Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Sweet Rivals by Kari Trumbo

May 01, 2022

Book: Sweet Rivals

Author: Kari Trumbo

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: March 29, 2022

Fay is about to lose her business…

…to the only guy she’s ever thought might be good for her.

Fay Ravven has spent years building a floral business on Mimosa Island. Too bad a chain florist has moved in right down the street. As her business wanes, she realizes her rival is none other than Corbin Lowel, the very man who swept her heart away at her friend’s wedding.

Corbin knows he’s not good enough for Fay. His friends remind him all the time that, as a florist, he’s not really man enough for anyone. That doesn’t stop him from stepping out of his comfort zone and going to Fay’s store to see if she remembers him. That’s when he discovers that his business is killing hers.

What are rivals to do when they can’t stop thinking about each other? Plan the flowers for someone else’s wedding, of course.

When Corbin and Fay must see each other and work together, will they dive through their pain and reach for the stars? Or will the roses be too prickly for two hurt hearts?

Read the next Sparrow Island novel in the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.

The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

Click here to get your copy!

I have fallen in LOVE with the Independence Islands series. I have read several of the books. One thing I especially like is that each book in the the series is written by a variety of authors, but all the books flow together nicely. We are heading to Sparrow Island in Sweet Rivals by Kari Trumbo.

Fay Ravven has a thriving Floral Business and has spent many years building her business to the success it has. She gets frustrated when a well known Chain Florist moves in down the street and her business takes a financial hit. Fay gets even more frustrated when she realizes the Owner of the new Florist in town is Corbin Lowel, a gentleman she became attracted to when attending a Friend's Wedding. Corbin's friends have told him that he isn't "man enough" for a relationship and he believes them. He does wander down to Fay's Florist shop to reintroduce himself. He is disinheartened to learn that his Florist shop is taking business away from Fay's established Florist shop. The pair decide to work together in doing the floral designs for a local Wedding. Will Fay and Corbin be able to work together for the good of both Floral Shops? Will there be a Romantic Connection between Corbin and Fay or just a friendship?

WOW, I think just might one of the BEST I have read in the Independence Islands Series. I am not even one who enjoys flowers at all, but I really enjoyed reading about the Florist Business. Fay is such a STRONG and Independent woman who has reached success in her Small Town Florist Shop. I LOVE how she is open to pairing with Corbin instead of battling him. Corbin has self esteem issues, but the encouragement and friendship with Fay helps him tremendously. The book is faith based and I saw much of that throughout the book with the theme of "God's Will is Greater then our Plan". I really enjoyed this book from start to finish! GREAT BOOK! I highly recommend it for anyone who likes Christian Fiction Romance.

Kari writes swoony heroes and places that become characters with detail and heart.
Her favorite place to write about is the place her heart lives, (even if she doesn’t) South Dakota.

Kari loves reading, listening to contemporary Christian music, singing when no one’s listening, and curling up near the wood stove when winter hits. She makes her home in central Minnesota, land of frigid toes and mosquitoes the size of compact cars, with her husband of over twenty years. They have two daughters, two sons, one cat, and one hungry wood stove.

More from Kari

Nudge from the Almighty or personal desire?

Sometimes what we should do is as clear as mud. When I first felt the call to write, I worried that it was a “me” thing. I worried that the nudge that I felt was for my own glory. It didn’t matter that I felt the desire to write Christian fiction. We can do all the things we think are right and still be in the wrong place according to God’s will.

When I literally felt captive to the idea of writing—like, I couldn’t move forward without doing something about it—then I finally considered that perhaps this was God’s will and not just me wanting something. But it took years of the Holy Spirit prodding me before I ever acted.

Fay is like that. She starts her flower business certain she is doing the will of God and it helps that she really wants it too. But she works so hard, putting in so many hours, that she forgets about why she started it and it becomes all work for her own glory. Her business.

Enter Corbin, a really sweet guy who is in the wrong place at the wrong time and is used by God to nudge Fay away from her idol and into a deeper relationship. He’s a rival flower shop owner, and the only guy she’s ever felt a connection to. Which makes for some pretty interesting dialogue for the two of them.

Fact is, none of us likes to hear that our desire—especially when we think we’re doing the right thing—is wrong. No one ever wants loving correction by a Heavenly Father who cares about us deeply. We’re supposed to get it right.

Fay has to find out if it’s her business that’s getting in the way of her relationship or if it’s really a heart issue. I hope you’ll enjoy finding out along with her.

Kari