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In Bloom
Twenty-seven-year-old Erica is happy with her uncomplicated life: she works in her aunt’s floral shop, she bakes in her free time, and she cherishes her small group of friends. Sure, she’s single, but Erica’s fine with it. As far as she’s concerned, not everybody gets a great love.
Then one day she delivers flowers to her aunt’s newest client, Catherine, a forty-year-old bridal shop owner, and Erica finds herself drawn to her. While the attraction initially catches her off guard—she’s never desired a woman before—she soon realizes that her crush is the real deal.
And Erica isn’t the only one experiencing sparks. Catherine feels them, too. But between their age difference, the need to remain professional, and both of their past experiences with love, both women are hesitant to make a move. Soon, however, it becomes obvious that they need to stop holding back and let their love bloom.
IN BLOOM is a standalone age-gap lesbian romance with an HEA.
Then one day she delivers flowers to her aunt’s newest client, Catherine, a forty-year-old bridal shop owner, and Erica finds herself drawn to her. While the attraction initially catches her off guard—she’s never desired a woman before—she soon realizes that her crush is the real deal.
And Erica isn’t the only one experiencing sparks. Catherine feels them, too. But between their age difference, the need to remain professional, and both of their past experiences with love, both women are hesitant to make a move. Soon, however, it becomes obvious that they need to stop holding back and let their love bloom.
IN BLOOM is a standalone age-gap lesbian romance with an HEA.
Audiobook
Published February 25, 2020
41 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Allie Keane
4 books9 followersAllie Keane writes contemporary lesfic romance. When she's not writing, she's hanging out with her pets, watching movies, or cooking up a storm.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
December 27, 2019
I really enjoyed this novella. It’s a quick read, with sexual tension, humor and fun, genuinely good feels and cute interactions between our two mains.
We start out with Erica, who is a bit of a klutz, but sweet and innocent. She meets Catherine and is instantly attracted to her. Things heat up between them and it is a really cute story with a lot of feels.
I liked Erica’s friends. They seem so nice and supportive. At one point, Erica is upset and says she’d rather not talk about it and her friends don’t pry or pressure or tease her.
Erica’s never been with a woman before and seems quite inexperienced with relationships in general so the fact that she is attracted to an older (40), confident and undeniably sexy woman understandably throws her for a loop. There is some drama, and the usual run-away-and-ignore-the-phone stuff, but it is handled well.
This is a definite age-gap romance, which I love, so I was very happy with this story. I thought the cover doesn’t really reflect how I pictured the characters, but that’s a very small nitpick. Overall, a really nice story, one that’s going on my reread lists or sure for those days when I need a bit of sweetness as a pick-me-up.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ five happy stars
We start out with Erica, who is a bit of a klutz, but sweet and innocent. She meets Catherine and is instantly attracted to her. Things heat up between them and it is a really cute story with a lot of feels.
I liked Erica’s friends. They seem so nice and supportive. At one point, Erica is upset and says she’d rather not talk about it and her friends don’t pry or pressure or tease her.
Erica’s never been with a woman before and seems quite inexperienced with relationships in general so the fact that she is attracted to an older (40), confident and undeniably sexy woman understandably throws her for a loop. There is some drama, and the usual run-away-and-ignore-the-phone stuff, but it is handled well.
This is a definite age-gap romance, which I love, so I was very happy with this story. I thought the cover doesn’t really reflect how I pictured the characters, but that’s a very small nitpick. Overall, a really nice story, one that’s going on my reread lists or sure for those days when I need a bit of sweetness as a pick-me-up.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ five happy stars
August 20, 2019
Nearly a 4*
..... just a little too short for me, but that's just me being me. Anyway, sweet story, character's worked together and the story line is sweet and simple with a ex mixed in there too.
..... just a little too short for me, but that's just me being me. Anyway, sweet story, character's worked together and the story line is sweet and simple with a ex mixed in there too.
August 21, 2019
Sweet story, but it would have been better if less words were used. There were too many details that were unnecessary for the story. It made me fast forward sometimes to what did matter for the story and scan some pages of the book instead of really reading them. An example is the information about where the price of the driving range and the mini golf was put, uninteresting and unnecessary especially as the two mains were only going to play mini-golf. There are more descriptions that in my opinion didn’t add anything to the story and would better have been skipped. That said, the storyline was ok and the characters were nice. 2.7 stars, which rounds up to 3.
December 21, 2020
3.5 stars. This was a perfectly romantic novella. I read this just before the holidays, and even though the story is set in summer, it was very fitting.
Erica works in her aunt's flower shops and delivers flowers to her newest client, bridal shop owner Catherine. There's an instant spark between them, despite Erica never having been attracted to a woman.
They keep on seeing each other every week, and the spark is still there, so Catherine asks Erica out on a date.
We get to know 27 year old Erica as a bit of a klutz, who's instantly smitten. She's a woman who cherishes the simple joys in live. She's a romantic at heart, but doesn't think it's in the cards for her.
Catherine on the other hand just turned 40, still recovers from a bad breakup with the co owner of her business, Stella, even if that happened years ago. She's used to a more refined lifestyle, but she's very sweet and thoughtful with Erica, with whom she is really smitten.
I really liked the story until - let's call it THE MISUNDERSTANDING for spoiler reasons. I realize there had to be some kind of "drama" for the whole story arc, but I found Erica to be so immature and couldn't get over it. Whereas Catherine wanted to talk and I was so devastated for her.
In the end, it all went well and of course we have a HEA. The epilog was really sweet. But I couldn't get myself over the fact that I didn't really believe them to be a couple that lasts - they really are quite different.
Erica works in her aunt's flower shops and delivers flowers to her newest client, bridal shop owner Catherine. There's an instant spark between them, despite Erica never having been attracted to a woman.
They keep on seeing each other every week, and the spark is still there, so Catherine asks Erica out on a date.
We get to know 27 year old Erica as a bit of a klutz, who's instantly smitten. She's a woman who cherishes the simple joys in live. She's a romantic at heart, but doesn't think it's in the cards for her.
Catherine on the other hand just turned 40, still recovers from a bad breakup with the co owner of her business, Stella, even if that happened years ago. She's used to a more refined lifestyle, but she's very sweet and thoughtful with Erica, with whom she is really smitten.
I really liked the story until - let's call it THE MISUNDERSTANDING for spoiler reasons. I realize there had to be some kind of "drama" for the whole story arc, but I found Erica to be so immature and couldn't get over it. Whereas Catherine wanted to talk and I was so devastated for her.
In the end, it all went well and of course we have a HEA. The epilog was really sweet. But I couldn't get myself over the fact that I didn't really believe them to be a couple that lasts - they really are quite different.
December 2, 2021
3.5 stars - short and sweet toaster oven age gap romance. low angst. KU
September 12, 2020
I've been listening and/or reading pretty long books lately (or it feels like it) and I was in need of a little break. A sweet lgbt romance was the answer. That's why I impulsively started the short audiobook for In Bloom narrated by one of my favorite narrators: Lori Prince.
In it, you'll meet Catherine and Erica. Catherine is a forty year old woman who owns (with her ex-girlfriend) a bridal shop. Erica is twenty-seven and is working for her aunt who took her in when Erica's parents died in a car accident. Since then, they've become very close and they share their love for flowers. When Erica starts delivering flowers to Catherine, it's pretty clear she's attracted (for the first time) to a woman.
Nothing ground-breaking, but it was a pretty sweet romance with some sparks mixed into it and just what I needed!
In it, you'll meet Catherine and Erica. Catherine is a forty year old woman who owns (with her ex-girlfriend) a bridal shop. Erica is twenty-seven and is working for her aunt who took her in when Erica's parents died in a car accident. Since then, they've become very close and they share their love for flowers. When Erica starts delivering flowers to Catherine, it's pretty clear she's attracted (for the first time) to a woman.
Nothing ground-breaking, but it was a pretty sweet romance with some sparks mixed into it and just what I needed!
September 1, 2023
I’m rating this book with 2 stars because I refuse to rate (almost) any book with less than that.
I didn't click with the writing.
I didn't click with the writing.
December 12, 2021
A unique location of two different self-run companies, here shops, can be found. The summer season heats up the spirit. The plot revolves around a senior MC introducing a younger MC to a femme-femme romance. Some concepts are worth following.
However, I was curious as to what brought the individuals together. Apart from their age, they are completely opposed.
Nevertheless, it is a light and enjoyable read for when you need a break from something more demanding.
3.5
However, I was curious as to what brought the individuals together. Apart from their age, they are completely opposed.
Nevertheless, it is a light and enjoyable read for when you need a break from something more demanding.
3.5
January 17, 2022
2.5. Kindle Unlimited. I got this for free at some point - I am trying to get through all those free downloads that I have loaded up from the past year or so, and knock them out this January! *Fingers crossed*
Just a fairly basic novella, about hour and a half, if that. Age gap romance between a Bridal Shoppe owner of 40, and a Florist Delivery Girl who likes to bake and is 27/28. Very sweet, but not a lot of depth, unfortunately. I just didn't feel much chemistry between the women, at all.
Just a fairly basic novella, about hour and a half, if that. Age gap romance between a Bridal Shoppe owner of 40, and a Florist Delivery Girl who likes to bake and is 27/28. Very sweet, but not a lot of depth, unfortunately. I just didn't feel much chemistry between the women, at all.
August 22, 2019
Very sweet story
I really liked it. It was short and moved quickly but still a nice story. I will try another of her books
I really liked it. It was short and moved quickly but still a nice story. I will try another of her books
October 19, 2019
Easy to read a beautiful story strong characters and so realistic dialogues. Fully enjoyed it.
December 5, 2021
I never thought I'd sometimes read an age gap romance with that cute and fluffy a plot, but of course there's always a first, and this is it!
Both main characters, Erica, the cute young woman who thinks she's unsuitable for love and has resigned herself to her "fate", and Catherine, who owns half of a bridal shop, are in for a surprise, when Erica delivers the first flower arrangement from her aunt's flower shop for Catherine. Both feel something that they did not expect. For Erica it is more of a challenge, as she never contemplated the posssibility of becomeing attracted to a woman, while Catherine is out as a lesbian. For Catherine the question is whether she's courageous enough, to let herself be young at heart again. The way they deal with it is sweet and the story a wonderfully written piece of fluff.
I recommend this as a light, short and heart warming Read.
Both main characters, Erica, the cute young woman who thinks she's unsuitable for love and has resigned herself to her "fate", and Catherine, who owns half of a bridal shop, are in for a surprise, when Erica delivers the first flower arrangement from her aunt's flower shop for Catherine. Both feel something that they did not expect. For Erica it is more of a challenge, as she never contemplated the posssibility of becomeing attracted to a woman, while Catherine is out as a lesbian. For Catherine the question is whether she's courageous enough, to let herself be young at heart again. The way they deal with it is sweet and the story a wonderfully written piece of fluff.
I recommend this as a light, short and heart warming Read.
September 2, 2023
Very short and sweet read, but both leads were likeable and had good chemistry. I do wish it was a bit longer, but I wish that for just about every novella lol.
September 4, 2021
Pretty cute
February 3, 2021
Sometimes you want to like a book because it has everything – but you just cannot get totally involved into it. This was one such book.
Read the full review @ https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
Read the full review @ https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
October 11, 2021
this was a short an sweet romance. i blasted through the audiobook of it in pretty much a single afternoon. kinda wish it had been longer, but it was enjoyable and i love this narrator<3
November 7, 2023
Short and Sweet. A Great Quick Romance.
I hate calling a book a palate cleanser, but sometimes they end up being just that. It’s not that I needed a book to get a good OR a bad taste out of my mouth. Thankfully I’ve been pretty lucky to read almost exclusively books that I enjoy – and this was another one of those books. It was short and sweet and had me smiling throughout.
Both Erica and Catherine jumped off the page and had awesome chemistry. From that very first meeting, you could feel it and it bleed into every page. I liked the way that Keane dealt with the age gap aspects of the story. For the most part, they weren’t there, it came up as a “problem” really only in thoughts.
The family aspects of this were cute, especially on Erica’s side. Her aunt and her relationship was so cute and sweet. Erica’s entire journey (at least continuing it in a happy and healthy way) hinged on her aunt’s reaction to her telling her about Catherine. I’m glad that in this case, it was a positive reaction.
Overall, I thought that Keane did a good job covering the sort of not going to label myself, but still later in life realizing that there’s something more there. I think this can become cliche too quickly and I’m thrilled to read about characters that just want to be in love regardless of the label attached to it. Of course, throw in one of the best sapphic romance narrators in Lori Prince and you’ve got a fun and quick read that will put a smile on your face.
I hate calling a book a palate cleanser, but sometimes they end up being just that. It’s not that I needed a book to get a good OR a bad taste out of my mouth. Thankfully I’ve been pretty lucky to read almost exclusively books that I enjoy – and this was another one of those books. It was short and sweet and had me smiling throughout.
Both Erica and Catherine jumped off the page and had awesome chemistry. From that very first meeting, you could feel it and it bleed into every page. I liked the way that Keane dealt with the age gap aspects of the story. For the most part, they weren’t there, it came up as a “problem” really only in thoughts.
The family aspects of this were cute, especially on Erica’s side. Her aunt and her relationship was so cute and sweet. Erica’s entire journey (at least continuing it in a happy and healthy way) hinged on her aunt’s reaction to her telling her about Catherine. I’m glad that in this case, it was a positive reaction.
Overall, I thought that Keane did a good job covering the sort of not going to label myself, but still later in life realizing that there’s something more there. I think this can become cliche too quickly and I’m thrilled to read about characters that just want to be in love regardless of the label attached to it. Of course, throw in one of the best sapphic romance narrators in Lori Prince and you’ve got a fun and quick read that will put a smile on your face.
January 21, 2026
(3.5 Stars) Erica is 27 and enjoys working at her aunt’s floral shop and baking in her free time. Her life is uncomplicated and routine. She delivers flowers to their newest client Catherine. She is 41 and owns a bridal shop. Erica has never been drawn to anyone like she is Catherine. And never a woman. Catherine feels the attraction too but her life is more complicated. She has an ex-wife who still is tied up in her business. And there is the age gap too.
This toaster over romance is sweet and works well as a short novel. Erica doesn’t have a lot of experience in any kind of relationship so being drawn to someone confident and put together is easy to understand. I like their simple dates and how Catherine cares for Erica. The drama is a misunderstanding and Erica comes off as immature but of course things work out in the end. I listened to the book on Hoopla.
This toaster over romance is sweet and works well as a short novel. Erica doesn’t have a lot of experience in any kind of relationship so being drawn to someone confident and put together is easy to understand. I like their simple dates and how Catherine cares for Erica. The drama is a misunderstanding and Erica comes off as immature but of course things work out in the end. I listened to the book on Hoopla.
July 11, 2020
I felt that this novella was too short for the plot. On account of its length, not much space was given to the warm-up part of the romance. The almost-instant attraction which quickly progressed into dating seemed rather abrupt to me. Then again, I probably favor a slightly slower burn in a romance. I did like the conflict portion of the story, and its subsequent resolution, but which then turned into what I felt was a rushed conclusion.
February 14, 2022
A quaint little romance involving two women finding themselves attracted to each other. One has not had a sapphic experience and the other was sufficiently burned from her last breakup to not pursue another. These two meet and work to overcome their own trepidations. How does it all turn out? This was a short well rounded novella that was enjoyably narrated.
May 6, 2024
Listened to this book on audible. Enjoying all the lesfic on audible. It’s a May-to-September romance. Young person didn’t understand her queerness with an older woman established in her lesbian land. Kinda wish it could have been the other way but I guess that would make it desert hearts.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2020
Fun story
This was a sweet little novel. I enjoyed getting to know Erica and Catherine and following their love story. An easy read to give you the warm and fuzzies.
This was a sweet little novel. I enjoyed getting to know Erica and Catherine and following their love story. An easy read to give you the warm and fuzzies.
February 14, 2021
This was a sweet story.
April 20, 2022
This was an easy read and I loved that. Fun, age-gap romance and total meet cute.
May 28, 2022
Quick and easy listen
November 12, 2023
Short and sweet and I loved it. Will definitely read it again.
March 11, 2024
An enjoyable listen, a cute story! 💐👰🏼♀️🥧
Got a good sense of the relationship between the MCs without feeling rushed. Low angst too which I prefer. 🥰
Perfect Sunday listening. 🫶🏿
Got a good sense of the relationship between the MCs without feeling rushed. Low angst too which I prefer. 🥰
Perfect Sunday listening. 🫶🏿
May 16, 2024
Cute, but too brief.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews