Though technically the third book in the My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge Series I feel like it can be read as a stand alone but you would get more out of it by reading Laurel's Dream and The Heart of the mountains first. I have to say that this is the most emotional book of Pepper's that I've read so far, my heart broke for Kizzie. But I also enjoyed her finding God's love.

This beautiful series has my heart forever and always! I loved finally getting to meet Kizzie and learn her story. Seeing her step into relationship with Jesus and her realizing she was forgiven and could be loved was so incredibly beautiful. And don’t even get me started on the epilogue. So many emotions! 😭😭❤️❤️ I will be recommending this book as well as the first two in the series to everyone! Definitely read them in order. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Kizzie Adams is learning the hard way that fairytales don’t come true in 1917 Appalachia. This story of a sweet, naive girl going through hard times away from the support of her family is big on faith and hope, on stumbling and finding a better way.

In Hope Like Wildflowers, Pepper Basham unfolds Kizzie’s story in a way that builds from heartache, through hardships, and into redemption. A wonderful, touching story with a heroine who will dismay and delight the reader. Recommended.

This review refers to a digital copy that I voluntarily received and read via NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review: A Journey of Hope and Redemption in Kizzie McAdams' Story
In this compelling narrative, Kizzie McAdams embarks on a transformative journey that captivates readers from the start. Growing up with dreams of exploring life beyond her mountain home, Kizzie's life takes an unexpected turn when an unplanned pregnancy leads to heartbreak and uncertainty. Disowned by her father, she navigates a world filled with challenges, seeking solace in the arms of a man who, despite his conditional support, fails to provide the stability she yearns for.
However, hope emerges as Kizzie finds acceptance and friendship within the warm embrace of a nearby family, who guide her toward a profound understanding of God’s love. This pivotal moment in her life showcases the power of community and faith, highlighting the beauty of human connection amidst adversity.
As Kizzie attempts to escape her past and rebuild her life in a new town, she encounters the harsh realities of social prejudice. Yet, it is here that she forms an unexpected bond with businessman Noah Lewis, a compassionate soul who shares her passion for uplifting the marginalized. Their partnership not only sparks a romantic connection but also ignites a shared mission to challenge the status quo.
The story masterfully weaves together themes of resilience, love, and the fight against societal norms. Kizzie and Noah's courageous efforts to help those in need lead them to confront obstacles, including Noah’s powerful brother, a mill owner who embodies the challenges of family loyalty and financial control.
Will Kizzie and Noah's love withstand the pressures of family power and societal expectations? And when Kizzie's first love reappears, readers are left wondering which path she will ultimately choose.
This heartwarming tale of hope and redemption is an inspiring reminder of the strength found in love, friendship, and the courage to forge one’s destiny. Kizzie McAdams' story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, making it a must-read for anyone seeking a story filled with emotional depth and uplifting moments. #netgalley

This book is full of emotions and you can feel every one of them. It hooks you on the first page and keeps you turning the pages to see what happens next. This book deserves more than 5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Kizzie, a mountain girl, is cast out of her house after she gets in the family way. Her father won’t stand for it and he sends her away. Stubborn mountain pride means he will not welcome her back. Heavily pregnant, Kizzie ends up on the doorstep of a God-fearing African American family. Kizzie knows them and takes refuge with them. They help to restore her body and soul as little Charlie enters the world. Kizzie grows a lot in maturity in the 12-15 months in which the story is set. To be honest, she shows up with more skills than one expects from our first few pages of meeting her.

To make a new life, she needs a change. She travels to a town about 30 miles away to make her way.

Pepper Basham’s books are always first rate for me, but this one was off the charts! We first hear of Kizzie in Laurel’s Song and Heart of the Mountains (which make the story so much richer, but aren’t completely necessary), and I have been waiting for her story ever since. Kizzie is heartbroken and alone, pregnant without the benefit of a husband, and rejected by her family. She is in many ways fostered by a neighbor family that helps her welcome baby Charlie, get her feet on the ground, and learn to care for herself and her son. And Nella is so wise, so gentle and real and believable. Kizzie’s journey as she begins to see her worth, to identify that God is pursuing her, and finds the life God wants her to have just gives me chills, because I was Kizzie. I married a Noah. Keep the tissues handy, because you’re going to see yourself somewhere in this book, and when you do, you’re going to need them. I’d easily give it 10 stars if I could. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

I love Pepper Basham and this book was as amazing as all the others that I have read! Beautiful hope among common trials that we can all relate to.

I absolutely enjoyed this book. It is the first time I have read anything from Pepper Basham, and I was not disappointed. I didn't realize that this was a part of a series, and I can't wait to go back to read more from this author. I thought the book was well written, and I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read more from Pepper Basham. I highly recommend this novel to other readers.

Thank you Net Galley ARC, Barbour Publishing, and Pepper Basham

What a great way to start the year! Such a beautiful story. Gosh. I love Pepper’s writing!


This story is about the pursuit of God after a young women’s heart who has experienced hardship after hardship. He speaks identity and truth over her that she comes to believe and shares with others.


Kizzie is cast out from her family when she tells them she’s pregnant. She experiences hardship after hardship along the way. She meet the Chappel’s who house her and help her get back on her feet. Her baby daddy houses her and provides for her, but thinks he owns her. She ends up leaving to find her own way and to make a fresh start. As she comes upon the new town she has connections in she meets/rescues Noah in a snow storm after his carriage veers off the road. She builds community and relationships in her new home/town. She find purpose and helps others do the same. She is brave and courageous and doesn’t settle for what others say or think of her. She finds her own way and meets beautiful people along the way who love her for who she is and celebrate her.

Noah is so swoon worthy. He’s manly, kind, good, and loving. He stand up to bullies and doesn’t allow them to bully others. He has misfortune and betrayal thrown at him and chooses the right path and tries to right wrongs. He fights for Kizzie and doesn’t back down easily.

I love how the ending ends with nice little bows. Very satisfying. I truly enjoyed this story with the twist and turns and at times the suspenseful parts. I love the journey Kizzie was on of finding God and believing His truths about herself. I love Noah and Kizzie’s love story.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have read, and loved, several books by this author in the past. So I had high hopes going into reading this book and I was not disappointed. This story sucked me in from the very first page!

There isn’t a book by this author that I have read I didn’t love. Her development of characters and her storyline always draws me in. I enjoy the historical aspect and the Christian love brought into this book. I didn’t know it was a part of a series and had no trouble reading it as a Stand alone. Looking forward to going back and reading the first two books of this series. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

Talented author Pepper Basham has penned a beautiful story of redemption, hope, and God’s love for all of us. Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina in 1917, Hope Like Wildflowers tells the story of Kizzie McAdams who is disowned by her father and cast out when she comes home with an unplanned pregnancy. Taken in by a nearby family who offers her love and understanding and shows her what God’s love looks like, she vows to change her life. When she moves to a nearby town with her baby son, she meets a young businessman and his mother who show her compassion and understanding. Filled with messages of faith, inspiration, redemption, and hope, this tale is a lovely addition to Basham’s growing inventory of books. 4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Barbour Fiction through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Hope Like Wildflowers by Pepper Basham was one of those books that was hard to stop thinking about even long after I finished reading it. I didn’t realize that Hope Like Wildflowers was part of a series and that there had been two books that preceded it. Even though I had not read the first two books, I had no trouble reading Hope Like Wildflowers as a stand-alone book. I enjoyed meeting Kizzie McAdams as I watched her face more challenges and struggles than any young girl should. It took place in the early 1900’s in Appalachia.

Kizzie McAdams had grown up in the mountains with a loving family. At a young age, she ventured down the mountain and found employment as a servant for a wealthy family. The owner’s son, Charles Morgan, took a liking to Kizzie and took advantage of her naivety. It wasn’t long before Kizzie realized that she was going to have Charles’ baby. Charles encouraged Kizzie to go home to her family so that they could help her with the pregnancy. When Kizzie’s father learned that she was pregnant, he made her leave immediately. He disowned her despite her mother’s pleas. Kizzie was thrown out of her family’s home with very little money or food. What was she going to do?

Fortunately, Kizzie was rescued by Nella’s husband, Joshua Chappell, when she collapsed in the forest. Nella took Kizzie in and helped her deliver a beautiful baby boy who Kizzie named Charlie. Joshua and Nella were tenants of Charles Morgan’s family. They lived on the Morgan estate and had always been nice to Kizzie. From Nella, Kizzie received unconditional support and love. Nella’s faith in God impressed Kizzie and she started to believe that she would be alright with God’s love and guidance. Kizzie still believed that Charles loved her and would marry her as soon as he could. Charles took advantage of Kizzie’s good nature, gullibility and lack of confidence until Kizzie finally saw him for what he was. Charles only cared about himself and his place in society. He would never marry Kizzie. She made up her mind to leave but not before gifting Nella and Joshua the chance to make their dreams come true. Kizzie set off for The Hollows, a town about twenty miles East, to start her life anew and she never looked back.

Moving to The Hollows proved to be the best decision Kizzie could have made for herself and Charlie. So many good people came into Kizzie’s and Charlie’s lives. Kizzie’s faith continued to grow and guided her in her decisions, choices and actions. When Kizzie made the acquaintance of Noah Lewis she found a friend and a person who viewed the world and the people in it as she did. After only being in The Hollows for two days, Kizzie secured a job at Carters Mercantile run by Gayle Carter. Kizzie was also offered free room and board in the apartment above the store. She was to help Mrs. Carter with bookkeeping and running the store. Kizzie felt that God was really looking out for her and Charlie now. I really enjoyed how Noah’s and Kizzie’s relationship blossomed and grew over time. The characters were so endearing, at least most of them. Hope Like Wildflowers focused on finding faith and allowing God to guide you through everyday life challenges. It focused on finding the good in people, forgiving oneself and others, becoming more confident and accepting and learning how to love yourself and others. Pepper Basham is a masterful storyteller. This was not the first book that I have read by her and it won’t be the last. I highly recommend Hope Like Wildflowers by Pepper Basham.

Thank you to Barbour Fiction for allowing me to read Hope Like Wildflowers by Pepper Basham through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Great story combining historical and Christian fiction.

This inspiring story is set in 1917 in the Appalachian Mountains. The book is all about a life gone wrong and the choices we make when life gets us down. Life is really hard for Kizzie, a 16 year old unwed mother that has been abandoned by her family. The only people willing to help her and the baby are some Christian friends that are living out their beliefs. The father of the baby is willing to help some.

Kizzie finds a way to thrive which is so inspiring. This book is third in a series. I read this story as a stand alone book and enjoyed the book. Now that I have read this book I plan to read the first two.

I have always loved Pepper Basham's novels, including from her My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge series. I was excited to get my hands on the third installment Hope Like Wildflowers. It is now my new favorite written by her and tops those I have read this year so far. I loved going back in time to get a vivid vision of what it was like to live in my Blue Ridge Mountains. I felt like I was part Kizzie and Noah’s story. I thought it was beautiful and heartwarming to read and could not put it down until I have the whole book finished.

I am giving Hope Like a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean historical romance. As always, I will be on the look out for more releases from Pepper Basham in the future.


I received a paperback copy of Pepper Basham's Hope Like Wildflowers from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Hope Like Wildflowers is not the first book I have read by Pepper Basham and will not be the last. From the first book I read by her, Pepper became a favorite author. This is the third book in the series, but I seem to do things out of order sometimes. That being said, this book could totally be read as a stand-alone, though I do have the other two books on my TBR list. This book caught me in from the start and I could not put it down.

The character development is great. I loved getting to know Kizzie and her heart. Watching her work through her faith really showed her heart. I also loved getting to know Noah Lewis and Mrs. Lewis.

The storyline was great. I loved seeing Kizzie experience God from such a simple place and grow. My heart absolutely broke for her when she realized what had happened. But the hope that she had when she realized she was a daughter of God and even through it all, God would not forsake her, was beautiful.

The romance was perfection. Seeing the two sides of ‘romance,’ one which is full of lust and one that is an unconditional pure love. I was so happy for Kizzie that she did not settle for less than what God had for her. The perfect closed door, low spice romance.

Pepper Basham did a great job intertwining faith throughout and pointing us back to God. Even in the hard circumstance of our consequences of sin, still letting God work through us. It encouraged me to have more compassion on those who have different sin issues then me.

*I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Pepper Basham, NetGalley, and Barbour Fiction for this #gifted book!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Title: Hope Like Wildflowers
Author: Pepper Basham
Genre: Historical Fiction
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Synopsis: “We all got pasts, Kizzie. But we got futures too. Don’t get so hung up on the past that you discount God’s mighty good love in the future.” Kizzie McAdams thought he loved her. She certainly loved him. But when Charles Morgan, the father of her son, keeps putting off his engagement and pushing Kizzie and their son further away, she begins to realize he doesn’t love her like her says. In search of a new beginning, Kizzie leaves to find a new home and on the way makes a new acquaintance too—Noah Lewis. As their affection for each other grows, Noah and Kizzie have to decide if their family ties and their histories will keep them tied to the past or if they’re brave enough to discover the future God may have in store for them.

Analysis: Pepper is quickly becoming my go-to for historical romance books. Because, my oh my, can she write a beautiful story. There’s depth, humor, and biblical truth woven all through the pages of her books, and Kizzie’s story is no exception. Kizzie and Noah are both loveable and realistic with real-life struggles we still face today. And the main theme—being worthy of God’s love—is one that we all need to hear. Hope Like Wildflowers will put you back in time in the heart of the Appalachians while you see just how beautiful the love of God really is.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

: I love Pepper Basham's stories that are set in the Appalachia mountains, since they are so unique and delightful. They paint a very different way of life.
My heart went out to Kizzie, as her dream of getting away from the place she grew up left her as a single mom and outcast. I loved Noah and the story of redemption that is woven through the pages. This is a wonderful story to pick up and enjoy! It's a lovely addition to the series.

Pepper Basham outdid herself with this one. Hope Like Wildflowers was such a fabulous story!. I loved Kizzie as a character. She grew & learned, not remaining stagnant. The story was essentially a two parter & it felt perfectly done. I won't mention the male name, so as ro not spoil anything. But it really was a great book.