Where Butterflies Wander
- Downloads：3717
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2024-02-21 04:22:28
- Update Date：2025-09-14
- Status：finish
- Author：Suzanne Redfearn
- ISBN：B0BX4M26PV
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Brenda C
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Where Butterflies WanderAbsolutely wonderful book。 The story of a War veteran who is terribly disfigured by a bomb in Iraq。 As well as losing half her face her husband abandons her and takes her young daughter with him。 She lives by the river and is known as the river witch。 A fabulous story not to be missed。
Wendy Haller
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Beautiful storyI sank right into the characters and the story。 An enchanting read。 Highly recommend for those who enjoy stories about family dynamics and overcoming tragedy together。
Angela
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Pulls at the heart strings
Andy Krahling
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Quite frankly， I loved this。 It was well-written， engaging， had interesting characters， and felt realistic to me。 I'd read one other book by the author， which I also liked。 I was hooked from the start， and was sad when it ended。 The New Hampshire setting sang to me， as we'd lived there 30+ years。 I'm quickly gaining a new favorite author。 Quite frankly， I loved this。 It was well-written， engaging， had interesting characters， and felt realistic to me。 I'd read one other book by the author， which I also liked。 I was hooked from the start， and was sad when it ended。 The New Hampshire setting sang to me， as we'd lived there 30+ years。 I'm quickly gaining a new favorite author。 。。。more
Paula
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ButterfliesI enjoyed this book beyond words foe I have had some similar issues in my own family。 I will be recommending this read to my family book club that spans three generations！！！
Caryn Walter
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Best read of the monthRemarkable book， I was gripped from the very beginning and heavily invested in all of the characters。 My heart aches for Brandon， and I feel like there were loose ends with him， but I'm glad it is fiction 😂 because I can still move on with my life。 Best read of the monthRemarkable book， I was gripped from the very beginning and heavily invested in all of the characters。 My heart aches for Brandon， and I feel like there were loose ends with him， but I'm glad it is fiction 😂 because I can still move on with my life。 。。。more
Nancy Gove
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Very loosely based on an event that took place on the Merrimack River in Concord， NH， and Franklin， NH was an added home base for the story。 I was born and raised in Franklin， NH， so both inspired me to read the story to see how it compared to reality。 As I said， it is very loosely based on a real event， but that didn't bother me because the storyline was so beautifully written。 The characters and the plot were perfect。 It is an excellent read and highly recommend reading it！ Very loosely based on an event that took place on the Merrimack River in Concord， NH， and Franklin， NH was an added home base for the story。 I was born and raised in Franklin， NH， so both inspired me to read the story to see how it compared to reality。 As I said， it is very loosely based on a real event， but that didn't bother me because the storyline was so beautifully written。 The characters and the plot were perfect。 It is an excellent read and highly recommend reading it！ 。。。more
Maggie Van Ningen
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Thank you to the author and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC of this book。 I really enjoyed the plot and the characters。 I love how all of the characters grew from loss and even though they made mistakes throughout the book， it didn't define them。 It was very easy to visualize the setting for this story and I wish I could visit Davina's cabin and the Colonel's home！ The plot has me hooked right from the start and I loved the incorporation of letters throughout the story！ Thank you to the author and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC of this book。 I really enjoyed the plot and the characters。 I love how all of the characters grew from loss and even though they made mistakes throughout the book， it didn't define them。 It was very easy to visualize the setting for this story and I wish I could visit Davina's cabin and the Colonel's home！ The plot has me hooked right from the start and I loved the incorporation of letters throughout the story！ 。。。more
Nenette
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Seeing the table of contents， with the names of the six characters alternating in the chapters， I was initially wary and thought that I might get confused。 But not at all！ The story tells of two good “river witches” - mother， then daughter - both well loved by their community， living simply and peacefully。 The peace （seemingly） was disturbed when a grieving family spent their summer in the house by the river。 While this is fiction， it is a testament to the naturally good nature of humans， which Seeing the table of contents， with the names of the six characters alternating in the chapters， I was initially wary and thought that I might get confused。 But not at all！ The story tells of two good “river witches” - mother， then daughter - both well loved by their community， living simply and peacefully。 The peace （seemingly） was disturbed when a grieving family spent their summer in the house by the river。 While this is fiction， it is a testament to the naturally good nature of humans， which I believe and know is still ever-present in real life。 This is the second book in less than a week that had me in awe of authors who have the real talent to weave great stories！ Really wonderful！ 。。。more
