Wishing on Buttercups

Love Blossoms in Oregon #2

by Miralee Ferrell

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?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Christian, Historical, Westerns, Fiction

416 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2014

About the author

Miralee Ferrell and her husband, Allen, live on eleven acres in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge in southern Washington State, where they love to garden, play with their dogs, take walks, and visit their grown children. She is also able to combine two other passions—horseback riding and spending time with her married daughter—since she lives nearby--and they often ride together on the wooded trails near their home.

Ironically, Miralee, now the author of over twenty books, with many more on the way, never had a burning desire to write—at least more than her own memoirs for her children. So she was shocked when God called her to start writing after she turned fifty. To Miralee, writing is a ministry that she hopes will impact hearts, and she anticipates how God will use each of her books to bless and change lives.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

WISHING ON BUTTERCUPS BOOK TOUR AND GIVEAWAY! Blurb:Wishing on Buttercups David C. Cook Publishing
 
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?Buy it!http://www.amazon.com/Miralee-Ferrell...
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Author Bio:Miralee and her husband Allen have been married almost 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 four years and currently serves on the board as an advisor, and belongs to several other writing groups. She speaks at women’s groups, libraries, and churches about her writing journey, and has taught a both writers and library conferences.
Her fourth historical romance with Summerside Press in their Love Finds You series, set in Sundance, Wyoming released summer of 2011. 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, reeased in June 2013, with book two, Wishing on Buttercups, releasing February 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 upcoming series will be somewhat of a women’s fiction/historical romance combination, with the emphasis on well-developed characters and plot.Facebook: www.facebook.com/miralee Twitter: www.twitter.com/MiraleeFerrell Blog: www.miraleesdesk.blogspot.comMy review:Wishing on Buttercups by Miralee Ferrell—5 starsWishing on Buttercups, the second installment in Miralee Ferrell’s Love Blossoms in Oregon series, opens in August, 1880, shortly after the action of Blowing on Dandelions. Quiet Beth Roberts has finally begun to settle into life at the Jacobs’ boardinghouse with her loving but at times imperious Aunt Wilma, and her dreams of pursuing art as a career seem to be coming to fruition. However, beneath the tranquil surface of her carefully-maintained façade lie ripples of distrust and fear waiting to boil over. Years of stigma and deception have convinced her that if anyone knows her intimately, they will reject her, and she “decided early on that hiding her identity would serve her purposes the best.” She has only vague recollections of her past, and although she has always wanted to discover more, she fears that the truth will prove to be more painful than the burden of not knowing. Any sense of peace that Beth feels is quickly disrupted by inquiries about her past or by the feeling that someone may be trying to move beyond the walls she has built around her heart, and that is especially true where fellow boarder Jeffery Tucker is concerned. She doubts that she will ever be able to cultivate the future that she wishes for as she builds a life for herself in Baker City, Oregon. This second novel provides a successful transition from its predecessor by exploring the lives of several secondary individuals who were introduced in Blowing on Dandelions and expanding the character base while also revisiting former characters. The apparent simplicity of the story belies an undercurrent of complex emotions and situations that demonstrate Ferrell’s uncanny ability to parallel contemporary issues facing women today with those of her characters. Her straightforward, modest writing style immediately draws readers in and speaks to the heart.  Although Wishing on Buttercups is mostly a character-driven book, the plot contains ample twists to keep readers engaged and invested. Likewise, the characters themselves are exceptionally relatable. They are three-dimensional, with flaws and strengths, and the overarching theme of learning to love oneself speaks to men and women alike. As Christian historical fiction, the novel emits a soothing message of reassurance and faith while encouraging self-acceptance and compassion. Even readers who do not necessarily espouse Christian beliefs or care for romance or historical fiction will find inspiration and delight within Ferrell’s mellifluous prose. Wishing on Buttercups can possibly be a stand-alone novel, but it is best read after Blowing on Dandelions and will be followed by Dreaming on Daisies, which will complete the trilogy. The “AfterWords” section appended to the novel itself offers an author’s note explaining how the story came to be, as well as questions for individual or group discussion and a sneak peak at chapter one of Dreaming on Daisies.GIVEAWAY:Miralee is giving away ONE print copy of Wishing on Buttercups. Leave a comment, asking Miralee a question, to be entered for a chance to win! You MUST ask a question to be entered. Please leave your email address as well in case you are the winner. The giveaway is for U.S. addresses only. Giveaway ends March 2, and the winner will have 48 hours to respond to the email telling them they have won. If the winner does not respond, another winner will be chosen. There will be one winner per blog, and no one can win more than one copy during this blog tour. TO POST A QUESTION, CLICK ON "COMMENT" IN THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF THIS POST, OR CLICK ON THE BLACK COMMENT BUBBLE AT THE LOWER LEFT HAND CORNER. OR YOU CAN SIMPLY CLICK ON THE TITLE OF THIS POST TO OPEN THE COMMENTS. I will kick things off with a question of my own:Which character from your novels resonates the most with you?Also, be sure to visit the rest of the blogs on the tour!
February 13th -  The Book Bag
 
February 15th -  HomeSchooling4boyz
 
February 17th - Buzzing about Books
 
February 18th - Stuck on Books
 
February 19th - The power of words..
 
February 20th - My Recent Favorite Books
 
February 22nd - Melina's Book Blog
 
February 24th - The Front Porch
 
February 26th - My Devotional Thoughts
 
February 28th - Diana's Tea Time Reviews
 
February 28th - Create with Joy
 

[Ruth Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the course of my lifetime, I have read countless Christian historical romances, and sometimes I am quite disappointed.  This book certainly contains all the elements to ensure it acceptance within this genre, and it is completely appropriate for any level.  Although I was fairly certain how the book would conclude, the author added in some clever surprises to keep the reader on the edge of his/her seat.  I commend her for the inclusion of realistic elements as well as a timely, important message for everyone.  I will confess that the author's inclusion of the "side story" baffled me until I was well over halfway through the book, and any author who can keep me in suspense that long deserves my highest acclaim.

 

All too often, Christian fiction authors receive a bad reputation for happy-go-lucky messages where everything works out well and no one truly suffers.  I will be honest--there was one time towards the end that had me rolling my eyes due to the "sugary sweet" portion of the story I was reading.  However, I can forgive that since the author was careful to include all sorts of difficult things for the "good" characters to endure as well as "just desserts" for the scoundrels.  God and His glorious gospel were integral to the framework of the story, and I was quite surprised to realize that I had never read any book by this author previously.  This is the second book in a series, but it is definitely a stand-alone book.  I had not problem following the action, and I would certainly love to read more about these characters in the future.

 

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.  I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.

[Wanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I review a book I often find it hard to put my feelings into words. Sometimes, though, a book touches a part of you that you keep hidden and the words simply pour out on the page. Wishing on a Buttercups was just that book for me. The first book in this series, Blowing on Dandelions, brought back some long forgotten memories from my childhood and spoke to me in its own special way. Wishing on Buttercups touched an inner struggle that I have dealt with since I was a child. I could relate to Beth's scars and her inner turmoil over how the world perceived her because of them. Being born with physical limitations myself, I never saw the world through rose-colored glasses. Instead, I saw flashes of cruelty that is just as often heaped upon us by adults as it is by other children. Miralee tackled this issue with perfection. I love what Aunt Wilma said to Beth when she was worrying about her scars. She said, "But dear heart, your peace can't come solely from your drawings, nor can you find your entire worth there. That must come from God."

She opens the readers eyes to the fact that how God perceives you and how you perceive yourself are the most important things. When you finally realize how much God loves you and see your own self-worth, the way others see you will no longer matter. I would like to share something from the author's note at the end of the story. Miralee wrote: "I don't ever want to write a simple romance without something that drives it. In this case, it was a young woman who's been damaged--not only physically, but emotionally, due to the scars from her childhood. As I thought about that, I realized many of us carry hurts and scars from words spoken or actions taken that we had little or no control over." Miralee not only sees the story, she sees the truth behind the story. Something about this series touches an emotional cord in me and it was compounded a hundred fold in this book. But that's not all I loved about it. The characters displayed a strong sense of family and loyalty and had high moral values. The plot had depth but was also lightened up with a little humor. I laughed out loud when Micah lost his grip on the paint can! The romance between Beth and Jeffrey was a sweet romance that built by degrees as the story progressed. There were so many things that threatened their already tedious relationship and it was very heartwarming to watch it unfold. Miralee has written another story that will leave you wanting more and with new characters introduced into the story it left things wide open for book three. I can't wait to read it! The story was so well written and I don't hesitate to recommend it. If you love historical romance, or simply a story that digs deep to tug at your emotions, you'll love Wishing on Buttercups.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review. The opinions stated are mine alone and are honest and forthright. If I recommend a book you can believe its a book I enjoyed. I received no monetary compensation for this review.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wishing on Buttercups is the second book in the series Love Blossoms in Oregon by Miralee Ferrell. This one is about Beth Roberts and her struggle to find who she is and letting God into her life. Beth has many doubts about whether anyone could ever love her since suffering serious injury as a child both mentally and physically and not knowing who her real family is.
The hero is Jeffery Tucker who's trying to make his own way in this new frontier without his father and to prove to himself that he doesn't need his family's money. As Jeffery gets to know Beth he learns she a talented artist and he realizes that she's the illustrater for his book. He also discovers that they have been employed by the same magazine. He finds himself falling in love with Beth Roberts and fighting for her heart when someone from her past shows up in Baker City, Oregon. Secrets once hidden are being forced out into the open. Can Jeffery and Beth survive these challenges that are happening and allow God to have a deeper relationship in their lives?


I enjoyed reading about Wishing on Buttercups and visiting with the Jacobs , Wilma and Beth Roberts, Frances and a few new borders that I enjoyed getting to know in this story that takes place in a boarding house.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet story about an artist searching for her past and an author searching for his place. The message of faith was weak, and by that I mean you could have taken it out and it wouldn't have altered the story that much.

[Reet Champion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life has not been easy for Beth Roberts. In one way or another she has been hurt - from parents who abandoned her in the wilderness to children who made fun of her scars or degraded her for having lived with her rescuers, the Arapahoes. And then there was that despicable man who promised her so much only to walk out without a word or hint. With all the pain welling up inside her Beth cannot allow herself to fall for another possible trickster. On top of that there are dreams and memories that have been wafting their way back into her mind - things she cannot place but are somehow linked to her sketchy past. These instances renew the pain she feels over having been abandoned by her family and the questions as to why they did it. (SPOILER ALERT: She only thinks she's been abandoned).

Jeffrey Tucker always seem to be irritating Beth in some way even if he doesn't know why he offended her. Half the time he spends with her is consumed with apologies for a misunderstanding. She is different from anyone he has ever known but a flurry of emotions and unreadable thoughts. If only she would open up to others rather than pent it all up within herself.

I rather think Wishing on Buttercups was better than Blowing on Dandelions (click here for my review). The mysterious aspect heightened the tension and it really "made" the novel. I couldn't put the book down because I HAD to know what was going to happen and what were the secrets of Beth's past. Miralee Ferrell feeds readers pieces of the background little by little keeping one going until the ultimate end, which does not disappoint. Another great read from the Love Blossoms in Oregon series.

DISCLAIMER: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” we would like to note that we received an electronic copy of “Wishing on Buttercups” from NetGalley.com provided by the publishers, David C. Cook, in exchange for our honest review.

reetchampionbookreviews.wordpress.com

[Dorcas · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 Stars
This is a sweet, heartfelt story of a scarred, artistic young woman "abandoned " as a child on the wagon trail and rescued by the Arapahoes Indians. The only clues to her identity are a locket around her neck and fragmented memories of buttercups, a campfire and a kindly Indian woman spreading ointment on her burns...

As the story unfolds we meet a young man striking out on his own as a writer, a blackguard ex fiance, and many other memorable personalities.

I thought the storyline itself very good. The characters were well drawn and the mystery tantalizing.

However, I also found it somewhat frustrating.
So many times characters were on the verge of pouring out their thoughts to each other but stopped. Suddenly. "Forgive me. I cant discuss this afterall." Time and again. I really wanted to bang some heads together! No one wanted to trust and no one wanted to talk. Enough already! It got tiresome...

For this reason I felt that the book dragged in places for no good reason. Almost to make up a page quota or something. In fact, if the story was 50 pages or so shorter it wouldn't hurt the story at all but would probably improve it. Just my opinion.

CONTENT :

SEX : None
PROFANITY : None
VIOLENCE : None
RELIGIOUS ELEMENTS : Mild and rather 'forced'. Voices saying to "trust me " etc . It felt somewhat unnatural. There was also the OA technique used. (Overnight Awakening). One day the character has not much use for God, the next day they're like "Oh Lord, you are my hope and anchor.." I'm not fond of this.

MY RATING : G

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy for review.

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

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?

I couldn't wait to delve into Beth's story, and we go most of the book with bits and pieces of the puzzle. Much like life. We have 2 different main stories, that come together so beautifully at the end. I couldn't get enough!

Each book stands alone, but together it is more enjoyable! You won't want to miss part 2 of some amazing stories of how God can heal places that long have scarred so deeply that you think you can't recover. Miralee really blends in a beautiful storyline with a fantastic message, all of them different and so beautifully written.

Please don't miss out!

I received a copy from netgalley, in exchange for my honest review.

[Judy Vandiver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wishing on Buttercups Miralee Ferrell

I was able to pre-read this book prior to it's Feb 2014 release. Wonderful story that kept me intrigued as to Beth's mysterious past. Well written and easy to follow story-line about a young woman searching for who she is while reaching for who she wants to be. Author Miralee Ferrell once again gives the reader well developed characters coupled with life issues that touch so many people.

I loved that this is a great follow-up to Blowing on Dandelions, but i a story that can also stand on its own.

[Laura P · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming and heartwarming romance…..
This is book 2 of the’ Love Blossoms in Oregon’ series, but it stands on its own and reads fine with no prior knowledge of book 1, “Blowing on Dandelions”.

“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?”

It starts off a bit slow, but the character development gradually progresses giving us well-drawn and realistic characters. Realistic as in having both strengths and weaknesses… flawed… not perfect. The story takes place in a delightful setting in a small western town in the late 1800s.

I found myself being drawn into the story more and more until about half way through. I nearly stopped reading at that point, but kept going and was rewarded with the last quarter of the book picking up the pace. There is just enough mystery to keep you reading to the end. The story finishes with a sweet happy ending…. mystery solved….happy couple riding off into the sunset….. etc.

Though the pace slowed and I became frustrated with the characters about 50% into it…. it did improve. My frustration with the characters was due to their lack of communication that became annoying and detracted from the story a bit resulting in the slowed pace. But once things picked up, I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the book. There is a strong Christian theme throughout the book, and while I do not mind that at all…. it just didn’t flow well with the story at times… there were times it seemed too forced and unrealistic.

Overall I found “Wishing on Buttercups” to be a sweet, heartwarming and uplifting tale well worth reading.

I received a free digital copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Ramisa R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never been as emotionally invested in a series like Love Blossoms in Oregon. Despite being sold as romantic, historical Christian fiction, there is so much depth in society, so many fragments of pasts and complex characters that arise with their own broken viewpoints. It is not a simple romance, which is the reason I am always overwhelmed with the happiness I feel when distant family make peace, the characters find their other half who love particular characteristics, and the sense of a greater family in the Jacobs’ cosy boarding house.

Wishing on Buttercups is no exception. I am charmed by the characters, by Beth’s love for art and her own dreams, and her broken past that remains unfixed. There are times where I feel as if the entire cast of characters are what add to this book, despite a few recurring more often than others, and this is what increases the beauty of this book. There are so many beautiful, happy moments that remind me why I read, and I find myself overjoyed by some of the moments, the reunions and the patching of broken relationships. Personally, this book was even better than the last –although I really enjoyed the last one as well– because of the three-dimensional relationship between Beth and Jeffery, and the gorgeous character development from the first book to this one. The differences are striking, but so subtle.

The reason I refrain from giving this book five stars is because, like many series’, a lot of questions are left unresolved. I understand if the author plans to flesh them out in upcoming novels, but a lot of questions should have been answered in this book, in order to give a balanced amount of closure. For example, the “man threatening to destroy them” was expressed as a strong aspect of the plot, but was very simplistically solved. Furthermore, a lot of plotlines were introduced without proper resolutions, and were simply lost within the overall book. This wasn’t a major issue, but it did leave a lack of closure in reading the series.

However, this was only one could-be-improved thing on a list of many positives. This book was beautiful, heart-warming, and has far more depth than your average romance, and focuses on society and contemporary relationships as a whole. Although the books are set in the 1800’s, you will find the majority of the themes are still relevant to today’s society. I anticipate the next book’s arrival eagerly.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wishing on Buttercups : A Novel--Second book in the Love Blossoms in Oregon
series, By Miralee Ferrell

I read the first book Blowing on Dandelions in this series and I really loved it. I thought Wishing on Buttercups could not be any better. Boy was I wrong. It is an awesome book and Miralee did a great job of writing it. She brings out her characters and it is as if you are right there with them back in the 1880's in the west. Wishing on Buttercups had some of the same characters as the first book. This book is about Beth Roberts and Jeffery
Tucker. Beth has been raised by Wilma, who she calls her aunt. Beth has issues with her past and afraid to get close to anyone. She is afraid they will not have anything to do with her if they find out about her past. Her aunt Wilma has raised her from around three years old. It bothers Beth that she may have been abandoned and not wanted as a child. Beth loves to draw
and she likes to slip away by herself to be alone. She doesn't want anyone finding out what she does . Beth also still has a problem with an old boyfriend, and she is afraid to love again. Jeffery Tucker is a young handsome writer. He wants to make a life on his own and not have to depend on his father's money. Jeffery is having some strong feeling for Beth, but Beth is afraid to let him get close. There are two other men that come into town and boy is there some action that goes on. Will Beth ever remember or find out what happened to her parents? Can she accept the past and move on and make a life for herself ? There is a lot going on in Wishing on Buttercups and you need to be sure you don't miss out on this awesome book. You will not be disappointed, but you do need to read the first book Blowing on Dandelions first. I was given a copy of this book from the author to read for my honest review .

[Iola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beth Roberts lives with her aunt in a boarding house in Baker City, Oregon, in 1880. Her aunt wants her to marry well, but she’s happiest when drawing the local scenery—and even more happy when she sells her drawings to a prominent women’s magazine. She has secrets in her past that mean she believes no one would want to marry her. If she could ever trust a man anyway, after what happened before …

Jeffrey Tucker lives in the same boarding house. He’s been a mystery to the other guests, but it now comes out that he’s writing a novel set in a boarding house in the American West … a fact which causes consternation among the residents. Jeffrey is interested in Beth, but finds it difficult to get to know her—something that’s made even more difficult when a handsome stranger arrives in town. And then another one …

Wishing on Buttercups is the second book in the Love Blooms in Oregon series, following Blowing on Dandelions. I read the two books back-to-back, but I think they could easily be read as standalone novels—Blowing on Dandelions introduced Jeffrey, Beth and Aunt Wilma, but the main character was Katherine Galloway, the owner of the boarding house where they live.

I thought Wishing on Buttercups was excellent. I liked the characters, especially the way we got to know some familiar characters in a deeper way. I liked the way the Christian elements of the plot were dealt with (although this was less pronounced than in Blowing on Dandelions). I liked the element of suspense provided by the flashes to Steven and Isabella in Kansas, and I especially liked the end. Almost perfect.

