Glory Flowers fell in love with Quaid Matthews when she
was seven years old. A part of her heart went to Galveston with him just after
the second grade when he left southern Oklahoma.
Twenty years later he returns home for his grandmother’s
funeral. He decides to stay in Terral, a little southern Oklahoma town right on
the Red River and the Chisholm Trail, to research a new line of restaurants to
be located as close to the Trail as possible.
During his stay he moves the WM Corporation travel
trailer right on the property next to Glory’s land—and the struggle begins. She
wants his land to enlarge her property. He wants her land to make a parking lot
for his new restaurant. When he tries to cut down the beautiful row of rose
bushes separating their property, the battle begins.
They both realize they’ve fallen desperately in love yet
they’re not sure if they can trust each other. It takes a lot of courage, some
reassurance, and many roses to confirm their love.
Good enemies-to-lovers story. Glory and Quaid knew each
other as young children when both were shy. Quaid won her heart when he
attended her mother's funeral, and his glance at her said he understood her
pain. Quaid was sweet on another girl, but that girl broke his heart right
before he moved away from their small town.
Twenty years later, Glory is a teacher supervising her
sister's café during her summer break. Quaid comes to town to attend his
grandmother's funeral and notices Glory when she attends. Quaid is now part of
a big business that plans to build a restaurant on the land he inherited from
his grandmother. That land is next door to Glory's land, and he wants to buy
her land for a parking lot. Meanwhile, Glory wants to buy his land to expand
her property and build a house.
The first meeting between Glory and Quaid is funny, as
she rescues him from the clutches of Rachel, the grown-up version of the girl
who broke his heart. Matters go downhill when Quaid moves his travel trailer
onto his land as he prepares to build the first of his planned restaurants. Unfortunately,
the first thing he does is attempt to cut down the beautiful yard roses that
grow between their two properties. He has terrible associations with those
roses and wants them gone, while Glory has nurtured them through storm and
drought. Their intense confrontation shows the sparks that neither is ready to
acknowledge.
Each quickly realizes they need to make nice with the
other if they want a chance to get the land they want. They spend time together
with Quaid showing Glory around the places that will influence his restaurant
business. It's hard on Glory because she sees the appeal of his plans and can
see their success while she watches her dream of owning his land disappear. Glory
shows him the changes in their town and hopes he'd change his plans. They grow
closer as they spend time together but see no way to be together.
Then nature intervenes, and Glory is left with broken
dreams. In her hurt, she chases Quaid away. It takes time and distance for her
to realize what she wants and to go after it. In the meantime, Quaid is dealing
with his own heartbreak. I loved seeing his mother read him the riot act,
motivating him not to give up on Glory.
There's a bit of excitement at the end due to a woman who
has her eyes on claiming Quaid for herself. Though Glory initially takes a hit
to her self-confidence, Quaid convinces her of his love. I laughed out loud at
the confrontation between Glory and Milly, aided at the end by Quaid's mother.
The last chapter was sweet and romantic and the perfect conclusion to the book.
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