Bellflower

The Heart's Spring #0.5

by Amber Stokes

"The Heart's Spring" Short-Story Combo eBook

BELLFLOWER: Short Story Prequel to Forget Me Not

Spring 1880

Annabelle knows only one way of life. Jacob knows only one way to feel secure. When their paths cross in a Western mining town, can they find a way for love to bloom? Discover the story behind two hurting hearts in this short but sweet retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

FAIRY SLIPPERS: Bonus Short Story Companion to Bleeding Heart

Spring 1888

Margaret is fragile. Zachary is tough. Both are lonely. Will a dance in a redwood lumber town bring them together - or drive them apart forever? Discover the continuing story of the cook from Bleeding Heart in this short but sweet retelling of Cinderella.

Genres: Historical, Romance, Christian Fiction, Christian, Historical Fiction, Christian Romance, Retellings

40 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 21, 2014

About the author

Amber Holcomb (Stokes) is a freelance editor and indie author who lives in eastern Washington with her adventurous husband. Previously, she worked in marketing for a Christian publisher for nearly three years. Her passion for books compelled her to earn a bachelor's degree in English and now fuels her work with words in this new season of life.

Where Trains Collide, While You're Awake, How a Star Falls, Forget Me Not, Bleeding Heart, and Bellflower are available for purchase on Amazon.

You can get a glimpse of the characters & settings of Amber's books on Pinterest: Where Trains Collide, While You're Awake, How a Star Falls, Bellflower, Forget Me Not, Bleeding Heart, Fairy Slippers, and Morning Glory.

Reviews

[writer...]

Two unique fairy tale re-tellings set in historical America - Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella - have set the stage for Amber Stokes further tales in and

[Marlene]

Note to self: Read just the first story, then book one.

[Shantelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun, and rather simple, pair of short stories! They were delightful additives to The Heart's Spring series, and I enjoyed both Bellflower and Fairy Slippers very much.

Bellflower is a prequel to Forget Me Not, the first book The Heart's Spring series. It is about a young woman named Annabelle who knows nothing but prostitution and hard men, due to her parents’ poor choices. But in a world where woman are only of worth because of the outward beauty, and men are beasts, can Annabelle find true love… and maybe in the most unlikely person of all? It was a poignant and touching story… though I do wonder, what happens next? :) An interesting retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

Fairy Slippers is a little added story about one of the secondary characters in Bleeding Heart. Following the lives of innocent, lonely, young Margaret and the logging camp cook, Zachary, who’s plagued with fears from the past, this story tells a lovely Cinderella story. I found it incredibly sweet!! Short and simple, but very touching. Too cute! 

I like how Amber Stokes names each of her books after a flower. It’s just so charming, and I look forward to reading the scene about the flower in each book. Two lovely little stories… can’t wait to read Forget Me Not and Morning Glory now!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read Forget Me Not last month, it was really fun to read Bellflower, the prequel to that story. I really enjoyed getting to see how Jacob and Annabelle met. Bellflower's story does take place in a brothel, so there are some delicate situations. The story ended a bit quickly, but it is a short story, so...

Overall, I really liked Bellflower and some of the similarities to Beauty and the Beast. It was a quick and interesting read! I'm glad I read this book after Forget Me Not, because I think having known some of Jacob's story beforehand improved my enjoyment of Bellflower. I look forward to reading future books in "The Heart's Spring" series.

*I did not get this book for review. I received a free copy from the author for signing up for her newsletter. Get your free copy by following the instructions on her blog post!

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both short stories have broken characters in them yet are filled with innocence and a sweet romance. Every girl deserves a fairy tale no matter what her past holds. I look forward to reading more of Amber's stories, love the cover to this one :)

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annabelle whose mother told her with beauty you won’t be lonely. She added and with books.At the general store a man who had a powerful presence and a gentleness . Asking her to have dinner with him. Instead she knew he owned the brothel, and wanted him to show her. That evening spending time in reading and sleeping, would he still pay her
Interesting tale of Beauty and the Beast
Cinderella was that of Zachary and Margaret sweet story to read

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more I read from Amber Stokes, the more I truly appreciate and relish her writing ability! She never ceases to touch my heart with her stories. There is a beauty that lies within the simple yet honest way she develops her characters and the plot. I never get tired of delving into a different character and seeing life from their eyes. It’s a refreshing and rejuvenating experience.

