The Endurance of Wildflowers

Wildflower Duet #2.5

by Micalea Smeltzer

When I met Thayer Holmes, I had no idea how much he would single-handedly change my life.

Our journey hasn’t been an easy one, but it has been ours.

We’ve fought through the impossible and come out stronger because of it.

But happily-ever-after isn’t a destination. It’s a never-ending road trip with bumps along the way.

Some bumps are bigger than others, but none of it matters as long as we have each other, right?

Genres: Romance, Novella, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Small Town Romance, Fiction, Audiobook

144 pages, Paperback

Published October 17, 2023

About the author

Micalea Smeltzer is an author from Northern Virginia. Her two dogs, Ollie and Remy, are her constant companions. As a kidney transplant recipient she's dedicated to raising awareness around the effects of kidney disease, dialysis, and transplant as well as educating people on living donation. When she's not writing you can catch her with her nose buried in a book.

Reviews

[Jen Paz · Rating 1 out of 5]

123 pages of repeating that they miss Forest, in love with Thayer, #blessed, want a baby… over and over again. I speed read that 2nd half just to get it over with.

[Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all thank you Micalea for giving us all Daddy Thayer… we all know he’s at the tip top of my book boyfriend list.

This was so good. I laughed .. I teared up… I contemplated just reading TCOW again.. (but then thought I’d better not 😂) anyways.. so so good.

I’m sad we won’t have anymore Thayer and Salem books after this, but considering this wasn’t even in the plan I’m so happy you wrote it !

And that cover 😮‍💨🔥😉

[Emma.catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and sweet review for a short and sweet book…

And I truly mean that - this book is brimming with sweetness and heart; It was the perfect ending to a beautiful series.

Happily-ever-after isn't a destination. It's a never-ending road trip with bumps along the way. Some bumps are bigger than others, but none of it matters as long as we have each other, right?

This extended family has had their fair share of bumps but this book is so uplifting and full of hope. It makes you believe in a better, happier future full of joy and love.

‘And sometimes, all right is more than enough.’ ❤️‍🩹

‘Dawn always comes, shedding light on our darkest nights’ ❤️

🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Finucha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sobbing like a baby right now. This was the perfect novella💫I love Thayer and Salem so much and reading about them one last time, having their little family and being happy warmed my heart💓💓💓💓.
And the epilogue was so sad but beautiful, I’m heartbroken. I’m gonna miss them so muchhh.

“We did it, Sunshine”
“Yeah, we did”

[❀jadou❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Our children are the wildflowers we planted, who've grown and flourished and thrived, because of us--because we never, ever gave up.”

i can’t breath properly. my eyes hurt so bad.

a few months ago i read the two other books in this duology and i’ve rarely felt the way i did back then.
Micalea Smeltzer is an amazing author and i’ve got to read a few other books from her that were almost all 5⭐️ reads! And she quickly became one of my fav authors.
The two others books are still stuck in my head and in my heart and i know they won’t get away anytime soon. They’ll both stay ones of my favourite reads ever.

I have to be honest, i’ve read a good amount of books in my life and a lot of them made me cry, but i’ve never cried like i did back then. I’ve never felt the pain i felt then over a book.
I mean if you read The Endurance of Wildflowers you obviously know what i’m talking about and i know you probably can relate.
The characters in this three books are forever some of favourite and I wish daily i could forget everything and start it all over again. Yes, i’d even risk the heartbreak again.

The Endurance of Wildflowers was a perfect conclusion to Salem and Thayer’s story, I was beyond happy to read about their life a few years later and still feel the love between them. I will not address my love for the girls, it’s way to big for here.
Anyways my heart is once again broken because i’m now done with these characters and their world but i’m so happy to having been able to get a glimpse of their life.

Now, Micalea Smeltzer i love you so much but i need a new book to feel something again, please ! ❤️
5⭐️

[Antonia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh I love Thayer so much but I don’t think this novella was necessary. I wish it would have been dual POV.

