In the second novel in the Wildflower House series, the author of The Memory of Butterflies reminds us that to achieve our dreams, we must first open our hearts.Kara Hart suffered overwhelming heartache when she lost her mother and husband, and her father’s sudden death might be the blow that breaks her—unless she turns her grief into purpose. She’ll finish renovating his Victorian mansion in … Victorian mansion in rural Virginia, but with her own twist. She’ll turn the old house into a creative retreat for artists and writers.
Kara has never tackled a project this big alone, and she’s not ready to open her heart to others for help. But the locals open their hearts to her—including two who have the potential to be more than friends. She tells herself she doesn’t need romance or distractions, but maybe that’s exactly what she needs. When her former best friend reenters Kara’s life, it could be the distraction that finally destroys her—or heals her.
The tragedies in Kara’s life have damaged her self-confidence, but she presses forward, gradually lowering her protective walls and allowing others in little by little. Will bringing Wildflower House back to life and freeing her own creative spirit also allow her to open her heart to hope and happiness—and maybe even love?
more
Wildflower Hope was a book full of hope for the main character, Kara Lange Hart. She survived her mom leaving her when she was 16 and dying two years later and she is has survived the death of her husband Niles on their sixth wedding anniversary. Now she is dealing with the most recent death of her father and trying to restore Wildflower Hope with her own vision.
I liked Kara’s strong character and how resilient she is but she is also realistically trying to give up the drugs she was given after the car accident that left her in a lot of physical and emotional pain. I admired how Kara was not going to settle for any relationship just so she would not be alone. She was finally taking care of her needs first and growing in her own strength She was willing to be vulnerable.
I really enjoyed how the story ended with hope and all through the story I could truly envision the Wildflower House and the medallion garden dedicated to her father. The supporting characters were wonderful too.
This is a beautifully written story by an author I was not familiar with. The wonderful depth to Kara’s character and the people she touched and what she went through and how she changed and transformed was just like how the Wildflower House changed and transformed to become strong and elegant and full of life and love. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
I love Grace Greene’s writing. It’s descriptive and lyrical, drawing me in so that I can clearly picture the places and people of her Cub Creek world. In this volume, Kara’s life is once again in chaos and I had a hard time connecting with Kara; her off-putting behavior and self-absorbed mental talk held me back from truly empathizing with her pain. I had to take a break from this and read something lighter before I could go back and see what Grace would use to bring Kara to the breakthrough she needed to grow and come out of the experience prepared to take on the future. My faith was rewarded and I found satisfaction in the book’s concluding chapters.
I requested and voluntarily read an advanced review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley. I offer my honest opinion in response.
I absolutely loved Wildflower Heart and hoped I would get another chance to visit Kara, her family and friends, and Wildflower House again. Wildflower Hope took me right back there to that beautiful place.
Kara’s life hasn’t been easy but she feels a sense of peace at Wildflower House. She has plenty of demons that she has to work through but she feels that this could be the place that might be able to heal her. I loved the many words of wisdom and sage advice that were revealed to the reader as Kara goes through the process.
Wildflower Hope is a wonderful story of hope, forgiveness, growth, love, and moving forward. I’m excited to visit again with Kara and everyone else at Wildflower House, whenever I can.
Grace Greene melts my heart again in this second book in the Wildflower heart series! Kara has to overcome the loss of her father and accepting she must move on. She finds herself in a difficult situtation when she must face the past she thought she left behind. Kara keeps pusing no matter the cost, even when she just wants to give up! In this beautifully written story of grief, loss, hope and friendship Grace has shown the true meaning of forgiveness and the weight that is removed once you can do just that! I loved this book so much I hope the series never ends! A must read book! Thank you Netgalley and Grace Greene for my ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!!!
“Wildflower House. You are welcome to thrive here.” As the second book in the Wildflower House series, Wildflower Hope enables us to walk with Kara in her grief over her father’s recent death as well as the past losses of her mother, husband, and unborn child. She throws herself onto reviving Wildflower House in her father’s memory, but the process turns into a healing of Kara’s physical and emotional distress, staunching a close call with drug dependence. What began as Henry Lange’s dream becomes the instrument of her fulfillment, her self expression.
This book leads Kara out of her captivity in the past to her ability to live in the present: her bond to past losses relaxes; she frees Seth to pursue his dream job; she forms a friendship with Will, a landscaper and woodworker. Thus the stage is set for the continuation of the series and Kara’s eventual ability to visualize the future she wishes to inhabit.
I love Grace Greene’s writing, her rich descriptions of the house, its renovations and furnishings, the land. But most of all,the people pull me to them and don’t let go. This Old Virginia girl is a part of the story as I read. I’m not on the sidelines; I’m in the middle of it all. I am invested in each character, even Victoria when she stubbornly returns.
I thank Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to the next gift from Grace Greene’s heart.
This is a beautiful and moving story telling of the journey a young woman makes back to wholeness. Kara has lost so much in her life and has erected strong walls around herself and her heart to protect her from any more hurt and pain. The story tells of the people who help her see herself anew and as a woman with strength and confidence.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Loving the Wildflower House series!
Book two explores the transformation of Wildflower House into an artists retreat. Owner Kara, who lost her father suddenly during the initial renovation, is so focused on the repairs and renovations that she is overwhelmed. With no time for love and romance, and no interest in repairing her friendship with her best friend, she is in danger of a breakdown.. Can her friends, old and new, get her back on track and help her see that all she needs is hope?
Grace Greene has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Her deft handling of characters and emotion make her stories a joy to read.
I have become a huge Grace Greene fan. I could not wait to read this book after reading Wildflower Heart. I loved this story of Kara and how she was figuring out how to put the pieces of her life back together after suffering the loss of her dad, Henry. Kara is described as being resilient, by her dad (that is what he told her before he died). That she is! Kara has seen more than her fair share of loss and now being the owner of Wildflower House has its new stresses. This house was her dad’s vision, his retirement project, his dream…not hers. Does she want to be burdened with this big old house, with all the renovations/repairs that are needed. What will she do in this big house all alone? Does she need the isolation? This wasn’t her plan. It all changed when Henry died and left it all to Kara. An idea comes to her on what she sees as the purpose of Wildflower House, now she must do this on her own, without her dad. This book is a wonderful read. It is an example of perseverance, getting back up when life has slapped you down. I loved reading this book and seeing Kara’s strength, confidence and perseverance shine through.
Wildflower Hope is the second book in Grace Greene’s Wildflower House series. This story segues into the weeks just following the unexpected death of main character Kara Lange Hart’s beloved father, Henry. Kara’s three decades have been fraught with loss. . .her mother, her husband, her unborn child, and now her father, who had kept her together through all that had happened in her life, was gone as well.
As was the plan Henry had for restoring Wildflower House. Now it was up to Kara to decide what to do next. The easiest thing to do would be to sell and go back to the city where she could return to the career she had before a drunk driver on a rainy night wiped out her plans for her future. Kara was still mending from that fateful accident and was now completely on her own.
Kara had a vision of opening the revamped house as a place where artists and craftsmen could meet to share ideas and classes, and, perhaps, to host events. When she shares this idea with Nicole Albers, close friend of her late father and Kara’s ally, Nicole tends to push Kara to move forward. But, instead, it is the landscaper, Will Mercer, who is able to lead Kara away from her darkness.
This is a wonderful sequel to the first novel in the series, Wildflower Heart, and will make the reader anxious for the next book in the series. Interesting characters and a lovely setting are at the heart of these stories. I have enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!
Wild Flower Hope by Grace Green is the second book in The Wildflower Series. That being said it can very well be read as a standalone but reading these books in sequence makes them more amazing. I have been waiting for this book to come out ever since I finished the first book. Wildflower Hope is a beautifully written book about loss, grief, being able to forgive and finding hope. It is a very heartwarming story. Once I started reading this book I was drawn right in and did not want to put it down. I loved how the author described everything so vividly I was able to visualize and feel everything that was going on. The descriptions of the house, flowers, gardens, and all the little paths were so vivid I felt I was right there with the characters. I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this series.
Linda’s Book Obsession Review’s “Wildflower Hope” by Grace Greene, Lake Union, September 24, 2019
Grace Greene, Author of “Wildflower Hope” has written the second book in “The Wildflower House Series”. This can be read as a stand-alone. The Genres for this novel are Fiction and Women’s Fiction with Romance. This is an emotional, intriguing, and dramatic novel. I love the way the author vividly describes and writes about the renovations of the house, the landscape, the gardening, and the planning. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated.
Kara Hart has known tragedy and is starting to pull herself together after her father’s death. She decides she wants to renovate the house as a retreat, and plans for parking and gardens for the land. Kara is ambivalent at times and insecure and doubts that she can pull this off. She does have the support of people helping her if she will let them in.
I love the way the author discusses the importance of self-worth, second chances, new beginnings, and forgiveness. The author also mentions the importance of family, friends, neighbors, love, and hope. I would recommend this entertaining story for those readers who enjoy women’s fiction.
“You can’t choose where you’re born, but you can choose where to grow.”
Wildflower Hope is the second book in The Wildflower House series by Grace Greene. I did not read the first book but now will be reading it.
This is Kara’s journey through hope, forgiveness, grief, friendships and personal healing.
The descriptions of the house and grounds made me feel as if i was walking through them with Kara. I was totally captivated by each room and outside area.
This was a beautifully written story.
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.
Karen Hart is dealing with unimaginable grief. Her father has unexpectedly died. He had brought her to live with him while she healed from an accident that killed her husband and unborn child. Then she discovers that her best friend, Victoria, may have been having a relationship with her husband before his death.
Left with the huge home and large property known as the Wildflower house, Karen is overwhelmed with loss, despair and loneliness.
Deciding to move forward with the repairs to the home, she envisions a retreat where artists can come to paint, sculpt or write. As the home begins to take shape, Karen’s heart also begins to heal. She begins to hope for a better life with an opportunity to move forward and perhaps even have a second chance at a meaningful relationship.
An excellent book by Grace Greene of loss, loneliness and eventually hope.
Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an early copy of this book. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book and the comments are my honest opinion.