Review first published on my blog: http://memoriesfrombooks.blogspot.com/2013/12/winter-in-full-bloom.html
Lily is alone. Her only child is off to college, leaving Lily's nest empty. Lily has been estranged from her own mother for over ten years. As empty nest syndrome effects Lily, she attempts a reconciliation with her mother.
Not surprisingly, she is unsuccessful. What is surprising and shocking is that her mother reveals that Lily is an identical twin. Lily has always thought she was an only child - no sibling, much less a twin. The other twin, Camille, is now living in Australia. That is all her mother will tell her, providing no information as to how or why Camille ended up in Australia.
Shocked and hurt but also amazed at the possibility of having a sister, Lily travels to Melbourne Australia with limited information. There, she meets Marcus, another US transplant who is escaping events in his own life. Together, they form a bond and search for Lily's sister. In this search, Lily learns a lot about herself, and perhaps finds herself.
Some of the "why's" of the book are difficult to believe, but if you are willing to suspend disbelief, the book is an easy and quick to read story that moves quickly and resolves sweetly. A feel good book.
*** Reviewed for GoodReads First Reads program ***
Lily is alone. Her only child is off to college, leaving Lily's nest empty. Lily has been estranged from her own mother for over ten years. As empty nest syndrome effects Lily, she attempts a reconciliation with her mother.
Not surprisingly, she is unsuccessful. What is surprising and shocking is that her mother reveals that Lily is an identical twin. Lily has always thought she was an only child - no sibling, much less a twin. The other twin, Camille, is now living in Australia. That is all her mother will tell her, providing no information as to how or why Camille ended up in Australia.
Shocked and hurt but also amazed at the possibility of having a sister, Lily travels to Melbourne Australia with limited information. There, she meets Marcus, another US transplant who is escaping events in his own life. Together, they form a bond and search for Lily's sister. In this search, Lily learns a lot about herself, and perhaps finds herself.
Some of the "why's" of the book are difficult to believe, but if you are willing to suspend disbelief, the book is an easy and quick to read story that moves quickly and resolves sweetly. A feel good book.
*** Reviewed for GoodReads First Reads program ***
This book took a lot of time and patience to get through. And I mean that in a good way. It is a normal size novel but what is inside will drain you and then strengthen and encourage you. I can't even begin to share what I got out of Winter in Full Bloom but I will give you just a glimpse of what made me love it so much, enough to put it on my keeper shelf.
You start the book and immediately meet a little cutie who is helping a woman, Lily Winters, get through her fear of flying. In a very unique way I might add:) If only I had someone like her the first time I flew. But the first part of the story is told in perspective of Lily telling this little girl what happened. In short, she finds out from her mother in a very odd way that she has a sister she never knew. So she flies across the world to Australia to find her. And when she can't find anything about her, she stumbles upon Marcus. I have to tell you, he was probably my favorite character in the whole book. More about that later:) Lily finds her sister but the story doesn't stop there. I don't want to give anything away so I won't tell more about the trail of forgiveness, reconciliation, peace and love.
As I mentioned above, Marcus is my hero, in more ways than one. Not only is he kind and gracious with Lily, even making her laugh when she didn't think she had any more joy, but he is quite the character. I found myself drawn to his quiet strength and his weaknesses. Marcus is a man who has known trouble but isn't letting it drag him down, at least to a point. You will also find something very adorable in a little bookshop part. I loved it and had tears in my eyes! I actually had tears in my eyes more than once. You will laugh and cry but it will be well worth your time reading Winter in Full Bloom. Loved it Anita!!
I received a copy of this book for my review purposes. All thoughts are 100%mine.
You start the book and immediately meet a little cutie who is helping a woman, Lily Winters, get through her fear of flying. In a very unique way I might add:) If only I had someone like her the first time I flew. But the first part of the story is told in perspective of Lily telling this little girl what happened. In short, she finds out from her mother in a very odd way that she has a sister she never knew. So she flies across the world to Australia to find her. And when she can't find anything about her, she stumbles upon Marcus. I have to tell you, he was probably my favorite character in the whole book. More about that later:) Lily finds her sister but the story doesn't stop there. I don't want to give anything away so I won't tell more about the trail of forgiveness, reconciliation, peace and love.
As I mentioned above, Marcus is my hero, in more ways than one. Not only is he kind and gracious with Lily, even making her laugh when she didn't think she had any more joy, but he is quite the character. I found myself drawn to his quiet strength and his weaknesses. Marcus is a man who has known trouble but isn't letting it drag him down, at least to a point. You will also find something very adorable in a little bookshop part. I loved it and had tears in my eyes! I actually had tears in my eyes more than once. You will laugh and cry but it will be well worth your time reading Winter in Full Bloom. Loved it Anita!!
I received a copy of this book for my review purposes. All thoughts are 100%mine.
