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!

DNF at 42%. I really liked the opening of this one - it was different and fun.

But ultimately, I just wasn't getting drawn into a book where a big secret is that the farm grows weed for the town and it needs to stay a secret. Probably because I live in a state when it's legal, so it's hard to me to get on the side of the characters.

YMMV

This was so cute and hopeful and swoony!!! I felt like I was in a hallmark movie but the characters were way hotter.

It took me a little bit to settle into this author’s writing style, but when I did I found it to be enjoyable. The book overall was a cute take on the finding yourself in a small town trope, with all the obligatory quirky side characters, including the adorable little girl, the old man who speaks his mind, and the town doctor who is also the town vet. Emma’s journey to understanding that it is okay to ask for help when you need it was compelling, but I did find the third act breakup frustrating, because it seemed like she and Dan went from having really good communication to zero communication strictly for plot reasons. Nevertheless, the ending was cathartic, and I would happily read more from this author.

I almost feel like I read two books while reading Love in Bloom. There was A LOT going on in this one. I enjoyed the fact that it touched on a taboo subject while incorporating that into the budding romance. I was surprised when there was not one, but two conflicts that developed and needed resolution. I feel like the second half went a lot more quickly than the first, and I think I enjoyed the author's writing style during the conflict better than when conflict wasn't present.

I really like the premise of Emma‘s life, falling apart and herself, finding herself at a farm in a small town in Georgia that she inherited. All of the town folks in this small town seem to know something that Emma doesn’t as well as the manager of the farm, Dan. I really love how Emma is so not interested in the beginning, but yet finds herself wanting to say both the bar and the town and dealing with these feelings for Dan. The relationship between Dan and Emma is really a trajectory that you can believe as they start to fall for one another although they don’t really understand when another when they first meet. This book is charming and sweet and just what you need to read.

I enjoyed this small town romance at first, but the story started going downhill for me as I didn’t believe the chemistry between the characters. Sadly this wasn’t a favorite, but I enjoyed aspects of the story.

A fellow romance reader said it right when they said this is a Hallmark style read, with HBO level spice…lol. This was a unique small town read that I really enjoyed. Leslie Siobhan killed it as the narrator of this book! I have listened to other books she has done and she embodied Emma so so well! She also did a great job with Dan’s male voice and British accent! Emma is definitely a bit of disaster with everything falling about in her life all at once, while she also takes on the farm she inherited…and all of its secrets. I loved that Dan always showed up for her no matter what! He clearly adored her and his patience and grace with her was heart melting.

Another wonderful book that I received from Net Galley. I purchased the audiobook so that I could listen to it.

Emma and Dan had the craziest meet-cute. She was changing her dress in what she thought was the ladies room but was actually the men’s room. Turns out Dan is the caretaker of the farm she just inherited from her grandparents.

After her life fell apart, she came back to the farm to stay. She wanted to learn about her grandparents and to escape her problems. She ended up discovering the town secret while simultaneously falling for Dan.

Emma fumbles through things, thinking she can fix every problem that arises. It takes her a while to realize she needs to ask for help.

This was such a delightful story. The pacing of the love story was perfect. Emma and Dan were fabulous characters. I loved the way the story ended.

Definitely a five star read.

There were some elements of this that were really fun. and I feel like the premise was interesting, but I wasn't exactly convinced that these two had chemistry.

Love in Bloom follows Emmaline as she inherits a farm from her estranged grandparents. After getting fired &breaking up with her boyfriend of 10 years (in the same day!) she decides she needs a break and luckily has a farm to run to.

Coincidentally, this farm is managed by Dan, a sexy British horticulturist whose dreams to genetically engineer a hardier rose. What he doesn’t say at first, is that the farm that he manages is actually an illegal weed farm supplying patients from across the country with medical marijuana.

Emma grapples with this secret, while she navigates her abrupt change of life circumstances and falls in love with a sexy farm, and she must decide: will she sell the farm or keep it and save the town?

This book was pretty good, I loved Dan’s character. I thought this was a light and cute read, but some plot points weren’t strongly developed. And a tiny point, as a NY girly I LOVED the Cellino and Barnes reference

If you like small town romances, sexy British farmers, and the idea of running away from the hustle and bustle to an idyllic farm you may like this!

Thank you Netgalley and Forever Publishing for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was small town romance book with a shocking twist. I loved how the characters were multicultural and the representation was much needed. The FMC had amazing character development as she went through self-discovery. The MMC Dan was just so swoon worthy. He was the perfect gentleman and he was so attentive to Emma’s need throughout the book. The story was wonderfully written and I absolutely adored this book.

Emma is having the worst day ever driving to the will reading of her late grandparents, which also involves an awkward first meeting with farm manager, Dan. It also turns out she inherits her late grandparents’ farm and does not know what to do with it, since she’s been estranged from them for the past twenty five years. When her regular life blows up, she escapes to the farm to learn what she can about the past. She learns a lot about how to rely on others (like the handsome and kind Dan) and how to integrate into small town life. Plus, the farm has a bonus secret that explains the town’s reliance on it. Flirty, steamy, and emotional book. Loved it.

