Paperback
£10.08

Learn more

Read now

OR

£2.84

Promotions apply when you purchase

Sold by Amazon Media EU S.à r.l..

Read with our free app

You've subscribed to ! We will pre-order your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.

Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships and Subscriptions

There was an error. We were unable to process your subscription due to an error. Please refresh and try again.

Image Unavailable

Image not available for
Colour:

To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

Melodie Starkey

Follow

Sunflowers Kindle Edition

by Melodie Starkey (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

636 ratings

See all formats and editions

There's nothing like a knock on the door at 3:00 a.m. to change your life forever. Gus Moore discovers how true this is when his ex-girlfriend blows in on an icy January night just long enough to dump "his problem" on the couch. From indolent single slob to competent single parent, Gus's metamorphosis over the next six years is astonishing.
All is going swimmingly for Gus and his son, Sam, until two women complicate their lives: Sarah, with whom Gus has an unsatisfactory friends-with-benefits relationship, and Maureen, his son's bipolar mother, who has decided she wants back into her child's life. Maureen's illness is a subtextual presence that eventually steers the course of the novel.
Sunflowers, which takes its name from the Van Gogh studies of the same, will appeal to a wide spectrum of contemporary fiction readers. Refreshingly, Gus does not have the stereotypical Mr. Mom awkwardness of being a single parent (although he does "outsource the Jesus stuff" to the mother across the street), and there is no predictable "happy couple works it out" ending.

Sunflowers is the author's second book. Her young adult novel, View from the Closet Doorway, won the 2008 SouthWest Writers Conference award in its genre, and she received a grant from the Illinois Arts Council for another novel in progress. Her short story, Stars, won the South Carolina Fiction Writers award and was later included in an anthology of Southern writers. She has also published multiple stories in literary magazines.

Product description

About the Author

Melodie Starkey has been writing fiction since childhood, but unfortunately took thirty years to learn how to type. She received her BA in English from the University of California, Davis. Her YA novel, A View from the Closet Doorway, won the 2008 Southwest Writer's award for best book in its genre. Her short stories have appeared in several literary magazines and an anthology of Southern writers titled Inheritance. She was a recipient of the 1993 South Carolina Fiction Writer's Project award, and received a writing grant from the Illinois Arts Council for a novel in progress. Currently she lives in Aurora, Illinois and works in Chicago for an international law firm. She has three children, three cats, a psychotic dog, and a shrew problem.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004P8JJPA
Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
Publication date ‏ : ‎ 23 Feb. 2011
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 677 KB
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 306 pages
Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled

Customer reviews:
636 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Melodie Starkey

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Melodie Starkey has been writing fiction since childhood, but unfortunately took thirty years to learn how to type. She received her BA in English from the University of California, Davis. Her short work has appeared in several literary magazines and an anthology of Southern writers titled Inheritance.

She was a recipient of the 1993 South Carolina Fiction Writer's Project award for the short story Stars, and received a 1999 writing grant from the Illinois Arts Council for a novel in progress, which later became Eaton House. Her YA novel, A View from the Closet Doorway, won the 2008 SouthWest Writer's Conference award in its genre.

Currently she lives in Aurora (Wayne's World!) Illinois and works in Chicago as an IT training specialist for a preeminent international law firm. She has three fledgling children, four cats, a psychotic dog, and a shrew problem.

She draws her inspiration from the Cris Williamson song lyrics, "If I live, I'll be great, I can hardly wait..."

Customer reviews

636 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Review this product

Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book well worth reading, with a gripping storyline that keeps them engaged. The writing is easy to follow, with one customer noting it's written with empathy. Customers describe the book as funny and sad, with several mentioning it made them cry. They appreciate the character development, with one review specifically praising Gus as the perfect guy.

Select to learn more

Readability Storyline Writing quality Humor Sadness Character development Romance

10 customers mention ‘Readability’10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well worth reading, with one mentioning it had them hooked throughout.

"...The writing is wonderful, the characters well rounded and believable and the plot moves on in a very beautiful way...." Read more

"I downloaded this free book and really enjoyed it. An easy read that keeps you hooked. A good storyline but maybe a bit predictable." Read more

"Funny from the start this book had me hooked. Its got everything to keep you reading, great story, good characters, funny, sad...." Read more

"...Nevertheless, still a good book." Read more

8 customers mention ‘Storyline’8 positive0 negative

Customers find the storyline of the book gripping and thought-provoking, with one customer describing it as a tale of family.

"...What you get is a very moving tale about a family trying to do the right thing by their son - with the bipolar storyline, for the most part,..." Read more

"...An easy read that keeps you hooked. A good storyline but maybe a bit predictable." Read more

"...Nicely fleshed characters and an interesting plot. Highly recommend." Read more

"...Its got everything to keep you reading, great story, good characters, funny, sad. Read it in a couple of days as I couldn't put it down...." Read more

7 customers mention ‘Writing quality’7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's writing wonderful and easy to read, with one customer noting it tugs at the emotions.

"...The writing is wonderful, the characters well rounded and believable and the plot moves on in a very beautiful way...." Read more

"I downloaded this free book and really enjoyed it. An easy read that keeps you hooked. A good storyline but maybe a bit predictable." Read more

"A melancholy tale, written with empathy and a little wit...." Read more

"I gave the tale four stars for the writing quality but I think the story itself was nearer three...." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Humor’6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book humorous, with one mentioning it has no drama or hysterics.

"A melancholy tale, written with empathy and a little wit...." Read more

"...Its got everything to keep you reading, great story, good characters, funny, sad. Read it in a couple of days as I couldn't put it down...." Read more

"This book made me laugh, made me cry and made me think too...." Read more

"I found this book funny, sad, moving, thought provoking and unputdownable! What more can you ask of from a free download...." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Sadness’5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book sad, with several mentioning it made them cry.

"A melancholy tale, written with empathy and a little wit...." Read more

"...everything to keep you reading, great story, good characters, funny, sad. Read it in a couple of days as I couldn't put it down. Well worth a read." Read more

"This book made me laugh, made me cry and made me think too...." Read more

"I found this book funny, sad, moving, thought provoking and unputdownable! What more can you ask of from a free download...." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Character development’3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one mentioning that Gus is the perfect guy.

"...In fact, Gus is the perfect guy - he is good looking, does housework, cooks, brings up a child alone, is a genuinely nice guy - and rich...." Read more

"...Nicely fleshed characters and an interesting plot. Highly recommend." Read more

"...Its got everything to keep you reading, great story, good characters, funny, sad. Read it in a couple of days as I couldn't put it down...." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Romance’3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the romance in the book, finding it very endearing and simple yet sweet.

"...In fact, Gus is the perfect guy - he is good looking, does housework, cooks, brings up a child alone, is a genuinely nice guy - and rich...." Read more

"...Gus was very endearing as was Sam - his five year old boy - fell completely in love with them both and I just wished that Maureen could have shared..." Read more

"Sunflowers...simple but sweet..." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.

ElaineG
gripping and moving drama
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 June 2012
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Within the first couple of pages I was totally immersed in Gus' world and I am gutted that I have finished the book and have to leave. Gus is a single parent - he has been looking after his son since he was 3 months old (Sam is 5 for the main part of the book) and has been doing a pretty good job of it after being thrown into parenthood at the deep end in the middle of the night. In fact, Gus is the perfect guy - he is good looking, does housework, cooks, brings up a child alone, is a genuinely nice guy - and rich. Where can I get a Gus?

The main part of the story starts when Sam is 5 and his mother comes back into their lives wanting to establish contact explaining that events of the past were all down to her bipolar disorder, which was undiagnosed at the time, but that now she is taking medication and is stabilised. What you get is a very moving tale about a family trying to do the right thing by their son - with the bipolar storyline, for the most part, simmering gently away in the background whilst the characters get on with building bridges, forging relationships and life in general. It is a tale of family, love, guilt, regret.

The writing is wonderful, the characters well rounded and believable and the plot moves on in a very beautiful way. There was one segment (holiday in Oregon)which, whilst enjoyable reading did not really add anything to the storyline - I kept expecting the people Gus and Sam had met on that holiday to appear again later or at least get referred to, but they were never heard of again.

There is no happy ending in this book in the traditional sense, it is in fact very sad in most respects but I was very sorry to get to the end because by that time I was totally in love with Gus.

Read more

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

Report
M fearons
An easy read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 October 2013
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
I downloaded this free book and really enjoyed it. An easy read that keeps you hooked. A good storyline but maybe a bit predictable.

Read more

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Report
SunnyB
Get reading .... !!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 March 2014
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
A melancholy tale, written with empathy and a little wit. For a while it seems the lead character will 'find the gold at the end of the rainbow', but often life is not so kind. Somehow he will have to find a way to live with the unexpected outcome.

Nicely fleshed characters and an interesting plot. Highly recommend.

Read more

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Report
Ellen
Funny, entertaining and a bit sad!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 September 2012
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
Funny from the start this book had me hooked. Its got everything to keep you reading, great story, good characters, funny, sad. Read it in a couple of days as I couldn't put it down. Well worth a read.

Read more

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Report
Julia
good storyline
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 June 2014
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
The storyline of this book was really gripping and I read this book quite quickly as a result. However, the way that the characters were presented wasn't very lifelike, especially Sam. Nevertheless, still a good book.

Read more

Helpful

Report
dogwalker
A must read book.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 October 2016
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
This book made me laugh, made me cry and made me think too. I thought it was marvellous , not many books bring out as many feelings as this does and I heartily recommend it. There are no parts of it at all that you feel don't,t fit or are poorly written. This is all from the heart. A magnificent book that you can,t miss.

Read more

Helpful

Report
Mike O'D
Instant Dad
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 January 2014
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
I gave the tale four stars for the writing quality but I think the story itself was nearer three. It flowed along nicely enough but for me the male pov didn't quite ring true. The whole thing was just a shade too sugary and I thought what little drama there was should have been pointed up to balance out the gentle father/young son home life. The quick transition from slob to caring father lacked believability - a gradual understanding that his life must change in all aspects would have fitted the bill better.
All in all though, it was an easy stroll through suburbia and the quality of the writing made up for the potholes in the story along the way.

Read more

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Report
Jan
Best read in a long time
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 June 2012
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
I found this book funny, sad, moving, thought provoking and unputdownable! What more can you ask of from a free download. Thanks to the author and to Amazon. An unmissable book, just sorry that I've finished it. It will be a hard act to follow!

Read more

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Report

Top reviews from other countries

Shirley Mitchell
An insight ...
Reviewed in France on 9 August 2014
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

... into bi polar disease mainly. This was very well covered and I gave myself a smack on the wrist for thinking I knew all about it before reading this book. I won't spoil the ending but it personifies just how difficult it is to help anyone cursed with this condition.

... into single parenthood. This of course is the recipe that holds the story together - and the seasoning is provided by the single parent being the father.

... into small close-knit communities within the swathes of American lifestyles. The genuine concern and co-operation and the very best sort of neighbourliness comes across as well-nigh perfect.

The only adverse criticisms I have is that the book is over long and not as well-shaped as it might be and the baby talk is not quite convincing.

Read more
Report
Rosemary
Couldn't put it down!!!
Reviewed in the United States on 29 May 2018
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
So many books that I've read are already painfully obvious by the second or third chapter. I've put down many books that I started to read and was able to figure out exactly what was going to happen. I read a few pages ahead, maybe look at the last few pages, and realize that it was all so predictable. That's what I loved about this book. There were twists and turns that were complete surprises all the way till the last page. That kind of book is hard to find. The characters were complicated and all very distinct. I laughed, I cried, I felt angry, and at the end I was sad. But, I also ended the book feeling like even though there were heart-wrenching occurrences, the characters were strong and able to deal and go on to survive and have what I am assuming was a good life. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good story, full of emotion and interesting enough to keep me turning pages until the end. I am excited about reading more books by the same author. I would recommend this book and hope that whoever reads it enjoys it as much as I did.

Read more
Report
Books4Tomorrow
INCREDIBLY TOUCHING!
Reviewed in the United States on 16 January 2013
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
I would like to preface my review by saying I didn't read the blurb before I read the book. Sometimes the blurb doesn't sell the book to me, and oftentimes I then miss out on a great book. Therefore I've stopped reading blurbs. Now that that is out of the way, I'll share what I loved and what I didn't like so much about this marvellous book. It might contain a couple of spoilers as I outline the characters I feel had an impact on me in some way or another.

***SPOILER WARNING***

Gus - This is the first character I liked from the word go. Having a baby (which you never even knew you had) dumped on you at 3 A.M. in the morning would be a shock to anyone - especially if you're the eternal bachelor type. Admirably, Gus takes to parenting like a duck to water. Throughout the story he is a great father and we get to witness firsthand his transformation from self-centred single guy to becoming a single parent taking on the demands and challenges of raising a child on his own. Another thing that made me like him more was his willingness to admit and face-up to his role in the deteriorating of his relationship with Maureen when they were still a couple. He does a lot of soul-searching and growing up, and all this added to the complexity of the story and his character growth. Only two small things I didn't like about Gus is that he came across as naïve and gullible, but it didn't prevent me from falling head over heels for him.

Sam - We initially get to meet Sam briefly as a four-month old baby in the first few chapters. Thereafter he grows into a healthy and rambunctious six-year old with lots of friends, a cute, lumbering dog, living in a safe and stable environment with his doting dad. The only thing he wants more than anything in his life is his mom. Sam was definitely one of my favorite characters along with Gus. I love how the author portrayed their daily lives and added to the realism with Sam's typical of a six-year old's emotional outbursts as well as the way in which he perceives the world. The only thing that made me grimace was Sam's baby-voice which in the context of the story seemed out of place for the voice of a child his age. This unfortunately didn't endure him to me, but the close bond between him and Gus and their quirky banter certainly did.

Maureen - She's Sam's mom who dumped him on his dad's couch and then took off, only to be sent to jail awhile later after it came to light that she's the one who broke Sam's leg shortly before leaving him in his dad's care. At first, of course, I really didn't like Maureen. I don't think the author wants the reader to like her. But then she spends the rest of the book trying to get the reader sympathetic towards Maureen's plight - and she does so successfully. By the end, I was truly heartbroken after what happened to Maureen even though I couldn't understand why she did what did. Don't judge her yet though, you have to read her story and get to know her and her circumstances first before jumping to conclusions. At the end of the book she's not the same person she is at the start.

Sarah - Of course every story has to have a villain, and although Sarah wasn't really the villain per se, she still had my hackles up. This is one character I just couldn't like. Her cheating, lying, stalking, vindictive behaviour didn't sit so well with me. First she hits Sam and his dog with her car, then she stalks Gus relentlessly, uses him and Sam as her "fantasy family", falls pregnant with Gus's baby and then use her pregnancy in an attempt to end his newfound relationship with Maureen. Come to think of it, this does sound very villain-ish. Whichever way, between her and child-abusing Maureen, let's just say she was NOT the lesser of two evils.

***END OF SPOILERS***

The ending was sweet, yet unexpected, but as much as I enjoyed this book I was sad that the author left a few questions unanswered. It is not a short book and it took me two days (reading from early bedtime to the break of dawn) to finish it. I was completely spellbound by the emotional bonds that were forming between Sam, Gus and Maureen. I experienced a volley of emotions from tearing up at poignant scenes to chuckling and going "awwww" in the chapters where Sam and Gus are doing their father/son thing, and then being utterly heartbroken at the tragedy near the end. I really loved the story and the superb writing genuinely made me feel as though I was part of Gus and Sam's world. The narrative is excellent and the dialogue natural. The author deals with controversial issues sympathetically and with insight, and manages to maintain a good balance between different perceptions on both sides of these topics. The romance was subtle and although it forms the backbone of this story, it wasn't mushy or forced. Yet, it was beautifully written and I found myself slowly falling in love with Gus and feeling protective towards Sam the further I read.

Sunflowers is a deeply moving, remarkably effortless read and I'm eagerly anticipating reading more of Melodie Starkey's novels!

Read more
Report
PamReviews
This book is about love
Reviewed in the United States on 15 May 2018
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
This book is about a man who becomes an instant father, and what a father he is. Every child should be so lucky.

His ex-girlfriend knocks on the door one night, and dumps a bundle of what looks like laundry on his sofa. He unwraps it and finds a baby who is about 4 months old. The man may be a talented software designer but he is a genius father, and I only wish he was one of my neighbors. He is now one of my favorite book characters.

I don't want to spoil the book except to say that if a story about deep enduring love is what you are looking for, then you've found it. Although this book does not have a conventional happy ending, I was so glad that I read it, and I'll remember it and think about it.

"This was his child. Everything this child learned or experienced was his responsibility, starting right at this minute."

Read more
Report
Kat
A book worth reading
Reviewed in the United States on 11 May 2013
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
This is not my type of book. There's not a single plot in this book that even barely resembles books I enjoy to read. This was a great book anyway though.

The story flowed gracefully. I believed all of the characters and all of the characters were fleshed out. The characters had enough depth, that it was hard to truly dislike anybody, or to truly feel any one person was right or wrong. As our protagonists himself said, "you're right, probably ought not to take sides"

This book was a quick read yet easy to put down, and it made you think just enough. It reminds me of why I always believed that if the book is good, no matter the genre, if you read it long enough, you will enjoy it.

I enjoyed the story, and would recommend it to anyone wanting to pad their digital library. This is a book worth reading

Read more
Report

Follow the author

Sunflowers Kindle Edition

Customers who read this book also read

Product description

About the Author

Product details

About the author

Melodie Starkey

Customer reviews

Review this product

Customers say

Select to learn more

Images in this review

Top reviews from United Kingdom

There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.

Top reviews from other countries

4.0 out of 5 stars An insight ...

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down!!!

4.0 out of 5 stars INCREDIBLY TOUCHING!

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is about love

5.0 out of 5 stars A book worth reading

Report an issue

Amazon Music

AbeBooks

ACX

Veeqo

Amazon Web Services

Audible

Goodreads

Amazon Home Services

IMDb

Kindle Direct Publishing

Shopbop

Amazon Resale

Amazon Business

An insight ...

Couldn't put it down!!!

INCREDIBLY TOUCHING!

This book is about love

A book worth reading