What do you think?
The Flowers He Sent: Later in Life Marriage in Crisis Romance
Her father died. Her husband sent flowers.
And arrived late.
Not hours late — late enough that Grace stood at the graveside with her mother and her brother and no one asked where Graham was. They already knew. He always had somewhere more important to be.
She buried her father beside people who showed up.
Then she stopped. She stopped managing Graham's schedule. Stopped reminding him about the kids' games and her mother's appointments. Stopped smoothing the space between his absence and their family's needs. Stopped being the woman who held everything together so no one had to notice he wasn't holding anything at all.
She doesn't rage. She doesn't deliver an ultimatum.
She simply stops making room for him — in her grief first, and then in her life.
When Graham finally notices the distance, it's not because she told him. It's because the house feels different. The porch chair where her father used to sit is empty. The woman who made everything run has gone quiet. And he can't figure out when it started — because he wasn't paying attention then, either.
A marriage-in-crisis romance. No cheating. Earned grovel. HEA.
And arrived late.
Not hours late — late enough that Grace stood at the graveside with her mother and her brother and no one asked where Graham was. They already knew. He always had somewhere more important to be.
She buried her father beside people who showed up.
Then she stopped. She stopped managing Graham's schedule. Stopped reminding him about the kids' games and her mother's appointments. Stopped smoothing the space between his absence and their family's needs. Stopped being the woman who held everything together so no one had to notice he wasn't holding anything at all.
She doesn't rage. She doesn't deliver an ultimatum.
She simply stops making room for him — in her grief first, and then in her life.
When Graham finally notices the distance, it's not because she told him. It's because the house feels different. The porch chair where her father used to sit is empty. The woman who made everything run has gone quiet. And he can't figure out when it started — because he wasn't paying attention then, either.
A marriage-in-crisis romance. No cheating. Earned grovel. HEA.
61 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 6, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 1, 2026
I’m down a ridiculous rabbit hole of betrayal and grovel novellas. Most appear to be AI generated, this one included. It’s got the inattentive hubby plot line—he’s been missing in action (busy at work) for 10+ years and misses her father’s funeral—yikes. But, it’s too short to have any semblance of a grovel.
May 19, 2026
Dreary AI. This makes me long for an arrogant Greek tycoon. Ho hum. A real DNF.
April 11, 2026
The Flowers He Sent, part of the Marriage in Crisis series, was about 44-year-old Grace (Hartwell) Dunning and her husband, Graham Dunning.
Grace and Graham (the parents of 15-year-old Lily and 13-year-old Sam) had been married for fifteen years when her father passed away. Graham never showed up at the funeral. In fact, he didn't even pause his routine long enough to even acknowledge her loss. What did he do? He sent flowers, in a vase, and a card that said, "In Deepest Sympathy-Graham". Nothing more. He didn't arrive until after the funeral, when everyone was gathered at the "reception". That was the straw that broke the 15-year cycle for Grace. From that point on, she stopped trying; stopped including him in anything relevant. He finally took notice. It was his wakeup call.
The book had little angst, no drama, or emotional rollercoaster. It had no conflict or push/pull between the two main characters, and the flow was easy and straight-to-the-point from beginning to end. Both characters were well developed and mature, and both showed a willingness to grow.
But here's the kicker: once again, the MMC's reasoning behind his actions, or lack of, was blamed on how he was raised by a father who did the same that the son now did in his own marriage. While he finally took responsibility for his actions, he still laid the foundational blame on his father's lifestyle and choices. I would appreciate a book by this author in which the perpetrator of wrongdoing takes full responsibility for their actions and doesn't lay blame at someone else's door. That being said, this story only earned a two-star rating.
Grace and Graham (the parents of 15-year-old Lily and 13-year-old Sam) had been married for fifteen years when her father passed away. Graham never showed up at the funeral. In fact, he didn't even pause his routine long enough to even acknowledge her loss. What did he do? He sent flowers, in a vase, and a card that said, "In Deepest Sympathy-Graham". Nothing more. He didn't arrive until after the funeral, when everyone was gathered at the "reception". That was the straw that broke the 15-year cycle for Grace. From that point on, she stopped trying; stopped including him in anything relevant. He finally took notice. It was his wakeup call.