Thanks to David C Cook and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

[Donna Mcginnis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Miralee Ferrell. This is the second book in the Love Blossoms in Oregon series,but can be read as a stand alone book. I read the first book Blowing on Dandelions and it was was great. Love them both and look forward to reading the third book. I love all the characters and how they love, support each other and want to help Beth.
While traveling on the Oregon Trail as a young child with her parents, Beth Roberts is suddenly left alone and suffers a tragic accident that leaves her scarred for life both physically and emotionally. Beth is haunted by her past but wonders if she really wants to know the truth of why her parents left her alone. Afraid the truth might hurt to much. She is insecure and feels a man would not find her attractive and would be repulsed by her scars.
Jeffery Tucker lives at the same boardinghouse where Beth and her Aunt Wilma live. He is also insecure and trying to find his place and prove to his parents that he can make it on his own. How will Jeffery effect her life? How will their relationship effect each other? They both are hiding secrets. After a bad relationship can Beth ever learn to trust any man? A must read to find out how Beth discovers her past, how she and Jeffery overcome their fears and insecurities. What the future holds for them.


The book is about fears, shame, pain, romance, love and much more. A must read.

I recommend this book.

I received this book from bookfun.org for my honest opinion and review.

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beth is a talented artist that struggles to accept that she is valuable while Jeffery is a writer that believes he is not any good. I found it interesting that they both did not know that they were drawn to each other, in spite of their insecurities or maybe even because of them. Beth also has hidden scars that she believes will make anyone hate her. In her past, there were mean adults and children that tormented her because of them.

I found that I related to the insecurities that Beth faced. We all have scars that are hidden, but to us, they feel very visible. Today, I was standing in church facing some of my own "scars". Mine are not visible to the naked eye, but just as painful at times as a real scar.

The message that Ms. Ferrell talks to us throughout this story is it is how we deal with our past, our scars and our insecurities. We may handle it like Mr. Lansing handles in the book (badly) or we may learn that we are valuable and special with our scars. They will always be a part of our lives, but they do not have to define us.

Another lesson this book can teach us is how often we are much harder on ourselves than we should be. Aunt Wilma, Beth, Jeffery, Beth's mother, all of them were much harder on themselves than they needed to be. The lesson of grace and extending charity to others is a very important part of life.

(This book was giving me to review by NetGalley. The opinions contained therein are my own)

[Diana Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wishing on Buttercups is the second book in the “Love Blossoms in Oregon” series. Blowing on Dandelions was the first and I really enjoyed the story. Beth Roberts has a past she doesn’t really know much about. Being proper would mean you keep your past to yourself for fear of people looking down on her. People would never understand what she has gone through, and she's not sure she understands herself. Beth isn’t into getting too close to people especially men. She doesn’t think she is pretty and men would not like seeing the scars she bears from a childhood accident. Beth is starting to remember things from her childhood, but so many things are missing. Will she ever find out her past and why her parents just left her? Two men from her past have shown up. Will they have the answers? Will these answers bring more hurt into her life or a hope for a future? I loved the characters in the book. I love the forgiveness and understanding they show for each other. In times of trouble they offer support. I can remember doing buttercup wish’s when I was little. I have even dried buttercups, I think I still have some. This book will keep you glued to it you & you will have to pull yourself away to get things done. I really enjoyed Wishing on Buttercups looking forward to the next in the series.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful tale of love and acceptance. This sweet love story reminds me that we all have pasts that shape us and make us who we are, but God fulfills us and shows us what we can become by trusting Him. Beth lets her past hold her back from trusting in love again. Jeffery fights to be his own person and make his way in the world. Their lives meet and connect in many wonderful ways. Throughout many circumstances of lies of others, a swindler that could tear it all apart, a stranger that could end up being long lost family, this story wraps around your emotions and you become apart of these characters lives. They learn to overcome and look outside themselves to find trust and love. I was drawn into this story and felt as though these were my friends going through the struggles and issues!
Miralee knows how to keep the reader interested and I found it beyond refreshing the way she resolved issues between characters. The way things were fixed and not drawn out into unending storylines was such a great change to read! I highly recommend this wonderfully written love story full of fun, engaging characters.
I received this book from bookfun.org for an honest review.