In Bellflower, we see how Annabella and Jacob meet and fall in love. Annabella is new in town, and is in need of a job. Jacob finds himself immediately drawn to this beautiful stranger. His heart betrays him just as Annabella's own heart is filled with confusion after their first meeting. Jacob is not at all what she expected, and she doesn't know how to interpret his actions. Will she push away the only heart that has longed for who she is underneath her mask, or will she give in to this fragile dream that has bloomed before her and hold on with everything in her?

This is not your typical love story. It is one born from the heart as any other, but it is one that looks past the beast of the exterior in order to behold the beauty underneath. Theirs is an imperfect and harsh world, and even in the midst of that pain, they find a spark of something pure and beautiful. Neither intended for this, but that is what makes it all the more wonderful.
Amber Stokes continues to delight and enthrall as she unfolds the rich history of her beautiful series. I love immersing myself in the details of the time and the personalities of the quirky and charming characters that she brings our way. I never tire of their captivating tales, and I continue to look forward to new stories by this extremely talented author.

BONUS STORY:

Fairy Slippers: A Retelling of Cinderella

What a beautiful surprise to be able to read this emotionally touching short story that also serves as a new piece of Amber Stokes’s serial masterpiece. It was such a treat to see Zachary Taylor again! I was wondering if we would perhaps see another side to him.

We are introduced to a new character named Margret Richmond who finds herself alone in the world. Both of her parents have passed away and left a huge hole in her heart. She struggles to get through life one day at a time. Secretly, she dreams of finding a man who will love, cherish, and desire her, but she knows she isn’t anything special. She doesn’t have the bubbly personality, the blessing of beauty, or the grace of the other girls she works alongside, so she prepares herself to live a solitary life. However, Zachery Taylor sees her in a completely different way. You would think that a man who served and fought in a war would have the courage to proclaim his feelings to a woman, but you would be mistaken. War does not prepare a man for love. Will these two lonely souls find each other and let their hearts do the talking, or will they shake off these silly, unfounded feelings and get on with life?

The struggle of letting go of the reigns of life is one that we all deal with. We aren’t able to easily hand over what we think we can manage just fine. Even admitting that you really aren’t in control can be a huge mountain to overcome. What we need to understand is that once we get out of the way, life is able to proceed as intended. Dreams can then be fulfilled. The hardest part is just allowing things to happen on their own, so just let go and see what wonders will unfold before your eyes.

Once again, Amber Stokes has outdone herself with this fresh and original piece to her much larger tapestry. I look forward to much more in the future. She is only just beginning to scratch the surface of the potential that lies within her heart.

[Miranda A. Uyeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Endorsement - “Very mature, and well written, intricately laced with unique metaphors of southern flares! These heart spring short stories will leave you pondering and satisfied with immense literary appreciation. ~ Miranda A. Uyeh


Bell Flower

This short story is my favorite in the series! I loved the Annabelle’s straight-forwardness from the get-go. Her character had no illusions of life; she knew it wasn’t her fault that she ended up where she did, but she didn’t complain about it either. She was tough and vulnerable at the same time, in a way that seemed very real, like a beautiful flower caught in a storm that somehow didn’t break.

Jacob on the other hand, was very guarded most of the time, at least, that’s what I thought, as it took a while to reveal his true intentions toward Annabelle (even to the reader).

I loved that as they came together, there were no games, no lies, just an honesty that stemmed from mutual understanding. They each knew the other was far from perfect, but were willing to give love a chance. This love, by the way, is the mature kind that loves with eyes wide open to the whole truth.

As much as I loved this story, I would have loved to see the faith element in it, which I didn’t. However, I understand that this book is meant to create a clearer picture for us, the Heart Spring fans. So, it’s fine. :)

FAIRY SLIPPER

This is a retelling of the Cinderella story, but this is not your typical tale of one. The best thing about this story is that, both of the main characters are considered write-offs by the people around them. But it’s amazing what a flower found in the forest can teach you. Here’s what I learned: as a flower, you may not look as tall and strong as the trees in the forest, but the trees don’t look as pretty as you either. The very difference between you and those trees is what makes you STANDout. Add some faith into that mix, and you could become … well, OUTstanding!

I believe Zachary and Meg are kindred spirits, as they were both able to recognize the significance of the fairy slipper in the forest, a lesson that changed their lives for the better. And in a way, each was a Cinderella who needed rescuing. Thankfully, each was also, a knight in shining armor who came to that rescue! Sweet, right?

Once again, this is a mature love story between two people who have an understanding, or at least a sense/awareness of each other’s difficulties, but chose to love all the same. I find it peculiar that Fairy Slipper is similar to Bell Flower in its core message: stepping up with courage in the face of odds to rescue whom will become your true love, knowing full well that you’d get your hands dirty dusting and cleaning them up. That’s just lovely

And the faith element? No one is forgotten by God, even if they’re forgotten by people. No one is without hope of loving, or even beyond loving. We just need to look beyond the obvious to see the beauty inside the person standing right in front of us. Let us pray to God, like Brandon Heath (Christian Song Artist), to give us His eyes, even if it’s for one second, so we can see.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3M3UN2R...
Review on my blog: http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...

(Review of Bellflower - posted in Feb.)

Having read Forget Me Not last month, it was really fun to read Bellflower, the prequel to that story. I really enjoyed getting to see how Jacob and Annabelle met. Bellflower's story does take place in a brothel, so there are some delicate situations. The story ended a bit quickly, but it is a short story, so...

Overall, I really liked Bellflower and some of the similarities to Beauty and the Beast. It was a quick and interesting read! I'm glad I read this book after Forget Me Not, because I think having known some of Jacob's story beforehand improved my enjoyment of Bellflower. I look forward to reading future books in "The Heart's Spring" series.

*I did not get this book for review. I received a free copy from the author for signing up for her newsletter. -- EDIT: I ended up getting a review copy of Bellflower with the bonus story Fairy Slippers. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

Fairy Slippers

Fairy Slippers was a good story. It was very short, but it held my attention and I really enjoyed it. The story made me interested in rereading Bleeding Heart (hopefully I'll be able to do that soon!).

One thing I really liked about this series is how the flowers (in this case, fairy slippers) were incorporated in the story. So neat! The setting is also good, as is the writing style.

All in all, I really enjoyed this short bonus story. I think fans of this series will also like it and I recommend the series (currently available: Bellflower, Forget Me Not, Bleeding Heart, and Fairy Slippers). I'm excited about Amber's next book in this series, Morning Glory, which is set to release later this year. :)


*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

[Julie Graves · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am always a fan of reading more about characters that I have enjoyed. Short stories provide an author a way of doing that. In Bellflower, the prequel to Forget Me Not, we are able to find out more about Annabelle and Jacob and how they came to be together. Such sad backgrounds for two people trying to survive in tough times. I love this retelling of Beauty and the Beast!
In Fairy Slippers we get to read more of Zachary the cook in a logging camp from the book Bleeding Heart. Amber's readers have cried out for more of Zachary and Myghal and Amber didn't disappoint in telling Zachary's story. Even though Zachary may be tough and a man of few words I really enjoyed how he desired to protect Margaret even though he didn't know how. I have to say that I liked the little bit of inspiration in this story and the fact that both characters had a "faith moment," it left the reader feeling hopeful for both of them.

I enjoyed both of these short stories combined into one eBook, they only took me about an hour to read and helped fill in a few gaps on characters that I enjoyed from the other books mentioned.

[Meagan | The Chapter House · Rating 5 out of 5]

I immensely enjoyed both stories, for very different reasons. Bellflower is, of course, the perfect insight into a villain’s soul and just the backstory that I wanted to read about for Rufus. It added a great deal of complexity to a character I already enjoy WAY too much!

I also enjoyed reading Jacob and Annabelle’s backstory. They are secondary characters in Forget Me Not, and the extra detail of how they came together and fell in love was a treat.

Fairy Slippers, alternately, is all about Zachary Taylor. I’ll admit that while I’d enjoyed his character in the other Heart’s Spring books, I hadn’t given him much more than a passing glance – until now. I’m sure that part of it is the foodie in me – but I. Loved. This. Guy. And apparently the way to my heart is through MY stomach! ;-)

From the struggles he faces finding butter to cook with (WIN!), to the sweet expressions of frustration (“Oh, flapjacks!”), I was chuckling all the way through the story – full on laughing out loud at some points.

Both Bellflower and Fairy Slippers are quick reads – under an hour total – but chock full of intrigue, history, and, of course, butter. Five stars. :)

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I downloaded Bellflower after it was mentioned during Fairy Tale Fortnight on The Book Rat blog. I'm glad it was a freebie (when I downloaded it) as it was fairly disappointing. The two stories contained were both to short for proper character development - I felt like the story was over before I got their names straight, which I know is not the case in all short stories of this length, so feel like the writing is at least somewhat to blame. I think Stokes relied to much on readers knowing the characters (who are apparently minor characters in her full length novels). Both also were only barely recognisable as the fairy tales they were meant to retell.

I enjoyed 'Fairy slippers' slightly more than 'Bellflower' simply because the motivations behind the character's actions were a little easier to discern - in the later, I really wondered why both main characters were acting the way they were.

[Jaye Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is my review--short and sweet, just like the stories. :)

Bellflower, the prequel story to Forget Me Not, offered an interesting look into the lives of Annabelle and Jacob and how they got to where they are in Forget Me Not. I always love backstory, and this was a perfect way to get to explore theirs more deeply.

Fairy Slippers (the bonus short story that is a companion to Bleeding Heart) was my favorite of the two. It was so sweet, and I loved reading more about about Zachary. He was one of my favorite characters in Bleeding Heart. It was definitely a story that made me go, “Awww,” and give a happy girl sigh. :)

If you’ve read Forget Me Not and Bleeding Heart, I highly recommend checking out Bellflower for these wonderful little stories that add even more depth to the Heart’s Spring series.

[Wendy Sparkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it, and as both short stories (Bellfower and Fairy Slippers) are prequels, I'm now looking forward to reading & .

Also will be looking out for releasing soon.

I just wanted something quick & light to read yesterday evening & this book was ideal. For those who enjoy long stories, this is probably going to be too quick for you, but for me, I liked the fact they were short & sweet.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

BellFlower
This is the story of Annabelle and Jacob. I was fortunate to read these books in order. Annabelle is used to using her looks to make money. She doesn't know any other way. She walks into a store and asks for a brothel. Jacob happens to be an owner as well of a brothel. He feels a sense of protection for her. It's their story of how they got together and fell in love.

Fairy Slippers
This was a sweet story of Zachary Taylor and Margaret. It was short and the only draw back to the story was that! I really like Amber's writing and how she writes her stories. She does a great job. Who knew a dance could be so important to two people and mean so much! What did it mean? You need to read and find out!

[Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating: 3.5 stars

Um, where do I begin? Having previously read two others books by this author, "While You're Awake" and "How a Star Falls", I had high expectations for this book. Maybe too high. The theme of prostitution and life in a brothel wasn't very enjoyable to me, and even made me uncomfortable sometimes. It seems like there wasn't much depth to the story. However, I did like the ending! Jacob's caring for Annabelle was sweet. :) I'll probably still read "The Heart's Spring" series sometime. :-)
The bonus story was cute and sweet, but it didn't have much depth to it either which disappointed me.

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Bellflower

Author: Amber Stokes

Series: The Hearts Srping 0.5

Genre: Historical Fiction fairy tale retold

Rating: 4 stars


Bellflower is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast it is slightly darker than the fairy tale. This short story is also darker and a little harder than the Heart’s Spring series that Amber writes but it is still a good read, though it is a short story.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the past few months, I've had the pleasure to read Bleeding Heart and Forget Me Not, so it was nothing but joy to read Bellflower and Fairy Slippers to learn more about some of the characters within those books. The fact that they are sweet little fairy tale re-tellings were just icing on the cake!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was good, but I really understand this story. Annabelle was a compelling character, but Jacob makes no sense. Honestly, the setting was not what I would have chosen and it really didn't feel redeemed.
This is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast so some people might just like it for that.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come!

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

great premise and start of a full length novel

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two very brief stories, but I really enjoyed them both!

[Jack Baillot]

My review http://howeverimporbable.blogspot.com...

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

[Erika Mathews · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well written, just not my type of story or setting.