Book Review: Restoring Love by Dawn Kinzer
Sometimes it takes more than hard work and determination to fix matters of the heart. When Hannah Bloom moves to Dogwood Creek, Tennessee, she’s determined to bring a fresh perspective to Candlescents, her Aunt Vicki’s struggling candle shop. Her happy childhood summers there fostered her deep love of creating pleasant, healing scents that evoke warm emotions and memories for others. Since she has no viable backup plan, Hannah prays her ideas breathe new life into the shop.
If Wyatt Stone can’t live up to his father’s expectations of joining the family legacy of professional, classical musicians, maybe he can earn the stubborn man’s respect. Skilled as a carpenter and passionate about working with his hands, Wyatt moves to Dogwood Creek to train with a master luthier who restores valuable stringed instruments. First, he must prove he has the patience and talent to perform the job well.
As shop neighbors, Hannah and Wyatt frequently cross paths. When he agrees to help with an important project in her store, spending time together is inevitable. Drawn to one another, their feelings begin to blossom amid unexpected challenges. Doing what’s right can sometimes be costly. Will they be able to overcome the daunting obstacles that stand in the way of their happily ever after?
Small-town charm and rediscovered dreams are always in season in Dogwood Creek, Tennessee.
This is the fifth installment of the Dogwood Creek Matchmakers series, and Dawn Kinzer’s first visit to the fictional town as the author. Hopefully, you have read the series, featuring Lori Soard, JoAnn Durgin, and Lisa Prysock. My novella is up next in November, Clean Sweep. You can read these as standalones, but I hope you don’t. Every author and book has brought Dogwood Creek and their lovely residents to brilliant, small-town life.
Dawn Kinzer and Restoring Love is no exception. This time we meet Hannah, a sweet woman about to turn thirty. She helps her Aunt Vicki run Candlescents, and Hannah has great ideas to make the most of the store, candles, and space. Hannah is simply adorable, and I love the friendship she shares with Lauren, a matchmaker who runs the flower shop.
Wyatt Stone is a presence right off the bat. He’s new to Dogwood Creek as an apprentice for the town luthier, and their store is next to Candlescents. Although Wyatt is a gifted musician, his passion is more about restoring precious instruments, something that disappoints his demanding father to no end.
As the commercial neighbors interact, sparks of affection fly between Wyatt and Hannah. Hannah notes he keeps his distance when any talk about his family happens. As Wyatt agrees to help Hannah with Candlescents, an emergency sends him back to his hometown. Can Wyatt overcome the past and nail together a future with Hannah?
I turned the pages fast to find out, I was engrossed in this story. Dawn evoked tears when Wyatt faced his dad and a chance at reconciliation. The romance between Wyatt and Hannah was a sweet build, the kind that when the book is done makes you want to lay the book against your chest and sigh. It’s a well-done story with strong secondary characters like Aunt Vicki, Lauren, Aaron, and Merritt Stone.
My hope is you light a candle, shut off the world around you, and enjoy Restoring Love. I sure did.
