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Second Bloom
“Mother Nature can be such a tease...”
Things can only go up from here.
At least for Clara Monroe. Ever since she landed flat on her ass, she's taking stock of her failed relationship, and the life she thought she knew. She's stuck in a rut- trapped in a town she hates, doubling down on self-help and Rocky Road.
She's got nothing but time to kill… and it's all with Connor Kent.
Connor isn't new to the scene, and he isn't new to Clara. Family ties have brought him back to Silas Grove, but things just don't feel the same.
The only thing these two have in common is their history, and their chosen path on the outskirts.
Summer is bound to be a scorcher, and things are heating up in the greenhouses at Grady's Garden Center. Will these two stay out of each other's way? Or will they lower their guard and see just how very different things can look a second time around…
This is a small town, second chance summertime romance with a guaranteed HEA.
*Trigger Warning : Cheating Spouse
Things can only go up from here.
At least for Clara Monroe. Ever since she landed flat on her ass, she's taking stock of her failed relationship, and the life she thought she knew. She's stuck in a rut- trapped in a town she hates, doubling down on self-help and Rocky Road.
She's got nothing but time to kill… and it's all with Connor Kent.
Connor isn't new to the scene, and he isn't new to Clara. Family ties have brought him back to Silas Grove, but things just don't feel the same.
The only thing these two have in common is their history, and their chosen path on the outskirts.
Summer is bound to be a scorcher, and things are heating up in the greenhouses at Grady's Garden Center. Will these two stay out of each other's way? Or will they lower their guard and see just how very different things can look a second time around…
This is a small town, second chance summertime romance with a guaranteed HEA.
*Trigger Warning : Cheating Spouse
- GenresRomance
345 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 2, 2023
4 people are currently reading
1754 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
May 26, 2023
After marrying her college boyfriend Clara gets a letter and falls to pieces.
She kicks him out and gets really drunk. She’s working 2 jobs 1 with her new friend Ryan and 1 with another friend from college.Her life is a mess, her Husband Mark will not sign the divorce papers and is determined to get her back.
Connor just moved back home from Chicago to his hometown in Georgia. His Uncle Eli owns a plant nursery. He runs into 1 of the employees when he’s helping out his Uncle. Clara?! They once shared a kiss back in college and he was a photographer at her wedding.
Sweet romance about second chances with a tiny bit of spice.
3.5 stars
She kicks him out and gets really drunk. She’s working 2 jobs 1 with her new friend Ryan and 1 with another friend from college.Her life is a mess, her Husband Mark will not sign the divorce papers and is determined to get her back.
Connor just moved back home from Chicago to his hometown in Georgia. His Uncle Eli owns a plant nursery. He runs into 1 of the employees when he’s helping out his Uncle. Clara?! They once shared a kiss back in college and he was a photographer at her wedding.
Sweet romance about second chances with a tiny bit of spice.
3.5 stars
May 9, 2023
I need a book like this every so often to remember how nice typical romance can be. No billionaires. No paranormal elements. Just a couple of people who never seemed to have their timing right until they do.
Clara and Connor wouldn't have worked back in college when they first met but things are different now that she's getting a divorce and he's in town to help his family's gardening/landscaping business. After a few false starts, they end up as friends and gradually grow (ha, plant pun) into more. She is desperate to wrap up her divorce without anyone's help and eventually sees that isolating herself is not a solution. It was nice to see her get absorbed into the family whether she was with Connor or not because she needed her own people so badly.
Thank you to Eve Matthews for a copy in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
Clara and Connor wouldn't have worked back in college when they first met but things are different now that she's getting a divorce and he's in town to help his family's gardening/landscaping business. After a few false starts, they end up as friends and gradually grow (ha, plant pun) into more. She is desperate to wrap up her divorce without anyone's help and eventually sees that isolating herself is not a solution. It was nice to see her get absorbed into the family whether she was with Connor or not because she needed her own people so badly.
Thank you to Eve Matthews for a copy in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
March 30, 2023
I enjoyed every moment of this sweet story! Eve Matthews paints a beautiful picture of the hope that rises from the ashes of failures and missed opportunities when you give your heart a second chance to bloom! It’s giving small town vibes, relatable characters you’re sure to fall in love, the anticipation of the slow burn, the swoony one who got away, the scoundrel ex, the no-nonsense BFF, and the heroine showing resilience and strength in the face of utter heartbreak. I stayed up way past my bedtime devouring this one. Love is in bloom in Silas Grove, and I am here for it!
