Shelly D. (Shelske) reviewed Blowing on Dandelions (Love Blossoms in Oregon, Bk 1) on + 19 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I have read all of Miralee's Historical books & just finished reading Blowing on Dandelions. I was blown away. I admire her for taking on a story about Mother/Daughter conflicts & how they worked through them with the help of other loved ones & friends. It is a compassionate story that many of us have dealt with or will have to deal with sometime in our lives. Not every Mother/Daughter are best friends & this story tells how that can feel to each of them. I am so honored to have read this & can't wait for the next book in the series. She always covers all aspects of the emotions & feelings in her characters.
Melissa B. (mblisa) reviewed Blowing on Dandelions (Love Blossoms in Oregon, Bk 1) on + 60 more book reviews
While Katherine is doing her best in raising her two girls in a Boardinghouse alone, she struggles with her relationship with her own Mother.
I liked how Katherine welcomed all of the Guests that came to her Boardinghouse, even when one woman was "difficult"...
When Micah ( a near by neighbor ) and his son need a place to stay, Katherine welcomes them to her Boardinghouse without regard to the extra work or expense involved with their stay. While she gets to know Micah, she begins to realize that her feelings might be more than "just friends".. With engaging characters and a fast moving storyline, this story was hard to put down!
I enjoyed the section in the back of the book called "Afterwords", which includes some notes from the Author on why she chose to write this book, some questions about the book, and also a "Sneak Peek" at the second book in this series called "Wishing on Buttercups".
Disclaimer - I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
I liked how Katherine welcomed all of the Guests that came to her Boardinghouse, even when one woman was "difficult"...
When Micah ( a near by neighbor ) and his son need a place to stay, Katherine welcomes them to her Boardinghouse without regard to the extra work or expense involved with their stay. While she gets to know Micah, she begins to realize that her feelings might be more than "just friends".. With engaging characters and a fast moving storyline, this story was hard to put down!
I enjoyed the section in the back of the book called "Afterwords", which includes some notes from the Author on why she chose to write this book, some questions about the book, and also a "Sneak Peek" at the second book in this series called "Wishing on Buttercups".
Disclaimer - I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
"Katherine Galloway's soft exhales sent the dandelion fluff dancing on the warm current of air, but it didn't bring the anticipated relief. Gripping the stem, she sat in the grassy field with her eyes closed and waited. Why didn't it come? It had always appeared years ago when she needed it. How long had it been since her mind had drifted away to a place where nothing could hurt her? Fifteen years? Twenty?
She shook her head and an errant curl tickled her cheek.
More. Many more. But always her memory returned to those times when the dandelion fluff had carried her away to a place where mothers were loving and kind, and little girls didn't need to be afraid of cutting words or sharp voices."
My Thoughts:
Blowing On Dandelions spoke to me from the very first page. When I was a little girl I used to wait for the "flowers" to bloom just so I could blow on them and see them be scattered by the wind. My Dad would always say "They're just WEEDS!". What my Dad didn't know was every time I blew on those dandelions, every hope and dream I had was scattering on the wind and I was praying they would find their way to God and, eventually, come true. This might sound silly to those of you reading this but, the small excerpt awakened long forgotten memories and brought back memories of my Dad as well. So for the first time (yes, I said the first time) a book really spoke to me.
I was able to sympathize with Katherine's character in more ways than one. Her relationship with her mother was rocky at best and she suffered constant criticism from a woman she had tried very hard to love her whole life. Katherine had an inner strength and control that was astounding. I, too, didn't have the best relationship with my mother when I was younger but through faith in God and prayer we now have a strong bond and I am now her caregiver.
Miralee Ferrell is an amazing writer. This is the first book I have read by her and I am so glad I read it. It left me smiling at old memories and gave me hope for making new ones. I can't wait for the next two books in this series. If you haven't read Blowing On Dandelions I suggest you give it a try. It's more than worth it and look at that cover! Isn't it amazing?
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review. The opinions stated are mine alone and are honest and forthright. If I recommend a book you can believe its a book I enjoyed. I received no monetary compensation for this review.
She shook her head and an errant curl tickled her cheek.
More. Many more. But always her memory returned to those times when the dandelion fluff had carried her away to a place where mothers were loving and kind, and little girls didn't need to be afraid of cutting words or sharp voices."
My Thoughts:
Blowing On Dandelions spoke to me from the very first page. When I was a little girl I used to wait for the "flowers" to bloom just so I could blow on them and see them be scattered by the wind. My Dad would always say "They're just WEEDS!". What my Dad didn't know was every time I blew on those dandelions, every hope and dream I had was scattering on the wind and I was praying they would find their way to God and, eventually, come true. This might sound silly to those of you reading this but, the small excerpt awakened long forgotten memories and brought back memories of my Dad as well. So for the first time (yes, I said the first time) a book really spoke to me.
I was able to sympathize with Katherine's character in more ways than one. Her relationship with her mother was rocky at best and she suffered constant criticism from a woman she had tried very hard to love her whole life. Katherine had an inner strength and control that was astounding. I, too, didn't have the best relationship with my mother when I was younger but through faith in God and prayer we now have a strong bond and I am now her caregiver.
