All You Need is Love... and Lilacs

by Anne Marie Bennett

Her loss was just the beginning of a different kind of love.

Claire is a fifty-something widow who struggles with loneliness until she meets a little boy in desperate need of love and attention.

Recently widowed, Claire Reynolds feels hopeless and lonely. The Connecticut librarian isolates herself while she deals with her despair, avoiding her pastor, her best friend, and even her son and his husband.

However, the lilacs in her garden attract a sweet little boy named Tommy, who wants to pick some flowers for his mother. Claire is inspired by this interaction to try opening herself up again, but she soon finds that Tommy needs her more than she ever expected.

Can Claire be there for Tommy despite her grief over the loss of her husband? Will helping Tommy help Claire? And, most importantly, will Claire be able to open herself up to her loved ones again?

Genres: Contemporary, Fiction

68 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 14, 2019

About the author

Welcome! I write stories that stir heart & soul!

I've been writing stories and novels since the sixth grade when I was assigned to write a short story and instead turned in a 40-page novel about a little girl who stumbles on an underground cat colony! My English teacher (thank you, Mr. Ballantine!) was so impressed, he sent it to a publisher. The publisher did not respond, but Anne Marie decided right then and there to be a Writer (note the capital W).

Flash forward 50 years and I am still writing stories and novels (among other things)!

I have published several books about the intuitive process of SoulCollage®, as well as my two unique cancer journeys. I am now focusing my creative energies on fiction, and you can read my FREE 50-page novella, All You Need is Love...and Lilacs just by signing up for my monthly author newsletter, Inky Blessings: https://AnneMarieBennett.com/newsletter

My women's novel Feathers in the Sand will float onto bookshelves 7/11/22. I am happily blogging about the process of publishing a novel on AnneMarieBennett.com and you can receive updates along with info about extra-ordinary give-aways via my monthly newsletter, Stories That Stir Heart & Soul (link above).

I live with my big-hearted, silver-haired, number-oriented husband Jeff in eastern Massachusetts (with extremely frequent visits to Maine). My daily journey is also accompanied by two beloved adolescent felines (Louis and Seymour) who grace our lives with love and excessive cuddling in their above-ground cat colony of two.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet little novella! A sweet story about Claire, a new widow, her new neighbors, he san and his husband, and her pastor. A story of sad endings and new beginnings. And a perfect book to read as we head towards Mother's Day as the book ends with a Mother's Day celebration.

[Venetia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An immensely enjoyable read!! A well-written story of love and loss and the hurt and depression that follows it...along with some surprises that come along after the gloom...that let some light and some hope and even new love eventually bloom. "Blooming" is an overall theme is this heartwarming novella, whether its the blooming of beautiful lilacs or friends or relationships or families. Even Tommy's "blooming" throughout the story is quite apparent. Tommy, by the way, is one whimsical character and is a joy to read about (as well as to think more deeply about). Great job, Anne Marie!!

[Ann Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story of how love lives on

What a sweet story! Loss is an unfortunate universal human experience, yet love can live on and endure in myriad ways.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written but novella length requires too much action to be condensed into this story space. I wanted more details before the resolution but the characters were mostly sweet and relatable except for one 'black hole.'

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

An uplifting little book where we meet a new widow who finds purpose and faith in life again by reaching out to a little boy and his sister in need. Thanks to Goodreads Giveaways.

[Kelly Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet family drama

For fans of Donna VanLiere or Richard Paul Evans, this endearing story highlights a middle age widow that forms an unexpected connection with a young boy just when they both need each other most. It was refreshing that it was LGBT friendly without that being the focus. I look forward to more tales from this author.

[Danielle McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what an amazing read !! This was perfect to read in may for mothers day such an uplifting story , I literally cried on a few parts of this novella very well written.

[Mina De Caro (Mina's Bookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love & Lilacs is an uplifting novella focusing on themes of loss, grief, and love. The main character, Claire, is a middle aged woman recently widowed. She lives by herself in small town Connecticut, 45 minutes and a phone call away from her son Adrian and his husband Jon. While grieving for the loss of her husband to colon cancer, she fortuitously learns that Tommy, a 8-year old boy living just two doors down from her, and his little sister, a 4-year old child named Abbey, live in a state of abuse and neglect. No father in the picture, a volatile mother who sleeps during the day and leaves her kids unattended at night, no regular meals or regular school attendance are Tommy's and Abbey's everyday life, until one day their world, the only world they know, comes crushing down. Without spoiling your pleasure of reading this heart-warming novella and finding out for yourself what brings all these characters together, I'll add that the story features a multiple point-of-view narrative style, and a well-paced plot development, considered the structural limitations imposed by the literary medium chosen by the author. Within its fifty pages, you'll find all you need to provide you with emotional gratification.

[Sofe · Rating 5 out of 5]

EBook Review: ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE... AND LILACS by Anne Marie Bennett

(A)
(L) ost
(L) ove

(Y) earning
(O) utweighs
(U) nderstanding

(N) aive
(E) uphemisms
(E) xasperates
(D) esiring

( I ) ntense
(S) ilence

(L) eaving
(O) ut
(V) isability
(E) vading

(A) ttention
(N) ow
(D) iscover

(L) ittle
( I ) inspiration
(L) ooking
(A) t
(C) reation's
(S) oul

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE... and LILACS.
Just doesn't feel that way ... so alone.

Life has let you down... taken away.
Will never get him back... not negotiable.

Then out of nowhere comes... a surprise.
In a tiny package of humanity... joyful innocence.

One who thinks of another... plus one.
Even though sadness all around... stays close.

More ups and downs occur... a pattern.
Not telling you how ends... must read!

[Karen Johnson]

Anne has such a wonderful writing style, you forget you are reading a book and feel more like you are a part of the story; as if you are right there in person to witness every detail unfold and yes, including being able to smell the Lilacs!

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this story "All You Need is Love and Lilacs"!! (....even though I went thru half a box of tissues.) Well drawn characters and beautifully written. I started it while having lunch and couldn't put it down, had to read thru to the end! Fabulous!

[Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very touching a compassionate story that demonstrates true love for a young boy and little Abbey .Tommy was a great little character and was very bright.I also loved Claire wow great story

[Pam Papworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've ever read on an iPad. I love paper, but decided to give it a try. What a sweet novella. It was the perfect length and left me feeling happy and hopeful.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet story about how even in unbearable loss, hope love and joy can be found in the most unusual places.

[Katlyn Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4

This story was really good and sad. I loved the story and I felt like it had a lot of emotion for a short story!

[Lisa Robison · Rating 5 out of 5]

All you need is love……this sweet heart warming story will have you shedding tears. I couldn’t put it down.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is uplifting and tugs at your heart. Claire has just lost her husband Caleb of 30 years, 6 weeks ago. She is grieving and trying to go on with her life. The one thing that gives her solace is her lilac bushes. From the first minute they moved into their house, the lilacs had to be planted. Many good memories are attached to them. On this morning, she is outside in front of her lilacs and crying. She notices a little boy in her driveway, Tommy her new neighbor. He didn't want to bother her, since she was crying, but thought he could get some lilacs to give to his Mom. What happens from here, will make you cry yourself. You have to believe that sometimes things happen in your life for a reason and just maybe love will bloom.