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Picking Daisy
Daisy Parker isn’t the woman that rock star Robby Grant would have imagined himself falling for. She’s soft-spoken, sweet, and lives by a strange code the struggling musician is recognizing as Biblical.
And he’s helpless against it.
Even if Daisy is hard-pressed to believe that a man like Robby would see her—a woman long forgotten by the rest of the world—as anything more than a step back to his career.
But Robby challenges Daisy in ways she’d long avoided.
With their mutual love of music, it seems nothing can separate them—not Daisy’s wheelchair or Robby’s ego.
As Robby grows into the man he’s long dreamed of being, Daisy dares to trust again. But will this sweet melody last?
And he’s helpless against it.
Even if Daisy is hard-pressed to believe that a man like Robby would see her—a woman long forgotten by the rest of the world—as anything more than a step back to his career.
But Robby challenges Daisy in ways she’d long avoided.
With their mutual love of music, it seems nothing can separate them—not Daisy’s wheelchair or Robby’s ego.
As Robby grows into the man he’s long dreamed of being, Daisy dares to trust again. But will this sweet melody last?
334 pages, Paperback
Published August 9, 2017
4 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 29, 2017
This book is more than just a romance. It’s not all unicorns and rainbows. It shows what love is like in the real world. There are fights and people make mistakes. Communication is important and forgiveness is necessary.
Being a single woman, in a wheelchair, about Daisy’s age, I related to this novel on a deep level. I saw a lot of myself in Daisy; the stubbornness, the insecurity, the loneliness. Kimberly, hit the nail on the head with regards to what it’s like living with a disability and wondering if there’s anyone out there of the opposite sex capable of seeing past the wheelchair and loving you for you.
This is a novel that makes the reader feel. I was constantly feeling something, whether it was excitement, frustration, anger, sadness, or happiness right along with the characters. There were also moments where I was yelling at the characters internally, “No! Don’t do that!” or “Don’t say that!”
This is a well-written debut novel that is hard to put down once you start reading it. It pulls the reader in so much so that I found myself saying “Just one more page,” or “I’ll go to sleep after I finish this chapter,” and before I knew it, it was 2 a.m.
I highly recommend the book and look forward to seeing more from Kimberly M. Miller in the future! Hopefully a sequel to Picking Daisy is part of the plan!
Being a single woman, in a wheelchair, about Daisy’s age, I related to this novel on a deep level. I saw a lot of myself in Daisy; the stubbornness, the insecurity, the loneliness. Kimberly, hit the nail on the head with regards to what it’s like living with a disability and wondering if there’s anyone out there of the opposite sex capable of seeing past the wheelchair and loving you for you.
This is a novel that makes the reader feel. I was constantly feeling something, whether it was excitement, frustration, anger, sadness, or happiness right along with the characters. There were also moments where I was yelling at the characters internally, “No! Don’t do that!” or “Don’t say that!”
This is a well-written debut novel that is hard to put down once you start reading it. It pulls the reader in so much so that I found myself saying “Just one more page,” or “I’ll go to sleep after I finish this chapter,” and before I knew it, it was 2 a.m.
I highly recommend the book and look forward to seeing more from Kimberly M. Miller in the future! Hopefully a sequel to Picking Daisy is part of the plan!
August 5, 2017
Daisy is a woman facing significant challenges. An accident has left her in a wheelchair, and a lack of financial stability is leaving her in danger of losing her home. Along comes rock star legend Robby, who is facing troubles of his own. A fallout with his band has left him drifting and uncertain of his musical future. A twist of fate brings the two opposites together, and only God could predict how these two help each other to persevere. Robby is taken with Daisy's musical talent, and encourages her to not hide her talents any longer. Daisy helps Robby to see that there is more to his life than just the rock band who have abandoned him.
This is an inspiring story about two people who are able to help each other overcome their challenges and follow their dreams.
This is an inspiring story about two people who are able to help each other overcome their challenges and follow their dreams.
December 25, 2017
We each have a story we carry with us, in many cases, several stories where we, ourselves do not know how it will end. If I was to delve into the story of college, and one of the brightest moments I had that carried me through graduate schools, it was that of meeting author Kimberly Miller. Kim was one of our group trying to find our own path and way through college. We al loved literature and one of my defining moments from college was following in her foot steps as an intern for the Pittsburgh Pirates. She showed me the ropes and then some. She always had a knack for putting something momentous into writing however. Picking Daisy would be no exception.
