MUSE MONDAY
Please join me in welcoming Jennifer Vido to Discover... She has a great post for Muse Monday on the inspiration for her sweet romance.
Serendipity by the Sea
Will her wanderlust ex-boyfriend’s return allow a hopeless romantic a second chance at love?
Cate Ainsworth is poised to land her dream job when an ex-boyfriend—the guy she once loved who left town without explanation—returns to their Lowcountry hometown. Their long-denied attraction tugs her in a new direction, but will she risk everything for a second chance at love?
A freelance photographer,
Knox Price seeks adventure, not commitment. Back in town to care for his uncle
gets complicated when he crosses paths with Cate, igniting a spark he can’t
ignore. But can he confess the truth about why he walked away?
The inspiration behind the Gull Island series came from a family vacation to Fripp Island, South Carolina. As a frequent visitor to coastal Carolina, I am fond of the Lowcountry, especially the people who call it home. Fripp Island is a small barrier island, rich with natural beauty and history—the perfect backdrop for my fictional town, Gull Island. My childhood experiences growing up on the Jersey Shore filled in any missing blanks about living near the sea.
The importance of community is the common thread weaving the Gull Island stories together. The series consists of three novels: Serendipity by the Sea, Serenity by the Sea, and Simplicity by the Sea. These standalone books are interconnected with recurring characters, familiar faces searching for their happily-ever-afters. The series features three strong women, each at a crossroads in life, both at work and in love.
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like Gull Island—where kindness is the heartbeat of the community. When I visited Fripp Island, I was struck by the island’s warm hospitality and how locals seamlessly interacted with visitors, sharing the island’s history and natural beauty. Gull Island has a story, including historical landmarks and meeting places where the locals like to gather. Each of the three books introduces the reader to a different part of the island, providing a glimpse into Lowcountry living at its best.
Cate maneuvered into the parking lot adjacent to the main road, jumped out of her car, and headed for the employee golf carts used as a means to get around the grounds. Taking the first available, she hurled the little cart in the direction of Guest Services. Whizzing past beachgoers sporting island T-shirts, she spied customers coming out of Novel Ideas, the island’s long-standing, secondhand bookstore.
Slowing at the curve in front of Island Scoop, Cate wished for a cool treat to reward her sweet tooth. The strong aroma of steaming coffee alerted her to a few visitors coming out of The Wise Owl, sipping cups of morning brew. Blocking her view, they strolled along the path toward the boardwalk. Their telltale bronzed skin and relaxed demeanor signaled the end of their stay. Cate couldn’t blame them for wanting to linger, but she was in a hurry.
When
they finally set out, she zipped her cart into the only open parking spot. Cate
entered the building and scooted by the buzzing groups now congregating in
front of the shiny Guest Services counter, careful not to make eye contact. She
shifted her belongings to cover up her navy polo embroidered with the Gull
Island insignia to ward off unwanted conversation until she could get settled
and prepared to offer assistance.
Links:
Serendipity by the Sea
Jennifer
Vido is the author of Serendipity by the
Sea, the first book in the new Gull Island sweet romance series set in the
Lowcountry. An avid booklover, she interviews bestselling authors in her Jen’s Jewels weekly column on
FreshFiction.com. A longtime Arthritis Foundation advocate, she’s been featured
by Lifetime Television, The New York Times, The Baltimore Sun, Redbook,
and Arthritis Today. Recently, she
was named a finalist in the Best Local Author category in Baltimore Magazine’s
2023 Best of Baltimore Readers’ Poll. Currently, she serves as the executive
director for a legal non-profit in her community. A Maryland resident, she and
her husband are the proud parents of two grown sons, two rescue dogs, and a
finicky calico cat.
Author Links:
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