This kinda slayed but the blackmail at the end was such a flop. This was so cutesy and low key small town vibes.

This book is very sweet! Emma inherits a farm and meets Dan, who had been taking care of the farm. Th e two grow closer over the time that she spends in town and on the farm, and the two together are very sweet and have some good banter. This book started off a bit slow but picked up towards the end. It was a very sweet and quick book and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a cute southern city girl who inherits a farm romance.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley and Forever for a copy of this ARC.

"Love in Bloom" provides a charming glimpse into small-town life through the eyes of Emma, a publicist who faces significant changes after losing her job and inheriting her grandparents' farm. The narrative highlights the warmth of community as townsfolk support Emma and Dan, the farm's manager, whose respectful yet candid approach fosters a deep connection between them. While the romance is sweet and the characters relatable, the plot lacks depth, leaving some readers yearning for more excitement and engagement throughout the story. Despite its simplicity, the book may resonate with fans of cozy romances that prioritize character relationships over intricate plots.

I appreciate the opportunity to review this book. Many thanks to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

✔️ Opposites Attract
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Small Town

While having the familiar beats of small town and homecoming, there are some surprising plot elements that make this book stand out.

Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me. I wish I was more familiar emotionally connected to the FMC. Or the MMC. Or the town. I didn't feel as immersed in the people or the world as I have in other small town books.

3.5/5

Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

I'm a small town romance girly all the way, and I definitely feel like this fits into the category for anyone who enjoys that too!

Our main character Emma starts off the story having a pretty bad set of events happen to her, and tries to escape her troubles by going to Green Acres in Georgia. This reads alot like a Hallmark story, and its very much "big city girl finds herself in the small town."

I thought the banter between the characters was fun, but there were some pacing issues that kind of made me scratch my head sometimes. The conflict felt a little rushed as well, but overall, I thought it was a fun read!

Lucy Eden’s Love in Bloom offers a heartfelt twist on the classic “big city girl inherits a farm” trope. When Emma Walters’ life falls apart, she finds herself navigating the quirks of small-town Green Acres, Georgia, and the challenges of farm life. The story is as much about Emma’s personal growth as it is about her romance with Dr. Danesh Pednekar, a horticultural scientist with his own emotional struggles. Eden skillfully avoids common clichés by portraying Emma’s journey with warmth and humor, emphasizing self-care and community rather than idealizing rural life. The chemistry between Emma and Dan is engaging, with a slower-burn romance complemented by moments of introspection and charm. With lovable side characters, like King Richard the rooster, and a few unexpected twists, this story delivers plenty of heart. A solid 4-star read for fans of cozy, contemporary romances with depth and humor.

I really really wanted to like this book and everyone raves about this on Tiktok but I just could not finish it. I ended up DNfing. I thought it was rather boring.

Book Review: Love in Bloom by @lucyedenauthor 4 Stars!

Emma Walters was having the absolute worse day of her life when she not only looses her job but loses her boyfriend and for the first time ever, she is not in control and does not know what to do to get herself back on track. Only thing for Emma to do to escape her troubles in Atlanta is to travel to Green Acres, Georgia to learn about the farm that she has interested from her estranged, late grandparents, George and Harriet King. Emma comes to learn that things are not as easy as it seems as she unearths more knowledge about this farm, its history and the town's secret.

I absolutely loved Emma's character transformation where she learns that she can not do everything by herself and has to lean on the everyone in this new town to save the farm.

Thank you @netgalley and @readforeverpub for this advanced reader copy.

Publication Date: November 12, 2024

#bookstagram #bookreview #loveinbloom #lucyeden #netgalley #contemporaryromance

Thank you so much to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

Wow, I loved this book so much!!! This book has everything you could ever need: a fiery leading lady, a love interest that worships the group our leading lady walks on, a fantastic cast of side characters, a small town filled with so much heart, and of course, a happy ending that will make your face hurt from smiling too much. I had so much fun reading this book. It was so cute and swoony and everything good. I loved the characters in this book; they all were so vivid and real. I was rooting for all of them the whole book. I also greatly appreciated the complicated family relationships. It felt so real and made it all the more satisfying when things were made okay again. Behind the cover of the book, you will find a story so fun but also so real. I loved every minute of it.

Great romance, with conflict! I cannot wait for more from this author!! Family conflict was also good! Read it right now!!

Heat Factor: They get it on, but we don’t get super detailed about it

Character Chemistry: For the first time, someone is taking care of Emma

Plot: Hallmark Christmas Movie, except the Twee Farm the Big City Heroine inherits is an illegal marajuana operation

Overall: There was the perfect amount of story for a category-length book

When we meet Emma, she’s frazzled. She’s arriving in a small town to attend the will-reading for her estranged grandparents who recently disappeared and were declared dead. She’s in the middle of changing her dress in the middle of what she thinks is the ladies’ room when a very handsome man enters. Imagine her surprise to learn, before even overcoming her embarrassment, that he was her grandparents’ farm manager—and that she is now the owner of their farm.

Sidenote: I was truly expecting, for at least half of the book, for the grandparents to not actually be dead, but to have staged their death in order to bring Emma back home and set her up with Dan, the handsome farm manager. This does not happen. The grandparents really are dead. My expectation, though, is perhaps a sign that I’ve read too many bonkers romance novels. (HAHAHAH, just kidding, it’s impossible to have read too many bonkers romance novels.)

Emma has no plans to move away from her job and her boyfriend and her condo in Atlanta…but then she gets fired and breaks up with her boyfriend, so why not move to the country for a bit to find herself?

What follows is a sweet and funny romance, as Emma and Dan hang out on the farm. There’s some great situational humor as Emma figures out country life, and the dialogue includes some zingers but isn’t overly bantery. The burgeoning relationship is heavy on the caretaking—which is fitting, as Emma has been putting everyone else’s well-being first since she was a child (her older sister died when she was four, so that includes tip-toeing around her parents’ grief)—and that’s always a nice dynamic to read.

Of course, since we have the big illegal operation hanging over the town, we’ve got to have a threat. So that happens, with a big helping of male entitlement. (Sidenote, yes, recreational weed is still illegal in Georgia, and it seems like medical marajuana is heavily regulated. It did seem weird that a small town in rural Georgia had become an international hub for people looking for alternative medicine, but I guess since the farm was established in the 90s I can let that go.) And then, since we’re in a Hallmark Christmas Movie, our heroine has to do the hard thing, ask for help, and bring the town together to save the community.

My main quibble with the story is that it dragged in parts; given the amount of plot, it could have easily been a shorter book. Tighter storytelling would have bumped it from solidly enjoyable to a book that really sings.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

3.5 stars.

Such a cute story and idyllic setting with a fun twist. Definitely gives Hallmark vibes with the "girl leaves the big city for her family's small town farm" story, but it's not too cheesy for a non-Hallmark fan (looking at myself here). Emmaline "Emma" is working through some murky family drama of days past, and Dan is running away from personal scandal. The two help lift each other up and overcome their issues together. All of this makes for the good kind of insta-love.

For me, the pacing was slightly off. It would slow way down in parts and then pick up with a fair amount of action. This ultimately affected my overall enjoyment.

*3.5*
Thank you NetGalley and Forever for this ARC!

I really liked the premise of this story, and it had a really strong start! I don’t normally reach for small town romances, but this one sounded cute (and is also set in Georgia!). The beginning really hooked me- I loved Emma’s personality, the quick banter between her & Dan, and the family drama/secrets. However, I felt the pacing was off in some parts and made the timeline a bit confusing. The story really sped through the conflict, too. I would have liked to see more of the conflict unfolding as well as the characters working to solve it. It’s a quick read, though, so if you like small town romances and the insta love trope definitely try this one!

Thanks, again, NetGalley and Forever for this ARC!

*Love in Bloom* by Lucy Eden is a charming, sweet romance that blends humor with heartfelt moments. The chemistry between the main characters is palpable, and the small-town setting adds a cozy, feel-good vibe. While the plot may feel familar to some, it’s a perfect read for fans of light, uplifting romantic comedies.


Thank you for this ARC!

I really wanted to like this book. Unfortunately, I put it on the DNF list at 32%. I have a hard time when the MFC is lauded as well-accomplished and competent, but then can’t do simple tasks like make her own coffee. Is that petty? It may be, but I find it hard to like the character when the author is showing me one thing but trying to tell me something totally different.
This book may be great for someone else, but it wasn’t for me.

2.5 stars for a decent premise.

This book is a great read for someone looking for a cozy story about a city girl learning to operate a farm and live in a small town where everyone knows everyone. It also explores the importance of asking for help, working through grief, complex family dynamics. It wasn’t my favorite story considering the romance was very “insta-love” but I’m sure others would enjoy it and I’d be happy to read more stories from this author.

Unfortunately I wound up DNF'ing this about halfway through because there were some repeated continuity type issues in it that made it very difficult to read. I also wasn't overall very engaged in the story and so I do hope to revisit it one day, but it will be as the finished copy rather than this advanced e-copy.

Overall, this was a sweet story and a super simple, easy read. It gives all the small town vibes and the MCs are very sweet and have a lot of character growth. The story is absolutely character driven and not plot driven at all - that’s not an issue for me. BUT i felt overall it lacked a bit of spark and entertainment in the story.

The biggest plot point is her grandparents ran a marijuana farm. I didn’t mind that, but it felt like due to the lack of plot it was mentioned literally every other sentence once it was found out by the FMC.

I think that the basis of the book is good, it just fell a bit short for me.

Tropes:
-Small Town Vibes
-Spice
-GrumpyISH / sunshineISH
-Opposites Attract

I really enjoyed the narrators! They absolutely added to the story - I think i would have DNFed the digital or physical, so i’m glad i used audio!

I would recommend to my peers as a palate cleanser or a simple, easy read. I would consider read more by this author.

This was a really cute story with an interesting twist.

Emma is so used to taking care of everyone. And when her life starts falling apart she makes a static decision.

This is a small town, interracial romance with a black fmc and non-white mmc.

Small town charm, where everyone knows your name.

I loved it! It’s such a cute and funny book. As someone who was born in Georgia, it’s nice to read about a little small town since I lived in one. Emma and Dan are so cute.

With the topic of marijuana for medical use and adding romance it was very interesting. Can’t wait for her next book!