eBook Wild Rose (Wild Rose Series #1) (Steeple Hill Women's Fiction #15) epub

To start off w the good, the romance was very sweet, gradual, and more than instant attraction followed by endless talk of the physical perfection of hero and heroine. Morren's books do tend to do w "real life" issues, but I feel like they are tastefully done without being salacious or gratuitous. I shed a few tears with the events leading to Geneva's realization she needed to turn to the Lord. Seriously, how do you NOT cry about what happened to you know who?? Caleb was a little harder to figure out, primarily because his back story is only told in bits and pieces and eventually gets resolved "offstage." In that respect, I felt the book ended too quickly.

Like the other books I've read by this author, the subject matter seemed well researched and flowed into the story pretty seamlessly. That being said, I was surprised Geneva gave it up so easily. Towards the end, she did seem tired of life as "farmhand," but I got the general impression she really enjoyed gardening and farming.

There's no such thing as a flawless book, but some of the flaws in this one were some rather large plot holes that never got answered or explained, including any resolution about the reason Caleb ran away in the first place, or about his later journey. We switch exclusively to Geneva's point of view at the end and are just supposed to accept that everything worked itself out for the hero. The father/son relationship was a repeated source of pain for the hero, so I was surprised the author glossed over it just to get to the happy ending. The book had been so detailed about the heroine's physical, emotional, and spiritual transformation that I was surprised when Caleb described what he felt God has called him to do, but we get so few sentences describing any of what transpired after or even get down to what exactly happened in the first place w the embezzlement scandal. It was disatisfying in that respect.

So, all that to say, would I read it again? Probably. Not perfect, but still a pretty compelling story and sweet romance.

Oh, how I enjoyed this book! It was so romantic! Definitely my kind of story. I've read most of Ruth's books and I'm sorry to say that I only have one or two more to go before I've read them all. Makes me wish that authors like Ruth could WRITE FASTER! LOL!

I loved the realism of this story. I always feel like I'm right there in the story when I read Ruth's books. I can't say enough about Ruth's writing ability. I'm especially impressed by the easy flow of conversation. For me, Ruth is right up there on my top ten favorite authors list.

It was wonderful watching Geneva blossom into a wonderful young woman. She loved Caleb right from the start but it wasn't the same for Caleb. All he saw was a sweet young girl in overalls. I was actually hurt when it was suggested that it might be unseemly for her to spend so much time with him and he just laughed, and said 'just look at her.' It took a shocking and embarrassing moment to open his eyes and after that he was a goner. It was so refreshing to read a story where the heroine and hero weren't gaga over each other from start to finish. These characters were so much more interesting and I liked that they grew as friends before falling in love.

A very enjoyable read!

I am a book-a-holic. I have owned this book for two years and just now realized I haven't reviewed it. By now other reviewers have already posted the synopsis and I need not share it again. But I can't pass up the opportunity to share a little about this book.

This is a book that sweeps you away-- a taming of the shrew tale-- a cinderella story-- but one in which she finds so much more than a glass slipper. Geneva and Caleb are not perfect but they are perfectly written. You become one with the characters and share the pains and passions with them. It is a book that you can read over and over again and not get tired of the story (if, of course, you are that type of person! Which I am...at least, I am with this book). I can read a good book twice. This book I have read at least 5 times and each time, though I knew what was to come, I was still as eager to watch it unfold as I was the first time.

Ruth Morren is a gifted writer who writes wonderful books. I have liked all of them and loved most of them. This, though, is my favorite. If you have not read it yet, I suggest you do. You will be charmed and stirred.

The development of Geneva from ugly duckling to beautiful swan was interesting to watch. It was an emotional experience seeing her transformation, and knowing through the author's skilful character development of this heroine that Geneva yearned deep down to be feminine. The character portraiture of Caleb was well done also. His evolution from failed faith to full faith once again was inspirational. The opening scene of Geneva being taunted and tried by some boys and Caleb coming to her rescue despite her scruffy, lowly appearance while his fiancee turned up her nose cast him in a positive light from the outset. The story was a bit lengthy and while external descriptions of nature and vegetation were necessary for setting, they were a bit overdone--I got tired after a while. When the happily ever after arrived, I was more than ready to receive it.