The Wishing Bridge

by Viola Shipman

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Making choices, be it good or bad, are a part of life. In making those choices, bridges sometimes get burnt. However, healing, forgiveness and love makes it possible for the repair of these bridges; a fact that Henrietta Wegner will discover in The Wishing Bridge.

The Wishing Bridge is my second time reading a Viola Shipman book. Having enjoyed The Secret of Snow, I looked forward to experiencing Shipman's latest release.

The story introduces Henrietta Wegner (Henri) a fiercely competitive Mergers and Acquisitions manager. Prior to an impressive career in the field of Mergers and Acquisitions, Henri helped out in the Wegner's Christmas store. A store owned and operated by her family. Despite her love for family and traditions, she didn't see herself dedicating the rest of her life to running the family owned store. Obtaining a college degree would be her passport to bigger things. After graduation, she left Frankenmuth, Michigan for Detroit.

Several years later, after making a name for herself in the field, she recognizes that her former assistant was seeking to take her job. So in order to preserve her job, she offered to convince her father to sell the family business to a company that had their sights set on acquiring the store. So after years of not returning home, she heads to Frankenmuth. She hopes to close what would be the biggest deal of her career.

It took me some time to get into the story, not because it wasn't good but due to the actions of Henri. I had a difficult time warming up to her. Now, I am all for one pursuing their dreams, but not at the expense of family. Henri literally abandoned her family. She never returned home since her graduation from college. The fact she chose to do so now under false pretences made it hard for me to like her. Despite my struggles with Henri, the story kept me entertained. I kept waiting for the moment her lies would blow up in her face. Her struggles with guilt over the real reason for her return home aided in changing my view of her. It made me glad to see that in the face of all her lies she re-discovered the true spirit of Christmas.

The story portrayed on the pages of The Wishing Bridge is one of second chances. Not only did Henri get a second chance with her family, she got one with the guy she left behind. While the romance was not the main focus, it delivered sweet and heart-warming moments.

Overall, The Wishing Bridge delivered a story which portrayed the importance of family. A story about healing, forgiveness and second chances.

This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading