From the bestselling author of Just Remember to Breathe and The Last Hour, a shocking and poignant story of a family on the brink of destruction and the transformational events that could bring them back together-or tear them apart. Every day, Cole Roberts reminds himself that life wasn’t always this bleak. He was once passionately in love with Erin. Sam used to be an artistic and lively kid. … They hadn’t always lived in a shabby two-room house in rural Alabama, where he runs a mediocre restaurant in the middle of nowhere.That was before Brenna disappeared. It was before Cole lost his job and they lost their home.Every day it gets worse. Erin drinks wine out of the bottle and spends her days with a tormented expression, searching the web for signs of their daughter. Sam hides in his room and rarely speaks. And Cole works himself to a stupor for a paycheck a fraction of the size of his old salary. Until one day a phone call changes everything.winter flower is at once a tragic tale of the disappearance of a child; struggling with gender identity; of the dark world of sex-trafficking and the transformation and healing of a family. Sheehan-Miles’s longest novel delves into the depths of family life-and how, sometimes, we can heal and find restoration.
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Approximately a month and a half has passed since I read Winter Flower. I still think about the story and its characters on a daily basis. Charles Sheehan Miles has written a book which will leave a forever mark my soul. Cole, Erin, Brenna, and Sam – the Roberts Family are literally a degree or two away from any of our families.
One of my overwhelming thoughts after reading this is powerful story is that we must cherish what we have. We must cherish, nurture, and protect it with our whole being for as long as we are blessed to have it in our lives. This refers to both people and material possessions. Winter Flower reminds us that every decision we make affects others. Moreover, it shows us that faith and hope are never misguided or misplaced.
Charles Sheehan-Miles has masterfully woven an suspenseful and riveting story which is, at once, frightening and inspiring. The perfect ratio for this is one of the hardest for a writer to achieve. Mr. Sheehan-Miles has conquered this task and never leaves the reader feeling abandoned or without hope.
The reality depicted in Winter Flower is dark. It springs from every parents’ worst nightmare. It is the basis for every prayer of protection uttered from the lips of moms and dads in every home and every language. The absolute beauty of this story its message of faith and hope. It is a piercing message delivered without preaching or judgement.
Winter Flower is not an easy read. It draws you in and ferociously captivates you. I was lost in the pages for hours at a time. Although it pained me to break my reading progress , there were times when I had to simply close the book in order to process what had taken place and the resulting emotions which, at times, brought me to tears.
In the weeks which have passed since finishing Winter Flower, I have made it a daily point to hug my children and tell them they are loved and accepted. I have encouraged them to make good decisions and never have ceased any negative feeling about placing and enforcing the rules I have set in place for their wellbeing. This book is a poignant reminder that we must do our jobs as guardians of our young people earnestly. We must insist our young people be conscious of dangers and blessings they may encounter on their journey. It is also a reminder that people can transform into their best selves with the right motivation and assistance. Winter Flower is, most of all, a reminder that we must never take the people we love for granted, lose faith in them, or stop fighting for them.
Winter Flower by Charles Sheehan-Miles should be required reading for every parent and teens when they are mature enough to handle the content. It has become a book I often recommend and speak about to others. It is an essential reading experience and has become a part of my permanent book collection.
Great, multi-faceted characters. Very interesting plot. Vivid descriptions. I felt every emotion. A GREAT read!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
I attracted cruelty instead of love, brutality rather than care, scorn instead of respect. And I didn’t know why.
I’m not really sure how to review this book because if I say too much, I will spoil the story for you. There are multiple storylines and multiple character POVs, with each character’s story having a beginning, middle and somewhat of an ending. At times it felt like I was reading a screenplay for a tv family drama series. The one thing I do need to make clear to my romance-loving friends, who loved this author’s previous books, is this is NOT a romance novel. It is a story about family and all the tragedy, trouble, and exhilaration that go along with being in one and surviving one.
Sheehan-Miles’s writing, as always, is brilliant. I love this author’s voice and writing style. There’s an honesty to his storytelling which I think is why he is so good at conveying emotions and is why, with every book he’s written, including this one, I find myself crying while reading his words. This book is long, 600 pages, long. It probably could have been broken into two or even made into multiple books with each character having their own, but I appreciate the authors choice to allow the reader to experience each character in a continued timeline and experience the way each character’s POV enriched the other’s arc.
Winter Flower is an exploration of family dynamics; the push and pull, the power and lack thereof. It explores how tragedy affects the family as a whole and dives deeper into how it affects each family member.
I was provided a review copy by the author; this did not influence my opinion of the book nor my review.
This book is one of those books that is SO incredibly hard to read. Yet, it’s one of those books that I think all parents and anyone who is wanting to be a parent should read.
It took me longer than normal to read this book, but all of the emotions it evokes were the reason. It is so wonderfully written that I felt as if I were Brenna’s parent(s).
The descriptive words. The situations that you are forced into. It’s all just SO much, in the most delicious way possible. Charles Miles is a master of words, of that I’m convinced.
Brilliant! This was an emotionally grippng tale that had me on the edge of my seat but in tears repeatedly. Sheehan-Miles consistently delivers characters with depth and soul. This story took me into the depths of a reality that we all gear and prefer to pretend doesn’t exist. It’s not a fluffy read, it’s got real bite and substance and is definitely worth the read. I’m so glad he took his time to deliver a story he can be proud of!
What an amazing book. It’s not an easy read. It is rich and layered, what I would call a “heavy” book. From the subject matter to the relationships, it was a book I really had to live in for a little while. It’s hard to say much without spoilers, but my emotions were all over the place. The only way i can think of to accurately review this book is to convey that. They ranged from heartbroken and despaired to hopeful joy and everything in between. There were some parts that were so intense they really had my heart racing. In the end I felt emotionally wrecked, but in the best way. After all of that, I was filled with so much hope. I would say that the main theme of this story is healing. The Roberts family will stay with me for a long time. 5 huge stars!
* A review copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. *
~ 3.5 – 4 Stars ~
I don’t even know what to think after reading this story. I will start by saying THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE book. If you are looking for a romantic story or even a HEA in the traditional sense, then you won’t find that here.
Now that is not to say this book wasn’t a good story. It truly was. But it is not what I normally read. This book took me to some deep dark places and was gut wrenching at times. I am thankful that the author wasn’t overly graphic when depicting some of this story. He played out the scene with enough that the reader knew what was happening without describing it in detail.
This is NOT a light and fluffy read. It is real, raw, gritty and like I said, gut wrenching. Some very serious topics are played out in this story. Some trigger warnings are going to be geared towards, bullying, sexual assault and ones own sexuality. If any of these things are topics you don’t like to read about, then this isn’t the book for you.
This is also a very long story. I believe it is over 600 pages in length. It is filled with jaw dropping stuff, but I felt that at times it dragged a little too much for my liking. I really didn’t think this book needed to be this long. I think it could’ve been shorter and still gotten the same message across.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read something outside of the normal book out there. This definitely was a unique and captivating storyline, but it is one that will hit you in both the gut and the heart.
**Spoiler Free** I will admit that I have been a longtime fan of Charles Sheehan-Miles’ books, but I did hesitate on getting an early review copy of this one. I was concerned because I knew it was a long book(and worried about my own attention span), difficult subject matter, and a genre change(this is not a romance book). And I am a mother of a teenage daughter myself so the subject itself is my worst nightmare. But I also trust Charles to write compelling and intriguing stories.
I pre-ordered it because I still wanted to read it(but did not want to be obligated to write a review if I was disappointed). But then I started reading his chapter excerpts on Facebook each day and I got totally hooked! I think maybe that helped ease my fears because suddenly I was interested in these characters and each one drew me in more and more. He ended up sending me a review copy anyway with no pressure to review, and once I picked it up, I could not put it down.
There are so many layers to this story and it shows how life can change in an instant. The characters are very well developed and their emotions bleed off the page. They are a family left in crisis and no one seems to know how to fix the void left by Brenna who disappeared at sixteen years old. Cole is a father who had money, career, the perfect family, and he is in a completely different place now…partly due to his own poor choices. Erin is so angry and so heartbroken that she copes in unhealthy ways. Their other child, Sam, is left to deal with significant personal issues, and the loss of a sister and lack of parental attention. They are flawed, hurt, struggling, defeated, and lost. It is told in multiple points of view so you get to see how they are all trying to cope with a terrible situation.
