He lives and breathes expressive art.
She has no time for his type of fluff.
A struggling artist tries to get his recycled mixed-media art pieces displayed at a local art gallery now run by the owner’s daughter who has zero appreciation for his folk art.
Formerly the prequel, Ask You Later is the new Book 1 in USA Today bestselling author Jan Thompson’s Savannah Sweethearts series of sweet, clean, wholesome, and inspirational multiethnic contemporary Christian romances celebrating faith, hope, and love in Jesus Christ. These stories are set in the coastal city of Savannah, Georgia, and on the beaches of Tybee Island by the Atlantic Ocean.
Sophie’s Sentiments…
A freelance technical writer who writes obscure user guides that nobody reads and engineering manuals for little-used heavy machinery, Sophie Kowalski’s career is filled with black ink on white paper, legalese and technical stuff that few people care about—except for proofreaders and publishers.
When her dad has a nasty fall outside his art gallery and breaks his leg in several places, Sophie is forced to run Simon’s Gallery for a couple of months while Dad recovers from his unfortunate accident.
The first thing Sophie does is remove what she considers “junk art” in the art gallery and cancel several exhibitions by lesser-known artists, replacing them with more famous works that showcase clean lines and minimalism…
Leon’s Legacy…
A poor and struggling mixed-media local artist, Leonardo “Leon” Watts thinks he has finally turned a corner in his career when Simon Kowalski of the reputable Simon’s Gallery on River Street decides to display his recycled sculptures that showcase everyday life.
That is, before Simon tumbles on the cobblestones, ends up in the hospital, and takes two months off to recover. Standing in Leon’s way is Simon’s daughter, Sophie, now running the gallery however she wants and in whichever way she pleases.
She says that Leon’s displays are “garbage” and shouldn’t see the light of day. Well, technically, he only uses discarded materials he finds in junkyards and recycling centers…
Still, who is she to judge his art?
When Leon decides to educate that unimaginative Sophie on the value of his brand of everyman artwork, he gets more than he is prepared to handle, as his heart begins to express itself in unexpected ways…
Tropes and Theme:
- Enemies to Friends to More
- Opposites Attract
- Art Gallery Romance
- Career Struggles
- Folk Artist, Sculptor
- Artist versus Non-Artist
- Family Relationships: Father-Daughter, Father-Son
- Past Hurts & Scars
- Grief, Loss, Healing
- Afraid to Commit
- Tortured Hero
- Small Coastal City