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Wildflower
Lily Andrews is only eleven years old when she boards a small aircraft with her mother, destined for the beautiful gulf coast of Texas. Tragedy strikes mid-flight when the plane goes down deep in the wild Ozarks, and Lily must survive in the unforgiving forest. With the help of a gruff mountain man and his dog, along with Lily’s intense grit and determination, she thrives in her private oasis. When a simple mistake forces her to make a life-altering decision, she is ripped from her mountain paradise and thrust into civilization once more.
Jessica Velasquez has never recovered from the death of her father. The only way she can get closure is to find out what really happened when his plane went down. When a stranger races out of the wilderness with her father’s belongings eight years after his plane went down, Jessica hopes the woman will have the answers she’s looking for.
Between Lily’s sheltered life and Jessica’s reservations about letting anyone close, both are ill-equipped for a relationship, but can they deny their true feelings?
Jessica Velasquez has never recovered from the death of her father. The only way she can get closure is to find out what really happened when his plane went down. When a stranger races out of the wilderness with her father’s belongings eight years after his plane went down, Jessica hopes the woman will have the answers she’s looking for.
Between Lily’s sheltered life and Jessica’s reservations about letting anyone close, both are ill-equipped for a relationship, but can they deny their true feelings?
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2023
5 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Cathleen Collins
2 books7 followersA native Pennsylvanian and a HACC, EGCC, and WGU alumna, Cathleen "Cat" Collins has been fascinated with words for as long as she can remember. She started out writing poetry and short stories, but somehow, enough characters wiggled their way into her thoughts that she had to put them on paper. Thanks to a vast network of friends (both in-person and in the magical land of the internet) cheering her on, she has started more projects than she could ever possibly finish. All her work is centered around the L in LGBTQ+ and varies from paranormal/fantasy to plain old romance to feral children (and, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love feral children?).
After a complete 180-degree career change from the night shift world of caring for developmentally disabled adults, to the 9 - 5 daylight world of personal income tax, Cat has learned to be even more thankful for every day and every person she meets. She is currently working toward a bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Special education, and who knows where that may lead?
Cat spends her free time lounging about the farmette she shares with her partner of two decades, Lori, and their menagerie of horses, cats, dogs, and feathered friends. She enjoys starting construction projects she will never truly complete, growing a jungle of vegetables, and pretending she doesn’t like to bake.
You can email Cat, find her perusing all the crazy cat groups on Facebook, or follow all her chaos and shenanigans on Instagram. Since technology is the bane of her simple existence, she will most likely never tweet, hashtag, or TikTok her way into internet infamy without encouragement from a high voltage cattle prod or a carrot stick baited with peanut-butter cups.
After a complete 180-degree career change from the night shift world of caring for developmentally disabled adults, to the 9 - 5 daylight world of personal income tax, Cat has learned to be even more thankful for every day and every person she meets. She is currently working toward a bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Special education, and who knows where that may lead?
Cat spends her free time lounging about the farmette she shares with her partner of two decades, Lori, and their menagerie of horses, cats, dogs, and feathered friends. She enjoys starting construction projects she will never truly complete, growing a jungle of vegetables, and pretending she doesn’t like to bake.
You can email Cat, find her perusing all the crazy cat groups on Facebook, or follow all her chaos and shenanigans on Instagram. Since technology is the bane of her simple existence, she will most likely never tweet, hashtag, or TikTok her way into internet infamy without encouragement from a high voltage cattle prod or a carrot stick baited with peanut-butter cups.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 17, 2024
At eleven years of age Lily became lost to the world she once knew. She and her mother were on a flight to Texas when the small jet plane crashed into the wilds of the Ozark Mountains. Lily was the lone survivor. Years later she emerges back to civilization.
I have laid out the barest of the bones for this captivating story to ensure readers experience it first hand.
Behind the unassuming title and cover for the book hides a story that leaps off the pages. It will hold you in a thrall until you have finished.
Best Book I have read so far in 2024. My review does not do the story justice.
I received an advance review copy from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I have laid out the barest of the bones for this captivating story to ensure readers experience it first hand.
Behind the unassuming title and cover for the book hides a story that leaps off the pages. It will hold you in a thrall until you have finished.
Best Book I have read so far in 2024. My review does not do the story justice.
I received an advance review copy from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 11, 2023
This is a story about Lily Andrews who at age 11, whike on a small plane crashes into the Ozark mountains. Lilly was a shy and introverted child before the crash. She is the lone survivor and the first half of the book is filled with the people she meets who teach her survival skills in the mountains. The second half of the book is how she survives in civilization.
I felt a kinship to Lilly with her thoughts and emotions throughout her journey in the book. Collins did wonderful job in making me feel a part of the story with her character descriptions and storytelling. And her visual descriptions of the mountain and beach were equally great.
As a child growing up in the woods near my home I studied the trees and birds too and can totally relate to this quote “He said the trees were singing songs”, I equally can related to the beach scenes, having spent 100s of hours walking gulf coast beaches as an adult.
