Welcome to my tour stop! Read my review and enter the giveaway below...
A Year of Flowers
By Suzanne Woods Fisher
Christian Contemporary Romance, Novella
Audiobook, Hardcover, Paperback & eBook, 368 Pages
November 18, 2024 by Revell
Summary
In this collection of four heartfelt novellas, three former friends have found success in the floral industry, but happiness–and love–remain elusive.
In
An Apology in Bloom, wedding florist Jaime Harper is on a meteoric rise, working for an event company led by a successful and way-too-handsome boss. When a letter arrives from her past mentor with an offer too good to pass up, will she stay or head back to her hometown?
In
A Bouquet of Dreams, Claire Murphy has always dreamed of owning a flower shop, and when her employers hint at retirement, she believes her moment has arrived. But first she must confront her past–and the man who caused her to flee her hometown years ago.
In
A Field of Beauty, Tessa Anderson has found an acre of farmland to start her flower farm and forget the past. She’s grateful for the help of two men–her boyfriend, Tyler, and a quiet soil specialist named Dawson. But as the farm finally starts to bloom, Tessa will discover something that challenges everything she’s built.
In
A Future in Blossom, Jaime, Claire, and Tessa return to their hometown, finally ready to face each other and their beloved mentor, flower shop owner Rose Reid. As they unite to pull off an extraordinary wedding, amid the flurry of preparations they just may find their way to forgiveness.
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My Review
A YEAR OF FLOWERS is a novella collection with the first three novellas each focusing on one of three friends and the fourth focusing on their reunion. Readers will find themes of hope, faith, second chances, hard work, forgiveness, romance, friendship and love within these pages.
Likable characters, a small-town setting and memorable moments make for an enjoyable read for Christian romance readers.I loved the whole concept of this book! It was so much fun to read different novellas that made up an arching story about three friends: their beginning in a flower shop, a bit of time before they come back home, and then their reunion. I did love some of the characters and their stories more than others, but all of them were unique, well-drawn characters and stories with all the feels.
An Apology in Bloom: This story was about Jaime who was a through and through Southern girl with a lot of talent in flower design. She had a dream to go to New York and she made it happen. She easy to like and cheer on as she comes to a bit of a realization both in falling in love and where she belongs. It's a bit dramatic in a few places and I felt like there was a bit of insta-love, but otherwise enjoyed this one.
A Bouquet of Dreams: Claire is the focus of the second novella. She's unaware of how the need she feels to share what she thinks and coming across as a know-it-all has impacted her situation. She was a bit out of control and over the top in places. I liked her a bit more when she shows some vulnerability. I liked that this was a possible second-chance romance, so no insta-love here. It's an interesting story that added more to the overall arch of these three friends.
A Field of Beauty: This was my favorite character and story. Tessa came across as fairly levelheaded. She wasn't always and made some pretty major mistakes when she was younger, but in the present day of this story, she's matured. She also took a different aspect of flowers than the other two friends. She had a vision that she worked hard to turn into a viable and profitable business. I love the interactions between her and Dawson, how they complimented each other and got to know each other over time. There were some humorous and sweet moments. Loved this one!
A Future in Blossom: I liked following along as the three friends went back and seeing their reunion. They each had their own way in how they worked together and reconciled. I enjoyed seeing each of their romantic relationships: Jaime and Liam, Claire and Chris, and Tessa and Dawson continue to blossom. I also liked that I got to finally find out the whole story and what had happened in the past. There were some humorous, fun, sad, crazy, and swoon-worthy moments in this one.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This was an enjoyable read with a fun concept for the premise, a well-executed plot, complex and likable characters, moments of faith, and sweet romance. Definitely recommended to Christian romance fans!
Content: A reference to an affair but tastefully handled. Would consider this clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Celebrate Lit, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Suzanne Woods Fisher is a Christy finalist, a Carol and Selah winner, a two-time ECPA Book of the Year finalist, and the Publishers Weekly and ECPA bestselling author of more than forty books. Her genres include contemporary and historical romances, Amish romance, and women’s fiction. She and her husband live in a small town in California, where everyone knows everyone else, knows what they are doing and why. Most friends act a little nervous around Suzanne because they usually wind up in one of her novels. She has four grown children and enough grandchildren to keep her young.
More from Suzanne
A Year of Flowers: Friendships in Full Bloom
If you’ve ever tended to a garden, you know that flowers and friendships have a lot in common—they both need a bit of love, attention, and sometimes, a good pruning. That’s the heart of my novella collection called A Year of Flowers, stories of three teenage girls who bonded over bouquets and blossomed into best friends under the guidance of Rose, the wise and wonderful flower shop owner.
But life, much like a garden, doesn’t always go according to plan. On one sweltering August day, something dreadful happens in the flower shop, and the girls, who once shared everything, suddenly vanish from each other’s lives.
Seven years later, we find out where each girl, now a young woman, has gone. Their love for flowers is still in full bloom. Jaime’s taken her talent to the big city, working as a floral artist for a high-end event agency in NYC. She’s turning heads with her extravagant designs, but something’s missing—maybe it’s the simple joy she once found in that small-town flower shop.
Claire has run off to Savannah, Georgia, where she’s knee-deep in blooms, working in a flower shop with dreams of running the place one day. She’s got her eye on the prize, but she’s also discovering that you can’t outrun the past, no matter how far you go.
Then there’s Tessa, who’s found solace in the soil of Asheville, NC, where she’s started a flower farm. It’s a peaceful life, but even in the quiet of the mountains, memories of that summer day haunt her like the mist that rolls over the hills.
As each story unfolds, we see that, like flowers, friendships need TLC. They can wilt easily without care and attention. And sometimes, a good pruning is necessary, to help it grow stronger.
In the final novella, the three young women are drawn back to where it all began—the flower shop, and to Rose. It’s time to dig up the past, clear out the weeds, and see if their friendship can bloom again. After all, just because a garden has been neglected doesn’t mean it can’t be revived with a little care and attention.
So, if you’re a fan of flowers, friendships, or happy endings, get a copy of A Year of Flowers. It’s a reminder that with the right care, both flowers and friendships can flourish, no matter how long they’ve been left untended.
To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Do you have a favorite flower? I love sterling roses and tulips, but I'll take fresh flowers of almost any kind.
