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The Wildflower House #1
Wildflower Heart
From the bestselling author of The Memory of Butterflies comes the first in a bittersweet series about love and loss.
Kara Hart was scarred by loss—first the loss of her mother and now her husband. She feels broken, with no will to move forward, until her father does the unexpected: he moves to the Virginia countryside to restore an old Victorian mansion. Kara decides to go with him, telling herself that it will only be temporary.
The huge house is neglected and derelict, but Kara discovers its breathtaking field of wildflowers and is stunned by their beauty. The house, the grounds, and the quirky neighbors—including a handsome one—are almost as fascinating as her father’s sudden willingness to discuss her mother and his own secret past.
Kara is finding her new normal when tragedy strikes again, forcing her to make difficult choices. Will she go back to her old life and risk losing all she has gained? Or will she face her fears and give herself the opportunity to grow?
Kara Hart was scarred by loss—first the loss of her mother and now her husband. She feels broken, with no will to move forward, until her father does the unexpected: he moves to the Virginia countryside to restore an old Victorian mansion. Kara decides to go with him, telling herself that it will only be temporary.
The huge house is neglected and derelict, but Kara discovers its breathtaking field of wildflowers and is stunned by their beauty. The house, the grounds, and the quirky neighbors—including a handsome one—are almost as fascinating as her father’s sudden willingness to discuss her mother and his own secret past.
Kara is finding her new normal when tragedy strikes again, forcing her to make difficult choices. Will she go back to her old life and risk losing all she has gained? Or will she face her fears and give herself the opportunity to grow?
399 pages, Hardcover
First published January 22, 2019
2896 people are currently reading
4845 people want to read
About the author
Grace Greene
76 books953 followersGrace Greene writes fiction with romance, suspense and inspiration ~ The Emerald Isle, NC Stories Series includes Beach Rental, Beach Winds, Beach Wedding, along with the Christmas novellas, Beach Christmas and Beach Walk. Her Virginia books are Women's Fiction with romance, suspense and mystery. Most are set in rural Cub Creek and include her bestselling The Memory of Butterflies and The Happiness In Between which were released in 2017. Three new Cub Creek books were released in 2019 - The Wildflower House Series: Wildflower Heart, Wildflower Hope and Wildflower Christmas, and Wildflower Wedding, A Light Last Seen was released in Feb. 2020. A Barefoot Tide and A Dancing Tide brought a new character from Cub Creek to the beach at Emerald Isle with beloved crossover characters from both settings. Beach Heart and Emerald Heart are single titles set in Emerald Isle, NC. Grace's newest, A HEART BEYOND, will be released on September 3rd, 2024.
Grace is also an artist and photographer and these interests show up on the pages of the stories. She lives in central Virginia. You'll find Grace here:
Website: http://www.gracegreene.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GraceGreeneB...
Author Central: http://amazon.com/author/gracegreene
Grace is also an artist and photographer and these interests show up on the pages of the stories. She lives in central Virginia. You'll find Grace here:
Website: http://www.gracegreene.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GraceGreeneB...
Author Central: http://amazon.com/author/gracegreene
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 291 reviews
January 22, 2019
"Neglect wasn't supposed to be beautiful". Those were Kara's thoughts when she discovers a field of wildflowers and to me, was a profound statement in this book of self-discovery. Kara herself had been neglected....by a mother who left her when she was young, by a father who provided for her but was unable to provide emotional support, by a husband who had ceased to love her. The pages of this book are filled with intense feelings, as we watch Kara work through them all....sadness, hurt, betrayal...until she can find her way to love, acceptance, and beauty. The most memorable scenes to me are the moments when Kara finds joy amid the despair, the rare glimmers we get of hope as she slowly learns to trust and open her heart to possibilities. This book captivated my heart with its imperfect characters as they swayed and bent with the challenges that they faced, like the wildflowers in the field behind Kara's home. "Wildflowers are tough. They root in unlikely, often hostile environments, yet the manage to grow and bloom."
December 15, 2018
Beautifully crafted, Wildflower Heart is an emotionally powerful novel about healing past wounds, and starting over. With the lush Virginia countryside as a backdrop, Greene explores the family secrets of a stoic father and his grieving daughter with heart and authenticity—and with surprising twists—that will have readers turning the pages long into the night.
December 29, 2018
This is a beautifully written story about resilience and strength. The story is filled with disappointment, neglect and loss but also filled with love. The author does such a wonderful job with describing the characters and their personalities. I feel like it was a rollercoaster of emotions. I highly recommend this book and I hope that there is a 2nd book on the next chapter in Kara's life and that Seth maybe included.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Author for an ARC. This review is in my own words and thoughts.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Author for an ARC. This review is in my own words and thoughts.
October 27, 2018
I was lucky enough to read an advance copy and I'm going on record as saying that readers are going to love Wildflower Heart. Highly recommended!
