Wishing on Buttercups by Miralee Ferrell

Overview: Can Love Survive When Secrets Collide? 

She’d kept her secrets safely hidden—those from her past, and those in the present. Some things, Beth Roberts knows, a lady simply doesn’t share, even in the 1880’s West. The townspeople would never understand. No one ever has.

Jeffery Tucker, a handsome young writer, has kept his own secrets. He doesn’t have a right to pry into Beth’s affairs but finds himself strangely drawn to her and intrigued by the whiff of mystery surrounding her.

Beth knows that one day someone will unravel the threads of her past. And when two men from her past arrive, the truth might just hurt . . . Beth’s future and her heart.

As shadowy memories surface, Beth sketches the scenes she sees and is shocked by what—and who—her illustrations reveal. Dare she risk her heart again?

ISBN-13: 9780781408097

Publisher: Cook, David C.

Publication date: 2/1/2014

Series: Love Blossoms in Oregon Series Series

Pages: 416

Read my review of Blowing on Dandelions

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My Review: What a wonderful story! Miralee Ferrell is an excellent author. I appreciate her way with words and her ability to keep a story from stalling. I was delighted to revisit some characters from the first book in the Love Blossoms in Oregon series, Blowing on Dandelions, as well!

I found it hard to relate to Beth in the beginning of the story. To me, she seemed rude and selfish at times. However, as the story progressed, and I was able to glean more knowledge of her past, I could put her actions in better perspective. By the end of the story, I was fully involved in her life and rooting for her! After all, who can't relate to scars from the past (both seen and unseen)? Jeffrey, bless his heart, is a very patient man. While I wish his relationship with God would have been more developed, I understand it might have taken away from the main plot of the story. However, I still admired his love and dedication to Beth.

The theme of the story is hinted at right in the beginning of the book. The Bible verses the author included at the beginning of the story were very relevant throughout the book. Learning that God is always with you, even in the rivers and fires of our lives, is a hard lesson (Isaiah 43: 2).  Also, keeping God first and foremost in our minds when looking to the future, and handing Him the reigns is something everyone struggles with (well, I know I do!). 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and cannot wait for the next book in the Love Blossoms in Oregon series, Dreaming on Daisies.

About the Author: Miralee and her husband Allen have been married over 40 yrs. They live on 11 acres in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge in southern Washington State, where they love to garden, play with their dogs, take walks, and go sailing. Miralee also rides her horse on the wooded trails near their home with her grown daughter who lives nearby. She’s an avid reader and has a large collection of first edition Zane Grey books, which inspired her desire to write fiction set in the Old West. When she started writing fiction Miralee believed that she’d always stay with women’s contemporary, but has since branched out to historical romance. Her first two books were women’s contemporary with Kregel Publications, The Other Daughter, and Finding Jeena.

Miralee served as president of the Portland, Oregon, chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) for five years and currently serves on the board as an adviser, and she belongs to several other writing groups. She speaks at women’s groups, libraries, and churches about her writing journey, and has taught at both writers’ and library conferences.

Her fourth historical romance with Summerside Press in their Love Finds You series, Love Finds You in Sundance, Wyoming, released summer of 2011. It won the Will Rogers Medallion for Excellence in Western Fiction. Mission Pictures is considering this book as a made-for-TV family movie. Universal Studios was considering The Other Daughter as a family movie at one time as well.

Miralee is currently under contract with David C. Cook for a three-book series of historical romance novels, set in Oregon. The first, Blowing on Dandelions, released in June 2013, book two, Wishing on Buttercups, released February 1, 2014., a novella, Forget Me Not (published by the author), released April 1, 2014, and the final book in the series, Dreaming on Daisies, releases Oct 1, 2014.

Some of her books have a suspense thread as well as romance, and three have a higher degree of action with a decided Old West slant. Her current Love Blossoms in Oregon series will be somewhat of a women’s fiction/historical romance combination, with the emphasis on well-developed characters and plot.

Miralee is branching out into something new, a series of middle-grade girls’ horse novels titled Horses and Friends. The first book, A Horse for Kate, releases March 1, 2015, with each succeeding book releasing every four months after. These books will have an emphasis on friendship, horses, adventures, and will contain high moral values and lessons for kids woven into the story line. Watch for the titles–book two: Silver Spurs, book three: Mystery Rider, book four: Blue Ribbon Trail Ride.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/miralee
Twitter: www.twitter.com/MiraleeFerrell

Stealing The Preacher by Karen Witemeyer

Overview: A cowboy who wants to be a preacher. An outlaw's daughter who wants to change his mind.

On his way to interview for a position at a church in the Piney Woods of Texas, Crockett Archer can't believe it when he's forced off the train by an outlaw and presented to the man's daughter as the preacher she requested for her birthday. He's determined to escape—which would be much easier if he could stop thinking about Joanna Robbins and her unexpected request.

For months, Joanna had prayed for a minister. A man to breathe life back into the abandoned church at the heart of her community. A man to assist her in fulfilling a promise to her dying mother. But just when it seems her prayers have been answered, it turns out the parson is there against his will and has dreams of his own calling him elsewhere. Is there any way she can convince Crockett he ended up right where he was supposed to be?

With her signature blend of humor, history, and lively western romance, two-time RITA Award finalist and bestselling author Karen Witemeyer delivers a Texas love story sure to steal your heart.

ISBN-13: 9780764209666
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Publication date: 6/1/2013
Pages: 352

Read the first chapter 

 Buy It: B&N | Amazon | CBD

My Review: As always, Karen Witemeyer delivers a fantastic story with witty dialogue, a fast-moving plot, and characters we can all relate to. The story line for Stealing The Preacher is a little different from her other stories; there is not a lot of action, but that I still enjoyed it immensely. The story was very well written and kept me interested, despite the lack of action. It allows the reader to focus more on the characters and their feelings and developement, than the story itself.

I loved the characters in this book. Crockett Archer is taking his first steps toward a new life outside of his ranch and immediate family. His character is written in a way that makes him strong and confident, yet vulnerable because he's branching out on his own for the first time in his life. I love that Karen didn't write him as a cocky, self-assured man, but gave him a real heart and compassion, as well as doubts. Joanna Robbins is a woman I would look up to in real life. She is confident, independent, and has a loving heart. Her faith is strong and she takes her calling seriously. She is the perfect match for the compassionate, kind-hearted preacher. Their romance was precious! I loved hearing about the other Archer brothers and the secondary characters (Jackson and Silas) made the story more enjoyable.

The message was deeply rooted in the story. Some might say it's "preachy," but I think it's written perfectly. Crockett is a preacher, after all. I would be concerned if there wasn't a lot of biblical truths written throughout the story! Trust and obedience are the main truths each character has to come to terms with. It is very well-written, and flows naturally throughout the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and can't wait to find out Neill Archer's fate!

About the Author: Karen Witemeyer is a confirmed bookaholic who believes the world needs more happily-ever-afters. To that end, she combines her love of bygone eras with her passion for helping women mature in Christ to craft historical romance novels that lift the spirit and nurture the soul.

After growing up in California, Karen moved to Texas to attend Abilene Christian University where she earned bachelor and master's degrees in Psychology. It was also there that she met and married her own Texas hero. He roped her in good, for she has lived in Texas ever since. In fact, she fell so in love with this rugged land of sweeping sunsets and enduring pioneer spirit, that she incorporates it into the pages of her novels, setting her stories in the small towns of a state that burgeoned into greatness in the mid- to late1800s.

Karen is living her dream by writing Christian historical romance novels for Bethany House. Her books have consistently hit bestseller lists and have garnered awards such as the ACFW Carol Award, the Holt Medallion, and the Christian Manifesto's Lime Award for Excellence in Fiction. In addition, she is a multiple RITA and National Reader's Choice finalist. Karen is also a sought-after speaker for national writing conferences and regional workshops.

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