Terrific story of family, secrets, love, and healing. Three cousins, Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja, return to Shamrock to help run their grandmother's flower shop, The Lucky Shamrock. The three women aren't close - they can barely go five minutes without squabbling. Nana Irene forces them to live and work together to get them to learn to get along. The initial reunion among the three women doesn't look good for a peaceful summer.
Easygoing war vet Clinton lives in the apartment over the shop and helps Nana Irene with deliveries and heavy lifting. He's on hand to run interference among the three women. Clinton is the most eligible bachelor in the small town and is the target of several husband-hunting women. These women relentlessly pursue Clinton, using homemade goodies to try to win him over. I loved his focus on helping others and got a kick out of his grandfather's vociferous support.
I loved watching Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja throw themselves into the work. One of their first challenges is setting up a big wedding whose wedding planner is an old nemesis from their school days. Their encounters with Kaitlyn are full of sass and stick-togetherness, including a satisfying post-wedding confrontation. Though the three women bicker among themselves, they stand should-to-shoulder against outsiders.
As they settle into working and living together, their contentiousness slowly evaporates. I loved seeing them share the secrets that have had such long-lasting impacts on their lives. Burdens shared are burdens lifted, and I loved watching them share their coping strategies. I loved their box-burning scene and laughed out loud at their dog-toy-throwing episode.
I think Jorja changed the most. The daughter of missionaries, Jorja is the religious one of the trio. She focuses on trying to gain redemption for a traumatic event in her past. Her prim and proper façade hides the broken and hurting woman inside. I loved the support she received from Taryn and Anna Rose as she faced those memories and moved past them. It was fun to see her do everything from drinking beer and letting loose with some cussing to confronting the person responsible for her demons.
Anna Rose has gone the other way. She is a brilliant photographer who constantly travels, never staying anywhere long enough to put down roots. She is loud-mouthed, sassy, and believes in living life to the fullest. But that spirit hides insecurities stemming from a relationship that turned toxic and made her wary of settling down. Her cousins' support helped her see she was tired of running away.
Taryn left Shamrock in the dust after graduation, tired of the unfair reputation of troublemaker gained by trusting the wrong people. But life away from Shamrock wasn't always better. A bad relationship has made it difficult for her to trust her judgment when risking her heart again. But with the help of a baby, she learns to open her heart again.
The setting of small-town Texas and the drama that accompanies everyone being up everyone else's business made this a fun book to read. From the trio of mean girls to Nana Irene and Ruby, there is never a dull moment. I loved the surprise at the end and its effect on so many lives. I especially enjoyed seeing a particular person finally have to face the music.
While most of the story was spent on Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja and their pasts and relationships with each other, there was a subtle romance going on in the background. I loved watching Taryn and Clinton grow closer thanks to caring for baby Zoe and Clinton's kindness and support. I liked that they took their time and became friends first. The epilogue was terrific. I loved seeing where everyone was a year later.
#netgalley
Easygoing war vet Clinton lives in the apartment over the shop and helps Nana Irene with deliveries and heavy lifting. He's on hand to run interference among the three women. Clinton is the most eligible bachelor in the small town and is the target of several husband-hunting women. These women relentlessly pursue Clinton, using homemade goodies to try to win him over. I loved his focus on helping others and got a kick out of his grandfather's vociferous support.
I loved watching Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja throw themselves into the work. One of their first challenges is setting up a big wedding whose wedding planner is an old nemesis from their school days. Their encounters with Kaitlyn are full of sass and stick-togetherness, including a satisfying post-wedding confrontation. Though the three women bicker among themselves, they stand should-to-shoulder against outsiders.
As they settle into working and living together, their contentiousness slowly evaporates. I loved seeing them share the secrets that have had such long-lasting impacts on their lives. Burdens shared are burdens lifted, and I loved watching them share their coping strategies. I loved their box-burning scene and laughed out loud at their dog-toy-throwing episode.
I think Jorja changed the most. The daughter of missionaries, Jorja is the religious one of the trio. She focuses on trying to gain redemption for a traumatic event in her past. Her prim and proper façade hides the broken and hurting woman inside. I loved the support she received from Taryn and Anna Rose as she faced those memories and moved past them. It was fun to see her do everything from drinking beer and letting loose with some cussing to confronting the person responsible for her demons.
Anna Rose has gone the other way. She is a brilliant photographer who constantly travels, never staying anywhere long enough to put down roots. She is loud-mouthed, sassy, and believes in living life to the fullest. But that spirit hides insecurities stemming from a relationship that turned toxic and made her wary of settling down. Her cousins' support helped her see she was tired of running away.
Taryn left Shamrock in the dust after graduation, tired of the unfair reputation of troublemaker gained by trusting the wrong people. But life away from Shamrock wasn't always better. A bad relationship has made it difficult for her to trust her judgment when risking her heart again. But with the help of a baby, she learns to open her heart again.
The setting of small-town Texas and the drama that accompanies everyone being up everyone else's business made this a fun book to read. From the trio of mean girls to Nana Irene and Ruby, there is never a dull moment. I loved the surprise at the end and its effect on so many lives. I especially enjoyed seeing a particular person finally have to face the music.
While most of the story was spent on Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja and their pasts and relationships with each other, there was a subtle romance going on in the background. I loved watching Taryn and Clinton grow closer thanks to caring for baby Zoe and Clinton's kindness and support. I liked that they took their time and became friends first. The epilogue was terrific. I loved seeing where everyone was a year later.
#netgalley
