Daffodil Dreams (Garden of Love Book 13)

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Other books in the series. Garden of Love 1 - 10 of 13 books. Books by Melanie Wilber. Daffodils is currently on permafree! Please follow the link and help yourself. I hope you enjoy it it. See 2 questions about Daffodils…. Lists with This Book. Jan 01, Margitte rated it it was amazing Shelves: The first world war broke out in Europe Young people from small, poor bucolic British families all dreamed of new possibilities and better lives if they signed up for the war.

Most of them, in counties such as Wiltshire, had never been in London, many had never seen the sea. They eked out a living working for the gentry on their big estates with poverty standing like invisible perennial guards at their doors.

Daffodil Dreams

There was hardly any escape possible until the war came. Katy Beagle worked in the manor The first world war broke out in Europe Young people from small, poor bucolic British families all dreamed of new possibilities and better lives if they signed up for the war. Katy Beagle worked in the manor house as a personal maid when the son of the manor needed a little bit of fun before he departed for London to join the war effort.

Young and inexperienced as she was, and bored to death with the prospect of being rooted to her situation for the rest of her life, Katy jumped at the opportunity to have some fun. It resulted in a huff and a lot of puff with a cloud of scandal threatening her good name and honor. Good, rock-solid Jem, the gardener, proposed again, and this time she had no other choice but accept. And so begins the story of a young couple within the village dynamics of Wiltshire with the assortment of lovable, despicable, and delightful characters who share their lives for ages.

But after the young vicar announced them husband and wife, the village openly released a sigh of relief. The scandal was short-lived and the couple could live happily ever after.

But that was not to be. Katy and Jem's paths through the deeply moving narrative exposes the highs and lows of two young people's inner turmoil with life and love, their first encounters in the adult world with heartbreak and hardship. The tale winds through a volatile time in world history and how it personally effected two young people but also their community. The horror of the First World War is portrayed with accuracy and emotion.

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The deprivations and devastation of the war is creatively and convincingly conveyed. All the elements to make this a great book is present: All the people are real.

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So much so that the reader becomes emotionally attached to them and become emotionally invested in the turns and twists of the plot. Throughout the harsh reality of the war, there is still an almost ironic wholesomeness present in the young people's optimism and hope for a better future. Despite all the obstacles, the daffodils never seized to bloom among the privation and suffering of the war. Daffodils is an extraordinary story of commitment and enduring hope which teaches us the power of resilience, integrity and true honor.

This book was a deeply emotional experience that managed to reach the inner core of my being. This is such a powerful story. I am amazed that it has not attracted more attention on Goodreads.

It really deserves it. View all 25 comments. Jul 11, Nancy Knox rated it it was amazing. Enjoyed this book This was a very well written and enjoyable story. Great characters and storyline. It keeps you involved from the beginning to end. I would recommend this book and am anxious to start the sequel.

Jun 07, Misfits farm rated it really liked it. Of the hills and fresh air of home and her dreams through her reading. The harshness of the living conditions of the time and the lack of sanitation and things we all now take for granted. The journey through the war for Katy and her family and village and the traumas therein.

I am not usually into historical novels but this one has a certain charm to it and the characters are well described. The conditions of the war and the thoughts of those at home and abroad are easily pictured bringing scenes and the book to life. A poignant tale for anyone who had family they remember at that time and maybe a tale we should all read to know that things were not always how they are now both the war aspect as well as general life.

A thoroughly enjoyable read. I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Dec 20, Jenny Lloyd rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: Will equally appeal to lovers of historical fiction and romance. This is the last book I shall review this year and I found it compelling. Katy dreams of a different sort of life, away from the quiet, Wiltshire backwater she has grown up in. Her dreams make her reluctant to accept Jem's proposal of marriage, as marrying him would mean giving up her dreams of travel.

Katy has her head and heart briefly turned by the charms of her employer's son. Her liaisons with him are enough to cause a minor scandal which threatens to tarnish Katy's reputation. So, when Jem This is the last book I shall review this year and I found it compelling. So, when Jem proposes again, she accepts.

Surprising herself, she finds happiness and contentment in married life until tragedy strikes to break her heart and the ensuing grief creates a strain which threatens to tear the couple apart.

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Unable to comfort or console his grieving wife, Jem decides to sign up for the war. When he goes missing in action, presumed dead, Katy joins the war effort, too. Originally, she goes in the hope of finding Jem alive but is soon caught up in the blood, guts and mayhem of war, working at a field hospital in France. Combining romance, historical fiction and a feminist touch, Daffodils is impressively well-researched and vividly imagined, making a worthy and respectable contribution to WW1 historical fiction.

It vividly portrays the brutality and futility of war while paying homage to the bravery and camaraderie of those who were involved in all aspects of the war effort. While many novels have been written about the war, this one, for me, brought a fresh and feminist perspective to the subject. In many ways, the terrible loss and grief aside, the war was a liberating experience for many women as they were given roles which would never have been open to them otherwise. I do not hesitate to recommend.

A charming, easy going read with endearing characters. Pure coincidence that I read it during Remembrance time and right after downloading Downton Abbey Season 5! Although I thoroughly enjoyed this book I do have a few gripes: Well apart from the vile Leonard. Also, I can't imagine simple country folk from the Great War era likening things to auto A charming, easy going read with endearing characters.

Also, I can't imagine simple country folk from the Great War era likening things to automatons and zombies. Katy's hair was described as bobbed at one point - I thought the bob was invented for Clara Bow? There were a few similar foibles but these are easily forgiven and I look forward to the second instalment. Jul 01, Siobhan Daiko rated it it was amazing. This touching love story, set against the backdrop of the turmoil of World War I, is told from the heart and, although the subject matter is tragic, I really enjoyed the read.

Katy is a wonderful heroine. I found myself caring deeply about her and wanting everything to work out. Jem, too, is a hugely sympathetic hero, and I liked him for his courage and steadfastness. The main theme of this novel is the human spirit and how it prevails in spite of the horrors of poverty and war. All is not doom This touching love story, set against the backdrop of the turmoil of World War I, is told from the heart and, although the subject matter is tragic, I really enjoyed the read.

All is not doom and gloom in the narrative, however, and the lighter moments, not to mention the cast of believable secondary characters, including the creepy Lionel, help to make the storyline well-rounded. Mar 20, Donna Wilkey rated it really liked it Recommends it for: Fans of historical fiction, teens and adults. I really liked this story because it reveals so much history of WWI which is blatantly missing from my education.

I know I had to memorize which countries were on which side. I knew about famous people that suffered in the trenches such as de Chardin and Hemingway. But this well-researched piece of historical fiction synthesizes the facts and makes it all very real. The book also describes the class difference I really liked this story because it reveals so much history of WWI which is blatantly missing from my education. The book also describes the class differences of the time Downton Abbey , especially for women, and how those differences were obliterated by the war effort.

Top shelf, as the British might say. Sep 11, Kathy rated it really liked it.

Katy is a maid who lives to read and hates being a maid. Her parents want her to marry Jem who is a gardener on the estate. Charles is the heir to the estate.

When he comes home from school unexpectedly he takes a shine to Katy and all hell breaks loose. He ends up joining the army and Katy gets fired. Jem asks her to marry him. Though Katy finally admits that she loves Jem but their life is not easy and the First World War will affect everyone's lives.

Jul 06, Jennifer rated it it was amazing. I really loved this book After I finished it, it was as if I had seen a movie I had to keep reminding myself that I didn't see it, I read it! It was just so vividly described and emotionally well-thought out. There is an element of grief to the story that is very realistic and even though the elements of faith are in a negative vein, the theme of grace and mercy and forgiveness still comes through Dec 29, Vanessa Wester rated it it was amazing.

A fantastic story which was written beautifully. I have not read many books based around WW1 and this was just right. The characters have some hard times and I found myself in tears at times, but overall the story was told in a way I could relate to and understand. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction. Jan 28, Lisa rated it really liked it. This past autumn I visited the World War One museum. This historical fiction account of the war was engaging and insightful.

The author had a good storyline and also helped the reader learn a lot of historical facts about the war. Sep 24, Susan rated it it was amazing. I really loved the story of world war one. I am really looking forward to the sequel.

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