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.