REVIEW: Wishing on Willows by Katie Ganshert

Wishing on Willows
by Katie Ganshert
Publisher: Waterbrook Multnomah
Release Date: March 19, 2013
Genres: Christian, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 320
Buy at: Amazon
Add on: Goodreads
Find the author at: website

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.

Rating: ★★★★ (4 out of 5 stars)

Review:

Robin Price is a young widow and mother to three-year-old Caleb. She owns Willow Tree Cafe in small town Peaks, Iowa— it was her late husband’s and her dream to own a cafe. Then enters Ian McKay, a developer who intends to build condominiums…right where Robin’s cafe is. His father’s business depends on closing the deal and Ian is determined not to let his dad down. Robin is equally as determined to keep her cafe. Will Robin and Ian open their hearts to love? Or will they cling to the pain of the past?

I really enjoyed Wishing in Willows! It almost reminded me of a Hallmark movie with it’s cute characters and sweet story. It had a great setting, engaging writing style, well rounded characters, some good lessons, and a sweet love story. What more can you ask for?

The small town setting of Peaks was charming and added a lot to the story. The writing style was engaging. I liked the imaginative use of metaphors, insightful scenes from the past (like the flashbacks with Robin’s mom), and the funny dialogue. Katie Ganshert is very talented at creating characters who feel like real people! I could feel Robin and Ian’s pain. Amanda and Caleb made me laugh. Although I wasn’t literally familiar with the characters situations, I thought that the author did a great job of examining the universal questions that anyone who has been through anything tough or painful has to ask. Why did it happen? Where do I go from here? That pain and heartbreak can be turned into something beautiful with God. I think in all points of our lives we have to choose to let go and let God and that was the heart of the story. There was also a fantastic message about grace that made me think of it in a whole new way.

One thing I can say that I didn’t like about the book was the pacing. The beginning half of the book was a little too slow for me. I got bored at times and it took me longer to finish than expected. However, once I reached around the middle the last half went much quicker and the story progressed wonderfully. Another thing I also would have appreciated was an epilogue. I really wanted just a little bit more…I thought it ended way too abruptly.

Overall a sweet story of letting go and letting God, I recommend Wishing on Willows for all contemporary romance lovers! This book was sweet, uplifting, entertaining, heart-breaking, and full of hope.

What have been some of your favorite contemporary reads so far this year? Are you a fan of Katie Ganshert’s novels?