When I found out she had published her first YA book, to be honest I was nervous. I was so excited for her, and yet I was so nervous in how to approach her novel, when would I read it, I wasn't into the genre of novels I thought this might be, what would I say upon reading it if it wasn't my best effort in reviewing it?
Toss all that out of the window. When I opened my Barnes & Noble delivery yesterday and saw that Kimberly Miller's novel arrived, it told me it was a sign to read it right away, it was not due until after Christmas, and yet, here it was.
As I scanned the front the back, the inside, the front, I saw mega references to how important it was to include God, the Gospel, and just a lifestyle that did not have to be corrupted by worldly things to be pretty darn great, and to some that might be a turnoff, as in "Um, thanks, but no thanks." Not in this case, if you knew Kimberly Miller, you knew she walked the walk of a life that was always giving, always thoughtful, and always made you think alot of yourself as well. If this novel was any part of that - let me have at it.
The funny thing was as I began to dive into her novel early on, my first thought was "Wow, this is an actual book my colleague and friend wrote! In my hands!" and by page 8, I was curious about alot more than finding out what the novel would appear like to me in knowing Kimberly, I wanted to know more about Daisy, about Robby, and about how their spheres of influence would work out the difficulties many of us experience in different ways.
Many of you might be way too young to remember, and I am dating myself, but some of the best stories and shows I ever watched were those with my family in Pittsburgh, from shows like The Waltons, to reading books that were geared towards girls but I found fascinating like Anne of Avonlea, the Hardy Boys, and heck, maybe I just liked to know what girls were curious about too, because yeah, I like girls too, but, (that is beside the point) - it is very rare to find movies, shows, and stories that simply explore the decisions and struggles that open the way for a better path. Without the need for violence, explicit scenes, or exaggerated language. When a quality story does occur, it is pretty amazing, and it allows the individual to contemplate their own life as well.
I have to say, for how many amazing things I have been lucky to experience, I have also had some major lows that often I thought I would never get through. Picking Daisy made me think alot about where I have come, how far I have yet to go, as well as the basic aspects of like that make life pretty darn awesome, especially with the struggles we have to work through. Never once was the mention of God or a belief in God overshadowing the strength of this plot, they worked hand in hand.
Being able to put your own life under a microscope, and doing so willingly, based on the characters, plot, and outcome of a novel is a sign of a novel that helps you dig deep and depart with much substance. Picking Daisy does this and more, and lets you realize, it is worth taking time to find out who you are, where you are going, where you have been, and where you want to be, for your own sake, as well as for the sake of others that might need to answer the same questions.
There is no such thing as a genre not fitting a reader in this case, all aspects of this novel fit like a glove, and author Kimberly Miller lets that glove seem like a natural fit. To read in one day a 334 page book without blinking, and wonder what happens even beyond these pages, that says it all. Only when I reached the end did I remember, "Yeah, this is a novel my colleague and friend Kimberly Miller wrote!", you will get lost too between the pages. Not a bad way to celebrate the true gifts of Christmas now is it?
When I found out she had published her first YA book, to be honest I was nervous. I was so excited for her, and yet I was so nervous in how to approach her novel, when would I read it, I wasn't into the genre of novels I thought this might be, what would I say upon reading it if it wasn't my best effort in reviewing it?
Toss all that out of the window. When I opened my Barnes & Noble delivery yesterday and saw that Kimberly Miller's novel arrived, it told me it was a sign to read it right away, it was not due until after Christmas, and yet, here it was.
As I scanned the front the back, the inside, the front, I saw mega references to how important it was to include God, the Gospel, and just a lifestyle that did not have to be corrupted by worldly things to be pretty darn great, and to some that might be a turnoff, as in "Um, thanks, but no thanks." Not in this case, if you knew Kimberly Miller, you knew she walked the walk of a life that was always giving, always thoughtful, and always made you think alot of yourself as well. If this novel was any part of that - let me have at it.
The funny thing was as I began to dive into her novel early on, my first thought was "Wow, this is an actual book my colleague and friend wrote! In my hands!" and by page 8, I was curious about alot more than finding out what the novel would appear like to me in knowing Kimberly, I wanted to know more about Daisy, about Robby, and about how their spheres of influence would work out the difficulties many of us experience in different ways.
Many of you might be way too young to remember, and I am dating myself, but some of the best stories and shows I ever watched were those with my family in Pittsburgh, from shows like The Waltons, to reading books that were geared towards girls but I found fascinating like Anne of Avonlea, the Hardy Boys, and heck, maybe I just liked to know what girls were curious about too, because yeah, I like girls too, but, (that is beside the point) - it is very rare to find movies, shows, and stories that simply explore the decisions and struggles that open the way for a better path. Without the need for violence, explicit scenes, or exaggerated language. When a quality story does occur, it is pretty amazing, and it allows the individual to contemplate their own life as well.
I have to say, for how many amazing things I have been lucky to experience, I have also had some major lows that often I thought I would never get through. Picking Daisy made me think alot about where I have come, how far I have yet to go, as well as the basic aspects of like that make life pretty darn awesome, especially with the struggles we have to work through. Never once was the mention of God or a belief in God overshadowing the strength of this plot, they worked hand in hand.
Being able to put your own life under a microscope, and doing so willingly, based on the characters, plot, and outcome of a novel is a sign of a novel that helps you dig deep and depart with much substance. Picking Daisy does this and more, and lets you realize, it is worth taking time to find out who you are, where you are going, where you have been, and where you want to be, for your own sake, as well as for the sake of others that might need to answer the same questions.
There is no such thing as a genre not fitting a reader in this case, all aspects of this novel fit like a glove, and author Kimberly Miller lets that glove seem like a natural fit. To read in one day a 334 page book without blinking, and wonder what happens even beyond these pages, that says it all. Only when I reached the end did I remember, "Yeah, this is a novel my colleague and friend Kimberly Miller wrote!", you will get lost too between the pages. Not a bad way to celebrate the true gifts of Christmas now is it?
September 15, 2017
When the lead singer of the mega-successful rock group For Granted is released from rehab, spending six months staying clean he hopes to rebound and get his life back on track but in a different manner than he is used to. In rehab, Robby Grant finally understood what his agent meant, in making more money than he could ever spend, he'd avoided his real needs - to be loved for who he was as a human being and he finally understood he also had a drive to make someone proud of him. How to go about that, however, was still a mystery. He was certain he'd never been told he'd done something right and there was a distinct need inside him to discover that place of peace. While he wasn't sure those songs were the ticket, music was his life, and it seemed the only place for him to start looking for peace.
Robby was in his early teens when he started down the path of alcoholism. He was defiant of all his parents stood for, especially his father who was never around. At eighteen, the family had all but given up on Robby, while his brother, Warren, accepted the responsibility of continually rescuing him from whatever scrape he'd gotten into. Warren took after their father, Martin, while Robby was much more like his mother, Jackie. Martin was a military man through and through. He lived for his job and his country and never seemed reachable to his children, or his wife, as it turned out. Robby hoped on day he could be called a man. Only now did he see he'd lived his whole life as a child. It was time to grow up. As his band For Granted, fired him as their lead singer/songwriter, Robby wasn't sure what was next for him, but as it turns out, life is about to take a twist in a far different direction when his Uncle Nick, lands himself in the hospital and Robby is asked to help him out until he is well.
Daisy Parker is trying to find her way through an accident that left her paralyzed to ever ride in a car again and bound in a wheelchair instead. She have given up on singing but still occasionally writes songs in her journal she keeps with her. There were few men who'd relish the idea of taking on a handicapped wife and those who did certainly were not going to show up a her front door. Now she spends her days with Nick whenever she needs something done around the property or house and despite all the encouragement of her well-meaning friends, to move forward, get out, she has resolved herself to the fate life has managed to give up and try and find a way to be happy again. She wasn't expecting that change to show up at her front door in the form of Robby Grant and she knows despite what she knows she should do, she realizes maybe he needs more help than she does.
