Tuesday, July 4, 2017

A Rose So Fair

GIVEAWAY

JOHNSON, MYRA
A ROSE SO FAIR

Plucky Rose Linwood grew up on her grandfather's Arkansas tenant farm, a life her two older sisters never cared much for. Working alongside her grandpa, though, Rose learned to love the land as much as he did. Now her sisters have married and moved on, Grandpa has gone to his eternal reward, and Rose is determined to make a go of the farm on her own. But crops have been slow to recover since the drought of 1930-31, and the whole country struggles in the grip of the Great Depression. Drifters looking for work or handouts roam the countryside, some of them up to no good, so Rose keeps her trusty Winchester rifle at the ready.

Caleb Wieland, Rose's best friend, isn't the farmer his late father was, and he's about to lose his cotton crop to boll weevils. He'd let the farm go and search for work he's more suited to, except he can't desert his widowed mother. Besides, he's been quietly falling in love with Rose since they were in grammar school, and the thought of leaving her behind is too much to bear. He'd give anything to win her heart, but Rose's stubborn independence is proving as thorny as the flower for which she's named.

My Review:

I'm both excited and a little sad to be reading the last book in Myra Johnson's Flowers of Eden series. I feel like I'm saying goodbye to very dear friends with no idea if I'll ever meet up with them again.

The author has given avid fans of the Linwood sisters a stupendous send off though, with plenty of sisterly interaction and a heartwarming epilogue that I savored in a contented buzz of bibliophile delight. No worries if you haven't read the first two books -- The Sweetest Rain and Castles in the Clouds -- book three can definitely be read as a standalone...though I highly recommend reading the entire series.

So what captivates me about this series? Definitely the Linwood sisters. Each uniquely talented in a different way -- but they all share one common familial trait -- pigheaded stubborness! Which makes for some great sibling dynamics, aka, hot-headed discussions. But Bryony, Lark and Rose are also fiercely loyal to one another. There's no doubting their mutual love, though their strong personalities often clash.

And speaking of strong personalities and stubbornness -- throw in a healthy dose of fiesty and more than a dash of digging-in-my-heels-and-never-giving-up and you get a good idea of what Rose is like. As pretty -- and thorny-- as her name.

Caleb is smitten...but our prickly Rose doesn't make it easy for him. She doesn't do change well (and I can totally relate to that!) But there have been a lot of changes in her life in recent years -- both sisters marrying, the birth of a niece, the death of her beloved grandfather...it's enough to send her running scared. There is something so heartwarming about Caleb's steadfast loyalty -- his sweet determination to woo Rose and win her heart.

Their tumultuous love story is set against the backdrop of a nation struggling to recover from a severe economic downturn. Johnson has incorporated some fascinating details into the plot and her author's note at the back of the book is worth reading. I learned a lot and, as I've said before, I love getting history lessons through fiction!

An exceptional conclusion to the Flowers of Eden series -- even though I'm reluctant to leave Eden behind.

My Review:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Rose So Fair, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to your comment remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so that it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday July 9 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

55 comments:

  1. I have the first two and must complete my collection!! Lovely review that pulls me in as much as the book description :-)

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Yes -- you definitely need to complete that collection, Trixi! Good luck!

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  2. Ooh, this is a new author to me! lattebooksAThotmailDOTcom

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    1. Be prepared to be dazzled! Good luck, Susan.

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  3. New author to me but it sounds great and I do so enjoy historical romance.

    mindyhoung AT msn DOT com

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    1. Myra Johnson writes both historical and contemporary romance. She's also a Love Inspired author so there's lots to choose from if you want to check her out. Good luck, Mindy.

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  4. I have this book in my TBR pile! After your great review, Kav, I am moving it UP...to read soon. I loved Myra's other 2 books in this series!

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    1. It's such a satisfying conclusion...if there has to be one. :-( Rose is a real fire cracker!

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  5. I would love to read this book. Can it be read as a stand alone or should the first two books be read first?

    Blessings,
    Cindy W.
    countrybear52 AT yahoo DOT com

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    1. You could definitely read A Rose So Fair as a standalone -- though you'll get a better grasp of the family dynamics if you've read the books in order. Basically Byrony is the oldest bossy sister who can't stop mothering her siblings. And Lark is the sister with a dose of wanderlust and a determination to continue her education. While Rose is all about following in her Grandpa's footsteps keeping up the farm and wishing everything would just stay the same. Guaranteed if you read this one you'll be itching to backtrack to read the first two. :-) Good luck, Cindy.

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  6. I love this author. I have the first two books and I would love the third. She is amazing! Thank you.
    martha(at)lclink(dot)com

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    1. I love how she gets me deep into the minds of the characters so I feel everything they feel. Glad you're loving this series too, Martha. Good luck.

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  7. Wonderful review plus very interesting and less common Depression setting adds up to a definite addition to the want to read list! Thanks! dixiedobie at yahoo dot com

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    1. Thanks, CC. And yes, for some reason I love Depression Era novels but publishers seem to think they aren't that popular. Somehow it just sharpens everything about a story from the characters to the plot because it's a time where we were at our very best and our very worst. Plus I always think about the Waltons. :-) Good luck, CC.

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  8. Oh my ... missed this series. I must read them, sounds like a good story from the start. becci43atgmaildotcom

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  9. I have yet to read this series but will look for the books at the store. I could spend all day in a bookstore.
    Janet E.
    von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Oh, goodness, so could I!!!!!! Good luck, Janet.

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  10. I have been wanting this one. I have the first two on my shelf and would love to add this one. I haven't started the series yet. Thanks for the giveaway.
    sweetdarknectar at gmail dot com

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    1. You'll love it once you start reading! Good luck, Boos Mum.

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  11. Wonderful review, KAV! I've been wanting to read this series! Thank you for the chance.
    psalm103and138 at gmail dot com

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  12. Beautiful cover, beautiful book! mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. Isn't the cover gorgeous? Good luck, Melanie.

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  13. New author to me. Sounds wonderful. Thank you for the chance.
    leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. It really is a wonderful story. Good luck, Lucy.

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  14. this sounds interesting. I have not read something other than facts about this time period
    quilting dash lady at Comcast dot net

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    1. I was surprised by a few things I didn't know about. Good luck, Lori.

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  15. Yet another author for me to discover and since I haven't read a whole lot about this time period I'm rather intrigued. Thank you, Kav!

    Dblaser(at)windstream(dot)net

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    1. Hope you get a chance. Good luck, Diane.

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  16. Very good. Thank you. teshawATsbcglobalDOTnet

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  17. I haven't had the pleasure to read this series, but you make it sounds so good I'd like the opportunity! :)

    Many Blessings, Amada
    amada_chavezATyahooDOTcom

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  18. This sounds like a really good series!
    Thanks for the chance!

    samanthabis23 at gmail dot com

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  19. This is a new author for me. I've never heard of this series.
    Dianna (dedezoomsalot at yahoo dot com)

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  20. The whole series sounds great. Thank you for the chance to win.

    melodybissonnette AT gmail DOT com

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    1. It's an awesome series! Good luck, Melody.

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  21. I've seen this authors name just haven't had a chance to read a book of her's yet. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom

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    1. Hope you get to read one of her books soon. Good luck, Kim.

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  22. Loved the review. I know I'd really enjoy this.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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  23. Thanks for the interview and the giveaway.
    New author to me so I haven't read any of her books yet.Would love to win a copy.
    msDottweety56AtgmailDotcom

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  24. Sounds great I'd love to read a depression era story. Thanks for the chance to win.
    iamabho (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. It's such a fascinating part of our history. Good luck, Linda.

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  25. Yay for giveaway of this gifted author!
    I have read the first one, the second volume is high on my TBR pile, and now the third one is out!

    Count me in, please.

    janka(dot)halcinova(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Myra Johnson is definitely a gifted author. I get so excited when she has a book coming out. Good luck, Janka.

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  26. All because of you and your wonderful support of Myra Johnson's work! - I've slowly been collecting and reading her backlist while she continues to write more. Even her Horseman trilogy from Truly Yours is a shorter story fave. You've created a fan in me and I'll always be thankful for your reviews. :-) tlhcoupon(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  27. P.S. I haven't tackled this series yet, because I've been busy with her back list. Yet, I do own the first book. I have to mention, though, that early 20th century is a favorite of mine in historical fiction. Especially, books set during The Depression. I think it's because the Depression really shaped my mom and the rest of her 14 siblings. My grandmother was born in 1906 and had her kids between 1925-1945. How my grandmother raised them is evident in the lack of entitlement, frugalness, and gratefulness in most of my aunts and uncles.

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  28. I can relate to Rose in the fact that she doesn't like change! I am not fond of it either. This sure sounds like a great series! Thanks for the review and giveaway. d[dot]brookmyer[at]yahoo[dot]com

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