Blowing on Dandelions

Ferrell (The Other Daughter) examines the many facets of love and relationships in this sweetly moving historical romance, the first in her Love Blossoms in Oregon series. Katherine Galloway, a widowed single mother of two girls, must make her way as the proprietor of a bed and breakfast in Baker City, a small Oregon mining town. Her quiet life is disrupted by the arrival of her cantankerous mother, with whom she has a contentious relationship, as well as a myriad of boarding house guests—including an attractive new arrival to the town and his teenage son. Katherine’s interactions—with her mother, her daughter, the church quilting club, and the new man in town—are explored in a wonderfully realistic fashion. But while the lovingly detailed cast clearly lives their faith, the narrative offers too much oversimplified religion. A series of contrived events move toward a rushed yet ultimately emotionally satisfying end. Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray, the Steve Laube Agency. (June 1)