BLOWING ON DANDELIONS ~ LOVE BLOOMS IN OREGON SERIES BOOK 1, BY MIRALEE FERRELL

About Book

Do Dandelion Wishes Actually Come True?

Katherine Galloway knew this moment of calm wouldn’t last, blown away like the dandelion seeds she scattered as a girl. In 1880, three years after her husband’s death, she struggles to run an Oregon boardinghouse and raise two girls alone. Things don't get easier when her critical, domineering mother moves in. Katherine must make the situation work, but standing up for herself and her family while honoring her mother isn't easy. And with a daughter entering the teenage years, the pressure on Katherine becomes close to overwhelming. Then she crosses paths with Micah Jacobs, a widower who could reignite her heart, but she fears a relationship with him might send things over the edge. She must find the strength, wisdom, hope, and faith to remake her life, for everything is about to change.

• ISBN-13: 9780781408080
• Publisher:  David C. Cook
• Publication date: 6/1/2013
• Series: Love Blossoms in Oregon Series
• Pages: 400

Where to buy: CBD, Amazon, Barnes&Noble

About Author

Miralee and her husband Allen have been married almost 40 yrs. They live on 11 acres in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge in southern Washington State, where they love to garden, play with their dogs, take walks, and go sailing. Miralee also rides her horse on the wooded trails near their home with her grown daughter who lives nearby. She’s an avid reader and has a large collection of first edition Zane Grey books, which inspired her desire to write fiction set in the Old West. When she started writing fiction Miralee believed that she’d always stay with women’s contemporary, but has since branched out to historical romance. Her first two books were women’s contemporary with Kregel Publications, The Other Daughter, and Finding Jeena.

Miralee serves as president of the Portland, Oregon, chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and belongs to a number of writer’s groups. She speaks at women’s groups, libraries, and churches about her writing journey, and has taught a both writers and library conferences.

Her fourth historical romance with Summerside Press in their Love Finds You series, set in Sundance, Wyoming released summer of 2011. Miralee is currently under contract with David C. Cook for a three-book series of historical romance novels, set in Oregon. Some of her books have a suspense thread as well as romance, and three have a higher degree of action with a decided Old West slant. Her upcoming series will be somewhat of a women’s fiction/historical romance combination, with the emphasis on well-developed characters and plot.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/miralee
Twitter: www.twitter.com/#!/MiraleeFerrell
Blog: www.miraleesdesk.blogspot.com

My Thoughts

Katherine Galloway wishes she could be excited that her mother is coming for a visit.  But instead she is anticipating a very stressful situation.  Her mother is outspoken and overbearing not having anything nice to say to or about Katherine.  Katherine is treated like an imbecile by her mother.  When in fact she done very well for herself and her two daughters.  She owns a boarding house in Oregon which she has been in full charge of since she became a widow.  

Since Micah Jacobs recently moved to Oregon he keeps running into Katherine Galloway.  He has to admit she is an attractive woman but he is not shopping for a new wife.  He still grieves his deceased wife. Anyway Katherine seems to have more on her plate than she can handle.  His teenage son has made fast friends with Mrs. Jacobs daughter at which Mrs. Jacobs seems to object.  

Between Katherine dealing with running the boarding house, the arrival of her mother, her daughter's new friendship and then her youngest daughter to keep up with she is just about on her last nerve.

Wouldn't it be nice to have someone to lean on in times of trials and tribulations?  A spouse is would be a marvelous option.  God tends to give to us abundantly when we are not even looking.  For He already has a plan for our lives. 

This was a most interesting read.  I have heard of mother-in-laws on the war path but in this story the author has created a character you will not likely forget, a mother from Hades.  I loved the support system the author created for Katherine which was her church quilting group.  We depend on our Lord to comfort us yet He also gives us the church community as a support system.  The author and the Lord had to be very creative in the unlikely romance between Katherine and Micah since there are  so many obstacles in their way.

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book a 5+ out of 5.

Disclosure:  I received a free copy of this book from the author for review.  I was in no way compensated for this review.  This review is my honest opinion.

