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jesforeverlostinbooks's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
“If I was a schedule, she was the freedom. The whimsical to my practical. And the heart for my brain. Everything I wasn’t. Everything I wanted.” … “I loved her before. I loved her after. I loved her now.”
Oh my heart… this is heartbreaking & painful but it’s also beautiful & healing. Miranda & Jack were once married although they still love each other sometimes love isn’t enough. This is a story about lost dreams & broken hearts. Miranda & Jack are imperfect & flawed. We watch them struggle but they also mature, learn & grow. Such a beautiful love story that will have you crying one minute & melting the next. So many beautiful metaphors about gardening & relationships. I love my garden & I highlighted most of this book…. “The world is a crazy place. But a tended garden is a place of peace.”
I loved the themes of forgiveness & that marriage takes work. “it’s the reason sixty-plus year marriages will die with my generation. Forgiveness, love, commitment—they’re all sacrifices. Painful ones sometimes. Folks don’t like pain.”
This book deals with loss, grief, trauma but it is balanced with love, healing & hope. It has all the feels.. I laughed, cried, & the ending left me smiling! This is a beautiful love story with dual POV…. Which I love! It’s about fighting for that love & being vulnerable. It’s not always easy but it’s worth the effort so you can reap the harvest. This book has the perfect amount of steam but is still closed door. I seriously can’t express how much I loved this book!
“At one point, I would’ve said those blooms broke us. And maybe they did. For a time. But not all broken things are beyond repair.”
mika_schmelzle's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sorryallbookedup's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
goodeyreads's review
medium-paced
5.0
CONSUMING.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
Y’all. I sat down at 45% one night to read for the evening…proceeded to devour this book. The way that second half totally consumed me (I was enjoying the first half a lot too!). This has allllll the angst. I loved the broken marriage trope when it’s done well and this one was hard. A hard read with many shattered pieces that found a way to be glue back into something new, something stronger.
I loved how both parties, Jack and Miranda had things to work one. Of course there’s some blame moments, but also along the journey the separately acknowledged their own personal issues and things to work on. The moments of communication, laying it all out there, heart on the line, had me feeling all of the emotions.
Beautiful book. I loved how everything came together. I will definitely be reading Ashley Dill’s next book.
Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: low
- Romance: closed door
- Violence: low-moderate
- Trigger/Content Warnings: multiple miscarriages, divorce, domestic abuse, loss of a loved one
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
Y’all. I sat down at 45% one night to read for the evening…proceeded to devour this book. The way that second half totally consumed me (I was enjoying the first half a lot too!). This has allllll the angst. I loved the broken marriage trope when it’s done well and this one was hard. A hard read with many shattered pieces that found a way to be glue back into something new, something stronger.
I loved how both parties, Jack and Miranda had things to work one. Of course there’s some blame moments, but also along the journey the separately acknowledged their own personal issues and things to work on. The moments of communication, laying it all out there, heart on the line, had me feeling all of the emotions.
Beautiful book. I loved how everything came together. I will definitely be reading Ashley Dill’s next book.
Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: low
- Romance: closed door
- Violence: low-moderate
- Trigger/Content Warnings: multiple miscarriages, divorce, domestic abuse, loss of a loved one
samanthakreads's review
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is not your typical romance, it’s full of the ups and downs of life, raw emotions, heart-wrenching situations, and a beautiful message of strength, resilience, love, and forgiveness. It will take you on an emotional rollercoaster with all that Jack and Miranda go through together and as individuals.
"𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙞𝙣'𝙩 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚. 𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙩"
I loved the dual POV and past/present timeline which helped you as the reader see from both perspectives. Jack and Miranda are flawed and imperfect, you love them, get frustrated with them, and find yourself rooting for them. They show so much growth and overcome so much in this book. It depicts the value of putting others above yourself and choosing to forgive, let go, and continue to show up even when it’s hard.
“𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙, 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣.”
Ashley is truly talented & I love her writing style. She doesn’t stray away from sensitive topics but rather integrates them in a beautiful, respectful, and relatable way. She shows the true obstacles that Jack and Miranda face and how they handle them: the good, the bad, and the ugly, but in a way that I think many will be able to relate on a deeper level and feel seen, both something I could relate to and greatly appreciate. (Content discretions are listed below)
*This can be read as a stand-alone, but there are characters from Ashley’s 1st book 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 that add context + depth to the story.
I highly recommend checking out and reading her books!🫶🏼
.
.
.
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:
Abusive relationship (mental, emotional, physical, etc)
Miscarriage(s)
Fade to black
Mild language
Death of a parent
.
.
.
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙:
No use of God's name in vain
No constant F-bombs
No explicit on-page scenes
No cheating or infidelity (Hard to find in second-chance romance)
No glorification of toxic or abusive relationships
Value placed on Marriage
"𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙞𝙣'𝙩 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚. 𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙩"
I loved the dual POV and past/present timeline which helped you as the reader see from both perspectives. Jack and Miranda are flawed and imperfect, you love them, get frustrated with them, and find yourself rooting for them. They show so much growth and overcome so much in this book. It depicts the value of putting others above yourself and choosing to forgive, let go, and continue to show up even when it’s hard.
“𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙, 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣.”
Ashley is truly talented & I love her writing style. She doesn’t stray away from sensitive topics but rather integrates them in a beautiful, respectful, and relatable way. She shows the true obstacles that Jack and Miranda face and how they handle them: the good, the bad, and the ugly, but in a way that I think many will be able to relate on a deeper level and feel seen, both something I could relate to and greatly appreciate. (Content discretions are listed below)
*This can be read as a stand-alone, but there are characters from Ashley’s 1st book 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 that add context + depth to the story.
I highly recommend checking out and reading her books!🫶🏼
.
.
.
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:
Abusive relationship (mental, emotional, physical, etc)
Miscarriage(s)
Fade to black
Mild language
Death of a parent
.
.
.
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙:
No use of God's name in vain
No constant F-bombs
No explicit on-page scenes
No cheating or infidelity (Hard to find in second-chance romance)
No glorification of toxic or abusive relationships
Value placed on Marriage
purpleviolin91's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was a POWERFUL BOOK! It got my attention FROM THE START!! I experienced SO MANY EMOTIONS! Do make sure to check trigger warnings which include an abusive relationship . Thanks to the author for the advanced reader copy, though my review is unbiased!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
sweetreadings12's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
ARC REVIEW:
Thank you @ashleydill_author for the ARC copy in exchange for my review. All thoughts are my own! I seriously can’t thank you enough though!
There is so much to say about this book and yet I am at a loss for words. There are books that come into your life at just the right moment. And I can’t express how deeply this runs true for me with this book! Given my personal experience and the fact that Ashley Dill asked me to read her book. I know it was something I needed to read during this time in my life. The writing is stunning. The metaphor that encompasses a lot of this book will be something that sticks with me for forever. I couldn’t stop underlining and thinking about this one. This is a book I will cherish for such a long time.
I also loved that when the perspective changed it wasn't always just back and forth. It sometimes would be multiple chapters of one perspective and then switch. I thought that was very well done. It flowed so much better than just going from Jack to Miranda's POV every other chapter.
Content warnings: YES DM me! They could also be considered spoilers
Read if you Enjoy:
Dual POV
Second Chances
Character Growth
Realistic, imperfect yet lovable characters
Thank you @ashleydill_author for the ARC copy in exchange for my review. All thoughts are my own! I seriously can’t thank you enough though!
There is so much to say about this book and yet I am at a loss for words. There are books that come into your life at just the right moment. And I can’t express how deeply this runs true for me with this book! Given my personal experience and the fact that Ashley Dill asked me to read her book. I know it was something I needed to read during this time in my life. The writing is stunning. The metaphor that encompasses a lot of this book will be something that sticks with me for forever. I couldn’t stop underlining and thinking about this one. This is a book I will cherish for such a long time.
I also loved that when the perspective changed it wasn't always just back and forth. It sometimes would be multiple chapters of one perspective and then switch. I thought that was very well done. It flowed so much better than just going from Jack to Miranda's POV every other chapter.
Content warnings: YES DM me! They could also be considered spoilers
Read if you Enjoy:
Dual POV
Second Chances
Character Growth
Realistic, imperfect yet lovable characters
thestagedstory's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
5.0
This was a little heavy but beautifully done! I loved the growth of Jack and Miranda. It wasn’t rushed. They were imperfect and real and I loved them.
Here’s some of my favorite lines.
“My wife.” 🥹🤩😈
“All those minor attractions were just the starter pack. He was so much more.”
“It would be less painful to suffer alone, than to have a partner and still suffer alone.”
“Work and the gym were the only two places I could get lost-“
“We truly did the best we could given the circumstances.”
“I was finally getting the things I wanted…..but reality looked nothing like my imagination.”
“Why was life so freaking complicated?”
“Love ain’t romance. It’s grit.”
Here’s some of my favorite lines.
“My wife.” 🥹🤩😈
“All those minor attractions were just the starter pack. He was so much more.”
“It would be less painful to suffer alone, than to have a partner and still suffer alone.”
“Work and the gym were the only two places I could get lost-“
“We truly did the best we could given the circumstances.”
“I was finally getting the things I wanted…..but reality looked nothing like my imagination.”
“Why was life so freaking complicated?”
“Love ain’t romance. It’s grit.”
ijrreads's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
After the love story when the happy couple ties the knot, what happens if one of them doesn’t know how to hear the heartache of the other? What happens when one doesn’t know how to communicate the feelings that are slowly suffocating them? Life is messy, things happen that we can’t control, and sometimes that magical relationship falls apart. How do you pick up the pieces? But what if life throws you a 2nd chance?
That’s what we have here in this beautiful story.
First, let me say that I was surprised by the emotions that gripped me right from the prologue. I mean, I expected to feel emotions (this isn’t a fluffy read folks!), but I did NOT expect the intensity and the impact. I loved how you felt that desperation right from the start. I think that struck me most - the whole story felt so real! Or maybe I should say - I FELT the story.
