Love in Bloom by Roberts, Sheila (2014) Mass Market Paperback

Heart Lake #2

by Sheila Roberts

         Hope Walker survived early breast cancer at just thirty-years-old, but a mastectomy left her with a lot of scarring—and some serious fears about dating.  Hope owns Changing Seasons, Heart Lake’s most popular flower shop.  When it comes to love and relationships, she’s able to work magic through her expert flower arranging…for everyone but herself.  Then one day a handsome contractor starts coming into her shop, but Hope knows he’d rather have a whole woman than someone like her.

         When Hope stakes a plot of ground at Heart Lake’s community garden, she finds that a woman can grow all sorts of things there: flowers, herbs, vegetables and even friendship.  As she gets to know the two women who share neighboring plots, they discover that they can learn a lot from each other—not just about gardening, but about life.  And Hope realizes that in order to live life to the fullest, sometimes you have to take a chance on love.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Adult, Womens Fiction

Mass Market Paperback

First published March 31, 2009

About the author

With fifty books to her credit, both fiction and non-fiction, Sheila Roberts is a frequent USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller - and a fan favorite. Her books have sold over three million copies and have been turned into movies for the Hallmark, Lifetime and Great American Family channels. Before settling into her writing career, Sheila owned a singing telegram company and played in band. When she's not traveling, Sheila can be found hanging out with friends, playing tennis, and, of course, writing and reading. Sometimes she even remembers to post books she's read!

Reviews

[Jeanne Adamek · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

[Ronna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book free from the author. This is my honest review.

We've all heard the phrase "Bloom where you live.", but Sheila Roberts enriches this with her lovely book, LOVE IN BLOOM. Her characters have to learn to "Live where they bloom." Seemingly a subtle difference, but a very important lesson to learn about life. She beautifully builds this story with Hope's flower shop and the different meanings each flower conveys, as each character learns to experience life and love at it's best and fullest!

In this book, a number of woman find themselves learning this lesson while tending their plants in Heart Lake's Community Gardens. Hope owns Changing Seasons, the local flower shop, where she expertly helps people choose just the right bloom for everyone and every occasion. She is also a breast cancer survivor who struggles with her self image after reconstructive surgery. Amber is a young mother who's husband is having difficulty finding a job after loosing their restaurant. Millie is a 77 year old widow who's just moved into town to live with her divorced daughter and her two kids. As they grow plants together, they help each other through problems, and learning to bloom beautifully in their own lives.

There is romantic love explored in this book, but what I truly appreciated was the exploration of love in all it's other forms with family and friends. Each character was very real and reminded me of people I actually know. The use of flower meanings was fun and added to the beauty of this story. I so appreciate that Sheila Roberts can write a true love story without filling it with sex scenes. Roberts is becoming one of my favorite authors.

[Nell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely book. The story is engaging and I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to finish it. Has more substance and unexpected developments than a traditional romance. The focus is on the relationships between three women, who meet at a neighborhood garden. They befriend each other despite being different ages and at different stages of life. Each one's story is told through their relationships with family and love interests. The main character, Hope, has recovered physically from breast cancer, but has yet to recover emotionally. As the story unfolds, Hope and her new friends learn to love again.

[Alissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this sweet tale, it was rather perfect to read over Easter weekend since that is when the story begins.

This had engaging characters, and a surprise at the end, which had me in tears.

Realistic and romantic all at the same time.

I also enjoyed the flower/gardening tips at the beginning of each section.

[Dorry Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book Tiff gave me to read and I can see why. I was taken with all the characters but did seem drawn to Millie the older woman. It was a good story much like real life with lonely people and real life problems. I recommend it to anyone that likes to garden and to any that do not live a fairy tale life,

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

It all begins with an advertisement in the Heart Lake Herald. Hope Walker is definitely a fighter; a survivor who has always met the various adversities of life with a sunny disposition and a smile. She had survived breast cancer at just thirty years old, yet a mastectomy had left her with a lot of physical scarring, and a seriously battered self esteem. After all she has been through, Hope is perhaps understandably, fearful of dating.

She owns Heart Lake's most popular flower shop - 'Changing Seasons Floral' - and is renowned for her charming flower arrangements. Yes, when it comes to love and relationships, Hope is able to work a special type of magic through her expert flower arranging...for everyone else except herself. Then one day a handsome contractor starts coming into her shop - he's good-looking, charming, funny, even slightly flirty. In fact, he seems inordinately interested in flower arrangements, but Hope knows he'd rather have a whole woman than someone like her.

When Hope stakes a plot of ground in Heart Lake's community garden, she finds out that a woman can grow all sorts of things there: flowers, herbs, vegetables, and even friendship. As Hope gets to know the two women - Millie Baldwin and Amber Howell - who share the neighboring plots, all three women discover that they can learn a lot from one another. Their friendship may have started out swapping gardening tips, but it quickly blossoms into a strong and lasting bond - not just about gardening but also about life. And Hope realizes that in order to order to truly live life to the fullest, sometimes you have to take a chance on love.

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I don't usually read romance novels, but this book was a different case, in my opinion. Yes, there was light romance, but the story also had a well-developed and intriguing plot to go with the romance. I was caught up in the story right away, and found it to be fairly easy reading for me - not too complicated or intricate. I would give this book an A!

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope Walker is a flower shop owner, who has left the idea of happiness long behind her; and spends her time perfecting others lives' through her floral arrangements. Along the way she meets a few women whom deeply impact the way she looks at her life, and the love it is lacking.
A fun, easy read. Definitely a spring time pick-me-up!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though I thought that this book stunk in the beginning, it turned out to be an okay book. I even cried toward the end. I still think that the couple that ended up together, didn't really seem to connect at all during the story. I might recommend this book if you need a light beach read with a 1 on the hotness scale.

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

fast read that's for sure! the lives of several members of a smaller town intertwine and they draw from each other the strength, wisdom and guidance they need at different times in their life.

definitely a must read!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, light read, a "feel good" story, which was exactly what I was looking for after the last book I read.

Hope, Bobbi, Millie and Amber all became my friends over the course of the book. It made me laugh and cry, sometimes all within one chapter.

What a great summer read!

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was recommended to me by a friend. I started reading it online, and finished in book form.
It was enjoyable, even though it was predictable. A nice read for the beach, or a rainy day.

I will be recommending it.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! Thank you Krista!

[vynnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am conflicted on how I feel about this book simply because it's not bad or unenjoyable, but it suffers from too many main characters and strange messages. Hope and Jason’s relationship is entirely rushed, the way Bobbi treats Jason is cruel but has no real consequences nor does it affect their relationship with each other and other characters, Millie and Debra’s conflict never gets resolved, and Amber and Ty’s marital problems are all solved by the invisible and one-sided emotional labor of Amber. The author includes three (four?) relationships that the reader is supposed to root for, and turns out, it's hard to write multiple reasonably paced and realistic romances. Some other reviews mentioned heavy religious tones that I did not pick up on. There is mention of religion and some questionable advice from the religious character, Millie, but nothing over the top or sudden.

Relationships
Hope, Bobbi, & Jason
Too much of the book is taken up by the Bobbi/Jason relationship that it leaves the Hope/Jason relationship underdeveloped, rushed, and strange. Hope is completely willing to forgo romance because of an implant and a scar. Jason wants Hope, but still initially choses Bobbi, who lies to him and gets with his friend, but suddenly he’s over it because that means he can get with the sister, who conveniently loves all the things he does. I will admit that Jason does seem like a total hottie, but dating the sister is fine because he “never slept with her.” I do, however, feel that they mesh well and would make a good couple.

Millie & Guy Who’s Name I Can’t Remember
Millie makes many rash decisions that only ever seem to make people miserable under the guise of happiness. She moves away from her life and friends to live with and help her (selfish and miserable) daughter, ends up miserable herself, then meets two women who become her friends and make her feel truly loved and needed, but is not satisfied until she meets a perfect widower whos willing to marry her in a few weeks of meeting. Another rushed and underdeveloped relationship on the author’s part. Millie’s death feels unnecessary and contributes to my interpretation of her character’s choices, but I understand that it is meant to show how she is fulfilled with her life.

Amber & Ty
Oh boy. Amber is a character that I genuinely like and sympathize with. Although I do feel bad for Ty, I felt like he totally slacked on his domestic and familial responsibilities to mope and mourn his restaurant. He was a bad husband to Amber until she started sidelinging her (rightfully felt) emotions and needs to support him completely. I will say that in my interpretation of Ty, he is struggling with depression that goes untreated and unrecognized and is shown as a bad person causing problems without really understanding the loss of his dream he had when they lost the restaurant. I wasn't a huge fan of Millie’s speeches about Amber supporting Ty. She urges Amber to “build up his armor” and while this message forms the basis of a healthy relationship and is overall well meaning, but the way it is presented comes across as “forget your own feelings, your husband is upset.” Amber makes an attempt to support and help Ty emotionally, but it's never really done on Ty’s part. He leaves her to support the family by herself, then apologizes, and suddenly everything is fine. I like that their marriage stays intact, but I wish more responsibility for rebuilding said marriage land on Ty as well.

Characters
Bobbi & Debra
Bobbi and Debra are the two somewhat-developed supporting characters that I couldn't get behind. Bobbi is well meaning but messes up over and over and Hope and Jason have to take the brunt of the fallout. Bobbi uses Hope and lies to Jason for their entire relationship because she wants to impress Jason, but what happens when she can’t keep it up? Bobbi puts zero thought into her actions proving that she really is just a bimbo. Her entire character is “hot and stupid, but sweet and supportive” and that makes her hard to like when she derails the Hope/Jason relationship. Debra, on the other hand, is a miserable b*tch. She’s like a crab in a bucket pulling down all the other crabs that are on the brink of escape from their doom. She can’t stand seeing anyone happy and blames her bad decisions and problems on everyone else. She divorced her husband, but is unhappy that he has a new girlfriend. Get a grip, girl!

In the end, this book is not meant to be analyzed on the internet. It works well for easy fluff.

[Heather Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the correlation throughout this book between growing a garden and growing relationships. I picked it up at a garage sale a few weeks ago. Lately the desire to read hasn’t overpowered my sense of duty to my children and husband so I haven’t read much. I have been wishing that I would have some material that would inspire me, entertain me, and get me to take a few minutes to myself, but even though I’m sure they’re out there, not material has been speaking to me.

However, I had the flu on Sunday. I could hardly get off the couch all day. So I read this book. I was so glad I had a novel handy to read (most all my books are still in boxes since there are no bookshelves built in my new house yet—I’ve read nearly all of them anyway). It was entertaining enough to keep thoughts of my nausea at bay. That says something. I also gained more of a love of gardening, of wanting to be a good friend, of a desire for respectful human decency, and in the end an obvious sense of victory for the intelligent underdog.

I want to make friends like the ladies in this book and I used to be good at it. But I’m sick of having to follow all the social norms lately, it feels like playing silly games. I don’t have time for social games. I want to just walk up to someone and say “Hey, I need a friend. I can see you have children around the same age as mine and that you parent in a similar fashion as me. From your fabulous tied died Grateful Dead shirt I can see that you have great taste in music and I think we should be the dearest of friends for life.” But of course, just like in courtship, friendship has to not be desperate or you send the other one running. I just don’t have time for casual conversations that hopefully bud into something over the years. Not when I have 4 rambunctious kidos hanging on me making it hard to focus on what is being said. My solution: game night almost every Friday night. After the kids are in bed (unless those invited can’t get a babysitter), we invite a couple over for card games (something that has recently bored me as well). I need to face reality that I can’t expect a great support system of friends to poof into existence around me without putting in the work first. That’s just how it works. Even though Millie (in the book) was desperate for some positive relationships in her new town, she didn’t go to the garden flagging down everyone she met and begging them to be her friend like some lunatic. She gracefully offered herself and her expertise. She gave. And what blossomed out of that was beautiful.

I also learned a great wife lesson from Millie as she compared husbands to knights in shining armor. When her friend Amber (wife and mother about my age) was having marital problems, Millie (who was very senior in age) gave her valuable advice. Amber’s husband was depressed because he wasn’t providing financially for his family and therefore wasn’t providing anything else at the moment (or even trying very hard to find a job). Amber was tired of picking up all the pieces and being the only one strong and trying. Millie explained “…he’s battle weary and he’s lost his armor…I know it sounds corny, but every man wants to provide for his family and protect them. Your husband is no exception. He’s failed at both. That has to have hit him pretty hard.” Amber retorted “But that’s no excuse for doing nothing.” Millie explained that there were some things that us women don’t understand about our men. That even though we live in an age where women work in the work force just as much, men still need to be able to provide for their family. If a man can’t, he doesn’t feel like a man. This is so true. We see it time and again when husbands want to provide and the wife feels oppressed by his desire, or a man isn’t able to provide and therefore feels depressed. Are his feeling stemmed from culture? In this age, I don’t think so. I believe it’s an inherent characteristic of men. It is their role as part of their gender. It doesn’t mean their wives can’t be the one to provide, it just means that it’s not their inherent role. This reminded me of The Proclamation on the Family where it prophetically states “By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.” And it also says that as husbands and wives, they help each other in their inherent roles.

Anyway, the best advice is yet to come in the conversation. Millie explains “…I suspect what your husband really needs before he can fight in the world again is his armor.” So Amber wanted to know where the nearest armor shop was because she was more than willing to get him some. Millie continued “Well, it’s quite simple really. The armor is your faith in him, your encouragement.” Amber said “I don’t see why I have to be the one to make all the effort. He needs to man up.” I can totally relate. In fact, Curtis is going through something right now. I don’t think it’s related to trying to provide since he does that well, but it might be since we have no savings and his company is threatening closure. Wow. It might very well be. Also, my anxiety has recently crept into my life again. It just started a couple of weeks ago, but I can’t seem to shake it. I think it bugs him that he can’t either. I wish he would give me a priesthood blessing. I know the Lord has strength. {this book review seems to be more about my life than the characters. But if anyone wanted to read a synopsis of the book, they’d do so elsewhere. This is just what the book means to me}

Millie asked Amber what her husband was like before his armor was stripped. Amber thought of what a happy man he was that everyone liked to be around but then thought of how he was at that point and how she didn’t even like him anymore let alone love him. So Millie taught “Well, it seems to me that love is ninety-nine percent doing. If you keep doing love, the feeling might grow back.”

Amber thought about the advice and how instead of encouraging her husband, she had been nagging him. I can see how these both come from the same basic motive of wanting her husband to get a job and be happy again, but the result of nagging is tearing down—trying to force him to do what he already knows he should do, whereas the result of encouraging is the wife knowing she did all she could to help—and usually it does.

When Amber got home that night, she didn’t judge her husband for still being on the couch watching TV, she just kissed him and thanked him for being a good man. What she really wanted to say was “So, have you been looking for work?” but she didn’t.

Millie taught that difficult times always feel like they’ll never end, but they do. She explained “Your life is like your garden. You plant your seeds, but it takes time for them to germinate. You don’t see vegetables or even the promise of vegetables for a while, but they’re still busy growing beneath the soil, getting ready to produce something wonderful for you. I think life is like that.” Amber decided that all she could do is keep planting because she had too much invested to quit.

I am growing in determination to plant seeds in friends; to take the time to nourish others despite our differences (despite my desire to be nourished artistically). I should be asking what I can offer to the acquaintance (and hopefully someday friendship). Asking myself: “How can I encourage them? How can I help them fill fulfilled? How can I support their pursuits? How can I make their load a little less heavy?”

I am planting seeds in my children. Seeds of love, values, and guidance to help them on their way. I strive to find my way, humbly relying on the personal relationship I have with Christ, in order to provide an example for them.

I am planting armor seeds on my husband. Tiny sterling silver ones made up of confidence in him and appreciation for the man he is. The germination time of these seeds are uncertain and many of the seeds might be duds, but I am certain that with continual nurturing, they will grow.

[Becky Tatar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. A different set of 4 friends trying to get their acts together - Millie, who has moved to Heart Lake to help her divorced daughter and grandchildren, Amber, who with her chef husband, Ty, is trying to get back on their feet after losing their restaurant and having to move, Bobbi, who is a little flighty, and thinks she has found the one guy, and Erin, Bobbi's sister, who is a breast cancer survivor at the age of thirty. Erin, Millie, and Amber meet at Heart Lake's community gardens, and Bobbi helps Erin at Erin's flower shop, Changing Seasons Floral. Erin meets Jason when he comes in to buy flowers, and there might be something, but then, he sees Bobbi. Millie is trying to find her place in the community and is feeling every one of her 77 years. But she's lived, and has advice for Amber, who's frustrated with her husband not really looking for work. And Bobbi is faking all kinds of things to keep Jason interested, when it's really Erin who's supplying the info.

Great story lines. A continuation of Heart Lake, with a couple of characters from Bikini Season making an appearance.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hope Walker survived early breast cancer at just thirty-years-old, but a mastectomy left her with a lot of scarring―and some serious fears about dating. Hope owns Changing Seasons, Heart Lake's most popular flower shop. When it comes to love and relationships, she's able to work magic through her expert flower arranging…for everyone but herself. Then one day a handsome contractor starts coming into her shop, but Hope knows he'd rather have a whole woman than someone like her.

When Hope stakes a plot of ground at Heart Lake's community garden, she finds that a woman can grow all sorts of things flowers, herbs, vegetables and even friendship. As she gets to know the two women who share neighboring plots, they discover that they can learn a lot from each other―not just about gardening, but about life. And Hope realizes that in order to live life to the fullest, sometimes you have to take a chance on love."

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sheila Roberts has really done a terrific job. I picked this up because I wanted a sappy, happy romance novel. And I got a wonderful tearjerker of a slice of life book that is romantic, but is so much more than a fluff read. I won't spoil it for you but this book is poignant to the last page. I'll have to look up Roberts in the future. This is a real keeper.
I normally avoid anything religious in my books, but this has a terrific amount of religion in it. It's part of the characters, and isn't gratuitous in the least. It isn't forced, and even if you strongly disagree with religion, I don't think this book will give you pause. For someone who is religious or spiritual however, it adds another layer of poignancy.

[Lynette · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few years ago I bought a stack of readers digest books to fill my bookcase, funny how that goes with the story, and i never picked up one to read until today. I chose one randomly, then flipped open the book and read the first story of four in the book which happens to be this one, Love in Bloom. I read till i finished and i cant say much except I enjoyed the story and had a pleasant afternoon reading it. One thing I don’t know is how much they edited it to go into a readers digest condensed volume. I’ll have to look that up. I think I bought about 16 of these volumes. I have a lot more stories to discover.

[Pricely · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5, This is the book that jump started me back into reading after reading practically nothing from the year 2020-2022. This random book was sitting in my works breakroom, and no one picked it up for a long time, I asked around and no one claimed it as there's. On my breaks I would read it, and then wish I was at work so I could read more. Eventually I ended up keeping the book, and I distinctly remember finishing it on my lunch with happy tears in my eyes.

Its just super small towny, character driven, and so so so cute! I want to read Bikini Season asap!

[Amanda Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is certainly entertaining and doesn't make our main character's history with cancer seem like something of pity. I was kind of thrown off by the fact we focused on four women instead of just the main character. But I liked the growth of the characters and their perspective stories. It didn't have a high impact which is why I have scored it thusly. However one thing I want to close out with is that the character of Jason's friend Duke is a colossal douche.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps the cheesiest romance novel I’ve read since the Harlequin novels of my (tragically misspent?) youth. I’m a little embarrassed to include it on my Read list. As an avid consumer of Hallmark Countdown to Christmas movies, I’m not entirely against formulaic and cheesy. I blame the gardening theme and main character’s recovery from breast cancer for luring me and keeping me engaged. Unless these are also interesting to you, don’t waste your time.

[Kathie Loch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friendship and Love

Millie, Amber, Hope and Bobbi . Personally, I thought Bobbi was a dimwit and only a sister (Hope) could put up with her. Millie, Amber and Hope bonded with a true friendship. Millie remarried at 77 and after an Alaskan cruise with her new husband she had a heart attack, A stroke, another heart attack and passed away. This was actually three stories in one book and they were all good!

[Karen Torrance · Rating 5 out of 5]

language of flowers

I loved this book. each person had life issues and the flowers helped tell the story.. The language of flowers was important to the story and I loved that throughout the entire story it was explained. glad it's on my Kindle because I will be reading it again.

[Linda McNeley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story.

I could not put this one down. Fell in love with each character as I met them. An enjoyable book that you can understand the deepest feeling of each person. Please read it for yourself and enjoy all the good feelings of will leave you with.
Sheila Roberts never disappoints.

[Carol Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some really good moments in this book, but I think the relationships between some of the characters weren’t fully developed. Too much emphasis was placed on physical beauty, and without getting to know each other. Most everyone found their soulmates, and it was too pat. But good romance.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three very different ladies become friends as they garden their community plots and learn to support one another. I enjoyed the gardening tips. I could not wait for one guy to figure out that he was more suited for his girlfriend's sister.

[Shelley Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars
This was a light, fun read mixed with some heavier topics and emotions. Some aspects of these types of books are rather silly, and often predictable, but still enjoyable and heart-warming.

[Kristen Sickler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway. I didn't read this until years later and wow, I sure wish I didn't wait so long to read this book. I truly enjoyed this read. It's a feel good type. Definitely a book you could take on a trip. Heart-felt too.

[☆ nazahah ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book even though it gave the same energy as a Hallmark movie about a white Suburban woman who had cancer and owned a flower shop…

It’s short, simple, and sweet and I enjoyed how multiple characters stories were told. This quickly became a comfort read for me a few years ago.

[Abi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good summer read! Finished in two days. It is the perfect beach book because the story is easy to follow and is a short book. It is a cute story and if you are a fan of Netflix romance shows you will love this book. It's like a virgin river meets sweet magnolias.