[Wanda Kremin · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Wishing on Buttercups" is the second novel in the "Love Blossoms in Oregon" series by Miralee Ferrell. This is the story of Beth Roberts and Jeffery Tucker who we met in "Blowing on Dandelions". This is a lovely story of showing that it is not outward beauty that determines your life, it is the inward beauty and God's love that shines through. Beth and Jeffery both have secrets that they try to hide, and they are drawn to each other. Beth has already been taken in by an unscrupulous suitor, so she is very leary of Jeffery. Jeffery has his own secrets that he has to work through. Miralee has done a fabulous job of showing us these characters lives and the struggles that they go through. It's a beautiful story of love and compassion, and learning to trust. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction. While it is would be enjoyable to read the first book in the series first, this is also a "stand alone" book that can be enjoyed on its own.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story of romance set in the backdrop of the 1880's. The characters of Beth and Jeffery really pulled me into this book. They are both hiding secrets from their past, but as they get to know each other, they become friends. Beth is a artist and Jeffery is a talented writer, yet both of them lack self-confidence in their abilities. As Beth remembers memories from her past, she begins to unravel things that she needed to know.

This is a good story for anyone who is dealing with low self-esteem, as it helps you to understand that it's what's on the inside that matters.
The descriptions of the countryside and the town really made me feel like I was there enjoying the beautiful scenery!

If you love Historical Romance, you will really enjoy this book and the entire Series!

[Cindy Hemric · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the second book in a series. I enjoyed this book better than the first, was more development of the character, and I enjoyed the growth that Beth made. Beth has scars from her past, both physical and mental. Can she learn to trust a man to love her with her scars? Jeffery is a writer, but his family has not believed in him. But he is drawn to Beth, Beth is attracted to Jeffery but is afraid he will not love her when he knows of her scars.

I received my copy of this book via Netgalley for an unbiased review. I would recommend it. It was good reading.

[Sylvia Gould · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has its suspenseful moments, but is fast-moving, and the last page came too quickly. The characters are memorable and well crafted-the kind you continue to think about after you put the book down. The story is nicely balanced with suspense, mystery, romance, and humor.
Wishing on Buttercups is a nice follow-up to Blowing on Dandelions, but could be read as a single. However, it is nice when you feel you already are acquainted with some of the characters.

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it, was in happy tears at the end

[Susan Moxley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the storyline of this book.

[Edward Arrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

God puts dreams in our hearts and minds that may seem hard to attain at times. We can wish on buttercups if that is what we choose to do but we find it far more productive to work on honing our skills to achieve our dreams. Aunt Wilma thought Beth should focus on finding a wealthy husband who could provide her with everything she wanted in life, but Beth wanted to be an artist more than anything else, or she thought she did. Jeffery came from a wealthy family and had the world at his fingertips. His dream was to be an author, which his parents could not understand and did not want to accept. I enjoyed the mostly friendly arguing between Aunt Wilma and Mrs. Cooper. But then I almost cringed whenever Isaac Lansing or Brent Wentworth put in an appearance. Wentworth, with whom Beth had previously had a relationship until he suddenly disappeared, was the most troublesome because he kept wanting Beth to sneak around to see him which is never a good thing. The scars she bore from a childhood accident seemingly kept her mind in constant turmoil, such that she had difficulty believing that a good and decent man like Jeffery would ever be attracted to her and somehow made her more susceptible to the lies of men like Brent Wentworth. The best part of all was watching how Beth and Jeffery turned to the Lord and found their faith growing stronger and their reliance on His guidance developing, something they both needed in view of what lay ahead. I enjoyed the romance, the humor, the faith aspect, and the suspense. I found this to be an enjoyable story.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Wishing on Buttercups” by Miralee Ferrell is the story of Beth. She is a young woman who has secrets that she wants to stay hidden. There is also a time in her life that she does not remember and that may further harm her fragility. She has scars on her body that she finds hideous and she tries to keep them hidden away. She and her aunt come to Baker City, Oregon to escape the machinations of a rake and philanderer. They find a home in Katherine Galloway’s boardinghouse. Beth’s aunt and Katherine’s mother are constantly at each other’s throats which makes humorous dialogues.

Jeffery Tucker is a quiet, handsome young writer, who also lives in the boardinghouse. He would like to get to know Beth and is drawn to her, but she is resistant to forming friendships. Her past has scarred her in ways that he cannot know. But eventually, her “hobby” of drawing and his profession of writing come together and secrets once kept are shared.

I enjoyed this story very much and really like the characters that Ms. Ferrell spins for her tales. I am enjoying more books in the series.

I downloaded a Kindle copy from NetGalley.com in return for my review. You can find this review on my blog at https://wp.me/p2pjIt-wz. Other reviews can be found at http://imhookedonbooks.wordpress.com.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read! This is the second book in a series, but I did not read book one first and really didn't feel like I was lost so they can be read as stand-alone.

This book has some suspense in it. You have to keep reading to solve the mystery of Beth and her life. Her parents abandoned her, she has scars, she lived with the Arapahoe. All of those mean she was horribly picked on and she doesn't really know where her place in the world is.

Enter Jeffery who seems to always be annoying and bothering Beth even when he's trying not to. He wants her to open up and she wants to solve the mystery of who she is and why she's having dreams and memories pop up that she can't place.

This is a wonderful read that I highly recommend. It read quickly and did have a small element of suspense plus of course the romance brewing. It is a Christian fiction title though so everything was clean and above board. This would be a good teenage/young adult read I think.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

[Bonnie Clevenger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the Love Blossoms in Oregon series.
Beth is covered in burn scars and a lost memory of her parents.
Her Aunt has moved them to a small town, to a boarding house away from a bad relationship, in hopes of finding, faith, peace, possibly a new romance, and her memory!
Beth is a talented artist, and has been commissioned by a women's magazine to send in four drawings.
Jefferey, also a boarder, is an aspiring writer.
By accident they discover that Beth is illustrating his story, that was bought by the same magazine.
Will Beth open her heart again?
Will she recover her memory loss?
This is a wonderful story of finding faith and trust in our Lord.
I would highly recommend this series of the 1880's Oregon life.

[Carrie Daws · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, I struggled to like the book, although I enjoyed it. The heroine had been deeply hurt in childhood which left intense scars on her heart and mind. Having also been deep scarred in childhood, I quickly realized that my frustration with the story was my frustration with the character's unwillingness to open her heart. But that's the very thing she wouldn't have been able to do because of her past.

The story did get better about a third of the way in, and while i think portions of the book could have been taken out to shorten it a bit, it is still a good story and excellent follow-up to Book 1: Blowing on Dandelions.

[Sally Lindsay-briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the setting, Baker City, Oregon, 1880. Beth is a talented artist (which I have always wanted to be), she has a troubled past and scars that inhibit her relationships. She had a boyfriend in the past that left her without a word. She lives in a boardinghouse with her Aunt Wilma, and meets an author, Jeffery (yeah, I want to be an author too). They have a tempestuous relationship and at times, I want to have a serious chat with Beth so tell her to stop with the cold shoulder attitude and the secrets. I enjoyed the Christian flavor and the wonderful inspiration. Definitely a satisfying read.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wishing on Buttercups is a wonderful and touching story set in Oregon in the 1880’s. It is about a group of people living in a boarding house. Though the story is most specifically focused on Jeffrey and Beth, the other housemates provide a cohesive and interesting framework. Beth has had a rather sad beginning to her life and it has affected her significantly. Jeffrey has left his wealthy, influential family behind and is working hard to make his own way in life. I really enjoyed reading Wishing on Buttercups. I recommend it to everyone who enjoys a complex story that focuses on human nature and times in the late 1800’s.