I also loved how the characters grew throughout the story. Despite the hurts they had experienced, and their initial hesitations around each other, Miranda and Jack were both still thoughtful and thinking of the other person. (Probably time and distance had helped that to be possible.) They had both reached a point where the hard things were ready to be heard and changes were willing to be undertaken. I absolutely LOVED how this played out!! The flashbacks help you feel the magic of the “falling in love” story, but THIS story was about LIVING happily ever after. What does it take to get to the “ever after”? To LIVE every day? Because we all know it ain’t sunshine and roses all the time. How do you recover after the storm rains down destruction?
I loved the lessons learned and the plant metaphors. (I don’t think that’s a spoiler - given the title?) It really had me thinking about the foundations in my life and the care I’m taking (or not) to nourish those plants…
I highly recommend this story!
If you love Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate - I think you’d like this one as well.
There’s also a note at the beginning of the book on triggers.
Last note - this is the 2nd in the series, but can be read as a standalone. I had not read the first book when I initially read this one.
I will also add that this story felt very different from Hold Back the River. The themes of growth, redemption, forgiveness, patience, and second chances give it a lot of light and hope.
That’s what we have here in this beautiful story.
First, let me say that I was surprised by the emotions that gripped me right from the prologue. I mean, I expected to feel emotions (this isn’t a fluffy read folks!), but I did NOT expect the intensity and the impact. I loved how you felt that desperation right from the start. I think that struck me most - the whole story felt so real! Or maybe I should say - I FELT the story.
I also loved how the characters grew throughout the story. Despite the hurts they had experienced, and their initial hesitations around each other, Miranda and Jack were both still thoughtful and thinking of the other person. (Probably time and distance had helped that to be possible.) They had both reached a point where the hard things were ready to be heard and changes were willing to be undertaken. I absolutely LOVED how this played out!! The flashbacks help you feel the magic of the “falling in love” story, but THIS story was about LIVING happily ever after. What does it take to get to the “ever after”? To LIVE every day? Because we all know it ain’t sunshine and roses all the time. How do you recover after the storm rains down destruction?
I loved the lessons learned and the plant metaphors. (I don’t think that’s a spoiler - given the title?) It really had me thinking about the foundations in my life and the care I’m taking (or not) to nourish those plants…
I highly recommend this story!
If you love Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate - I think you’d like this one as well.
There’s also a note at the beginning of the book on triggers.
Last note - this is the 2nd in the series, but can be read as a standalone. I had not read the first book when I initially read this one.
I will also add that this story felt very different from Hold Back the River. The themes of growth, redemption, forgiveness, patience, and second chances give it a lot of light and hope.
booksbyjess__'s review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A big thank you to the author, Ashley Dill, for sending me an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed below are my own.
While this book was not a typical genre I read in, I absolutely adored it. It made me emotional time and time again— from laughter to tears. So please have a box of tissues for this one 🤧
The Blooms That Broke Us is not only well-written; it brings out so many emotional and poignant themes throughout the story as we follow Jack and Miranda’s stories. It was gripping and had me flying through the pages to know what would happen next. I honestly could not put the book down once I was halfway through— it kept me up well past midnight 😅
Jack and Miranda are incredible characters with even better character arcs. Their growth over the course of the story is both compelling and tore at my heart strings more than once. I absolutely appreciated the delicate way their relationship was portrayed and how deeply the sanctity of marriage came across in the book. Through reading this book, I came to realize just how much secular books downplay marriage which is saddening. So getting to read a book with a Christian take was refreshing!
While a clean read, the book has grit. But that’s what makes the story feel real and raw. It’s beautifully told and handled so well.
If you’re looking for a gritty story that tugs on your heart and doesn’t let you go long after you turned the final page, I would absolutely suggest picking up this title! 💜💐
PS: If you want more details on tropes— swipe right! If you want to go in blind like I did (which 10/10 do recommend) go grab your copy and start reading now!
While this book was not a typical genre I read in, I absolutely adored it. It made me emotional time and time again— from laughter to tears. So please have a box of tissues for this one 🤧
The Blooms That Broke Us is not only well-written; it brings out so many emotional and poignant themes throughout the story as we follow Jack and Miranda’s stories. It was gripping and had me flying through the pages to know what would happen next. I honestly could not put the book down once I was halfway through— it kept me up well past midnight 😅
Jack and Miranda are incredible characters with even better character arcs. Their growth over the course of the story is both compelling and tore at my heart strings more than once. I absolutely appreciated the delicate way their relationship was portrayed and how deeply the sanctity of marriage came across in the book. Through reading this book, I came to realize just how much secular books downplay marriage which is saddening. So getting to read a book with a Christian take was refreshing!
While a clean read, the book has grit. But that’s what makes the story feel real and raw. It’s beautifully told and handled so well.
If you’re looking for a gritty story that tugs on your heart and doesn’t let you go long after you turned the final page, I would absolutely suggest picking up this title! 💜💐
PS: If you want more details on tropes— swipe right! If you want to go in blind like I did (which 10/10 do recommend) go grab your copy and start reading now!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Domestic abuse