Reviews

Wytrwałość dzikich kwiatów by Micalea Smeltzer

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fuzzywuzzy's review against another edition

3.0

I had pretty high expectations for this book. Not for any particular reason but just because the blurb really drew me in. I really wanted to see where the story would go. it presents as a light read but as you get into the book there is heavy subject matter. I’m giving it three stars because while it was a good story, the writing was extremely weak. It could’ve been so much more. I found the constant use of the word fuck to be unnecessary. I curse like a sailor so it’s not the vulgarity. It was the fact that it was used so much for dramatic effect that it came off as juvenile and poor writing. This could easily have been written in a way that would emotionally affect the reader without the characters constantly having to say fuck to show how emotional they’re being. It really served no purpose. For the positives I would have to say I really loved Salem and Thayer. They were really great, likable characters. I think there could have been better character development with Thayer though. We know a lot about what makes Salem the way she is, about her past. We don’t know a lot about Thayer though. He’s a divorced dad, super helpful and smitten with Salem. That’s about it. I recommend this book if you like emotional reads, love stories and are ok if there isn’t a HEA. There’s a part two so it should be interesting to see where things go in the next book.

tartbarbie's review against another edition

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5.0

I received The Confidence of Wildflowers in return for an honest review from the publisher.

School has ended Salem's boyfriend Caleb is headed off to college in the fall while she stays behind to find herself. The new neighbor has her curiosity peaked his grumpy behavior something she needs needs to discover. An unlikely friendship develops between the two as she breaks down his walls and he mends some of her own. Salem decides it's time to end things with Caleb and see how things go with Thayer but her age keeps their relationship a secret as the pair grow together.

I love Salem so much even though she's only 18 she's stronger and wiser beyond her years. Thayer has his own charm once she get's past the grumpy landscaper that we met in his backyard. I honestly love Thayer for Salem he complements her so well as does she him. I love all the sweet moments between them as they do simple things like sunglasses and cupcakes.

I was so excited to dive right into this beautiful duet as I haven't read a contemporary romance in ages that captures my heart fully. This one is definitely an emotional roller coaster it gives you all the feelings. The author has done a brilliant job creating complex character you just can't help falling in love with. The story is beautifully written it was hard to put down because I wanted their happy ever after.

I highly recommend reading these back to back. You'll need to see how it all plays out in The Resurrection of Wildflowers. I honestly loved it even when it made me cry, the story is just so amazing. I think this duet is my favorite of 2023 and I can't stop telling people to read them. I just loved them so much.

kiera_rane's review against another edition

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5.0

I so so so loved this book. It had such great pacing and I read it all in one sitting. It broke my heart and made me feel all of the good things that come with love at the same time.

stucknbooks14's review against another edition

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5.0

(I received an ARC for this book)

This book ends on a cliffhanger!

Trigger Warnings include:
mentions of childhood sexual abuse, cancer, death, and cheating (not between the main characters).

For everyone who’s had to fight for something they love. Whatever that might be.

I genuinely don’t even know where to start with this review. I finished this over two weeks ago, and I still haven’t quite put into words how beautiful this book is, and how much I love Salem and Thayer. How much I adore their stories, their love. Everything is perfect. And I’m not saying THEY are perfect, because they aren’t. But it’s their struggles, their pains, that makes their strength and their courage so perfect. Salem develops a crush on the mysterious older guy next door. But that crush turns into such a beautiful and meaningful friendship. Without even realizing it, they needed exactly what they found in each other. Thayer was somewhat rude right off the bat, which means I loved falling in love with his gooey center. The softness his heart had for Salem continuously made me swoon. (It still does.) Thayer is immensely protective and gentle with Salem in ways that she never thought she could experience, or even deserve. They flirt and fall in love over cupcakes. I mean, they are just precious. They keep each other company. Their love is undeniable. And that beautiful bond they share…leaves my heart in a puddle. Just beautiful, everything about this story. There is nothing quick or simple about this love story. It’s deep, it’s dark, it’s complex. But it is perfect. I wish I had kept count of the amount of tissues I used throughout this book, but it was PLENTY! I don’t know exactly when I’m reading the second piece of this duet, but I’m counting down the seconds until I can love Salem and Thayer even more.

Sunshine count: 3

My Favorite Quotes:
• “I don’t do things I don’t want to. I’m a selfish man.”
• “You’re okay. You’re safe with me.”
• “Don’t hide from me. Ever. I see you. I want to see you. All of you.”
• “You’re f!cking gorgeous. And right now, you’re mine.”
• “You feel like mine.”
• “I’m not bright like you, but I promise, when your days are dark, I’ll be your light.”
• “You deserve to know you’re not alone, that someone’s beside you to fight your battles with you.”
• “I want to be your someone.”
• “You’re my everything.”
• “Let me love you. The way you deserve.”

8/10 Age Gap
7/10 Dirty Birdy
7/10 Forced Proximity
9/10 Single Parent
10/10 Tearjerker
7/10 Workplace Romance
10/10 Series/Duet

This is my review for The Resurrection of Wildflowers
This is my review for The Endurance of Wildflowers

gloriav0820's review against another edition

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5.0

I felt a 5 star was appropriate for this book, my reason is simply it had just about everything in it. It had the perfect combination of sad, romance, spice, happiness, and heartbreak. I couldn't put this book down!!

kalarosereads's review against another edition

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3.0

Please read all trigger warnings before reading this book!!

This was one of those books that I had to sit with for a few days before I wrote a review, there was a lot to unpack and it ended on a very emotional point. I felt like the pacing was a bit quick and I wish we would have gotten some more detail and time to absorb some of the plot points, it seemed a little rushed at times to get to the big parts but they didn't hit as well as they could have because of the pacing. I also found it difficult to connect with the characters fully as we didn't know much about them beyond surface level details that were presented to us, we didn't see inside their heads as much as I would have preferred.

The love story had a similar feel to me, it felt rushed on the pacing and I was surprised at how quickly they just fell into a relationship with each other, considering the age gap and circumstances. Thayer's character was also a bit immature at times therefore the age gap didn't feel as obvious as I think it was intended to.

There is a lot of talk of trauma in this book, along with difficult family dynamics however there is not a lot of background and lead up to it or lot of closure on some of the points, again please read the trigger warnings before reading this book.

The ending for me came out of left field and even though at the beginning of "that" chapter I could feel something was going to happen I just kept wishing that I was wrong. My heart is absolutely destroyed and I was thrown for a loop as I didn't understand where the author was heading with the plot after the last few chapters occurred.

I do plan to continue reading the second book because of the major cliff hanger at the end and my curiosity needs to know what the author will have the characters do next.