Misty Owen leaves Florida and heads home to Lilac Lake. After being in an abusive relationship, she heads to her sisters’s place. Her sister had practically raised her when their mother was mentally and physically unavailable. Misty is thankful for her sister. Now Misty has a job at the school and she’s excited to teach second graders. She’s ready to be independent. David Graham is a local contractor who works for his family’s landscaping business. He’s kind, caring and handsome. He even made a memorial park for his sister, who passed away from cancer. How can you not be attracted to him? David has had a crush on Misty for a while. He knows she is hiding something but is waiting patiently for her to confide in him. He knows it has something to do with her ex. They are friends, after all. Will she confide? As they spend time together, the chemistry is off the charts. Will they go for it? Will she be able to let the past go so she can find love again with David? Will her past catch up with her? Can David protect her? Will she need to be? I was rooting for these two. Will she let David and his love heal her? The characters are great. Worth the read. Judith Keim always brings it. I received this book for my honest review. I give it voluntarily

These small town romance books in the Lilac Lake series by Judith Keim are great. Easy reads with great characters, beautiful locations and communities that all come together for the greater good. Even better you don't have to read the other books in this series in order to understand what is going on in this one. They are all written as their own book so you are always in the know. I especially like in this book how the main character befriends the mom of her friend. It warmed my heart how they all took care of one another.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Oh, I just love a small-town romance, and Ms. Keim writes some awesome ones! Meet Misty, who is running away from an abusive relationship, and David, a calm and patient man. Misty, so unsure of her relationship choices, slowly starting out as a bud, began to flourish in Lilac Lake. Their relationship started out in a garden, and just bloomed! Thanks to Ms. Keim, Wild Quail Publishing, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this book. Cannot wait to see what Ms. Keim has up for us next.

Love’s Bloom is the sixth book centering around the New Hampshire community of Lilac Lake. Misty Owens, younger sister of Crystal Owens who owns the cafe, has returned to Lilac Lake after escaping an abusive boyfriend in Florida where Misty was teaching. Lilac Lake has become a safe haven for Misty with her sister and friends watching out for her.

Misty has suffered emotional aftershocks from Vince’s physical and emotional abuse. She has issues with close contact and fear reigns over her responses. While Misty is comfortable meeting with the group of young locals at Jake’s, she is nowhere near being ready for a new relationship no matter how enticing David Graham, second in charge at Graham Landscaping, is.

As Misty begins a new year teaching at the local elementary school she is very comfortable with colleagues and has made an excellent friend of Hazel Belmot who also happens to live in the same riverside cabin community as Misty. The two young women, both new to the school, have one another for collaboration as well as carpooling.

When someone is spotted in a nearby town fitting the description and sharing the name of Vince with Misty’s abuser, her emotions run high. This is when a kind and patient David steps in, assisting Misty in adopting a rescue dog, setting up cameras and alarms, and teaching some defensive moves from the karate black belt.

This is another lovely and heartfelt story by Ms. Keim. Her characters are richly drawn. Her plot leads the reader through a myriad of pressing social issues. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

Love this series and this one was really , really good. The story of Misty and David. MIsty comes home to Lilac Lake running from an abusive boyfriend. She stays with his sister Crystal who runs a diner. She meets David , who runs his family's landscaping business. They meet at Jake's the local pub where everybody goes after work. Misty in this book has gotten her own place and is going to teach 2nd grade at the local school Another teacher, Hazel rents the cabin beside her and they have become friends. David and Misty start to date but she has some issues from the abusive boyfriend and really likes David she asks him to be patient with her and he says he will. See what happens to them . Do they find love.. A GFREAT READ.

I really enjoy this series. Misty comes back home to NH after an abusive relationship. She is cautious of any physical connections but finds friends with whom she is comfortable. When she meets David, he is the perfect gentleman, but she is still wary of love. As she works her way into her new life, she encounters threats that David helps her with. He teaches her karate which helps to save her in a difficult situation. This is a good story that deals with abusive relationships and the friends and family that can help you. I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

I didn’t realize this was part of a series, so at first, I felt like I was dropped into the middle of the story. I even went back to check if I’d missed a prologue or skipped chapters somehow! That said, once I caught up, I really enjoyed the story and the characters.

Loves Bloom by Judith Kleim is a quiet, gentle romance about Misty's return to Lilac Lake as she seeks to heal from a toxic past. There, she meets David—calm, kind, and patient—as their slow-burn connection begins to grow. The story thoughtfully portrays Misty's journey through emotional healing, touching not only on romance but also on her struggle with social trust and personal growth.
While the writing was clean and the narrative easy to follow, I personally found it emotionally distant. I couldn’t fully connect with the characters or the story, which made it a bit flat for me. Still, I recognize that other readers may find deep resonance in this kind of quiet, reflective romance.

And back at Lilac Lake we continue with Misty story who showed up at her sister’s doorstep, escaping from an abusive boyfriend. This being a series is best to be read in order, if only to keep all the characters straight. Some characters do have a continuation but Misty story and meeting David is the main plot. She is working her way through all the emotional damage caused by her Ex-boyfriend. The physical pain has healed but she still has a long way to go before trusting a man again. At the gang’s hangout she meets David who has the patience of a saint and slowly works his way into her heart.
The story touches on the emotional damage caused by not only physical but mental abuse. Misty struggles to overcome her fear and to trust again. To me the story seemed to lacking somewhat and there are so many characters from past books and new ones added. It’s a bit too much. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

Love's Bloom was exactly what I hoped it would be—a light, feel-good summer read full of heart and romance. The characters are absolutely lovely, and I quickly felt at home in the charming town of Lilac Lake. Misty's journey really touched me; her path to rediscovering herself was both inspiring and beautifully written.

