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Among Wildflowers
Not yet published
Expected 16 Jun 26She had it all. Then she lost it all. Now she's stuck in a town where designer heels sink into the dirt.
At 28, Ali Bennett had the perfect life—money, status, a jet-setting lifestyle filled with exclusive parties, high-end fashion, and epic adventures across the globe. Her world was glossy magazine-worthy, meticulously curated, and exactly what she'd always wanted.
Until it all came crashing down.
Broke, humiliated, and desperate for a fresh start, Ali finds herself exiled to Lakeside, Wisconsin—a charming ( aggressively quaint) small town with an over-the-top devotion to wildflowers, no such thing as ride shares, and a pace of life that's the polar opposite of everything she's ever known. Here, gossip travels faster than Wi-Fi, everyone knows everyone's business, and her Louboutins are completely impractical.
She's comically, spectacularly out of her element.
But Ali's never been one to give up without a fight. Armed with her quick wit, unexpected kindness, and a determination to prove she's more than just a rich girl with a bruised ego, she slowly starts winning over the quirky townsfolk—including her infuriatingly handsome, maddeningly practical, frustratingly perfect next-door neighbor.
Jake Elliott is Lakeside's beloved veterinarian and all-around do-gooder. He's earnest, grounded, and deeply committed to his community. He rescues animals, attends book club, and champions wild gardening in his spare time. He's everything Ali's not—and everything she never knew she needed.
On paper, they're a contradiction. Her brand of chaos should be a total turn-off for someone as practical and level-headed as Jake. But the more time they spend together—whether she's helping put Lakeside on the map, or resolving a local business’s inventory crisis he is discovering that beneath her designer armor is someone who's scared, vulnerable, and trying so damn hard—the harder it becomes to ignore the sparks flying between them.
Ali came to Lakeside to hide. Instead, she's blooming.
Opposites may attract, but can a city girl with a shattered past find love—and herself—in a town where wildflowers aren't the only thing that bloom?
Among Wildflowers is a heartwarming, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy about finding home, falling hard, and the unexpected magic of small-town charm. It's about second chances, discovering who you are when everything you thought defined you is gone, and realizing that sometimes the life you didn't plan for is exactly the one you needed.
At 28, Ali Bennett had the perfect life—money, status, a jet-setting lifestyle filled with exclusive parties, high-end fashion, and epic adventures across the globe. Her world was glossy magazine-worthy, meticulously curated, and exactly what she'd always wanted.
Until it all came crashing down.
Broke, humiliated, and desperate for a fresh start, Ali finds herself exiled to Lakeside, Wisconsin—a charming ( aggressively quaint) small town with an over-the-top devotion to wildflowers, no such thing as ride shares, and a pace of life that's the polar opposite of everything she's ever known. Here, gossip travels faster than Wi-Fi, everyone knows everyone's business, and her Louboutins are completely impractical.
She's comically, spectacularly out of her element.
But Ali's never been one to give up without a fight. Armed with her quick wit, unexpected kindness, and a determination to prove she's more than just a rich girl with a bruised ego, she slowly starts winning over the quirky townsfolk—including her infuriatingly handsome, maddeningly practical, frustratingly perfect next-door neighbor.
Jake Elliott is Lakeside's beloved veterinarian and all-around do-gooder. He's earnest, grounded, and deeply committed to his community. He rescues animals, attends book club, and champions wild gardening in his spare time. He's everything Ali's not—and everything she never knew she needed.
On paper, they're a contradiction. Her brand of chaos should be a total turn-off for someone as practical and level-headed as Jake. But the more time they spend together—whether she's helping put Lakeside on the map, or resolving a local business’s inventory crisis he is discovering that beneath her designer armor is someone who's scared, vulnerable, and trying so damn hard—the harder it becomes to ignore the sparks flying between them.
Ali came to Lakeside to hide. Instead, she's blooming.
Opposites may attract, but can a city girl with a shattered past find love—and herself—in a town where wildflowers aren't the only thing that bloom?
Among Wildflowers is a heartwarming, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy about finding home, falling hard, and the unexpected magic of small-town charm. It's about second chances, discovering who you are when everything you thought defined you is gone, and realizing that sometimes the life you didn't plan for is exactly the one you needed.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 16, 2026
About the author
C. Ellan Rose
1 book4 followersC. Ellan writes spicy, swoony love stories for readers who want a little heat, a lot of heart, and all the fluttering butterflies. She’s a joy seeker who champions those who identify as women. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her teaching yoga, reading, packing for her next adventure, reading, cheering on her teenage daughter for winning at life by being her true self, reading, canoodling with her husband of eight hundred and twenty-two years, or walking her two fur babies. Oh, and of course, reading. Always reading!
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 22, 2026
A cozy small-town romance with a sweet premise, but one that didn’t fully land for me. 💛
There were definitely elements I enjoyed, especially the wildflower project and some of the side characters, which brought warmth and charm to the story. Those pieces had a lot of potential and were what kept me reading.
Where I struggled was with the writing itself. It felt quite repetitive at times, not just in wording but in structure and phrasing, which made it harder to stay immersed. The dual POV also didn’t feel very distinct, and both perspectives blended together in a way that made the characters feel less developed as individuals.
I also found the emotional arc a bit lacking. The story leans into themes of finding home and belonging, but it felt more externally resolved than internally, and I was hoping for a stronger sense of personal growth from both of the main characters.
Overall, there were some nice ideas here, but the execution didn’t fully land for me. I can see this working for readers who enjoy more trope-forward, formulaically written romances, but it wasn’t quite the right fit for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There were definitely elements I enjoyed, especially the wildflower project and some of the side characters, which brought warmth and charm to the story. Those pieces had a lot of potential and were what kept me reading.
Where I struggled was with the writing itself. It felt quite repetitive at times, not just in wording but in structure and phrasing, which made it harder to stay immersed. The dual POV also didn’t feel very distinct, and both perspectives blended together in a way that made the characters feel less developed as individuals.
I also found the emotional arc a bit lacking. The story leans into themes of finding home and belonging, but it felt more externally resolved than internally, and I was hoping for a stronger sense of personal growth from both of the main characters.
Overall, there were some nice ideas here, but the execution didn’t fully land for me. I can see this working for readers who enjoy more trope-forward, formulaically written romances, but it wasn’t quite the right fit for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really wanted to love this book, but it just did not land for me.
The premise is adorable, and I went in expecting something that felt like a Hallmark movie, which is exactly my kind of read. Unfortunately, the humor did not quite hit for me, and a lot of the dialogue felt forced throughout.
Dual POV is genuinely difficult to pull off, and I think it should only be used when both characters truly have something meaningful to add. The MMC's inner monologue ended up undercutting his character because we are led to believe he is this wonderful guy, and his thoughts did not always support that.
Instead of learning about each character through genuine interactions and natural storytelling, the author relies on anecdotes to tell us who these people are rather than showing us through the story itself.
The premise has real charm, and I think there is an audience for this book. It just was not the right fit for me.
I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The premise is adorable, and I went in expecting something that felt like a Hallmark movie, which is exactly my kind of read. Unfortunately, the humor did not quite hit for me, and a lot of the dialogue felt forced throughout.
Dual POV is genuinely difficult to pull off, and I think it should only be used when both characters truly have something meaningful to add. The MMC's inner monologue ended up undercutting his character because we are led to believe he is this wonderful guy, and his thoughts did not always support that.
Instead of learning about each character through genuine interactions and natural storytelling, the author relies on anecdotes to tell us who these people are rather than showing us through the story itself.
The premise has real charm, and I think there is an audience for this book. It just was not the right fit for me.
I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Cuando Alison Bennet vuelve a Lakeside, no lo hace por nostalgia ni por deseo de reencontrarse con sus raíces. Llega porque ya no tiene a donde ir. La cabaña que heredó de su abuela promete un descanso, distancia y el tiempo suficiente para ordenar el desastre en el que se convirtió su vida.
Jake Elliot conoce a la perfección la tranquilidad del pueblo y disfruta de una vida donde casi nada cambia. Hasta que una nueva vecina aparece cargando demasiadas maletas y una personalidad imposible de ignorar. Ali parece ser un torbellino dispuesto a alterar cada uno de sus días, pero cuanto más tiempo pasa cerca de ella, más evidente se vuelve que detrás de sus sonrisas y comentarios despreocupados hay algo que no está diciendo.
...................
Solo esperaba que Ali abriera los ojos en relación a su padre.
Jake Elliot conoce a la perfección la tranquilidad del pueblo y disfruta de una vida donde casi nada cambia. Hasta que una nueva vecina aparece cargando demasiadas maletas y una personalidad imposible de ignorar. Ali parece ser un torbellino dispuesto a alterar cada uno de sus días, pero cuanto más tiempo pasa cerca de ella, más evidente se vuelve que detrás de sus sonrisas y comentarios despreocupados hay algo que no está diciendo.
...................
Solo esperaba que Ali abriera los ojos en relación a su padre.
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May 17, 20263.5⭐
El único pero que le pongo es como se trato lo de la ex. Jake no era ningún tonto, entonces no tiene sentido que fuera tan "inocente" para no darse cuenta que C quería otra cosa y que Ali lo tomaría con calma.
El único pero que le pongo es como se trato lo de la ex. Jake no era ningún tonto, entonces no tiene sentido que fuera tan "inocente" para no darse cuenta que C quería otra cosa y que Ali lo tomaría con calma.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Loved reading this one - Characters were so fun. I could picture the town in my head perfectly. The slow-burn was just what I needed. This is the perfect book to pick up going into summer or to take on your next trip. Can't wait to find out which love story we will be following in book two!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews