Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway || A Wish on Gardenia Street by Shelley Shepard Gray

A Wish on Gardenia Street: An Amish Brides of Pinecraft Novella

by Shelley Shepard Gray
Series: Superlatives (#3)

Release date: July 28th 2015
Publisher: Avon Inspire

Genres: Contemporary, romance

Age category: Young Adult
No. of pages:  352 pages (kindle edition)
ASIN: B00O6606OE

          After Beverly closed the door, Mattie looked around the space again. The attic room held three beds, each decorated in bright shades of pink and purple. Two windows covered in sheer white curtains let in a wide expanse of light, brightening an already cheerful room. On one side of the room was a full bathroom along with a small closet and some pegs on which to hang her dresses.

          Then there was her favorite part of the room: a lovely window seat where she, Sara, and Leona had lounged and watched the world go by two stories below them.

          Wanting to enjoy her first moments to the fullest, Mattie sat down on the cushion and gazed out at the people who walked by just in case she spied anyone she knew. Soon, however, it became apparent that her attention wasn’t focused on the people but the bright day outside. The June sky was a clear blue, and it seemed as if every home and business owner on Gardenia Street had taken pains to grow the most beautiful flowers. Purple periwinkles, red geraniums, and pansies of every color imaginable decorated walks and pails and terracotta pots on most every front porch.

          The neighbors across the way had out a lovely set of white wicker furniture. A lady and a fluffy white poodle were sitting on an oversized chair, looking so perfect, it was as if they were posing for pictures.

          Soon, with God’s help, Mattie was sure that she, too, would be making her home here in sunny Sarasota. Maybe one day she’d have an expansive front porch, too. She could laze about with a good book while waiting for her husband to come home in the evenings. Later, they could sip on iced tea together as they watched the tourists pass by. Eventually she’d be taking care of her kinner, raising them under warm, sunny skies.

          She was just about to drift into that vision when she saw Leona approaching the front walkway. Mattie tore out of the room, raced down the steps, and burst out of the front door just as Leona was about to knock.

          “We’re together again!” she cried as she gave Leona a fierce hug.

          “I’m so happy to see you,” Leona said as she wrapped her arms around her tightly.

          “It feels like it’s been forever instead of just weeks since we’ve seen each other.”
Leona nodded. “Somehow the distance seems greater when we’re hundreds of miles apart.”
As they turned and walked up the stairs, Mattie nodded. “I canna tell you the number of times I ached to tell you something but you haven’t been around.”

          “At least you still have Sara.”

          “At least.” However, Mattie wasn’t sure what was going on with Sara anymore. Their last trip had put more distance between the three of them than mere miles. Sara now seemed more content to spend all her extra time reading, cooking, and sewing. She had also begun to volunteer at a local nursery for young children. All of those things were pleasurable pursuits, to be sure. But they were far from Mattie’s chosen list of fun activities.

          Though Sara had no doubt not wanted to be sick, Mattie privately thought that she’d seemed rather relieved to have an excuse not to venture back down to Pinecraft.