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Poppies and Silk
Their summer affair is sweet…but will they survive when it takes a dangerous turn?
Widowed seamstress Poppy Daniels is finally free of a life of caretaking, and she returns to Dogwood for a fresh start. With help from the mysterious shut-in friend who never reveals her face, Poppy builds upon her seamstress business, hoping to make it on her own. What she doesn’t account for is the tall, laughing cowboy that sweeps her off her feet.
Ranch foreman Sol Williams isn’t looking for love. It’s hard enough after a long day’s work to raise his wild little sister, much less woo a woman into matrimony. But the minute the quiet, sad-eyed Poppy offers to make his sister a new wardrobe, wooing is the only thing on his mind. When she visits the ranch, a summer affair isn’t planned but can’t be denied, and their furtive trysts turn into something deeper.
The summer takes a dangerous turn as girls go missing and it starts to get close to home. What’s worse, the patterns begin to connect with Poppy’s troubled past, and she’s afraid she knows exactly who is responsible…
Poppies and Silk is a lengthy Historical Romance set in 1888 Texas. It is the second book in A Texas Bloom Series but can be read as a standalone. Due to violence, graphic language, and explicit sexual scenes, it is recommended for readers 18+. For trigger warnings, read the Content Page in the sample.
Widowed seamstress Poppy Daniels is finally free of a life of caretaking, and she returns to Dogwood for a fresh start. With help from the mysterious shut-in friend who never reveals her face, Poppy builds upon her seamstress business, hoping to make it on her own. What she doesn’t account for is the tall, laughing cowboy that sweeps her off her feet.
Ranch foreman Sol Williams isn’t looking for love. It’s hard enough after a long day’s work to raise his wild little sister, much less woo a woman into matrimony. But the minute the quiet, sad-eyed Poppy offers to make his sister a new wardrobe, wooing is the only thing on his mind. When she visits the ranch, a summer affair isn’t planned but can’t be denied, and their furtive trysts turn into something deeper.
The summer takes a dangerous turn as girls go missing and it starts to get close to home. What’s worse, the patterns begin to connect with Poppy’s troubled past, and she’s afraid she knows exactly who is responsible…
Poppies and Silk is a lengthy Historical Romance set in 1888 Texas. It is the second book in A Texas Bloom Series but can be read as a standalone. Due to violence, graphic language, and explicit sexual scenes, it is recommended for readers 18+. For trigger warnings, read the Content Page in the sample.
409 pages, Paperback
Published July 28, 2023
154 people want to read
About the author
Tanya Fischer
5 books30 followersTanya Fischer lives on a little Texas homestead with her husband, two children, and their pets (of which there are chickens). When she's not reading, she is writing. She has a passion for romance of every genre, though her heart lies in Historical Romance. She left her job in education and has pursued her dream of writing full-time.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 20, 2023
Ms. Fischer has a gift for writing soulful characters with fully fleshed out backgrounds, motivations, and deep personalities. Poppy (h) and Sol (H) felt so real and their insecurities, struggles, and love story were more meaningful for it. I also love the details of Western life that this series packs in with the setting and the focus on regular people trying to make a living. Neither main character is wealthy and both have some shame tied up in their circumstances and complicated family dynamics.
The book begins with a prologue of a young Poppy being put in an untenable situation by her mother and the events that lead to her finding a safe and respectable home. Then the book flashes forward to Poppy returning to Dogwood as a young widow. She’s reunited with her childhood friends Franny and Lucy (the h of book 1) and she’s trying to build a socially acceptable life as a seamstress. Sol was a side character in book 1 and he’s the foreman of the Stone family’s ranch. He comes from a large family that was also poor and he’s rougher around the edges than Poppy (at least physically). I loved the instant spark between him and Poppy and how he pursues her, in small and large ways. There’s also a mystery happening of girls going missing from saloons and brothels that remind Poppy of her past (her mother worked in a saloon). Written in third person, multi-POV including some side characters. No ow drama, tiny om drama in that an om expresses interest in h and H is territorial, and neither are virgins (h had a limited sex life and H didn’t appear to be a manwhore).
My favorite part of the romance was how Sol wanted to care for Poppy and even though he falls fast, he does so completely. There are some swoon worthy scenes throughout the book. Poppy does push him away because she feels undeserving given her upbringing. But these two are magnetic when it comes to the other. This is very steamy with multiple explicit scenes and includes some sneaking around and hiding of the relationship. I wasn’t surprised at a reveal that happens but I would have liked it to have occurred later in the book I think, .
The themes are sometimes a bit darker than the first book and I felt that its focus was split a little more with the mystery plot alongside Poppy and Sol’s romance. Sex trafficking, child abuse, grooming, and violence occur or are recollected. Dangers of prostitution play a major role. Side characters were also more prominent in that Sol’s sister, Isa, sometimes stole the spotlight. It makes sense because Isa is so important to Sol and becomes important to Poppy, but she’s also the h for the next book in the series so she’ll be getting her own time to fully shine. It was wonderful seeing Lucy and Ben and their adorable family. Seeing Junior also had some interesting moments since he was often being an ass, in a different way than book 1.
I did feel the pacing was a little slow, even once the climax of the book approached and Poppy and Sol were entangled in a dangerous and intense situation. I personally didn’t love how the scenes involving the perpetrators of the missing girls played out, but it was interesting. The book also wraps up all of the elements nicely.
The ending is a HEA of Sol and Poppy on their land, married, with their small family and settled. There’s a recap of what happened following the climax, one scene of which I would have loved and was just related as part of the other updates but this was a big book so you can’t have everything. Isa is also going off to college and she has a bit of a revelation, so a small lead in to the next book, though I again would have preferred the focus on Sol and Poppy. I’m sure I’ll pick up Isa’s book though because this series feels fresh and the characters do burrow into your heart.