I received Picking Daisy by Kimberly M. Miller compliments of Pelican Book Group and NetGalley. I absolutely LOVE this novel and love the chemistry between Daisy and Robby. While he may seem to be selfish in what he believes he deserves, Daisy isn't about to fall for all the things that have worked for him in the past. She believes that God wants her to help Robby out, and when he finds her journal filled with songs, he believes Daisy is the answer to his own prayers for a comeback. It's going to take a whole lot more than money to get Daisy to see a different future for her as well. I will hold off on the rest so you can enjoy this novel as much as I did. This one garners a perfect 5 out of 5 stars in this reader's opinion.
Robby was in his early teens when he started down the path of alcoholism. He was defiant of all his parents stood for, especially his father who was never around. At eighteen, the family had all but given up on Robby, while his brother, Warren, accepted the responsibility of continually rescuing him from whatever scrape he'd gotten into. Warren took after their father, Martin, while Robby was much more like his mother, Jackie. Martin was a military man through and through. He lived for his job and his country and never seemed reachable to his children, or his wife, as it turned out. Robby hoped on day he could be called a man. Only now did he see he'd lived his whole life as a child. It was time to grow up. As his band For Granted, fired him as their lead singer/songwriter, Robby wasn't sure what was next for him, but as it turns out, life is about to take a twist in a far different direction when his Uncle Nick, lands himself in the hospital and Robby is asked to help him out until he is well.
Daisy Parker is trying to find her way through an accident that left her paralyzed to ever ride in a car again and bound in a wheelchair instead. She have given up on singing but still occasionally writes songs in her journal she keeps with her. There were few men who'd relish the idea of taking on a handicapped wife and those who did certainly were not going to show up a her front door. Now she spends her days with Nick whenever she needs something done around the property or house and despite all the encouragement of her well-meaning friends, to move forward, get out, she has resolved herself to the fate life has managed to give up and try and find a way to be happy again. She wasn't expecting that change to show up at her front door in the form of Robby Grant and she knows despite what she knows she should do, she realizes maybe he needs more help than she does.
I received Picking Daisy by Kimberly M. Miller compliments of Pelican Book Group and NetGalley. I absolutely LOVE this novel and love the chemistry between Daisy and Robby. While he may seem to be selfish in what he believes he deserves, Daisy isn't about to fall for all the things that have worked for him in the past. She believes that God wants her to help Robby out, and when he finds her journal filled with songs, he believes Daisy is the answer to his own prayers for a comeback. It's going to take a whole lot more than money to get Daisy to see a different future for her as well. I will hold off on the rest so you can enjoy this novel as much as I did. This one garners a perfect 5 out of 5 stars in this reader's opinion.
September 20, 2017
A most worthy debut by Kimberly Miller. The story of a man who can’t grow up but has promise and a woman broken and abandoned by illusions of love was such an enjoyable read. I love it when I can invest in characters and want to hug them or smack them. Robby was so redeemable with the core of people who believe in him and real that I cheered for him from the start, seeing him through the eyes of his Uncle Nick, even though I wanted to dislike him and his immense ego. But contrasting him with Daisy of the title, a woman who hid behind a wheelchair while healing from life, made me realize that we should be proud and comfortable with who we are, not settle for but graciously accept the things we cannot change and come to a understanding with the aspects of ourselves that do need to be changed.
Told from both perspectives of the hero and heroine, the formula of romance, meeting head-on, and the wonderful conflict not of person but of morals makes for a refreshing twist in the standard tried and true genre. People you root for, a dilemma that could go several ways, too-good-to-be-true vicarious lifestyle of the rich and famous add up to one delightful take-me-away romantic read. While Daisy is obviously a paraplegic, there are no gruesome details about what it’s like to have to take care of a wheelchair-bound person. Daisy was strong and at ease, but there are things that have to happen that I wondered how Robby would deal with, even though he was chair-blind. He didn’t need Daisy to save him, and the author dealt naturally and organically with his faith-growth. Daisy, however, needed someone like him to force her out of her pity-party, and the two of them together were a glorious fit.
The side characters—Uncle Nick who was the instigation for the romance and remained largely out of the picture, Daisy’s friends, and Roby’s brother, and his bodyguard—were wonderful additions. I’m normally not a huge fan of companion stories, but would enjoy reading stories about any of these people. They were integral, integrated without being overbearing, and fleshed enough to hold the story together.
Wonderful job. I enjoyed the story thoroughly and recommend Picking Daisy for those who like slightly edgy but clean contemporary romance with characters who happily inhabit your heart and mind for a while.
