Reviews

Forever in Flowers by Brenna Bailey

parisbrownebooks's review

funny lighthearted 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? No

4.0

Joyce is a wedding planner who travels to Juniper Creek to plan an old friends wedding. She meets Loretta, a hobby farmer who's opening her barn as a wedding menu, and they agree to a casual fling until Joyce leaves. Needless to say, it goes a little beyond casual. 
This was completely different to anything I've read before. To start with, this series follows older people (there are 3 previous stories)- Joyce and Loretta are both in their 70s. It was really lovely to read about people finding love (sometimes for a second time) at this age, when society so often writes off this age group. It was even more lovely to have an array of older queer characters, all living happy and wholesome lives.
Loretta was such a relatable character, introverted but warm. I'm obsessed with her hens (named after godesses) and I feel I could spend a long time just existing at her home. 
This book was also fade to black (again, not my usual read) but wasn't any less enjoyable for this fact. The chemistry and tension were still there, and there were lots of intimate moments. Loretta and Joyce complement one another perfectly. 
Finally, I appreciated the author's acknowledgement of the indigenous land both her and her characters live on, and that she is donating money from release day sales. 
I'm off to research getting chickens now. 

nikereadsbooks's review

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

4.5

Just like the previous book in the series, this story was just the sweetest. Loretta and Joyce were delightful main characters and I loved how there was enough space for both romance and their struggles. It was really nicely balanced too, without infodumping too much and with a great pacing as well.

I really liked the pining through the whole book, despite being so jittery when they parted, but I think it was so much better that they left each other they way they did instead of some extreme break up (which is a trope that needs to be handled well for me to enjoy).

And the wedding stuff! It was so cute, how the various romances from the previous books had a place in this one's story! 
Last thing In would like to highlight is the wonderful queerplatonic relationship between Joyce, Will and Andrew. I mean, it's just so great to see such representation in a book!

Thank you to the author for gifting me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, I really appreciate it! 
Also for my fellow readers who are thinking about purchasing this book, please note that 20% of the release day sales are being donated by the author to the Native Women's Association of Canada.

morriganslibrary's review

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

I was once again very happy to receive a Juniper Creek novel as an ARC to review!

It's been so fun to see all the characters on their journeys throughout the different books and I enjoy the introduction of the new characters while still showing the reader how the old ones are doing. 

Forever in Flowers was another excellent addition to the series and I really liked Loretta and Joyce's characters and seeing how they developed. I also thought it was very fun to read a book centred on planning a wedding when I am in the midst of wedding planning myself!

I'm looking forward to seeing what Brenna writes next!

rowan10's review

inspiring lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I just loved this book. It is interesting story of Loretta, who is trying to get her event barn finished in order to host a friends wedding; and Joyce who is said friends wedding planner, brought in to smooth the way. This book is well written with older characters gaining love, which is lovely to read about. 

mollyrook's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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 the perfect conclusion to Brenna Bailey's seasons-based tetralogy. It was lovely to see how the previous relationships were progressing and resolving, and I absolutely loved the charming romance between Joyce and Loretta in this story. They both enter the story with believable and genuine resistances to love and a future together, and the very real obstacle of Joyce's imminent return to Scotland was perfect for maintaining tension right to the end of the story. Although I knew it work turn out well in the end, as a romance novel must, Bailey left me wondering right until the end just how things would resolve. I can't wait to see where Bailey goes next, having finished this particular series, but I will be an enthusiastic reader for whatever it is.

jessicake1's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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