by
"A romance assortment of petits fours, and as dreamy sweet." - Harold Wolf
MY TAKE:
Novellas aren't my usually my first choice to read, no matter how good they look, simply because I always feel like there's not enough there to make the story feel complete. When Texas Wildflowers was offered for review, I decided to give it a try because I liked the idea that it followed sisters. It was a good choice. Each of the four stories focuses on one of the sisters and their path to true love and marriage. Although each story is complete on it's own, the combined tales make it feel as if together they make a full novel.
The romances are sweet and funny, and other than Rosie's story, the other 3 sisters find their true loves by the strangest encounters of chance. Some might say too strange of a chance encounter, but life is like that. You could spend all your energy looking for Mr. Right, in all the 'right' places, and never find him. Then, out of the blue one day, God sets your path to cross someone in a place you would never expect and wham! sparks fly. It brings the romance and hope back to the sometimes chore of finding your true love. And although it's not pounded out in the book, the whispered message that I picked up was, "Don't forget that it's in God's hands and His timing. Be patient, don't rush into marriage because you're feeling lonely or desperate."
I flew threw the stories, laughing and smiling, closing the final page with that happy buzz you get after a really good romantic tale. These novellas definitely stand high above any others I've read.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Deserted at the altar, a devastated Rosy McBride heads back to Galveston Island and begins working at her mother’s scrapbooking business. Will spending time with Larson Brookfield help mend her broken heart, or will she merely wind up pasting away?
Christian counselor Lily McBride relies on her quirky common sense and God’s wisdom to help her clients. Will she be successful at her new career or break the most solemn of counselor/patient vows by falling for the handsome, eccentric, and impossibly irresistible Rubin McCall while hiking the Palo Dura Canyon?
In the mountain town of Alpine, Violet McBride owns Romantic Images, a business that teaches people how to live romantically. Will Morgan Jones, a geek she meets online, show her the real meaning of romance and the art of love?
Heather McBride’s picture-perfect life has unraveled in the bayou. Will the free-spirited Evan Finch not only reawaken her artistic passion but also give her the courage to fall in love—without her day-planner?
Will God help give these women the pluck to love the least likely of soul mates?
Read Chapter One HERE.
INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR:
Tell us a bit about Texas Wildflowers. Texas Wildflowers is a 4-in-1 novella collection through Barbour Publishing. Each novella is set in an exotic location in Texas. They are lighthearted romances, and they’re all tied together with the four McBride sisters.
Which of the four novellas was the most fun to write? They were each fun to write in their own way, but my favorite character was Lily, the counselor, in Forget Me Not Lily. She was quirky and fun, relatable and loveable. At least that’s what I hope readers will feel.
Tell us a bit about Texas Wildflowers. Texas Wildflowers is a 4-in-1 novella collection through Barbour Publishing. Each novella is set in an exotic location in Texas. They are lighthearted romances, and they’re all tied together with the four McBride sisters.
Which of the four novellas was the most fun to write? They were each fun to write in their own way, but my favorite character was Lily, the counselor, in Forget Me Not Lily. She was quirky and fun, relatable and loveable. At least that’s what I hope readers will feel.
All these novellas are set in Texas. Are the towns and parks real? Yes, in fact one of the novellas is set in Big Bend National Park, where my husband and I went on vacation. So, when you read about the characters on certain trails, they’re real, and we hiked them!
Did you have a favorite book when you were a child?I loved fairytales. Cinderella was my favorite.
Do you have a vacation spot you’d love to visit?I’m dreaming of Ireland. My husband and I plan to travel there next summer. Can’t wait! Then I’m going to use the emerald isle as a setting in one of my novels.
What are 5 things that your readers might not know about you?
- While I was in college I tried working in a pillow factory. I was terrible at it. I got so weary with the repetition I started yakking with the woman next to me. We got reprimanded over and over until I quit. I discovered one thing from that college job—talking is something I excel at.
- I once won a hog-calling contest at a banquet. I was not embarrassed, but I should have been.
- I have a bird phobia, and yet I love birds! (That is, from a distance.) My house is filled with the fake kind—prints on the walls, statues, and general bird doodads. Go figure.
- I keep some interesting treasures near me when I write—a wooden jewelry box my son made me when he was in school, a candle from the 1960s, a hat once owned by a famous mystery writer, the inner parts of a music box, a birthday card that plays The Twilight Zone theme song, and an old family toy helicopter that says, “Going up.”
- Thirty-four years ago I rappelled off a cliff alongside the man I was dating. We kissed in mid-air while dangling off that cliff. I ended up marrying that man, and we've celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary!
What awards have you won?I’ve won two book awards. One 
of my co-authored books entitled,A Tribute to Early Texas, won a San Antonio Conservation Society Citation as well as a Westerners International Book Award. Also, I was given three honors by readers: I was a Favorite New Author in the 15th Annual Heartsong Presents Awards, and my co-authored novel, Castles in the Air, was a Favorite Contemporary Romance in the 16th Annual Heartsong Presents Awards. My most recent award is a 2011 RWA Readers Choice Award (first place) for my novella, Once Upon a Christmas Eve.
of my co-authored books entitled,A Tribute to Early Texas, won a San Antonio Conservation Society Citation as well as a Westerners International Book Award. Also, I was given three honors by readers: I was a Favorite New Author in the 15th Annual Heartsong Presents Awards, and my co-authored novel, Castles in the Air, was a Favorite Contemporary Romance in the 16th Annual Heartsong Presents Awards. My most recent award is a 2011 RWA Readers Choice Award (first place) for my novella, Once Upon a Christmas Eve.Where can your readers connect with you online? Please drop by my website at http://e2.ma/click/f5flg/ryudf/fpz5sb, or visit my Reader Page on Facebook and chat with me there at http://e2.ma/click/f5flg/ryudf/vh05sb.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Bestselling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has thirty-two books published (several coauthored) for adults and children. She’s been a Barnes & Noble “Author of the Month” for Houston and has a BA degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends.
No comments:
Post a Comment