This is the second time this week I’ve read about mushrooms being connected under the soil and that they send electrical connections to each other. Reading it here was a deja vu vibe and sent tingles up my spine.
The romance is there, and lots of angst too. And yes of course like other reviewers I would have liked more of it. But in a way it fit perfectly for this book.
Highly recommended for anyone liking an adventure story with a dash of romance. And beautifully written words.
ARC received from Net Galley for an honest and voluntary review.
I felt a kinship to Lilly with her thoughts and emotions throughout her journey in the book. Collins did wonderful job in making me feel a part of the story with her character descriptions and storytelling. And her visual descriptions of the mountain and beach were equally great.
As a child growing up in the woods near my home I studied the trees and birds too and can totally relate to this quote “He said the trees were singing songs”, I equally can related to the beach scenes, having spent 100s of hours walking gulf coast beaches as an adult.
This is the second time this week I’ve read about mushrooms being connected under the soil and that they send electrical connections to each other. Reading it here was a deja vu vibe and sent tingles up my spine.
The romance is there, and lots of angst too. And yes of course like other reviewers I would have liked more of it. But in a way it fit perfectly for this book.
Highly recommended for anyone liking an adventure story with a dash of romance. And beautifully written words.
ARC received from Net Galley for an honest and voluntary review.
August 9, 2023
4.5⭐️
This is not an ordinary romance. Written from Lily's point of view, it is about the struggle to survive in the wilderness and reintegrate into civilization. A moving story of an eleven-year-old who, along with her dearly loved mother (the only person who could really understand her) and other passengers, crashes with a small airplane in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas. Lily lost everything in no time. But despite all the adverse circumstances, she learns to love her imposed home - nature with all its colors, shapes, facets, and creatures. Only thanks to the help of a dying passenger and an old mountain man and his dog Biscuit, she learns to survive.
Jessica Velasquez lost her father in the same plane crash and is trying to find a way to get closure by hiking to the crash site to see if she can find anything of her father. Will she find closure?
After a long time, Lily returns to civilization, where she has a lot to learn (anew). Frightened by hundreds of questions from so many people and the media attention, she remains mute and is very slow to trust other people. Jessica is one of those, who heard about the only survivor of the crash and visits her. Lily's grandmother is her only remaining relative, who would do anything to give her a nice home and life, only their ideas about it couldn't be more different. The journey back to a civilized life, which is a huge contrast to her life in the wilderness, is another piece of hard work.
When Lily and Jessica meet for the first time, they feel a strong bond over the loss of a parent. The feelings rather change quickly into attraction. However, with their completely different life experiences, they are at two different points in life. They first have to overcome some hurdles before a happy ending is possible.
Through the descriptions of the environment, the challenges, and Lily's feelings and thoughts, I felt as if I were an invisible and mute companion to Lily. I fell in love with her from the first moment, and I just wanted to take the little girl and later the young woman into my arms and protect and support her.
The main themes are the will to live, trust, sadness and grief, loneliness, finding joy in small things, unexpected friendships, and finding your own way - and fighting for it. Told in beautiful, flowery, figurative, and sometimes poetic language. The words flow like a brook through the wilderness, becoming a raging torrent, only to ripple peacefully again shortly thereafter.
My only small complaint is, that the book ends when the love story really begins. I would have loved to spend more time with Lily and Jessica as they begin their life together.
This story really moved me, heartbreaking and at the same time heartwarming.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for receiving an ARC for an honest review.
This is not an ordinary romance. Written from Lily's point of view, it is about the struggle to survive in the wilderness and reintegrate into civilization. A moving story of an eleven-year-old who, along with her dearly loved mother (the only person who could really understand her) and other passengers, crashes with a small airplane in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas. Lily lost everything in no time. But despite all the adverse circumstances, she learns to love her imposed home - nature with all its colors, shapes, facets, and creatures. Only thanks to the help of a dying passenger and an old mountain man and his dog Biscuit, she learns to survive.
Jessica Velasquez lost her father in the same plane crash and is trying to find a way to get closure by hiking to the crash site to see if she can find anything of her father. Will she find closure?
After a long time, Lily returns to civilization, where she has a lot to learn (anew). Frightened by hundreds of questions from so many people and the media attention, she remains mute and is very slow to trust other people. Jessica is one of those, who heard about the only survivor of the crash and visits her. Lily's grandmother is her only remaining relative, who would do anything to give her a nice home and life, only their ideas about it couldn't be more different. The journey back to a civilized life, which is a huge contrast to her life in the wilderness, is another piece of hard work.
When Lily and Jessica meet for the first time, they feel a strong bond over the loss of a parent. The feelings rather change quickly into attraction. However, with their completely different life experiences, they are at two different points in life. They first have to overcome some hurdles before a happy ending is possible.
Through the descriptions of the environment, the challenges, and Lily's feelings and thoughts, I felt as if I were an invisible and mute companion to Lily. I fell in love with her from the first moment, and I just wanted to take the little girl and later the young woman into my arms and protect and support her.
