When Love Returns: A Novel

When Love Returns by Kim Vogel Sawyer is the third book in the Zimmerman Restoration Trilogy. Cynthia Allgood had a baby when she was a teenager. The day after she gave birth she left the baby behind the Indianapolis Home for Unwed Mothers. Twenty years later her husband is giving her the opportunity to find her daughter. He has put down a retainer on Owen Mallory, a private investigator. Will finding her daughter be a good thing for Cynthia? Alexa Zimmerman is enjoying life in Arborville, Kansas with her mother (Suzanne), grandmother, and her other relations (she did not about her extended family until recently). But Alexa would like to know about her biological parents. Alexa decides to take a break during the slow season for the Grace Notes Bed and Breakfast (she started it on her grandmother’s farm). Alexa goes back to Indiana with Tom and Linda Denning (friends of Suzanne and Alexa’s who came to visit for Christmas). Will Alexa be able to find the answers she is seeking? Suzanne is staying in Arborville. She has decided not to go back to Indiana to her old life. She is happy to be back with her family. It is hard, though, being near the daughter she gave away especially with Anna Grace’s wedding approaching. Suzanne was forced (by her mother) to give up Anna Grace twenty years ago. Will Anna Grace ever want to know the truth about her birth parents? Suzanne spending more time with Paul Aldrich (her teenage love and the father of Anna Grace). Can they have a relationship? Suzanne will have to join the Old Order Mennonite faith in order to be with Paul. Is she willing to join the faith and is this what God wants for her? Will there be a happily ever after for Suzanne and Paul? When Love Returns is not a stand-alone novel. You need to read the first two books in The Zimmerman Restoration trilogy or you will not understand everything going on in the book. When Love Returns is well written and you will not want to put it down (I just loved it). I believe this was my favorite book out of all three of them. One thing I did not understand, though, is why Alexa was told that Suzanne was not her real mother (this is not a spoiler). Suzanne had a birth certificate for her daughter that lists her as mother. Why did Suzanne tell Alexa that she was not her daughter? I thought this was confusing. Another odd note is the information the private investigator obtains at the Indianapolis Home for Unwed Mothers. I do not believe he would be able to get this type of information (name of a former resident) by just talking with the director. Overall, When Love Returns is a page turner. It is a fitting end to the trilogy. I love how the author wrapped up all the story lines. I give When Love Returns 5 out of 5 stars. I received a complimentary copy of When Love Returns from Blogging for Books (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest review.