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Bennet Brothers #1

Coming Up Roses

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Everyone hates parts of their job.

Maybe it’s the paperwork. Maybe it’s the day-to-day grind. Maybe it’s that client who never knows what they want, or the guy who always cooks fish in the microwave.

But not me. I love every corner of the Longbourne Flower Shop, every flower, every petal, every stem. I love the greenhouse, and I love Mrs. Bennet, my boss. I love creating, and I love being a florist. I don’t hate anything at all.

Except for Luke Bennet.

The Bennet brothers have come home to help their mom save the flower shop, and Luke is at the helm. His smile tells a tale of lust, loose and easy. He moves with the grace of a predator, feral and wild. A thing unbridled, without rules or constraint.

When he comes home to save Longbourne, I almost can’t be mad at him.

Almost.

He doesn’t remember that night I’ll never forget. That kiss, touched with whiskey and fire. It branded me like a red-hot iron. But it meant nothing to him.

Everyone hates part of their job, and I hate Luke Bennet.
Because if I don’t, I’ll fall in love with him.

289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2019

2122 people are currently reading
8535 people want to read

About the author

Staci Hart

60 books6,217 followers
I was the kid who stayed inside to read.

As a four-eyed nerd with a bad perm, I was no one’s dodgeball pick, but I had a lot of friends. Frodo and Bilbo, for instance. Kristy, Stacey, Claudia and the gang (iykyk). Once, in the third grade, I wrote a teen murder mystery inspired by Christopher Pike. On solving my mystery in twelve pages, I decided I was a terrible writer and should never, ever do that again.

Fortunately, I didn’t take my own advice.

I write romance for that feeling you get at the end, like you’re standing on top of a mountain with a backpack full of hundred dollar bills. I write romcoms because is there anything better than banter and grand gestures? I write because I love to create and I love words. I love books, and I love stretching my imagination. I love love, and if you do too, bring your coffee and have a seat. I think we’re gonna be friends.

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Reader Group: http://facebook.com/groups/stacihart

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 820 reviews
Profile Image for Christy.
4,540 reviews35.9k followers
July 31, 2019
4 stars

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“I don’t want to be your fling. I want to be your everything.”

Coming Up Roses is Staci Hart's newest rom-com and as soon as it landed on my kindle, I dove in. I can't resist this author's stories! They are always so good, they make me laugh, and have so much heart. This one was no exception.

Tess has worked at the Bennet's flower-shop since high school. She loves her job- everything about it. Well, everything except the owner's son, Luke. Luke and Tessa used to be friends in high school but something happened that made Tess loathe him. And the worst part is, Luke has no idea what it was he did to make her hate him. Luke is back in town for the first time in a long time and newly single. He's happy to be home to help his family, but he's confused by Tess's behavior toward him. Soon enough, she fills him in...

Tess and Luke are proof that opposites attract. Tess is level headed, always has a plan, and thrives on consistency and stability. Luke is a go with the flow, always on the move, adventurer. It would seem this couple would have nothing in common and no way would they work out, but they are a great pairing.

Luke was a hero I wasn’t sure I was going to love at the start. He didn’t give the best first impression, but boy was I wrong. There was so much more to him than meets the eye. Luke was kind, giving, free-spirited, and would do anything for those he loves. He ended up being my favorite character of the book by far. Though I do hope we get some of the Bennet siblings books... Tess was a lot different than Luke and it took her a while to warm up and come around, but once she did, they were perfect together. I loved this couple and the way they balanced each other out.
She wound her arms around my neck, threading her fingers. “Look at you, acting like a grown-up.”
“And look at you. A little bit wild.”

I truly adored this book, but there was a part towards the end I wasn't so crazy about. It ended up working out okay, and let me just say the heroine is a bigger person than I would be in this scenario , but it did put a bit of a damper on how much I loved the book overall. By the end, I was happy and it was a great read, but that made the difference of it being a 4 star read opposed to a 5.

If you're looking for a sweet and sexy slow burn romance with a hero that will have you swooning hard, pick this one up!
Tess was my new adventure.
Profile Image for Wendy'sThoughts.
2,670 reviews3,283 followers
April 6, 2022
4 Blooming Rosey Love Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
SAY WHAT, IT'S COMING UP FREE!!!

Staci Hart has become a serious GO TO for me. She has a way of making you invested from the very first page. Her talent in presenting a situation between two people which holds all the cards is so strong. She will have a miscommunication or some type of assumptions between the couple laying the foundation for all of the ups, downs, and "Come to Jesus" moments which we will delight following.

Coming Up Roses does just that.
Tess is smart, more than capable and has been the hands for the Mother who started the flower shop where she works. She learned everything from the woman and now does all of the arrangements. She also does her own thing with Instagram, photographing arrangements in a very special way drawing a huge following. She loves where she works, has friends and all is good until Luke shows up.

Who is Luke, you may ask...

Well, years ago Luke was Tess's crush forever. He was one of the sons and when Tess was experiencing the most pain a person can bare, Luke made her feel better and shared an earthshattering kiss. Tess thought Luke finally understood she was meant for him and he was all in...Until the next day when he walked into the shop and then ignored her...going off with her best friend to swap spit in the hothouse.

Yeah, Tess does not like Luke, does not want him around, and thinks he is the worst...

Until she realizes there is more to this grown-up Luke. Like his desire to help the family save the flower shop. Like his believing in her and letting her use her talents to promote the store. Like seeing him through a more mature view and giving him his due.

We get a terrific story to watch and learn how to woo a woman. Luke is a delight and Tess becomes everything he wants. There are some serious hiccups for both of them and some of the plot and behavior weren't my fav...But overall this story was just the perfect read.

Coming Up Roses (Bennet Brothers, #1) by Staci Hart Coming Up Roses (Bennet Brothers, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Gilded Lily (Bennet Brothers, #2) by Staci Hart Gilded Lily (Bennet Brothers, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mum's the Word (Bennet Brothers, #3) by Staci Hart Mum's The Word (Bennet Brothers, #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
Could a Cover be More Perfect!!!
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
Staci Hart...
You write the books I am Drawn to...
Like a Bee to the Flowers on the Vine...

You set up the Stories with Interest and Care...
Pollinated with Characters Unique and Flourishing...
And when the Time is Right...
You'll Let Know...

This time there is Something Special in the Air...
Because Everywhere We Look It's...


Coming Up Roses-August 1st, 2019


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Profile Image for ❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books.
2,619 reviews10.9k followers
July 26, 2019
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COMING UP ROSES Is a full length romantic comedy by Staci Hart. Spoken in 'Dual Perspectives.'

In this we meet Luke and Tess..Ex childhood friends. Luke has no idea what he's done to make Tess despise him so much. I couldn't seem to recall what went wrong, where that friendship fell apart and turned into whatever this was. It's going to make for some awkward situations when they have to work together.

Tess has harboured a crush towards Luke going back to their teens, the one night when she needed a shoulder to lean on he was there, though he may not have been sober, a stolen kiss which afterwards left her breathless and dreaming of the future. But that's not how this story goes. The next day Luke acted as though nothing had happened.

All the Bennet siblings return to New York City and are all under one roof, all with the same end goal, to save their legacy. Lucas is the youngest, the carefree wild child living from one adventure to the next, not a care in the world. He was feral, a thing unbridled, without rules or restraint. He went where he wanted, did what he chose. Never, not in a million years, would he be called responsible or dependable.

Whereas Tess on the other hand had the world on her shoulders, soul caregiver of her invalid father, missing out on so many years through responsibility.

There were so many aspects of this story I enjoyed. Especially seeing the renovating of the flower shop from old and frumpy to glamorous and fresh. The author depicted it so vividly it was like I was actually there seeing it all unfolding.

Throw in the slow steamy burn between Luke and Tess as he slowly made her change her mind about him had my eyes glued to the pages.

This wasn't your typical romance, it was along the lines of an old classic re-telling of Jane Austin.


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Profile Image for Jessica .
2,622 reviews16k followers
July 29, 2019
As a huge Pride and Prejudice fan, I was so excited to see that Staci Hart was writing a book inspired by Lydia Bennet. With this gorgeous cover and the fact that it takes place in a flower shop, I couldn't wait to pick up this book.

Tess has put her heart and soul into working at the flower shop. She's worked there since high school and feels as if Mrs. Bennet is her family. But when Luke Bennet comes waltzing in, ready to save the shop from going out of business with his siblings, Tess is anything but happy. Luke is used to doing whatever he wants and using his charm to get his way, but he hurt Tess in the past and she's not ready to forgive him that easily.

I have to say, the whole premise of a family trying to save their floral shop was so stinking cute. I loved how everyone in the Bennet family had their own role and Luke could use his skills from his numerous past jobs to help out. It was fun watching them completely redo the flower shop, which forced Tess and Luke to work together, even though Tess hated him. Luke had such a lively personality and it was nice to see him take something seriously and break down Tess's walls.

I will say, I'm not a huge fan when malicious people are the thing keeping a couple apart. There as an obviously manipulative character that Luke just kept letting affect his decisions and I was really annoyed. And so was Tess. I think Tess having that conversation with him about that person, though, made it less annoying to me.

Overall, this was a super adorable romance between two people who definitely had some misconceptions about one another. Their relationship was so sweet and I really hope the rest of the Bennet siblings get their own books!
Profile Image for Pavlina Read more sleep less blog  .
2,434 reviews5,102 followers
July 31, 2019
4 STARS

"Be wild. Because life is lived in the moments you don't see coming. Not in the comfort of predictability, but in the thrill of the unknown."

description

Such a beautiful, sweet,fun and heartwarming story!Coming Up Roses is full of love, sweet and funny moments.I adored the characters, Luke and Tess have a great connection!Their relationship has angst,swooning and sigh moments!They’re both looking for something in their life and they find it to each other!

I loved it, it was a great read, the writing was flawless and the characters gave life to the story!



 


  
Profile Image for CristiinaReads୨ৎ.
597 reviews3,497 followers
July 28, 2019
Another Staci Hart masterpiece that will most likely have me laughing my ass of, or drooling over her characters...



ARC kindly provided the author, in exchange for an honest review coming closer to release date...

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Profile Image for Alba and Her Secrets..♥.
947 reviews1,157 followers
August 1, 2019
4.5 'Let Her Be Wild' Stars!
ARC provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.


I seriously am becoming addicted to all things Staci Hart! Ever since I read her Red Lipstick Coalition series, I just fell in love with her writing and her characters. Yes, I did see that Coming Up Roses is a spin-off of another series and yes, I still haven't read those books but I always get so giddy when a beloved author releases something new and I wanted to read it so badly. Thankfully, I did not need to read Staci's Austen series to enjoy reading this novel (though I will surely read those in the future!). Now, focusing on this upcoming release, let's just say I've already fallen in love with these new crew of characters.

So, Coming Up Roses looks like it will be a new standalone novel in a new series by the brilliant Staci Hart. This novel releases in less than two weeks and trust me, if you are a fan of Staci's work, you don't want to miss it. This is an enemies-to-lovers romance (kind of) with a second-chance feel to it. Tess Monroe is loving her life and especially her job as a florist in the Bennet's flower shop. She loves everything about it, especially the Bennet family. Well, besides one person: Luke Bennet. Luke comes back to Longbourne to save the family business and he is surprised to find a Tess that seems to hate him. Does she really? Well, read the book and find out!

He had been designed to entice and did so at his leisure. As easily as he lured you in, so easily would you be consumed.
And I had no desire to be consumed.


The first words that come to my mind when I think about Coming Up Roses are sweet and funny. The novel is extremely focused in the interactions between its couple and the Bennet family, who are obviously based on Austen's characters. The back and forth and the strong connection between all the members in the Bennet family surely melted my heart. I love family dynamics in romance and this one was simply amazing!

Never before had I been so unsure of where I stood with a woman. And never had I been so certain of where I wanted to stand.
Beside Tess.


But now let's focus on our main characters: Tess and Luke. This couple! GAH! Their instant connection after many years of not seeing each other surprises them both, especially Luke. Tess had a huuuuge crush on him back in the day and she is actually pissed that Luke does not remember kissing her one time during a very difficult moment. The woman definitely makes him pay! But Luke is such a good man that it takes him no time to win Tess back. The chemistry between these two was on point and I thoroughly enjoyed all their moments together.

It was as if she were composed of flowers. Roses, red and thorny, delicate and dangerous. And somehow, I’d eased my way through the brambles to lose myself in the velvety beauty of her.

So, I am rating Coming Up Roses with 4.5 STARS because Staci already has easily worked to get these characters in my heart. I loved Luke, Tess, the Bennet family, Tess’ father.. everyone! I loved the whole family and I do hope Staci writes more about them because they are a fantastic crew: loving and super hilarious! And of course her couples are so good and sweet and I want more! Highly recommend reading this one!

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Profile Image for Maja  - BibliophiliaDK ✨.
1,209 reviews970 followers
August 23, 2020
PERHAPS ONE OF THE BEST BEST ROMANCE MCs I HAVE EVER READ! 😍💚

No, this is not a deep book with a lot of plot aside from the romance. But man, it is still definitely worth reading. I probably won't take you very long, but I promise that you will be entertained all the way through. And you'll definitely be looking for a Luke Bennet of your own, because YUM! 😍

👍 WHAT I LIKED 👍

Humor: Probably the second best thing about this book (Luke of course being the best) is the humor! There were so many times when I actually laughed out loud and I loved it. It's a wonderful, light banter that goes through the entire novel and really brightens up the whole thing.

Bennet siblings: There are 5 Bennet siblings (just like in the inspiration for this series Pride and Prejudice) and I really enjoyed their sibling dynamics, their banter, their relationship and how obvious it was, who the 'original' Bennet was, that inspired each of them. Though this series only slightly resembles P&P (really, it's only the Bennet family) it does so in the best way - by making the characters have modern lives! Can't wait to get into the other siblings romantic entaglements!

LUKE 😍: I am totally fangirling over Luke, I know, I just can't stand how amazing and wonderful he was. At first he was presented as a sort of Casanova, but we quickly learn that that is definitely not the entirety of him. He is actually a very deep, emotional character - he's funny, sexy, caring, self-sacrificing and helpful but most importantly, he doesn't run away from love. He embraces it and gives himself to it completely with no hangups or hesitations. I absolutely loved that about him.
Profile Image for Apoorva .
166 reviews235 followers
October 14, 2020
This book was sweet and light and everything you would want a book fling to be.
I liked the characters a lot and loved the relationship they shared with their respective families. The Bennet siblings were truly amazing and interesting to read about.
And I loved how the book didn't just focus on the romance part but also on how they gave a total makeover to their shop and how it helped develop their relationship.
I loved Luke, his kindness, his generosity. He was playful but always respectful with nothing but good intentions. Tess was great too. I could see some of myself in her and to relate with a character from a book humanises them to you so much that you forget for a minute that it's actually fiction.
I loved the slow burn part of it the most. How Luke showed Tess that he wasn't all that she thought he was and how a friendship formed between the two that turned into love. Even though he was a go with the flow kind of person, he actually got her, understood her and her inhibitions and she too started to see for what an amazingly sweet and thoughtful person he was.
It was sweet, simple and beautiful.
Profile Image for Sabrina.
4,283 reviews2,388 followers
August 1, 2019
NOW LIVE!
Amazon US * Amazon UK



Coming Up Roses was a sweet, smile-inducing story about Tess and Luke. Tess swears she can never forgive Luke for something that happened years ago, and Luke is a care-free guy that doesn't understand why Tess is so mad at him. But when he's back in his families flower shop, where Tess has worked since High School, he makes it his mission to get Tess to start liking him again.

I thought this was an enjoyable book to read, and it was fun to see how Tess and Luke progressed from enemies with a heavy dose of sexual tension, to then getting some really sweet scenes between them when Tess started to feel differently about Luke. It kept me intrigued with the story and also had me very interested to know more about the Bennett family.

Overall, this was a good read and one I would recommend. It's a spin off from another series from this author, which I haven't finished, but can be read as a complete standalone with no issues.

ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.

Profile Image for Lady Heather .
1,312 reviews772 followers
August 1, 2019
Publication Date: August 1, 2019

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3 -Stars

Let me start off by saying that I had a hard time getting into this book (there's no way it should have taken me 5 days to read this story).
I knew it was just me because I'm such an emotional reader and I had just finished reading a slew of paranormal romances.
Changing gears and reading a contemporary romance took me a little adjusting to.

I liked this story.
I liked the characters.
Luke who lived free, tried anything once, put on the front that he was carefree and lived easy, but who really was sensitive, loyal, compassionate, and honourable.
Tess who liked structure, lists, routine and consistency.
She's was terrified of loss and being hurt but once she loves, she's loyal, compassionate, and loving.

These two characters complimented one another once they sorted themselves out and got on the same page.

Wendy's character was a mess and added just the right amount of angst to the story without taking away from Luke and Tess's story.
But, what I had a hard time with was the solution Tess and Luke's mom came up with to help Wendy.
Don't get me wrong I'm all for forgiveness and moving on with your life, and tough love, but there's no way "I" could ever or would ever have been okay with this solution.
It took Tess a couple of days to come to terms with how she felt and how she would proceed with Luke.
I just thought that this solution happened too fast and was too easily accepted. (I do understand that for the sake of the story that there wasn't a lot of time.)

What really stuck in my mind was this (and this is totally my personal opinion).



This was a good story.
I liked the characters and the writing
Profile Image for em.
367 reviews732 followers
August 1, 2019
”I wanted to build things for her and watch her face light up.I wanted to surprise her, wanted to give her the unexpected. I wanted to discover her, and I wanted to live in every little joy that discovery would bring. But I wanted more than just that.
I wanted to be the man she didn’t believe me to be.”


Ahhh Luke Bennet. Whoever said bad boys have all the appeal, they forget that a man whose only purpose is bringing life and light into your life can be e-ve-ry-thing. And that’s exactly what Luke Bennet’s character was all about.

Coming up Roses is book 1 in what will be a series based on a role reverse retelling of Austen’s Bennet sisters. This is Luke’s story, who is based on Lydia Bennet’s character. But I gotta tell you, while I saw a few traits of Lydia in his character, to me, he was pure and unapologetic sunshine.

The series starts with all the Bennet brothers and sister - the only one that won’t be role reversed - that come back home to save their parent’s business. The Longbourne Flower Shop is the Bennet legacy after being passed down from one generation to the next, filled with history, memories and soul. And now it’s on the hands of the the younger generation to return it to its time of glory.

But the brothers and sister return doesn’t make everybody as happy as Mrs and Mr Bennet. Tess, who has been taught by the Bennet matriarch all she knows about floristry, is not thrilled to have irresponsible and hot-headed Luke back. Or at least that’s what she thinks at first. Because that boy she has known for more than ten years might not be all she thought him to. The man before her could be exactly the little pinch of life she wasn’t aware she needed.

Tess and Luke’s story was a delight to witness. To say these two are complete opposites would be putting it lightly. That in addition to the fact that Tess has been marinating some hurt feelings for about ten years, is the perfect recipe for fun banter, sparks and the best kind of chemistry. The thing is that the more Tess showed her dislike for Luke, the more he would make it his only task to show her how wrong she was about him. And of course, despite Tess’ reticency to let Luke in, this man made of light, positivity, energy, charm and good looks managed to find a way.

Coming up Roses is fun, heartwarming, sexy and unapologetically cute. And hey, if that doesn’t seem enough to read it, just do it for the image of a man with the biggest heart and the brightest smile holding power tools while being gloriously shirtless. You are welcome.

*eArc provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Yesy (The Book Vagrant).
276 reviews637 followers
October 5, 2020
Picked this up on a whim because it was free on amazon and I loved the cover and the fact that it was a Pride & Prejudice retelling. I will say that this was a very loose retelling, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

The chemistry between Luke and Tess was explosive and their banter was hilarious! I also easily fell in love with the rest of the family and I'm excited to read about their love stories in the future!


TW: death of a parent to cancer (occurred before the events of the book), untreated unspecified mental illness, mentally abusive and manipulative relationship
Profile Image for Sarah.
1,907 reviews1,364 followers
January 27, 2020
***AVAILABLE NOW - FULL REVIEW***

4.5 CROWNS

Staci Hart never does me wrong! The writing, the voice, and fun romances with underlying thematic messages gets me every single time.

I really love Luke Bennett. He definitely had that charm and charisma. I couldn't resist him, honestly, and it was easy to understand why women fell under his charm. His larger than life and adventurous outlook are simply contagious.

Tess was endearing but the complete opposite of Luke in almost every single way. She definitely has her hurt pride and prejudices against Luke, and they are not unfounded.

I did find their chemistry authentic. I like that Luke made Tess more outgoing and willing to take risk, and in exchange Tessa made Luke more settled and responsible.

While the plot was not really filled with large surprises I was drawn in by the retelling of Pride and Prejudice. I thought her rendition of the Bennett family was spot on. I love the carefree nature of Luke as the youngest Bennett, the love arduous Mrs. Bennett, and even the father. I cannot wait to see what she does with the rest of the series.

Entertaining, romantic, filled with fantastic prose, Staci Hart's coming up roses is another must read in the romance world.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for SzarlottaSzott.
354 reviews63 followers
October 14, 2021
First thought: 🤯 what am I reading… but it got better with time. Although do we really need more Austen’s retellings ?

I didn’t like the romance, but I did like the drama. That’s definitely the first ->
But please be aware that this book touches some serious subjects (triggers for mental health) and may not be as light as you would think based on the cover and the story description!

It supposed to be enemies/hate to lovers but ends up being more instant-lust/second chance story. There were parts which I liked, but the author made me dislike the main hero so much I couldn’t see him in better light. Not even at the end…
Profile Image for Kayla Brunson.
1,595 reviews274 followers
dnf
July 24, 2019
As much as I adore Staci, I can't finish this one. DNF at 38%. It really comes down to the characters. While I don’t really care for either of them, our main character Tess just really rubbed me the wrong way. There is a fine line between sassy and exasperating and she crossed it. Also, I just couldn’t find any passion between her and Luke. Maybe they found it later in the story, but I can’t read anymore to find out.

Don’t get me wrong. I’ll still be reading Staci Hart’s other books, this one just didn’t work for me.

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Profile Image for nikki.
795 reviews106 followers
August 5, 2019
I love Staci Hart. It’s official. I was super excited to be given the chance to read this one early, and couldn’t wait to get stuck in. I am a huge fan of Staci’s writing (particularly the Red Lipstick Coalition series) so I had high hopes for this one, and am very pleased to say she didn’t disappoint!
COMING UP ROSES is a full length romantic comedy, and it is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, with a bit of a twist. I loved Luke and Tess and just found the whole story to be really fun and fresh. Staci has this knack of creating characters that you can really relate to and I always find myself completely immersed in those imaginary worlds.
Profile Image for Alla.
1,039 reviews50 followers
September 9, 2019
Very enjoyable, a definite 4 star book...until...the most overused plot in the history of plots, a plot I just HATE, sorry :(
So...I´m sorry to say I only liked the book, not "really liked it", which I would have if the author would just have used...some...other...plot.
Profile Image for Tani.
245 reviews269 followers
October 31, 2019
Just not my thing, I guess.
Profile Image for B.B. Easton.
Author 20 books5,119 followers
August 1, 2019
Coming Up Roses is a sweet, swoony, summery bouquet of brilliant prose, decadent imagery, and adorable characters who sometimes take their clothes off. (Hellooooo, Luke. 😍) Five stargazer lillies for this Austen-inspired flower shop rom-com!
Profile Image for Debbie.
1,680 reviews79 followers
May 9, 2020
Cute modern romance with a bit more depth than I was expecting.

I have to admit, I didn't think I'd be able to find Luke and Tess a believable match, judging from the way their characters come across in the opening chapters. They're both likeable enough, but Luke appears to be a flake and a flirt, while Tess seems rigid and judgemental. Opposites can attract, but these two seem like they'd drive each other nuts. However, as the characterizations get into clearer focus, it makes more and more sense until, by the end, I was a believer.

I can see the Pride and Prejudice influence. Five Bennet siblings. The youngest an energetic drifter who never stays at a job longer than six months before moving on to something else. Married unwisely after a very brief, whirlwind romance with someone whose name begins with "W." Mrs. Bennet easily overtaken by emotion, wanting nothing more than all her children to be happily wed.

Luke has those similarities to P&P's Lydia, and the plot here also borrows a little of the Elizabeth-and-Darcy storyline in that Tess has a definite anti-Luke prejudice through much of the book. Also, it's her dedication and creativity that are instrumental when the Bennets need the help only someone with her abilities can provide.

But this book has its own story to tell. The Bennet family has owned Longbourn's, a New York City flower shop, for generations. At one time, business was booming, but they haven't updated their storefront or changed their marketing approach in decades, and now the business is in trouble. Luke, his three brothers, and one sister are all pitching in to bring the place back to life.

Tess is a floral designer, a faithful Longbourn employee who's gradually become Mrs. Bennet's "hands," as the family matrirch's fingers are too gnarled now to do much of the work herself. Luke has just returned from the West Coast, and his only skills seem to be taking orders and delivering. Since his ill-advised marriage to Wendy Westham predictably blew up, he's now divorced and available, and the local ladies are drooling over him. Not Tess, who expects he'll screw things up somehow and blow out of town again.

As I hinted above, though, there's more to both of them than is immediately apparent. They eventually bond over renovating the shop and designing eye-catching window displays together.

Good writing with a nicely developed storyline. Point of view alternates between Tess and Luke, so there's never a mystery about what they're thinking. Mature Adult content.
Profile Image for Dora Koutsoukou .
2,244 reviews718 followers
August 7, 2019
3 ❤️ 🌹 ❤️🌟s

The Longbourne flower shop managed to steal a piece of my heart!
Coming up roses was a sweet romance read, with loveable characters and a beautiful cover.
Tess and Luke’s chemistry wasn’t that convincing for me and the drama with the ex at the end added nothing to the story but spoiled it.
Profile Image for Dulcie.
423 reviews51 followers
June 14, 2020
3.5
This was sweet and cute. Loved!! the family dynamics and the 🌹shop setting.
Enjoyed the ‘retelling’ aspect quite a bit and that it didn’t try as hard as some other books might have. I’ll be continuing on with the series soon.
Profile Image for zae.
322 reviews151 followers
February 18, 2020
Rating: 3.5/5

“The way I loved her would never fade. And as safe as she was in my arms, I was safe in hers.”


I have read Staci Hart’s works before and I know she delivers good romance stories. I was very interested in this one because I love that it features a family (The Bennets) and their business/family legacy (Longbourne Flower Shop). It’s not a surprise to me at all that I loved The Bennets the most in this book. I love their family dynamic!

Another thing I loved is how everyone (including Tess and Ivy) rallied up to save Longbourne. I loved reading about their process, their meetings, and all the efforts they made. It made it especially rewarding reading the end of the book which actually went better than I expected.

I just didn’t like all the drama involving Luke’s ex-wife and how Tess and Luke’s relationship moved too fast in the beginning. Still though, they have a lot of good moments which I found cute. I love how they’re kind of opposites since Luke is kind of wild but Tess is a little more controlled. They level each other out.

Looking forward to the rest of this series!

(a little unnecessary info: the song Coming Up Roses from the film Begin Again kept playing in my mind while reading this)
Profile Image for Julianna.
283 reviews2 followers
August 20, 2019
Skimmed this book and barely even finished it because I really did not like it... at all.
I was super intrigued by the synopsis, because enemies to lovers books are my favorite but the h barely stayed mad at the H for a day and then forgave him and slept with him 2 days later??
Also the H is a total manwhore... he had a wife but they divorced and he comes back to sleep with the old lady that orders flowers from them? He was a whole ass mess with no direction and I really despised his character.

In the end when his ex-wife lies to him and says she's pregnant... I was totally OVER this book. He kept running to her and I understand why but she wasn't his obligation anymore! Tess then seemed like she was the one who needed forgiveness and not him??? WEAK. SHE WAS WEAK AND I HATED IT.

This book was not for me and I was super excited to read it and I wish I didn't finish it because now I'm just pissed about it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Lucía.
259 reviews36 followers
October 14, 2020
4.5
I LOVED IT
Honestly, this was such a cute book.
At first I didn’t know if i was going to like it because the beginning is quite rushed. I felt as if I had skipped some pages and I didn’t really understand what was going on, but as the story progressed I fell in love with it.
It is fast paced, something I really appreciate in romance books. Sometimes I feel like a lot of books that fall in this category have elements that are just there to try to make the story longer. Instead, this book focuses mainly on the couple, their families and their problems, without adding unnecessary moments.
Their relationship is so CUTE and HEALTHY. They support and complement each other and they have so much fun together.
description

I loved Tess’ character, she has a really strong personality but she’s also insecure when it comes to Luke, which I found realistic. On the other hand, Luke is so sweet, he cares so much about Tess and both their families and even about people who did him wrong (if you read the book you will know what I mean).
I found their “conflict” really interesting and original, it wasn’t the typical reason why a couple fights and I quite liked it.
If you are looking for a short book and a cute love story, I highly recommend this one.
Profile Image for Tracy  C.
541 reviews38 followers
August 4, 2019
4.5 stars. I will admit to being on team Tess in the beginning. Luke seemed like an immature flighty f**kboy. I was worried how the book was going to progress. But then he showed his real self and like Tess, I totally fell in love! I am looking forward to more of the Bennets and Longbourne Flower Shop.
Profile Image for lucie.
593 reviews757 followers
August 10, 2019
I don't have a lot to say about this book. It was nice, enjoyable, a fast read but nothing memorable for me. I loved the banter between siblings, liked the two main characters just alright but I wasn't a fan of the plot twist... I didn't know that is still a thing these days..
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