Magnolia Storms

By Janet W. Ferguson

Description:

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?

Book Takeaway:

What my character learned, and I did, too, is that God’s still there with us through the storm. He’s still in control.
He’s with us in the pain. He’s there to lean on, or He carries us through if we can no longer stand. He’s with us through other people, a touch, a meal, a phone call. Blessings rain down on us every minute of every day in the little things.

Awards:

Why the author wrote this book:

Prayer's answers can come with a resounding yes, a miracle even. The healing comes, the storm passes over our home, or a relationship is restored.
Other times, we pound on the doors of heaven, day after day, and our cries seem to go unanswered. Our child is still sick, our relationship still broken, the storm destroys.
And we are disappointed.
I’ve been there. Maybe you have, too.
I wanted, perhaps needed, to write a story that explores this disappointment. Was there an answer from God to my prayers? Don’t get me wrong. I believe He’s there. But what do I do with the hurt and sadness when life spirals out of my control? How do I reconcile those feelings?
So I did what writers do. I dug into that emotion—searched for answers for my characters and for myself.
Hurricane Katrina destroyed a large part of my beloved state of Mississippi in 2005. My character's prayers weren't answered, so that was the basis for this book.