A feel good book with humorous parts amidst some heart-tugging chapters.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book.

Loved this book, "The Blooming of Delphinium" by Holly Varni. There is a spark of something between a flower shop owner, Delphinium and the director of a nursing home who is baffled by the residents who are revolting over everything. The seniors from the nursing home are very quirky and on a mission to liven up "the joint" and their lives so escape to Delphinium's flower shop to live how they want to live - the men playing poker shirtless in the refrigerator at the flower shop as well as some helpful older ladies who love helping out in the shop. All of this is going on as Delphinium is on the brink of financial ruin and may lose her shop as well as the safe place the seniors have as a home away from home.

Between the antics of the seniors and the budding romance for Delphinium who can tell a lot about a person from the floral scent they emit, this book keeps you entertained from beginning to the end. I kept laughing at so many parts of this book and I kept wondering what these older folks would get up to as it went on. Through it all, our heroine grows into the person she's meant to be and just might find the romance she's looking for.

This is a faith filled book with so many good, encouraging words pointing the reader to Christ and what we have to look forward to in heaven someday. I was encouraged by this book and hope other readers can find that as well. I liked the faster, entertaining pace of the book and had a hard time putting it down.

Thank you to Revell Fiction and Netgalley for an opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

If you are looking for a heartwarming book that has all the feels, look no further than The Blooming of Delphinium by Holly Varni.

This is the second book in the Moonberry Lake series and can be read as a standalone. For those who read On Moonberry Lake, you will be delighted to see our favourite ornery character, Widgy, appear in this one as well.

The author has once again captured the heart and soul of living in a community with others. Her cast of characters are vibrant, realistic and well-developed. The seniors who “invaded” Delphi’s shop were a hoot. At first, they seemed to be obnoxious as they took over the shop and seemed to disregard Delphi’s feelings. But, as time goes on, you realize that these seniors always have something up their sleeves.

I loved the special ability Delphi had and how it helped her detect a person’s personality just by smelling them. I loved how Delphi “smelled out” her perfect match in the end.

I was disappointed that the faith thread was not carried through in this book. The book hinted that Delphi did not have a relationship with God and that others did, but no one ever followed through to help her find God. To me, that was a missed opportunity.

In the end, though, this book was a delightful read and full of so many surprises and chuckles that I could not put it down. I highly recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through NetGalley for my honest review.

Holly Varni, who debuted last year with a very sweet contemporary Christian romance, returns us to Moonberry Lake with a delightful heartwarming sequel, The Blooming of Delphinium, which can be read as a standalone.

This exceptional story centers around Delphinium, with a unique gift, the ability to determine a person’s personality by their botanical scent. She is surrounded by a cast of invigorating seniors, who will tug at your heartstrings. They takeover the walk-in cooler and back room of Delphinium’s flower shop, to play poker, stage a protest against the manager of their extended living facility, and engage in matchmaking. One cannot help but fall in love with these endearing seniors, and laugh-out-loud at their antics.

Author Holly Varni, whose writing is awe-inspiring and endearing, reminds us that our older generations, given the opportunity, still have a lot to offer. I was totally captivated throughout this story following Delphinium and her journey, as she dealt with grief, found an endearing unconventional family, and love along the way. The Blooming of Delphinium, a story filled with love and compassion for others, will leave you with lasting exhilarated spirits. This invigorating story is my number one feel-good story of the year!

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell via NetGalley through Interviews & Reviews. I was not obligated to write a favorable review, and all opinions are my own.

Oh my goodness. Read this book!!! I read it in one day and I couldn’t stop laughing. Author Holly Varni writes about the quirkiest, most loveable people ever. Moonberry Lake is a great little town and I need to go there. Now. This is book 2 in the series; do read book 1 as we see some of the same characters and it’s really good too.

But The Blooming of Delphinium has now moved up to the top of my favorites list. Any book that makes me laugh and go awwww……is a winner. Charming, warm, incredible. Get a copy!

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

The Blooming of Delphinium is the second book in the Moonberry Lake series but can absolutely be enjoyed just fine as a standalone as well.

This was such a charming story and quite different than what I was expecting (though I couldn't really say what I was expecting, just that this wasn't quite it!). Delphinium has a rather unique sense of smell--- in that she can smell people in a way that others can't with various floral scents that tell her of their personality. This unique gift of hers definitely intrigued me and kept things interesting in the story. I found in the beginning I wasn't sure where the romance in this story was going to go... but I found it to be a really sweet one. More than anything though, I loved the sense of community that this book gave. Somehow, Delphinium found her flower shop turned into a getaway of sorts for the senior citizens in the community... and what a group this was! The antics they got themselves (and her) into had me laughing out loud throughout the story--- even as it dealt with tougher topics like loss in the midst of it too. I really couldn't help but absolutely fall in love with the unique cast of characters and enjoying every minute spent with them.

