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ahein929's review against another edition
5.0
Good read
I really enjoyed this story. Grace Greene weaves a marvelous tale with plenty of turns that I didn't see coming. She is a wonderful author and I can't wait to read her other books.
I really enjoyed this story. Grace Greene weaves a marvelous tale with plenty of turns that I didn't see coming. She is a wonderful author and I can't wait to read her other books.
laughlinesandliterature's review against another edition
3.0
It was cute, a little slow. I do wish we would have gotten more of her actual journey, but it sounds like maybe that will pick up in book 2? This just felt like Kara finally realizing that she has some internal healing to do. It was good and I was definitely invested in the characters, but it was also weird the way it ended. Hopeful but unfinished. I know it's like life, but I was just hoping for a LITTLE more closure haha. 3 out of 5 stars.
susanthebookbag's review against another edition
5.0
Wildflower Heart is a beautiful story about getting through the tough times and moving on. That's easier said than done for Kara. She has had a lifetime of people she has loved, just up and leaving her. She moves with her father when he buys a new home but she still hasn't moved on with her life. Will the change in scenery help her change her life?
Grace has penned a heart-warming, lovely story which includes plenty of soul searching and reflection about what is important in life. I loved the gentleness of the words and the wonderful, caring characters. I'm so excited that this is going to be a series because I came to think of Kara and the rest of the people in the story as good friends and I can't wait to visit them again.
Grace has penned a heart-warming, lovely story which includes plenty of soul searching and reflection about what is important in life. I loved the gentleness of the words and the wonderful, caring characters. I'm so excited that this is going to be a series because I came to think of Kara and the rest of the people in the story as good friends and I can't wait to visit them again.
bookslifeandeverythingnice's review against another edition
3.0
2.5/5 stars for this book. Since there aren't half stars I round up for my rating here on Goodreads.
Thank you to Goodreads, Lake Union Publishing and Grace Greene for a free copy of this book, through Goodreads Giveaways. As always, an honest review from me.
Sorry to the author and publisher, because I took forever to finish reading this book. I try my best to read the books in a timely manner after receiving them from a Goodreads Giveaway. I realize that it's a privilege that the author has gifted me with a free book in exchange for my review and don't want to disregard their generosity. Lately I've been struggling to be able to read my stack of books I've won through these giveaways, due to chronic health issues and other unforeseen life circumstances. I'm slowly working on it though, so thank you for being patient with me.
Like:
- The process and life lessons that the main character goes through throughout the entire book. There's so much growth and change, which I think most people can relate to.
- The quote at the end that Kara stitched onto a sampler - super relatable and quite poetic
Love:
- the beautiful setting and descriptive imagery - the wildflowers, immense grounds of the older house, the antique character of the furnishings
Dislike:
- the relationship between Kara and her friend. I didn't think it added much to the story, and I personally didn't like her friend very much.
- Kara: the main character. While I didn't dislike her, I definitely didn't like her. And for me, if I don't like or connect with the main character I usually don't enjoy the entire book as much.
Wish that:
- The premise made more sense for the characters. It's a good story that's relatable but it didn't feel as if it fit quite right.
- It was a more interesting reading experience. This was probably part of the reason why it took me so long to read it. There wasn't anything that made me "need to read" the next chapter, so it was really easy to not want to pick it up often.
Overall, a pleasant book filled with many relatable life lessons. I wasn't a huge fan of the main character so that significantly took away from my enjoyment of the book. The absolutely gorgeous settings were a high point for me.
Thank you to Goodreads, Lake Union Publishing and Grace Greene for a free copy of this book, through Goodreads Giveaways. As always, an honest review from me.
Sorry to the author and publisher, because I took forever to finish reading this book. I try my best to read the books in a timely manner after receiving them from a Goodreads Giveaway. I realize that it's a privilege that the author has gifted me with a free book in exchange for my review and don't want to disregard their generosity. Lately I've been struggling to be able to read my stack of books I've won through these giveaways, due to chronic health issues and other unforeseen life circumstances. I'm slowly working on it though, so thank you for being patient with me.
Like:
- The process and life lessons that the main character goes through throughout the entire book. There's so much growth and change, which I think most people can relate to.
- The quote at the end that Kara stitched onto a sampler - super relatable and quite poetic
Love:
- the beautiful setting and descriptive imagery - the wildflowers, immense grounds of the older house, the antique character of the furnishings
Dislike:
- the relationship between Kara and her friend. I didn't think it added much to the story, and I personally didn't like her friend very much.
