Love Blooms

Smitten Novella #8

by Denise Hunter

Spring, summer, fall, and winter, Smitten is a place for love . . . and mystery.

But master gardener Clare Thomas is about to dig up something surprising.

There s a secret in Grandma Rose s attic a forgotten set of dog tags belonging to her first love. But David Hutchins was killed in action and never returned to town. How did the dog tags end up in the Grandma s attic? It s a romantic mystery fit for a town like Smitten, Vermont, which has been working hard to reinvent itself as a destination for lovers. Rose s three granddaughters are determined to investigate, though their mother Anna has reservations about digging up the past. But will they get distracted by mystery men of their own before they solve the puzzle of the dogtags?

In"Love Blooms, "Clare is really, really tired of being called predictable, which is why she decides to gives a job at her nursery to the scruffy vagabond on a motorcycle. Is trusting her instincts the most foolish thing she s ever done . . . or the smartest?Excerpted from"Secretly Smitten, "a novel in four parts written by Inspirational fiction s most popular romance novelists and real life BFFs!

Genres: Romance, Novella, Christian Fiction

107 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 15, 2013

About the author

Denise Hunter is the award-winning author of more than 40 novels, three of which have been adapted into Hallmark movies.

Denise writes heartwarming, small-town romances, peopled with layered characters who have real-life issues. Her readers enjoy the vicarious thrill of falling in love and the promise of a happily-ever-after sigh as they savor the final pages of her books.

In 1996, Denise began her first novel, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her books contain a strong romantic element, and her husband says he provides all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

Denise and her husband live in Indiana, where they raised three sons, and are currently enjoying an empty nest.

Reviews

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Setting : Vermont
I loved this novella, probably my favorite one that I have ever read! The characters were well developed and the story line did not feel rushed like in some novellas. Loved that Clare's grandmother was named Rose and her two aunts were Aunt Violet and Aunt Petunia. LOL The names worked for the story line with Clare and her Grandma Rose and her Aunt Violet all working at a plant/flower nursery. There was a major storyline with Clare and Ethan and minor storylines with other characters and it all ended well !! Some sweet faith content slipped in as also.

[Zenobia N Jefferson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Denise Hunter is a master at taking a seemingly impossible situation

Denise takes characters who seem impossible. There' s no way, it seems, that they can cross this chasm. Denise shows how God's grace yields so many benefits.

[Janet Merrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Head and shoulders above the other three. Loved Ethan and the slow romance with Clare. Somehow this author gave us a complete story that didn’t feel rushed, within the constraints of a novella.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Vermont

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started and finished this Smitten novella while sitting in the doctor's office for 3 hours (Praise God for a good book at such times). Nice follow up to "All Along." Clare and Ethan have both lived in a comfortable routine for several years (Clare at a green house nursery, Ethan in a motorcycle ministry), but when their lives cross paths they help each other discover that God may have better plans for both of them if they are willing step out of their comfort zones.

Clean read and Christian friends will enjoy this sweet little romance by Denise Hunter.

For my sister...yes, I know...I'm a bit like Clare!

[Belinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happily ever after...but sad the story is over ;)

[Helen Brown]

Loved the way this story finished the other overall story.