MY REVIEW:
Wow! Katie Ganshert impressed me with her first novel “Wildflowers From Winter” and I became a forever fan. “Wishing on Willows” has reaffirmed my first impression and I know I will continue to keep my eyes open for any new book that Katie deems to write.
Katie’s characters are real and honest and she isn’t afraid to show all their human frailties whether good or bad. Emotions run high but are not over-the-top at all. I found it easy to relate to the characters and felt like they were my friends before the final chapter. I think I could enjoy living in the town of Peaks. I met Robin in “Wildflowers From Winter” and I am so happy I got to read the rest of her story. She and her husband had dreamed of opening a cafe together. I had to admire her tenacity in following through to make their dream a reality and her willingness to fight to keep it open. I also liked Ian whose determination to do his job rivaled Robin’s resolve to keep her business open. Their interactions kept the story interesting and although I knew how the story would end, I kept rooting for their relationship throughout.
I find it difficult to describe how much I loved this book and fear that if I continue I will commit that grave offense of giving away too much. Take my advice – if you haven’t read anything by Katie Ganshert, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of both novels.
This book was provided for review by Thomas Nelson Publisher’s BookSneeze program.
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.
Read an excerpt from Wishing on Willows HERE.
Praise for Wishing on Willows
“Have you ever been through a painful season in life and wished for something new, something fresh, or even something healing to come along? Take this journey with Robin Price, a widow and single mother with a big heart and passion for those closest to her, as she wades through trying to live, let go, and love again. Wishing on Willows is a story of hope that will find you stepping up to the willow tree and daring to make wishes.”
—Cheryl McKay, coauthor of Never the Bride and author of Finally the Bride: Finding Hope While Waiting
“What I’ve come to admire about Katie Ganshert’s writing is how skillfully and compassionately she creates memorable characters and weaves into their lives authentic struggles. From the very first line, “The first time I lost my
husband…,” to the last line, “The whispered words came without fear or guilt or hesitation,” we are given the gifts of grieving and letting go told with humor; realistic trials; characters I want to go on telling their stories; and the
longings of the human heart. This is a fine, fine novel.”
—Jane Kirkpatrick, New York Times best-selling author of Where Lilacs Still Bloom
“Just like a willow tree, Wishing on Willows evokes grace, humility, and beauty. A well-penned story of sacrifice, second chances, and love, Ganshert’s second novel is as poignant as her first. This is a must-read for any reader seeking to find comfort beneath their own proverbial willow.”
—Betsy St. Amant, author of Addison Blakely: Confessions of a PK
“In Wishing on Willows, Katie Ganshert delicately weaves together a story of healing and renewed hope. Will young widow Robin Price choose to fight for what she had or to relinquish the past for the chance to love again? Ganshert deftly writes of grief and wounds that leave us shattered, pointing her characters—and her readers—to the One who provides the strength to embrace life again.”
—Beth K. Vogt, author of Wish You Were Here and Catch a Falling Star
“Katie Ganshert’s Wishing on Willows is rich in symbolism but as down-to-earth as its Midwestern heroine, a young widow juggling the roles of single mom, business owner, and ministry volunteer. I was thoroughly drawn into her changing seasons of love and loss, memory and hope. Like a May basket left at a neighbor’s door, this is a generous story filled with charm and surprises.”
—Meg Moseley, author of When Sparrows Fall“Katie Ganshert has created an interesting cast of characters that are likable yet flawed. Fans of inspirational romance are sure to enjoy this novel.”
—Kathryn Cushman, author of Almost Amish
“Katie Ganshert is a fresh and powerful new voice in contemporary Christian romance. Her writing wraps itself around your heartstrings and refuses to let go.”
—Erica Vetsch, author of A Bride’s Portrait of Dodge City, Kansas
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.