[jessica braun · Rating 5 out of 5]

the perfect ending to salem & thayers story 🥹🤍

crossing my fingers that caleb & laith get their own stories 🤞🏼

[marioncoin | coin.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

qu'on se le dise ce tome #2,5 n'apporte clairement pas grand chose,
mais si vous avez adoré l'univers, si vous souhaitez les retrouver à nouveau et leur dire au revoir, foncez.

pour moi c'est un peu un gros épilogue d'épilogue sachant que le tome 2 avait déjà un gros goût d'épilogue bref en tout cas cette fois ci c'est vraiment la fin- 💐

prenez soin de vous Salem, Thayer et toute la clique.

— "we're lucky, aren't we? despite it all." 💗

[glavreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

the perfect little novella to close out thayer and salem's story. GOD I LOVE THEM.

[Samantha (bookgramsaga reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

''We're lucky, aren't we? Despite it all.''

Safety warnings:
- H 41-42 / h 28-29
- No cheating
- No OW/OM drama
- Mention of loss of child/loved ones
- Mention of infertility
- Grief
- Mention of terminal illness
- HEA

SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️

SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️

SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️

SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️

If you have read the duet then read this book. It'll pull on your heartstrings and give you a great glimpse into Thayer and Salem along with their two beautiful daughters.

We get about a year into their current lives and Seda is now 8 going on 30 (according to Salem) while Soleil is 2. Caleb is still living next door and all of them have a wonderful relationship, there is no animosity or jealousy. Thayer and Caleb are on such good terms, I love this. In the duet Caleb was never the villain nor the bad guy. He was the one who did everything right by Salem and watching him never be placed in a bad light is such a relief and breath of fresh air.

Thayer and Salem have been trying for another baby, but it's not been going their way for almost a year, there are talks of potential infertility but despite the original scare Salem is pregnant and they have a son.

Forrest is mentioned throughout the book, and it brought tears to my eyes, Seda is growing up loving and remembering her older brother who never got to live beyond his handful of years or meet her. You can tell how much his loss is felt within them all and how they still grieve for him.

I will say that Thayer's parents’ animosity towards Caleb (in that one scene during Thanksgiving) made me not like them so much, they do not understand why Caleb is around and the dynamic, but it should be obvious? He raised their granddaughter for years and took care of her, she is her ''daddy'' while Thayer is her ''dad''.

We do get a potential forever for Caleb in this book but it's vague, so nothing is set in stone, but I like to think he also got his happy ending.

The final chapter was set 30 years in the future, Thayer and Salem are waiting for their 3 children to come home for the holidays with their grandchildren. It's such a sweet moment to see that despite everything they went through and the losses they have had, their happiness still happened.

This was a lovely gift to readers who loved the duet as we finally got a full closure for the couple.

[monica ✨ romantasyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

the endurance of wildflowers is the perfect epilogue novella that I knew I needed. the first two books destroyed me and stitched me back together, and I loved being back with thayer and salem. there was a little bit of angst and a whole lotta feelings (yes, I cried).

thank you sm valentine pr for an arc! it’s out today!

[Courtney Kitchen · Rating 1 out of 5]

So cheesy, no plot, only the first book was good in the series

[Anna Guanci · Rating 1 out of 5]

Here’s a book where everything works out. Like seriously could these two have a more perfect life, so annoying.

[Stephanie Hubenak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you ever read a series that sticks with you so deeply that you feel it in your soul? When I first read Thayer and Salem, I cried...I mean full on ugly sobbed. I somehow avoided all spoilers and wasn't prepared for the emotional damage. But the healing that came with the Resurrection of Wildflowers was so beautiful and fulfilling to watch. I've always been a fan of Micalea's and she totally blew me away with this one. I see why it has a cult following.

