From the bestselling author of The Memory of Butterflies comes the first in a bittersweet series about love and loss.Kara Hart was scarred by loss—first the loss of her mother and now her husband. She feels broken, with no will to move forward, until her father does the unexpected: he moves to the Virginia countryside to restore an old Victorian mansion. Kara decides to go with him, telling … with him, telling herself that it will only be temporary.
The huge house is neglected and derelict, but Kara discovers its breathtaking field of wildflowers and is stunned by their beauty. The house, the grounds, and the quirky neighbors—including a handsome one—are almost as fascinating as her father’s sudden willingness to discuss her mother and his own secret past.
Kara is finding her new normal when tragedy strikes again, forcing her to make difficult choices. Will she go back to her old life and risk losing all she has gained? Or will she face her fears and give herself the opportunity to grow?
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This is a heart wrenching story of loss and grief. It is about putting one foot in front of the other until you are strong enough to walk again. It is about finding your way through loss. It is about strength and resilience and learning to love yourself. This book captured me heart and soul. I fell into its pages. I was absorbed by its words. Kara has known such loss. Can she move forward again? The characters are richly woven into the fabric of this story. I laughed and I cried. This book moved me. Grace Greene is a superb storyteller. I could see the wildflowers and smell the rain. This is the first book in her Wildflower series and I can’t wait for the next one. Absolutely exquisite read. My favorite quote: “Some moments marked our lives, like rings on a tree. They betrayed our history–parts of our history that marked us permanently. Those marks might fade over time but would never go away entirely.” Highly recommended read.
Wildflower Heart captured me in the first few pages- it has been a while since I have picked up a book and nothing I was reading kept me focused. This book was fast paced to start, pulling me into the story, wanting to read more and more!
A story filled with tragedy and resilience, Grace Greene tells a story of Kara and her father- their lives come together again as he is about to retire and has big plans for his future, but puts them on hold to care for his daughter after a horrible accident. She comes along as he travels to Cub Creek to start his retirement.
The home, the creek, and the Wildflower fields are still painted vividly in my mind. I will look at wildflowers differently now- beauty and strength… Looking forward to following Kara and her new friends at Cub Creek in future books. Thanks Grace, for luring me back to my love of reading!
Wildflower Heart….a story about Kara and the pieces of her life…. broken, lost, and missing after a devastating admission from her husband and then in the aftermath of a tragedy. Grace Greene used wildflowers to weave a story about a hurting, confused and uncertain woman and how life is like a wildflower. “Wildflowers are tough…….wildflowers are fragile…..wildflowers grow where the seeds find themselves…..wildflowers are beautiful for a season.”
This book has a beautiful message about resilience and picking up when life can seem to be too heavy to endure. I love the character of Kara. She was someone I wanted to reach out to and be there for. My heart ached for the things she was going through. How tough life seemed to get and bending her over to almost breaking. But, like a wildflower she would lift herself back up and face what was ahead. There was a passage about Kara thinking, “I was a lot like those wildflowers. Accidental. Hapless. But strong and resilient once I dug in.”
Ms. Greene took me into a setting that was brought to life in her descriptive words. I was in the wildflower field feeling the way Kara was feeling. The light breeze, the warm sunshine, the colorful flowers swaying in the wind, the bubbling brook along the edge of the field, an old house and the musty, peeling wallpaper. So much imagery in written words. I appreciate that I could “see” so much in my mind from her storytelling talent. She puts all of that together into a story that had me turning the pages long into the night. It’s a beautiful first book in the Wildflower House series. I am so looking forward to the second book.
I want to thank Grace Greene and Netgalley for the honor and opportunity to read this wonderfully touching book. I highly recommend it and it is a five star story for sure!
This is a beautifully written novel! I was quickly absorbed in the plot, and the wonderful characters!
“Nothing is perfect— not the past, not ourselves, and not our present.” This is the basis of this heartwarming story.
Kara has been wounded all though her life in many ways, but her “resilience” is strong.
She has survived the loss of many people during her years.
One evening, Kara has a life changing collision that changes her world.
There is a long road following this crash to mend both physically and emotionally.
Kara’s dad is her rock.
When he invites his daughter to come and stay at the old dilapidated mansion that he has just purchased, Kara slowly begins to see the beauty of this old home and its amazing history.
The delicate field of wildflowers becomes her strength. The warm breeze in her window make her feel secure as she faces each new day.
Kara meets and trusts her new friends, those she will need as time goes forward and an unforeseen tragedy occurs once more.
This is the first book of this new series and I am looking forward to seeing how this resilient woman’s journey continues! I loved it!
I love everything Grace Greene writes. This one is no exception. Wonderful read that will keep you turning pages long into the night! This one is a must-read for fans of thought-provoking Women’s Fiction, as are the others in Ms. Greene’s catalog.
This was very promising I felt like the story was really good but then at the last couple of chapter I felt like it was getting very weak and the ending really left me speechless I really didn’t feel any closer or any conclusion I felt like many things were still missing, I know that I have to continue in book two but I think this was enough for me.
Good book, good story but the last chapters weren’t for me.
This is a sweet story. I felt the heart breaks that Kara went through. Very well written story. I enjoyed that it wasn’t a typical life is perfect love story, that made the story very believable. I was very happy that there is a second book in the series. I was curious as to how Kara would handle all of the changes life had thrown at her.
There are a few very small inconsistencies in the story, which most readers probably won’t notice, but I did.
Wonderful story
I deeply enjoyed Wildflower Heart. Kara is strong and complex, especially after suffering loss after loss after loss. I wouldn’t say it’s a happy book but it’s a book of resilience, a book that shows you can overcome anything. There are family secrets that she discovers that adds to the story. The ending was incredibly satisfying and I look forward to the next book. Some may not like it because, as I mentioned before, it deals with lots of loss, but I loved the message at the end of it and would recommend it.
Already a fan of Grace Greene’s Emerald Isle series, I decided to try Wildflower Heart, book one in her Wildflower House series.
I have been disappointed in the past by other authors who have written multiple book series – they all seemed to run together with similar story lines, characters, locations – reading as if names were simply changed and same story line used over and over. Not the case with Emerald Isle and Wildflower House series!
The one similarity between the two are the underlying themes that seems to run through all Greene’s writing – the value of forgiveness and second chances, of realizing one’s own value while moving through the different seasons of life, and of choosing to approach even the most difficult situations with love and kindness. And of course her lovely writing style.
Beyond these underlying threads, Wildflower Heart is a completly fresh story with original and unique characters, and a beautiful location. I appreciate that the characters are flawed, making them believable, human, making me root for them all the more.
Although Wildflower Heart is an eventful story with triumphs and heartbreaks, there is no false dramatic buildup to these events, rather the typical complex flow of life, some days good, some bad, and many both at once. This first book of the series ended well, leaving me feeling satisfied with both the items brought to conclusion, as well as the possibilities of what may be yet to come.
Lucky for me volume two in the series was released (and delivered to my inbox – yay pre-orders! yay e-books!) yesterday, so I can move right on without the normal months or years wait between installments. I’ve also already pre-ordered the third book, Wildflower Christmas, to be released November 12th!
I love these books and highly recommend for anyone seeking enjoyable quality stories of believable characters overcoming the trials of life with grace and kindness.
This is a sweet book! I love how Grace Greene describes things! I feel like I am physically in the scene she is describing. The character, Kara, has suffered more than her fair share of hardships in her life. Her one constant has been her dad, Henry. What Henry lacks in intimacy and being emotionally there, he more than makes up for by being physically present for Kara. Kara knows he loves her, even though it is hard for him to express his feelings and share details about his life with her, detail about her mother and why she left them with her. And…when life throws her yet another curveball, Henry is there to help her put the pieces back together.
When Henry springs it on Kara that he is selling his house and his business and moving to the country, to a big old house that needs lots of TLC, she supports him; but is leery. Why is this house so important to him? Why would he take on a big project like this when he could start sitting back and enjoying life.
This book is about hope, starting over, opening up your heart to new friends.
This was an interesting read, which while a bit slow at times, was engrossing and satisfying. Kara’s mother left home when Kara was young and never returned. Luckily, her father was grounded, supportive and loving and made sure Kara had everything she needed to grow up to be an accomplished professional. When Kara is involved in a devastating accident, her father is her rock once again. Soon after, he decides to sell his business and retire to a huge, old Victorian house he has purchased in the Virginia countryside. The house is in need of significant remodeling and repair. In the process of moving in and beginning renovations, Kara meets some new people who help her to deal with the next tragedy in her life. Strongly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a review copy. This is my honest opinion.
Kara has experienced heartbreak early in her life. Her mother left when she was 14 with no explanation, and Kara had to accept and move on. Now, on her anniversary, she finds out that her husband is having an affair. Devastated and trying to process, her life is further altered when they are involved in a horrific automobile accident, in which her husband dies.
Wildflower Heart is the story of Kara’s struggles to overcome two devastating losses and come to terms with her life as it is altered, both emotionally and physically. Her father purchases a house out in the country and Kara is helping him to remodel and remake the house into a home; a home that doesn’t see herself inhabiting. The saving grace of the home is the beautiful field of wildflowers in the backyard. A field that she comes to treasure. How will she survive, and can she overcome it all to become a stronger person? Beautifully written, this story will resonate with readers. Grace Greene writes from the heart.
I received an ARC of this book inreturn for an honest review. Thank you Grace Greene and Lake Union.
A realistic story of loss and the rebuilding process. Kara Hart is full of anticipation on the eve of her sixth wedding anniversary to her college sweetheart Niles. After dinner Kara is blindsided with news that her husband plans to leave her and moments later there is a tragic accident that alters her life forever. Hank, Kara’a father steps in to assist her through her rehabilitation and tries to get her back on her feet. They move to Wildflower House in the Virginia countryside and truths never spoken of come to light. Their relationship grows and a new bond is created. This beautiful story touched my heart as it realistically described the grieving and rebuilding process we all encounter in life. I look forward to the next book in the series and following Kara on her journey.
