Wishing on Buttercups
By Miralee Ferrell
Historical Romance
Can Love Survive When Secrets Collide?
She’d kept her secrets safely hidden—those from her past, and those in the present. Some things, Beth Roberts knows, a lady simply doesn’t share, even in the 1880’s West. The townspeople would never understand. No one ever has.
Jeffery Tucker, a handsome young writer, has kept his own secrets. He doesn’t have a right to pry into Beth’s affairs but finds himself strangely drawn to her and intrigued by the whiff of mystery surrounding her.
Beth knows that one day someone will unravel the threads of her past. And when two men from her past arrive, the truth might just hurt . . . Beth’s future and her heart.
As shadowy memories surface, Beth sketches the scenes she sees and is shocked by what—and who—her illustrations reveal. Dare she risk her heart again?
Miralee Ferrell is a speaker, accredited counselor, and former ACFW chapter president who has published multiple contemporary and historical romance novels since starting to write in 2005. She enjoys horseback riding, gardening, and family gatherings around their eleven-acre property in Washington State’s beautiful Columbia River Gorge. Miralee has had eight books release, both in women’s contemporary fiction and historical fiction, with another 5 under contract. She’s an award-winning author of Western fiction, and her newest novel, Wishing on Buttercups released February 1, and is the second in a series set in Baker City, Oregon, 1880s.
My Review:
Beth is a talented artist that struggles to accept that she is valuable while Jeffery is a writer that believes he is not any good. I found it interesting that they both did not know that they were drawn to each other, in spite of their insecurities or maybe even because of them. Beth also has hidden scars that she believes will make anyone hate her. In her past, there were mean adults and children that tormented her because of them.
I found that I related to the insecurities that Beth faced. We all have scars that are hidden, but to us, they feel very visible. Today, I was standing in church facing some of my own “scars”. Mine are not visible to the naked eye, but just as painful at times as a real scar.
The message that Ms. Ferrell talks to us throughout this story is it is how we deal with our past, our scars and our insecurities. We may handle it like Mr. Lansing handles in the book (badly) or we may learn that we are valuable and special with our scars. They will always be a part of our lives, but they do not have to define us.
Another lesson this book can teach us is how often we are much harder on ourselves than we should be. Aunt Wilma, Beth, Jeffery, Beth’s mother, all of them were much harder on themselves than they needed to be. The lesson of grace and extending charity to others is a very important part of life.
(This book was giving me to review by NetGalley. The opinions contained therein are my own)
Interact with Miralee:
Website: www.miraleeferrell.com
Facebook Author page: www.facebook.com/miraleeferrell
Twitter: www.twitter.com/miraleeferrell
Please ask a question for Miralee and phrase/lead into it any way you’d like.
She’ll reply in the comment section.
Each blog on the tour can offer a free book and an opportunity to win,… so be sure and tell your Readers to visit each Tour Stop!
For the contest, please state the following:
Miralee would love to answer questions concerning her books, writing, publishing career, pets, or her hobbies. Readers can feel free to only leave a comment, but if they would like to be entered in the contest, we ask that they come up with a question.
Then, they can return to the blog if they want to, and interact with her again.
Do you want to be entered into the contest to win this book? Comment below with a question for Miralee and you will be entered. Make sure to leave your email address posted like this, to avoid spammers. gabbie(at)yahoo(dot)com
The giveaway is limited to those with US addresses! Sorry!
Other Blog tour posts:
February 10th – A Book Lover’s Retreat
February 11th – Shelley’s Book Case
February 12th – For the Love of Literature
February 13th – The Book Bag
February 15th – HomeSchooling4boyz
February 17th – Buzzing about Books
February 18th – Stuck on Books
February 19th – The power of words..
February 20th – My Recent Favorite Books
February 22nd – Melina’s Book Blog
February 24th – The Front Porch
February 26th – My Devotional Thoughts
February 28th – Diana’s Tea Time Reviews
February 28th – Create with Joy
Great review! Thanks for sharing! :)
You’re right in that most of us have scars that, while hidden from public view, are very real to us. Thanks for joining Miralee’s tour. And I love the title of your blog – homeschooling4boyz! Your life must be very full, but fun.
I’ve already read this book, so please don’t enter me in the contest.
Since this author is new to me, I’d like to ask if the first book in this series needs to be read before this one? I love reading books in this time period. Also, how did this series come about? What led to it? Thanks!
susanlulu(at)yahoo(dot)com
Hi Susan, It’s so nice to meet you! You don’t have to read book one first, but I strongly recommend it. You meet the characters in book one that are the main players in book two, as well as all the secondary characters, and come to understand their story. I truly believe you would enjoy book 2 more, if you read Blowing on Dandelions first. I don’t know if you have an eReader, but book 1 is on a super sale right now in all eBook formats. Since this is already a somewhat long reply, I wonder if you’d mind posting your second question on one of the other many blogs that are taking part in this tour? That way you’ll increase your chances of winning one of my books. Each blog will be drawing a winner, and you can enter each one by asking a single question on each one. Thank you!!
I enjoyed reading your review! Thanks for joining the Tour! =)
Miralee,
Do you like to listen to music while you write ?
oh.hello.hiya@gmail.com
HelloSommer! Nope, I don’t enjoy listening to anything when I write. I’ve never tried playing music, but most of the music I enjoy has words, rather than instrumental, so it would be distracting. I love complete quiet when I write. Thanks so much for stopping by, it’s nice to meet you!
Love the review. Miralee do you have a set time of day that you are wiring on your books? I love your book and would love to win a copy of Wishing on Buttercups. Thanks I am enjoying your tour.
lizd225(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi, Liz! I used to mostly write at night, and while that’s still a good time for me, I’ve moved toward writing almost as much in the afternoon. Never in the morning, as that’s set aside for my devotions, email, and catching up on various online obligations. Thanks for stopping by!
This is a new author to me. Loved the review. The book looks really great. My question is what did you learn or enjoy while researching for this book?
Hi Eppersonkatrinap (hope I wrote that right!). It’s nice to meet you and I truly appreciate you stopping by to ask a question. One of my favorite parts of writing any book (besides typing the end, LOL!) is getting to visit the town or area where the book is set. I love the research aspect of writing, and I’ve been blessed to get to to visit each book setting except one, the one set in Sundance, WY.
What do you plant in your gardens?
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
Hi Bn100! (feel free to post your first name at the end of your questions if you’d like)….I have 6 different flower beds that are loaded with roses, delphinium, dianthius, tons of day lilies, oriental lilies, canterbury bells, rhoddodendron, and a number of other perennials. In our vegetable garden we typically have a lot of tomato plants, peas, beans, corn, zucchini, lettuce, carrots and more. Can’t wait!!!
Thanks for joining in on the tour! I think that homeschooling is wonderful; you must be very busy! :-)
Martha, thank you so much for your thoughtful, lovely review and for hosting me here. It’s been lovely getting acquainted with some of your readers.
Martha, I forgot to mention that I home schooled our two children for several years through part of grade school and jr high, as well. Also, I’ll have a series of novels for middle-grade girls who love horses that will release next year. I think they’d be great for home school families!
That is great, Miralee! I often need recommendations for young women that age and would love to read them!
I read BLOWING ON DANDELIONS and loved it! How did you come up the idea for this series? I would be so excited to win a copy of WISHING ON BUTTERCUPS! Here’s hoping…..
Hi Janice, It’s so nice that you stopped by, and thank you for sharing that you read Blowing on Dandelions and enjoyed it! That is always such a blessing to hear. The story was birthed due to an encounter I had with a woman who was hurting over her broken relationship with her mother. She’d been dealing with the pain for years, and her mother lived close by, so she saw little hope for change in their relationship. When praying one day, I felt the Lord telling me I needed to write a story that dealt with broken mother-daughter relationships, and to shine the light of hope into the story. Of course, it needed to contain a romance, so I included that, as well. Book 2, 3 and 4 all came out of the characters I developed in book 1. Thanks again!
