Carol Moncado

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.

I’ve enjoyed Denise Hunter’s books for quite some time and when I saw this one available to review, I jumped at it. I read the previous book, Barefoot Summer, and loved it. I was so glad to see Jade and Daniel back to have another shot.

Except Jade didn’t know it was another shot.

She’s just about the only one not in on the secret though, it seems.

Coming home, pregnant with no father in the picture (I won’t say why here), she needs support from someone outside of her close-knit family. Daniel is there, supporting her, quietly loving her,even before he knows the full story. I loved him and his desire to protect Jade at all costs, despite her pregnancy by another man.

A tale of reconciliation and forgiveness and understanding God’s plan isn’t ours but is always used for the greater good, Dancing with Fireflies is a story I’ll reread time and again.

Overall rating: 8.75 out of 10 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ecopy in exchange for my honest review.