Listen, I am DEEPLY invested in this family. So when Micalea announced she was writing a novella for them, I impatiently waited on pins and needles to read it. It was worth the wait. It was everything we could have ever wished for in a final peek into their lives. Their happy ending was all that...and more. In true Micalea fashion, there was some gut punchers in there....and I might have tears in my eyes even writing this review...but all the tears were worth it. It was absolutely perfect.

Thank you Micalea, my sweet friend, for giving us this final journey with Thayer and Salem. It was everything I could have hoped for and more. And while I'm so sad to say goodbye, I can't wait to see what you bless us with next.

[~Amber~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect little novella I didn’t know I even needed.

Thayer and Salem’s stories absolutely wrecked me and put me back together in the best possible way. This was a little cherry on top. I will miss their story, but I’m so glad to have had this knowing how things turned out for them.

“We made it Sunshine.”
“Yeah, we did.”

[Carlynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Are the bumps in the room with us? I get that this was a novella, but there was no conflict, just Salem saying how she wants to get pregnant and she wants her ex-husband to be happy every chapter. Also the sun-themed names are so cringe. Disappointed because I loved the original two books.

[Stephanie ☾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is everything and more I could have wished for this year! 😭

I never knew this was even in the realm of possibility, but this novella closed off this duet so well and so good, I couldn't imagine not having it!

First off all, I need to start with how wonderful it is to see their unconventional family dynamic with Caleb work, it shows the real-life unorthodox coupling and families people have, not everything is a white picket fence, a mom and a dad. We see Thayer and Salem trying for another baby and spending time with their daughters (and alone, *wink wink*) while time passes from Halloween to New Year's Eve. It's wholesome and fun, while still having some grief sprinkled throughout. I adored watching the bond Seda has with Soleil, I just wish someone else was there with them too! 😭

The romance between Thayer and Salem is sweeter and hotter than ever before. Micalea couldn't even help herself and poured in some smut! 🔥

Who doesn't love a girl dad who puzzles? This was so special to me. Loved seeing Caleb and Leith too and I imagine a spin-off about them could work!

5 stars ✨

#110 in my book reviewing slump

[jada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect ending to Salem & Thayer 🥰🫶🏻

Both books in the duet put me through it 😭 and this short novella was no different. I cried too many times to count but I’m glad we got to see how their lives turned out. Especially with the final epilogue being 30 years later.

[shelby ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ · Rating 1 out of 5]

‎‧₊˚✧ 1 ⭐️
*possible spoilers ahead* 💌

all I’m gonna say is this was cringy, unnecessary & basically repeating book 2..

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t realize how much I missed Thayer & Salem until I read this novella. Thayer is still as perfect as ever! Seeing their life now makes me so happy and seeing the side characters especially Caleb sparked up those old feelings. I didn’t expect to cry but I did. Forest was mentioned often and that whole storyline just makes me emotional. It jumps forward 30 years at the end so that was great. The spice however felt very much not necessary. I felt like anytime they were alone it was thrown in there and just felt very forced for some reason. Do I think this is necessary to read? No. Is it still an enjoyable read? Yes.

[NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books} · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4 "You are my sunshine..." stars***



“Our children are the wildflowers we planted, who've grown and flourished and thrived, because of us--because we never, ever gave up.”

This novella was the perfect epilogue to Thayer and Salem's story!!!
Their duet was full of angsty and sad moments, but at the end they thrived and became one...
Their love was epic and it needed something more to be completed....
In here, we are witnessing their worries about what the future will hold for them, while they have created a perfect family... but a small thorn is always pocking their sides!!
Will they managed to overcome another one problem??? Will sadness over their losses rule their lives forever???

"I love this man so much, and I'm so incredibly lucky to have found him."

I love Thayer and Salem's relationship...
They got through many difficulties to be together, but now, they are finally happy... and they are surrounded by people that love them very much!!!
I liked seeing the rest of the secondary characters and I am still craving Caleb's story!!!
This guy is holding a special place in my heart and I need him to find his own HEA!!!
So, that was!!!! Salem and Thayer's story came to an end and it is kind of bittersweet!!!