Miralee, I saw on another reply to a comment that you grow daylillies. I have a good memory of visiting Edith’s Daylillies near Helen, Georgia to select a few plants from the “farm” to bring home for planting. Do you make excursions like that to get your plants or do you shop from a catalog or online? Do you have a favorite daylilly? I was amazed at the price variation from a little to big bucks. I liked the Barracuda Bay variety.
Thanks for your friendliness on the blog tour. Please enter me in your contest.
jsmithg(at)hotmail(dot)com
Hi Janice, Yes, my daughter got me hooked on day lilies a few years ago. I think I have about 30 plants or more right now, with a lot of variety in color and type. I feel awful that I can’t pick out a name of a favorite. I’m terrible on the names….I’m afraid I don’t even know the names of most of them. I just plant them and enjoy them, LOL! Thank you so much for stopping in!! It’s my pleasure! Oh…and I’m going to go online now and look up the one you mentioned. I don’t think I have it.
Enjoyed reading the comments. Your book sounds interesting.
When you have family gatherings, do they provide you with ideas for stories? Boy, sitting down to my family’s dinner table would really provide some to be explored.
Hi Joye, thanks so much for stopping to visit! My kids and some of their escapades as children have provided some fodder, as well as journals from ancestors, but I try to avoid using anything that would target a specific person, friend or family member. But I do enjoy watching people in public and tucking away little tidbits for possible future use.
hi Miralee, I am so glad your book deals with the scars we all carry. It is so hard to get past how we view ourselves. Even as a Christian I have trouble with self esteem and now that I am a recent widow after 46 years it is hard to do things by myself because of it.
Do any of your books deal with moving on after loss?
Also the books you will write about horses will be great for my grandchildren I am looking forward to them.
Jackie, it’s wonderful to hear from you and I appreciate your comments and question so much. I’m so sorry to hear about your recent loss. I haven’t considered a book about loss, other than having touched on it in all three of the books in this series….Katherine and Micah’s loss in Blowing on Dandelions, with both of them being widowed, Beth’s loss of her past and not knowing what happened to her, etc…but not an entire book devoted to that theme….I’m not sure it would work for an entire book, but it’s definitely woven into several of my current ones. Thank you and God bless!
Does anyone else in your family write or are you the only author? This book looks very good.
Hi Beth, thank you for your question and for stopping by. My brother, Tim Gould, wrote a non-fiction book dealing with a very tough subject, homosexuality…for pastors or family members trying to help someone to a place of freedom. My son played around with a military suspense, but didn’t get very far, as life got overwhelmingly busy for him (new baby and med school at the same time). I’d love to see him continue as I feel he has a true talent, but I doubt he’ll ever have time….maybe someday when he retires.
How long did it take to write Wishing on Buttercups?Have a wonderful weekend.
Hi,Emma! Thanks for your question. I had to work writing this book into a very hectic schedule, along with edits on book one, Blowing on Dandelions, and starting to write another book, as well as juggling home and life. I think it took me 4-5 months, off and on. If I could write straight through without any interruptions AND knew exactly where I was going at any given time, I could easily do it in 45-60 days, but that never happens. :-)
Hi Miralee, Do you own any antiques from the time periods that are in your books? If you dont, based on your research what is something that you would love to own? I loved Blowing On Dandelions!
Hi Merry, Yes, I have a couple of old tin types of ancestors of mine that actually date back to the 1850’s or 60’s. My mom has most of the family antiques, but I do have a few items that are early 1900’s. I’d love to have more someday! I’d LOVE to own an old doctor’s buggy and harness. Great question, thank you!!