The main themes are the will to live, trust, sadness and grief, loneliness, finding joy in small things, unexpected friendships, and finding your own way - and fighting for it. Told in beautiful, flowery, figurative, and sometimes poetic language. The words flow like a brook through the wilderness, becoming a raging torrent, only to ripple peacefully again shortly thereafter.
My only small complaint is, that the book ends when the love story really begins. I would have loved to spend more time with Lily and Jessica as they begin their life together.
This story really moved me, heartbreaking and at the same time heartwarming.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for receiving an ARC for an honest review.
October 4, 2023
3 stars
Good, I guess. The premise was very interesting, the execution was good.
I'm not sure why I can't rate it better. Maybe I just didn't click with the story...
But I have to point out that the nature descriptions were breathtaking. Excellent work there.
Good, I guess. The premise was very interesting, the execution was good.
I'm not sure why I can't rate it better. Maybe I just didn't click with the story...
But I have to point out that the nature descriptions were breathtaking. Excellent work there.
July 27, 2023
This was a really fascinating and heart-wrenching tale.
The details of MC Lily's time in the wilderness is so fraught but with such perseverance, you really root for her every step of the way, and feel deeply for all she has been through.
The narrative is seen through Lily's eyes, but it does mean that we don't get as much insight into other characters as we perhaps should.
Specifically the romance is understandably very push and pull, and struggles from a lack of connection and conversation, many things left unsaid. There's some drama with a GrandMother character which does get resolved, but at the same time it does so in an inorganic way, quick way that doesn't feel as realistic as it should.
It's a unique story that I did enjoy a lot, very beautiful in places, but could have explored other characters in a bit more depth, and have Lily be truly more autonomous in more ways.
Overall though, I'd recommend it, if you're into survivalist style stories.
The details of MC Lily's time in the wilderness is so fraught but with such perseverance, you really root for her every step of the way, and feel deeply for all she has been through.
The narrative is seen through Lily's eyes, but it does mean that we don't get as much insight into other characters as we perhaps should.
Specifically the romance is understandably very push and pull, and struggles from a lack of connection and conversation, many things left unsaid. There's some drama with a GrandMother character which does get resolved, but at the same time it does so in an inorganic way, quick way that doesn't feel as realistic as it should.
It's a unique story that I did enjoy a lot, very beautiful in places, but could have explored other characters in a bit more depth, and have Lily be truly more autonomous in more ways.
Overall though, I'd recommend it, if you're into survivalist style stories.
August 9, 2023
4.9 stars
This story had me wrapped up and emotional from the the first chapter and it never let me go.
My only disappointment, and the reason for my odd star rating, is the anticlimactic ending. The ending was almost comical with onlookers snickering. After all the angst I was put through I needed more romantic release. I would really like a rework of the ending
This is an unusual story of survival, loneliness and heartbreak. But also happiness, friendship and personal growth.
The authors words are wonderful and I felt every heartbreak, fear, loneliness and love.
The wilderness and survival technics were very interesting. The action scenes were scary and breathtaking. I was always surprised and not sure what was going to happen next.
Back in civilization the story turns into a very stormy emotional love story that truly tugs at your heart.
Great story, great writing but disappointing ending.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story had me wrapped up and emotional from the the first chapter and it never let me go.
My only disappointment, and the reason for my odd star rating, is the anticlimactic ending. The ending was almost comical with onlookers snickering. After all the angst I was put through I needed more romantic release. I would really like a rework of the ending
This is an unusual story of survival, loneliness and heartbreak. But also happiness, friendship and personal growth.
The authors words are wonderful and I felt every heartbreak, fear, loneliness and love.
The wilderness and survival technics were very interesting. The action scenes were scary and breathtaking. I was always surprised and not sure what was going to happen next.
Back in civilization the story turns into a very stormy emotional love story that truly tugs at your heart.
Great story, great writing but disappointing ending.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 20, 2023
Beautiful.
Beautiful description of the mountains and, it defiantly makes a difference when you can ‘see’ and almost ‘feel’ the scenery where the book is set.
The story is very different to what I've read before, and the description of the mountain setting is very detailed and leaves you feeling content. You meet some interesting characters throughout the book, who all have interesting stories of their own to tell.
I wouldn't call this book a romance, it's more of an adventure and finding out who you are as a person and where you belong in the world. It's emotional in parts, but fascinating too.
I really did enjoy this story.
5/5
Beautiful description of the mountains and, it defiantly makes a difference when you can ‘see’ and almost ‘feel’ the scenery where the book is set.
The story is very different to what I've read before, and the description of the mountain setting is very detailed and leaves you feeling content. You meet some interesting characters throughout the book, who all have interesting stories of their own to tell.
I wouldn't call this book a romance, it's more of an adventure and finding out who you are as a person and where you belong in the world. It's emotional in parts, but fascinating too.
I really did enjoy this story.
5/5
July 29, 2023
Lily life changes in instant when on a small plane that her and mother was on crashes into the Ozarks and she realizes her mother has died except for Jack who is dying gives Lily pointers on how to survive while talking about his daughter Jessica. Lily is all alone in the forest until she stumbles upon a grizzly man and his dog who teaches how to live in the wilderness. Lily spent eight years in wilderness even though she came upon campers and hikers but chose to remain hidden but this time she can’t because she gets a life threatening injury. Lily thrust back into the world where she sees her grandmother Dawn who controlling and wants her to be a certain way and doesn’t approve of the friendship she developed with Jack daughter Jessica who wanted to know what happened to her father. I enjoy this read I like the details of surviving in the wilderness and Lily strength but the romance part felt flat because we really didn’t get to invest with Jessica come in out of Lily life and then it’s felt rush but overall solid read.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
August 14, 2023
Definitely not your typical sapphic romance, nor did I expect it to be based on the blurb. Very emotional story all around so be ready for that. I was not prepared for the level of detail regarding the aftermath of the crash, but it really added another element to the story and helped you better understand Lily. This story is definitely more geared towards Lily and her growth and Jessica is a part of that. Would’ve enjoyed more of their love story before the epilogue as I did feel their strong connection.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and Netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and Netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2023
4.5⭐️
This is not an ordinary romance. Written from Lily's point of view, it is about the struggle to survive in the wilderness and reintegrate into civilization. A moving story of an eleven-year-old who, along with her dearly loved mother (the only person who could really understand her) and other passengers, crashes with a small airplane in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas. Lily lost everything in no time. But despite all the adverse circumstances, she learns to love her imposed home - nature with all its colors, shapes, facets, and creatures. Only thanks to the help of a dying passenger and an old mountain man and his dog Biscuit, she learns to survive.
Jessica Velasquez lost her father in the same plane crash and is trying to find a way to get closure by hiking to the crash site to see if she can find anything of her father. Will she find closure?
After a long time, Lily returns to civilization, where she has a lot to learn (anew). Frightened by hundreds of questions from so many people and the media attention, she remains mute and is very slow to trust other people. Jessica is one of those, who heard about the only survivor of the crash and visits her. Lily's grandmother is her only remaining relative, who would do anything to give her a nice home and life, only their ideas about it couldn't be more different. The journey back to a civilized life, which is a huge contrast to her life in the wilderness, is another piece of hard work.
When Lily and Jessica meet for the first time, they feel a strong bond over the loss of a parent. The feelings rather change quickly into attraction. However, with their completely different life experiences, they are at two different points in life. They first have to overcome some hurdles before a happy ending is possible.
Through the descriptions of the environment, the challenges, and Lily's feelings and thoughts, I felt as if I were an invisible and mute companion to Lily. I fell in love with her from the first moment, and I just wanted to take the little girl and later the young woman into my arms and protect and support her.
The main themes are the will to live, trust, sadness and grief, loneliness, finding joy in small things, unexpected friendships, and finding your own way - and fighting for it. Told in beautiful, flowery, figurative, and sometimes poetic language. The words flow like a brook through the wilderness, becoming a raging torrent, only to ripple peacefully again shortly thereafter.
My only small complaint is, that the book ends when the love story really begins. I would have loved to spend more time with Lily and Jessica as they begin their life together.
This story really moved me, heartbreaking and at the same time heartwarming.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for receiving an ARC for an honest review.
This is not an ordinary romance. Written from Lily's point of view, it is about the struggle to survive in the wilderness and reintegrate into civilization. A moving story of an eleven-year-old who, along with her dearly loved mother (the only person who could really understand her) and other passengers, crashes with a small airplane in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas. Lily lost everything in no time. But despite all the adverse circumstances, she learns to love her imposed home - nature with all its colors, shapes, facets, and creatures. Only thanks to the help of a dying passenger and an old mountain man and his dog Biscuit, she learns to survive.
Jessica Velasquez lost her father in the same plane crash and is trying to find a way to get closure by hiking to the crash site to see if she can find anything of her father. Will she find closure?
After a long time, Lily returns to civilization, where she has a lot to learn (anew). Frightened by hundreds of questions from so many people and the media attention, she remains mute and is very slow to trust other people. Jessica is one of those, who heard about the only survivor of the crash and visits her. Lily's grandmother is her only remaining relative, who would do anything to give her a nice home and life, only their ideas about it couldn't be more different. The journey back to a civilized life, which is a huge contrast to her life in the wilderness, is another piece of hard work.
When Lily and Jessica meet for the first time, they feel a strong bond over the loss of a parent. The feelings rather change quickly into attraction. However, with their completely different life experiences, they are at two different points in life. They first have to overcome some hurdles before a happy ending is possible.
Through the descriptions of the environment, the challenges, and Lily's feelings and thoughts, I felt as if I were an invisible and mute companion to Lily. I fell in love with her from the first moment, and I just wanted to take the little girl and later the young woman into my arms and protect and support her.
The main themes are the will to live, trust, sadness and grief, loneliness, finding joy in small things, unexpected friendships, and finding your own way - and fighting for it. Told in beautiful, flowery, figurative, and sometimes poetic language. The words flow like a brook through the wilderness, becoming a raging torrent, only to ripple peacefully again shortly thereafter.
My only small complaint is, that the book ends when the love story really begins. I would have loved to spend more time with Lily and Jessica as they begin their life together.
This story really moved me, heartbreaking and at the same time heartwarming.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for receiving an ARC for an honest review.
July 20, 2023
Lily Andrews is 11 years old when is survives a plane crash in the Ozark mountains. She learns to survive and gets by living in a cave. For some reason I had flashbacks to reading Hatchet, the YA middle school book about a boy surviving in the Canadian wilderness. She sustains some injuries and learns to be leery of hunters and hikers. The first third is the survival story and then it switches to her being 18 and being rescued from the mountains. She officially meets Jessica Valasquez. Jess is a writer and she has seen her before in the mountains. Her father was in the plane crash and she wants answers about his death she hopes Lily can give her. Lily’s grandmother Dawn also arrives to whisk her to Texas. She wants to protect her but also to show her off to her club member friends.
This is general fiction with the beginnings of a romance. I’d have like to know a little more clearly how Lily survives the seasons in her cave or even how she keeps track of years. In the later half of the story again there are gaps to me too. Dawn gets her a tutor to help her get her GED but there are no details how she goes from a fifth grade education to being college ready. Did Lily ever counseling after her ordeal? I think I would have liked Jess to be around a little more to see their relationship grow. I think this is one of those stories that the premise is interesting but it didn’t go where I expected. I did read it quickly and it kept my interest but I wasn’t totally satisfied when I finished the story. Even with the epilogue.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I leaving a voluntary review.
This is general fiction with the beginnings of a romance. I’d have like to know a little more clearly how Lily survives the seasons in her cave or even how she keeps track of years. In the later half of the story again there are gaps to me too. Dawn gets her a tutor to help her get her GED but there are no details how she goes from a fifth grade education to being college ready. Did Lily ever counseling after her ordeal? I think I would have liked Jess to be around a little more to see their relationship grow. I think this is one of those stories that the premise is interesting but it didn’t go where I expected. I did read it quickly and it kept my interest but I wasn’t totally satisfied when I finished the story. Even with the epilogue.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I leaving a voluntary review.
May 28, 2024
Loved this. Beautifully written. Highly recommend
July 24, 2023
First off: don't go into reading this book thinking it's a romance. Yes, there is a bit of that, but if you think that's it you're going to not like this book as much as it deserves. Lily is on her way to Texas with her mom when their small plane crashes in the Ozarks and almost everyone dies. At eleven years old Lily needs to find a way to survive and she does so quite nicely for the next 8 years in a rough environment.
The writing of this part is poignant, you follow along in Lily's mind, living the joys, grief, tension, fear and loneliness that she goes through. Her connection to Jessica is believable and beautiful, yet this is not the focus of this book. For me the focus was Lily and her personal growth, adjusting again to life and the expectations that brings, whether it's from family or otherwise, finding your spot in life and living that life happy and fullfilled.
I for one greatly enjoyed this book, for a romance it's too light on the romance and the time spend together as a couple, rushing to a HEA. Yet as story about a slightly different girl, growing up on her own in the wild and coming to terms with herself and her position in the world it is a delightful read.
***Thank you Netgalley and BoldStrokeBooks for the chance to read and review this book***
The writing of this part is poignant, you follow along in Lily's mind, living the joys, grief, tension, fear and loneliness that she goes through. Her connection to Jessica is believable and beautiful, yet this is not the focus of this book. For me the focus was Lily and her personal growth, adjusting again to life and the expectations that brings, whether it's from family or otherwise, finding your spot in life and living that life happy and fullfilled.
I for one greatly enjoyed this book, for a romance it's too light on the romance and the time spend together as a couple, rushing to a HEA. Yet as story about a slightly different girl, growing up on her own in the wild and coming to terms with herself and her position in the world it is a delightful read.
***Thank you Netgalley and BoldStrokeBooks for the chance to read and review this book***
September 1, 2023
What a breath of fresh air. Collins writes such a heavy and introspective tale of the trials and tribulations Lily faces alone in the great wild Ozarks. Once Jessica enters the picture, the story blooms into a tale of love and courage. Highly recommend for fans of a sapphic twist on the classic Island of the Blue Dolphins.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books, Inc. and Netgalley for providing an eARC for an honest review.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books, Inc. and Netgalley for providing an eARC for an honest review.
September 3, 2023
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book lily was 11 when her plane went down and so begins her fight for survival being the only survivor in that small plane... on the day she is discovered she is suffering from a snake bite and her life will never be the same again.... a life lived in the jungle and then to return to civilisation, an awakening on many levels for lily an interesting read that kept me read right into the night
April 12, 2024
def a one sitting type of read. very clipped, not long enough for me though!
July 25, 2023
If you survived a plane crash at the tender age of eleven years old, eventually losing everyone around you, how long do you think you could live?
Lily Evans is just happy to be hanging out with her mother. They’re close, and her mother is probably the only one who really understands how she thinks. When Lily goes to sleep on the plane, she never expects to wake up to her world falling apart. With a lot of luck and guidance from a dying man on the plane, Lily manages to stay alive. But barely. All too soon, she is the sole survivor with no wilderness skills, very few social skills, and lost in an unforgiving forest. With another burst of good fortune, she meets a grizzled old man and his dog. Biscuit.
The old man teaches her how to start a fire, trap for meat, and everything else he knows. He and Biscuit become Lily’s chosen family. She’s still an orphan, but not quite so alone.
Family, both blood and chosen family, is an important and dominant theme in this novel.
Yes, the story is one of unexpected survival, but it is also about resilience, determination and being true to oneself. It is also about freedom. The freedom to live by your own means and hands and wits, as well as the freedom to live true to your heart.
All of these themes and elements are not only woven masterfully into the story but are the bedrock of the tale. The novel has so many layers that blend so seamlessly into one another, that long after I turned the last page, I was stunned by how much depth there had been. In fact, I would argue that “Wildflower” has more profundity and meaning than many classic pieces of literature I studied in school.
To refer to the writing as “atmospheric” is a little bit of an understatement. For most of the novel, we are in the Ozarks with Lily, but we also tag along to the Texas coast, wander the beach against an incoming hurricane, and dig our toes into the sand alongside Lily. No matter where she is, we are transported there with her. The author brought her skill to each page so thoroughly that I never doubted where we were. And I certainly never wanted the story to end.
I would have been very happy to have this book be twice as thick, and it is not a short novel. I fell in love with the settings, the people Lily meets, and of course, with Biscuit.
Have you ever read a novel and been so taken by it that when you were done, you mourned its completion? That was me with Wildflower. And I’ll warn you now, it might do the same for you. In this day and age of clickbait and manipulative media, you need to read Wildflower. It will change you, and you will be better for it. Get it as soon as you can. You won’t regret it.
I was fortunate to be granted an arc by the publisher, Bold Strokes Books via Netgalley.
Lily Evans is just happy to be hanging out with her mother. They’re close, and her mother is probably the only one who really understands how she thinks. When Lily goes to sleep on the plane, she never expects to wake up to her world falling apart. With a lot of luck and guidance from a dying man on the plane, Lily manages to stay alive. But barely. All too soon, she is the sole survivor with no wilderness skills, very few social skills, and lost in an unforgiving forest. With another burst of good fortune, she meets a grizzled old man and his dog. Biscuit.
The old man teaches her how to start a fire, trap for meat, and everything else he knows. He and Biscuit become Lily’s chosen family. She’s still an orphan, but not quite so alone.
Family, both blood and chosen family, is an important and dominant theme in this novel.
Yes, the story is one of unexpected survival, but it is also about resilience, determination and being true to oneself. It is also about freedom. The freedom to live by your own means and hands and wits, as well as the freedom to live true to your heart.
All of these themes and elements are not only woven masterfully into the story but are the bedrock of the tale. The novel has so many layers that blend so seamlessly into one another, that long after I turned the last page, I was stunned by how much depth there had been. In fact, I would argue that “Wildflower” has more profundity and meaning than many classic pieces of literature I studied in school.
To refer to the writing as “atmospheric” is a little bit of an understatement. For most of the novel, we are in the Ozarks with Lily, but we also tag along to the Texas coast, wander the beach against an incoming hurricane, and dig our toes into the sand alongside Lily. No matter where she is, we are transported there with her. The author brought her skill to each page so thoroughly that I never doubted where we were. And I certainly never wanted the story to end.
I would have been very happy to have this book be twice as thick, and it is not a short novel. I fell in love with the settings, the people Lily meets, and of course, with Biscuit.
Have you ever read a novel and been so taken by it that when you were done, you mourned its completion? That was me with Wildflower. And I’ll warn you now, it might do the same for you. In this day and age of clickbait and manipulative media, you need to read Wildflower. It will change you, and you will be better for it. Get it as soon as you can. You won’t regret it.
I was fortunate to be granted an arc by the publisher, Bold Strokes Books via Netgalley.
July 19, 2023
While the premise sounded interesting, the story itself was delivered in an underwhelming way.
We meet Lily Andrews when she's only 11 years old, shortly before a plane crash kills her mother and all other passengers on board. She spends the next 8 years alone deep in the Ozark Mountains with little help to begin with. She somehow manages to withstand summer's heat and winter's cold in a cave, while feeding herself and keeping herself from sustaining any severe injuries. The chapters that detailed her life during those 8 years felt mundane and lacking creativity.
When an accident occurs and she sustains a life-threatening injury she is forced out of her private Arcadia and thrown into civilization where she meets Jessica Velasquez. While Jessica is trying to find out more about her father's death, a romance between the two young women is supposed to develop.
