Wishing on Willows by Katie Ganshert

Several of my friends have been attacked by grief this past year. Buckets of tears have been shed for mothers, fathers, husbands, brothers, grandparents, and even a beloved pet or two. All are loved. All will be missed. None will be forgotten.

Due to the quantity of sorrow within my circle of friends, my heart felt a massive connection to Wishing on Willows, Katie Ganshert's poignant sequel to Wildflowers from Winter. This follow-up book gave voice to the ache in my heart I felt for my grieving friends, yet failed to find the proper words to express. I believe this novel to be an impactful tool to piece together broken hearts and shattered dreams in such a way as to renew your hope and refresh your outlook on life.

In Wishing on Willows, widowed Robin Price juggles a struggling cafe, a grief support group, and being a single mother to an energetic almost-four-year-old. As if her plate wasn't full enough already, attractive developer Ian McKay struts into town with plans to knock down her beloved Willow Tree Cafe -- which would demolish the dream she shared with her late husband -- and build condominiums in its place. As Robin fights to save her cafe and the integrity of her town, she finds herself battling a deeper, even more personal battle: grief. When everything piles up and towers over her, will Robin be victorious in sending the developer packing? Or will she discover that sometimes all we need is "a tangible reminder that God can bring sweetness in the midst of pain?" (Quote from page 75.)

If you find yourself in the throes of grief, Wishing on Willows might be just the story you need to boost your confidence in God's unfailing love. When we struggle with emotions we aren't equipped to understand, the Lord is there to wrap us up in a spiritual hug and whisper assurances that we do not have to face our rock-bottom moments alone. He is our Rock. We may lean on His strength when we have none of our own.

Wishing on Willows by Katie Ganshert will be available on March 19, 2013. To learn more about Katie Ganshert, please visit her website: www.katieganshert.com. You may read the first chapter of Wishing on Willows at http://www.scribd.com/doc/115630214/Wishing-on-Willows-by-Katie-Ganshert-Sneak-Peek

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.