Hope Everett, the main character in "Hope Blooms", is former military grappling with both physical challenges and emotional scars.
She gets an opportunity to apply at Moondreams House estate, and she seizes it eagerly. Her enthusiasm is what lands her the job, although Dante must oversee her work.

The narrative explores themes of love, and the courage to start anew. Hope and Dante's relationship evolves into mutual respect and understanding; as they get to know each other better, Hope has to reconcile with the idea of whether she's ready to open herself up love again.
Speaking of the duo and their blossoming relationship, I couldn't help but wish for a deeper emotional connection between them.

This book offers readers a heartwarming journey through love and resilience, 5/5!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book, though well written and dealing with heavy subject matter (PTSD, trauma, war injury) didn't execute on the "romance". The two main characters didn't spend enough time together to showcase why they fell in love, and the focus seemed to be on other issues throughout the book. Both main characters showed potential, but I think a few more chapters to show the "felling in love" would have benefited to storyline and plausibility.

This book is about Hope Everett, a former army member grappling with physical disability and PTSD, seizes an opportunity to pursue her passion for flowers by taking a job as a florist at Moondreams House estate. Initially met with resistance from Dante Troughton, the son of the estate owner, their relationship evolves from tension to mutual respect as they both confront their pasts. Hope's journey to finding her place in the civilian world, coupled with blossoming friendships and her determination to make her new business thrive, makes for an emotional yet ultimately enjoyable read.

In this novel we follow the journey of Hope Everett, a former soldier grappling with physical disability and PTSD as she transitions back to civilian life. When she lands a job as a florist on the Moondreams House estate, she's excited to pursue her passion for flowers, but her enthusiasm is challenged by Dante Troughton, the estate owner's son, who insists on overseeing her business's finances. As their relationship evolves from tension to mutual respect, Hope is forced to confront her past and consider whether she's ready for a new beginning. The novel is a poignant exploration of resilience, healing, and the power of connection, and it will leave readers rooting for Hope as she navigates the challenges of her new life.

oh wow wow wow! yes, this book is a big wow! I LOVED it! I am a big flower lover and I am draw to every book where flower shops and florists are involved. And this particular book is super good! The story is just so beautiful and moving. So many things are happening, you are never bored. The charaters are all likeable. I really recommend you this book!! It's a 4 stars out of 5 for me and certainly even a little more than 4! I can't wait to read another book by Ros Rendle!

The title is perfect for the book not only the name for the main character, but also what the book is about, hope. Discusses disability and the hardship that goes with it, in a way that you feel for her struggles. Wish the ending was longer. This is my first book by this talented author and looking forward to reading more.

Hope Blooms by Ros Rendle

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Having recently left the army, Hope Everett is now learning to live with a physical disability and PTSD. As she does her best to accustom herself to the civilian world, she wonders what to do with the rest of her life.

When a florist job becomes available on the Moondreams House estate, Hope jumps at the chance to indulge her lifelong passion for flowers. Despite her limited experience, her enthusiasm wins her the job. However, her excitement is dampened when Dante Troughton — the aloof son of the estate owner — insists on overseeing the financial side of Hope’s business.

Though Hope initially finds Dante arrogant and overbearing, their uneasy relationship gradually grows into a mutual respect. And as both begin to open up about their past, Hope questions whether she is ready to let someone get close to her…

Can Hope make her new business thrive? Will she find solace in her work and blossoming friendships?Or will the tragedies of her previous life overwhelm her…?

My Opinion

This was a book that I read in just over an hour, it was a lovely, quick read about Hope finding her place in the world after a life-changing injury. This is the second book I have read in the series now, but it could work as a standalone. In places this is an emotional read but I thought that overall it was an enjoyable read.

Rating 4/5

This book was a bit disjointed I didn't feel that the first part matched up with the end. I sadly thought there was a lack of development in the storyline and the ending was just a bit of a plot hole. I liked the parts about disability and how she felt she couldn't let people in. Very true to life.

Poignant, moving, and life affirming. It's a good story and I appreciated the realistic description of disability.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The disability representation in this book for the most part was good. I felt like her struggle with letting people know was very real and I know a lot of people struggle with that. But the ending of the book felt way too dramatic. (Medically speaking as well as plot wise)

The writing felt flat to me. The characters underdeveloped. It got a little better in the second half of the book. There was more dialogue too. And it really needed that. The first half was no show and tell, just show. And that made it so there was a huge disconnect. I felt so distanced from the characters. This book would have been better if it was written in first person. I normally don't have a problem with third person, but for this specific book it did not work.

The romance storyline felt underdeveloped too. It was obvious they liked each other. But there was no communication. Yet a lot of assumptions. Because of that the big declaration at the end felt like it came out of nowhere. There was no build-up, no tension. Because of that I was not rooting for them to get together at all. I simply did not care and that made me sad.

But I loved the cosyness of Moondreams House. The flowershop was adorable and I loved how dedicated she was to her work, how she chose what flowers to use. But sadly that did not outweigh the lack of communication and the underdeveloped characters and dramatic and rushed ending.

I had such high hopes for this book. And I am very dissapointed about the excecution...

Hope Everett is an ex-solider suffering from PTSD and a life changing injury. As part of her rehabilitation she undertook floristry and business courses. An opportunity arises at Moondreams House for a floristry concession. The house is own by David and his son Dante. They have a complicated relationship and Dante has suffered from a childhood trauma. The story covers the twists and turns o& their story. I really enjoyed the story right up until the last 2-3 chapters. The ending seemed rather rushed and unsatisfactory. That said, I would be interested to try one of the authors other books.

What another great instalment in the moondreams house sagas.
This one starts with Hope who was in the army in Afghanistan and received a life changing injury, but she dosnt let it hold her back nor does she like sharing her accident with anyone.
Dante is back from France to try to rebuild his relationship with his father who owns moondreams house, he meets Hope fleetingly at a party and gets an idea to open a florist in the grounds. Hope is the florist.
Great read and looking forward to more in the series to see how the characters which are cleverly intertwined in each book.
Highly recommended

I enjoyed this sweet romance until the last two or three chapters when it felt like the author realized she had to wrap up asap. After a slow build, the end was very unsatisfying and anticlimactic.

3.5 stars.
A sweet and slow love story, “Hope Blooms”, by Ros Rendle, features a resilient wounded heroine, seeking healing and passionate about her flower business, and a lonely hero with issues of his own.
I really liked the story’s gentle flow, watching Hope trying fiercely to overcome her wounds and embracing with dedication a new career, and Dante's rare manifestations revealing a lonely, insecure person.
Dante is a brooding hero dealing with deep-rooted feelings of insecurity and inadequacy. The loneliness and sense of isolation are strong in his personality, yet he’s also a thoughtful, kind hero.
I felt that Moondreams House worked as a haven for both Hope and Dante and I liked the interactions and relationships between main and supporting characters.
I found the leads did not spent enough time together to make the romance acquire substantive emotional depth beyond the mutual attraction; just a bit more development was needed.
The romance is more desire than completion (and I’m not talking about sex scenes), and although the main characters are basically honest with each other, they do spend a lot of time with other supposedly significant people.

An emotional read, the story of Hope, who is recovering after medical discharge from the army. She wants to get in to forestry and has the chance, but will Dante stand in her way? Looking forward to more books from this author.