Where Wildflowers Bloom by Ann Shorey

Happy Wednesday Dear Readers! 

Today we are going to talk about Where Wildflowers Bloom by Ann Shorey. I had not read one of her books before, but the name of this one drew me. I also like the cover. This is the story of a young lady named Faith. She lives in a little town that borders on being not a town because Nobel Springs is just very small. Her Grandfather runs the mercantile, but their family has suffered great losses. Mothers, Fathers, Brothers, Wives, and more are all dead because of the war. Brave much loved family members have marched off to war never to come home again.  Faith's heart hurts over the man she cared for who never came back home, and her brother and father who gave their lives in service to their country. Faith hurts so much, that she hasn't formed solid roots, and all she wants to do is leave and go out West. Oregon is where she thinks her life will be what it should be, only convincing those around her is not so easy. 

While she is waiting to go to Oregon, and running the mercantile so her Grandfather can work on his memoirs, 

she starts finding a wonderful friend in Rosemary. Rosemary is shunned in her community because she worked as a nurse during the war. She worked to save lives of brave men, yet she is rejected by the town who feels her job made her as close to a woman of ill-repute as she could get and not actually be one! After all, touching mens' bodies like that - well it is just beyond not proper for a lady! Even so, Faith finds herself drawn to this woman, and her brother Curt. Curt works at the livery, and he too fought in the war. 

Just as Faith was getting her life lined up as she thought it should be, Royal Baxter comes back from the war. Here is the man she thought she would marry one day, and now, after all this he is interested in her! Or is he really? She is dealing with the issues surrounding the mercantile, including robberies, wanting to sell it but her Grandfather isn't totally agreeable, trying to sort out who she is suppose to spend her life with, keeping the store a-float and helping her friends. Is what she thinks is her heart's desire really her heart's deepest desire, or does God have other plans for her life? 

This was a very easy to read book that showed not only the settings and preparations of settlers planning or considering transplanting themselves far off, but also a good strong book about making friends and the ties that truly bind us to the lives and plans we are suppose to have if we are open to God's path for us. 

Carol  

About the Book:

The War Between the States stole a father and brother from Faith Lindberg-- as well as Royal Baxter, the man she wanted to marry. With only her grandfather left, she dreams of leaving Noble Springs, Missouri, and traveling west to the Oregon Territory to start a new life, away from the memories that haunt her. But first she must convince her grandfather to sell the family's mercantile and leave a town their family has called home for generations.

When Royal Baxter suddenly returns to town, Faith allows herself to hope that her dreams might come true. Does he truly love her? Or could another man claim her heart? Will she find that following her dreams may not mean leaving home after all?

About the Author:

Ann Shorey has such a wonderful write up about herself, and her work that I just highly recommend you go read her web site!  http://www.annshorey.com/novels.html

Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.