Must Love Flowers by Debbie Macomber

Must Love Flowers 

Book Summary

Joan Sample is not living the life she expected. Now a widow and an empty-nester, she has become by her own admission something of a recluse. But after another birthday spent alone, she is finally inclined to listen to her sister, who has been begging Joan to reengage with the world. With Emmie’s support, Joan gathers the courage to take some long-awaited steps: hiring someone to tame her overgrown garden, joining a grief support group, and even renting out a room to a local college student. Before long Joan is starting to feel a little like herself again.

Across town, Maggie Herbert works mornings as a barista, tending to impatient customers before rushing to afternoon nursing classes. She lives with her alcoholic father, ducking his temperamental outbursts and struggling to pay the household bills. But her circumstances brighten when she finds a room for rent in Joan’s home. In the unexpected warmth of her new situation, Maggie finds a glimmer of hope for a better life. But will Maggie’s budding attraction to one of her favorite customers ruin the harmony she’s only recently found with Joan? Meanwhile, what is Joan to make of the mysterious landscaper who’s been revitalizing her garden—a man who seems to harbor a past loss of his own? 

As Maggie and Joan confront difficult life choices, they draw strength from this new friendship in surprising ways—discovering in the process that “found family” is often the very best kind.

My Thoughts

Must Love Flowers by Debbie Macomber is a story about grief, starting over, friendship, family, and romance.  I always look forward to reading Debbie Macomber’s latest novel. They provide a great escape.  The author has a casual writing style that draws the reader in and holds their attention.  The characters are friendly, relatable, and realistic.  I could certainly understand what Joan was going through.  Grief is not something that will go away overnight.  Shutting yourself away, though, is not good for you.  I like how her family encouraged her to see a therapist and get a boarder.  The letter from the HOA about the condition of her yard was actually a good thing.  It helped Joan to get interested in gardening again.  Must Love Flowers has a couple of intersecting storylines.   

We get to meet Maggie, a nursing student who is living with her alcoholic father.  Her father has not been the same since Maggie’s mother passed.  Nick, one of Joan’s sons, worries about his mother.  He is not in favor of her taking a boarder.  Maggie’s other son is so focused on work, he is missing out on a special woman.  Phil, Joan’s landscaper, happens to be in Joan’s grief support group.  He knows what Johan is going through.  Phil is there to lend a listening ear when Joan needs one and to offer a helping hand.  The author captured what it is like to suffer a loss and the long healing process.  Must Love Flowers hit all the right notes.  I started reading Must Love Flowers and kept going until I turned the last page.  Must Love Flowers is more than a romance.  We get to see people going outside their comfort zone.  They are making changes to their lives and meeting new friends while dealing with their grief.  An epilogue nicely wrapped up the character’s storylines.  Must Love Flowers is a touching tale with a messy yard, a concerned sister, a nursing student, a workaholic son, a helpful therapist, and a hopeful future.  

Must Love Flowers is available from Amazon*.  You can find Debbie Macomber's other novels here. Three other books out today are A Cryptic Clue by Victoria Gilbert, An Evil Heart by Linda Castillo, and Macaroons Can Be Murder by Rose Betancourt.  Thank you for joining me today.  I will return tomorrow with An Evil Heart by Linda Castillo.  It is the latest A Kate Burkholder Novel.  I hope that a joyful day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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