My Review of Where the Dogwoods Bloom

Here's a description of the book from Heartsong Presents: "Jilly Gardner left home ten years ago with a broken heart, determined never to return. But the ache in her heart has never healed, and when Cam Lane calls to ask for her help...she finds she can't say no. Cam doesn't know what came between Jilly and her foster family, but he feels it's time she set things straight. But how can Cam address the unforgiveness in his friends' lives when his own is paralyzed with self-inflicted guilt and shame? Will Cam and Jilly ever realize that unconditional, forgiving love comes only from God the Father, whose mercies are new each morning?"

My Rating: Spring/Summer

My Review:

If you're looking for a sweet romance with a great message about forgiveness--look no further than Where the Dogwoods Bloom! Johnson's writing is engaging, and the settings and situations she puts together are quite unique. The two main characters have a lot of growing to do throughout the book, and it's a rather arduous journey at times, but the moments of humor and romance keep the story flowing and maintain the reader's interest.

I loved the details about the Inn, and a lot of the other places in the book (even the hospital!). Johnson made it easy to visualize what was going on throughout the pages. There was even a little bit of suspense thrown in there, which helped the romance along nicely, to my way of thinking!

All in all, the characters had their charms and flaws, and I enjoyed getting to know them and learn with them. This story is a great, quick read that's just right for a summer day (or two or three, depending on how fast you read!).

*With thanks to Casey and Myra Johnson (the author) for my copy of the book, which I won @ Operation Encourage an Author. Be sure to check out this great blog if you haven't already!*