Even though I haven’t read the other books in the Lilac Lake series, I never felt lost—this one stands perfectly on its own. That said, I’m now definitely curious to read the rest!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.

Love's Bloom is another addition to the delightful Lilac Lake world, and brings us Misty’s and David’s slow and careful relationship, along with chances to catch up with other characters we’ve met along the way. I’ve read most of the stories in this world, but anything that I might have needed to know from earlier books was easily provided through either the dialogue or the narrative, so don’t be afraid to just drop into this world for a visit.

Misty has returned home after ending an abusive relationship with her ex-boyfriend. Although the fear and trauma are never far from her thoughts, she struggles with trusting people into her space. David is a local landscaper who befriends Misty and is interested in more than just friendship. Their budding romance is slow-moving, yet Misty still has trust issues, which brings out David’s protectiveness. There are a few potholes to get beyond, but their relationship is believable given Misty’s past.

If you love a romance that not only brings a couple together but does some healing as well, then you’ll love Love's Bloom by Judith Keim. It’s a well-written, engaging, emotional story that will touch your heart. I thoroughly enjoyed myself in this world and would not hesitate to recommend Love's Bloom to anyone who enjoys a good story, closed doors, and a couple you cannot help but root for to find their happy ending.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Love's Bloom: A Lilac Lake Book by Judith Keim is a wonderful addition to the series A Lilac Lake series.
This book takes readers back to Lilac Lake. Misty came back after she left an abusive marriage. She needed a new chapter to begin with for herself and being home feels where she can find this. This book is filled with emotions that will make you feel them deep in your heart.
The characters are so easy to connect to, and I really care about them.
I look forward to the next book in this series. Judith Keim gives readers stories and characters that are wonderful.
Thank you NetGalley, Judith Keim and Wild Quail Publishing for the copy of Love’s Bloom. This is my personal review.

This was the first book I've read by Judith Keim. I really enjoyed it. I feel like it's more women's fiction, but it definitely had some romance.

This is the story of Misty, a woman who has fled an abusive relationship to find love and acceptance back in her hometown. The story deals heavily with the abuse she suffered from her ex-boyfriend. There is also the emotional abuse of one of Misty's students by his father.

There are multiple romances running through the story, but the main one is that of Misty and David. She definitely needed a man who could be patient with her and her recurring flashbacks, and David was the perfect character for that.

Overall, this was a nice, quick summer read to enjoy on a porch swing or on the beach under a big floppy hat and sunglasses.

Thanks to Wild Quail Publishing and NetGalley for the digital copy. All thoughts are my own.

A book about relationships, family and Lilac Lake. Missy, the main character, has to deal with her abusive past and finds peace here in Lilac Lake with David and his family. The story is a great read and I would recommend it to anyone.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the Author and leaving a review by my own choice.
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Love's Bloom by Judith Keim gives readers the opportunity to return to Lilac Lake and catch up with the group who live there year round. This book opens the way for future updates of life at Lilac Lake .

Misty escapes an abusive relationship and returns to Lilac Lake, desperate for a fresh start. But she is haunted by her past, making it difficult to trust and open her heart to David, a man whose kindness and patience offer her the chance at the love she never thought possible. As she struggles to break free from her past, she must face her fears or risk losing the happiness she desires with David.

I was happy that what first appeared to be a predictable story actually took a turn that made it unique and original. That twist also gave the reader an additional feel good ending.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Misty returns home to Lilac lake after escaping an abusive marriage, Her sister lives there and she makes new friends.

Misty returns home after escaping an abusive marriage in Florida, carrying deep emotional scars and constant fear that her ex may find her. Her teaching career is her anchor, and she finds solace in the familiar comfort of her sister Crystal and a tight-knit Friday night friend group.

Among them is David, a kind and steady man who runs a local landscaping business. He’s created a beautiful memorial garden in town for his sister — a space that Misty visits regularly to find peace. Though David is clearly interested in her romantically, Misty is understandably hesitant and guarded.What makes this romance so touching is the patience and respect David shows. He’s willing to move at Misty’s pace, offering quiet support rather than pressure. It’s this gentle persistence that allows Misty to consider the possibility of love again — not on someone else’s terms, but on her own.

This is a sweet, hopeful read about learning to trust again, surrounded by community and the healing power of nature. Love’s Bloom is a gentle, heartwarming story of healing, friendship, and second chances set in the charming town of Lilac Lake.

Misty has fled back home after an abusive marriage. home is Lilac Lake where her sister is still living. but Misty is struggling, living in constant fight or flight over what happened to her and the fear of what he still might do. but coming home has bought Misty something comfort, shes got a nice group of friends around her now.
slowly but surely we watch as Misty starts to build trust and her life again. but its realistically not easy. of course it wouldnt be. but with time we watch her feel more settled. one such person helping her do this is David. and there connection is really lovely. i especially loved how although there was clearly something there for both of them, David respected completely that it wouldnt go anywhere. or at least not without having a pace Misty is ok with.
with the right support, time and healing from both trusting others and herself its truly lovely to watch how Misty becomes someone she perhaps thought shed lost or would never get back again.

I loved everything about this book. It was great to see some of the cast of characters from Lilac Lake Inn and always good to hear from GG. Will Misty be able to overcome her past trauma and truly find happiness with Graham? I am looking forward to many more books in this series