**I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

A charming story set in the small Northwoods town of Moonberry Lake, Minnesota. Delphinium's unique gift of identifying a person's 'scent' adds to her talent as a florist. Her shop becomes a haven of sorts to a group of elderly residents who are sneaking out from a retirement home.

"...beautiful things sometimes take time."

This story was a delightful read from beginning to end. Full of insight into people and relationships, with some clean romance and plenty of humor. Loved all of the older people who ended up being as much of a support to 'Delphi' as she was to them. She understands and genuinely cares for them. Finding a place to belong and use one's gifts is an important message here.

"No matter a person's age, they want community."
Loved the wisdom that the older crowd brought to the scenes, especially from Henry. Everyone could benefit from someone like that in their life who cares enough to confront and encourage. A little whiff of faith is added lightly in spots, with mentions of prayer and looking for help.
Forgiving people and not labeling them is underlined in the romance that grows between two opposites. It was sweet and tender with a unique spark between them. The ending was perfect, with a sighworthy moment.

Recommend to anyone who enjoys a character driven tale with inspiration, humor and clean romance. 4.5 stars

From Amazon's synopsis: As far as hidden talents go, Delphinium Hayes is blessed with one of the more unique ones. With the slightest passing whiff, she knows someone's most admirable or weediest characteristic. This peculiar perception never fails to give her an advantage in life--until she meets two men who turn her world upside down.

Mason McCormack has agreed to help her with a group of seniors who have taken over her flower shop as their hangout. But his assistance is not without its price, and Delphinium agrees to compensate him with beautiful bouquets that seem to possess a bit of dating magic.

Elliot Sturgis, director of The Gardens Assisted Living Facility, is determined to discover why a group of his residents keeps sneaking over to Delphinium's shop to play poker in the walk-in refrigerator. He soon finds himself as enchanted by Delphinium as everyone else. But his devotion to following the rules and maintaining order does not endear him to the shop's owner.
There are some other characters who play a part in the warp and woof of the fabric of this novel. One, in particular, throws a monkey wrench into the works and creates such havoc that the main players think they will never recover. I truly enjoyed this book by Holly Varni. She puts together an interesting plot with a lot of entertainment to keep the reader engaged.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and the fragrance of love.

Revell Publishing provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

The Blooming of Delphinium is a wonderful romance story for me. I like how Holly write each character interact with one another in a good way. I hope you all can enjoy this.

This is such a charming and delightful read that tugs at a reader's heartstrings. It's a story of community, caring and belonging. Family is defined by more than just one's genes.

Delphinium Hayes is the proprietress of Delphinium's Flora Emporium which has become the octogenarian clubhouse of escaped inmates from the local assisted living facility. These delightful seniors are feisty, cheeky, charming, and tug at all of Delphinium's heart strings. While they're playing poker in the floral cooler, Delphinium is purveying her floral gifts for her few customers. She is artistic and knows the perfect arrangement needed for each and every occasion. All is well until the seniors get the Cupid bug and ardently try to find Delphinium her perfect beau. Sparks fly, challenges surface, and misunderstandings are rampant. Can it all be set aright before everything falls to ruin?

Author Holly Varni has written a lovely tribute to those who have the courage to pursue their passions while still expressing compassion and love for their dearest friends. The writing is engaging and sweet. The characters are quirky, charming, at times impish, and most are dear to the heart. The story reminds us that the elder set, although retired, still has lots to offer, when given a chance. The book leaves the reader with a warm feeling and an uplifted heart.

Although this was a second book in the, "A Moonberry Lake" series, it stood well on its own.

I am grateful to publisher Revell for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers and NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.


Publisher: Revell
Publication Date: September 24, 2024
Number of Pages:‎ 320
ISBN:‎ 978-0800744984

I enjoyed being back in Moonberry Lake, and yes this can be read alone! We are with Delphinium Hayes, she is the owner of the flower shop, and also she has a very rare gift, she can smell people, and that smell tells her all about that person. Then a man comes into the shop, and he has no scent, why? We find out, and that will keep you page turning.

