Join me today as I welcome friend, author, and blogger Susan G Mathis as she shares about her upcoming release.

About Julia’s Joy:

When Julia Collins reluctantly sets foot on Sister Island, compelled by her wealthy grandmother's will, she is intent on claiming her inheritance and moving on. But when she experiences the peaceful, faith-filled island life, and connects with the handsome lightkeeper, William, Julia finds herself confronting her open wounds from her parents' deaths.

William Dodge, lightkeeper of Sister Island, harbors a heart hardened by a past betrayal. Between that and his chronic pleurisy, he wants nothing to do with love. But when Julia arrives on the island bursting with vitality and unconventional notions, William's world is turned upside down. As she chips away at the walls William has built for himself, he finds his reluctance waning.

But just as love begins to blossom between them, Julia is faced with a tempting proposal from a prominent Brockville family. Will she succumb to societal expectations or choose the richness of her island life and the love of the steadfast lightkeeper?

Here’s an excerpt from Julia’s Joy:

Inspired by the tranquility of the moment and determined to depict the lighthouse at sunset, Julia gathered her art supplies and made her way to an eastern spot on the island. From here, she could capture the lighthouse and the western sunset. The early-evening sun kissed the shores of Sister Island, radiating on the landscape. A symphony of bird calls, lapping waves, and buzzing insects filled the air, a familiar melody to accompany and inspire her artistic endeavors.

The river breeze carried whispers of tales untold as Julia dipped her brush into the palette, her heart beating to the ebb and flow of the breakers crashing against the rocky shore. The lighthouse held secrets etched into its weathered exterior, bathed in shades of the slowly setting sun, and she would do her best to capture each one.

Julia’s hands trembled with anticipation and reverence as she sketched the silhouette of Sister Island Lighthouse. The canvas lay before her like a blank chapter waiting to be written. Each stroke was like a waltz between the brush and the page, a hushed conversation with the lighthouse she’d come to love.

When did that happen? She wasn’t sure, but she’d contemplate that later.

The sky, now ablaze with the fiery farewell of the sun, embodied her growing feelings about its lightkeeper. The small flame he’d sparked in her was quickly becoming a burning fire, prompting her to reevaluate everything in her life.

Beautiful, but scary too.

William emerged from the cottage and made his way toward her, but she stayed deeply engrossed in capturing the enchanting sight of the setting sun spilling its luxurious beams on the river and lighthouse before the light faded. Lost in the moment, she barely acknowledged his presence.

“Good evening, Gingersnap.” William’s voice carried a touch of regret. “Sorry I can’t join you, but duty calls, you know. Perhaps we can create side by side under the bright light of day.”

Julia smiled, confirming his words with a nod but maintaining her dedication to the painting. “I understand, William. Truly.”

“May I take a peek, please?”

“Certainly.” She paused her brushstrokes. “Though I fear I’ll struggle to capture the splendor of this evening before the light bids its farewell.”

William slipped quietly behind her, then gasped as he took in her work in progress. “Texture galore. I can almost feel the waves and the setting sun. Glorious, Julia. Just glorious!”

In his enthusiasm, he touched her shoulder, his proximity emphasizing their shared appreciation for the art unfolding before them. His breath tickled her ear as he leaned closer and whispered, “Don’t stop. Don’t ever stop.”

With those words, he swiftly retreated to the cottage, leaving her quivering from his accolades. Minutes later, light exploded across the water, scattering an ethereal glow on the river and affirming the magic of that fleeting moment.

She lost herself in the process, each brushstroke a meditation on the grandeur that surrounded her. Her senses came alive as the wind carried the musky scent of the river, and the distant call of seagulls added a serenade to her artistic refrain unfolding on the art.

Julia scrambled to capture the essence of Sister Island—the way twilight played upon the weathered stones, the delicate waltz of seagulls in the air, and the quiet strength that emanated from the lighthouse itself. She captured her connection to the lighthouse in an unexpected moment that brought tears to her eyes.

Once this summer was gone…she’d never be the same.

About Susan:

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands, her childhood stomping ground in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than thirty times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has thirteen in her fiction line including, The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy, Christmas Charity, Katelyn’s Choice, Devyn’s Dilemma, Sara’s Surprise, Reagan’s Reward, Colleen’s Confession, Peyton’s Promise, Rachel’s Reunion, Mary’s Moment, A Summer at Thousand Island House, Libby’s Lighthouse, and Julia’s Joy, the second in her three-book lighthouse series. Her book awards include three Illumination Book Awards, four American Fiction Awards, three Indie Excellence Book Awards, five Literary Titan Book Awards, two Golden Scroll Awards, and a Selah Award. Susan is also a published author of two premarital books, two children’s picture books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published articles. Susan makes her home in Northern Virginia and enjoys traveling around the world but returns each summer to enjoy the Thousand Islands. Visit www.SusanGMathis.com/fiction for more.

Where can people find you online?

Susan’s website: https://www.susangmathis.com/fiction-books

Buy links: Amazon | Barnes&Nobles | Wild Heart Books

Social media links: Website |Author Central |  Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Instagram| Goodreads l Book Bub| Pinterest | 

Julia’s Joy book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq7XLUohjrA