The First Gardener

This has to be one of the saddest yet encouraging books I've read in a long time. Governor Gray London and his wife Mackenzie struggled for ten years to get pregnant, and their little girl, Maddie, now five, is the center of their world. When tragedy strikes, they lose their faith and their way. Can the gardener remind them  that no matter how dark the winter is, spring will come?

This story will tear at your heart. The first tragedy happens, and just when you think Mack and Gray will have a break from the hurt, another tragedy strikes. And the messy aftermath is handled perfectly by Jones, who does a wonderful job capturing her characters, from the depressed Mack to the quirky old ladies who add laughter to balance the tears. 

The characters are developed slowly but deeply, and my favorite of all is Jeremiah, the old gardener, who loves the London family and ministers to them faithfully through flowers. The twist at the end regarding Jeremiah brought tears to my eyes, and the theme that God owes us nothing and each thing we have is a blessing straight from Him is one that will stay with me.

Although this book is a switch from her fun Savannah series, this is a book I recommend to any reader...fans of both Christian fiction and those who just like a good story.