I loved the senior citizens, and their harried director, they are protesting, and using her flower cooler. All different perceptions here, and we are there for the chuckles! They are protesting, and boy does that list grow, often quite silly, but they are having fun, and in the end they are there for Delphi!

This was such a great read to get lost in and I am hoping for more Moonberry Lake!

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

The Blooming of Delphinium is a well written romance. I throughly enjoyed the plot and the character’s interaction. I definitely recommend this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

I generally read suspense books for the most part, but I like to put some gentler stories in between. This book fit the bill. This is the story of a woman trying to save her flower shop. She is not making enough money because she is too generous and refuses to raise her prices. She gets entangled with senior citizens from a local nursing home. These characters are just that-unique characters. I would recommend this funny and sweet book.

This is a story that grabbed my heart from the beginning. Delphinium owns a flower shop in a historic building downtown, and the apartment above she inherited from her Grandma Annie. She also has the unusual trait of identifying the character of people by their scent. She identifies the scents as a particular flower that represents good and pleasing characteristics and even those of the worst kind. Delphinium is definitely not ordinary.
Many of the residents of the local assisted living facility, have taken to coming to the flower shop and using the cooler to cool off in the hot summer, by playing poker described by Delphinium as half-dressed. She discovers the half-dressed men from the unusual noises coming from the cooler. Henry, her favorite senior citizen, and who she considers a substitute grandfather, is among them. Henry is able to calm her down when he explains it is blazing hot outside and they need somewhere to play poker. He declares her flower cooler is the coolest place in town. Soon, Delphinium is providing snacks and drinks to the motley crew. Before long, a few women joined the group, and when the flower shops begins to flounder, and the risk of losing it is real, all the seniors come together in a plan to help save it.
This is a delightful, heartwarming story with a cast of loveable, and unforgettable characters. While reading, I had to pause a few times while I laughed out loud. Although the last page has been turned, I am still thinking about this charming story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

This book was just adorable. I loved the darling characters, the precious setting, and the heart felt storyline. Highly recommend!

Holly Varni's book are sweet, funny, and heartwarming. Delphinium, is a plucky florist in the small town of Moonberry Lake. When the seniors from an assisted living facility start player poker in her walk-in fridge, it sparks a series of events and even a couple of romances. Read the book to find out.

I received an Ebook ARC of this book as a LibraryThing Early reviewer, this is my objective opinion. The uniquely named Delphinium runs a struggling flower shop in small town Minnesota. She was very close with her grandmother, who recently died. She is estranged from her parents, who don't understand her gift. Delphinium has the unique ability to smell the personality traits of other people, which take on floral/botanical notes. She relishes this gift, but one day she meets an infuriating and attractive gentleman who she can't smell, the first time it's ever happened. What does it mean? And what does it also mean that soon after *that* she meets a man whose scent she find irresistible? In an unplanned turn of events her once-quiet flower shop turns into a quasi senior center, bringing attention of all kinds to Delphinium.

The story was fine, and I was invested enough to want to finish, but I wasn't the right audience for this book. For some reason I thought there would be more of a fantasy element with this book, focusing as it does on Delphinium's gift (which I'm assuming is likely neurological, as was her grandmother's synesthesia; it was never explained). But instead it was about Delphinium and her relationships with the residents of her quirky small town, including the feisty band of senior citizens who take over her flower shop as a de facto rec center. An issue I had while reading is Delphinium is intended to be a relatively young-ish adult, but her personality and speech are written as such that they make her seem much older, which made it harder for me to visualize her. This was also more of an ensemble story than I expected, although Delphinium is the central focus. This is the second in a series, and although it seems to work fine as a standalone, maybe I would have enjoyed the book more if I'd read the first one. Where the writing seems strongest is when there's a lot going on, it's much more engaging than when there's exposition and in other places it seems a bit lacking in depth. All that said, I do think this book will appeal to those looking for a story about a small town filled with quirky and close-knit characters, a gentle closed-door romance, and mentions within the story of God and Christian religious faith.

I was so excited when I found out that this was related to Moonberry Lake!
In fact, this is so much better than the first novel! I finished this book this afternoon. Delphinium and the seniors scored a hit with me. I loved them from the get go.
I laughed, cried and screamed with joy for these wonderful characters. They immediately became my friends and community.
I hated to say goodbye but I'm looking forward to seeing what's hopefully next for these amazing people.
Another favorite for my keeper shelf.
5 stars for a wonderful story that I couldn't put down.
I highly recommend this book but please read Moonberry Lake first.
My thanks for a copy of this wonderful story. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.