Another lovely offering from Shipman, Abby and Iris might seem to be different but both women have struggled with love and loss but they bond over Iris's beautiful garden. It's gentle and heartwarming. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

This was a great story that I feel was sad also. This a a story about two different women who almost had simular lives torn apart by war and loss. A beautiful garden to bide their time and try to heal. I would recommend this to people who like heartfelt stories.

Iris Maynard has endured great tragedy, losing both her husband in World War II and her daughter to illness. She finds solace in her beautiful heirloom garden, which is hidden behind a towering fence that keeps others out.

Abby Peterson and her family move in next door, including her husband who is dealing with trauma from serving in the Iraq War and their young daughter who is searching for stability. Abby is curious about the high fence separating their property from Iris's house and the reclusive landlady herself. Meanwhile, Lily is fascinated by the beautiful flowers she sees behind the fence and begins to draw Iris out of seclusion.

The book provides excellent flower and gardening information, described in such detail that readers can vividly imagine themselves living on Lake Michigan. The relationship between Iris and Lily is heartwarming as they both learn from each other and grow together.

DNF - Did not finish. I did not connect with the writing style or plot and will not be finishing this title. Thank you, NetGalley and Publisher for the early copy!

I am always so excited when I find a little gem of a book. I went into this one thinking I liked the synopsis, but it probably wasn't going to be anything special. AND I WAS WRONG!!! It was so good!!! So much heart and love and trauma and healing. I loved the family the three young family members created with the older lady next door and the way it shows that you need people in your life. Beautiful story!!!

Gardening is a huge passion for me, this year more so than in the past. When I saw the title of this book I thought it would be a perfect read for me. Sadly, I should have read the synopsis more closely. What I read was a younger woman and an older one bond both of whom are suffering bond over their love of the flower garden. What the book is about is a woman who endured the suffering a loss of WWII and a family suffering the effects of the Iraq war. The fact is that I’ve grown a bit weary of reading books about WWII written from the romanticized viewpoint of the US and UK and I simply do not read books about the unjustified Iraqi invasion. Period. I’m very sure that readers of Viola Shipman will love and adore this book. It’s very predictable, a bit on the saccharine sweet side but it definitely wasn’t a book for me

Viola Shipman has fast become a favorite author of mine. The Heirloom Garden, like Shipman’s other books, is warm and comforting. While it is a bit predictable at times, it is still heartwarming, sentimental and sweet, with promises of sunshine, warm lake breezes and the perfume of flowers.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book

Heartwarming story about a war vet and an older landlord who imparts wisdom on this young family. She herself has had a lot of loss. Her gardening brings them closer. Felt long winded at times but overall an enjoyable read.

I just loved this touching story from Harlequin that was partly historical fiction and partly “women’s fiction”. It was a sweet story with a happy ending and was a nice read during our COVID confinement. Gardens symbolize the eternalness of the seasons and the passing of life and the garden in this story stood for a life well-lived that had been dormant a little too long.
This is one my mother would have called “a nice story”. It made me cry.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and share about it!

(Net Galley ARC received for free)

Graydon House and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Heirloom Garden. I voluntarily chose to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

The Heirloom Garden follows two women, Iris Maynard and Abby Peterson, strangers who become neighbors and friends. Iris has lived a hard life, losing those she loved most entirely too early. Will the walls that Iris has put up stop Abby, as well as her husband and daughter, from become part of her life?

There are parts of The Heirloom Garden that I really liked, especially the historical aspects regarding World War II. I also liked how the author connected the two women from the beginning, instead of having two separate perspectives without any thread between them until later in the novel. Although the ways that history was repeating itself, especially regarding the treatment of women in the workplace, was interesting, these parts of the book were not as successful. Abby's reactions to her situation mimic those of Iris, but women in the early 2000's had more ammunition at their disposal. Women like Abby, smart and assertive, would not have reacted in the same way in the 2000's as Iris did in the 1940's. Though the military angle was a good parallel, it almost was not necessary to the novel. Iris Maynard was a fascinating woman and her story was enough to carry the book. Overall, The Heirloom Garden was a good read and one I would recommend to those who like historical fiction.

