A three-year-old son, a struggling cafe and fading memories are all Robin Price has left of her late husband. As the proud owner of Will Tree Cafe 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 cafe 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:
I read Ganshert's first book Wildflowers for Winter and really enjoyed it. It was a great first novel and so I knew as soon as I heard that she was writing a second book that it was another I would need to read. Robin is in Ganshert's first novel too as a more minor character, so it is nice to see her story unfold in Wishing on Willows. It is easy to feel sympathy for Robin, a widow with a young son and a cafe owner in a small town. You don't want to see her lose her business when she has already lost something so precious and seems like such a good person. When Ian comes to town, looking to develop property, and win the approval of his father, at first it feels like you don't want him to win. As the book goes on and you learn a little more about Ian's own personal life and struggles and can quickly start to see him develop feelings for Robin, you definitely are rooting for him as well. Wishing on Willows is a great story. It allows us a glimpse into the life of someone suffering the greif of losing a spouse, that many of us can only imagine and how to come to grips with maybe feeling attracted to someone else and having to deal with those emotions. I really enjoyed this novel and thought it was a great sophomore effort from Ganshert. I already find myself looking forward to another book in this series!
About the Author:
Katie Ganshert graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a degree in education. She 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.
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*Disclosure- I received an advanced reader's copy of Wishing on Willows in hopes that I might mention it on my blog. All opinions stated are 100% my own.
The plot is really interesting. I'll be intrigued to see how it is all resolved, if Ian will get his condos and if Robin will keep her shop. Great review Cristi!
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