Flowers of Eden

Series · 3 books · 2015-2017

By Myra Johnson

Books in series

The Sweetest Rain

2015

Her family’s survival matters more than anything…even her own heart. As the 1930 drought burns crops burn to a crisp in tiny Eden, Arkansas, Bryony Linwood relies on forced optimism and dogged determination to disguise a heart as dry and despairing as the scorched earth. Reclusive Michael Heath barely survived the Great War, and twelve years later all he wants is to forget. His one passion is botanical illustration, where nature’s beauty offers blessed escape from a troubled past and his wealthy father’s continual disparagement. When Bryony accepts employment at the Heath mansion, it’s just a job at first…until she discovers Michael Heath and his beautiful illustrations. Their friendship soon blossoms into healing for wounded souls and a love that can’t be denied.

Castles in the Clouds

2016

She longed for love and adventure. She found so much more. Larkspur Linwood yearns for a more exciting future than life as a small-town Arkansas schoolmarm. Mistaking her favorite college professor’s interest for romantic love, she leaps at the chance to serve with him at a missionary school in Kenya. But his ultimate betrayal shatters her heart, and she slinks home in shame. Anson Schafer, director of the Kenyan school, is losing his sight to an eye infection and must return to the States. Finding new purpose in the founding of schools and relief efforts for those struggling through the Depression, he visits Lark’s college to recruit teachers. Though she’s reluctant to risk another failed venture, this could be her chance to make a difference. As Lark and Anson work side by side to bring hope and education to impoverished children, her respect for him deepens into something much, much more. But can their dreams withstand the trials and struggles of the prejudicial South?

A Rose So Fair

2017

Plucky Rose Linwood grew up on her grandfather’s Arkansas tenant farm, a life her two older sisters never cared much for. Working alongside her grandpa, though, Rose learned to love the land as much as he did. Now her sisters have married and moved on, Grandpa has gone to his eternal reward, and Rose is determined to make a go of the farm on her own. But crops have been slow to recover since the drought of 1930-31, and the whole country struggles in the grip of the Great Depression. Drifters looking for work or handouts roam the countryside, some of them up to no good, so Rose keeps her trusty Winchester rifle at the ready. Caleb Wieland, Rose’s best friend, isn’t the farmer his late father was, and he’s about to lose his cotton crop to boll weevils. He’d let the farm go and search for work he’s more suited to, except he can’t desert his widowed mother. Besides, he’s been quietly falling in love with Rose since they were in grammar school, and the thought of leaving her behind is too much to bear. He’d give anything to win her heart, but Rose’s stubborn independence is proving as thorny as the flower for which she’s named.

Author

Myra Johnson

Author · 21 books

Native Texan Myra Johnson writes emotionally gripping stories about love, life, and faith. Myra is a three-time Maggie Awards finalist, two-time finalist for the prestigious ACFW Carol Awards, winner of Christian Retailing’s Best for historical fiction, and winner in the Inspirational category of the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Awards. After living five years in Oklahoma, then eight years in the beautiful Carolinas, Myra and her husband are thrilled to be back in the Lone Star State enjoying wildflowers, Tex-Mex, and real Texas barbecue! The Johnsons share their home with two very pampered rescue dogs who don’t always understand the meaning of “Mom’s trying to write.” They’ve also inherited the cute little cat (complete with attitude) their daughter and family had to leave behind when they moved overseas. Awards of note: When the Clouds Roll By, Till We Meet Again, Book 1 (Abingdon Press 2013), won the historical fiction category of the 2014 Christian Retailing's Best Award. Autumn Rains (Heartsong Presents 2009), won the 2005 RWA Golden Heart for Best Inspirational Romance Manuscript. Myra’s writing career was launched in 1985 when she sold her first short story while taking a course through the Institute of Children’s Literature. Myra later joined the ICL staff as a magazine writing instructor, teaching hundreds of students the fundamentals of story and article structure, plotting, character development, and market analysis. She now writes full-time and is active in her church as well as local and national writers groups. Myra and her husband have been married since 1972. The Johnsons have two married daughters and seven grandchildren.