- Kara: the main character. While I didn't dislike her, I definitely didn't like her. And for me, if I don't like or connect with the main character I usually don't enjoy the entire book as much.
Wish that:
- The premise made more sense for the characters. It's a good story that's relatable but it didn't feel as if it fit quite right.
- It was a more interesting reading experience. This was probably part of the reason why it took me so long to read it. There wasn't anything that made me "need to read" the next chapter, so it was really easy to not want to pick it up often.
Overall, a pleasant book filled with many relatable life lessons. I wasn't a huge fan of the main character so that significantly took away from my enjoyment of the book. The absolutely gorgeous settings were a high point for me.
bhunsberger's review against another edition
4.0
I received an advanced copy of this book.
Kara has faced some heavy tragedies in her life - her mom left their family when she was a teenager, and her husband and unborn baby were killed in a car accident years later. As she has recovered while living with her father, he decides to retire and buys a huge old house out in the country. Kara is unexpectedly moved by the vast garden of wildflowers. They draw her in and help her grow in many ways as she starts this new journey in life and opens herself up to new friends.
Kara has faced some heavy tragedies in her life - her mom left their family when she was a teenager, and her husband and unborn baby were killed in a car accident years later. As she has recovered while living with her father, he decides to retire and buys a huge old house out in the country. Kara is unexpectedly moved by the vast garden of wildflowers. They draw her in and help her grow in many ways as she starts this new journey in life and opens herself up to new friends.
kittietta's review against another edition
5.0
Grace Greene is such a wonderful author and always look forward to her books. This one did not disappoint! A book of relationships and loss, love and strength, and most of all healing. I was hooked from the first paragraph, and was kept there until the end. The writing was Grace Greene spectacular, the plot touching and characters relatable. Looking forward to book 2!
duchessofreadin's review against another edition
5.0
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.
ashli_gwynn's review against another edition
3.0
The dialogue is a bit awkward at times and it’s a much slower read than I’d prefer, but I found the main character relatable. All in all it was enjoyable. I will read the next book when it comes out.
verumsolum's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those books where I want to say "I liked it except…"
But when I reflect on what comes after those words, I realize that it is a reflection of my own yearnings: for a world that is fair and predictable and always sunny. One of the things that makes this book good, to me, is that it reckons with those yearnings, but has the courage to place them within the imperfect world we actually live in.
This novel is about responding to life's challenges. And it shows that well. Kara is neither a practically perfect heroine nor a grotesquely flawed doormat: she wrestles with challenges, some of which are probably larger than she would have imagined for herself, and the lines to her successes are not smooth and straight.
More importantly to me, Grace Greene has created a wonderful world here. The community we have glimpsed around Kara and her father really intrigues me and I look forward to reading the promised second book when it is available.
But when I reflect on what comes after those words, I realize that it is a reflection of my own yearnings: for a world that is fair and predictable and always sunny. One of the things that makes this book good, to me, is that it reckons with those yearnings, but has the courage to place them within the imperfect world we actually live in.
This novel is about responding to life's challenges. And it shows that well. Kara is neither a practically perfect heroine nor a grotesquely flawed doormat: she wrestles with challenges, some of which are probably larger than she would have imagined for herself, and the lines to her successes are not smooth and straight.
More importantly to me, Grace Greene has created a wonderful world here. The community we have glimpsed around Kara and her father really intrigues me and I look forward to reading the promised second book when it is available.
jhbrattlof's review against another edition
3.0
Wildflowers become the open metaphor of our protagonist's story. A weed or a flower? It's your call, after all.
Grace Green’s profound but sweet story reveals we are all aching from something, and most importantly, we are all worth saving. The first chapter of Wildflower Heart had me in tears. I immediately felt Kara’s (our protagonist) grief and pain and desperately wanted to give her a hug. Each chapter, Kara grows in deeper connection with her father as they restore an old home (quite figuratively too). It’s a sweet story for any age, even your teenage daughter struggling to cope with the harder parts of life.
I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet story. The ending was predictable in the best way.
Grace Green’s profound but sweet story reveals we are all aching from something, and most importantly, we are all worth saving. The first chapter of Wildflower Heart had me in tears. I immediately felt Kara’s (our protagonist) grief and pain and desperately wanted to give her a hug. Each chapter, Kara grows in deeper connection with her father as they restore an old home (quite figuratively too). It’s a sweet story for any age, even your teenage daughter struggling to cope with the harder parts of life.
I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet story. The ending was predictable in the best way.