Told from both perspectives of the hero and heroine, the formula of romance, meeting head-on, and the wonderful conflict not of person but of morals makes for a refreshing twist in the standard tried and true genre. People you root for, a dilemma that could go several ways, too-good-to-be-true vicarious lifestyle of the rich and famous add up to one delightful take-me-away romantic read. While Daisy is obviously a paraplegic, there are no gruesome details about what it’s like to have to take care of a wheelchair-bound person. Daisy was strong and at ease, but there are things that have to happen that I wondered how Robby would deal with, even though he was chair-blind. He didn’t need Daisy to save him, and the author dealt naturally and organically with his faith-growth. Daisy, however, needed someone like him to force her out of her pity-party, and the two of them together were a glorious fit.
The side characters—Uncle Nick who was the instigation for the romance and remained largely out of the picture, Daisy’s friends, and Roby’s brother, and his bodyguard—were wonderful additions. I’m normally not a huge fan of companion stories, but would enjoy reading stories about any of these people. They were integral, integrated without being overbearing, and fleshed enough to hold the story together.
Wonderful job. I enjoyed the story thoroughly and recommend Picking Daisy for those who like slightly edgy but clean contemporary romance with characters who happily inhabit your heart and mind for a while.
December 21, 2017
I just loved Daisy and Robby’s story it was sweet, warm and has a message to it. People come in and out of our lives just as problems and difficulties come in and out of our lives. Often times we live in fear of something and do our best to keep our emotions in check trying to fool ourselves by saying we don’t care and won’t allow ourselves to invest in other people but also in not living our lives to our full potential.
The path wasn’t smooth but with the help of good friends offering support, coffee, donuts, and a push in the pants they shall get there. While she is sweet, kind and looks for the goodness she is not perfect and allows her pride and fear force her into a shell, her shell is just outwardly pleasing to others. His shell of fear manifests itself in his egotistical attitude and excess, but inside he is struggling to find personal acceptance and the belief that he is worthy of love just the same way she is.
Both Daisy and Robby retreated into their shells and were in a pattern of existing and not living and each took different paths to come back to living life. Each of them had to let go, accept, and move on past the demons that put them into their respective shells. They are both flawed and at different places in their faith so each could see a bit of what the other didn’t, and sharing that with each other is what pushes them to continue their journey.
The path wasn’t smooth but with the help of good friends offering support, coffee, donuts, and a push in the pants they shall get there. While she is sweet, kind and looks for the goodness she is not perfect and allows her pride and fear force her into a shell, her shell is just outwardly pleasing to others. His shell of fear manifests itself in his egotistical attitude and excess, but inside he is struggling to find personal acceptance and the belief that he is worthy of love just the same way she is.
Both Daisy and Robby retreated into their shells and were in a pattern of existing and not living and each took different paths to come back to living life. Each of them had to let go, accept, and move on past the demons that put them into their respective shells. They are both flawed and at different places in their faith so each could see a bit of what the other didn’t, and sharing that with each other is what pushes them to continue their journey.
September 26, 2017
Picking Daisy by Kimberly M. Miller is an enjoyable and inspirational read.
The story centers on the relationship between Daisy, the musically talented heroine whose life experiences have changed her forever physically and left her mentally scarred, and hero Robby, a once successful musician who is spiraling toward rock bottom because of some bad choices.
What I loved about this story is the very gradual progression of friendship to romance. The subtle spark between these two feels real from the start and kindles awhile before flaming up. The dialogue, humorous, angsty, and touching, is always real.
One of the subplots weaved into the plot which served as a climatic point and conflict between Robby and Daisy threw me. The way the conflict came about had me wanting to swipe back several chapters but I didn't (so possibly this is my misunderstanding). It seemed to me the thing Daisy felt guilty for hiding from Robby and the betrayal Robby felt by not knowing was technically not even in existence. Can’t say more without spoilers, and maybe it was just me, but the wording seemed off as the “big hidden thing” was a past thing and the words used made it seem like a present thing.
Overall, I loved this one and recommend it to anyone who loves clean romance!
The story centers on the relationship between Daisy, the musically talented heroine whose life experiences have changed her forever physically and left her mentally scarred, and hero Robby, a once successful musician who is spiraling toward rock bottom because of some bad choices.
What I loved about this story is the very gradual progression of friendship to romance. The subtle spark between these two feels real from the start and kindles awhile before flaming up. The dialogue, humorous, angsty, and touching, is always real.
One of the subplots weaved into the plot which served as a climatic point and conflict between Robby and Daisy threw me. The way the conflict came about had me wanting to swipe back several chapters but I didn't (so possibly this is my misunderstanding). It seemed to me the thing Daisy felt guilty for hiding from Robby and the betrayal Robby felt by not knowing was technically not even in existence. Can’t say more without spoilers, and maybe it was just me, but the wording seemed off as the “big hidden thing” was a past thing and the words used made it seem like a present thing.
Overall, I loved this one and recommend it to anyone who loves clean romance!
November 28, 2023
Buying books from small independently published authors from my Western PA is a goal of mine. Having attended an event where Kimberly’s work was first introduced to me through this book, I can’t say enough positive things about her work. The cover caught my attention and we started talking about her work. As I was new to her writing, I thought it be appropriate to start with the first book she wrote…can’t say enough good about it! Such a powerful story and if I say too much it will be a spoiler post. But, this is a book I will be recommending to my friends and I look forward to more books of Kimberly’s calling my home library their “home “. .
August 25, 2017
Picking Daisy is not your average novel by a long shot. The characters grabbed me and pulled me in, Daisy, so very likable from the start, Robby handsome and charming ... like a little boy you can't say no to. But through the story, that egocentric but adorable rock star wheedles his way into your heart. The supporting characters were also well drawn, and this extremely well-written novel is sure to be a favorite. I was given an ARC copy of the book, but truly enjoyed it on all levels and the opinions are my own. I will, no doubt, be gifting copies of Picking Daisy to friends.
August 26, 2017
This book was like a plane taking off. It took its time but once it got in the sky there was no stopping it. The characters draw you in to their story because their story is unique and the characters relatable. Daisy is lovable from the get go, but it took a good 1/4 of the book for me to tolerate Robby. As the book goes on you see the problems that both characters have to face and it becomes easy to cheer for them both. There are parts where it seems their story is all going to fall apart. It draws you in deeply...enough to finish in one sitting. An excellent debut novel!
October 2, 2017
A sweet story about the two people who should be most unlikely to ever meet. Both of them keep their deep, dark secrets well-hidden and both don't know what to do with the tenderness they feel for each other--except to continue going along on their own individual, lonely paths. I enjoyed the delightful cast of secondary characters who put so much effort in getting Robby and Daisy to realize their mistakes. This charming tale is well worth reading and highly recommended.
November 7, 2017
This was a really good book. It was one of those books once you start reading you cant put It down. you just cant wait to see what is going to happen next. The characters were different and I would have loved a few more chapters. I didn't want it to end. A follow up book would be great. Daisy and Robby seemed so different, but when it comes to love we are all the same. It was a refreshing, clean
read. I loved it!!!! I would recommend this book.
read. I loved it!!!! I would recommend this book.
January 3, 2020
Full Disclosure - I went to high school with the author (and we both teach at the same college now), but that doesn't take away from the fact that this is a delightful romance. I wasn't sure what a Christian romance would be like as I am not big on stereotyping, but I was immediately impressed by the author's ability to build authentic characters while telling an interesting and compelling story. Let me know if you want your copy signed! ;-)
March 21, 2018
This was my first time reading anything from this author. This story is told from both perspectives of: the hero and heroine.
Interwoven in the story are people you root for, a dilemma that could go several ways, and lifestyles of the rich and famous.
Interwoven in the story are people you root for, a dilemma that could go several ways, and lifestyles of the rich and famous.
April 20, 2022
I LOVED this book! Watching two people come together to battle their personal demons is something that everyone can relate to. As someone who recently decided to be more proactive in my life choices, I could totally relate to Daisy’s character arc and I loved it! 10/10 would recommend!
February 17, 2025
This book sucked me in midway through, and I couldn’t put it down. The characters will have you rooting for them, even in their worst moments. The suspense is palpable, and the romance is so sweet.
November 5, 2017
This book isn’t my typical genre, but I read it at the suggestion of a friend. I found the book to be completely enjoyable and had difficulty putting it down.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews