💐🌺🌸 “The Blooming of Delphinium” (Moonberry Lake #2) (2024) 🌸🌺💐

MY REVIEW

Series: Moonberry Lake (Book #2)
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Revell (September 24, 2024)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800744985
ISBN-13: 978-0800744984
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

“Making the perfect match is like arranging the perfect bouquet--and no one is better at it than Delphinium Hayes. Except when it comes to making a match for herself.

As far as hidden talents go, she 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 understanding people--except for one man, whose scent doesn't seem to match his demeanor.

Prim and proper Elliot Sturgis, director of Moonberry Lake's Gardens Assisted Living and Senior Care Facility, carries the scent of violets--meaning love and loyalty--yet is strict and unwavering in his determination to stop a group of his wily residents from sneaking over to Delphinium's shop to play cards in the flower cooler. But the more glimpses Delphinium gets of the soft side beyond Elliot's harsh exterior, the more she understands his scent--and her intrigue deepens as sparks fly.”

Thank you to the publisher, Revell (a division of Baker Books), for providing a complimentary copy through their Revell Reads blogger program. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.

I read the first book in the series, which I got through the Revell Reads program as well.

And, like that one – this only as a singular POV – Delphinium’s. I was hoping to hear from some of the previous book’s characters, as well as the POVs of the other new characters too.

Only three characters from the previous book appear, some are only for one scene –

🧰 Widgy (cranky handy-woman)

👗 Cora

🦷 Ben

New for this book:

📖 Gurdy (tutoring Paavo)

👵🏻 Arlene

👵🏻 Joanna

👵🏻 Helen

🩲 Charlie (one of the older gents, likes playing poker in his underwear)

📊 Henry (had been sweet on Delphinium’s grandmother, helps with the “books”)

🃏 Patsy

💼 Elliot

⚖️ Mason (real estate attorney)

🧘🏻‍♀️ Lindsey (Delphinium’s friend and a personal trainer)

🪖 Bob (Vietnam War vet)

🃏 George

📰 Kathryn (news reporter)

💐 Paavo (works at the florist shop)

Like I did in my review for the previous book, I described Widgy as similar to Ouiser (Shirley MacClaine) from Steel Magnolias (1989). That was the the ONLY way to describe this woman. She learned her “trades” through her five deceased husbands. This earned her the nickname “marry ‘em and bury ‘em” Widgy.

She does make some rather crass and dark statements about the group in the freezer as she’s the one responding to the service call to get it up and running again 😲🫣

I do recommend reading the previous book prior to this one even if this can act as a standalone.

That said …

Some themes in this book might be a bit problematic for some readers – nursing home conditions, death, grief, old-age issues, financial issues, false/exaggerating news reporting, and war injuries. There’s also a bit of questionable language (screwed), as well as the mention of strip poker, and a reference to neutering a male (said as a joke).

There are some references to Winnie the Pooh characters as well as a Star Wars character.

The author starts right off with Delphinium and her gift, much like she did with the first book and Cora’s mom’s gift. For those expecting a supernatural type read – this isn’t it.

Delphinium then learns some of the elderly guys from the local assisted living/nursing home facility have taken to using her half-functioning cooler as a poker hall. Before long, the air conditioning being out and the issue of playing poker turns into a list of complaints – bad food, lack of entertainment, no recreational activities. Delphinium can somewhat understand.

That is until Bob sees the director of the facility walk in.

Elliot comes off as strict, yet his “scent” reveals a different side. Since Delphinium has developed a rapport with the older folks, Elliot is hoping to use her to come to an agreement.

While some of the group’s complaints are valid, Delphinium then sees the growing demands “bloom” into near-impossible and unrealistic.

But, Delphinium is facing another battle – trying to keep her store and apartment from foreclosure.

As a result of the unusual circumstances, a reporter comes to visit. During the course of the debacle, Delphinium learns that some people have an agenda.

In the middle of this, Delphinium is dealing with an irritating male customer (Mason) who not only decides to “represent” the seniors, but he uses the flowers to either woo a woman or to dump her. Delphinium refuses to use her flowers for “evil”. Mason becomes a regular, but this time, he is trying to woo a woman (and I easily figured out who).

It isn’t long until a quirky little outing turns into a convoluted circus. One that will either help Delphinium keep her shop and home, or one that will see her locking up the doors.

It’s not just the seniors who rally around Delphinium, but the community as well in this quirky story that has a lot of heart.

I was drawn to the story from the cover which has such a springtime and happy vibe to it. And, I had to slightly laugh about Delphinium’s gift of “smelling” people. Not that I don’t think there are people out there who have a slightly supernatural gift, because I have my own gift about people. But, as someone who LOVES perfume, and gets near-monthly free perfume sample boxes of the luxury brands (from a major department store), I could only imagine how confused Delphinium would be about me.