The book begins with a prologue of a young Poppy being put in an untenable situation by her mother and the events that lead to her finding a safe and respectable home. Then the book flashes forward to Poppy returning to Dogwood as a young widow. She’s reunited with her childhood friends Franny and Lucy (the h of book 1) and she’s trying to build a socially acceptable life as a seamstress. Sol was a side character in book 1 and he’s the foreman of the Stone family’s ranch. He comes from a large family that was also poor and he’s rougher around the edges than Poppy (at least physically). I loved the instant spark between him and Poppy and how he pursues her, in small and large ways. There’s also a mystery happening of girls going missing from saloons and brothels that remind Poppy of her past (her mother worked in a saloon). Written in third person, multi-POV including some side characters. No ow drama, tiny om drama in that an om expresses interest in h and H is territorial, and neither are virgins (h had a limited sex life and H didn’t appear to be a manwhore).
My favorite part of the romance was how Sol wanted to care for Poppy and even though he falls fast, he does so completely. There are some swoon worthy scenes throughout the book. Poppy does push him away because she feels undeserving given her upbringing. But these two are magnetic when it comes to the other. This is very steamy with multiple explicit scenes and includes some sneaking around and hiding of the relationship. I wasn’t surprised at a reveal that happens but I would have liked it to have occurred later in the book I think, .
The themes are sometimes a bit darker than the first book and I felt that its focus was split a little more with the mystery plot alongside Poppy and Sol’s romance. Sex trafficking, child abuse, grooming, and violence occur or are recollected. Dangers of prostitution play a major role. Side characters were also more prominent in that Sol’s sister, Isa, sometimes stole the spotlight. It makes sense because Isa is so important to Sol and becomes important to Poppy, but she’s also the h for the next book in the series so she’ll be getting her own time to fully shine. It was wonderful seeing Lucy and Ben and their adorable family. Seeing Junior also had some interesting moments since he was often being an ass, in a different way than book 1.
I did feel the pacing was a little slow, even once the climax of the book approached and Poppy and Sol were entangled in a dangerous and intense situation. I personally didn’t love how the scenes involving the perpetrators of the missing girls played out, but it was interesting. The book also wraps up all of the elements nicely.
The ending is a HEA of Sol and Poppy on their land, married, with their small family and settled. There’s a recap of what happened following the climax, one scene of which I would have loved and was just related as part of the other updates but this was a big book so you can’t have everything. Isa is also going off to college and she has a bit of a revelation, so a small lead in to the next book, though I again would have preferred the focus on Sol and Poppy. I’m sure I’ll pick up Isa’s book though because this series feels fresh and the characters do burrow into your heart.
August 8, 2024
2024: ojalá me acepten la petición del ARC para la historia de Junior e Isa 🙏
Sep, 2023:
4.25 stars ☆ “𝗛𝗲’𝗱 𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁, 𝗜𝗳 𝗜 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲.”
Sol le hace absoluta justicia a su nombre, lo amo, ojalá los hombres (Sol) fueran reales 😩💕 jajajajaj, y también me gustó Poppy, ella ha tenido una vida dura y se merece a alguien como él, un hombre tan enamorado y dispuesto a todo por hacerla feliz <3 Estuve enganchada leyendo este libro y no podía parar, la progresión de su relación se sintió natural y tan encantadora, aunque la segunda mitad pudo haber sido mucho más corta, me hubiera gustado ver una despedida de Poppy a su ex marido muerto más profunda, siento que nos olvidamos completamente de él y hasta podríamos haber vivido sin ese personaje en absoluto, también quería ver algún reencuentro con el Padre Daniels y quería aún más momentos domésticos de Sol y Poppy!
En realidad lo recomiendo mucho si les gusta el romance de época, se sintió como ver un show y ya lo dije, Sol es mi tipo de hombre y de mis favoritos para leer porque nunca ocultan lo mucho que aman a la protagonista y le hacen saber su valor como persona 🙈💕
Por cierto, leer a Isa fue como leer a una yo más joven, lamentablemente incluido el crush por el amigo de tu hermano JAHSJAJ ay, aunque estoy un poco cautelosa con su relación con Junior porque normalmente no me gustan los libros donde ella se enamora primero y tan fuerte + él siendo un playboy (por eso no me gusta el trope de el amigo del hermano), pero confío en la autora, así que estaré pendiente de ese libro.
Sep, 2023:
4.25 stars ☆ “𝗛𝗲’𝗱 𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁, 𝗜𝗳 𝗜 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲.”
Sol le hace absoluta justicia a su nombre, lo amo, ojalá los hombres (Sol) fueran reales 😩💕 jajajajaj, y también me gustó Poppy, ella ha tenido una vida dura y se merece a alguien como él, un hombre tan enamorado y dispuesto a todo por hacerla feliz <3 Estuve enganchada leyendo este libro y no podía parar, la progresión de su relación se sintió natural y tan encantadora, aunque la segunda mitad pudo haber sido mucho más corta, me hubiera gustado ver una despedida de Poppy a su ex marido muerto más profunda, siento que nos olvidamos completamente de él y hasta podríamos haber vivido sin ese personaje en absoluto, también quería ver algún reencuentro con el Padre Daniels y quería aún más momentos domésticos de Sol y Poppy!
En realidad lo recomiendo mucho si les gusta el romance de época, se sintió como ver un show y ya lo dije, Sol es mi tipo de hombre y de mis favoritos para leer porque nunca ocultan lo mucho que aman a la protagonista y le hacen saber su valor como persona 🙈💕
Por cierto, leer a Isa fue como leer a una yo más joven, lamentablemente incluido el crush por el amigo de tu hermano JAHSJAJ ay, aunque estoy un poco cautelosa con su relación con Junior porque normalmente no me gustan los libros donde ella se enamora primero y tan fuerte + él siendo un playboy (por eso no me gusta el trope de el amigo del hermano), pero confío en la autora, así que estaré pendiente de ese libro.