If you found this review helpful vote yes or no here.

A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund ~ Facebook Author Chat Party and Kindle Fire Giveaway!

About A Noble Groom:

Michigan, 1880

Annalisa Werner's hope for a fairy tale love is over. Her husband failed her in every way and now his death has left her with few options to save the family farm. She needs a plentiful harvest. That, and a husband to help bring it in. Someone strong, dependable. That'll be enough. A marriage for love...that's something she's given up on.

So her father sends a letter to his brother in the Old Country, asking him to find Annalisa a groom.

Then a man appears: Carl Richards, from their home country of Germany and a former schoolteacher---or so he says. He's looking for work and will serve on the farm until her husband arrives.

With time running out, she accepts his help, but there's more to this man than he's admitting. He's also gentle, kind, charming---unlike any man she's ever known. But even as Carl is shining light into the darkness of her heart, she knows her true groom may arrive any day.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/jX8h7

Landing page: 

http://litfusegroup.com/author/jhedlund 

Meet Jody: 

Jody Hedlund is the bestselling author of "The Doctor's Lady" and "The Preacher's Bride". She won the 2011 Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, the 2011 Award of Excellence from the Colorado Romance Writers and was a finalist for Best Debut Novel in the 2011 ACFW Carol Awards. Currently she makes her home in central Michigan, with her husband and five busy children. She loves hearing from readers on Facebook and on her blog.

Find out more about Jody athttp://jodyhedlund.com/. 

Jody Hedlund is celebrating the release of A Noble Groom by giving away a Kindle Fire and hosting a Facebook Author Chat Party {5/8}! 

One "noble" winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• A copy of A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 7th. Winner will be announced at the "A Noble Groom" Author Chat Party on May 8th. Connect with Jody, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at the trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be many fun giveaways -- gift certificates, books, and more!

So grab your copy of A Noble Groom and join Jody on the evening of May 8th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 8th!

My Thoughts

Annalisa Werner's marriage was unlike the fairy tales she had read as a child.  She feels nothing more than a slave to her husband.  She thought there was love while courting but once she married the love disappeared.  It's like a female was worth less than a man's horse.  When their daughter was born he actually stormed out of the house angry that the child had not been a boy.  To him a daughter was worthless on the farm.  But her daughter, at age two, is unaware of her father's feelings and loves him anyway.  He has taken to drinking and gambling every penny  he had earned and every penny she had squirreled away hidden under the bed.  Now they would not be able to make the payment of the land loan.  Which means they would loose the land and their home.

But she never got the pleasure of confronting him about loosing the money because he had been murdered while working in the field and she knew who was responsible!

Annalisa's father owned a farm just across the road from her farm and he will be making all decisions for her now and he has decided she is to marry someone of her father's and  uncle's choosing.  A complete stranger to her from their homeland.  But what choice did she have, she had her daughter and an unborn child to provide for and she knew she could not do it alone. 

Carl Richard's arrives with a letter from her uncle, but not as her groom but as a man seeking refuge from an injustice in the Old Country.  He has agreed to help her with the farm until her groom arrives.  But after working the farm and becoming acquainted and then friends with Annilisa how could he possibly stand by and see another man marry her.  Could she possibly have the same feelings towards him that he holds for her.

This story touched my heart.  I felt the pain she must have experienced, not being able to provide for her children and the emotional cruelty she had been subjected to by her husband.  The fact that she thought all men were like her father and husband was sad.  

The author shows just how hard it was for the German immigrants to squeeze a life out of the land.  She writes of near starvation, arranged marriages and spousal abuse.  There is redemption, reconciliations and love to be found in the pages of this book.  You will feel like cheering Annalisa on throughout the book.

This is not an everything is coming up roses story.  But you will find love, hope and faith in God!  Sounds a little like reading from the book of Job in the bible.  

I highly recommend this book.

I rated this book a 5+ out of 5.

Disclosure:  I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity Group/Bethany House for review.  I was in no way compensated for this review. This review is my honest opinion.