When Abby and her husband, Corey and daughter, Lily move to a town on Lake Michigan, they are curious about their neighbor who seems to hide in her house. It is initially Lily who breaks through to Iris, an old woman who experienced many tragedies on her life. The relationship between Corey, suffering from PTSD after serving in Iraq, and Iris helps both to move forward. The use of flowers to represent feelings and emotions was interesting, but lost on me since I don’t garden. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

So this is my first @viola_shipman book and I loved it! Poignant and beautifully written without being overwhelmingly emotional , The Heirloom Garden can inspire anyone to get in the dirt and make themselves better. I liked this book so much that I bought a copy for my mom for Mother’s Day. I knew she would love it.

This book tells the story of two women from different generations who are brought together by their experiences of war. Iris’s husband was killed in WWII, and her daughter passed away a few years later. She now finds peace in her garden, but she hasn’t left her house in years, closing herself off from the world with tall fences. In 2003, Abby’s family moves into the house next to Iris’s, which Iris rents to them. Abby’s husband has just returned from the Iraq war, but he is a shell of his former self. Abby’s kind daughter, Lily, is curious about the old lady who lives next door, which leads to an unlikely friendship.

This book was a tearjerker. Iris is mourning her husband and daughter decades after their deaths. She still talks to them. It was heartbreaking to see show her life was standing still, for the most part, since they died. Even though Abby’s husband returned from his war, he was so traumatized that he wasn’t himself anymore. Abby and Iris had similar experiences with being left behind in the aftermath of a war.

I loved the dual narratives of Abby and Iris. They had different perspectives, being from two generations, yet there were similarities in their lives. Both of them had their husbands go to war. They were both working in scientific jobs, where they weren’t given opportunities they deserved because they were women. Though they were working in these fields fifty years apart, not much had changed in the way women were treated in the workplace.

I found the gardening aspect of this book fascinating. I don’t know much about gardening, but it was amazing how it brought people together in this book. There was also a scientific side of it, which was described by Iris. She created her own unique flowers. I also didn’t know about the process for saving plants through the winter. Iris would pack them away in her basement to save them for the spring. It made sense, but I had never thought about that process before.

This is a beautiful story!

Thank you Graydon House for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Viola Shipman is a new to me author but after reading this novel, I went to Amazon and ordered a few of this amazing authors books. I can honestly say that The Heirloom Garden will be one of my favorite books this year. Dual timelines are my favorites and this one is beautifully written.
We meet Iris Maynard during World War II where she is tending the Victory Garden with her friends and neighbors. After the loss of her husband and daughter she becomes a recluse that is until she rents her grandmothers cottage to a young couple with an inquisitive young daughter.

I absolutely adored Iris, her love of gardening and her heirloom flowers were such a beautiful and important part of her life. The vivid descriptions of the gardens, the houses and Grand Haven, Michigan made me feel like I was seeing what the character were seeing and feeling what they were feeling. Abby Peterson is a wonderful character who has a husband suffering from PTSD and a daughter who needs both parents to watch over her.

When Iris first meets her neighbors things don't really go all that well because she wants privacy but her little neighbor wants to talk so needless to say their first meeting doesn't go too smoothly. As the relationship develops between Iris and the Peterson family there will be secrets revealed, loneliness and fears will be faced but there will be times of trust and letting go of the past. I wanted to spend time with this unlikely foursome, I even wanted to try corndog and since I don't eat meat I knew this author had truly drawn me into this wonderful book.

Overall, I thought this beautifully written story has the most compelling characters that I have met in quite some time. I cried, smiled, and cheered for each of these unforgettable characters. I will never forget this fantastic book.
I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

There was a lot about this novel that I was unsure about when I read the synopsis. This isn't my usual book, but I figured I'd give it a try. I'm not someone who usually likes war stories or time pieces. However, this wasn't really anything like that. It was back-and-forth, but in a good way!