August 13, 2023
Another powerful romance from Tanya Fischer.
A woman getting a second chance at life. Walking in freedom and living her dreams.
And when she meets Sol, she has a second chance at love and a family too.
But there’s people who would keep her down too and there is danger and pain.
There were parts of this that were very painful to read but it made the HEA even better.
5 stars
3 on the spice scale
CW: death, murder, sex trafficking, childhood assault
A woman getting a second chance at life. Walking in freedom and living her dreams.
And when she meets Sol, she has a second chance at love and a family too.
But there’s people who would keep her down too and there is danger and pain.
There were parts of this that were very painful to read but it made the HEA even better.
5 stars
3 on the spice scale
CW: death, murder, sex trafficking, childhood assault
August 16, 2023
Ms. Fischer has caught my attention ever since I read her debut novel, Letters to Dogwood. It's not very common to find authors exploring the American western historical romance genre these days (it used to be really popular in the 90s), so I was genuinely impressed when Ms. Fischer chose this genre for her debut. One of the reasons I find this genre appealing is its capacity for darkness in storytelling, making the plot interesting and full of surprises. I was truly excited when I stumbled upon her announcement on Facebook about her upcoming book in the series.
The Great/Good:
- The storytelling is truly exceptional. This isn't your typical historical American western romance; it's unfiltered and gritty, reflecting the essence of the American West.
- It works well as a standalone, although reading the first book would provide more context about Poppy's background.
- I appreciate the seamless integration of the mystery surrounding the missing girls into the story. It feels like a natural part of the narrative rather than an add-on.
- Let's talk about the characters! Sol and Poppy are simply captivating. Sol, being one of twelve siblings, carries a burden to prove himself. Poppy, raised by a prostitute mother, battles with feelings of worthlessness.
- Viewing Dogwood through Poppy's perspective was an absolute delight.
- The plot feels more tightly woven than the first book, showcasing Ms. Fischer's growth as an author.
- I can already imagine revisiting this book multiple times in the years ahead.
- For fans of Ellen O'Connell, I wholeheartedly recommend giving Ms. Fischer's books a chance. They share a similar vibe.
- I'm eagerly awaiting the next book, which will delve into James and Isa's story!
- The love scenes are beautifully crafted. While they aren't excessively lengthy or explicit, they vividly portray the progression of their relationship.
- While it's not exactly a slow burn, Sol and Poppy's relationship takes its time to develop. Gotta love their courtship until they simply can't keep their hands to themselves. Palpable sexual tension.
- I appreciate Ms. Fischer's decision to include a content warning right at the beginning (a practice that's becoming more common nowadays), especially considering the mature and dark themes in the book.
The Not-So-Good:
- The scenes revolving around the kidnapped girls in the latter half of the book can be shorter. It does feel overlong.
- Ugh, the cover! The book describes Poppy as having auburn hair, but the cover depicts a dark-haired heroine. I prefer the cover to match the description of the characters.
I read the book in one sitting, so that should indicate how much I enjoyed it. Simply wonderful! This book is worthy of 5 stars.
P.S.: Don't forget to explore Crew's short story on Ms Fischer's website. It's heartwarming to see Crew finally finding his happily ever after! This serves as a reminder that introverts and people on the spectrum deserve love too.
The Great/Good:
- The storytelling is truly exceptional. This isn't your typical historical American western romance; it's unfiltered and gritty, reflecting the essence of the American West.
- It works well as a standalone, although reading the first book would provide more context about Poppy's background.
- I appreciate the seamless integration of the mystery surrounding the missing girls into the story. It feels like a natural part of the narrative rather than an add-on.
- Let's talk about the characters! Sol and Poppy are simply captivating. Sol, being one of twelve siblings, carries a burden to prove himself. Poppy, raised by a prostitute mother, battles with feelings of worthlessness.
- Viewing Dogwood through Poppy's perspective was an absolute delight.
- The plot feels more tightly woven than the first book, showcasing Ms. Fischer's growth as an author.
- I can already imagine revisiting this book multiple times in the years ahead.
- For fans of Ellen O'Connell, I wholeheartedly recommend giving Ms. Fischer's books a chance. They share a similar vibe.
- I'm eagerly awaiting the next book, which will delve into James and Isa's story!
- The love scenes are beautifully crafted. While they aren't excessively lengthy or explicit, they vividly portray the progression of their relationship.
- While it's not exactly a slow burn, Sol and Poppy's relationship takes its time to develop. Gotta love their courtship until they simply can't keep their hands to themselves. Palpable sexual tension.
- I appreciate Ms. Fischer's decision to include a content warning right at the beginning (a practice that's becoming more common nowadays), especially considering the mature and dark themes in the book.
The Not-So-Good:
- The scenes revolving around the kidnapped girls in the latter half of the book can be shorter. It does feel overlong.
- Ugh, the cover! The book describes Poppy as having auburn hair, but the cover depicts a dark-haired heroine. I prefer the cover to match the description of the characters.
I read the book in one sitting, so that should indicate how much I enjoyed it. Simply wonderful! This book is worthy of 5 stars.
P.S.: Don't forget to explore Crew's short story on Ms Fischer's website. It's heartwarming to see Crew finally finding his happily ever after! This serves as a reminder that introverts and people on the spectrum deserve love too.
September 14, 2024
Spoiler ahead…
~ The H was so great and very thoughtful i really loved him 🫠 (Sigh i want my own Sol)
~ I like that the h's late husband was wonderful with her and he really loved her. I'm sick of the authors’ obsession with the abusive/cheating ex 🙄 thankfully there is none of this nonsense here.
(the late husband doesn't appear in the book, only mentioned a few times).
~ The H didn't hide his relationship with the h and i liked him more for that. He made it clear to everyone that he cared deeply about her and wanted her
~ Damn the h's friend Francesca, i didn't care about her in the previous book but it turns out she was a damn meanie, selfish and judgmental for everyone 🤬. I wanted to strangle her with her black veil.
(by the way dear author, you do a good job of making mean characters hateful)
~ I love the relationship between the H and his sister Isa 💕 she was the best character in this book. I’m so excited for her book
~ The kidnapping was my favorite part of the book. I was so nervous and scared of what would happen to my girls 😩. It was painful what those girls went through 💔
Isa was definitely the star of this part 🤚🏻
__________
Safety:
⛔️ Please read “Content Warning” at the beginning of the book.
— The h (26) / the H (30??)
— Insta lust
— He falls first and harder
— Push from the h (because of her past she thinks she's not good enough for the H)
— Widow h (she was married to her late husband for seven years)
— Experienced H but didn’t appear to be a manwhore!
— No ow/cheating
— Surprise pregnancy
— Kidnapping
— Child sexual assault (the h and side characters) (off-page)
— Abortive surgery to an adolescent and its aftermath (side character)
— OMs :
~ There are three guys interested in the h.
Two of them were the h's kidnappers, one of them tried to rape the h in front of everyone (on-page), but the H's sister saved her at the last moment.
~ A sick man from the h's past (he is a pedophile). I won't spoil anything about him because the plot is around him but i will just mention that he was the one who seduced the h when she was 13 y.o and became intimate with her (off-page)
~ The H was so great and very thoughtful i really loved him 🫠 (Sigh i want my own Sol)
~ I like that the h's late husband was wonderful with her and he really loved her. I'm sick of the authors’ obsession with the abusive/cheating ex 🙄 thankfully there is none of this nonsense here.
(the late husband doesn't appear in the book, only mentioned a few times).
~ The H didn't hide his relationship with the h and i liked him more for that. He made it clear to everyone that he cared deeply about her and wanted her
~ Damn the h's friend Francesca, i didn't care about her in the previous book but it turns out she was a damn meanie, selfish and judgmental for everyone 🤬. I wanted to strangle her with her black veil.
(by the way dear author, you do a good job of making mean characters hateful)
~ I love the relationship between the H and his sister Isa 💕 she was the best character in this book. I’m so excited for her book
~ The kidnapping was my favorite part of the book. I was so nervous and scared of what would happen to my girls 😩. It was painful what those girls went through 💔
Isa was definitely the star of this part 🤚🏻
__________
Safety:
⛔️ Please read “Content Warning” at the beginning of the book.
— The h (26) / the H (30??)
— Insta lust
— He falls first and harder
— Push from the h (because of her past she thinks she's not good enough for the H)
— Widow h (she was married to her late husband for seven years)
— Experienced H but didn’t appear to be a manwhore!
— No ow/cheating
— Surprise pregnancy
— Kidnapping
— Child sexual assault (the h and side characters) (off-page)
— Abortive surgery to an adolescent and its aftermath (side character)
— OMs :
~ There are three guys interested in the h.
Two of them were the h's kidnappers, one of them tried to rape the h in front of everyone (on-page), but the H's sister saved her at the last moment.
~ A sick man from the h's past (he is a pedophile). I won't spoil anything about him because the plot is around him but i will just mention that he was the one who seduced the h when she was 13 y.o and became intimate with her (off-page)
September 30, 2023
Absolutely loved this second book in Tanya Fischer's A Texas Bloom series. She truly is gifted at making her stories feel so vivid, lively, and authentic. Powerfully moving and full of passionate sex, angst, everlasting love. Poppy and Sol were down to earth and so endearing. I dare you to not fall in love with rugged, swoonworthy cowboy Sol...a good man with an absolute heart of gold. I laughed and teared up in this book. It is heartsoaring!!! Intriguing suspense story interwoven throughout. It is so refreshing to read Western historical romance written in such a high calibre and of such an epic nature...and spicy! We need these books right now! So refreshing from the usual lords and ladies. I can't say enough good things about her books. Her characters are palpable and I feel her words to my very bones. Absolutely enthralling 💙♥️📚
April 5, 2024
3.75? 4? ⭐️ This book solidified that I like this author and this series!
That being said, number one is still my favorite, no contest.
But I loved Poppy and Sol and how the world is so fleshed out. The side characters are vibrant, too. Poppy had a hard past and I was so glad she got herself out of it and then Sol gave her an even brighter future.
I do think the kidnapping portion went on for too long. Or maybe it’s because those parts made me anxious and I kept putting it down. 😅 So I felt like it lagged and I just wanted them to reunite.
But I was so happy when it was finally over and they got to be together again!
I’m even anticipating Isa and Junior’s book and that’s saying something considering how much I disliked him in the beginning!
That being said, number one is still my favorite, no contest.
But I loved Poppy and Sol and how the world is so fleshed out. The side characters are vibrant, too. Poppy had a hard past and I was so glad she got herself out of it and then Sol gave her an even brighter future.
I do think the kidnapping portion went on for too long. Or maybe it’s because those parts made me anxious and I kept putting it down. 😅 So I felt like it lagged and I just wanted them to reunite.
But I was so happy when it was finally over and they got to be together again!
I’m even anticipating Isa and Junior’s book and that’s saying something considering how much I disliked him in the beginning!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2023
This is book 2 in the Texas Bloom series by author Tanya Fischer, and it did not disappoint. I was anxiously awaiting this second book after reading the first in the series, Letters To Dogwood, which was also excellent. Although primarily a love story between Poppy and Sol, the book also deals with the tragedy of human trafficking. It is well written, has an engaging story line, and interesting characters. I look forward to reading Isa and Junior's story in book 3!
September 25, 2024
Really enjoyed this and would be 5 stars if only they didn't have sex when they were captured. That was so unnecessary, reckless and stupid.
I'm always excited to find new authors. Tried to find her backlist but as of now she has 3 books and 1 novella, hoping there are more to come.
