Camille Gardner is trapped in the middle when a unique Southern town collides with the “outside world” and big oil.

A talented negotiator, Camille Gardner agrees to take on one last field assignment for her uncle before she settles down to pursue her real passion—working at an art gallery. But she’d rather be anywhere than Samford, Louisiana, the small southern town where she once spent the worst weeks of her life.

To fulfill the obligation she feels to her uncle, Camille needs to entice a group of rural landowners to sell their mineral rights—and allow use of their precious water for the drilling of natural gas. Instead, she finds herself drawn to the local folk art created by those same landowners and attracted to Marsh Cameron, the attorney representing the landowners.

The charming residents and the traditions of this small community leave Camille conflicted about her family obligations—and her own plans for the future. Perhaps she needs to give Samford a second chance.

“Christie populates her story with a varied cast of Southern small-town characters. Her tendency for unresolved suspense is occasionally unsettling, but, overall, her stories have enough warmth and humor to keep her readers coming back for more.” — CBA Retailers + Resources

Sweet Olive