About the Book

Jillian Matthews is a widowed mom and owner of a dance studio in a small farming community. When her husband died nine years ago in the desert of the Middle East, a piece of her died as well and she lost all joy in the day to day blessings. Tiny dancers and her daughter, Katie, are her main focus until an old flame, Michael Emerson, waltzes back into her life, awakening things she thought dead and gone.

Dr. Michael Emerson told himself he was happy with his bachelorhood after a messy divorce. He thought his life as an ER doctor and yearly missions work left no room for a wife and family. When tragedy strikes and he is left with an unforeseen situation, he must evaluate his life and make some major changes.

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My Thoughts

Childhood and high school sweetheart stories are some of my favorites and this one is also set in a small rural community, double yay! Jillian and Michael have each picked up quite a bit of baggage over the years but I enjoyed watching them attempt to keep their relationship as just friends despite that old spark of attraction.

Jillian has put herself in permanent survival mode since becoming a widow and single mother. She must feel like she’s constantly treading water as her life revolves around her daughter and dance studio. I adore Jillian’s dance students, such a sweet, tight-knit group of girls.

Michael has been traveling the world and saving lives in emergency medicine but now he’s faced with new motivation to settle down in his hometown with his own practice. Y’all are going to love the small community and the willingness of folks to help one another. Michael and Jillian have such a touching and sweet story.

My thanks to the author for the opportunity to read and review this title as part of the Celebrate Lit tour.

About the Author

Melissa Wardwell I am an independently published author of Christian romance.
I wear many hats from one day to the next. I am a devoted wife, basketball and dance mother, teacher, taxi service, friend, caregiver, daughter, sister, and now, published author. Seeing all that is enough to make my head spin. But more importantly, I am the Daughter of the Most High King.

I was raised in and still reside in a little farm town in Mid- Michigan called Corunna. It’s quiet and simple, just the way I like it. If I can’t live out in the country among the corn fields and trees then living in this small town works for me. My husband and I have been together since high school and have 3 children, all of whom we homeschool. It has been quite the journey, but I couldn’t ask for a better life.

I decided to give writing a try because I needed something to occupy my down time, but after reading my first draft of my first book, What God Brings Together, I then understood that God had a much bigger plan. God does not give His children a desire just so that it can go to waste. I never anticipated the journey God would put me on through writing, but I am excited to see what He has in mind for the future.

I have always felt a call to reach out to women and mothers, to encourage them in their lives. So naturally, all my stories revolve around women who are mothers: single mothers, widowed mothers, young mothers, married mothers, and even women who have a mother’s heart but no children of her own.

My greatest hope is that each story touches your heart, gives you hope, or just gives you a moment away from the chaos of life. Lord, knows we have earned it.