I'm always excited to find new authors. Tried to find her backlist but as of now she has 3 books and 1 novella, hoping there are more to come.
September 13, 2023
BUCKLE UP BUTTERCUPS.
I was NOT prepared for how hard I would fall for Poppy and Sol– but moreover I was not ready for the suspense element of this story.
The pace of this story is perfect, from start to finish, I could not put it down. Poppy and Sol's journey is chock full of swoon-worthy moments that will live in your brain forever. But the real 5 star clincher here is how well the suspense and adventure elements are incorporated. The entire cast of characters feel real and authentic but none more so than Poppy. A woman who had to overcome trauma after trauma but exhibited a quiet strength and resolve to survive that is evident in this story's amazing climax.
Do not sleep on this gem.
I was NOT prepared for how hard I would fall for Poppy and Sol– but moreover I was not ready for the suspense element of this story.
The pace of this story is perfect, from start to finish, I could not put it down. Poppy and Sol's journey is chock full of swoon-worthy moments that will live in your brain forever. But the real 5 star clincher here is how well the suspense and adventure elements are incorporated. The entire cast of characters feel real and authentic but none more so than Poppy. A woman who had to overcome trauma after trauma but exhibited a quiet strength and resolve to survive that is evident in this story's amazing climax.
Do not sleep on this gem.
August 26, 2024
Poppies and Silk by Tanya Fischer is her latest book in the Texas Bloom series and it lives up to the hype of the first book, Letters to Dogwood (2022). It’s exciting to read another really good, sizzling HR set in the Western US, as they are scarce these days.
The story is centered around the heroine Poppy, who has just moved back to the town of Dogwood Texas, after the death of her invalid husband, where she hopes to make a new start as a seamstress. She comes with a troubled past… her mother moved from town to town working as a whore. In Dogwood she meets Sol, the easy going foreman at the ranch owned by the couple from the first book.
Sol is a dirty talking cinnamon roll cowboy hero and Poppy is a heroine full of inner strength and compassion… both are attracted to each other early in the story. Their passionate and detailed sex scenes are explicit, erotic and beautifully written … one of the highlights of the story. Emotional scorchers!
This book is dark at times and covers sex trafficking, abuse and cruelty … though most importantly, overall it’s a tale full of warmth and love.
Minor quibbles: It’s a long story and the last few chapters when Poppy and Sol are apart could have been shortened. I also believe that the cover doesn’t do the book justice… it appears a touch gloomy when the story definitely isn’t. My personal preference is for a cover to depict the passion and romance of the story.
Tanya Fischer is a truly gifted writer who has created a marvelous story capturing everyday people living in 1870s Texas. If you like books by Maggie Osborne or Ellen O’Connell this new author is following in their footsteps.
The story is centered around the heroine Poppy, who has just moved back to the town of Dogwood Texas, after the death of her invalid husband, where she hopes to make a new start as a seamstress. She comes with a troubled past… her mother moved from town to town working as a whore. In Dogwood she meets Sol, the easy going foreman at the ranch owned by the couple from the first book.
Sol is a dirty talking cinnamon roll cowboy hero and Poppy is a heroine full of inner strength and compassion… both are attracted to each other early in the story. Their passionate and detailed sex scenes are explicit, erotic and beautifully written … one of the highlights of the story. Emotional scorchers!
This book is dark at times and covers sex trafficking, abuse and cruelty … though most importantly, overall it’s a tale full of warmth and love.
Minor quibbles: It’s a long story and the last few chapters when Poppy and Sol are apart could have been shortened. I also believe that the cover doesn’t do the book justice… it appears a touch gloomy when the story definitely isn’t. My personal preference is for a cover to depict the passion and romance of the story.
Tanya Fischer is a truly gifted writer who has created a marvelous story capturing everyday people living in 1870s Texas. If you like books by Maggie Osborne or Ellen O’Connell this new author is following in their footsteps.
February 7, 2024
I really liked this one! Possibly more than the first in the series. I feel like the story flowed a bit better than the first. But, I have the same complaint as the first, that this story could have been 100 pages shorter. The ending conflict in this one went on a little long.
Sol and Poppy were so great together. I was nervous about picking this up, because Poppy and Sol hook up before they get married. Having that happen in historic romances makes me so anxious. However, this was done really well. They both developed a relationship and feelings for one another before they took the next step.
This story does hit on some pretty heavy topics, especially towards the end.
Overall, despite the page length, I would still read more from this author.
Sol and Poppy were so great together. I was nervous about picking this up, because Poppy and Sol hook up before they get married. Having that happen in historic romances makes me so anxious. However, this was done really well. They both developed a relationship and feelings for one another before they took the next step.
This story does hit on some pretty heavy topics, especially towards the end.
Overall, despite the page length, I would still read more from this author.
January 9, 2025
2.5 🌟 rounded down (but definitely a personal taste/enjoyment rating)
Oh gosh, this started so well and then just spiralled for me.
I think this authors writing style just isn’t for me. The pacing of this was so slow it became tedious. The author often showed the same or similar events transpiring through both main characters POVs but nothing interesting enough was happening for that to be necessary. The best way I can explain it is that reading this was like listening to someone with a super slow drawl accent; you just want them to hurry up and get to the point. I truly felt like dnf’ing but held out if only to have some closure on the romance aspect.
For the most part I liked Sol (H) and Poppy (h). They had a nice dynamic and some seriously steamy moments (although the writing in these moments also didn’t work for me at all). However, they were both incredibly stubborn at times and became frustrating to me. Poppy especially veered into TSTL territory too many times to count. The whole third act could have been avoided if she had just exercised some caution and decent judgement of character, but I guess that wouldn’t have worked for the plot 🤷🏼♀️
Unfortunately, Sol was also mostly ruined for me in the third act when the author decided to destroy his character by making him a dismissive, sexist pig towards his sister. The men in this all ended up being insolent jackasses. To make matters worse, the “third act” lasted waaaayyyyy too long. It felt never ending. And because it lasted from roughly 65% until 97%, I didn’t feel like I got the closure I kept reading for. There was an epilogue but it was very brief and mostly only served to set up the next book, which I wouldn’t read anyways bc you have the typical STD riddled H and virginal h.