This was my first Viola Shipman novel. I never would've thought to read her before, but I'm really glad I did. This intrigues me for future novels by her as the writing was extraordinary. I really enjoyed her point-of-views between characters and that made me enjoy them even more. Iris lost her husband in WWII and her daughter to polio. This is where she built herself inside of her garden and didn't want to talk to anyone. She did this for a long time before she meets Abby. Abby's husband comes back from the Iraq war and is no longer than man he was before he left. Now living next door to each other, these two women have something in common even if Abby didn't lose her husband physically. These two women bond and find a relationship unlike anything I've ever read before.

I loved this story. It was the epitome of a feel-good novel. It was very heartwarming and makes you feel hope that things are actually like that. Abby, Iris, and Abby's daughter, Lily, truly stole my heart. It was special to see that the relationship and friendship between Abby and Iris that bloomed despite their age gap.

The gardening point-of-view in this story is impeccable. I have a "black thumb", but I absolutely loved learning about all of the different types of flowers and plants that Iris and Abby talk about was spectacular.

The reasons why I didn't give this novel a five-star rating were two different things. First, there were some parts of this book that was very righteous and almost "holier-than-thou". I can see why it would be like that, but sometimes it seemed to be too much. Second, this book seemed longer than it should've been. I really enjoyed this story, don't get me wrong, but I feel like it was drug out at some parts.

Overall, Viola Shipman has definitely caught my interest. I would be open to reading her other books as this one had very "feel-good" energy. This could absolutely be one of the top "general fiction" novels of 2020.

This is a beautifully written story about two women whose lives are connected by horrible wars. I loved the characters and the bond that formed between both Abby and Iris as well the families bond with Iris, especially the daughter. Both women have some serious issues to work through and I thought the story did a great job of showing their development. The only thing I didn't love was the political commentary. It was warranted by I felt like there was just too much of it. Overall though it was a great book and I really enjoyed it.

I love flowers, love color and enjoy anything and everything that is a heirloom. Filled with a lovely garden, descriptions of beautiful flowers, this was a lighter toned read. The subjects though we're anything but light. An older woman, who shuts herself in her garden after some tragic losses. A young man who has returned with PTSD after serving in the Iraq war. His wife who is trying so hard to keep their family together and their five year old daughter Lily, who is delightful.

It also takes place in Grand Haven, Michigan a place I know well. Was a little taken aback by what the residents call us out of towners from Illinois, which I don't repeat here. Did provide a little chuckle.
A good, warm-hearted, tender story, but it did get a little treacly for my reading taste. Those flowers though made it easy for me to overlook some of my usual preferences.

The narrators were Nan Macnamara and Lauren Enzo. They did pretty well so three stars for the narration.

Another book by Viola Shipman that I absolutely adored! Loved the characters, Iris and Abby, and the dual timelines in the story. The writing was beautiful, charming and delightful. I thoroughly enjoyed The Heirloom Garden, and is one that should not be missed.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy.

I absolutely adored this book! Everything from the appreciation of the military to the reality of PTSD to the evocative images of Lake Michigan and gorgeous gardens to the familial and neighborly relationships, of love and healing and hope. It takes a lot to make me cry in a novel, and Viola did just that....I found myself weeping at some of the scenes in the book. Thank you for allowing me to read this, and I look forward to recommending it to many!

Every time I read a Viola Shipman book, I am amazed that it's written by a man. He can really get into the mind of a woman, and his characters are so developed. This book starts off so sad. One of the main characters has lost her husband and daughter while the other has a husband suffering from the PTSD from the Iraq War. This turns into a beautiful story of hope, though, and the way the flowers are woven into the story is both magical and masterful. I also loved the setting of Grand Haven. I spent a few days there when we lived in Chicago, and I really loved our visit. The only reason I didn't rate this book five stars is it got a bit preachy about how awful war is, and though I don't disagree with the author, I thought it felt a bit forced into the story. Overall, this was a fantastic read.