But then a call comes that begins a cycle of change.
This story sucked me in, captivated me, broke my heart, then put it back together. It is hard, realistic, gritty, and suspenseful, but it is tempered by hope and determination. It deals with some current topics that you see in the news daily…not just the main plot point of the story, but there are other important side topics weaved in. One of these issues is actually very relevant in my family, and I thought the author handled it realistically and with respect for the individuals. But he also illuminated the negative stereotypes, discrimination, fear, and stress that it causes for the person and their family.
At the core of this story is the importance of actually being present for family and establishing true connections. It is easy to get distracted by daily life, work, and expectations, but you could be missing moments that you will never get back. It illustrates the need for communication, acceptance, support, family, and friendships. Yes, it is a longer book (600 or so pages), but due to the short chapters and multiple points of view, it does not drag and it kept my attention and interest throughout. The story telling is honest and riveting, and the characters and plot feel like it all could be real…the good and the bad.
So after my initial reservations, I can honestly say that I was wrong. I can recommend this book to anyone that is interested in an engrossing and current story. It is a powerful and emotional read that is also both hopeful and inspiring. Even at the end, I was not sure I was ready to let these characters go and would have liked to have had a few more chapters or epilogue farther out in time. It is certainly a story that I will never forget.
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect the content of my review
This has been a long-awaited book and I am thrilled that I got the chance to read it. I have read several books by this author and his latest work is I might say is his best to date.
The Roberts family has been dealt a terrible blow when their teenage daughter Brenna went missing. Prior to this, parents Cole and Erin’s relationship were already on the brink of a meltdown and their son Sam is going through a personal crisis as well. How can a family take so much hardship and not buckle under the pressure? Will it make them stronger or will it destroy them?
This story is split into four parts and told in multiple points of view of: Erin, Cole, Brenna and Sam. The first part I found a bit slow but it gradually picks up speed in part two and I ended up finishing the book in less than twenty-four hours, I just couldn’t put it down. I have always admired this author’s story-telling skills and this book is no exception. The book covers a lot of hard-hitting and sensitive subjects: sex trafficking, gender dysphoria and infidelity but these are all expounded upon by the author; there are no explicit details (mainly suggestive) which might trigger some readers. One might say that there is too much going on with this book but it is fiction after all but the events that the characters find themselves in happen in real life; I found it enlightening and educational.
This is a hard book to read and review because of the topics discussed but for me the important message in this book is about friendship, redemption, self-awareness and healing. A word of warning, this is a very emotional book and I suggest you have a box of tissues by your side. I highly recommend it!
This is the first novel I read by Charles Sheehan-Miles, who is a brand new author to me, although he has published a large number of books, and from the comments, I guess he has a legion of fans that were surprised by this book, as it is not a romance. I cannot compare it to his previous work, but I agree with the warning. If readers from his previous books approach this novel as a romance, they will be shocked, because it is far from it.
This is a long book (over 600 pages long), divided up into four parts, with a prologue set two years before the main action of the book, although there are flashbacks (memories) narrated in the first-person by the four main characters —all members of the same family— that offer readers a good understanding of the background to the current situation and help them get to grips with their circumstances, their pasts, and who they are. This is the story of a family, a married couple and their two children, on the brink of collapse due to a terrible tragedy that took place two years before the action we follow chronologically. Or so it seems. (The truth is a bit more complicated than that). Sam and Brenna, the children (adolescents by the time we met them) are close, and Brenna has always willingly played the role of big sister to Sam, there to protect and guide. Until she disappears. Carrying on without her puts a big strain on a family we soon learn was going through difficulties already (some more out in the open than others), and whose communication had ground almost to a halt. The parents, Cole and Erin, are living example of the “opposites attract” edict, at least from a political perspective (Cole, the father, who as a young man decided formal education wasn’t for him and moved up the corporate ladder at lightning speed, is conservative as can be, while Erin, the mother, a college graduate, is a convinced liberal who sacrificed her career to look after her children), and although the story opens up with Sam’s narration, we soon get to read their own perspective on the matter and the kind of traps they find themselves in.
This is a story that deals in many important subjects, and it could have been told in a variety of ways, but I am impressed not only by the subjects (adultery and its toll on family relationships, sex trafficking, rape, prostitution, bullying, harassment and violence against the LGBT community, missing youths, the isolation of the trans-gender experience for young people, prejudice and harassment at work…) and the sensitive and enlightening way they are handled, but also by the way the story is told. The author allows each character to tell his/her own story, and that makes us walk a mile in their shoes, no matter how uncomfortable they might feel. I am sure many readers will think, as they read, that they would have never reacted in a certain way, or allowed their circumstances to deteriorate to such an extent, but, do we truly know? Although, as the author reminds us in the final note, the events in the book are far from unique (yes, it is a work of fiction, but many individuals and families, unfortunately, will go through similar experiences to those depicted in the book), many of us will never have been in close contact with somebody in such dire circumstances, much less be directly affected by it, so, how do we know what we would do? The characters are not necessarily the most likeable when we meet them (drinking heavily, harassed, afraid for their lives, paralysed and frozen, unable to make decisions and move on), and they are all closed off from each other, trapped, physically or mentally, sometimes by others and their preconceptions, sometimes by their own fears and inability to grief and forgive. The author also makes a conscious decision to introduce the rest of the family —the parents and Sam— first, so we get to see the effect her loss has had on the family before we meet Brenna, the missing girl. Her situation is heart-wrenching, and the most extreme and difficult to read about, although none of the characters have an easy ride.
Thankfully, the author manages to achieve a difficult balance between telling the story, not pulling any punches, making sure people can understand and empathise with what the characters are going through, while avoiding extremely graphic scenes (both of sex and violence), and gratuitous iterations and repetitions of the abuse, which would risk further exploitation rather than facilitating understanding and empathy. Don’t get me wrong; this is a hard read, and readers with triggers around topics such as child abuse, rape, bullying, violence against women and the LGTB community, and racism need to be aware of it. Even people who don’t have such triggers will find it a tough read, but, on the other hand, this is a book with a big heart, and the individual journey of each character, and of the family as a whole, make for an inspiring and hopeful read.
I have already talked about how impressed I am by the story and the way it is told. I grew fond of all the members of the family by the end of the book (it’s impossible for our hearts not to go out to Sam and Brenna, but we get to appreciate their parents as well), and I particularly enjoyed the journey of enlightenment Cole’s father goes through. The author includes most of the reactions we can imagine to these subjects, from the sublime to the ridiculous, (not everybody changes and accepts either. Bigotry remains alive and well, as we all know), and they all felt true. I was particularly fond of Jeremiah and his wife — almost too good to be true— who are an ideal we should all aspire to. I also liked the fact that the story does not stop when most readers would expect it to, and even Sam makes comments on that. There is no magical happy ending here that just makes everything right again. All the members of the family will have to keep working at their relationship and supporting each other, but that is as it should be.
There were no negative reviews of the book at the time I wrote this, and the only objections (apart from the warning that it is not a romance) some people had referred to were Sam’s virtual game playing (that a reader didn’t feel added anything to the novel. Personally, I think it helps readers understand what life is like for the character and experience the kind of coping strategies adolescents in similar circumstances might use), and some others felt the book could have been shorter and still managed to tell the same story. That might be true, but I suspect some of the nuances would have been lost.
This is an excellent book that manages to combine complex and credible characters with a plot that deals with several difficult subjects, without becoming preachy or too graphic. It is horrifying, touching, and insightful all at the same time, and it makes readers witness the highs and lows of the human condition. I recommended it to readers interested in the subjects, but I advise those who might worry about possible triggers to proceed with caution. The author adds some resources (links to websites) for people who need more information about some of the issues raised in the book, and I thought the final conversation of the book, between Brenna and her grandfather in the garden —when the grandfather talks about the snapdragon, and how it grows back after getting rid of the dead stuff, stronger and more beautiful— stands as a great metaphor for the story, and explains the title. Highly recommended.
What an amazingly powerful book! There was SO much going on, but not to the point where it felt overdone.