So ultimately, I know it seems like I hated this, but I did actually enjoy some parts of it. I liked the relationship between the mains and how they both fought for each other at one point or another. I liked the family and friend dynamics. I liked the mystery aspect, although it was pretty clear to me what would happen. So yeah, there were good bits in with the bad and I do think this would work super well for some people.
Safety:
- No virgins.
- H wasn’t a complete manwhore but definitely had thoughts about the “plenty” of women he had been with in the past.
- h was widowed and hadn’t been with anyone since her husband passed a year ago, although their sex life was limited.
- No ow or om drama.
Oh gosh, this started so well and then just spiralled for me.
I think this authors writing style just isn’t for me. The pacing of this was so slow it became tedious. The author often showed the same or similar events transpiring through both main characters POVs but nothing interesting enough was happening for that to be necessary. The best way I can explain it is that reading this was like listening to someone with a super slow drawl accent; you just want them to hurry up and get to the point. I truly felt like dnf’ing but held out if only to have some closure on the romance aspect.
For the most part I liked Sol (H) and Poppy (h). They had a nice dynamic and some seriously steamy moments (although the writing in these moments also didn’t work for me at all). However, they were both incredibly stubborn at times and became frustrating to me. Poppy especially veered into TSTL territory too many times to count. The whole third act could have been avoided if she had just exercised some caution and decent judgement of character, but I guess that wouldn’t have worked for the plot 🤷🏼♀️
Unfortunately, Sol was also mostly ruined for me in the third act when the author decided to destroy his character by making him a dismissive, sexist pig towards his sister. The men in this all ended up being insolent jackasses. To make matters worse, the “third act” lasted waaaayyyyy too long. It felt never ending. And because it lasted from roughly 65% until 97%, I didn’t feel like I got the closure I kept reading for. There was an epilogue but it was very brief and mostly only served to set up the next book, which I wouldn’t read anyways bc you have the typical STD riddled H and virginal h.
So ultimately, I know it seems like I hated this, but I did actually enjoy some parts of it. I liked the relationship between the mains and how they both fought for each other at one point or another. I liked the family and friend dynamics. I liked the mystery aspect, although it was pretty clear to me what would happen. So yeah, there were good bits in with the bad and I do think this would work super well for some people.
Safety:
- No virgins.
- H wasn’t a complete manwhore but definitely had thoughts about the “plenty” of women he had been with in the past.
- h was widowed and hadn’t been with anyone since her husband passed a year ago, although their sex life was limited.
- No ow or om drama.
September 9, 2023
I came into this book after reading the tagline, and knew it was a historical western romance with suspense, so I was quite ready to settle down and enjoy the ride.
The first half of the book is predominantly romance. Poppy, a widowed seamstress, moves back to Dogwood to see if it's a good fit. In comes Sol, who is a golden retriever cowboy if I've ever read one. His energy really matches Poppy's black cat energy (sorry, all these trends and labels have been stuck in my brain 🤣).
These two are HOT together, and even though Ben is my book bf forever, Sol definitely held his own in the sex scenes. He's sweet and cares so much about Poppy, whose walls are up and is less ready to believe in instalove like he is.
There are a few characters I love, like his little sister Isa who has no idea what a filter is 🥴 and when things start getting sketchy around the second half of the book--this is where the suspense comes in--it focuses a little more on Isa and Poppy's bond as they try to survive a few certain things I shall not spoil. But okay, MILD, mild spoiler... Poppy is separated from Sol for several chapters towards the last 30ish%.
BUT the ending is so worth it when they reunite, and I was on pins and needles the whole time, wondering if they were going to survive this! And the epilogue 😭😭 I may or may not have shed a tear.
Disclaimer: there are heavy themes in this book, so check the content warning page. There is also a bit less of Poppy and Sol 'together' doing sweet everyday things like the first book, but I was okay with it, as I really enjoyed the adventure and suspense aspect!
The first half of the book is predominantly romance. Poppy, a widowed seamstress, moves back to Dogwood to see if it's a good fit. In comes Sol, who is a golden retriever cowboy if I've ever read one. His energy really matches Poppy's black cat energy (sorry, all these trends and labels have been stuck in my brain 🤣).
These two are HOT together, and even though Ben is my book bf forever, Sol definitely held his own in the sex scenes. He's sweet and cares so much about Poppy, whose walls are up and is less ready to believe in instalove like he is.
There are a few characters I love, like his little sister Isa who has no idea what a filter is 🥴 and when things start getting sketchy around the second half of the book--this is where the suspense comes in--it focuses a little more on Isa and Poppy's bond as they try to survive a few certain things I shall not spoil. But okay, MILD, mild spoiler... Poppy is separated from Sol for several chapters towards the last 30ish%.
BUT the ending is so worth it when they reunite, and I was on pins and needles the whole time, wondering if they were going to survive this! And the epilogue 😭😭 I may or may not have shed a tear.
Disclaimer: there are heavy themes in this book, so check the content warning page. There is also a bit less of Poppy and Sol 'together' doing sweet everyday things like the first book, but I was okay with it, as I really enjoyed the adventure and suspense aspect!
September 13, 2023
The thing I love the most about Tanya's writing with both books in the Texas Bloom Series, is how authentic everything feels. She puts so much research into the time period that it all flows so seamlessly. The pacing is wonderful as you move from a whirlwind romance to the adventure that changes their lives. Sol is rugged and smooth (and dirty talkin) which balances Poppy's polished and shy demeanor. We love to see a man praise the talents and strength of a character who truly deserves it. You will fall in love with them together and individually!
