A wonderful book that shows second chances and determination. What I love about reading is that the reader can connect to things within the pages that relate to them at the time they are reading, even if that is not the point of the author. This novel provides for that connection through the characters as well as the story line. Joan has been widowed for 4 years, and she has become a virtual recluse. Her sister urges her to get counseling, and maybe even to take in a boarder. When she gets a letter from the HOA criticizing the state of her yard, which was formerly her pride and joy, she calls a landscaping company, specifying that they must love flowers. Phil is the person who comes to give her an estimate, and she is surprised to see him at a grief support group. She decides to rent a room to nursing student Maggie who is desperate to get away from her alcoholic father. The author provides for well developed characters, story line as well as romance that is believable rather than fairy tale. This novel has a message serving as an example of the important strides people can make if they take proactive action to improve their lives. It examines how adult child relationships can be affected after losing one parent, while the remaining one is wrapped up in grief. Also that each parent can provide an insight to children of all ages to help them through life. If you are looking for a great read pick this one up.

Publication Date: July 11, 2023

Thank you to Net Galley, Debbie Macomber and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine.BallantineBooks

MUST LOVE FLOWERS
BY: DEBBIE MACOMBER

I can always count on Debbie Macomber to satisfy the urge to brighten my mood after reading something heavier or sad. Her fiction is probably most targeted towards a women audience. In her latest called, "Must Love Flowers," which is the title, which is a stipulation that she says to Phil her new landscaper that she hires. Her husband, Jared has been deceased for four years, yet Joan Sample is grieving him and has just had her birthday which her two sons celebrated as one holiday. They sent her thoughtful gifts combining Mother's Day, and her birthday as one. She has found little reason to leave her home since the restrictions of COVID have given her an excuse to stay home alone. She remembers how special Jared, her husband made her birthdays and she is deeply grieving him.

Joan has just received a threatening letter warning her of receiving a fine from her Home Owners Association. She has to fix up her yard, which spurs her to hire Phil, a landscaper, with the idea that he must love flowers. Joan notices that her yard that she always took pride in by having lovely flower beds that she planted indeed needs some work. Her sister Emmie, and her two adult sons are the only people she has been in contact with.

Maggie who works as a barista, lives with her alcoholic father, while she is trying to put herself through nursing school. She can barely make ends meet financially. Her father spent the money for the electric bill on beer, and there is a shut off notice within a couple of days. Maggie's father can be emotionally, and verbally abusive. Joan hears from someone she knows that Maggie is looking to rent a room, and Joan decides to rent one of the extra bedrooms in her home to Maggie.

The two of them get along great and Joan finally agrees to see a therapist about her grief in regards to not getting over the loss of her husband. The therapist after meeting with Joan, suggests that Joan could really benefit from the therapist's Grief Support group. That is the last thing that Joan feels like doing, but agrees to try it once. Coincidentally, Maggie has had her eye on Joan's youngest son Nick, serving him where she works. Maggie figures out that when Nick asks her out, that it could complicate her living arrangement. She is interested in Nick, but tells him it's against company policy to date the customers.

This novel has a message serving as an example of the important strides people can make if they take proactive action to improve their lives. It examines how adult child relationships can be affected after losing one parent, while the remaining one is wrapped up in grief. This book shows how people can improve their lives by facing their problems, instead of doing nothing, and staying stuck. The reason that I love reading Debbie Macomber's novels is she takes on real life problems infusing them with good intentioned people. This novel addresses realistic life issues that we all will face at sometime during our lives. She writes about situations that older people will probably encounter, and by her plot, and the choices her characters make, gives us hope. Lives can improve if we are willing to take risks, and not stay in the patterns of living that don't serve us any longer. It speaks to older people who can find life affirming relationships, if we are willing to come out of our comfort zones seeking to take steps to rebuild after facing a staggering loss. Mostly it takes strength to transcend, life's unexpected setbacks.

Publication Date: July 11, 2023

Thank you to Net Galley, Debbie Macomber and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine.BallantineBooks for generously providing me with my ARC, in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#MustLoveFlowers #DebbieMacomber #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantineBallantineBooks #Net Galley

2.75 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchanges for my honest review.

I was so happy to see that Debbie Macomber had changed her mind and decided to keep on writing. I was also very excited when I was given the opportunity to read this book in advance of publication. I enjoyed most of this story especially the two main characters, Joan and Maggie. LIke a lot of Macomber's books, there was a sweet love story, a bit of faith and spirituality, and the type of cozy, heartwarming story that she does so well. Most of the supporting cast was also likeable but I found Joan's younger son', Nick, to be very annoying. I found myself rolling my eyes at his over reaction to a bunch of situations.

So, overall I'm rating this with 3 stars with a 1/4 star off for Nick.

I really hope that Ms. Macomber keeps writing as I enjoy her books so much.

Thanks so much NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for an advance read in exchange for this review.

Joan Sample is an empty nester and a widower. Things have not been the best for her since her husband died 4 years ago. After another birthday alone, she decides to finally brave into the world. She hires someone to deal with her overgrown yard, finds a boarder, goes to a grief group, and starts to connect with others. Maggie is in nursing school and deals with her father who struggles with alcohol abuse. She rents a room in Joan's home and the two connect instantly.

On the surface, this book seems really sweet. It was really nice to read about Joan figuring herself out, as well as Maggie connecting with a mom like figure after her mother passed away. However, there were a couple of things that left a bad taste. The author uses race to describe a person of color, but does not do so with the rest of the characters who I am guessing are white. Al, Maggie's father's friend - "The Black man saluted her" and "An elderly Black man stepped outside". When describing Phil, the author writes "He was around her age, early fifties, with salt and pepper hair. Average height and looks, but definitely attractive".

Nick was not a nice character, and I started liking Joan a little less after he got mad at Maggie for multiple things and Joan defended him. His reactions to several scenarios were kind of concerning, and Maggie should run.

I think maybe this is my first Debbie Macomber novel? I think I read her book on writing a few years ago but this was my first novel of hers. Funny because my mom loves her. It was a nice read!

Set post-pandemic, Joan is a widow who has never dealt with the grief over her husband’s death and Maggie is a young girl trying to put herself through college while dealing with a father who will not get help with his alcoholism. She decides the only way forward is to move out at the same time Joan decides she must come back to the land of the living and takes in a boarder. The two women support each other and take an interest in the new landscaper and Joan’s adult son Nick.

This book was very nice and sweet and the pacing carried me through it pretty quickly. The only drawback for me was that Nick would seem like such a negative Nancy with no prompting. He comes in very strong about not wanting his mom to have a boarder, and he and Maggie have issues before he turns it around and is interested in her. And then he does it again when he makes snap judgments about her father towards the end! (Joan, who raised this boy??) it put me out of patience with him. The rest of the characters were lovely. The end was a little too optimistic IMO but for a feel good cozy novel it was probably warranted.

Altogether I would rate this 3.5 stars (and will probably buy it for my mom)

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC copy. This is my honest review.

I love any book by Debbie Macomber, this is a sweet, quick read. I read it in one afternoon. Love the charaters and the setting.

This was absolutely delightful. The plot was well-paced and captivating from start to finish. The characters were charming and witty. I highly recommend this fun and quick read! Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

II just reviewed Must Love Flowers by Debbie Macomber. #MustLoveFlowers #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]
n true Debbie Macomber fashion, this is a book you can't put down. Very sweet, easy read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book for an honest review. First of all, I am so happy that Debbie Macomber did not stay retired. She has so many books in her. I don't know how she does it but she continues to entertain with her wholesome writing while keeping it fresh. Joan is widowed before the pandemic when her loving husband dies suddenly of an aneurism. When the world starts opening back she is forced to come out of the house and face the world. Her yard is overgrown, her hair needs a style and she hasn't really done anything for herself. She talks to a friend and considers taking in a border and goes to the hairstylist. She also calls a landscaper about her lawn. When she starts a grief support group she finds it more helpful then she realized. I loved the side stories with her two sons and the border that she gets to move into one of her sons rooms. This was an enjoyable book and I loved the reference "Must love flowers". Bravo.

This new novel is written in Debbie Macomber’s classic style – warm and inviting with likeable characters facing relatable dilemmas. Fans will be happy to know that the author found retirement less than satisfying and has recommitted to writing more books, just not as frequently as in the past. Must Love Flowers is her first post-retirement offering.

Joan Sample has never emerged from the grief over the sudden death of her husband. After four long years of isolation (acerbated by the COVID epidemic), she realizes she needs to make some changes. Prompted by her sister, a friend and a not-so-friendly HOA letter threatening to fine her if she does not get her yard in order, Joan slowly begins to forge a new path and a new identity. This includes hiring a landscape service, taking in a boarder, and attending a grief support group. As with all the author’s novels, there are challenges to be overcome and a happy resolution at the end.

I found this latest offering to be a quick, enjoyable, and entertaining read. Despite the protagonist dealing with depression and grief issues, the overall tone is positive and inspiring. It was a welcome antidote to the often-troublesome news reports that are so prevalent today.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

This is just a clean cozy family story and romance. This is a quick read and I loved how it all came together at the end. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Joan has been widowed for 4 years, and she has become a virtual recluse. Her sister urges her to get counseling, and maybe even to take in a boarder. When she gets a letter from the HOA criticizing the state of her yard, which was formerly her pride and joy, she calls a landscaping company, specifying that they must love flowers. Phil is the person who comes to give her an estimate, and she is surprised to see him at a grief support group. She decides to rent a room to nursing student Maggie who is desperate to get away from her alcoholic father. There are several romances and caring friendships, and Debbie is great about providing all different age groups with her trademark happily-ever-after ending. In the preface, Debbie says that she was thinking of retiring, but changed her mind--I'm so glad she did, because I really enjoyed this novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and the author. This is a good book. I liked this book from page one. This talented author has written a cannot put down story about second chances. The main character is a widow who has been living in seclusion. COVID made matters so much worse for her. Finally, she has come through the valley somewhat, not over, but through, and she is ready to live again. The myriad of characters are realistic and likable. The story moves quickly. The emotion of the story is evident, and a sweet love story ensues, along with healing for many. Grab a warm blanket, settle on a cozy chair, and be transported into the lives of the people in this novel. Better yet, grab a beach chair and enjoy. Not that this is a beach type read, but what better place to read and become immersed In this book? This favorite author has not disappointed. I am glad she still writes. This is one of her best yet.