Love's first bloom by Delia Parr

Life changes drastically for Ruth the day her father puts a young child in her arms and sends her under an assumed name to a small village in New Jersey, where she dutifully awaits Reverend Livingstone's acquittal. When tragic events transpire, Ruth finds solace tending a garden along the banks of Toms River. It is here she meets Jake Spencer, who both frustrates and intrigues her. Ruth knows she must maintain her identity as Widow Malloy. Can the tenuous affection between Ruth and Jake withstand the secrets that separate them?

Thanks to Bethany House for providing a copy for review through the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance.

If you're looking for heart-pounding romance, this isn't it. If you're looking for a fast, easy read, this isn't it. It's a drama with unexpected depths and some parts that just make you hurt for the heroine. It took a while to get into the story, but once I was hooked it was hard to put down, and the last half of the book is excellent. The romance is mostly on the side and Ruth tries to make a new life for herself and her adopted daughter in a small town that may or may not reject her when they hear the whispers about her supposed past.

I felt sympathy for Jake from the beginning, but I certainly can't say I liked him right away. He's been a ruthless fellow in the past and has lots of room for growth, but what lies ahead will test him to the fullest. He comes under false pretenses but soon feels pricked in his conscience.

I love seeing characters grow and blossom in stories. And Parr makes it quite clear that their growth is because of their faith.