"Sometimes you don't need words. You just need someone to hold you - to know that no matter what, they're there for you."

**I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this one to be really repetitive, but I enjoyed it.

[Meghan]

The whole second book of this duology felt like it should’ve been a novella, but fingers crossed this one is better

[Mel ♡ ̆̈ (SEMI-HIATUS) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 ✰

I feel I would have liked this more if I would have read it when I started this series. I read the first two books right when I started reading again in 2022. these were the first books I binge read so they hold a special place in my heart but being realistic if I were to reread or have read them now I think they would only be about a 2-3 star to me.

not to say these books aren't good but I think book 2-2.5 where unnecessary the first book could have just been maybe 50 pages longer to get to that conclusion that book 2 brought. 2-2.5 felt like an over extended epilogue

𝓣𝓱𝓪𝔂𝓮𝓻 ♛
I fr don't know why I loved this man so much. he just did not hit this time around

𝓼𝓪𝓵𝓮𝓶✹
this whole thing was in her POV so I was getting sick of her.

𝓒𝓪𝓵𝓮𝓫☹
get out of here bud you are irrelevant . you were such an a-hole in the first book why do you keep getting so much page time

thoughts ⚠️
(may contain spoiler)
the only point of this book I liked was when seda had forest in her dreams. I may or may not have shed a few fears.
I MISS FOREST

anyways these are just my opinions ♡

happy reading besties❤

[Maddie Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5! Very cute novella to wrap up the storyline, but also could have done without it. Honestly I really only read this because it was on KU and I didn’t know what else to pick. If you haven’t read the first books in this “series?” I would recommend! They’re not like esteemed pieces of writing by any means but they’re fun and easy to read.

[amber nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and quick read for this novella. I enjoyed this series over all 4 stars. There were ups, downs, happiness, sadness, love, grief and everything more. I read this trilogy within a week and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 🩷

[Siera Grimm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this series so much! I read all three books in 3 days and didn’t want it to end.

[Lyndsey Stuhlsatz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series so much. The quotes about a grieving parent really hit home with me. I highlighted so many phrases I will go back and read. It was like therapy for me to read this series. Thayer is one of my top favorite book characters. ❤️

[Kenzie Darnell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one… wasn’t good.
The first two books were brilliant, two of my favorite books ever. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I wished I hadn’t read this and left the series alone after the second book.

What happened with Caleb and Ms. Bloom? Liath and Hannah? What about Salem’s best friend who we only read about for 1 or 2 pages? Where was Laith’s house and why was it so secretive? I guess we will never know. (They NEED their own books/series so we can see their love stories).

I feel such a personal connection to this book, my husband and myself have a similar age gap to Thayer and Salem, my step-kid died in a freak accident that could have been avoided. My husband and I went on to have two daughters… so much of the first two books was relatable for me, I wish this novella hadn’t missed the mark so badly for me.

[Inessa_Akin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely ATE this up in one sitting, I couldn’t rip myself away, I kept highlighting, and smiling, and tearing up, I missed these characters so much, and getting a little glimpse of them later on in the future, was EVERYTHING.

I want to talk about the book, but I feel like it’s better to just go in and read it! It’s a novella so you can read this in like 30-to an hour! If you absolutely adore Thayer and Salam from their duet, and are dying to see more from them,

Craving just another smidge of their lives later on, then SPRINT to this when it comes out! It was just what I needed (though I almost cried when it was over because now these characters story is wrapped, but still so grateful for even this since it wasn’t in the plan!)

I wanna say so much but if you haven’t read their duet then this would contain so much spoilers! So get outa this review and read the first two books!! Then go to this fluffy, cute novella (with a little sadness, if you’ve read their story you know😭)

The BIGGEST thank you to the author and page and vine, for giving me an early copy of this beauty, I about cried when I got it in the mail!

Mark those calendars for October 17th you’ll NEED to read this!