Miralee Ferrell is an amazing writer. This is the first book I have read by her and I am so glad I read it. It left me smiling at old memories and gave me hope for making new ones. I can't wait for the next two books in this series. If you haven't read Blowing On Dandelions I suggest you give it a try. It's more than worth it and look at that cover! Isn't it amazing?
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review. The opinions stated are mine alone and are honest and forthright. If I recommend a book you can believe its a book I enjoyed. I received no monetary compensation for this review.
Kay M. (maydayzee) reviewed Blowing on Dandelions (Love Blossoms in Oregon, Bk 1) on + 754 more book reviews
Blowing on Dandelions offers the reader an opportunity to delve into the complex relationship of a mother and her adult daughter. It is quite interesting to see both sides of the cointo look into the mind of each woman and see where her motives lie. I find Katherine, the main character, to be an exceptional person of strength, faith and duty. She is such an amazing person, and has more forbearance and patience than most, but yet, she is real and easy to relate to. I was able to connect with her in so many different ways.
Blowing on Dandelions is long enough and the author skilled enough to build a romantic thread from nothing to a strong relationship between two people who previously hadnt seen their need for a new love. The obstacles were many, but their love grew and circumvented each one.
This novel has quite the cast of interesting characters. They keep the story hopping from one incident to the next. This is a rich and many layered story. If you like historical fiction, I recommend Blowing on Dandelions. I dont think you will be disappointed.
Blowing on Dandelions is long enough and the author skilled enough to build a romantic thread from nothing to a strong relationship between two people who previously hadnt seen their need for a new love. The obstacles were many, but their love grew and circumvented each one.
This novel has quite the cast of interesting characters. They keep the story hopping from one incident to the next. This is a rich and many layered story. If you like historical fiction, I recommend Blowing on Dandelions. I dont think you will be disappointed.
Carole J. (PianoLady357) reviewed Blowing on Dandelions (Love Blossoms in Oregon, Bk 1) on + 157 more book reviews
Blowing on Dandelions, set in Baker City, Oregon in 1880, is the first book in Miralee Ferrell's Love Blossoms in Oregon series. Like other books I've read of Miralee's, this story deals with life/family issues - namely, long-running conflict between a mother and daughter. Both narrative and plot are strong, and we are introduced to some very interesting characters.
Katherine is a character I sympathized with and admired from the beginning - a daughter who felt unwanted, unable to measure up to her domineering mother's expectations. "Always her memory returned to those times when the dandelion fluff had carried her away to a place where mothers were loving and kind, and little girls didn't need to be afraid of cutting words or sharp voices." The quiet, rugged strength of Micah Jacobs is exactly what Katherine needs, and while the mother/daughter conflict takes center stage, their romance is sweet and enjoyable.
Miralee very effectively uses the vehicle of a boardinghouse to place an unusual assortment of characters in close vicinity, and even more conflict is introduced with the arrival of guest Wilma Roberts, who I grew to love. Wilma is an imposing and proud woman, yet she senses that Katherine's mother is lonely and determines to become her friend. And then there's the mysterious Jeffery Tucker, who I suspect we will see much more of.
Katherine's mother, Frances, is an extremely abrasive character who made me even more thankful than I already am for the wonderful mother I was blessed with. Anyone who has experienced family conflict can relate to this story and be inspired by the hope that it offers. I like the slow, but steady spiritual growth that several characters experience.
One of the best things about a series is getting to continue on with certain characters, and I look forward to what Miralee has in store for us in Wishing on Buttercups, which releases on February 1, 2014. Recommended to those who enjoy historical romance and relationship drama.
Katherine is a character I sympathized with and admired from the beginning - a daughter who felt unwanted, unable to measure up to her domineering mother's expectations. "Always her memory returned to those times when the dandelion fluff had carried her away to a place where mothers were loving and kind, and little girls didn't need to be afraid of cutting words or sharp voices." The quiet, rugged strength of Micah Jacobs is exactly what Katherine needs, and while the mother/daughter conflict takes center stage, their romance is sweet and enjoyable.
Miralee very effectively uses the vehicle of a boardinghouse to place an unusual assortment of characters in close vicinity, and even more conflict is introduced with the arrival of guest Wilma Roberts, who I grew to love. Wilma is an imposing and proud woman, yet she senses that Katherine's mother is lonely and determines to become her friend. And then there's the mysterious Jeffery Tucker, who I suspect we will see much more of.
Katherine's mother, Frances, is an extremely abrasive character who made me even more thankful than I already am for the wonderful mother I was blessed with. Anyone who has experienced family conflict can relate to this story and be inspired by the hope that it offers. I like the slow, but steady spiritual growth that several characters experience.
One of the best things about a series is getting to continue on with certain characters, and I look forward to what Miralee has in store for us in Wishing on Buttercups, which releases on February 1, 2014. Recommended to those who enjoy historical romance and relationship drama.
Mary N. (maggysue) reviewed Blowing on Dandelions (Love Blossoms in Oregon, Bk 1) on + 811 more book reviews
This was really good! I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.
