…even if she’s driving into the eye of a storm that could take more from her.
https://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/2016/04/book-list-for-janet-ferguson.html
I won a copy of this book from the author and was not required to give a favorable review. This is the first book that I have read written by Janet and look forward to reading more. This book touched on so much of how loss and devistation can change people. Magnolia lost her father and her home because of Hurricane Katrina, and then her mother to cancer. Her father was a Ship Pilot and was lost at seas during the hurricane, then she lost her mother to cancer. She decided she was going to be a metrerologist to help save other families from loss. But her sister, niece and aunt decided to stay in her home town along the Mississippi coast. She also loss her best friend & first love Josh because he followed in her fathers footsteps in being a boat pilot. She didn’t want to live on the coast, he didn’t want to give up his career. But fate brings them together again. She is watching another storm and then gets a call from her niece, her sister has been in an accident and is injured. She drives down to help because with her sister in the hospital her 10 years niece and 80 year old aunt need help. But she doesn’t know that the love of her life is living in the house next door and her sister is taking care of his 3 old little boy. With the possibility of not walking again, Maggie decides she needs to be there for family. Josh races home to find out that Maggie is home and has met his son. They now that still love it each other but bad decision earlier hurt. Can they find that love again and make a go of it. And will Maggie’s sister heal. This is a wonderful Christian novel and look forward to reading other books.
I didn’t finish this book as I felt it just dragged on and on. Characters were not very advanced in personalities.