Sunday, June 9, 2013

Wishing on Willows Is a Stellar Sophomore Novel!

Wishing on Willows
by Katie Ganshert
Christian Fiction / Contemporary / Romance
Available March 2013
WaterBrook Multnomah
320 pages

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About the Book
Does a second chance at life and love always involve surrender?

A three-year old son, a struggling café, and fading memories are all Robin Price has left of her late husband. As the proud owner of Willow Tree Café in small town Peaks, Iowa,  she pours her heart into every muffin she bakes and espresso she pulls, thankful for the sense of purpose and community the work provides.
                                     
So when developer Ian McKay shows up in Peaks with plans to build condos where her café and a vital town ministry are located, she isn’t about to let go without a fight.

As stubborn as he is handsome, Ian won’t give up easily. His family’s business depends on his success in Peaks. But as Ian pushes to seal the deal, he wonders if he has met his match. Robin’s gracious spirit threatens to undo his resolve, especially when he discovers the beautiful widow harbors a grief that resonates with his own.

With polarized opinions forming all over town, business becomes unavoidably personal and Robin and Ian must decide whether to cling to the familiar or surrender their plans to the God of Second Chances.

My Thoughts
It's not often that I sit down and read books in a series or even just books by the same author back to back. I just like a little variety in my reading. However, about a week after reading Ganshert's debut novel, Wildflowers from Winter, I couldn't stand to wait any longer. I HAD to read Wishing on Willows. It was calling to me!

I was excited to learn that this book would indeed be Robin's story. After meeting her in Wildflowers from Winter—immediately following the unexpected death of her husband and following her surprise pregnancy, I almost felt like I needed some closure with Robin. And thankfully, Katie agreed and gave it to readers in Wishing on Willows! The story picks up three years later, and Robin's dream of owning a cafe is proving to be more difficult than she imagined. When Ian shows up and offers to buy it, everyone thinks she should sell. But selling her dream just isn't in the mix for Robin.

Again, the tension between the main characters crackles from the beginning. Ian and Robin seem like they would be great friends, but there's this huge elephant in the room whenever they're together. He wants to buy her cafe ... she doesn't want to sell ... and they're pitted against each other. Plus, they each have pretty tremendous baggage from their marriages. It was interesting to see how they worked through their individual grief. It was a good reminder that things cannot just continue on unsaid and undealt with (is that even a word?). Eventually, we have to deal with things and move on.

It was fun to reconnect with Bethany and Evan three years later as well. And Robin's son is a great addition to the book ... often providing a lighthearted moment when the tension or grief looks like it might get too intense. My fingers are crossed to read more about the Price family ... perhaps Amanda's story could be next?

Katie Ganshert's sophomore release was just as impressive as her debut. It seems I've found a new author to love. Now the big question is ... when will her next book be released?! [5 stars]

I received a free copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books program in exchange for my fair and honest review.

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About the Author
Katie Ganshert graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a degree in education, and worked as a fifth grade teacher for several years before staying home to write full-time. She was born and raised in the Midwest, where she lives with her husband and their young son. She is the author of Wildflowers from Winter.

Katie Ganshert Online
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