There is separation between the characters and the last third of the book is filled with suspense and adventure. I think it's so necessary for the story development and it makes the ending even Sweeter!
There is separation between the characters and the last third of the book is filled with suspense and adventure. I think it's so necessary for the story development and it makes the ending even Sweeter!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2024
I really loved this until i didn’t. I loved loved loved Sol and his easygoing nature (he definitely gave West Ravenel vibes) loved the tension between Junior and Isa. I could’ve dealt with the whole mystery action side plot if it didn’t become the ENTIRE PLOT the last 30% of the book. Poppy and Isa’s kidnapping just dragged on and on and on. It just felt completely unnecessary and a waste of time. By having all these traumatic events happen took away from the book and made the ending seem super rushed. I’m very excited to read the next book and hopefully it doesn’t go insane like this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2024
Poppies in Silk by Tanya Fischer is the second instalment of the Texas Bloom series following one of my favourite books, Letters to Dogwood. Fischer’s masterful storytelling and her gifted ability to create a full world of characters make this an excellent read. The story takes place in 1888 Texas and follows Poppy Daniels, a widow seamstress who has moved back to Dogwood to restart her life. After a troubled past with a prostitute single mother who moved them around a lot, and after caring for an invalid husband, Poppy is ready for something new. She sparks the interest of Sol Williams who we met in the first book. He’s a kind-hearted foreman and cowboy working on the ranch belonging to Lucy and Ben from book 1. The book tells the story of their sweet and steamy relationship that is interrupted by danger that arrives in the form of sinister forces behind missing girls and women. The plot becomes quite dark in the last third of the novel before resolving in the HEA.
I really love Fischer’s writing. It is beautiful, lyrical, and really makes you feel like you’re in the hands of a great storyteller. The characters feel so real, complete with their own weaknesses and flaws. The emotional pull of this novel is gripping and makes it hard to put down. I loved Poppy and Sol together, love the obstacles they fight through to reach an understanding, and love the look at the secondary characters. Every character is rendered in such realistic detail and Fischer takes us through a fully rendered setting.
The only real thing I didn’t love about this novel was the darker sub-plot. The human trafficking story was quite harrowing and took up more of the novel’s time than I would have liked. I wanted to see more between Poppy and Sol at the end and would’ve preferred they be given more time together after their return to Dogwood. Having said that, we do get a deeply satisfying epilogue and a nice foundation for the next book which will follow Sol’s sister, Isa, and Ben’s brother, Junior’s story. Tanya Fischer never disappoints, and I hope she gives us many, many, more books! She’s an auto-buy author for me. 4.5 stars rounded to 5.
I really love Fischer’s writing. It is beautiful, lyrical, and really makes you feel like you’re in the hands of a great storyteller. The characters feel so real, complete with their own weaknesses and flaws. The emotional pull of this novel is gripping and makes it hard to put down. I loved Poppy and Sol together, love the obstacles they fight through to reach an understanding, and love the look at the secondary characters. Every character is rendered in such realistic detail and Fischer takes us through a fully rendered setting.
The only real thing I didn’t love about this novel was the darker sub-plot. The human trafficking story was quite harrowing and took up more of the novel’s time than I would have liked. I wanted to see more between Poppy and Sol at the end and would’ve preferred they be given more time together after their return to Dogwood. Having said that, we do get a deeply satisfying epilogue and a nice foundation for the next book which will follow Sol’s sister, Isa, and Ben’s brother, Junior’s story. Tanya Fischer never disappoints, and I hope she gives us many, many, more books! She’s an auto-buy author for me. 4.5 stars rounded to 5.
September 23, 2023
“He pondered the conversation where she’d divulged life with her invalid husband and mother-in-law and thought, Why, she’s taken care of people her whole adult life. He wondered if she would like to be taken care of for once.”
This book does not disappoint! Filled with angst, grit, love and heat, you’ll stay up all night to finish (I did!).
The story follows our MFC Penelope “Poppie” Daniels return to Dogwood, the only place she ever experienced true happiness and contentment as a child. Poppie suffers from what might be called “survivors guilt”, having saved herself from a horribly dangerous and damaging childhood. Recently widowed after the passing of her chronically ill husband and mother-in-law (she was the caregiver to them both), she has set out to start a new life built around a seamstress business with an old friend. Poppie is caring, considerate, compassionate but closed off and guilt-ridden over events in her past. It will take a special man to break through her defenses, someone who is equally kind, caring snd patient. And you won’t find anyone more suited to crack Poppie’s shell than Sol. He is pretty perfect…funny, sweet, sexy…he likes to “praise talk” during sexy times!…he is a solid cinnamon roll. Their romance is slow burn until it’s a full on inferno. While our two leads are falling in love, a drama is unfolding around them involving human trafficking. Poppie’s past rears it’s ugly head and our couple is forced to literally fight for their HEA. The supporting characters are wonderful…particularly Sol’s sister Isa. She is a force of nature and I can’t wait for her book! I recommend reading the content warning at the beginning of the book. There is a lot of serious, possibly triggering, subject matter throughout the book.
This book does not disappoint! Filled with angst, grit, love and heat, you’ll stay up all night to finish (I did!).
The story follows our MFC Penelope “Poppie” Daniels return to Dogwood, the only place she ever experienced true happiness and contentment as a child. Poppie suffers from what might be called “survivors guilt”, having saved herself from a horribly dangerous and damaging childhood. Recently widowed after the passing of her chronically ill husband and mother-in-law (she was the caregiver to them both), she has set out to start a new life built around a seamstress business with an old friend. Poppie is caring, considerate, compassionate but closed off and guilt-ridden over events in her past. It will take a special man to break through her defenses, someone who is equally kind, caring snd patient. And you won’t find anyone more suited to crack Poppie’s shell than Sol. He is pretty perfect…funny, sweet, sexy…he likes to “praise talk” during sexy times!…he is a solid cinnamon roll. Their romance is slow burn until it’s a full on inferno. While our two leads are falling in love, a drama is unfolding around them involving human trafficking. Poppie’s past rears it’s ugly head and our couple is forced to literally fight for their HEA. The supporting characters are wonderful…particularly Sol’s sister Isa. She is a force of nature and I can’t wait for her book! I recommend reading the content warning at the beginning of the book. There is a lot of serious, possibly triggering, subject matter throughout the book.
September 4, 2023
(minor spoilers, nothing specific)
What can I say, I am a bit confused about this book.
I love Poppy and Sol so much, you just fall in love with them from the star and all the side characters, especially Isa, I enjoyed her POVs a lot. The world you just want to live in, it's so rich and enticing.
I think what makes me not 100% love this book is that we barely spend any time with the couple together. We spent 45% of the book with them getting together, which I loved, they are sooo sweet and perfect together, I loved their interactions and how passionate they are. We have like 15% of them together, and they are separate for the rest of the book, we entered a different world entirely, more a suspense/western with the romance in the background round, we see them together at the end for like half a chapter. I sooo wanted more time with Poppy and Sol. I wish there was a little novella with them just doing mondaine things.
I have to say I don't like suspense at all in any book, but if you love a sweet sweet romance, a lot of suspense, adventure and good writing this book is for you.
What can I say, I am a bit confused about this book.
I love Poppy and Sol so much, you just fall in love with them from the star and all the side characters, especially Isa, I enjoyed her POVs a lot. The world you just want to live in, it's so rich and enticing.
I think what makes me not 100% love this book is that we barely spend any time with the couple together. We spent 45% of the book with them getting together, which I loved, they are sooo sweet and perfect together, I loved their interactions and how passionate they are. We have like 15% of them together, and they are separate for the rest of the book, we entered a different world entirely, more a suspense/western with the romance in the background round, we see them together at the end for like half a chapter. I sooo wanted more time with Poppy and Sol. I wish there was a little novella with them just doing mondaine things.
I have to say I don't like suspense at all in any book, but if you love a sweet sweet romance, a lot of suspense, adventure and good writing this book is for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2023
i’m sorry but this book didn’t have to be over 500 goddamn pages. it was like it couldn’t decide if it wanted to be a romance or a thriller. the romance was beautiful, so swoon worthy, but the suspense aspect? so unnecessary and so frustrating because i just wanted to see the two characters together, happy and in love, but instead i had to deal with them being separated for the last like 30% of the book. i genuinely think this could have been a 5 star if it had ended at around page 350.
October 21, 2023
Tanya Fisher writes such strong characters that really draw you into the story. Poppy and Sol's relationship grows through the book. Sol's support of Poppy to overcome events of her childhood males you really want their happy ending. The side characters are fully developed and Junior and Isa are young, flawed but amazingly loyal and hopefully there will be more of their story. The book has themes of child abuse and trafficking and at times is heartbreaking.
March 27, 2024
I loved the characters in this book a Sol is a wonderful hero. This book was going strong and completely had me enthralled then something happened. The focus abruptly shifted from the MC’s relationship/romance to all the “bad stuff”. I hated that the characters were away from each other. That being said the writing is superb and I will continue to read this amazing author! She is very very talented and obviously knowledgable of history and the is setting. Can’t wait for her next book!
October 8, 2024
While I love this genre, time period and setting, I just didn’t love the romance. Found myself not wanting to pick it up and was in fear of going into a reading slump. I read the entire first book in this series and felt the same way. It was just missing something, sadly. I really wanted to like this book. DNF @ 51%.
August 16, 2023
More like a 4.5
October 2, 2023
Strange
October 15, 2023
Tanya Fischer is just so talented, she's quickly becoming one of my favorite historical romance authors.
Same as in the first book this couple was just perfect for each other, I love nothing more than a besotted and obsessed man and a woman that manages to keep being strong and kind even after life had been nothing but hard on her. My heart broke for Poppy multiple times during this book, which was much more angsty and dark themed than the first one, but I loved to see her development and how she achieved each of her dreams, one at a time.
I appreciate that whole kidnapping and sex trafficking situation was lengthy enough to feel real, and that even in a couple of the villains you could find redeeming qualities since, generally, people are not 100% good or evil.
The only reason I wasn't as enthralled with this story as I was with Letters to Dogwood is that Poppy was (understandably) deeply wounded by her past so it was kind of frustrating to see her reject good things in her life because she didn't think she deserved them so many times, it felt like I read the same inner dialogue or conversation trying to reassure her multiple times.
Finally, I'm more than excited to read Isa and Junior's story, 2024 cannot come fast enough.
Same as in the first book this couple was just perfect for each other, I love nothing more than a besotted and obsessed man and a woman that manages to keep being strong and kind even after life had been nothing but hard on her. My heart broke for Poppy multiple times during this book, which was much more angsty and dark themed than the first one, but I loved to see her development and how she achieved each of her dreams, one at a time.
I appreciate that whole kidnapping and sex trafficking situation was lengthy enough to feel real, and that even in a couple of the villains you could find redeeming qualities since, generally, people are not 100% good or evil.
The only reason I wasn't as enthralled with this story as I was with Letters to Dogwood is that Poppy was (understandably) deeply wounded by her past so it was kind of frustrating to see her reject good things in her life because she didn't think she deserved them so many times, it felt like I read the same inner dialogue or conversation trying to reassure her multiple times.
Finally, I'm more than excited to read Isa and Junior's story, 2024 cannot come fast enough.
August 20, 2024
Reread this after getting the ARC for Trail of Sunflowers and rereading Letters to Dogwood - I loved it on my initial read and while I still do think it's a great book, as other viewers have said it's a bit longer than it needs to be. Particularly the second half of the book had me glazing over and wanting to skip ahead.
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