Wildflowers from Winter by Katie Ganshert

Wildflowers from Winter is the debut novel from author Katie Ganshert and what a welcome addition it is to the world of Christian fiction. Bethany Quinn escapes life and scrutiny in the small town she grew up in and begins to build the life she always wanted in Chicago. After a series of kinks in her plans she ends up back in the place she swore she'd never return to. Well written and thought provoking, this novel deals with hurts and heartache and points the reader to the healer of hearts. Very good book, one that anyone who's ever been hurt by a church or ministry leader should read.

From the back cover:
A young architect at a prestigious Chicago firm, Bethany Quinn has built the life she dreamed of during her trailer park teen years. An unexpected call from her estranged mother reveals that tragedy has struck in her hometown and a reluctant Bethany is called back to rural Iowa.

Determined to pay her respects to her past while avoiding any emotional entanglements, she vows not to stay long. The unexpected inheritance of five hundred acres of farmland and a startling turn of events in Chicago forces Bethany to come up with a new plan.

Handsome farmhand Evan Price has taken care of the Quinn farm for years. When Bethany is left the land, Evan must fight her decisions to realize his own dreams. But even as he disagrees with Bethany's vision, Evan feels drawn to her and the pain she keep so carefully locked away.

For Bethany, making peace with her past and the God of her childhood doesn't seem like the path to freedom. Is letting go the only way to new life, love, and a peace that she's not even sure exists?

This book was provided for review by Blogging for Books (Waterbrook/Multnomah).