February 4, 2019
A Slow Read
I had high hopes for this book and I think readers who like a slow pace and a plethora of details will enjoy it. I personally found the conversations awkward and stiff. I was never able to connect to Kara and really feel her emotions; I didn’t find her very likable to be honest. Victoria was terrible (which made her believable) but I found her scenes to be cringeworthy. I didn’t see much of a build up between Kara and Seth and their “romance” because the scenes were so brief and there was no emotional connection built between them. I also wasn’t convinced this was written from the perspective of someone in their 30s. Kara sounded more like a 60-year-old stuck in a 30 something’s body. I felt a lack of passion and emotion in this story. It was more awkwardness, coldness, confusion, and stifled grief. She never even dealt with the loss of her husband, which made the story feel very lacking.
I had high hopes for this book and I think readers who like a slow pace and a plethora of details will enjoy it. I personally found the conversations awkward and stiff. I was never able to connect to Kara and really feel her emotions; I didn’t find her very likable to be honest. Victoria was terrible (which made her believable) but I found her scenes to be cringeworthy. I didn’t see much of a build up between Kara and Seth and their “romance” because the scenes were so brief and there was no emotional connection built between them. I also wasn’t convinced this was written from the perspective of someone in their 30s. Kara sounded more like a 60-year-old stuck in a 30 something’s body. I felt a lack of passion and emotion in this story. It was more awkwardness, coldness, confusion, and stifled grief. She never even dealt with the loss of her husband, which made the story feel very lacking.
November 7, 2018
People have a way of developing ideas and beliefs of themselves and others than may not actually be accurate. We wrap ourselves in cocoons that make us believe what we want to believe as true and accurate and do so to keep ourselves safe or so we think, without sometimes having to face the reality of the truth. Kara has been surrounded by tragedy and when a tragic accident takes the life of her husband and unborn child she returns to her one safe haven, her father. While recovering from the accident, Kara begins to find out things about her mother, her father and herself she didn’t know or understand. Her father buys a dilapidated old mansion in the country and Kara is taken by the wildflowers growing in the backyard. As time goes on she makes new friends and starts to understand and see things in herself and those around her that will transform her just like the wildflowers transform through the seasons.
Grace Greene has written a beautiful and poignant story that had this reader reflecting on how I view certain things. The imagery and feeling the story provoked runs the reader through a gamut of emotions and leaves ready for the story in the series.
I truly enjoyed this book. I recommend any of Grace Greene’s books highly. If you haven’t read any of them this would not be a bad book to start with.
Grace Greene has written a beautiful and poignant story that had this reader reflecting on how I view certain things. The imagery and feeling the story provoked runs the reader through a gamut of emotions and leaves ready for the story in the series.
I truly enjoyed this book. I recommend any of Grace Greene’s books highly. If you haven’t read any of them this would not be a bad book to start with.
February 25, 2019
This was a book of relationships and loss. Kara lost her mother and then her husband and unborn child. She had support in her father but he was pragmatic till he retired and bought a house away in the countryside. And she discovered the neglected wildflowers. There was a magic in them which uplifted her heart.
Grace Greene has written another fabulous book on love and strength. The characters all felt real and so did their pain. I liked how the author had weaved twists and joy amidst all this. Kara slowly began to live and her heart resonated with the beauty of the wildflowers. Then came my niggles, the story was slow and I couldn't connect initially to Kara, I had to restart the book twice. But once I got into its rhythm, I was swayed by all the emotions.
The story was beautiful and poignant, it was real and reflective. It does touch the heart as most of Grace Greene books do.
Grace Greene has written another fabulous book on love and strength. The characters all felt real and so did their pain. I liked how the author had weaved twists and joy amidst all this. Kara slowly began to live and her heart resonated with the beauty of the wildflowers. Then came my niggles, the story was slow and I couldn't connect initially to Kara, I had to restart the book twice. But once I got into its rhythm, I was swayed by all the emotions.
The story was beautiful and poignant, it was real and reflective. It does touch the heart as most of Grace Greene books do.
October 29, 2018
This is a beautifully written novel! I was quickly absorbed in the plot, and the wonderful characters!
“Nothing is perfect— not the past, not ourselves, and not our present.” This is the basis of this heartwarming story.
Kara has been wounded all though her life in many ways, but her “resilience” is strong.
She has survived the loss of many people during her years.
One evening, Kara has a life changing collision that changes her world.
There is a long road following this crash to mend both physically and emotionally.
Kara's dad is her rock.
When he invites his daughter to come and stay at the old dilapidated mansion that he has just purchased, Kara slowly begins to see the beauty of this old home and its amazing history.
The delicate field of wildflowers becomes her strength. The warm breeze in her window make her feel secure as she faces each new day.
Kara meets and trusts her new friends, those she will need as time goes forward and an unforeseen tragedy occurs once more.
This is the first book of this new series and I am looking forward to seeing how this resilient woman’s journey continues! I loved it!