The book had little angst, no drama, or emotional rollercoaster. It had no conflict or push/pull between the two main characters, and the flow was easy and straight-to-the-point from beginning to end. Both characters were well developed and mature, and both showed a willingness to grow.
But here's the kicker: once again, the MMC's reasoning behind his actions, or lack of, was blamed on how he was raised by a father who did the same that the son now did in his own marriage. While he finally took responsibility for his actions, he still laid the foundational blame on his father's lifestyle and choices. I would appreciate a book by this author in which the perpetrator of wrongdoing takes full responsibility for their actions and doesn't lay blame at someone else's door. That being said, this story only earned a two-star rating.
June 3, 2026
Sus. The timeline didn’t make sense
June 17, 2026
This is AI written. There is a whole series of similar themes, published within 2-3 months of one another, with covers almost all the same, and all very short. The writing is stilted, repetitive, robotic, lacks emotion or drama. There is no heart or soul in this story. There's no anger; there's no love; these two never even touch one another. They barely look at one another. It's boring.
I became convinced that this is AI-written (or maybe the author used AI to help her write it) because there are repetitive and heavy-handed metaphors about the garden her father helped her create and how it's now gone dormant; drinking the coffee that he liked. Choppy, repetitive, incomplete sentences, lacking any emotion. Good grief! STOP with all the coffee metaphors! The watch she wears, the coffee, and the whole thing about the chairs and who sat in them carries most of the last of the story. It's how we 'know' their marriage is saved. "The phone stayed face down on the counter. The watch ticked on my wrist. The table was full. I picked up my coffee." THIS is the story, in a nutshell.
Too bad the author lacks the skill to turn this into a good story because it had the bones for it.
This is a short story about the death of a marriage. She put up with her husband's complete lack of attention because apparently she never asked for anything more. She says she didn't know how. Well, how about Get The Fu*k over here, now! I have no sympathy for her because, in 15 years, she NEVER confronted him about his neglect of his family. She let him miss all the important family milestones. No idea why she was so passive. She certainly had good role models for good fathers and husbands with her father and brother.
Her beloved father dies and her absent husband misses the funeral. He does make an effort at home but she ignores him. She finally lays out all the ways he hasn't been present for 15 years (or is it 11 as mentioned one time). Anyway, he starts showing up; actually cutting back on work. Their marriage starts to change.
I became convinced that this is AI-written (or maybe the author used AI to help her write it) because there are repetitive and heavy-handed metaphors about the garden her father helped her create and how it's now gone dormant; drinking the coffee that he liked. Choppy, repetitive, incomplete sentences, lacking any emotion. Good grief! STOP with all the coffee metaphors! The watch she wears, the coffee, and the whole thing about the chairs and who sat in them carries most of the last of the story. It's how we 'know' their marriage is saved. "The phone stayed face down on the counter. The watch ticked on my wrist. The table was full. I picked up my coffee." THIS is the story, in a nutshell.
Too bad the author lacks the skill to turn this into a good story because it had the bones for it.
This is a short story about the death of a marriage. She put up with her husband's complete lack of attention because apparently she never asked for anything more. She says she didn't know how. Well, how about Get The Fu*k over here, now! I have no sympathy for her because, in 15 years, she NEVER confronted him about his neglect of his family. She let him miss all the important family milestones. No idea why she was so passive. She certainly had good role models for good fathers and husbands with her father and brother.
Her beloved father dies and her absent husband misses the funeral. He does make an effort at home but she ignores him. She finally lays out all the ways he hasn't been present for 15 years (or is it 11 as mentioned one time). Anyway, he starts showing up; actually cutting back on work. Their marriage starts to change.
June 3, 2026
This marriage in crisis novella is grounded in reality in that building a life together with someone is not easy and takes work. It highlights frustration with unequal mental load and having to make lists for people to participate in their own lives. It looks at conditioned neglect, parenting cycles, and the failings of traditional provider roles. I think grief and loss being a trigger to look at over a decade of patterns and behavior is understandable and adds a layer to the emotional background. The story embraces a hopeful tone of reconciliation and change. Grace asks not for grand romantic gestures but for a present partner. The script, however, is very clinical. There is no real drama, loud discussions, or even push back on the excuses made for setting the wrong priorities. The resentment and hostilities are muted. Enjoyment will depend a bit on connection to the material. (2.5 stars)
Graham misses the funeral of his father-in-law arriving only to the following reception and buys his wife Grace Dunning a book on grieving a few days later. Meanwhile Grace obsesses on how she almost didn’t place the chair at the funeral which remained empty and along with all the kids’ performances she attended alone. She stops making excuses for her husband and pretending things are fine. Graham realizes his success at work is not enough to make him a great man and struggles to fit into his own household.
Graham misses the funeral of his father-in-law arriving only to the following reception and buys his wife Grace Dunning a book on grieving a few days later. Meanwhile Grace obsesses on how she almost didn’t place the chair at the funeral which remained empty and along with all the kids’ performances she attended alone. She stops making excuses for her husband and pretending things are fine. Graham realizes his success at work is not enough to make him a great man and struggles to fit into his own household.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2026
Notes for me
Graham
Grace
15 year old daughter, Lily and 13 year old son, Sam.
Her dad recently passed away and she’s grieving hard. She’s noticing things she never noticed before like Graham leaving each morning for work. He only kisses her head on the way out.
She also notices Sam now sits in Graham’s chair at the table. He misses meals so often it is like Sam is moving into another place in the family.
Day before the funeral she’s at her mom’s. She calls Graham, he doesn’t answer. She leaves a VM saying she needs him there next to her. Actually there, not on his way. She finds out later he was on a work call and declined her call.
Morning of the wedding he sends flowers to her mother’s house. Card “with deepest sympathy -Graham” He doesn’t attend the funeral, but arrives during the reception.
I’ve read quite a few books in this series. This is absolutely a personal opinion, but they don’t have the gut punch angst. Honestly they are probably closer to real life.
Graham
Grace
15 year old daughter, Lily and 13 year old son, Sam.
Her dad recently passed away and she’s grieving hard. She’s noticing things she never noticed before like Graham leaving each morning for work. He only kisses her head on the way out.
She also notices Sam now sits in Graham’s chair at the table. He misses meals so often it is like Sam is moving into another place in the family.
Day before the funeral she’s at her mom’s. She calls Graham, he doesn’t answer. She leaves a VM saying she needs him there next to her. Actually there, not on his way. She finds out later he was on a work call and declined her call.
Morning of the wedding he sends flowers to her mother’s house. Card “with deepest sympathy -Graham” He doesn’t attend the funeral, but arrives during the reception.
I’ve read quite a few books in this series. This is absolutely a personal opinion, but they don’t have the gut punch angst. Honestly they are probably closer to real life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2026
Grace and Graham
Every time a finish a book of this series I ask myself why do I keep trying. I know what I keep trying. Marriage in crisis is my absolute favourite troupe to read and to come across a whole series is a dream cone true, really. Unfortunately I discovered by book two or three, yeah, I am stubborn, that the author style is not to my liking. What keeps me coming back is my stubbornness, and the plots are very versatile snd interesting though tge author approach is not real....a pregnant wife won't just fi d out tgat her husband had a baby he abandoned years go and never told her without demanding answers, screaming, feeling angry, deceived. Or in this case, do not confront the husband that didn't showed up to his wife's fatger's funeral because he was busy at work.
Every time a finish a book of this series I ask myself why do I keep trying. I know what I keep trying. Marriage in crisis is my absolute favourite troupe to read and to come across a whole series is a dream cone true, really. Unfortunately I discovered by book two or three, yeah, I am stubborn, that the author style is not to my liking. What keeps me coming back is my stubbornness, and the plots are very versatile snd interesting though tge author approach is not real....a pregnant wife won't just fi d out tgat her husband had a baby he abandoned years go and never told her without demanding answers, screaming, feeling angry, deceived. Or in this case, do not confront the husband that didn't showed up to his wife's fatger's funeral because he was busy at work.
April 16, 2026
Quick read
Graham is successful at work but failing at his marriage. He overlooks, overplans, overbooks his calendar that he lives by. His family is not in his calendar, work is. He prioritizes the wrong thing. Grace is a gracious, loving, understanding wife who tries to give him excuses for being an absent father and husband. She bends until she breaks and then has to decide what to do. Betrayal, grovel, angst, redemption. T h is is by a newer to me author and I can't wait to see what else I can read by them.
Graham is successful at work but failing at his marriage. He overlooks, overplans, overbooks his calendar that he lives by. His family is not in his calendar, work is. He prioritizes the wrong thing. Grace is a gracious, loving, understanding wife who tries to give him excuses for being an absent father and husband. She bends until she breaks and then has to decide what to do. Betrayal, grovel, angst, redemption. T h is is by a newer to me author and I can't wait to see what else I can read by them.
March 17, 2026
A quiet account of the absence of a husband and father. I thought this one was more compelling than "The Wife He Forgot." The symbolism of the wife's father who passes away and the husband's non-presence juxtaposed against her father who was always present in time of need. This particular genre is so common in a marriage. I liked the way the heroine, in her quietness, confronts him without any volcanic eruptions but just lays out the facts.
March 23, 2026
Excellent
This hit me hard. Not because of the marriage, so much as what grief is. It changes everything around you. Chapel seems to understand that intimately. I love that the husband cared enough to try to change. And Grace didn't go for ending the marriage.
This hit me hard. Not because of the marriage, so much as what grief is. It changes everything around you. Chapel seems to understand that intimately. I love that the husband cared enough to try to change. And Grace didn't go for ending the marriage.
March 27, 2026
Sad excuse for a marriage
The fact that the author even thought there was a marriage to save was so sad. There was nothing there. The amount of emotional abuse he delivered to his own family was insurmountable. Sometimes the best course of action is divorce
The fact that the author even thought there was a marriage to save was so sad. There was nothing there. The amount of emotional abuse he delivered to his own family was insurmountable. Sometimes the best course of action is divorce
May 11, 2026
ok
I was thinking this was going to be a really good romance but it turned out to be just an ok book to read. I thought the last chapter might give into a romance at the end but it was again just an ok read. No romance at all in this book. No even hugs or anything
I was thinking this was going to be a really good romance but it turned out to be just an ok book to read. I thought the last chapter might give into a romance at the end but it was again just an ok read. No romance at all in this book. No even hugs or anything
March 15, 2026
Right now reading about clueless, but nice guys, who honestly think they are good husbands and fathers because they are providers is my trope. This H did finally wake up and realize all that he had almost lost.
March 19, 2026
❤️❤️❤️🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻❤️❤️❤️
I love that she just stopped and payed it out when he asked. Grace just stopped and Graham had to figure it out. He had to make decisions. I loved it.
I love that she just stopped and payed it out when he asked. Grace just stopped and Graham had to figure it out. He had to make decisions. I loved it.
April 22, 2026
Bland and boring.
May 10, 2026
This story is soooo boring. If I gave you a transcript of my relationship talks with my husband, I bet you would find that boring, too.
May 11, 2026
❣️
Muchísimas gracias a la autora y a todo su equipo por este libro tan lindo. Es una historia rápida pero con toda tanta emoción.
Muchísimas gracias a la autora y a todo su equipo por este libro tan lindo. Es una historia rápida pero con toda tanta emoción.
July 2, 2026
It was OK
The language and tone of the book was a bit dry. There was no excitement, just very slow, calm conversations between characters.
The language and tone of the book was a bit dry. There was no excitement, just very slow, calm conversations between characters.
July 7, 2026
It’s a book about learning to be present in your own life and figuring out how to stay. I really enjoyed this book.
April 9, 2026
A short story focusing on learned neglect and how our culture cultivates an attitude that the primary breadwinner's job is solely to provide money. Usually that is the male role and creates and perpetuates the toxicity that reduces the role of their partners to "human givers" whose lives lose all meaning beyond their care for spouse and children. Sadly, not an issue going away anytime soon.
March 26, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️
-
Grace + Graham
-
Marriage in Crisis
Grovel
-
Graham doesn’t show up for Grace’s father dies and he sends flowers to the funeral. Fed up, Grace leaves him. He grovels until they reconcile.
-
-
Grace + Graham
-
Marriage in Crisis
Grovel
-
Graham doesn’t show up for Grace’s father dies and he sends flowers to the funeral. Fed up, Grace leaves him. He grovels until they reconcile.
-
March 21, 2026
2.75⭐️
Not horrible but not emotionally impactful either due to its brevity.
Not horrible but not emotionally impactful either due to its brevity.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews