Dancing with Fireflies

From the publisher:

Jade returns home to Chapel Springs after years of protecting her fragile heart. Then along comes Daniel, making her long to dance again.

Creative and complicated, Jade McKinley felt like a weed in a rose garden growing up in Chapel Springs. When she left, she thought she’d never look back. But now, pregnant, alone, and broke, she has no other choice but to return.

The mayor of Chapel Springs, Daniel Dawson, has been an honorary member of the McKinley family for years. While his own home life was almost non-existent, Daniel fit right into the boisterous McKinley family. He’s loved Jade for years, but she always saw him as a big brother. Now that she’s back, his feelings are stronger than ever.

As Jade attempts to settle in, nothing feels right. God seems far away, she’s hiding secrets from her family, and she’s strangely attracted to the man who’s always called her “squirt." Finding her way home may prove more difficult than she imagined.

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Denise Hunter has a way of pulling you into the story.  I easily fell into Jade's story and into the Chapel Springs settings.  Having read Denise Hunter's previous book in the series, and her novella in the wedding series I knew I would enjoy her writing.  I was not disappointed.  Readers of Barefoot Summer will be happy to see Beckett and Madison in this book and learning more about the McKinley family.  Each sibling has a story to tell and readers will want to read about all of them.

Jade is a flawed character but one that you want to cheer for.  Her struggles and desires for good, even when not realistic cause the reader to be rooting for her as she makes her way through the story. Reading about her choices and love for her unborn baby was very touching.

 Daniel is a solid and strong presence in the book and in Jade's life.  Readers will hurt for Daniel and be amazed at his selfless care.  Both characters have some challenges that they must face and this will keep you turning page after page.  I didn't feel rushed to read fast but the story just flowed from one page to the next.  I really enjoyed it. I only wish that there had been further development about both of their relationships with God.  The end of that seemed rushed to me. 

I would recommend this book to others.

I received this book free from BookLookBloggers in exchange for my honest review.