When Hope Blossoms by Kim Vogel Sawyer - a book review

This book is about a young Mennonite family who has recently lost their father.  Amy, the mom, decides it would be better for her three children to make a fresh start in a new place.  The house they settle in is next door to an apple orchard owned by a former Mennonite.  He does not like to be reminded of his upbringing and is not pleased to have them next door.  The author draws us into the characters showing us the good traits and the not so good ones.  I especially liked the way she captured the teenaged daughter's attitude.  As the story progresses, we learn that Amy and her family are not the only ones who have suffered loss and heartache, and we are shown how each person deals with it differently.  I found this story a little slow moving but still a tender and touching one. 

From the publisher's website:

"Amy Knackstedt hopes a new start in Weaverly, Kansas, will help heal the pain of losing her husband and provide a better future for her three children. But her new neighbor, Tim Roper, is not pleased to have an Old Order Mennonite family living next to his apple orchard. Tim left the Mennonite faith years ago and doesn't want any reminders of his former life.
Yet when circumstances throw Amy and Tim together, they form a friendship that surprises them both. Will past hurts always be a barrier between them, or will this tentative relationship blossom into something more?"

I received a complimentary copy of this book from BethanyHouse through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”