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Blossom Street #10
Blossom Street Brides
Debbie Macomber has won the hearts of millions of readers with her moving and inspiring stories. Now wedding bells are ringing in the tight-knit community that gathers around A Good Yarn, a store in a pretty Seattle neighborhood. Knitters come to the store to buy yarn and patterns but somehow they leave richer in friendship and love.
Lauren Elliott has waited years for her long-term boyfriend, Todd, to propose, yet he seems more focused on his career than their relationship. When Lauren learns that her younger sister is pregnant before she herself even has an engagement ring, she feels overjoyed yet disheartened. Knowing she can’t put her future on hold, Lauren prepares to make a bold choice—one that leads her to a man she never dreamed she’d meet.
Newly married to her second husband, Max, Bethanne Scranton is blissfully in love. But with Max’s job in California and Bethanne’s in Seattle, their long-distance marriage is becoming difficult to maintain. To complicate matters, Bethanne’s cunning ex will do anything to win her back.
Lydia Goetz, too, is wonderfully happy with her husband, Brad, though lately she worries about the future of A Good Yarn. As she considers how to bring in business, she discovers that someone has beaten her to the punch. Baskets of yarn are mysteriously popping up all over town, with instructions to knit a scarf for charity and bring it into Lydia’s store. Never before has her shop received so much attention, but who hatched this brilliant plan?
As three women’s lives intersect in unexpected ways, Lydia, Lauren, and Bethanne realize that love heals every heart, and the best surprises still lay ahead.
Lauren Elliott has waited years for her long-term boyfriend, Todd, to propose, yet he seems more focused on his career than their relationship. When Lauren learns that her younger sister is pregnant before she herself even has an engagement ring, she feels overjoyed yet disheartened. Knowing she can’t put her future on hold, Lauren prepares to make a bold choice—one that leads her to a man she never dreamed she’d meet.
Newly married to her second husband, Max, Bethanne Scranton is blissfully in love. But with Max’s job in California and Bethanne’s in Seattle, their long-distance marriage is becoming difficult to maintain. To complicate matters, Bethanne’s cunning ex will do anything to win her back.
Lydia Goetz, too, is wonderfully happy with her husband, Brad, though lately she worries about the future of A Good Yarn. As she considers how to bring in business, she discovers that someone has beaten her to the punch. Baskets of yarn are mysteriously popping up all over town, with instructions to knit a scarf for charity and bring it into Lydia’s store. Never before has her shop received so much attention, but who hatched this brilliant plan?
As three women’s lives intersect in unexpected ways, Lydia, Lauren, and Bethanne realize that love heals every heart, and the best surprises still lay ahead.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 13, 2014
606 people are currently reading
5361 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Macomber
894 books20.6k followersDebbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.
In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.
Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.
She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.
In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.
Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.
She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 926 reviews
November 15, 2021
Debbie Macomber's books are sort of a guilty pleasure in that I sometimes feel like I should be reading something with a little more substance or depth. Maybe something a little less predictable. But sometimes it's just nice to know that everything will end just fine and most of the characters will live happily ever after. Reading a Macomber novel is like watching a Hallmark movie - simple, pleasant, and not many surprises. There are times when that's exactly what I need. Blossom Street Brides was a weekend's welcome escape to a fantasy land where women have time to knit for pleasure, men are devoted to their families, everyone is kind, and all is right with the world.
August 3, 2022
I am so happy I picked this book up. I read the blossom street books starting over 10 years ago, and I picked them up as they came out. Of some reason, I just stopped. I found this a little bit ago at a thrift store and I never read it, so I had to pick it up. I am so glad I did. I remember all the characters and jump right back on blossom street. I also fell in love with all the characters all over again. This book is the 10 book in the blossom street series. I remember picking up the first blossom street book because it was right before me and my husband when to see a doctor about trying to get pregnant. We had been trying for years. The first book has a character in it that goes through IVF and is having trouble getting pregnant. The rest of the book does not, but I am so glad I picked that book up. That was the first Debbie Macomber book I read, but now she is one of my favorite authors. I do not feel it is super important to read this series in order, but if you do you would learn more about each of the characters. This is a chick-lit romance without the adult bedroom plays being written in and if you like that type of book you should check this out.
July 1, 2018
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was just okay for me. I didn't love it but I didn't hate it either. This isn't normally the kind of book that I would pick up but I added it to my so be read list several years ago largely because of my mother. When this book was being released, my mother was undergoing chemotherapy during her third battle with breast cancer. I took her to all of her doctor appointments and chemo treatments so we spent a lot of time together and she loves Debbie Macomber's writing. I added this book to my review pile due to my mother's recommendation but I accept full responsibility for letting it linger there for years. I did like the book and am glad that I finally picked it up.
This is one of those books that tells several somewhat connected stories. I don't always care for this method of storytelling because I often like one of the plot threads more than the others and the book's momentum seems to slow down with the focus is switched. I had those issues with this book and think that I would have enjoyed the book a lot more if one of the stories would have been the primary focus of the book.
Lydia, Lauren, and Bethanne all share a love of knitting and know each other through their hobby. Lydia runs the local yarn store and is dealing with some issues in personal life with her adopted daughter and her mother's health. She is also trying to solve the mystery of the knitting baskets showing up all over town tied to her store. Lauren is ready for a long term relationship and decides to move on from her boyfriend and then quickly meets Rooster and finds that he may be the man she needs in her life. Bethanne and her husband live in different states due to work obligations but are deeply in love. Bethanne's daughter and ex-husband are adding an extra set of challenges but they are determines to make things work.
I liked all three of the stories but the book as a whole just felt too sweet. It really shouldn't have been a surprise that the book read like a Hallmark movie since several of her books actually are Hallmark movies. As I worked my way through this book, some of the characters just seemed unrealistically nice and conversations didn't always feel authentic because everyone was just a little too perfect. There were a few characters that were causing problems and being difficult but the overly sweet tone of the book never seemed to subside.
I have listened to Cassandra Campbell's narration in the past and have always enjoyed her work. She had a pretty large cast of characters to deal with in this book and I thought she did a great job of it. There were times that I thought that the narration was a little too saccharine but I really think that this was due to the dialogue more than anything else. I wouldn't hesitate to listen to Cassandra Campbell again in the future.
I would recommend this book to readers that like a sweet and clean story. I did want to see everything work out for the characters and liked the book overall. I don't think that there is anything ground breaking in this book but it was a nice story.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine via NetGalley and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from the library via Overdrive.
Initial Thoughts
I will be honest....I didn't love this. I didn't hate it but this really is not my kind of book. I requested this one from NetGalley over 4 years ago probably because I was spending a whole lot of time with my mom who was going through chemo at the time. My mom loves Debbie Macomber's books but I think that this was just a little too sweet for my tastes. Even the narration of the audio sounded overly sweet at times.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley and audiobook borrowed from the library via Overdrive. Full review to be posted soon.
This was just okay for me. I didn't love it but I didn't hate it either. This isn't normally the kind of book that I would pick up but I added it to my so be read list several years ago largely because of my mother. When this book was being released, my mother was undergoing chemotherapy during her third battle with breast cancer. I took her to all of her doctor appointments and chemo treatments so we spent a lot of time together and she loves Debbie Macomber's writing. I added this book to my review pile due to my mother's recommendation but I accept full responsibility for letting it linger there for years. I did like the book and am glad that I finally picked it up.
This is one of those books that tells several somewhat connected stories. I don't always care for this method of storytelling because I often like one of the plot threads more than the others and the book's momentum seems to slow down with the focus is switched. I had those issues with this book and think that I would have enjoyed the book a lot more if one of the stories would have been the primary focus of the book.
Lydia, Lauren, and Bethanne all share a love of knitting and know each other through their hobby. Lydia runs the local yarn store and is dealing with some issues in personal life with her adopted daughter and her mother's health. She is also trying to solve the mystery of the knitting baskets showing up all over town tied to her store. Lauren is ready for a long term relationship and decides to move on from her boyfriend and then quickly meets Rooster and finds that he may be the man she needs in her life. Bethanne and her husband live in different states due to work obligations but are deeply in love. Bethanne's daughter and ex-husband are adding an extra set of challenges but they are determines to make things work.
I liked all three of the stories but the book as a whole just felt too sweet. It really shouldn't have been a surprise that the book read like a Hallmark movie since several of her books actually are Hallmark movies. As I worked my way through this book, some of the characters just seemed unrealistically nice and conversations didn't always feel authentic because everyone was just a little too perfect. There were a few characters that were causing problems and being difficult but the overly sweet tone of the book never seemed to subside.
I have listened to Cassandra Campbell's narration in the past and have always enjoyed her work. She had a pretty large cast of characters to deal with in this book and I thought she did a great job of it. There were times that I thought that the narration was a little too saccharine but I really think that this was due to the dialogue more than anything else. I wouldn't hesitate to listen to Cassandra Campbell again in the future.
I would recommend this book to readers that like a sweet and clean story. I did want to see everything work out for the characters and liked the book overall. I don't think that there is anything ground breaking in this book but it was a nice story.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine via NetGalley and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from the library via Overdrive.
Initial Thoughts
I will be honest....I didn't love this. I didn't hate it but this really is not my kind of book. I requested this one from NetGalley over 4 years ago probably because I was spending a whole lot of time with my mom who was going through chemo at the time. My mom loves Debbie Macomber's books but I think that this was just a little too sweet for my tastes. Even the narration of the audio sounded overly sweet at times.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley and audiobook borrowed from the library via Overdrive. Full review to be posted soon.
December 31, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
Another one of Debbie Macomber’s enjoyable stories.
Another one of Debbie Macomber’s enjoyable stories.
March 25, 2014
“We are family” – it’s the title of a 1979 dance hit song by Sister Sledge but it sums up the feeling I get when I pick up a new Blossom Street book. Blossom Street Brides is #10 in the series, with every story spinning out from Debbie Macomber’s core metaphor that friends are family. Even more interestingly, that members of your family aren’t necessarily your friends—as adults, we have the opportunity to re-examine and re-visit the hurts and joys of childhood and if we do the hard work, perhaps we’ll be lucky enough to have family relationships with ties that bind by more than the ties of blood.
So it is with Blossom Street Brides. I’ve always loved Lydia Goetz’s story—the cancer survivor whose knitting store A Good Yarn is the anchor of Blossom Street. Her husband Brad and their children, daughter Casey and son Cody, have become very familiar to us. Realistically, money is tight for the Goetz family and that reality makes their day-to-day life all the richer. Magically, baskets with yarn from A Good Yarn, needles and the beginnings of a scarf, pop up all over the Seattle. Lydia doesn’t know what to make of this—she’d love to take credit but had nothing to do with it—but as a human interest story (scarves for the homeless) her store starts to get some much needed and well-deserved publicity and her fortunes take a significant upturn.
Switching metaphors for a second, a book in any Macomber series is a crazy quilt, with glimpses of continuing stories, hints of stories to come and, always, a community that ranges from unborn babies to grandparents on the other side of life’s journey. Not played for pathos, but as a cross-section of life as it’s being lived, with worries about payroll juxtaposed with visits to nursing homes and cheering on sports-mad children.
Macomber’s realistic portrayal of the tricky transition from a full-time parent of a child to becoming the parent of an adult is a bonus. Whether you’re a helicopter parent, a parent who works with an adult child, a parent in a second marriage with a resentful ex and children who are still sorting it out—you’ll see parts of yourself here. Possibly because of my age and the age of my grown-up children, these parts of Blossom Street Brides interested me the most.
The romance of a seemingly sensible woman who carefully prepared a husband list and then threw caution to the winds (in Vegas, of all places!) is darling. My one caveat with Lauren and Rooster’s story, taking Blossom Street Brides down to a 4 ½ star, is that the classy jewelry store employee meets rough and tumble biker tale is too reminiscent of Max and Bethanne’s love affair. A small quibble though. I thoroughly enjoyed my return visit to Blossom Street.
Review copy provided by Netgalley.
So it is with Blossom Street Brides. I’ve always loved Lydia Goetz’s story—the cancer survivor whose knitting store A Good Yarn is the anchor of Blossom Street. Her husband Brad and their children, daughter Casey and son Cody, have become very familiar to us. Realistically, money is tight for the Goetz family and that reality makes their day-to-day life all the richer. Magically, baskets with yarn from A Good Yarn, needles and the beginnings of a scarf, pop up all over the Seattle. Lydia doesn’t know what to make of this—she’d love to take credit but had nothing to do with it—but as a human interest story (scarves for the homeless) her store starts to get some much needed and well-deserved publicity and her fortunes take a significant upturn.
Switching metaphors for a second, a book in any Macomber series is a crazy quilt, with glimpses of continuing stories, hints of stories to come and, always, a community that ranges from unborn babies to grandparents on the other side of life’s journey. Not played for pathos, but as a cross-section of life as it’s being lived, with worries about payroll juxtaposed with visits to nursing homes and cheering on sports-mad children.
Macomber’s realistic portrayal of the tricky transition from a full-time parent of a child to becoming the parent of an adult is a bonus. Whether you’re a helicopter parent, a parent who works with an adult child, a parent in a second marriage with a resentful ex and children who are still sorting it out—you’ll see parts of yourself here. Possibly because of my age and the age of my grown-up children, these parts of Blossom Street Brides interested me the most.
The romance of a seemingly sensible woman who carefully prepared a husband list and then threw caution to the winds (in Vegas, of all places!) is darling. My one caveat with Lauren and Rooster’s story, taking Blossom Street Brides down to a 4 ½ star, is that the classy jewelry store employee meets rough and tumble biker tale is too reminiscent of Max and Bethanne’s love affair. A small quibble though. I thoroughly enjoyed my return visit to Blossom Street.
Review copy provided by Netgalley.
April 8, 2014
I have been a fan of Debbie Macomber for a long time now. I have even had the pleasure of meeting her twice. Wow, it was a great experience. So whenever I see she has a new book coming out I just can not wait to get my hands on it to read.
I have had the opportunity to read most of the Blossom Street series books and I have enjoyed each of them. I really enjoyed the catching up with some old friends in Blossom Street Brides.
I really enjoyed reading Lauren Elliott's story. Instead of knitting baby blankets for her own happy family she's preparing to make her YOUNGER sister a blanket for her new baby. This sets things into motion for Lauren. She decides to make some life changing moves and ends up meeting a wonderful new man. I loved Rooster (with a name like that how I could not instantly love this guy?). He's rough and tough biker dude on the outside but on the inside this guy has a heart made out of gold. I really enjoyed reading this story. I don't want to tell you too much because then you will miss out on the fabulous story.
Lauren's boss at the Jewelry store is having some family issues too. This adds more drama to the story and I enjoyed watching this story unfold as well.
I had the chance to revisit Lydia and her yarn store on Blossom Street. Lydia has a very happy life with her wonderful husband and great kids. However a few things are going on that are causing Lydia and family a few problems. It was great to catch up with Lydia again though and I really enjoyed seeing how things were going with her family.
Bethanne's life is full of problems. She is happily married to her second husband Max. However, they have a long distance relationship that they are trying to work out. Add to that, Bethanne's family and some of their opinions they are making her life awfully difficult. This is a great love story of Bethanne and Max though. I'm not going to tell you more you are going to have o grab your own copy and see how things unfold between this sweet couple. I adored Max and his love for his wife, he is truly a great guy.
On the whole I really enjoyed the whole story and I look forward to reading more about the Blossom Street gang again soon. I always enjoy anything Debbie Macomber writes though so I'll be anxiously awaiting whatever she has coming out next.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley so that I may have a chance to read it and share my thoughts with you. As always it has been my great pleasure to share my thoughts with you on Blossom Street Brides.
I have had the opportunity to read most of the Blossom Street series books and I have enjoyed each of them. I really enjoyed the catching up with some old friends in Blossom Street Brides.
I really enjoyed reading Lauren Elliott's story. Instead of knitting baby blankets for her own happy family she's preparing to make her YOUNGER sister a blanket for her new baby. This sets things into motion for Lauren. She decides to make some life changing moves and ends up meeting a wonderful new man. I loved Rooster (with a name like that how I could not instantly love this guy?). He's rough and tough biker dude on the outside but on the inside this guy has a heart made out of gold. I really enjoyed reading this story. I don't want to tell you too much because then you will miss out on the fabulous story.
Lauren's boss at the Jewelry store is having some family issues too. This adds more drama to the story and I enjoyed watching this story unfold as well.
I had the chance to revisit Lydia and her yarn store on Blossom Street. Lydia has a very happy life with her wonderful husband and great kids. However a few things are going on that are causing Lydia and family a few problems. It was great to catch up with Lydia again though and I really enjoyed seeing how things were going with her family.
Bethanne's life is full of problems. She is happily married to her second husband Max. However, they have a long distance relationship that they are trying to work out. Add to that, Bethanne's family and some of their opinions they are making her life awfully difficult. This is a great love story of Bethanne and Max though. I'm not going to tell you more you are going to have o grab your own copy and see how things unfold between this sweet couple. I adored Max and his love for his wife, he is truly a great guy.
On the whole I really enjoyed the whole story and I look forward to reading more about the Blossom Street gang again soon. I always enjoy anything Debbie Macomber writes though so I'll be anxiously awaiting whatever she has coming out next.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley so that I may have a chance to read it and share my thoughts with you. As always it has been my great pleasure to share my thoughts with you on Blossom Street Brides.
July 1, 2014
Blossom Street Brides is the tenth book in the Blossom Street series by popular American author, Debbie Macomber. Lydia Goetz, proprietor of A Good Yarn in Blossom Street, is concerned. Her adopted daughter, Casey is having terrifying nightmares with increasing frequency, and her mother, Mary Lou seems to be rapidly deteriorating, both physically and mentally. She is also intrigued: someone is leaving Knit Me baskets around the town with needles, yarn and instructions for a simple scarf for charity, to be delivered to A Good Yarn on completion. Her good friend Bethanne Scranton (whom readers will remember fondly from the very first Blossom Street book, and the eighth in the series) is happily married to her biker, Max, although their long-distance marriage is challenging, but continues to have problems with daughter Annie, who is still hopeful Bethanne will reunite with ex-husband, Grant. The news of her younger sister’s pregnancy prompts Lauren Elliott to confront her long-time boyfriend, TV broadcaster, Todd Hampton about their relationship. She is now certain he will never marry her, and she has no intention of remaining single and childless. Enter Rooster Wayne, good friend of Max Scranton, and she unexpectedly sees in this biker a man who ticks all the boxes on her husband list. But Todd is not prepared to let go quite so easily. This instalment has an elopement, a hastily arranged marriage, an aborted honeymoon, attempted blackmail and three pregnancies. Macomber touches on everyday topics like pride and jealousy, trust and honesty, as well as dementia, long-distance relationships and the effects of childhood trauma. Macomber is the mistress of the heart-warming read.
April 29, 2014
Tenth in the Blossom Street romance series set in Seattle. The new couple focus is on Lauren Elliott and Rooster Wayne while a married couple focus is on Bethanne and Max dealing with family and ex-family issues.
I did receive this as an advanced reading copy.
My Take
It’s a community with everyone having problems, a mother with Alzheimer’s, a foster-care daughter suffering teen angst with confidence issues, exes and the hassles they bring, and children, people, who are making their own decisions.
I’m a bit annoyed that Macomber is perpetuating the cultural expectation of older and younger, however, it is my only quibble in this cozy, fluffy, and sweet romance.
I do have to laugh, we never do seem able to learn from our parents’ mistakes, at least not until we make them all over again…sigh… Luckily, for Lauren she does get her head on straight---before she makes the worst mistake of her life.
It’s a rare story that splits itself off into more than one primary set of characters, and that’s what Macomber has done here. Nor is it an even split with more of the emphasis on Bethanne’s problems with Max and Annie than there is with Lauren and Rooster.
That said, I do like how Macomber rotates us through these different couples’ and families’ lives. I would have preferred a tighter focus on Lauren, but the story doesn’t lend itself to that, and that’s okay. I suspect part of my problem is that I haven’t read any of Macomber’s stories before, let alone any of the earlier Blossom Street installments. I suspect I’d find the peripheral couples are the focus in them and Macomber is keeping us up-to-date on what’s happening in their lives. I do love knowing how “people” I’ve met before are doing!
I love the KNIT ME project! It’s so clever and a great way to foster community!
Grant is such a jerk---and I’m with Max on the most expensive dish for dinner! Although, I don’t get why Max gets so fussy about Grant buying. Max has gotta know how much Bethanne loves him. If he could simply relax , kick back, and laugh at Grant, well, you know what they say about laughter being the best medicine, lol. Max’s jealousy is rather annoying, although I’m also offended for him about Grant. I don’t see why it takes Bethanne so long to get it. I DO think Bethanne should have told Grant she couldn’t do the dinner that weekend. It’s simply part of that jerk’s plans to get her back.
*Laughter*, I do like the interesting start to this hook-up and it proves what an idiot Todd is. I think Lauren is making a very smart decision about Todd. It’s so much better to go forward with someone who wants to step forth with you. Cut your losses and don’t even consider the time invested. It’s not about time. It’s about love and wanting their happiness along with yours. And I love that Lauren looks beneath the surface to the inner man. Where a person’s true worth lies.
What is with Rooster’s sudden oversensitivity? Geez, it’s natural that Lauren would take him to a favorite restaurant. What? She’s supposed to take him to a dive she’s never been to? I read that scene over and over, and I just can’t see where Rooster makes this conclusion. I suspect Macomber just glossed over it and didn’t work it. Then again, I wanna smack Lauren for being such an idjit.
Then that drama with the “blind” Annie…*shakes her head in frustration*. An idiot girl who cannot accept reality while I adore Andrew! He’s perfect in his conclusions and acceptance! I wanna smack Annie upside the head and get her brain to wake up. Of course, that conversation between Max and Grant does make me feel all better…*she says primly…with a grin*…
LOL, I love the Glad game---and it’s true. It works every time!
There are a few info dumps here and there, but it’s mostly good---I did give it a "5" after all *grin*.
The Story
It’s baby dramas that wake Lauren up even as it depresses Elisa and throws Bethanne for a loop.
Meanwhile, A Good Yarn is in trouble---personally and financially.
The Characters
Lauren Elliott has been waiting for that Defining moment for too long. It doesn’t help that Todd is a local and popular newscaster who has been content with merely dating. Carol is Lauren’s younger ---pregnant---sister who starts Lauren’s clock ticking. Jason is Carol’s husband.
John Jerome “Rooster” Wayne is a hardlooking, motorcycle-riding businessman who happens to be partners and best friends with Max Scranton.
Bethanne Hamlin Scranton is a successful event planner who worked hard to establish herself when her first husband, Grant Hamlin, aka the jerk, left her after twenty years of marriage. She’s now married to the fabulous Max Scranton, and the only negative is that Max’s wine distribution company is located in California. Yep, it’s a long-distance marriage. Her son, Andrew, is married to the newly pregnant Courtney while Annie is the starry-eyed daughter who thinks her father walks on water. She works for her mother. Monica is Grant’s somewhat secret girlfriend.
Lydia Hoffman owns A Good Yarn, a knitting shop, along with her sister, Margaret. Lydia is married to Brad, a UPS driver and they have a blended family of Cory---Brad’s son with the irresponsible Janice---and Casey, the daughter they adopted out of the foster care system. Mary Lou Hoffman is Grandma. She’s suffering from Alzheimer’s, and the sweet spot is that she always knows who Casey is. Evelyn Boyle is Casey’s caseworker.
Elisa Lipincott, the original owner’s daughter, is married to and partners with her husband, Garry. Together they run John Michael Jewelers where Lauren is employed. They have three children: Katie in her first year at college and twin sons, Tim and Tom. Dietrich is Katie’s very serious boyfriend.
Jordan Turner is the youth pastor married to Alix Townsend, a baker, and they have a toddler, Tommy. Shannon Kidder writes a column for the Seattle Times. Ava is Casey’s friend.
The Cover
The cover is sweetly pink with a close-up, I’m guessing, of a bride and not a bridesmaid holding a bouquet of pink and ivory roses.
The title is quite apt as this story is all about the Blossom Street Brides, whether they’re about to wed, recently wed, or wed for some time.
I did receive this as an advanced reading copy.
My Take
It’s a community with everyone having problems, a mother with Alzheimer’s, a foster-care daughter suffering teen angst with confidence issues, exes and the hassles they bring, and children, people, who are making their own decisions.
I’m a bit annoyed that Macomber is perpetuating the cultural expectation of older and younger, however, it is my only quibble in this cozy, fluffy, and sweet romance.
I do have to laugh, we never do seem able to learn from our parents’ mistakes, at least not until we make them all over again…sigh… Luckily, for Lauren she does get her head on straight---before she makes the worst mistake of her life.
It’s a rare story that splits itself off into more than one primary set of characters, and that’s what Macomber has done here. Nor is it an even split with more of the emphasis on Bethanne’s problems with Max and Annie than there is with Lauren and Rooster.
That said, I do like how Macomber rotates us through these different couples’ and families’ lives. I would have preferred a tighter focus on Lauren, but the story doesn’t lend itself to that, and that’s okay. I suspect part of my problem is that I haven’t read any of Macomber’s stories before, let alone any of the earlier Blossom Street installments. I suspect I’d find the peripheral couples are the focus in them and Macomber is keeping us up-to-date on what’s happening in their lives. I do love knowing how “people” I’ve met before are doing!
I love the KNIT ME project! It’s so clever and a great way to foster community!
Grant is such a jerk---and I’m with Max on the most expensive dish for dinner! Although, I don’t get why Max gets so fussy about Grant buying. Max has gotta know how much Bethanne loves him. If he could simply relax , kick back, and laugh at Grant, well, you know what they say about laughter being the best medicine, lol. Max’s jealousy is rather annoying, although I’m also offended for him about Grant. I don’t see why it takes Bethanne so long to get it. I DO think Bethanne should have told Grant she couldn’t do the dinner that weekend. It’s simply part of that jerk’s plans to get her back.
*Laughter*, I do like the interesting start to this hook-up and it proves what an idiot Todd is. I think Lauren is making a very smart decision about Todd. It’s so much better to go forward with someone who wants to step forth with you. Cut your losses and don’t even consider the time invested. It’s not about time. It’s about love and wanting their happiness along with yours. And I love that Lauren looks beneath the surface to the inner man. Where a person’s true worth lies.
What is with Rooster’s sudden oversensitivity? Geez, it’s natural that Lauren would take him to a favorite restaurant. What? She’s supposed to take him to a dive she’s never been to? I read that scene over and over, and I just can’t see where Rooster makes this conclusion. I suspect Macomber just glossed over it and didn’t work it. Then again, I wanna smack Lauren for being such an idjit.
Then that drama with the “blind” Annie…*shakes her head in frustration*. An idiot girl who cannot accept reality while I adore Andrew! He’s perfect in his conclusions and acceptance! I wanna smack Annie upside the head and get her brain to wake up. Of course, that conversation between Max and Grant does make me feel all better…*she says primly…with a grin*…
LOL, I love the Glad game---and it’s true. It works every time!
There are a few info dumps here and there, but it’s mostly good---I did give it a "5" after all *grin*.
The Story
It’s baby dramas that wake Lauren up even as it depresses Elisa and throws Bethanne for a loop.
Meanwhile, A Good Yarn is in trouble---personally and financially.
The Characters
Lauren Elliott has been waiting for that Defining moment for too long. It doesn’t help that Todd is a local and popular newscaster who has been content with merely dating. Carol is Lauren’s younger ---pregnant---sister who starts Lauren’s clock ticking. Jason is Carol’s husband.
John Jerome “Rooster” Wayne is a hardlooking, motorcycle-riding businessman who happens to be partners and best friends with Max Scranton.
Bethanne Hamlin Scranton is a successful event planner who worked hard to establish herself when her first husband, Grant Hamlin, aka the jerk, left her after twenty years of marriage. She’s now married to the fabulous Max Scranton, and the only negative is that Max’s wine distribution company is located in California. Yep, it’s a long-distance marriage. Her son, Andrew, is married to the newly pregnant Courtney while Annie is the starry-eyed daughter who thinks her father walks on water. She works for her mother. Monica is Grant’s somewhat secret girlfriend.
Lydia Hoffman owns A Good Yarn, a knitting shop, along with her sister, Margaret. Lydia is married to Brad, a UPS driver and they have a blended family of Cory---Brad’s son with the irresponsible Janice---and Casey, the daughter they adopted out of the foster care system. Mary Lou Hoffman is Grandma. She’s suffering from Alzheimer’s, and the sweet spot is that she always knows who Casey is. Evelyn Boyle is Casey’s caseworker.
Elisa Lipincott, the original owner’s daughter, is married to and partners with her husband, Garry. Together they run John Michael Jewelers where Lauren is employed. They have three children: Katie in her first year at college and twin sons, Tim and Tom. Dietrich is Katie’s very serious boyfriend.
Jordan Turner is the youth pastor married to Alix Townsend, a baker, and they have a toddler, Tommy. Shannon Kidder writes a column for the Seattle Times. Ava is Casey’s friend.
The Cover
The cover is sweetly pink with a close-up, I’m guessing, of a bride and not a bridesmaid holding a bouquet of pink and ivory roses.
The title is quite apt as this story is all about the Blossom Street Brides, whether they’re about to wed, recently wed, or wed for some time.
November 25, 2025
Debbie Macomber has a way of making her writing feel like home. Once again, we are swept into real-world situations and given a front-row seat to the struggles of love and marriage. Blossom Street Brides is simply real life experienced by fictional characters. You don't get a glossed-over picture but true human emotions, struggles, and triumphs. This story was an intimate perspective of new marriages, marriages struggling, and marriages that seem to be going well. I found this story to be a quick, easy, enjoyable read.
I received this ARC copy of Blossom Street Brides from Random House - Ballantine Books in exchange for an honest review. This book is set for publication on April 8, 2014.
I received this ARC copy of Blossom Street Brides from Random House - Ballantine Books in exchange for an honest review. This book is set for publication on April 8, 2014.
March 15, 2021
If you know me at all, you may know that I do not read much general market fiction. Most of my reading hours are spent in the Christian Fiction, and mostly Christian Historical Fiction world. There is about a handful of authors that I make exception for in the general market and Debbie Macomber is one of those, especially when it comes to her Blossom Street series, which I own all of! One of the things that I love about this series is that each book could easily stand on it’s own two covers and this one does as well. However for those readers that have read any of the other books in the Blossom Street series it’s enchanting to meet Lydia again on the page and read more of her own romance.
I read an advanced copy and at the end it just makes me want to jump further back and reread the series. I think that Debbie Macomber has a great ministry. She entertains, but she also provides just enough seeds and reassurance that those with faith and those without can gain from reading her stories. I remember enjoying Hannah’s List (the first one in the series that I read and #7 in order before I knew about the series) so much and my mother assures me that Starting Now is just as good to read. In the early winter I enjoyed a ARC of Starry Night: A Christmas Novel a different stand alone and loved it too!
I received this product free for the purpose of reviewing it. I received no other compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my personal, honest opinions. Your experience may vary. Please read my full disclosure policy for more details.
posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2...
September 5, 2016
Enjoyed this addition to the Blossom St series. It was great catching up on the knit shop, Lydia and her family and to meet a new character or two like Lauren and Max. A couple of men who seem to be slow to get the message their time in the sun was finished!
September 29, 2014
Another nice addition to this continuing series.
April 28, 2021
I would say the story was 4 stars but I'm giving the series 5 stars.
July 30, 2024
I couldn’t put this book down! Highly recommend for readers who like a little romance and a cozy vibe.
April 23, 2014
The Blossom Street Brides by Debbie Macomber is a 2014 Ballentine publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
BOOK BLURB:
Debbie Macomber has won the hearts of millions of readers with her moving and inspiring stories. Now wedding bells are ringing in the tight-knit community that gathers around A Good Yarn, a store in a pretty Seattle neighborhood. Knitters come to the store to buy yarn and patterns but somehow they leave richer in friendship and love.
Lauren Elliott has waited years for her long-term boyfriend, Todd, to propose, yet he seems more focused on his career than their relationship. When Lauren learns that her younger sister is pregnant before she herself even has an engagement ring, she feels overjoyed yet disheartened. Knowing she can’t put her future on hold, Lauren prepares to make a bold choice—one that leads her to a man she never dreamed she’d meet.
Newly married to her second husband, Max, Bethanne Scranton is blissfully in love. But with Max’s job in California and Bethanne’s in Seattle, their long-distance marriage is becoming difficult to maintain. To complicate matters, Bethanne’s cunning ex will do anything to win her back.
Lydia Goetz, too, is wonderfully happy with her husband, Brad, though lately she worries about the future of A Good Yarn. As she considers how to bring in business, she discovers that someone has beaten her to the punch. Baskets of yarn are mysteriously popping up all over town, with instructions to knit a scarf for charity and bring it into Lydia’s store. Never before has her shop received so much attention, but who hatched this brilliant plan?
As three women’s lives intersect in unexpected ways, Lydia, Lauren, and Bethanne realize that love heals every heart, and the best surprises still lay ahead.
Women's fiction is a genre that I ignored for a long time because I thought it was too heavy in the drama department and kind of depressing. About two years ago, I gave Debbie Macomber a chance and I was blown away. I have found that I really enjoy this genre more and more as time goes on because of how real it feels and it's much more mature reading. I don't know which storyline I liked the best, but I suppose the story of Bethanne and Max made the biggest impact. I have personal experience with a family member that remarried years after a divorce and his grown children nearly caused another divorce. I guess I could relate to the struggles the couple had in that area of the relationship. Long distance relationships are always hard and troubles with Bethanne's ex-husband and daughter made the separation all the more difficult.
I applauded Lauren for having the courage to break things off with Todd. She didn't waste anymore time on a man that wasn't ready for marriage. What an arrogant man he was, and pretty dense too! Whirlwind romances are not always the smartest idea. But, we are talking about adults that followed their hearts and the lesson was that no matter what other people think or if they approve or not, we can't let them dictate to us what works for us. If it's right, it's right. Even well meaning friends and family need to mind their own business. Cheers to Lauren and Rooster!
Lydia is struggling with her adoptive daughter's horrendous nightmares and with trying to build up a more solid business base. An anonymous person leaving baskets of yarn around town has begun to help bring in customers, but who is this mysterious person leaving the baskets?
All the stories in the book are emotional and depicts human nature in a realistic manner. All of us have insecurities and we all think about ourselves and we want and attempt to convince other they want the same thing. Trust is a the root of many issues, as well as unrealistic expectations we have of ourselves and others. I love how Lauren took the advice she was given by her friend, which she asked for, it wasn't unsolicited, and how she was always ready to admit she made a mistake. Even when she isn't at fault she wants to make things right. Too many people let pride get in the way of making a relationship work because they can't say "I'm sorry" first. The sweetest story was Lydia's but it kind of got lost in the shuffle amid the heavy drama between the other couples and some of the secondary characters. Through hard work and tenacity these couples will get their much deserved HEA! After so many novels written in this series, Debbie Macomber has never lost her touch!
This one gets 4 stars
BOOK BLURB:
Debbie Macomber has won the hearts of millions of readers with her moving and inspiring stories. Now wedding bells are ringing in the tight-knit community that gathers around A Good Yarn, a store in a pretty Seattle neighborhood. Knitters come to the store to buy yarn and patterns but somehow they leave richer in friendship and love.
Lauren Elliott has waited years for her long-term boyfriend, Todd, to propose, yet he seems more focused on his career than their relationship. When Lauren learns that her younger sister is pregnant before she herself even has an engagement ring, she feels overjoyed yet disheartened. Knowing she can’t put her future on hold, Lauren prepares to make a bold choice—one that leads her to a man she never dreamed she’d meet.
Newly married to her second husband, Max, Bethanne Scranton is blissfully in love. But with Max’s job in California and Bethanne’s in Seattle, their long-distance marriage is becoming difficult to maintain. To complicate matters, Bethanne’s cunning ex will do anything to win her back.
Lydia Goetz, too, is wonderfully happy with her husband, Brad, though lately she worries about the future of A Good Yarn. As she considers how to bring in business, she discovers that someone has beaten her to the punch. Baskets of yarn are mysteriously popping up all over town, with instructions to knit a scarf for charity and bring it into Lydia’s store. Never before has her shop received so much attention, but who hatched this brilliant plan?
As three women’s lives intersect in unexpected ways, Lydia, Lauren, and Bethanne realize that love heals every heart, and the best surprises still lay ahead.
Women's fiction is a genre that I ignored for a long time because I thought it was too heavy in the drama department and kind of depressing. About two years ago, I gave Debbie Macomber a chance and I was blown away. I have found that I really enjoy this genre more and more as time goes on because of how real it feels and it's much more mature reading. I don't know which storyline I liked the best, but I suppose the story of Bethanne and Max made the biggest impact. I have personal experience with a family member that remarried years after a divorce and his grown children nearly caused another divorce. I guess I could relate to the struggles the couple had in that area of the relationship. Long distance relationships are always hard and troubles with Bethanne's ex-husband and daughter made the separation all the more difficult.
I applauded Lauren for having the courage to break things off with Todd. She didn't waste anymore time on a man that wasn't ready for marriage. What an arrogant man he was, and pretty dense too! Whirlwind romances are not always the smartest idea. But, we are talking about adults that followed their hearts and the lesson was that no matter what other people think or if they approve or not, we can't let them dictate to us what works for us. If it's right, it's right. Even well meaning friends and family need to mind their own business. Cheers to Lauren and Rooster!
Lydia is struggling with her adoptive daughter's horrendous nightmares and with trying to build up a more solid business base. An anonymous person leaving baskets of yarn around town has begun to help bring in customers, but who is this mysterious person leaving the baskets?
All the stories in the book are emotional and depicts human nature in a realistic manner. All of us have insecurities and we all think about ourselves and we want and attempt to convince other they want the same thing. Trust is a the root of many issues, as well as unrealistic expectations we have of ourselves and others. I love how Lauren took the advice she was given by her friend, which she asked for, it wasn't unsolicited, and how she was always ready to admit she made a mistake. Even when she isn't at fault she wants to make things right. Too many people let pride get in the way of making a relationship work because they can't say "I'm sorry" first. The sweetest story was Lydia's but it kind of got lost in the shuffle amid the heavy drama between the other couples and some of the secondary characters. Through hard work and tenacity these couples will get their much deserved HEA! After so many novels written in this series, Debbie Macomber has never lost her touch!
This one gets 4 stars
April 11, 2014
I received a free download of "Blossom Street Brides (Blossom Street #10), by Bebbie Macomber through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. This is a contemporary romance novel that is a real treat for the reader. I have to admit that I read mostly mystery suspense thrillers, and some romance novels, that hold my interest...and I felt right at home reading this novel. I loved it!
This novel revolves around three woman; Lauren, Lydia and Bethanee, their passion for life, their relationships and the thread that binds them all together...their knitting. And they all meet at the shop" A Good Yarn", where Lydia is the owner. The setting for the novel switches between Seattle, Washington and California.
Lydia is married to Brad and they have two children: Cod , Brad's son of his first marriage, and Casey, a beautiful young girl adopted at 12 years old. Casey is suffering from nightmares, possibly a fear of being returned to foster care. Casey spends all her available time with her grandmother,who is suffering from Alzheimer's. They have a special bond.
Bethanee, runs her own party-business in Seattle and is happy married to Max, who owns a wine export business in California, with his partner, Rooster. Bethanee's ex husband, Grant, has now decided he wants his wife back...but it is too late. Life has moved on for Bethanee. Grant even resorts to putting their daughter against her own mother.
Lauren is thirty four years old and still single and has felt that life has passed her by. She has given up on Todd, a famous anchor of the local newspaper, and her boyfriend of three years, and has decided to break up. Todd was content to leave things the way they were...with no formal commitment. Another one bites the dust!
Soon after that, she meets Rooster, Max's partner at winery, and the chemistry between them is magical. They decide to get married while in Las Vegas, but will this relationship hold up?
This novel is book about special relationships, second chances, and family ties...but mostly about the strength of LOVE. It is about living with the consequences of their actions and the ties that bind people together...and the freedom to make their own decisions.
This novel revolves around three woman; Lauren, Lydia and Bethanee, their passion for life, their relationships and the thread that binds them all together...their knitting. And they all meet at the shop" A Good Yarn", where Lydia is the owner. The setting for the novel switches between Seattle, Washington and California.
Lydia is married to Brad and they have two children: Cod , Brad's son of his first marriage, and Casey, a beautiful young girl adopted at 12 years old. Casey is suffering from nightmares, possibly a fear of being returned to foster care. Casey spends all her available time with her grandmother,who is suffering from Alzheimer's. They have a special bond.
Bethanee, runs her own party-business in Seattle and is happy married to Max, who owns a wine export business in California, with his partner, Rooster. Bethanee's ex husband, Grant, has now decided he wants his wife back...but it is too late. Life has moved on for Bethanee. Grant even resorts to putting their daughter against her own mother.
Lauren is thirty four years old and still single and has felt that life has passed her by. She has given up on Todd, a famous anchor of the local newspaper, and her boyfriend of three years, and has decided to break up. Todd was content to leave things the way they were...with no formal commitment. Another one bites the dust!
Soon after that, she meets Rooster, Max's partner at winery, and the chemistry between them is magical. They decide to get married while in Las Vegas, but will this relationship hold up?
This novel is book about special relationships, second chances, and family ties...but mostly about the strength of LOVE. It is about living with the consequences of their actions and the ties that bind people together...and the freedom to make their own decisions.
May 12, 2014
Originally posted on The Canon {http://canireadeverything.blogspot.co...}
I haven't marked a book DNF in over a year.
This is a bit terrifying.
I feel a bit bad...but I couldn't stand it anymore. Blossom Street Brides was one of the most irritatingly dull books I've read in recent history. I made it to 54%, wondering when on earth it would be over.
I'm going to skip a more traditional review of this book because I simply want to tear this page out of my review notebook and pretend I never saw this book in my life. In short:
The characters, obviously from a series, were bland, irritating and predictable. The opening scene details Lauren, one of the heroines, stewing jealously over the fact her sister is having a baby before her. Seriously? I'm supposed to cheer for a woman who can't be happy for her sister? No. The constant reminders of Lauren's job at the jeweler's drove me nuts. Bethanne's relationships were just a mess. A long-distance marriage? Who saw trouble coming there? (Raises hand.) Lydia was the only one that was somewhat likable, but her character simply sank into the background. I forgot her name on more than one occasion. Blossom Street Brides was frustratingly predictable; to me, there's a difference between following a series (like the Stephanie Plum or In Death series, both which I love) which has a tendency to be predictable and...this. There was no emotion or love from the author into the characters; they never came alive. The plot was overloaded, overworked, and simply boring. Instead of using her characters to show us their feelings and emotions, the narration reverts to the author's worst nightmare: telling instead of showing. The writing was flat, cardboard, and listless. The romance was dull and flat.
I hate to say I'm done with an author, but I will not be reading any more of Debbie Macomber's work. I did enjoy her Starry Night novel late last year, but Blossom Street Brides just left a bad taste.
I haven't marked a book DNF in over a year.
This is a bit terrifying.
I feel a bit bad...but I couldn't stand it anymore. Blossom Street Brides was one of the most irritatingly dull books I've read in recent history. I made it to 54%, wondering when on earth it would be over.
I'm going to skip a more traditional review of this book because I simply want to tear this page out of my review notebook and pretend I never saw this book in my life. In short:
The characters, obviously from a series, were bland, irritating and predictable. The opening scene details Lauren, one of the heroines, stewing jealously over the fact her sister is having a baby before her. Seriously? I'm supposed to cheer for a woman who can't be happy for her sister? No. The constant reminders of Lauren's job at the jeweler's drove me nuts. Bethanne's relationships were just a mess. A long-distance marriage? Who saw trouble coming there? (Raises hand.) Lydia was the only one that was somewhat likable, but her character simply sank into the background. I forgot her name on more than one occasion. Blossom Street Brides was frustratingly predictable; to me, there's a difference between following a series (like the Stephanie Plum or In Death series, both which I love) which has a tendency to be predictable and...this. There was no emotion or love from the author into the characters; they never came alive. The plot was overloaded, overworked, and simply boring. Instead of using her characters to show us their feelings and emotions, the narration reverts to the author's worst nightmare: telling instead of showing. The writing was flat, cardboard, and listless. The romance was dull and flat.
I hate to say I'm done with an author, but I will not be reading any more of Debbie Macomber's work. I did enjoy her Starry Night novel late last year, but Blossom Street Brides just left a bad taste.
June 9, 2014
There is a bit of a mystery woven into this story of love and romance. Baskets of yarn with instructions for scarves are appearing in various places around town with notes that say to knit while waiting for the bus or at the fast food restaurant. Then the person who finishes the scarf is asked to return it to A Good Yarn shop, to be donated to a homeless shelter. All the yarn sports A Good Yarn labels, yet Lydia had nothing to do with it and no one seems to know who thought up this great idea. Lydia has a wonderful life and loves her family, but is concerned about her mother’s declining health, her teenage daughter’s angst and nightmares, her yarn shop’s income, and the well-being of her whole family. At times, it’s all over-whelming. Lauren is tired of waiting for Todd to set the date, but is she ready to tell him it’s now or never? Bethanne is blissfully in love with her second husband, but because of their businesses, they live in different states. Can they eliminate one state and set up a joint household? The lives of these women intersect in imaginative ways in this novel of friendship and love. Fans of Debbie Macomber will not be disappointed with this Blossom Street novel with its entertaining plot and likable, well-developed characters. All these women have their fair share of problems and then some, but how they work through them to arrive at that “Macomber happy ending” is well worth the read.
February 22, 2016
Severek başladığım bir seriydi ancak süreç içerisinde ilişkilere yaklaşım bana batmaya başladı;
Her tartışmada ya da sorunda kadının ödün vermesi sinir bozucu, genelde kadın onunla tartışmak beni çok üzüyor diye susup erkek alenen hatalı ise bile kabulleniyor Erkek karakterin yaptığında hep bir mantık var, mesela erkek karakter işten eve sinirli geliyorsa ama eğer kadın karakter ona delice aşıksa alttan almalı, siniri yatışıncaya kadar güler yüzle davranmalı; aman erkek kendini değiştirmesin hiç. erkek karakter gece gündüz kariyeri için çalışabilir, onun kariyeri sırasında oluşan çeşitli boşluklarda (gündüz mesai saatlerinde mesela) kadın çalışsa dahi süre ayırıp onunla kahve içmelidir, kadın o süreyi ayıramıyorsa kariyer saplantılıdır. O kadıncağızın kariyerinin bir önemi yok, o da okumuş önemli değil.
Böyle böyle seri, son 4 kitapta sevimlilikten sinir bozuculuğa doğru ilerledi. Hele 8. ve bu kitapta yer alan Annie karakteri çekilecek gibi değildi.
Her tartışmada ya da sorunda kadının ödün vermesi sinir bozucu, genelde kadın onunla tartışmak beni çok üzüyor diye susup erkek alenen hatalı ise bile kabulleniyor Erkek karakterin yaptığında hep bir mantık var, mesela erkek karakter işten eve sinirli geliyorsa ama eğer kadın karakter ona delice aşıksa alttan almalı, siniri yatışıncaya kadar güler yüzle davranmalı; aman erkek kendini değiştirmesin hiç. erkek karakter gece gündüz kariyeri için çalışabilir, onun kariyeri sırasında oluşan çeşitli boşluklarda (gündüz mesai saatlerinde mesela) kadın çalışsa dahi süre ayırıp onunla kahve içmelidir, kadın o süreyi ayıramıyorsa kariyer saplantılıdır. O kadıncağızın kariyerinin bir önemi yok, o da okumuş önemli değil.
Böyle böyle seri, son 4 kitapta sevimlilikten sinir bozuculuğa doğru ilerledi. Hele 8. ve bu kitapta yer alan Annie karakteri çekilecek gibi değildi.
October 30, 2017
If I could give this ZERO stars or NEGATIVE stars I would... it's that awful. I'd say maybe it was so bad because the narrator was sub-par. Nope. The story is just that awful. The dialogue simplistic and the female characters simple minded with a singular focus on marriage or babies. I briefly lost track of who was pregnant or wanting to become pregnant. There is some subtle Christian value promotion. A biker named Rooster. Some platitudes on its what is on inside that counts not the outer package. All in all not awful.. until the main character who abruptly ends one long term relationship and marries the biker, Rooster, within days loses her mind on a discovery he was previously married years ago. Then suddenly there are trust issues on her part. Al this after his good natured responses to her "Husband Attribute Want List" revelation. She's kind of an utter idiot and if I were a man... I'd run. I'd run fast, I'd run in zig zags, I'd run screeching, I'd run til my legs gave out from this situation.
All in all, not an author for me. I know she has an intensely popular following, so I may be in the minority in my review. I just know to skip her books in the future.
All in all, not an author for me. I know she has an intensely popular following, so I may be in the minority in my review. I just know to skip her books in the future.
June 16, 2014
If you havent read the other books in this series, this book would be fine as a "stand alone" book.
In this book, we meet Lauren, who works near the yarn shop and has waited years for her boyfriend to propose. She has to make a decision on whether to keep seeing him or break up with him...
It was nice visiting again with Bethanne and Max. They love each other very much but Bethanne's ex-husband keeps interfering!
And, Lydia ( who owns "A Good Yarn" shop ) is puzzled on who is leaving baskets of yarn in public places around town, ( there is a note in each basket of yarn for people to work on the scarf for charity and then take it to Lydia's store. ) Lydia is married and has a family life that she enjoys very much.
I enjoyed the story lines of this book. With each of these ladies having a unique romance in the book, it was very interesting to follow them and see how their stories turned out!
As each story "unravels" you will find the charm and wonderful characters that Debbie Macomber is known for!
5 stars!
In this book, we meet Lauren, who works near the yarn shop and has waited years for her boyfriend to propose. She has to make a decision on whether to keep seeing him or break up with him...
It was nice visiting again with Bethanne and Max. They love each other very much but Bethanne's ex-husband keeps interfering!
And, Lydia ( who owns "A Good Yarn" shop ) is puzzled on who is leaving baskets of yarn in public places around town, ( there is a note in each basket of yarn for people to work on the scarf for charity and then take it to Lydia's store. ) Lydia is married and has a family life that she enjoys very much.
I enjoyed the story lines of this book. With each of these ladies having a unique romance in the book, it was very interesting to follow them and see how their stories turned out!
As each story "unravels" you will find the charm and wonderful characters that Debbie Macomber is known for!
5 stars!
May 28, 2014
It was pleasant to be back with the residents of Blossom Street. Once again, Debbie was able to spin a tale about the lives of the people there giving them real life issues to overcome. We find that some people are falling in love, while other relationships end. Casey doesn't seem to be feeling secure in her adoptive home and begins to have nightmares. Lydia worries about her mom's failing health and long distance relationships are strained. The personalities that Debbie invents are spot on and very realistic. It is a fast read and enjoyable. I am already looking forward to her next Blossom Street tale.
January 8, 2014
This review is based on an ARC provided to me by the publisher.
I'd like to visit Blossom Street. Everytime I read a Debbie Macomber book I feel like I am right there with all of the familiar places and characters. In this episode we get a look at marriages, some going well, some on the rocks and two just starting out. A quick read and an enjoyable diversion. I will certainly read her next book.
I'd like to visit Blossom Street. Everytime I read a Debbie Macomber book I feel like I am right there with all of the familiar places and characters. In this episode we get a look at marriages, some going well, some on the rocks and two just starting out. A quick read and an enjoyable diversion. I will certainly read her next book.
April 14, 2014
Looking forward to hearing more stories from Blossom Street folks. This book was very focused on Lauren and Rooster following "A Turn in the Road"... and glad stick in the mud Bethanne's ex is finally dumped and has received his clear walking papers & was disclosed as he is to his daughter !!! Resolved is mother and daughter's relationship ! Yeah. !
June 30, 2016
My favorite part of the book was only a tiny subplot but very clever. Knitting baskets complete with yarn, needles and instructions to knit as much as you want and drop off the completed item at a homeless shelter were left in numerous public places.
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July 9, 2014Can someone slap Annie? UGH
June 25, 2015
Like having lunch with an old friend, visiting Blossom Street again is always sweet.
May 13, 2019
Loved it! Great end to an amazing series ❤❤❤❤
November 10, 2021
A very nice series. My favorites are Books 1, 2, 6, and 8. This book mostly focuses on the stories from Books 2 and especially 8.
December 3, 2020
I love a tacky romance novel just as much as anyone. Accidentally finding your soulmate when returning to your hometown, falling in love with a sassy roommate, dating someone to appease their parents but falling in love-
HOWEVER,
This novel was so egregious it was basically sexist.
While each woman in the novel had a career, they were entirely malleable by men. Their careers and decisions were always based on what their husband/SO wanted. Further, they were all reaching for the same finish line- a husband and a family. Even those who had grown children were focused on children or their husbands. Their careers were like a footnote added to their resume of motherhood and wife life.
It is possible to write a romance novel where the women are focused on love, but the characters were spineless to a point it was almost misogynistic.
HOWEVER,
This novel was so egregious it was basically sexist.
While each woman in the novel had a career, they were entirely malleable by men. Their careers and decisions were always based on what their husband/SO wanted. Further, they were all reaching for the same finish line- a husband and a family. Even those who had grown children were focused on children or their husbands. Their careers were like a footnote added to their resume of motherhood and wife life.
It is possible to write a romance novel where the women are focused on love, but the characters were spineless to a point it was almost misogynistic.
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