Since we only get Lily's point of view and Jessica kept appearing and disappearing from Lily's life, I found it hard to see them as a potential couple. There was little involvement between the two women and even when such moments occurred both Jessica and Lily's grandmother hardly ever gave her a chance to make her own decisions or to express her feelings.
We never get to see them as a couple, as a family, we are merely given an epilogue, a very quickly summarized HEA.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books, Inc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
We meet Lily Andrews when she's only 11 years old, shortly before a plane crash kills her mother and all other passengers on board. She spends the next 8 years alone deep in the Ozark Mountains with little help to begin with. She somehow manages to withstand summer's heat and winter's cold in a cave, while feeding herself and keeping herself from sustaining any severe injuries. The chapters that detailed her life during those 8 years felt mundane and lacking creativity.
When an accident occurs and she sustains a life-threatening injury she is forced out of her private Arcadia and thrown into civilization where she meets Jessica Velasquez. While Jessica is trying to find out more about her father's death, a romance between the two young women is supposed to develop.
Since we only get Lily's point of view and Jessica kept appearing and disappearing from Lily's life, I found it hard to see them as a potential couple. There was little involvement between the two women and even when such moments occurred both Jessica and Lily's grandmother hardly ever gave her a chance to make her own decisions or to express her feelings.
We never get to see them as a couple, as a family, we are merely given an epilogue, a very quickly summarized HEA.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books, Inc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 14, 2023
The premise of this book intrigued me and I couldn't put it down until I finished. However I found it lacking in parts. This was my first book by this author.
Lily Andrews is on her own after a plane crash killed her mother and everyone else on board at age 11. For 8 years, she survived in the mountains with a little help in the beginning. Jessica Velasquez has mourned the death of her father for years and never dealt with her grief until Lily comes out of the mountains with her father's wallet.
Their lives collide and an instant connection is formed, but this is where I had an issue with it. Jessica flitted in and out of Lily's life and never gave her a chance to make her own decisions. Instead Jessica made them for her. I wouldn't call this a romance per say as there wasn't much involvement between the two MCS and one kiss. The end was disappointing as well because you never got to see them interact as a couple and etc.
Overall, not a bad book, but as excited as I was to read this, I was left disappointed. I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.
Lily Andrews is on her own after a plane crash killed her mother and everyone else on board at age 11. For 8 years, she survived in the mountains with a little help in the beginning. Jessica Velasquez has mourned the death of her father for years and never dealt with her grief until Lily comes out of the mountains with her father's wallet.
Their lives collide and an instant connection is formed, but this is where I had an issue with it. Jessica flitted in and out of Lily's life and never gave her a chance to make her own decisions. Instead Jessica made them for her. I wouldn't call this a romance per say as there wasn't much involvement between the two MCS and one kiss. The end was disappointing as well because you never got to see them interact as a couple and etc.
Overall, not a bad book, but as excited as I was to read this, I was left disappointed. I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.
July 19, 2023
In the Ozarks a plane goes down with two survivors. One an 11 year old girl, the other an older man but he can’t move. Is anyone looking for them?
The man sets young Lily out to look around and search for water and check out nature. He teaches her what she’s looking at nature around them because he knows his time is short.
Lily must learn quickly if she’s going to make it.
Soon enough she’s on her own and frightened but she smart and strong. The years pass somehow and she sees hikers and campers but she’s afraid to approach.
Until the unthinkable happens and a venomous snake has gotten her.
She seeks out help and is thrust back into the world she hasn’t even a part of in years. Will this be too much for her? Who will help? Who will she trust?
Enjoyable read.
Thank you #NetGalley #BoldStrokesBooks #Wildflower for this ARC
The man sets young Lily out to look around and search for water and check out nature. He teaches her what she’s looking at nature around them because he knows his time is short.
Lily must learn quickly if she’s going to make it.
Soon enough she’s on her own and frightened but she smart and strong. The years pass somehow and she sees hikers and campers but she’s afraid to approach.
Until the unthinkable happens and a venomous snake has gotten her.
She seeks out help and is thrust back into the world she hasn’t even a part of in years. Will this be too much for her? Who will help? Who will she trust?
Enjoyable read.
Thank you #NetGalley #BoldStrokesBooks #Wildflower for this ARC
July 3, 2024
One of my favorite reads, totally liked Lily, enjoyed the authors writing, definitely will read more of her books. I think she should have, started the relationship between the two. When Jessica walks up to Lily naked in a sand dune on the beach during a tropical storm passing out in sea. Not at the end, arranged by Charlie, inviting her to go hiking, after repeated scenes throughout the book were Jessica is always leaving, the chemistry she gave them with words is better than anything I've previous read and a way too short Epilogue. It's like she took it to far with Lily finding herself, then Jessica whose a few years older, thinks she's going to hurt her by dating her and prevent her from experiencing life and rushed the ending and forgetting you can always continue the story in a 2nd book
December 1, 2024
I wasn't sure if I was gonna enjoy this book as it seemed to be a heavy topic as Lily survives by herself as a kid after surviving a plane crash. Boy was I wrong. Not about it being heavy. At times it was, but also I did not mind one single minute.
You get right into it and it feels like you are there right on those mountains with Lily. You feel how she feels, you fear what she fears and you also feel a bit of dispair because will this be her life now?
Throw in a love interest who seems to connect with her without words and you're in for a treat.
The only problem I had with this book was the ending. That's it. I did not want it to end. Period. Like who do I need to pay off to get a sequel to this book? Asking for a friend.
An ARC was given to me via Netgalley in return of an honest review.
You get right into it and it feels like you are there right on those mountains with Lily. You feel how she feels, you fear what she fears and you also feel a bit of dispair because will this be her life now?
Throw in a love interest who seems to connect with her without words and you're in for a treat.
The only problem I had with this book was the ending. That's it. I did not want it to end. Period. Like who do I need to pay off to get a sequel to this book? Asking for a friend.
An ARC was given to me via Netgalley in return of an honest review.
September 7, 2023
Lily and Jessica are two very complex characters. They almost seem similar in personality somehow. Lily seems really young for her age and Jessica seemed kind of immature for her age. This to me seemed like more of a coming of age story than a romance. Even though it's promoted as a romance. I felt the supporting characters were well written and helped to keep this story on track, because there's a lot of back and forth especially on Jessica's part hence the immaturity. I liked the story well enough, but some parts got bogged down by to much angst drama. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a coming of age story or a second chance at life story.
October 23, 2023
The plot of Wildflower is intriguing. It starts with a plane crash. A girl named Lily is the sole survivor. Lily was already strange, and alone in the woods she gradually turns feral. Then, she’s forced back into the real world and – this being a Sapphic romance, after all – true love.
There are moments of profound beauty. Collins’ prose elegantly captures the way trauma and relationship intertwine:
My only criticism is that Collins could have striven for a bit more showing and less telling. This became especially problematic as we neared the end of our journey with Lily. The ending felt shallow and rushed. The reunion of Jill and her love interest is hasty and unsatisfying. And then we're hit with a tacked-on epilogue that was just, well, entirely too much.
Good yarn overall, though.
There are moments of profound beauty. Collins’ prose elegantly captures the way trauma and relationship intertwine:
“We were a patchwork quilt of loss, stitched together haphazardly, our edges ragged against one another.”
My only criticism is that Collins could have striven for a bit more showing and less telling. This became especially problematic as we neared the end of our journey with Lily. The ending felt shallow and rushed. The reunion of Jill and her love interest is hasty and unsatisfying. And then we're hit with a tacked-on epilogue that was just, well, entirely too much.
Good yarn overall, though.
August 13, 2023
Lily was ten when she and her mother took a plane trip to Texas. The plane crashed in the Ozark mountains with only Lily and Jack still alive. Lily tries to take care of Jack but he passes away. Lily has Jack's wallet and bags and bags. Lily spends 9 years in the mountains until she has to seek medical help for a snake bite. The plot revolves around Lily, her love for the mountains, her grandmother and Jessica, Jack's daughter. I found the book very interesting and the characters well written. Both Lily and Jessica find themselves and their life.
October 16, 2023
Another story with an interesting premise. Although Lily's trials in the first half of the novel is similar to a few other wilderness-survival stories I've read before, the nuances in the prose describing Lily's depth of feeling, her losses and her determination to survive/adapt moved my stone-cold cynical heart.
I also found myself more invested in Lily finding happiness, even if it wasn't in the form of a romantic relationship. Nevertheless, I liked how the romance developed even though there were tropes, But hey, what's a sapphic romance without tropes?
I also found myself more invested in Lily finding happiness, even if it wasn't in the form of a romantic relationship. Nevertheless, I liked how the romance developed even though there were tropes, But hey, what's a sapphic romance without tropes?
August 18, 2023
A riveting story of survival, loss and perseverance in the wake of tragic circumstances that affect a young girls outlook on the human experience. After surviving a plane crash, Lily's years long tenacity to not give in to natures sometimes cruelties makes for a most admirable character. The reader roots for Lily throughout the book, and rejoices in her many accomplishments, both as a child and as an adult. Time well spent with such an engaging young woman.
August 23, 2023
I liked the concept and the story I just felt that the pacing was off a little bit. The first half of the book was great but the second half just to me, did not seem to flow. I thought Lily was a great developed character and I understood the things she was going through. I just did not feel the same with Jessica. Besides knowing her father passed away in the plane crash we did not know what other issues she was running from.
August 22, 2023
I like the premise of this book and I really like that one of the leading characters is atypical. That was clever and well written. The first half of the story works pretty well and I was interested in the scenes and characters. But once Lily left the wilderness, I was underwhelmed by the plot, it was bit too sweet and schmaltzy for me. More grit and danger would have really lifted the book.
October 12, 2024
Loved the survival aspect of this story. Lilly's ability to adapt and survive following the plane crash was well written and easy to visualize. Once she returns to civilization everything seemed to speed up with little time or opportunities for Lilly and Jessica's romance to bloom.
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