May 17, 2023
Thanks to the author for the ARC! Lots to love about this debut: plants, small towns, supportive friends, and welcoming found family members. Add on some spicy moments and you have a fun, sweet romance. I loved seeing Clara grow, although I would have liked her see her confidence come together a little more clearly so she’d give a little more main character energy throughout the book. Broody Connor was great — I only wished he made his move a little sooner. Eve does a thorough job describing settings and events. This book is a debut that doesn’t read like one. A feat. Great start to (almost) summer! Give it a read.
April 12, 2023
All of the small town vibes in this second chance romance. I had the honor of beta reading this story in it’s final stages and can not wait to see it released into the world for more romance readers to enjoy! An awesome heartfelt debut! You’ll fall in love with Silas Grove, it’s quirky cast of personalities and the couple-to-be.
April 30, 2023
3.5/4 🌟 this was a really good debut!!! I enjoyed myself while reading 💗 (releases May 2nd!)
Clara is going through a divorce with her cheating ex husband but he won’t sign the papers. She’s working 2 jobs trying to save money to be able to move out. One day at her job, she runs into an guy that used to hang out in her friend group years ago that she hasn’t seen in a long time, and things were complicated between them then. They slowly become friends again while also having to work together.
Lots of great tropes here - second chance, forced proximity, coworkers, he falls first/total simp, small town, secret pining, spicy! This is written in 3rd person POV… which is obviously not my thing if you know me at all 😂 but I will say there were a lot of points while reading where I forgot it was third person! Which I totally call that a win for me as most of the time I can’t even get through a few chapters. Other times though, I felt myself getting lost with who was talking, especially in a group of people. Which could have been a me problem, but I do feel the writing could have been more specific with the dialogue. I got a bit lost with where people were placed sometimes too or how rooms were laid out, etc. it felt a bit choppy at some points.
Other than that though, I really did like this. Connor is such a simp, I love a second chance where they never dated - just a huge crush that never amounted to anything in the past 🥹 makes me melt every time.
Clara is going through a divorce with her cheating ex husband but he won’t sign the papers. She’s working 2 jobs trying to save money to be able to move out. One day at her job, she runs into an guy that used to hang out in her friend group years ago that she hasn’t seen in a long time, and things were complicated between them then. They slowly become friends again while also having to work together.
Lots of great tropes here - second chance, forced proximity, coworkers, he falls first/total simp, small town, secret pining, spicy! This is written in 3rd person POV… which is obviously not my thing if you know me at all 😂 but I will say there were a lot of points while reading where I forgot it was third person! Which I totally call that a win for me as most of the time I can’t even get through a few chapters. Other times though, I felt myself getting lost with who was talking, especially in a group of people. Which could have been a me problem, but I do feel the writing could have been more specific with the dialogue. I got a bit lost with where people were placed sometimes too or how rooms were laid out, etc. it felt a bit choppy at some points.
Other than that though, I really did like this. Connor is such a simp, I love a second chance where they never dated - just a huge crush that never amounted to anything in the past 🥹 makes me melt every time.
May 7, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Second Bloom by Eve Mathews
Let’s start off by saying, I love a good romance novel. But I love it even more when it’s realistic!
I love love LOVE Clara and Connor’s journey from past to present and potentially future. I think my favourite part to read (other than Eli being the sweetest man ever🥹) was Clara’s growth and how Connor fit into it all. I don’t want to spoil anything but I admire this characters character😅
🌶️The spice was perfect and didn’t overshadow the plot.
Finally, I love food and although this story has a lot of mentions of florals and leafy things - I WANT THAT PEAR PIZZA. 🍐🍕 It’s been days and I’m not over it.
Thank you Eve for the ARC, I adored this story and I can’t wait to read your next one 💚
Second Bloom by Eve Mathews
Let’s start off by saying, I love a good romance novel. But I love it even more when it’s realistic!
I love love LOVE Clara and Connor’s journey from past to present and potentially future. I think my favourite part to read (other than Eli being the sweetest man ever🥹) was Clara’s growth and how Connor fit into it all. I don’t want to spoil anything but I admire this characters character😅
🌶️The spice was perfect and didn’t overshadow the plot.
Finally, I love food and although this story has a lot of mentions of florals and leafy things - I WANT THAT PEAR PIZZA. 🍐🍕 It’s been days and I’m not over it.
Thank you Eve for the ARC, I adored this story and I can’t wait to read your next one 💚
May 12, 2023
“𝘐’𝘮 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴.”
𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚 🎭: romance
𝙋𝙖𝙘𝙚 🏃🏼♀️: moderate
𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚: 🌶️
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 🖤: getting frisky in the garden center
🌻second chance romance
🌻small town
🌻healing
🌻summer love in a greenhouse
This story has everything I love in a romance. Second chances, painful heartbreak, fresh flowers, love in the summer heat, and an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia.
My heart clenched over and over watching the two characters dance around their pain and try to learn how to trust again and be happy. If you’ve ever had a summer love, or someone from your past who you never quite forget, you will enjoy this book.
This book is an emotional slow burn of sorts. I felt everything. I sympathized, craved, rooted for them, related to them, and literally begged for a HEA.
👏🏼👏🏼 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙙 to readers who enjoy contemporary, sweet romance with just enough spice.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.
𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚 🎭: romance
𝙋𝙖𝙘𝙚 🏃🏼♀️: moderate
𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚: 🌶️
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 🖤: getting frisky in the garden center
🌻second chance romance
🌻small town
🌻healing
🌻summer love in a greenhouse
This story has everything I love in a romance. Second chances, painful heartbreak, fresh flowers, love in the summer heat, and an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia.
My heart clenched over and over watching the two characters dance around their pain and try to learn how to trust again and be happy. If you’ve ever had a summer love, or someone from your past who you never quite forget, you will enjoy this book.
This book is an emotional slow burn of sorts. I felt everything. I sympathized, craved, rooted for them, related to them, and literally begged for a HEA.
👏🏼👏🏼 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙙 to readers who enjoy contemporary, sweet romance with just enough spice.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.
September 23, 2023
This was a quick read for me and very true-to-life in how the author portrayed the FMC's emotional struggles, as well as the MMC's own challenges. I enjoyed the themes of family / found family as well as self-discovery while the FMC navigates the truth of her emotions. I also loved the Far and Away references!
May 25, 2023
This book was so much fun to read. I don’t read alot of this genre but it was the perfect kickoff to summer and made me realize I need more spicy romance novels in my life! Some of my favorite parts were the vivid little ancillary details sprinkled throughout - they always made me smile. Loved Clara’s growth, liveliness and ability to find her strength as the storyline progressed.
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October 8, 2025First, I think this cover is gorgeous. Second, be ready for plant talk & metaphors -in the best way.
“That might be true… but if the roots are good, there’s always a chance they’ll make a comeback.”
My thoughts: This is a story about starting again and finding yourself. Clara & Connor get their second chance after being friends in college. Clara is trying to get her feet back under her following the end of a not-so-great marriage. Connor had just returned to town after being away and missing his family. There is forced proximity with Grady’s Garden Center being both characters workplace. There is history between the characters we discover as the story goes along as well as a good dose of chemistry. The two have a lot to work through and there are misunderstandings. I’m glad they were able to work through their problems. I liked the small town setting, side characters, and found family vibes.
Tropes: second chance, boy falls first, divorced FMC, small town, found family
“That might be true… but if the roots are good, there’s always a chance they’ll make a comeback.”
My thoughts: This is a story about starting again and finding yourself. Clara & Connor get their second chance after being friends in college. Clara is trying to get her feet back under her following the end of a not-so-great marriage. Connor had just returned to town after being away and missing his family. There is forced proximity with Grady’s Garden Center being both characters workplace. There is history between the characters we discover as the story goes along as well as a good dose of chemistry. The two have a lot to work through and there are misunderstandings. I’m glad they were able to work through their problems. I liked the small town setting, side characters, and found family vibes.
Tropes: second chance, boy falls first, divorced FMC, small town, found family
May 3, 2023
Happy PUB/release day to @evematthews.writes and Second Bloom!!!
Clara is pretty fresh out of a marriage to her cheating ex that won’t sign the divorce papers when she runs (literally) into a guy from her past. Connor. And it’s COMPLICATED. Turns out Connor is the nephew of Clara’s boss. They’re soon forced to work together and they can’t stop eyeing each other across the garden center. Things stay pretty friendly… until they aren’t. 😏 In the midst of all the romance is also a story of a resilient woman learning to navigate divorce, starting over and finding herself. What we end with is a story full of hope.
Second Bloom is absolutely wonderful and it has ALL THE THINGS:
❤️ small town Georgia (HOME)
🪴 plant talk on another level
👩 strong FMC
💕 second chance romance
👱♂️ he falls first
🏢 co-workers/forced proximity
🎶 a PLAYLIST featuring one of my favorite songs ever
Also, the supporting characters are beyond. Her best friend is one of the most enjoyable side characters I’ve read in a long time.
It’s giving summer, second chances and ALLLLL the spice.
And this is a debut!! Hats off to you Eve!
When I tell you this book was written for me… that it spoke to me… what I mean is that I sometimes found myself wondering if this author knew me personally. 😬
Okay. I can go on and on, or you can RUN and buy Second Bloom ASAP!
Clara is pretty fresh out of a marriage to her cheating ex that won’t sign the divorce papers when she runs (literally) into a guy from her past. Connor. And it’s COMPLICATED. Turns out Connor is the nephew of Clara’s boss. They’re soon forced to work together and they can’t stop eyeing each other across the garden center. Things stay pretty friendly… until they aren’t. 😏 In the midst of all the romance is also a story of a resilient woman learning to navigate divorce, starting over and finding herself. What we end with is a story full of hope.
Second Bloom is absolutely wonderful and it has ALL THE THINGS:
❤️ small town Georgia (HOME)
🪴 plant talk on another level
👩 strong FMC
💕 second chance romance
👱♂️ he falls first
🏢 co-workers/forced proximity
🎶 a PLAYLIST featuring one of my favorite songs ever
Also, the supporting characters are beyond. Her best friend is one of the most enjoyable side characters I’ve read in a long time.
It’s giving summer, second chances and ALLLLL the spice.
And this is a debut!! Hats off to you Eve!
When I tell you this book was written for me… that it spoke to me… what I mean is that I sometimes found myself wondering if this author knew me personally. 😬
Okay. I can go on and on, or you can RUN and buy Second Bloom ASAP!
May 2, 2023
this is my kind of romance book. oh my freaking goodness. if you like slow burn romances where the chemistry and sexual tension between the two main characters can be felt a mile away..read this one immediately. wow I loved this book.
Clara & Connor, the two main characters, were so easy for me to fall in love with because of their personalities. the down-to-earth quality they both had made them feel so realistic and believable. Connor is what dreams are made of. he is funny, sweet, silly, & sexy - perfection. the slow burn was worth the wait for me because the tension was built up just so incredibly well. when you make it there, you’re in for an amazing treat because it is 🌶️ (the perfect kind of spice in my opinion - I loved every minute!) The book was the perfect balance of spicy and sweet.
I loved the entire vibe that the book gave overall. It just screamed summertime & there were so many little quirks to the story that made it really memorable for me. I also really enjoyed the story because it kept me engaged from start to finish & I laughed out loud often. I saw a lot of growth in the female main character which is something that I usually require in a story! the book gets extra points from me because it featured scenes with Clara seeing her therapist. therapy is not represented in books as much as it should be so I really appreciated seeing it here.
I also can’t leave out the spectacular cast of supporting characters. I felt like I knew them all so well & loved them. they added so much to the book and i would love to see more of them again.
I have so many good things to say about this book. I loved it so much and it filled me with butterflies so many times. I highly recommend!
Clara & Connor, the two main characters, were so easy for me to fall in love with because of their personalities. the down-to-earth quality they both had made them feel so realistic and believable. Connor is what dreams are made of. he is funny, sweet, silly, & sexy - perfection. the slow burn was worth the wait for me because the tension was built up just so incredibly well. when you make it there, you’re in for an amazing treat because it is 🌶️ (the perfect kind of spice in my opinion - I loved every minute!) The book was the perfect balance of spicy and sweet.
I loved the entire vibe that the book gave overall. It just screamed summertime & there were so many little quirks to the story that made it really memorable for me. I also really enjoyed the story because it kept me engaged from start to finish & I laughed out loud often. I saw a lot of growth in the female main character which is something that I usually require in a story! the book gets extra points from me because it featured scenes with Clara seeing her therapist. therapy is not represented in books as much as it should be so I really appreciated seeing it here.
I also can’t leave out the spectacular cast of supporting characters. I felt like I knew them all so well & loved them. they added so much to the book and i would love to see more of them again.
I have so many good things to say about this book. I loved it so much and it filled me with butterflies so many times. I highly recommend!
April 29, 2023
I absolutely loved this small town second chance romance. This slow burn will have you turning pages as you get super invested into the love life of Clara and Conner. I loved the build up to their romance.
I felt that the spice was nice for what the book was which was a cozy romance. Not super graphic, definitely leaving some things to the imagination. If you’re looking for super smutty “porn in a book” you won’t get that here. But you will get a breath of fresh air. The vibe with Clara working in a plant nursery was my absolute favorite (plants and romance how much better can it get?) i loved that this book wasn’t super predictable, all the characters were really great and all added something to the story, my personal favorite being Ryan, Clara’s no- nonsense best friend that completely looked out for her. Overall i felt that this book was super relatable, even giving promise to someone possibly starting over from having a divorce or cheating partner. Clara was such a strong female character that really wanted to prove beautiful could come from nothing, and that you can start over.
I super enjoyed this book and if you’re looking for a change of pace romance i definitely suggest picking this one up!
I felt that the spice was nice for what the book was which was a cozy romance. Not super graphic, definitely leaving some things to the imagination. If you’re looking for super smutty “porn in a book” you won’t get that here. But you will get a breath of fresh air. The vibe with Clara working in a plant nursery was my absolute favorite (plants and romance how much better can it get?) i loved that this book wasn’t super predictable, all the characters were really great and all added something to the story, my personal favorite being Ryan, Clara’s no- nonsense best friend that completely looked out for her. Overall i felt that this book was super relatable, even giving promise to someone possibly starting over from having a divorce or cheating partner. Clara was such a strong female character that really wanted to prove beautiful could come from nothing, and that you can start over.
I super enjoyed this book and if you’re looking for a change of pace romance i definitely suggest picking this one up!
May 16, 2023
This was my first ever ARC read and I was so excited to get to do this! (Thank god for bookstagram bringing me new reader AND author friends!) This is an adorable second chance romance set in a cozy (and at times suffocating) small town. There’s a touch of found family for the FMC (all hail Eli and Gloria) along with the classic friends to lovers trope. Clara and Connor find their way back to each other after many years apart and Connor manages to show Clara her own strength for getting away from her toxic ex husband and being able to be independent. I absolutely adore a man who appreciates a woman wanting to be independent, especially after having to rely on someone else for so long. There was a sprinkle of miscommunication between the two that was slightly frustrating, but it made the happy ending all the more worth it in the end. I’ll definitely be purchasing a paper copy for my shelves!
May 3, 2023
Clara works multiple jobs to make ends meet as she tries to divorce her serial cheater husband. While working at Grady’s Nursery she runs into Connor, an old college friend who happens to be the nephew of the nursery owner. While Connor and Cara work together at the nursery an old flame reignites but their past continues to get in the way.
I loved the history and chemistry between Connor and Clara. This was definitely a slow burn with minimal spice but the push and pull between the two was captivating. I loved how attentive Connor was to Clara and I appreciated Clara’s journey to find her self worth and her strength (even when her lack of communication with Connor was frustrating). The style of writing occasionally jumped from one scene to another which is personally more difficult for me to track while reading (that’s a me problem), and in spite of that I still adored the story and was so happy while reading it. Overall this was a delightful romcom story with fun characters, some great romance tropes, slow building tension, and a happy ending. Plus I’m a sucker for anything having to do with floral shops or gardens so the setting was an automatic win in my book. Needless to say I recommend this book to anyone who loves a romance read!
I loved the history and chemistry between Connor and Clara. This was definitely a slow burn with minimal spice but the push and pull between the two was captivating. I loved how attentive Connor was to Clara and I appreciated Clara’s journey to find her self worth and her strength (even when her lack of communication with Connor was frustrating). The style of writing occasionally jumped from one scene to another which is personally more difficult for me to track while reading (that’s a me problem), and in spite of that I still adored the story and was so happy while reading it. Overall this was a delightful romcom story with fun characters, some great romance tropes, slow building tension, and a happy ending. Plus I’m a sucker for anything having to do with floral shops or gardens so the setting was an automatic win in my book. Needless to say I recommend this book to anyone who loves a romance read!
May 22, 2023
I finished Second Bloom recently - well I should say I binged it into the early hours of the morning to be more accurate 😂. Needless to say, I enjoyed this debut! Having a huge green thumb myself, I absolutely fell in love with the Garden Center scene 😍 and appreciated how Clara found peace working there amongst all the plants! I loved the message that beautiful things can grow ( ahahahahahahha so punny 🌱🙃😂 ) from the ashes of past mistakes and missed opportunities. I also feel that the characters in this story are very relatable - they are just normal people experiencing life struggles that I think all of us can, at least, empathize with if we haven't experienced some of it ourselves. I really loved that, by the end of the book, Clara was truly adopted into the family and that she was taking strides towards her HEA. 💖 I hope there will be a sequel so I can spend more time with these characters!
CW: Cheating
A big thank you to Eve Matthew's for a copy to review. My opinions are my own.
CW: Cheating
A big thank you to Eve Matthew's for a copy to review. My opinions are my own.
May 1, 2023
The story opens with Clara wandering, drunk and heartbroken, around what seems to be a pretty lavish house. I had my first lol when she puts her drink down on a desk, then doubles back to wipe away the damp ring. In her words, she’s “drunk. Not irresponsible”.
Clara is struggling to come to terms with where she finds herself in life after her marriage finally crumbles—something that apparently the whole town could see coming, but she couldn’t. She’s steeped in shame and regret, finding solace in her work at Grady’s nursery.
Connor, a blast from the past, turns up and the heat between them ramps up. I really loved the way their romance develops, with intimacy growing steadily through the pages in their shared moments and banter before the physical barrier is ever broken.
The cast of side characters is fabulous, and I really felt at home in Silas Grove.
Clara is struggling to come to terms with where she finds herself in life after her marriage finally crumbles—something that apparently the whole town could see coming, but she couldn’t. She’s steeped in shame and regret, finding solace in her work at Grady’s nursery.
Connor, a blast from the past, turns up and the heat between them ramps up. I really loved the way their romance develops, with intimacy growing steadily through the pages in their shared moments and banter before the physical barrier is ever broken.
The cast of side characters is fabulous, and I really felt at home in Silas Grove.
April 25, 2023
This story is told in a single POV from the FMC. I enjoyed the storyline and plot of this book. I thought it was a cute small town second chance romance. I liked how it wasn’t your typical second chance romance or too predictable. I also liked how the love interest wasn’t blatantly obvious in the beginning.I was questioning who it’d be until he appeared making me that much more invested. I liked all the characters and their personalities except for ONE & lastly I LOVED that the author included a playlist in the beginning of the novel. I like to listen to playlists at the end of reading books and I was able to see how each song fit a specific scene. Overall this was a great read and I HIGHLY recommend picking up this book from your kindle store!
May 2, 2023
This book has pretty much all of my favorite tropes (small town, second chance and friends to lovers) so I pretty much loved it from the very beginning!
Clara and Connor meet up again after having not seen each other after an incident that happened in college. I loved seeing how Clara grew through this book, and seeing her realize how strong she was! The side characters were really lovable as well! Ryan offered some comedy as well as friendship to Clara. Connor and his family were some of my favorites as well!! Hoping maybe Kat or Lo gets their own book 👀
This releases May 2, 2023 so go get it on kindle!!!
Clara and Connor meet up again after having not seen each other after an incident that happened in college. I loved seeing how Clara grew through this book, and seeing her realize how strong she was! The side characters were really lovable as well! Ryan offered some comedy as well as friendship to Clara. Connor and his family were some of my favorites as well!! Hoping maybe Kat or Lo gets their own book 👀
This releases May 2, 2023 so go get it on kindle!!!
September 30, 2023
Rating:🌟🌟🌟💫
Spice:🌶️🌶️
This book was the right sweet spot for a contemporary romance, with characters in their 30s, flawed and imperfect. I really enjoyed Conner and Clara's relationship, which went from estranged former friends to friends, to lovers and then more. It gave me Book Lovers and Beach Read vibes, in the fact that both characters were not perfect but good to each other.
I think for a debut, Second Bloom is a book that could be considered not just a summer read, but an all-year-around read. I can't wait to see what Matthews brings next.
Spice:🌶️🌶️
This book was the right sweet spot for a contemporary romance, with characters in their 30s, flawed and imperfect. I really enjoyed Conner and Clara's relationship, which went from estranged former friends to friends, to lovers and then more. It gave me Book Lovers and Beach Read vibes, in the fact that both characters were not perfect but good to each other.
I think for a debut, Second Bloom is a book that could be considered not just a summer read, but an all-year-around read. I can't wait to see what Matthews brings next.
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April 28, 2023Tropes: Second chance, forced proximity, small town, slow burn
Second Bloom is a contemporary second chance romance, set in the cutest small town in Georgia. We meet Carla Monroe as she struggles to get back on her feet and find her independence from her cheating husband. Enter Conner Kent, a handsome photographer moving back to Silas Grove to be closer to his family. It’s clear that there’s some unresolved history between the two, and this story follows them as navigate their mutual past and try to plan for unexpected futures.
This was a really cute book with likable characters (especially the supporting characters) and some spice! It also made me want to read it while sitting in a green house, eating ice cream (with Conner of course)… Be sure to go check it out !!
Second Bloom is a contemporary second chance romance, set in the cutest small town in Georgia. We meet Carla Monroe as she struggles to get back on her feet and find her independence from her cheating husband. Enter Conner Kent, a handsome photographer moving back to Silas Grove to be closer to his family. It’s clear that there’s some unresolved history between the two, and this story follows them as navigate their mutual past and try to plan for unexpected futures.
This was a really cute book with likable characters (especially the supporting characters) and some spice! It also made me want to read it while sitting in a green house, eating ice cream (with Conner of course)… Be sure to go check it out !!
May 5, 2023
Small town second chances
Eve Matthews’ debut novel was as sweet as the tea we drink here in the South. I think most people can sympathize with a woman trying to find her own way after the end of a relationship. Add in “the one who got away”, and you have a heck of a story. I loved the secondary characters she fleshed out! We all need a Ryan! I totally recommend this book for those I need of an afternoon of fluff. With all the super angsty and dark romances on my read list, this was just the palette cleanser I needed. Great job Eve! I look forward to reading anything else you put out.
Eve Matthews’ debut novel was as sweet as the tea we drink here in the South. I think most people can sympathize with a woman trying to find her own way after the end of a relationship. Add in “the one who got away”, and you have a heck of a story. I loved the secondary characters she fleshed out! We all need a Ryan! I totally recommend this book for those I need of an afternoon of fluff. With all the super angsty and dark romances on my read list, this was just the palette cleanser I needed. Great job Eve! I look forward to reading anything else you put out.
May 2, 2023
This is a must read! A cute summer romance with side notes of plants/flowers, empowering women to stand up for themselves and see the good in others again. The love story was perfection and everything you want from a romance novel.
May 24, 2023
Great book!
Eve Matthew’s managed to keep this read light and fun while also tackling some difficult life issues that many of us are all too familiar with! A great book!
Eve Matthew’s managed to keep this read light and fun while also tackling some difficult life issues that many of us are all too familiar with! A great book!
February 21, 2024
Feel good
This is a feel good fun book that is smooth to read. It is a fast read. An nice evening book.
This is a feel good fun book that is smooth to read. It is a fast read. An nice evening book.
April 28, 2023
Character chemistry was so good, when they saw each other for the first time in a long time it was game over. Second chance here we come! Love a small town, meddling family members and a good romance. The tension with the ex was strong, made me not like him. The ending was hopeful and I loved it. Can’t wait for book 2. Also the cover is beautiful, my eyes appreciate the color palette and those crisp lines.
May 5, 2023
This small town contemporary romance novel is one you can't miss! The author creates a relatable female character struggling to get back on her feet after learning of the infidelities of her soon-to-be ex-husband. You can't help but empathize with her hoping she'll come out stronger and more independent as the storyline continues. Then walks in a friend from the past to change the whole narrative.
May 11, 2023
There is nothing I love more than a small town romance! What a fun book and it’s full off plant lovers like myself which is always a bonus. I liked the way that Clara ending her marriage was depicted throughout the book. As much as some people might feel frustrated that someone would stay for so long in a relationship where the other partner isn’t faithful, I think it can also be very realistic. It’s not always easy to leave right away, especially if you don’t have an income or money that is your own. I loved that this book was about Clara finally stepping into her power and claiming her life back for herself. Connor was such a sweetie and I loved his entire family! This was such a refreshing read and I can’t wait to read more from Eve.
If you love small town romance, second chances, found family, and all the plants then this book is for you!
If you love small town romance, second chances, found family, and all the plants then this book is for you!
April 27, 2023
Well-written, heartwarming, and tender are three terms I would use for this book! I loved Clara and Connor together, and I really appreciate the attention to detail in the little things, like Clara’s playlist or even the plants at the nursery! Eve did a wonderful job with this book - I’m so honored to have read this before it officially comes out!! :)
P.S. The greenhouse scene…….. 👀
P.S. The greenhouse scene…….. 👀
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