Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: Bloom
AUTHOR: N.R. Walker
PUBLISHER: BlueHeart Press
LENGTH: 206 pages
RELEASE DATE: February 16, 2024
BLURB:
Keats McCulloch opened his florist shop in Sydney two years ago and he’s living his dream. Even though running his own business leaves little room for a personal life, he is very single, sometimes lonely, but otherwise happy.
Linden Acres has sworn off men for all eternity. Armed with his cheating boyfriend’s credit card and a floriography list, he decides to buy him the perfect farewell gift. The biggest, prettiest bouquet of ‘murder flowers’ his money can buy.
Keats convinces Linden to avoid possible jail time and go with a more subdued, somewhat passive aggressive bouquet of black roses and basil leaves. After all, nothing else says you’re dead to me and I hate you with such elegance.
Keats finds Linden hilarious and charming, and Linden thinks Keats is kind of wonderful . . . It’s too bad he’s sworn off men forever. Yet their paths cross again and again, as if fate was planting seeds in the hope that one will bloom.
“I’m more of a green carnations kind of guy.”
REVIEW:
Bloom is just about the sweetest, fluffiest, and most heartwarming book I’ve ever read. It’s a fantastic story that will be at the top of my list of go-to books for when I want something light and angst-free to snuggle into. I usually lean into high angst, but this book is the ideal comfort read and I know I’ll immerse myself in it repeatedly.
Keats owns a flower shop and one fine day Linden wanders in to order some flowers. They flirt and banter and eventually go on a date. These two men are adorable beyond words. Simply scrumptious!
This book does feature insta-love, which is something I usually avoid, but this is Ms. Walker, after all, and I read – and have loved – everything she’s written, without fail. So, I trusted I was in good hands with Bloom. Even with the rapid progression of their relationship, it feels realistic. Keats and Linden approach it with maturity, acknowledging and discussing whether they’re moving too fast. And at twenty-six and thirty years old, they’re old enough to make a wise decision.
So obviously I love Bloom and recommend it to all contemporary readers. It’s romantic and sweet and perfect. And check out the cover…so cute. As an aside, eagle eyed readers will spot an Easter egg from Bossy (one of my favorite books by Walker). I hope you love this love story as much as I do.
RATING: 
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