Wishing on Buttercups (Love Blossoms in Oregon #2) by Miralee Ferrell

Title: Wishing on Buttercups (Love Blossoms in Oregon #2)

Author: Miralee Ferrell

Pages: 416

Year: 2014

Publisher: David C. Cook

Note: I received a free copy of this book through The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest opinion.

     This is an incredible Christian Historical Romance

     Travel back to the 1880’s to visit Baker City, Oregon. In book 1 of this series Katherine Galloway (now Jacobs) has opened a boarding house. In this book we return to that house and get a very detailed look at Beth Roberts, her Aunt Wilma, and Jeffrey Tucker. All three of these people have been staying at the boarding house for an extended period. Other than the fact that this book in set in the same boarding house and a number of the characters from book 1 make an appearance this story stands alone and can be read and enjoyed without having read the first book in the series. Though I do believe that the enjoyment can be enhanced by having read the first book and knowing a little more about these additional characters and how they interact with each other.

     Beth has been keeping secrets both from her past and from the present hidden from everyone except for her aunt. She believes that no one would ever understand because no one ever has in the past. As shadowy memories surface, Beth sketches the scenes she sees and is shocked by what-and who-her illustrations reveal.

     Jeffrey has kept his own secrets. He doesn’t have the right to pry into Beth’s affairs but he finds himself strangely drawn to her and intrigued by the whiff of mystery surrounding her.

     I loved the characters of both Beth and Jeffrey very much. They were wonderfully developed and presented. I had a very heavy heart while I waited to see Beth move past the wounds she had suffered at the hands of others as a child. I really enjoyed the fact that Beth held on to God and even encouraged Jeffrey to draw closer to God himself.

     Miralee does an excellent job of exploring the truth that many people who have been horribly wounded in the past hold on to those wounds and can even be consumed by them. It seems to be a part of human nature to exaggerate the wounds that we’ve suffered and let them control our present and future.

     I loved this story very much and give it 5 stars. I highly recommend it.