Publish Date June 3, 2014 by Berkley Trade
Ruby Jewell knows flowers. In her twenty years as a florist
she has stood behind the counter at the Flower Shoppe with her faithful dog,
Clementine, resting at her feet. A customer can walk in, and with just a glance
or a few words, Ruby can throw together the perfect arrangement for any
occasion.
Whether intended to rekindle a romance, mark a celebration, offer sympathy, or heal a broken heart, her expressive floral designs mark the moments and milestones in the lives of her neighbors. It’s as though she knows just what they want to say, just what they need.
Yet Ruby’s own heart’s desires have gone ignored since the death of her beloved sister. It will take an invitation from a man who’s flown to the moon, the arrival of a unique little boy, and concern from a charming veterinarian to reawaken her wounded spirit. Any life can be derailed, but the healing power of community can put it right again.
Whether intended to rekindle a romance, mark a celebration, offer sympathy, or heal a broken heart, her expressive floral designs mark the moments and milestones in the lives of her neighbors. It’s as though she knows just what they want to say, just what they need.
Yet Ruby’s own heart’s desires have gone ignored since the death of her beloved sister. It will take an invitation from a man who’s flown to the moon, the arrival of a unique little boy, and concern from a charming veterinarian to reawaken her wounded spirit. Any life can be derailed, but the healing power of community can put it right again.
My Thoughts:
I am clueless about flowers, yet the synopsis of The Art of
Arranging Flowers pulled at me. I
picked up the book hoping that I would not be lost and all it would talk about
it different flowers and how to arrange them.
While there is some, okay a lot, of flower talk in the book, there is so
much more to Ruby Jewell’s life. There
is friendship, broken hearts, love, and loss.
The small town atmosphere is absolutely perfect. The other characters in the book are just
as important as Ruby and leave their marks on the reader as we get to know
them.
Ruby is the main character of the story and I loved
her. She knew the town better than
anyone else. Knew the birthdates,
anniversaries, likes and dislikes before the person ordering the flowers could
tell her. She had bouquets ready before
the orders were placed and went above on and beyond to make the town the best
she possibly could. She knew of healing
powers of flowers and knew who needed healing or prayers for whatever ails
them, broken hearts, cancer, tiredness, or love.
The other characters in the book were just as great. Dan is my favorite. A retired astronaut who manages to connect
with everyone he comes in contact with, and does it in a way that makes each
person feel special. He also could read
people, he knew who was sick and how to help or comfort them, he knew who
needed a little extra push to open their heart, and who just needed him to give
them some special attention to make them feel special. When it was told that he was dying and that
he had control of how he was going to die I had tears in my eyes. I knw that it would be a send off in the
most private and highest regards, the way Dan had lived his life.
The Art of Arranging Flowers is a book that I recommend to
anyone who needs a calming and loving story about a town that feels like
home. The story is sweet, sentimental,
and unforgettable.
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I love the cover on this book. It is soft and inviting.Simply beautiful
ReplyDeleteThe synopsis of this reminds me of The Language of Flowers, which I absolutely loved!
ReplyDelete