I wanted to love this book, but, the disconnect hit before I got 10% into the book. For me – it was a bit too much of a “downer” 🥺

I think the reason I had such a disconnect with this story was how close it was to a situation I am going through. There were too many real-life issues for this to resonate on a happy note with me. Delphinium almost losing her home is something my mother and I went through back in 2022, and is a worry even today. We are renting and worried each year if we’re going to be offered a renewal. In addition, the name of the facility in this book was also quite similar to a horrible facility my mom had been in over the past two (2) years.

Since September 2022, my mother has been in SEVERAL skilled nursing facilities. All but one were seemingly “good”. One thing they all had in common – low staff, very few “caring” staff, horrid food, definitely more focused on their profits over their residents. Some facilities even canceled doctor’s appointments to avoid taking residents (at least in my mother’s case). In December 2023, I had to sign my mom out against medical advice (AMA). There were several “excuses” given, in addition to a lack of care and other details I can’t go into for pending legal reasons. Her surgeon was grateful I did.

On September 15, 2024, my mother had an injury stemming from a fall in a skilled nursing facility that required surgery (her hip), and no less than four (4) personal injury attorneys refused to take her case. I’m still looking for legal counsel for her. To be honest, I was also a bit jaded about the attorney taking up the case of the unhappy seniors, even if he wasn’t his area of specialty – or even offering to use his connections to help them. From the attorneys I’ve been around, they feel sorry for us, but that’s where it ends. In addition, one of the characters is dying and then mentions hospice and morphine (which my mother is on). From there, it was just too “real” for me.

I do have to state that the HIPAA/patient privacy issue was well done, though there seems to be some debate in the health industry as to WHO qualifies to be told certain information. Even in the same state. Some facilities share with emergency contacts, next-of-kin, or caregiver. I am all three to my mother, and recently? Very little information has been shared, even with her permission. So, I very much understood Elliot’s reluctance to share with Delphinium. I also felt she was far too emotional and immature to understand the situation he was in. I do love how forgiving he became of her.

Speaking of Elliot and Delphinium, there was also a lack of romance for a book categorized as a Contemporary Romance. While there was some hint early on in the book, anything between Delphinium and Elliot took place in the last 5-10% of the book. Anyone looking for that “romance” – it’s kind of a VERY slow burn. The majority of the book is either Delphinium dealing with Mason, or wrangling the seniors.

For me, it felt as if the back cover blurb and the story itself was what some might call a “bait & switch”. The “terrible conditions at a nursing home” for a plot isn’t something I was expecting. And, having watched what my mother has gone through, it wasn’t as funny as it was seemingly portrayed here. With the humor and unrealistic demands, it came off as a bit tone-deaf to the real conditions often faced and experienced by our most frail and vulnerable – particularly the abuse and neglect that is a reality. I will state the complaints about the food – 100% realistic. I’ve even eaten some of it (and Bob wouldn’t have liked the tater tots) 🤢

Because of the real life experiences my mother went through, and the topic of this book – that’s why I’m leaving the neutral review. Not every book will resonate with a reader. That isn’t the author’s fault. However, I think the main plot of the nursing home/assisted living conditions had potential. There are some truly detestable places out there, and I can easily name half a dozen (6) of them in my area. This could’ve been used in a different way or an entirely different book. The lively seniors were a delight to read about.

This had an uneven pacing style. It either sped up or slugged along. There was one typo I did notice, but nothing major that would alter or affect the plot.

This isn’t a bad book, but it wasn’t one that has a high “re-read” factor for me. As I am curious to see what Varni has planned next for the characters; especially Lindsey and Mason; if there is another book in the series, I will probably read it.

As this is distributed by Revell, a predominantly Christian publisher, I was surprised that some themes didn’t come into the story until over halfway. When they did, they were barely noticeable.

RATING:

3 ⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads

3 ⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub

3 ⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html;update https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html)

PREVIOUS BOOK IN THE SERIES:

Series: Moonberry Lake Series (Book #1)
Paperback: 336 Pages
Publisher: Revell Books (September 26, 2023)
Language: English
ISBN 10: 0800744977
ISBN-13: 978-0800744977
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

“Cora Matthews's life is a mess. A broken engagement and the unexpected death of her mother have left her wondering if things will ever return to normal. Whatever "normal" is.

It certainly isn't what she finds at Moonberry Lake. After she receives her family's dilapidated lakefront lodge as an inheritance--with a surprising condition attached--Cora finds her life overrun by a parade of eccentric neighbors who all have something to say and something to teach her.

As Cora works to put her life back together, she must decide if she is willing to let go of the past, open her heart to love, and embrace the craziest version of family and home she could ever have imagined.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Holly Varni is the author of On Moonberry Lake. A native Minnesotan of strong Norwegian descent, she was raised in the Lutheran Church that Garrison Keillor made a career depicting. Though she, her husband, and their three sons live along the Central Coast of California, her beloved Midwest roots continue to haunt everything she writes. She hosts the Moments from Moonberry Lake podcast, where she shares more stories of her beloved characters. Learn more at www.HollyVarni.com.

She can be found on the following social media accounts:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hollyvarniwriter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollyvarni/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hollyvarni

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