First, there’s obviously the disappearance of Brenna…that’s what most of the book is going to be about. But in the sidelines, there are stories of cheating spouses, transgender teens, racism and bigotry, child abuse, and more! And it was woven together so seamlessly, that the reader does not get lost. Quite the opposite, in my opinion, it helped keep me even more invested into the story. I found it difficult to put the book down.
I will be recommending this book to all of my reader friends, it was that good!
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book that I received.
I feel emotionally wrecked in the best way.
What a ride with the Roberts’ family I had. From characters I wanted to hug so hard I would likely hurt them physically to the “villains” that I wanted to actually injure, this book had me. Had me from beginning to end.
It will make you more aware of words, regardless of how simple they seem at the time, could be life altering. It will make you realize that one small decision can alter the course of someones life. It will make you more aware of hate and make you want to hug your family. Hug anybody.
This was more than a book, it was an experience.
Cole and Erin are trying to rebuild their broken relationship when their 16-year-old daughter Brenna goes missing. Losing precious time because the local police think she’s a runaway at first, their daughter slips further from their grasp. Meanwhile, their son Sam is having a really rough time without his sister, his only supporter in his dark secret that he’s keeping from everyone. Because Sam is a girl, and she has to hide who she really is. We follow this family through a mountain of troubles, in their path to be reunited and made whole.
I hadn’t read Sheehan-Miles before, this is my first book of his, and with it, he’s made a new fan. First, let’s talk about how inclusive this book is. It’s got a broken relationship and two broken daughters, each in their own ways. The subject material is heavy because we learn that Brenna isn’t just kidnapped, but she’s been trafficked. We also have Sam’s struggle in school with bullying, in accepting who she is and feeling like she needs to keep this secret to herself. She had good reason because her parents never gave off the “you can be who you want to be” vibe. Sadly, that’s pretty typical with teens who are struggling with living the wrong identity.
The author doesn’t hold back in his writing, and he doesn’t make it easy. There is no perfect little bow because that wouldn’t be realistic, and I greatly appreciated that. The characters and storyline got intense, and it made them that much more real. While I couldn’t relate to the characters, it didn’t mean they didn’t stand out, because they had big personalities. Their struggles are very real, and I know I keep mentioning this, but it needs to be said, the author, in telling this story, is giving voice to multiple issues that often don’t get talked about enough.
Winter Flower is a compelling read, the truth of it hits you hard and stays with you. It’s over 400 pages, so it’s substantial in length and subject material. You find yourself feeling the emotions of the characters, drawn in by their hardships. Well-written and inclusive, it ticks the boxes for a wide variety of readers, a must-read.
Well, what a story! I’ve loved Charles Miles writing since I stumbled upon the Thompson Sisters books, starting with Just Remember to Breathe. I devoured all of the books and eagerly awaited each new release. As I have with this great book.
So whilst this amazing story, full of angst, love, hate, family, friendship and even dark times was a long time coming.
Charles Miles always delivers thought provoking stories, bearing real life situations and very highly charged with emotion. I think I went through all the emotions along with the characters. He set the scenes up beautifully, we experienced the parents (Erin and Cole) younger lives alongside their current lives, how they were before and after loosing a well loved member of the family and the not knowing of what has happened.
The younger characters; Breanna and Sam, went through so much together but even more apart.
You get quite a lot packed into Charles Miles books, Family, politics, love and life in general…
I loved all of the characters who all grew so much throughout the book, we followed each of the 4 main characters through their ordeals, their trials and tribulations, their understanding of what’s happening as well as their joys and fears and their triumphs.
This book will have you reaching for the tissues, but it also has you laughing out loud.
i’ve been in a serious reading funk, for a number of months, and this book definitely kept me turning the pages, albeit slowly; this definitely keeps you invested and has you willing each of them on.
This will keep you in their world, leaves you wanting more and also wanting the best for Erin, Cole, Breanna and Sam. A dysfunctional family dealing with their lives as best they can.
This book is in 4 parts, and the final part leaves you all warm and fuzzy, tying up some loose ends, but then leaving other parts unanswered…. (room for a sequel? 🙂 )
A gritty, angsty, thrilling story. Un-put-down-able.