Great read, like the flexibility
First off, I wouldn’t have picked this book if it wasn’t in the Prime Reading on Amazon. The story of Kara and her disappointments in life may not be for every reader but it certainly is worth the time to witness one woman’s emotional rollercoaster. The characters in the book may be a bit incomplete but I gather that is by design. For those of you looking for something more than the sexy romance novels the we see lately, I strongly recommend this book by Ms. Green.
I was totally absorbed with this story of loss and healing and how to overcome what life gives us. Kara Decides to follow her Father to the countryside to help him restore a Victorian home ,to try and put aside some of her feelings of loss and immerse herself. There her father opens up about her mother and his secret past . This is a journey of what to do to keep us going against all obstacles .Loved it!
A nicely written book. Kara has been down on her luck in life ever since she was a young child. Somehow she pulls herself up with the help of her father, then her husband and then by a neighbor.. When her father passes away how will she pull herself up again?
An emotionally charged book where Kara learns to live again. After loosing her mother at a young age, loosing her husband in a car accident and for her father not being emotionally vested in her life.Her father has now bought a Victorian house in the countryside that needs to restored. Soon she finds a field of wildflowers along with working side by side with her father will help open and heal old wounds.
Loved this story, beautifully told of healing old wounds and moving forward in life. This is a book that I could not put down, Looking forward to reading more in this series. I read through my kindle unlimited.
Starting over
Deeply introspective and character-focused, with the tiniest touch of a budding romance, this story chronicles Kara’s recovery after a tragic accident. It is told with honesty about how healing, from both physical and emotional trauma, is a process that takes time and that involves steps forward and back. Kara has more than the accident to recover from, including harsh words spoken before the accident and trauma from her childhood. She has faults (don’t we all!) and Grace Greene doesn’t shy away from them, which makes the story true to life. I loved the descriptions of the wildflowers and the grounds of the home Kara and her father move to in the story, and I think it will be a wonderful setting for the future books in the series!
This was a beautifully written story of so much love, loss, laughter, grief, friends and the love between a dad and daughter.
Kara has already had so much loss in her life when she loses her husband. Though things were not by any means perfect between them, she loved him and losing him was awful. She had a lot to overcome and her dad was right there as always to help. She had trouble walking without a cane after a car accident and wasn’t moving on with her life like she should have been.
Henry, Kara’s dad, bought an old house to redo. He had so many problems of his own that he does finally share with Kara in this book. But you have to read it to find out about that. The house is huge and Kara is not so sure about this. Her dad giving up his business to spend time working on such a huge place. There is a garden of sorts in the back and I can vividly picture it in my mind. A big field of wildflowers that the previous owner’s husband planted for her.
In parts I didn’t like Kara. I thought she had a bit of an attitude. When she found out things that her dad never shared, told her something else, she acted a bit spoiled about it to me. I did like her very much. I just thought she was way to opinionated towards some things that could hurt the people involved very much. I know she has had lots of loses but still. But in the end I did root for her for sure. I felt awful for what all she went through and the losses she experienced. They were very deep losses and hurt her so much. My heart broke for her. I root for her and Seth though.
When another tragedy strikes her life Seth, the neighbor and friend, is there for her. He seems like a very kind and good man. I think he will be good for Kara too.
The ending of this book was great and I look forward to the sequel so bad. I can’t wait to see what happens next with Wildflower House, Seth and even Victoria. Will Kara find happiness and true love. Will she finally have the family she needs.
This book was so well written, great characters, even secondary characters you will love, descriptions that make you feel like you are right there. I could even smell the musty in the old house. It was a huge house that was left rundown over the past year. It will be so beautiful when it is finished though.
Some of my favorite lines in this book are:
Don’t dwell in yesterdays. Live in the now. Frankly, you didn’t miss hugs and kisses you’d never had. You didn’t even know they were missing.
One of these days I’m going to walk that path myself and see what might await at the other end. Perhaps it would be a fairy-tale palace where mothers didn’t leave, fathers didn’t fail, and a daughter didn’t try to hold her own dad to standards she herself couldn’t keep.
A person must respect their past, even an unpleasant past, because it’s part of them, of what made a person who they are.
A kid doesn’t choose where it starts its life. You’re just born there, and you don’t know any different, and you do the best you can within whatever situation you’re given. I did that until I saw other ways to live. And then I made a different choice. A better choice for me. (This one is me all over)
“Humans along with other living creatures. Regardless of our place in line, we are renters on Earth. Tenants.”
I had always worried that I was like my father. Cold. Afraid of emotion. Wary of disorder.
Perhaps I should’ve been more concerned about being like my mom.
No one chose where or to whom they’d be born. We had to manage where we began. Like wildflowers.
This is a huge 5 star book. I loved it from start to finish. A must read.