Ashley Clark knows how to write great dual timelines stories. I love this dual timeline story because it provides twice the characters, twice the grace, and so much redemption.

Alice has never given up hope on her mother after Hurricane Katrina. She has managed to move on with her life and now runs a flower shop. There she meets Sullivan and learns that their stories are also interwoven. I love how Ashley does such a great job of weaving together so many stories. Her words are brimming with hope, passion, and new life.

Clara can no longer turn a blind eye and finds the courage to stand up for what she believes in as well as put feet to her convictions. Clara finds a way to help when she meets Teddy, a Union spy who challenges her to do more than feel conviction. The legacy they leave behind is deeply moving and inspiring.

In both stories, the secret messages that can be conveyed through flowers is deeply explored. I loved how the stories blended seamlessly and brought closure to many we have met along the way. Even though this is last in the series, it can be read in any order. I have deeply enjoyed my time with these characters throughout the entire series. I love how Ashley brings to life characters who have walked in deep pain and still found the strength and grace to carry on. There are so many wonderful Truths and words of encouragement for anyone in these stories.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

Where the Last Rose Bloom is an amazing and beautifully written novel written by Ms. Clark. Actually, it’s another amazing and beautifully written novel the author has written. The Heirloom Series has been one of my favorite series and while I’m sad to see it end, the conclusion is deeply satisfying and brought back characters from the previous two books.

I love a time-slip novel and Ms. Clark certainly writes some of the best I have had the pleasure of reading. All of the characters were well crafted, but I have to admit to being drawn to Clara’s story, a young abolitionist who is strong, fearless and selfless. I loved how she was eager to help an enslaved woman reunite with her daughter. It was rather frightening at times, and I don’t mind saying I was pretty nervous for her, and the three other people involved in helping her.

I also liked the story of Alice and her longing to find her mother who was lost after Hurricane Katrina. Both of the and timelines were woven together in a way that that added to my overall pleasurable reading of this book. This one is going on my keeper shelf.

I received a copy from Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I've adored each book in the Heirloom Secrets series, but I think I enjoyed Where the Last Rose Blooms the most. Book 3 ties up the series in a beautiful way, with family helping family and weaving all the pieces together. I love the references to what flowers mean throughout the story and the incredible coding system used by Rose. This book is filled with wonderful characters and a few rogues. If you enjoy time-slip novels and stories connected to the Civil War, you'll enjoy this story. I've been to New Orleans and Charleston where much of the story is set and loved visiting again through Clark's rich description. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

If you are a fan of time split, historical, or sweet romance novels, I highly recommend that you treat yourself to all three books in Ashley Clark's Heirloom Secrets series. Each book of this series leaves the reader with a sweet sense of nostalgia, probably because of the vintage heirlooms that connect the stories and characters. The theme of each book will impact a deep place in the reader's heart and soul.

Where the Last Rose Blooms is the third and, sadly according to the author's note, the final book of the series. The book is largely set in Charleston in the early 1860s and New Orleans both during Hurricane Katrina and modern day. In Charleston we meet Clara, a young woman who is faced with defying her father and lending support to the Union cause, and Rose, the enslaved woman assigned to her care. In New Orleans the story centers around Alice, co-owner of The Prickly Rose bouquet shop, a young woman who has dealt with abandonment issues since her mother disappeared during Hurricane Katrina. Their stories intermingle as we are also reunited with characters from the previous books in the series.

This book and this series are ones that you will want to share with your reading friends, ones that you won't be able to keep to yourself. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Where the Last Rose Blooms from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

A wonderful conclusion to the Heirloom Secrets series! I loved the secret language of the flowers and the history behind the embroidered pieces. Alice is a delightful character, with her whimsical nature. Clara's story gives readers insight into life during the Civil War. Rose and Ashley's tale was heartbreaking but I loved the way they were able to communicate. The author carefully crafted the stories together to create an enjoyable tale of history mixed with a little mystery. Recommended.

I adore the Heirloom Secrets series by Author Ashley Clark. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every story. Each story can be read as a standalone, but there are familiar characters in all three books, so I highly recommend reading them all.

In Where the Last Rose Blooms, both timeline stories are wonderfully engaging, poignant, told with humor, and with lovely romances.

In 1861 Charleston, Clara "refused to go another day turning a blind eye to salvery's horrors." As an abolitionist, "she might lose everything. Well, everything, except her good conscience. Her heart and soul." "She had no idea what she was going to do if he (her confederate father) put her out on the street. For now, she would simply do the next right thing." She becomes very acquainted with the Victorian language of flowers and their hidden meanings. It's interesting how she uses this information. She also wants to help her slave Rose find freedom and reconnect with her young daughter Ashley who was sold years ago.

In the present day story, Alice runs a flower shop with her aunt. She is excellent at what she does, and knows all the meanings of what every flower stands for. She is however traumatized that her mother never returned after Hurrican Katrina, and she doesn't know if she is dead or alive.
"She (Alice) was enchanting. Absolutely Enchanting. And she was enchanting him despite his determination to play it cool." "I think it's very brave that even though you're struggling, you keep going." He met her eyes then, and the look she gave him unraveled his resolve to stay emotionally detached. "That's the very definition of bravery if you ask me."

So many people wonder if God is there and if He cares when they are struggling. There is a brokenness in all of us that needs to know that the Lord loves us, and is beside us no matter what we walk through.

What a beautiful, charming and meaningful story. I highly recommend Where The Last Rose Blooms.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

I am sorry to see this Heirloom Secrets series ending. But to go out on this book is perfect! It's such a beautifully written book - Ashley has such a lyrical way of writing, everything flows so smoothly. It could be read as a stand alone story - but please go back and read the entire series! I'm so glad this book included the characters in the previous stories.

The current day story is Alice and Sullivan's love story - but it's so much more! It harkens back to the beginning of the series with Rose and Ashley and those butterfly buttons - and so much love between a mother and daughter.

And the dual timeline flows back to Clara and her maid, Rose, in 1860 - where Clara is becoming uncomfortable with slavery in the shadow of the looming war and has agreed to help her cousin Mary and abolitionist friends. It's there she meets Teddy and starts making changes in her life. They decide that Rose will embroider the Confederate secrets Clara gathers within her flower samplers. And the flowers - the meanings behind each flower and why it's chosen and how it's placed in an arrangement is so touching in this story.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Ashley Clark pens yet another enchanting southern tale of courage in turbulent times.

Where the Last Rose Blooms brings the story of the rose bush and butterfly buttons full circle. I admit, I've been waiting for this story since I first read of the buttons, and it does not disappoint!

"See, these buttons, they represent somethin' real important to me. A love that's never failing. Beauty that keeps going. And a hope for the future."

I am in love with her prose, defined and exquisite. Ashley is a master at the dual timelines. All the threads of this one tie up beautifully, so even if you aren't a fan of dual timelines, you'll still enjoy this one. I highlighted so many passages while reading. One of my favourite quotes is this one:

"All the flowers, all the pieces, all the fragments, blending into the bigger picture, and the picture became something of beauty. But what if it was beautiful all along?"

I loved getting to revisit favourite characters from the series and seeing them all find their own happy-ever-after. Peter and Harper, Lucy and Declan, Millie, even Juliet! It's like finding your family in the pages of someone else's story.

Also to note: this book deals with the topics of slavery and suicide. Both are addressed with utmost sensitivity and as always, hope shines through with a beautiful spiritual message of God's love.

Even though I've only read three books of Ashley's, she's already a favourite author of mine. I cannot wait to see what's ahead in her writing future!


*I received an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to give a positive review, and I will most certainly be purchasing a paperback for my shelves when it releases. ❤️

This book was hauntingly beautiful. It was more emotional than I had expected. I had to take some reading breaks to fully let the story sink in. But oh what a story. The flashbacks to Rose and Clara in Civil War time were just gut wrenching. I found my heart racing as Clara did her spying. I think it's so important that we learn from our history, good and bad, so I appreciate being able to have a small glimpse of what it was Lome for an enslaved person.

WHERE THE LAST ROSE BLOOMS by Ashley Clark

Revew:

“I’ve been survivin’ so long, I’m not sure I would recognize fear if I felt it. Fear is a privilege for those with hope on the horizon.” - Rose

Where the Last Rose Blooms is the final book in the Heirloom Secrets series. This series is dear to me. Ashley Clark has weaved beautiful family stories. Her books have tugged my heart and left me inspired.

Both past and present, in this dual timeline story, captured my attention. History was interlaced nicely with fiction. The story of Millie’s ancestors, Rose and Ashley, was intriguing. Their needlework was impressive. The Civil War was a crucial time. Clara’s involvement in espionage was heart thumping. I liked Teddy for Clara despite the unusual circumstances of their acquaintance.

I love Alice’s job as a florist. Her interest in floriology was important in unravelling the secrets of the past. It was painful to read Alice’s experience as a child and her doubt in God. But she had to learn that God was and is always there for her. I’m happy that Sullivan came into her life. They are perfect for each other.

I was thrilled to revisit many of the characters from previous books in the series. Many hanging questions were answered. What happened to the couples? What’s the connection of the rose bush to the family?

This book also tackles deep issues of anxiety and depression. But despite all the hardships, hope was a theme throughout the book. Hope for Rose to see Ashley. Hope for freedom. Hope in God. Hope for a better and brighter tomorrow.

Rating: 4.5 stars
Pub date: 01 Feb 2022

Thank you Bethany House Publishers for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

'What if God held it against her that she was questioning, doubting where He might be?'

How do I begin? Ashley Clark's 'Heirloom secrets' series has been so very precious to read. Told in split time, this one manages to fill your heart up so much. From the Civil War to the present day, these characters, with their troubles, joys, and heartbreaks, have become my friends. Their lives all intertwine in some way and it is so great to see how it progresses. They endure so much at times, but they also find great peace. I was captivated by the stories in each time period and Clark includes a wonderfully precious spiritual theme that will impact your heart greatly. It seriously blessed me. Well done!


I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers via the Net Galley platform. The opinion in this review is my own.

WOW! Just WOW! Ashley Clark is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, and with good reason. I don't normally like dual time or time slip novels, but the Heirloom Secrets series is changing my mind on that regard. It may be that Ashley's writing abilities are such that she makes the dual times a cohesive whole. That's the only thing I can attribute it to.

Where the Last Rose Blooms is the final in the Heirloom Secrets series and continues the story of Millie's ancestors, both on and off the plantation. In this final edition, Clara and Rose take on spying for the Union during the Civil War with Rose making coded messages into embroidered samplers using the language of flowers as a basis for the code. Rose's talents with a needle are beyond compare and her samplers are "sold" to operatives in order to pass on the messages.

In the present day, Alice runs a florist shop with her aunt who raised her after her mother disappeared in Hurricane Katrina. When she gets a call from her father saying he's selling the old family home so that he can buy his "new" wife a beach house, she goes to explore the attic of the house to see if there is anything she wants in the house. She finds three of Rose's samplers and begins the research into the samplers to find out what they mean.

Ashley brings the three stories full circle and ties up all the loose ends quite satisfactorily. She heads each chapter with the character's name, and this keeps confusion to a minimum. This is one of the best series I've read in a long time. Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and an embroidered rose on a sampler.

Bethany House and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

WHERE THE LAST ROSE BLOOMS is the third novel in the Heirloom Secres series by ASHLEY CLARK and in it we come across so many of the wonderful characters from the first two books. It is a dual timeline story, with Ashley, Rose, Clara and Teddy in the early 1860’s, at the time of the Civil War, running alongside Alice’s story in present time, all tied together by an ancient rose bush at Juliet’s house, which is still producing strong, beautiful and fragrant flowers, after going through war, fire and flood. Flowers, music and exquisite embroidery are part of both time periods, with the embroideries sending messages to help the Union army, and to help slaves escape and reunite with their loved ones. When Alice finds some old embroideries in the attic of her former home, she is fascinated, especially as Juliet and Millie throw more light on them and their meaning.
I ike to see Clara’s courage as she stands to lose everything by becoming an aboitionist, which runs parallel to Alice’s brave determination to live life to the full in spite of all she has gone through.
There are several broken characters in the book and we see hope symbolized in the beauty of flowers, music and birds, and in the reconciliation that occurs when these characters come to understand that, no matter what they are going through, God is always with them. As Juliet says, “I realized that the circumstances of my life, both good and bad, are not an indication of the presence or absence of God.” There are second chances that often come after surrendering one’s life to God and His purposes.
I am not going to tell you any more in case I spoil the read for you.
This book is so full of beauty, sadness, love, and strength of character, that I cannot recommend it highly enough. Although I strongly recommend that you read the first two novels in the series, When the Last Rose Blooms can easily be read as a stand alone.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

The author gives us a story that actually spans decades, from Civil War time to present, and how they mess together is beautifully done. I could almost smell those beautiful flowers.

Dealing with some very tough subjects, but including some sweet romance, and mental illness, along with prejudice, and we are there to see how the past meets the present.

How I would love to see the beautiful embroidery done by Rose, and how it has survived and is cherished, and then to see the part it played! Yes, we even have spies!

Now this is the third book in this series, but they can be read alone!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.