Emma’s world seems to be crashing around her. She loses her job and breaks up with her boyfriend all in one day. She decides to try her hand at managing the farm that she inherits from her grandparents. She is definitely a fish out of water city girl who knows nothing about running a farm!

“I felt like I was drowning in my life, like I was strapped to a roller coaster that I couldn’t get off. I was trapped.” I captured his cheeks in my palms. “You rescued me.”

Farm manager, Dan attempts to help Emma but all the while keeping her in the dark about some town secrets.

“I wasn’t looking for it. I wasn’t expecting it. I tried to fight it, but this year with you has been the best year of my life. I hope it never ends.”

I really enjoyed this sweet, emotional story. It was my first book by this author but I’m sure it won’t be the last.
-4 Stars-

Love in Bloom by Lucy Eden
Contemporary diverse romance.
Emma Walter’s life takes a turn when she loses her job and dumps her boyfriend. Not knowing what else to do, she decides to go live in the farm that she recently inherited from her grandparents in Green Acres, Georgia. She doesn’t know anything about farming but she’s also not afraid of hard work. Plus the handsome farm manager, Dan Pednekar is sure to help her, right?

Blackmail is illegal, as much as selling non medical marijuana is in Georgia. The sheriff should have known that and brought it up in the conversation to save the situation. More, they are growing and selling medical grade cannabis which is legal. But maybe I’m missing something in the specifics.
Sure, they still would have had to figured out how to keep the secret if they don’t want it made public, but it’s a factor a political individual on the rise would know.
I liked Dan and his romantic gestures.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

Love in Bloom is a delight—messy, passionate, and full of everything I love about romance novels.

Emma, a Black PR consultant and Atlanta debutante has a profound personal journey after inheriting a farm from her estranged grandparents, getting fired, and breaking up with her boyfriend. At said farm she meets Dan, an Indo-British MMC who manages the farm and breeds roses for funsies. Their love is quick and easily rooted.

Their story is set at a farm in small-town Georgia which is also one of my favorite things. Small-town romances excel at crafting rich supporting casts, and Love in Bloom delivers beautifully. There’s a quirky town doctor/vet, a grumpy yet talented waffle-making restaurant owner, an eccentric first lady, and a precocious “hostess with the mostest.” Everyone is such a delight ... especially once they get over their fear of Emma revealing the town secret they can change their way of life.

This story is also hilarious, the “meet cute” is absolutely hilarious—more of a “meet ugly,” but it sets the tone for all the banter and gorgeous chaos that follows in Love in Bloom.

There are also way fewer diverse small town romance novels than I would like so I was so excited for the chance to gobble this one.

It's a pretty straightforward contemporary romance. FMC's bug city life imploded, she inherits a farm in a small town and she has the life she dreams of. It reminded me of the Christina Millian movie Fallin Inn Love but instead of an bed and breakfast it's a farm.

It was nice and refreshing to see a small town romance with Black and brown people! I didn't love the voice of the writing (though the southern twang was great to establish the atmosphere of the world) and wanted a bit more tension between the MCs...but the ranch was a lot of fun and I'm almost grateful it wasn't heavy on spice. I normally *love* spice, but for the grief and emotional journey these characters needed it would have felt out of place.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC!

Grieving the loss of the grandparents she barely knew, Emma leaves her fast-paced life in Atlanta for Green Acres, a small rural town and home to the farm she’s unexpectedly inherited. Thrust into a close-knit community that’s skeptical of the city girl now holding their town’s livelihood in her hands, Emma is determined to uncover more about her grandparents and the legacy they left behind. With the help of the farm’s dedicated—and undeniably charming—manager, she dives into her new life in the country. But as Emma finds her footing, she begins to realize that both the farm and the town hold secrets she never anticipated.

I loved this city girl, country boy romance! Emma is the ultimate fish-out-of-water—stubborn, independent, and so used to being in control that she can’t bring herself to ask for or accept help. Enter Dan, the swoon-worthy farm manager who shows his devotion not through words but through thoughtful, supportive actions. He’s a man obsessed, and their chemistry is off the charts. This cozy romance offers the perfect escape, blending Hallmark charm with HBO-level spice. If you’re looking for a heartwarming love story with a side of heat, this one’s for you!

Read if you enjoy:
+ City girl, country boy vibes
+ Fish-out-of-water heroines
+ Small towns where everyone knows your business
+ Hallmark-style rom-coms with an extra dash of steam

Thank you Forever for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

While I loved the representation, premise, and overall warm-heartedness of this story, I found it too cheesy and at times cringe. Wish it was written with a little more mindfulness to an adult audience.