MY REVIEW:
Although the title of this book is The First Gardener, Jeremiah Williams’ actual role in it is a subtle one. Primarily a story about Tennessee governor Gray London, his wife McKenzie, and the tragedies that threaten to destroy them. His own heart nearly broken, Jeremiah sets about in his own deliberate manner to minister to the family as they struggle with their grief and depression. The basic story is told in third person and Jeremiah’s side of the story is narrated in first person.
The First Gardener is a deviation from earlier books I’ve read by this author. The depth of emotions described in most of the story would be overwhelming if not for some comic relief by Eugenia and her quirky band of sidekicks. Jeremiah’s character adds a steady voice of faith and wisdom.
As a life-long Tennessee resident, I enjoyed the author’s descriptions of the governor’s mansion and nearby Franklin. I would also love to have a governor who seemed to care as much about his state as Gray London. Our new governor is still a somewhat unknown quantity to me so I won’t judge him just yet. I also enjoyed learning the meanings of different flowers.
I can’t say I totally enjoyed this story. It is just too brutally heart breaking to imagine that kind of loss. But as always, I enjoyed the way Denise has with words and characters as she makes them step off the page.
This book was provided for review by The Tyndale Blog Network.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Jeremiah Williams has been tending the gardens of the Tennessee governor’s mansion for over twenty-five years. And like most first families who have come and gone, this one has stolen his heart.
Mackenzie and her husband, Governor Gray London, have struggled for ten years to have a child and are now enjoying a sweet season of life—anticipating the coming reelection and sending their precious daughter, Maddie, off to kindergarten—when a tragedy tears their world apart. As the entire state mourns, Mackenzie falls into a grief that threatens to swallow her whole.
Though his heart is also broken, Jeremiah realizes that his gift of gardening is about far more than pulling weeds and planting flowers. It’s about tending hearts as well. As he uses the tools that have been placed in his hands, he gently begins to cultivate the hard soil of Mackenzie’s heart, hoping to help her realize what it took him years to discover.
A Southern tale of loss, love, and living, The First Gardner reminds us that all of life is a gift, but our heart is the most valuable gift of all.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Denise Hildreth Jones has spent the last six years writing fiction that has been hailed as both “smart and witty.” Her ability to express the heart of the Southern voice has led to her being featured twice in Southern Living and receiving the accolades of readers and reviewers alike, but it is the simple joy of writing stories that keeps them coming. Her previous books include the Savannah series, Flies on the Butter, The Will of Wisteria, Hurricanes in Paradise, The First Gardener, and Flying Solo.
Denise makes her home in Franklin, Tennessee, with her husband, five bonus children, and two dogs. And on her days off, she will settle for a long walk or a good book and a Coca-Cola.
Visit Denise’s website at www.denisehildrethjones.com.