“Nothing is perfect— not the past, not ourselves, and not our present.” This is the basis of this heartwarming story.
Kara has been wounded all though her life in many ways, but her “resilience” is strong.
She has survived the loss of many people during her years.
One evening, Kara has a life changing collision that changes her world.
There is a long road following this crash to mend both physically and emotionally.
Kara's dad is her rock.
When he invites his daughter to come and stay at the old dilapidated mansion that he has just purchased, Kara slowly begins to see the beauty of this old home and its amazing history.
The delicate field of wildflowers becomes her strength. The warm breeze in her window make her feel secure as she faces each new day.
Kara meets and trusts her new friends, those she will need as time goes forward and an unforeseen tragedy occurs once more.
This is the first book of this new series and I am looking forward to seeing how this resilient woman’s journey continues! I loved it!
November 4, 2018
Who would've thought that after tragedy and heartbreak, an old Victorian house and a wildflower field would be just what our heroine needs? In this lovely story, Grace Greene shows us a very real, sympathetic, and flawed character as she begins to overcome her present challenges, including the secrets of the past. Great story and writing with a little romance sprinkled in. You will not be disappointed.
January 19, 2019
Lindas Book Obsession Reviews “Wildflower Heart” by Grace Greene, Lake Union Publishing, January 22, 2019
Grace Green, Author of “Wildflower Heart” has written a compassionate, emotional, intense, intriguing, and creative novel. The Genres for this novel are Fiction and Women’s Fiction. The timeline for the story is in the present and past when it pertains to the events or characters in the story. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated.
Kara Hart is certainly used to loss. Her mother had emotional issues, and left her when she was young. Kara and her husband had marital issues, and then in a tragedy she loses him. After a terrible accident, Kara is working hard on physical therapy and her hard-working dad, who has been so responsible, decides to retire and move. He chooses an old large Victorian mansion in Virginia that needs much work. The only beauty that Kara sees is the colorful wildflowers that surround the house. Her dad wants her to help him with the renovations in the house.
Kara has an artistic sense when she does cross stitching and needlework. Kara starts to make new friends, and realizes that an old friend might have betrayed her. At the same time, tragedy occurs again, and Kara once again has to make significant decisions on how to rebuild her life. This is the first book in a new series. I can’t wait to read the next book. I appreciate that the author discusses, loss, love, emotional support, family and friends. I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy a thought-provoking book. I received this ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
Grace Green, Author of “Wildflower Heart” has written a compassionate, emotional, intense, intriguing, and creative novel. The Genres for this novel are Fiction and Women’s Fiction. The timeline for the story is in the present and past when it pertains to the events or characters in the story. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated.
Kara Hart is certainly used to loss. Her mother had emotional issues, and left her when she was young. Kara and her husband had marital issues, and then in a tragedy she loses him. After a terrible accident, Kara is working hard on physical therapy and her hard-working dad, who has been so responsible, decides to retire and move. He chooses an old large Victorian mansion in Virginia that needs much work. The only beauty that Kara sees is the colorful wildflowers that surround the house. Her dad wants her to help him with the renovations in the house.
Kara has an artistic sense when she does cross stitching and needlework. Kara starts to make new friends, and realizes that an old friend might have betrayed her. At the same time, tragedy occurs again, and Kara once again has to make significant decisions on how to rebuild her life. This is the first book in a new series. I can’t wait to read the next book. I appreciate that the author discusses, loss, love, emotional support, family and friends. I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy a thought-provoking book. I received this ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
January 15, 2019
Kara Hart has been living with loss her entire life. When her mother walked out one day, never to return, it scarred Kara in ways she could not understand. After the accident which claims the life of her husband, she is back staying with her father and trying to recover some semblance of her life before the accident.
But her father has a few surprises up his sleeve as well. He is determined to sell the company he owns, and buy an older home, starting a new course in his life. Kara is surprised but goes along with her father to help him out, and she continues to heal from the accident. But when she gets there, she gets more than what she bargained for, and might just find the start of a new life where she least expects it.....
Wildflower House might be more a chance for Kara to get her life back on track, than her father's dreams of long ago.
This was a great read! I could not put it down! The story weaves and binds together so many emotions. Love, friendship, renewal, anger, redemption... there is so much here - and more.
But her father has a few surprises up his sleeve as well. He is determined to sell the company he owns, and buy an older home, starting a new course in his life. Kara is surprised but goes along with her father to help him out, and she continues to heal from the accident. But when she gets there, she gets more than what she bargained for, and might just find the start of a new life where she least expects it.....
Wildflower House might be more a chance for Kara to get her life back on track, than her father's dreams of long ago.
This was a great read! I could not put it down! The story weaves and binds together so many emotions. Love, friendship, renewal, anger, redemption... there is so much here - and more.
January 18, 2021
I really enjoyed this one!
January 8, 2019
Kara has experienced heartbreak early in her life. Her mother left when she was 14 with no explanation, and Kara had to accept and move on. Now, on her anniversary, she finds out that her husband is having an affair. Devastated and trying to process, her life is further altered when they are involved in a horrific automobile accident, in which her husband dies.
Wildflower Heart is the story of Kara's struggles to overcome two devastating losses and come to terms with her life as it is altered, both emotionally and physically. Her father purchases a house out in the country and Kara is helping him to remodel and remake the house into a home; a home that doesn't see herself inhabiting. The saving grace of the home is the beautiful field of wildflowers in the backyard. A field that she comes to treasure. How will she survive, and can she overcome it all to become a stronger person? Beautifully written, this story will resonate with readers. Grace Greene writes from the heart.
I received an ARC of this book inreturn for an honest review. Thank you Grace Greene and Lake Union.
Wildflower Heart is the story of Kara's struggles to overcome two devastating losses and come to terms with her life as it is altered, both emotionally and physically. Her father purchases a house out in the country and Kara is helping him to remodel and remake the house into a home; a home that doesn't see herself inhabiting. The saving grace of the home is the beautiful field of wildflowers in the backyard. A field that she comes to treasure. How will she survive, and can she overcome it all to become a stronger person? Beautifully written, this story will resonate with readers. Grace Greene writes from the heart.
I received an ARC of this book inreturn for an honest review. Thank you Grace Greene and Lake Union.
December 31, 2018
Wildflower Heart broke my heart and over the course of the book slowly healed it. Kara isn't new to loss. Her mom walked out on her and her dad when Kara was 14. She marries her college sweetheart and thinks their life is good. On their 6th anniversary, there is an accident that changes Kara's life forever. After she is released from the hospital she goes to her dad's to recover. Her dad surprises her by buying a beautiful house out in the country and wanting Kara's help fixing it up. The story of Kara and her dad is so sweet. They have a beautiful relationship. Will Wildflower House bring them peace? The descriptions in the book are so real. I could see and smell the wildflowers, I could hear the stream and the bees buzzing. I simply loved this book and can not wait for the next in the series. I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing. All opinions are my own.
November 15, 2018
Wildflower Heart is a poignant tale, a sentimental journey through the life of Kara Lange Hart. Kara's dad described her as resilient, a characteristic that stood her is good stead during her life's many lows with far too few highs. Kara was a survivor, and each time she got back up after being knocked down, she was better and stronger. Kara learned to see herself, other people, and circumstances for what they were, learning to accept each for the positive things they held, but not blinded to shortcomings, yet not controlled by them either. At first I thought that this story was best read by someone who was in a good place in their own life, someone who would not be depressed by the sadder parts of Kara's story, but then I realized that someone in not such a good place would benefit greatly from the hope Kara found as she moved through life, allowing herself to grow.
Grace Greene is an accomplished author; Wildflower Heart showcases her ability to use the beauty of language to capture her readers' hearts and to lead them to embrace her characters. I am sure others looking for a book with depth will gratefully spend time between the covers of this of Wildflower Heart. I anxiously await the next book in this series, and was privileged to be asked to read this book in exchange for an honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.
Grace Greene is an accomplished author; Wildflower Heart showcases her ability to use the beauty of language to capture her readers' hearts and to lead them to embrace her characters. I am sure others looking for a book with depth will gratefully spend time between the covers of this of Wildflower Heart. I anxiously await the next book in this series, and was privileged to be asked to read this book in exchange for an honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.
October 30, 2018
Another awesome book by Grace Greene that will definitely tug on your heart strings. Kara started a life of loss and rejection at a very early age that continued through to her adult years. How does one cope with so much hurt with only the support of her dad, who is definitely more of a businesslike person, very stoic and not very emotional. Yet he is always by her side; seeing her through more loss and betrayal and pain. The wildflowers help to save Kara. While reading the book, I asked Alexa to play the song she was hearing, Appalachian Spring; it is so beautiful and I could just imagine a creek bubbling with birdsong and the wildflowers blowing in the wind. I will have to admit there is a part in the book towards the end that made me want to toss my iPad across the room. Great writing, great character development, great environment and description, and a lot of emotion in this one. Don't miss this wonderful new series!! Thanks to author for the ARC of this great read.
November 7, 2018
When Kara was 14 her mother walked out on her and her father and abandoned them. Her father did the best he could but he did not have the emotional makeup to be a good emotional support. Years later Kara is driving one night and there is a horrific accident. Kara again finds herself dependent on her father. Emotionally her father is not there but together they make it. Kara's father retires and they move to a rural area of Virginia. Kara is not as happy about her father's dream home as he is but agrees to help him with the house until she goes back to work. Kara falls in love with the wildflowers in the backyard and the area near the creek. Kara finds out that her father has secrets that she knows nothing about. He has good friends in the area and they soon offer their friendship to her. The wildflowers represent many things to Kara and as such, she is protective of them. Lovely story of healing, changing, trusting and love.
January 19, 2019
Lindas Book Obsession Reviews “Wildflower Heart” by Grace Greene, Lake Union Publishing, January 22, 2019
Grace Green, Author of “Wildflower Heart” has written a compassionate, emotional, intense, intriguing, and creative novel. The Genres for this novel are Fiction and Women’s Fiction. The timeline for the story is in the present and past when it pertains to the events or characters in the story. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated.
Kara Hart is certainly used to loss. Her mother had emotional issues, and left her when she was young. Kara and her husband had marital issues, and then in a tragedy she loses him. After a terrible accident, Kara is working hard on physical therapy and her hard-working dad, who has been so responsible, decides to retire and move. He chooses an old large Victorian mansion in Virginia that needs much work. The only beauty that Kara sees is the colorful wildflowers that surround the house. Her dad wants her to help him with the renovations in the house.
Kara has an artistic sense when she does cross stitching and needlework. Kara starts to make new friends, and realizes that an old friend might have betrayed her. At the same time, tragedy occurs again, and Kara once again has to make significant decisions on how to rebuild her life. This is the first book in a new series. I can’t wait to read the next book. I appreciate that the author discusses, loss, love, emotional support, family and friends. I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy a thought-provoking book. I received this ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
Grace Green, Author of “Wildflower Heart” has written a compassionate, emotional, intense, intriguing, and creative novel. The Genres for this novel are Fiction and Women’s Fiction. The timeline for the story is in the present and past when it pertains to the events or characters in the story. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated.
Kara Hart is certainly used to loss. Her mother had emotional issues, and left her when she was young. Kara and her husband had marital issues, and then in a tragedy she loses him. After a terrible accident, Kara is working hard on physical therapy and her hard-working dad, who has been so responsible, decides to retire and move. He chooses an old large Victorian mansion in Virginia that needs much work. The only beauty that Kara sees is the colorful wildflowers that surround the house. Her dad wants her to help him with the renovations in the house.
Kara has an artistic sense when she does cross stitching and needlework. Kara starts to make new friends, and realizes that an old friend might have betrayed her. At the same time, tragedy occurs again, and Kara once again has to make significant decisions on how to rebuild her life. This is the first book in a new series. I can’t wait to read the next book. I appreciate that the author discusses, loss, love, emotional support, family and friends. I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy a thought-provoking book. I received this ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
December 27, 2018
This is a beautiful book with a heartfelt emotional story.. it captures your attention from the very beginning!
The story flows well which makes it very easy to read! fun and effortless!
There's great character development.. I love the chemistry that flows between them!
The way the author was able to describe all the details.. how the house looks,the surroundings in their world, to what the character is feeling.. is phenomenal! The author builds a connection with her readers and it feels like the reader is in that story without ever leaving home!
I definitely recommend this book!
The story flows well which makes it very easy to read! fun and effortless!
There's great character development.. I love the chemistry that flows between them!
The way the author was able to describe all the details.. how the house looks,the surroundings in their world, to what the character is feeling.. is phenomenal! The author builds a connection with her readers and it feels like the reader is in that story without ever leaving home!
I definitely recommend this book!
November 2, 2018
Wildflower Heart....a story about Kara and the pieces of her life.... broken, lost, and missing after a devastating admission from her husband and then in the aftermath of a tragedy. Grace Greene used wildflowers to weave a story about a hurting, confused and uncertain woman and how life is like a wildflower. "Wildflowers are tough...….wildflowers are fragile.....wildflowers grow where the seeds find themselves.....wildflowers are beautiful for a season."
This book has a beautiful message about resilience and picking up when life can seem to be too heavy to endure. I love the character of Kara. She was someone I wanted to reach out to and be there for. My heart ached for the things she was going through. How tough life seemed to get and bending her over to almost breaking. But, like a wildflower she would lift herself back up and face what was ahead. There was a passage about Kara thinking, "I was a lot like those wildflowers. Accidental. Hapless. But strong and resilient once I dug in."
Ms. Greene took me into a setting that was brought to life in her descriptive words. I was in the wildflower field feeling the way Kara was feeling. The light breeze, the warm sunshine, the colorful flowers swaying in the wind, the bubbling brook along the edge of the field, an old house and the musty, peeling wallpaper. So much imagery in written words. I appreciate that I could "see" so much in my mind from her storytelling talent. She puts all of that together into a story that had me turning the pages long into the night. It's a beautiful first book in the Wildflower House series. I am so looking forward to the second book.
I want to thank Grace Greene and Netgalley for the honor and opportunity to read this wonderfully touching book. I highly recommend it and it is a five star story for sure!
This book has a beautiful message about resilience and picking up when life can seem to be too heavy to endure. I love the character of Kara. She was someone I wanted to reach out to and be there for. My heart ached for the things she was going through. How tough life seemed to get and bending her over to almost breaking. But, like a wildflower she would lift herself back up and face what was ahead. There was a passage about Kara thinking, "I was a lot like those wildflowers. Accidental. Hapless. But strong and resilient once I dug in."
Ms. Greene took me into a setting that was brought to life in her descriptive words. I was in the wildflower field feeling the way Kara was feeling. The light breeze, the warm sunshine, the colorful flowers swaying in the wind, the bubbling brook along the edge of the field, an old house and the musty, peeling wallpaper. So much imagery in written words. I appreciate that I could "see" so much in my mind from her storytelling talent. She puts all of that together into a story that had me turning the pages long into the night. It's a beautiful first book in the Wildflower House series. I am so looking forward to the second book.
I want to thank Grace Greene and Netgalley for the honor and opportunity to read this wonderfully touching book. I highly recommend it and it is a five star story for sure!
January 3, 2019
Grace Greene does it again. You will be pulled into the story of Kara and her father.
Wildflower House will make you feel each emotion of the characters.
Kara is like a wildflower, she is resilient and strong. Having to overcome many grievances during her young life, Kara must face some difficult obstacles to persevere.
With love and understanding of family and friends, a person can face their fears (mentally and physically) to live their dreams.
Kara was raised by her father, an emotionally unattached, hardworking yet loving person. Will Kara grow up to be just like him?
I highly recommend Wildflower Heart.
Wildflower House will make you feel each emotion of the characters.
Kara is like a wildflower, she is resilient and strong. Having to overcome many grievances during her young life, Kara must face some difficult obstacles to persevere.
With love and understanding of family and friends, a person can face their fears (mentally and physically) to live their dreams.
Kara was raised by her father, an emotionally unattached, hardworking yet loving person. Will Kara grow up to be just like him?
I highly recommend Wildflower Heart.
January 22, 2019
Loved the cover of this book, which drew my attention, plus the title had me dreaming of Wildflowers. Enjoyed this story from start to finish. An emotional read. I rarely write what a story is about as i prefer one to read for themselves, but i do recommend.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers. This is my honest review.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers. This is my honest review.
January 4, 2019
Grace Greene has done an amazing job once again! I felt all of this characters emotional highs and lows. How when life knocks you down you keep fighting even when all seems lost. I fell in love with all of the characters in this book, So much so I read it in a day! This is a must read for 2019!
January 6, 2019
Amazing read from beginning to end! You will fall in love and feel this characters heart breaking journey to find herself and never give up! Grace Greene has once again found a way to make you want more and I'm hoping this is not the end of this story!
February 25, 2019
Not sure if it was just a mood or the book itself, but I had to put this down when I hit chapter 4 as I just could not get into it. I found Kara's character to be utterly self-centered and emotionless making it impossible for me to keep going.
January 30, 2019
This was a beautifully written story of so much love, loss, laughter, grief, friends and the love between a dad and daughter.
Kara has already had so much loss in her life when she loses her husband. Though things were not by any means perfect between them, she loved him and losing him was awful. She had a lot to overcome and her dad was right there as always to help. She had trouble walking without a cane after a car accident and wasn’t moving on with her life like she should have been.
Henry, Kara’s dad, bought an old house to redo. He had so many problems of his own that he does finally share with Kara in this book. But you have to read it to find out about that. The house is huge and Kara is not so sure about this. Her dad giving up his business to spend time working on such a huge place. There is a garden of sorts in the back and I can vividly picture it in my mind. A big field of wildflowers that the previous owner’s husband planted for her.
In parts I didn’t like Kara. I thought she had a bit of an attitude. When she found out things that her dad never shared, told her something else, she acted a bit spoiled about it to me. I did like her very much. I just thought she was way to opinionated towards some things that could hurt the people involved very much. I know she has had lots of loses but still. But in the end I did root for her for sure. I felt awful for what all she went through and the losses she experienced. They were very deep losses and hurt her so much. My heart broke for her. I root for her and Seth though.
When another tragedy strikes her life Seth, the neighbor and friend, is there for her. He seems like a very kind and good man. I think he will be good for Kara too.
The ending of this book was great and I look forward to the sequel so bad. I can’t wait to see what happens next with Wildflower House, Seth and even Victoria. Will Kara find happiness and true love. Will she finally have the family she needs.
This book was so well written, great characters, even secondary characters you will love, descriptions that make you feel like you are right there. I could even smell the musty in the old house. It was a huge house that was left rundown over the past year. It will be so beautiful when it is finished though.
Some of my favorite lines in this book are:
Don’t dwell in yesterdays. Live in the now. Frankly, you didn’t miss hugs and kisses you’d never had. You didn’t even know they were missing.
One of these days I’m going to walk that path myself and see what might await at the other end. Perhaps it would be a fairy-tale palace where mothers didn’t leave, fathers didn’t fail, and a daughter didn’t try to hold her own dad to standards she herself couldn’t keep.
A person must respect their past, even an unpleasant past, because it’s part of them, of what made a person who they are.
A kid doesn’t choose where it starts its life. You’re just born there, and you don’t know any different, and you do the best you can within whatever situation you’re given. I did that until I saw other ways to live. And then I made a different choice. A better choice for me. (This one is me all over)
“Humans along with other living creatures. Regardless of our place in line, we are renters on Earth. Tenants.”
I had always worried that I was like my father. Cold. Afraid of emotion. Wary of disorder.
Perhaps I should’ve been more concerned about being like my mom.
No one chose where or to whom they’d be born. We had to manage where we began. Like wildflowers.
This is a huge 5 star book. I loved it from start to finish. A must read.
Kara has already had so much loss in her life when she loses her husband. Though things were not by any means perfect between them, she loved him and losing him was awful. She had a lot to overcome and her dad was right there as always to help. She had trouble walking without a cane after a car accident and wasn’t moving on with her life like she should have been.
Henry, Kara’s dad, bought an old house to redo. He had so many problems of his own that he does finally share with Kara in this book. But you have to read it to find out about that. The house is huge and Kara is not so sure about this. Her dad giving up his business to spend time working on such a huge place. There is a garden of sorts in the back and I can vividly picture it in my mind. A big field of wildflowers that the previous owner’s husband planted for her.
In parts I didn’t like Kara. I thought she had a bit of an attitude. When she found out things that her dad never shared, told her something else, she acted a bit spoiled about it to me. I did like her very much. I just thought she was way to opinionated towards some things that could hurt the people involved very much. I know she has had lots of loses but still. But in the end I did root for her for sure. I felt awful for what all she went through and the losses she experienced. They were very deep losses and hurt her so much. My heart broke for her. I root for her and Seth though.
When another tragedy strikes her life Seth, the neighbor and friend, is there for her. He seems like a very kind and good man. I think he will be good for Kara too.
The ending of this book was great and I look forward to the sequel so bad. I can’t wait to see what happens next with Wildflower House, Seth and even Victoria. Will Kara find happiness and true love. Will she finally have the family she needs.
This book was so well written, great characters, even secondary characters you will love, descriptions that make you feel like you are right there. I could even smell the musty in the old house. It was a huge house that was left rundown over the past year. It will be so beautiful when it is finished though.
Some of my favorite lines in this book are:
Don’t dwell in yesterdays. Live in the now. Frankly, you didn’t miss hugs and kisses you’d never had. You didn’t even know they were missing.
One of these days I’m going to walk that path myself and see what might await at the other end. Perhaps it would be a fairy-tale palace where mothers didn’t leave, fathers didn’t fail, and a daughter didn’t try to hold her own dad to standards she herself couldn’t keep.
A person must respect their past, even an unpleasant past, because it’s part of them, of what made a person who they are.
A kid doesn’t choose where it starts its life. You’re just born there, and you don’t know any different, and you do the best you can within whatever situation you’re given. I did that until I saw other ways to live. And then I made a different choice. A better choice for me. (This one is me all over)
“Humans along with other living creatures. Regardless of our place in line, we are renters on Earth. Tenants.”
I had always worried that I was like my father. Cold. Afraid of emotion. Wary of disorder.
Perhaps I should’ve been more concerned about being like my mom.
No one chose where or to whom they’d be born. We had to manage where we began. Like wildflowers.
This is a huge 5 star book. I loved it from start to finish. A must read.
January 20, 2019
It’s been a long time since I read a book that compelled me so strongly to get to the next page as fast as I could. Wildflower Heart is such a book. I started out using Siri to read it aloud, and as time went on, I was reading ahead of Siri on the page, and having to advance the voiceover to catch up with me. After reading almost 50% of the book this way, I finally shut Siri off, effectively firing her as my reader, grabbing the tablet, and reading the last half of the book at breakneck speed. There were interwoven themes, and images of great natural beauty to savor along the way. Challenges are grappled with, difficult communications lead to insights and opportunity, and life passages are facilitated.
A huge time neglected home nestled among wildflowers comes back to life when a father and daughter move in, and with it, lives previously in limbo find something stirring within. New confidence arises, and rehabilitating legs reliant upon walking assistance, are soon dancing through empty rooms, an intersection of wonder about past lives with daydreams of future happiness. Kara, the main character, marvels as she discovers the house, “There were secrets here. I didn’t have the answers, and that was ok.” Some see wildflowers as weeds, but Kara is fiercely protective of their healing magic. Like a springtime awakening, life seems beautiful again, and full of potential. When Kara meets Seth, she is speechless, but now more open to the unexpected gifts life bestows. Unforeseen events propel readers deeper into the story; images painted by the author make you linger, losing track of time. Kara finds “...there were times in your life that felt like points of no returns,” yet what might seem like a bad experience, may in reality be a stepping off point for a new direction.
The descriptions of rural Virginia’s beauty weave a spell you never want to end. The author’s intent and the readers’ engagement in the story creates a moment of past and present intersecting, a connection, and a “simple gift of solace” from a world short on sentiment, and sometimes long on heartbreak.
A huge time neglected home nestled among wildflowers comes back to life when a father and daughter move in, and with it, lives previously in limbo find something stirring within. New confidence arises, and rehabilitating legs reliant upon walking assistance, are soon dancing through empty rooms, an intersection of wonder about past lives with daydreams of future happiness. Kara, the main character, marvels as she discovers the house, “There were secrets here. I didn’t have the answers, and that was ok.” Some see wildflowers as weeds, but Kara is fiercely protective of their healing magic. Like a springtime awakening, life seems beautiful again, and full of potential. When Kara meets Seth, she is speechless, but now more open to the unexpected gifts life bestows. Unforeseen events propel readers deeper into the story; images painted by the author make you linger, losing track of time. Kara finds “...there were times in your life that felt like points of no returns,” yet what might seem like a bad experience, may in reality be a stepping off point for a new direction.
The descriptions of rural Virginia’s beauty weave a spell you never want to end. The author’s intent and the readers’ engagement in the story creates a moment of past and present intersecting, a connection, and a “simple gift of solace” from a world short on sentiment, and sometimes long on heartbreak.
January 6, 2019
Wildflower Heart is the newest offering from bestselling author Grace Greene. Kara Lange Hart has had a difficult life. Loss has signified change throughout her life from the time her mother left when she was 14 until the current times. At that time her dad, Henry Lange, had been stalwart in his support and care for Kara, but never emotionally engaging. She will learn why that is as time goes by.
Kara leaves home for college where she studies economics and meets her future husband Niles Hart, and best friend Victoria. Following graduation and her wedding, she and Niles move to the beltway near DC from Richmond. On their sixth anniversary things go terribly wrong and Kara finds herself back in Richmond depending on her father.
When he makes the decision to sell his business and move about an hour outside of Richmond to Cub Creek, Kara is not on board. But on her first visit to the property the field of wildflowers touches her heart. The people she meets and what she learns about herself and her father make this move a very special time.
It has taken me days to write this review. This book touched me in ways I cannot explain. In fact I had to check myself repeatedly to not have spoilers. I do know that this poignant tale of love, loss, and resilience is one I would not have wanted to miss and do look forward to its sequel later this year. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!
Kara leaves home for college where she studies economics and meets her future husband Niles Hart, and best friend Victoria. Following graduation and her wedding, she and Niles move to the beltway near DC from Richmond. On their sixth anniversary things go terribly wrong and Kara finds herself back in Richmond depending on her father.
When he makes the decision to sell his business and move about an hour outside of Richmond to Cub Creek, Kara is not on board. But on her first visit to the property the field of wildflowers touches her heart. The people she meets and what she learns about herself and her father make this move a very special time.
It has taken me days to write this review. This book touched me in ways I cannot explain. In fact I had to check myself repeatedly to not have spoilers. I do know that this poignant tale of love, loss, and resilience is one I would not have wanted to miss and do look forward to its sequel later this year. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!
January 6, 2019
Wildflower Heart is the newest offering from bestselling author Grace Greene. Kara Lange Hart has had a difficult life. Loss has signified change throughout her life from the time her mother left when she was 14 until the current times. At that time her dad, Henry Lange, had been stalwart in his support and care for Kara, but never emotionally engaging. She will learn why that is as time goes by.
Kara leaves home for college where she studies economics and meets her future husband Niles Hart, and best friend Victoria. Following graduation and her wedding, she and Niles move to the beltway near DC from Richmond. On their sixth anniversary things go terribly wrong and Kara finds herself back in Richmond depending on her father.
When he makes the decision to sell his business and move about an hour outside of Richmond to Cub Creek, Kara is not on board. But on her first visit to the property the field of wildflowers touches her heart. The people she meets and what she learns about herself and her father make this move a very special time.
It has taken me days to write this review. This book touched me in ways I cannot explain. In fact I had to check myself repeatedly to not have spoilers. I do know that this poignant tale of love, loss, and resilience is one I would not have wanted to miss and do look forward to its sequel later this year. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!
January 1, 2019
Wildflower Heart is a beautifully written emotional and heart wrenching story. Kara's had more than her share of life's tragedy's. Just when she gets back on her feet, another tragedy knocks her back down. With her fathers stoic love and Kara's strength and resilience, she moves with her father to a rundown house with a beautiful field of wildflowers. Both Kara and her father have secrets that both are afraid to reveal. The quirky neighbors help to renovate the house. Kara meets a special neighbor that along with the wildflowers, help her to heal. Just when she is getting back on her feet, another tragedy strikes. My heart breaks for Kara. The descriptive writing had me smelling the wildflowers. The characters are interesting and well developed. Wildflower Heart is the first book in a series and is one of my favorite books I have read this year. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to Grace Greene, Netgalley, and the publisher for an Arc of this book and this is my honest review.
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