Katherine
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I've read several titles by Suzanne Redfearn and find myself a bit frustrated each time I do。I typically really enjoy the storylines but also find that her characters either do or say or think things that feel so implausible or out-of-character that I feel very frustrated and it distracts from the story。It happened again with Where Butterflies Wander 。。。 I'm not sure I will try another SR book。 I've read several titles by Suzanne Redfearn and find myself a bit frustrated each time I do。I typically really enjoy the storylines but also find that her characters either do or say or think things that feel so implausible or out-of-character that I feel very frustrated and it distracts from the story。It happened again with Where Butterflies Wander 。。。 I'm not sure I will try another SR book。 。。。more
Abundance_of_Fiction （Malory）
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2。75 ⭐️ rounding to 3 for Good reads。This book has an intriguing premise， exploring the themes of grief and classism through two different groups。 On one side， you have the tormented family of Marie， Leo， Brendon， Penelope， and Hannah。 The family recently lost their daughter/sister/twin Phoebe to an accident， and have relocated to Marie’s family’s home in the country to cope with the loss。 There are A LOT of alternating POVs that simultaneously give you insight to the characters but also feel a 2。75 ⭐️ rounding to 3 for Good reads。This book has an intriguing premise， exploring the themes of grief and classism through two different groups。 On one side， you have the tormented family of Marie， Leo， Brendon， Penelope， and Hannah。 The family recently lost their daughter/sister/twin Phoebe to an accident， and have relocated to Marie’s family’s home in the country to cope with the loss。 There are A LOT of alternating POVs that simultaneously give you insight to the characters but also feel a bit messy。On the other hand， we have Davina aka “the river witch”， who is actually a veteran and mother of a lost daughter？ Davina was endearing in her wisdom but towards the end， her storyline seems more befitting a totally different book than the themes we have seen。The book had a lot of interesting plot moments， but ultimately Marie seems more like a villain than an angry and grieving mother。 It was almost like two separate stories were merged together， and neither had any real resolution。 There is no real resolution to the grief of the family， Davina is just abused， and POOR BINGO THE DOG！ Overall， I didn’t hate if but there wasn’t enough of a resolution for me to feel content with the ending。 。。。more
Linda
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I absolutely loved this book。 It was a heartbreaker but also had a chuckle in it。 It was sad but with so much hope thrown in that I absorbed it。 Way to go Suzanne Redfearn。 Your books always leave me with a content feeling。After a tragic loss the Egide family need a change。 They travel to New Hampshire to Marie Egide's family home。 She is planning on fixing it up and selling it then moving on to a new home。 Life may have another plan for this family though。 There is a woman living in a somewhat I absolutely loved this book。 It was a heartbreaker but also had a chuckle in it。 It was sad but with so much hope thrown in that I absorbed it。 Way to go Suzanne Redfearn。 Your books always leave me with a content feeling。After a tragic loss the Egide family need a change。 They travel to New Hampshire to Marie Egide's family home。 She is planning on fixing it up and selling it then moving on to a new home。 Life may have another plan for this family though。 There is a woman living in a somewhat questionable cabin on the land。 She's called the river witch。 Her name is Davina。 Davina has a story going on in this book also。 She's been a part of this area her entire life。 Her mother died when she was a young child。 Davina is well known in this town as a healer。 She delivers babies and does other things to help people and they all love her。 She's a well respected member of their community even though she lives some what as a recluse。 She was scared badly in a fire while serving in the military。 She lost her husband and daughter when she was recovering。 The Egide family get to know Davina。 Some love her and two very much dislike her。 The youngest daughter was frightened of her at first， but once she got to know her she loved her dearly。 The oldest， Hannah， suffers from debilitating migraines and Davina helps her with that。 Much to Marie's displeasure that is。 She wants Davina off the land so they can sell it。 Davina has lived there over twenty years with the blessing of Marie's grandfather but that means nothing to Marie。 They can't sell the land and move on as long as she's there。 Davina must go。。。I loved these characters。 All except Marie。 I never liked her。 I just couldn't。 She was a cold person even though she suffered such a tragic loss。 A person does not have to be so cruel under any circumstance。 I thought Brendon， the couples son， was a brat。 Yes he felt responsible for some things but he was a very uncaring youngster。 He did grow on me later though。 I adored Pen。 She was a true treasure。 And Hannah was also。 The Egide's children were good kids。 I liked her husband Leo also。 He did grate on my nerves a few times but overall he was a good guy。 I loved Banjo。 Banjo was the family dog。This book will touch your heart。 Make you see a few things in a way you may not have expected。 It will show you what empathy can look like。 What deep true love looks like also。 Not romantic love but the love a woman has for a child。 A child she thinks is lost to her forever。 Thank you #NetGalley， #SuzanneRedfearn， #LakeUnion， for this arc。 This is my own true thoughts about this book。Five huge stars。 It's so good y'all。。。 Just have tissues handy when you read it。 。。。more
Janet
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I enjoyed this but would have liked a little more closure at the end。
Michele DeGroot
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This is one of the most wonderful books I have ever read。 It's heartbreaking， beautiful and a wonderful lesson in life。 Do not go through life bitter。 No matter where you stand in life， wake up everyday and be grateful and most of all be kind！ This is one of the most wonderful books I have ever read。 It's heartbreaking， beautiful and a wonderful lesson in life。 Do not go through life bitter。 No matter where you stand in life， wake up everyday and be grateful and most of all be kind！ 。。。more
GERALYN MORALES
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ReviewI love the heartfelt real family issues Ms Redfearn presents。 I enjoy the characters that I can relate to！ Recommended
Lisa Ward
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I really enjoy all her books！ This was a wonderful book。I hope that she possibly writes a sequel。
Debbie Kelley
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Originally I gave this book a rating of 5 but as I thought more about it I decreased it to a 4。 I was unable to like Marie at all even though she had suffered the horror of losing her child。 I would have liked more information about her estrangement from her grandfather。 And the fact that the son had no consequences for his behavior was troubling to me。 I loved the sisters。
Lynn Dickerson
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A story of grief and loss and ultimately reconciliation I found the Marie character very unlikeable （and the narrator doing her voice is my least favorite narrator。 I hate her way of over enunciating every syllable ） Also didn’t like Brendan。 There are wounded vets， estranged children， and the death of a child so plenty of tragedy to go around。 Hopeful ending though
Denice Langley
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An emotionally charged story of how extremes can tear a mother， a family， and a town apart， yet bring them to the side of angels in the end。 Any child's death will bring those around them to a stop。 To move past the death takes energy and emotion that is just not there。 But the family will make plans and start on the road， only to find themselves in the middle of another battle that is not of their making。 Suzanne Redfearn writes with the skill to bring readers into the story。 This book left me An emotionally charged story of how extremes can tear a mother， a family， and a town apart， yet bring them to the side of angels in the end。 Any child's death will bring those around them to a stop。 To move past the death takes energy and emotion that is just not there。 But the family will make plans and start on the road， only to find themselves in the middle of another battle that is not of their making。 Suzanne Redfearn writes with the skill to bring readers into the story。 This book left me wrung out as the emotions veer so sharply。 It's one I'll be sharing for a long time to come。 。。。more
Cynthia Kirchner
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I loved this story， every character， the setting， everything！！ Beautifully written， such a special story。
Gabrielle
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This book reminded me a lot of The Secret Garden， and I loved every second of reading it！！
Melissa Perez
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A beautiful story about love， loss， grief and the importance of forgiveness。 Once again， I am blown away by the way Redfearn writes。 “Where Butterflies Wander” is a beautiful， gripping novel about a grieving family torn with grief after a tragedy， and the mistakes made。 Looking for a fresh start， a way to heal from their loss。 This emotional story is told in multiple POV’s。 I was thoroughly engrossed by this book， driven to keep turning the pages as they all grappled with grief， disappointment， A beautiful story about love， loss， grief and the importance of forgiveness。 Once again， I am blown away by the way Redfearn writes。 “Where Butterflies Wander” is a beautiful， gripping novel about a grieving family torn with grief after a tragedy， and the mistakes made。 Looking for a fresh start， a way to heal from their loss。 This emotional story is told in multiple POV’s。 I was thoroughly engrossed by this book， driven to keep turning the pages as they all grappled with grief， disappointment， and forgiveness。 I continued reading on， hoping they’d come out on the other side， and somewhat heal after such a tremendous loss。 This is an uplifting and hopeful novel。 I am left with a few quotes I will carry on！ “Anger is a wasted emotion， more detrimental to the bearer than the target。” “The way I see it， we’re all a bit like curdled milk， so the choice is， you either decide to make cheese or else let the whole thing go to rot。” “Only when you lose the desire for the things that don’t matter do you start to have fun。” “We do not choose how long we get to travel this earth。” 。。。more
Anna Jackson
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Such and interesting story and so readable！ One of the most enjoyable books I have ever read。 （and I read a lot）
J
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Great writing， full of emotions。
La Femme Readers
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After a tragic accident claims the life of one of her children， Marie is desperate to carve out a fresh start。 With her husband and three surviving children， Marie plans to sell her family estate。 But her plans are thwarted when she realizes a war veteran known by locals as “the river witch” is living in a cabin on the propertyThe two women clash， and battle lines are drawn within Marie’s family。 The choice is no longer theirs when a force bigger than them all―fate―takes control。WHERE BUTTERFLIE After a tragic accident claims the life of one of her children， Marie is desperate to carve out a fresh start。 With her husband and three surviving children， Marie plans to sell her family estate。 But her plans are thwarted when she realizes a war veteran known by locals as “the river witch” is living in a cabin on the propertyThe two women clash， and battle lines are drawn within Marie’s family。 The choice is no longer theirs when a force bigger than them all―fate―takes control。WHERE BUTTERFLIES WANDER is a story of a family's grief and the challenges of starting fresh。 Marie lost one of her children to an unforeseen accident that rocked her whole family to its core。 Moving to her grandfather’s property could be for the best。 But Davina， the “river’s witch，” isn't going anywhere。 That land was promised to her。 Written in multiple POVs， Redfearn does a superb job weaving in and out of narratives。 It allowed me to dive into each character's psyche and figure out what they were feeling or， should I say， hiding。 The short chapters maintained an easy flow， even when the storyline hit a slow pace。I didn't care much for the characters besides Penelope and Hannah。 Penelope was the sweetest little girl。 I wanted to hug her whenever she saw her late sister in a butterfly。 Their mother， Marie， on the other hand， wasn't the nicest person， but I also can't blame her angsty attitude。 Overall， this book had a good balance of sorrow， loss， and tense build-up。 What I enjoyed most was Suzanne's message that facing our past is essential。 We must learn to cope with it head-on before it comes back to haunt us。 。。。more
Rhonda L。 Crook
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Absolutely noneI absolutely loved the book。 Absolutely loved through the last chapter。 Then， I absolutely did not love the book。 There were no closures。 None whatsoever， no closures as to why the first mother actually left， other than to allude to some horrific abuse。 No closures for Hannah and Rock。 no closures for Brendan。 No closures for Leo and Jag。 No closure for Pen and Bee。 But mostly no closure for Davina， her daughter， her town family and her past。 The story is so different and the char Absolutely noneI absolutely loved the book。 Absolutely loved through the last chapter。 Then， I absolutely did not love the book。 There were no closures。 None whatsoever， no closures as to why the first mother actually left， other than to allude to some horrific abuse。 No closures for Hannah and Rock。 no closures for Brendan。 No closures for Leo and Jag。 No closure for Pen and Bee。 But mostly no closure for Davina， her daughter， her town family and her past。 The story is so different and the characters were so well written until the last chapter when nothing is finalized， there’s no ending there’s no closure。At least the door open to a sequel， but it leaves me highly disappointed at the moment 。 。。。more
JenBsBooks
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I loved "In an Instant" from this author。 I liked this， but didn't connect as much， although I had no trouble finishing。 Included in Kindle Unlimited， read and listen （text and audio）。 Several POVs， and other than a letter as the Prologue （2002） everything was 1st person/present tense。 In audio， there were different narrators （six） for the various POVs 。。。 Marie， Penelope， Hannah， Leo， Brendon and Davina。 Little Penelope's voice was SO cute。 I'm not a fan of Kate Rudd as a narrator （she does a t I loved "In an Instant" from this author。 I liked this， but didn't connect as much， although I had no trouble finishing。 Included in Kindle Unlimited， read and listen （text and audio）。 Several POVs， and other than a letter as the Prologue （2002） everything was 1st person/present tense。 In audio， there were different narrators （six） for the various POVs 。。。 Marie， Penelope， Hannah， Leo， Brendon and Davina。 Little Penelope's voice was SO cute。 I'm not a fan of Kate Rudd as a narrator （she does a ton， and I know others like her， just some odd inflections and timing） and she voiced Marie。 Marie （the mother） was a little hard to like， even knowing her personal story/mind （she gets a really bad wrap from others who only know part of the story here）。 Pen and Hannah， and Davina， were all extremely likeable。 Leo was a little vanilla， and Brendon had some issues。 Complex characters and situations。 I don't know how I would have attempted to pronounce the last name of the family - Egides。 I listened to the audio 。。。 but I can't remember the pronunciation， other than thinking "how is that spelled？"The chapters were listed numerically， and the Table of Contents indicates the POV， also included as a header at each chapter/POV change。 There was an Author's Note （not included in the audio） that was interesting （a bit about some of the inspiration for the story）。 There were discussion questions included in the Kindle copy too， and I appreciated them。 There were some that gave me pause and made me think and delve a little deeper。I was a little bugged that （did I miss it？） it was never really explained （and I don't think this is a spoiler because it's talked about right at the start） why Davina and her mother fled from her father， what the situation was。 。。。more
Cat On a Cloud ~ Adrienne
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Redfearn’s signature style is to ease you into the read without overwhelming your senses。 I appreciate that！This masterfully told tale highlights how different personalities and people can truly be， but also that we all have such similar needs。 A great story。
GLORIA LEESON
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I have never reviewed a book I thought I had read every good book out there Boy was I wroung Suzanne Redfearn was a wonderful find for me And will be for you also
Barry D Stevenson
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