Wishing on Buttercups
They say time heals all wounds, but the last 17 years have done little to ease the pain of Beth Roberts’ past. She had been found alone and disfigured on the Oregon Trail, and the injuries of her childhood have cast a shadow over the woman she’s become. Intrigued by the enigmatic young lady, writer Jeffery Tucker longs to unravel the mystery that surrounds his fellow boarder, but discovering her secrets might cost him his heart.
Written as a standalone, Miralee Ferrell’s Wishing on Buttercups takes up where Blowing on Dandelions left off, returning readers to Baker City, Oregon in the 1880s and the familiar camaraderie of Katherine Jacobs’ boardinghouse. Like its predecessor, it incorporates heavy religious themes to explore emotional conflict, but the context and premise of Beth’s quest for acceptance and her journey of self-discovery make this installment a much stronger historical.
My only real criticism of this lighthearted inspirational is that Ferrell habitually utilizes miscommunication as a means of creating romantic tension. Her characters often jump to the wrong conclusions and frequently withdraw from one another after losing the nerve to admit their true feelings. The monotony is frustrating and, at times, makes it difficult to remain engaged in the story.
