LOVE'S FIRST BLOOM by Delia Parr

Ruth Livingston thinks her father will change his mind before he sends her away, with Lily an 18 month old, the daughter of  murdered prostitute, Rosalie Peale.  Her father, Reverend Livingstone tells her she can keep her given name, but she is to become Ruth Malloy, a young widow, whose  husband died in New York City, and now her time of mourning has ended.   He was sending her to Elias and Phanaby Garner, who would introduce her as a distant relative.

Shortly after her arrival in Toms River New Jersey, word reaches her that her father has been arrested and is being tried for Rosalie's murder.  Then she reads in the papers that they are looking for Ruth to see if she has run away with evidence that her father was a murderer. 

Between hiding from reporters, and caring for a small mischevious child, she is quite stressed, and Phanaby suggests she work in the garden across the river, at an abandoned cabin.  But, turns out the cabin is now occupied, by an injured man, Jake Spencer, who tells her she can continue with the flower garden.

Her father is acquitted of the murder, and she thinks she can soon go home, but people still say he is guilty, and shortly afterward, her father passes away, and she is left an orphan, with an orphan, who is not her child but she has come to love, to raise.  And if she admits she is Ruth Livingstone, someone will take Lily from her,  Reporters constantly show up in the area, looking for her story, so she continues to hide.  She begins to fall for Jake, but then finds out he is a reporter, and is he just after a story?  Or does he really care for her?

Delia Parr has written a very compelling story, and I really enjoyed it. 
I recieved this book from Bethany House to read and review.  No other compensation was recieved. 
All opinions expressed here are my own.