Performed by Laural Merlington
Harlequin Enterprises/MIRA Books/Brilliance Audio
Contemporary Women’s Fiction
Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback and Unabridged Audio Book
Rating: 4.5
Lydia Goetz has decided it's time to hold another beginners’ knitting class at her store A Good Yarn and the lesson this time is prayer shawls. Two new students and two friends sign up and they all have their own stories to tell.
Susannah Nelson, owner of the flower shop on Blossom Street joins, as does her new employee Colette Blake. Colette has secrets about why she has come to town. Recently losing her husband in a fluke accident then having a fling with her boss after her husband’s death that results in a pregnancy, she fled when she found some disturbing information about her boss Christian Dempsey.
Alix Townsend, who made her first appearance in The Shop on Blossom Street, also joined the class and is planning her wedding to young adult pastor Jordan Blake. Jordan’s mother Susan and Alix’s mentor Jacqueline are going crazy planning a huge wedding that is nothing like what Alix desires.
Then there’s Margaret, Lydia’s sister who has worries of her own. Her daughter Julia is the victim of a carjacking and the resulting stress is tearing the family apart. Julia is struggling with her terror at what happened and Margaret is angry and seeking justice.
Lydia is truly the heart and soul of Blossom Street and A Good Yarn. While she always plays a key role in the books, this time her story is toned down to give more time to dedicate to the others. She does however get her turn as we see her struggle with the ramifications that her bouts with caner may very well have destroyed her chances and adding to the small family she and Brad created with their marriage.
Margaret’s tale is a disturbing one that really hits home with readers. After the car jacking, Margaret’s life becomes consumed with finding justice, no matter what needs to be done. Julia is severely traumatized by what happened and her mother’s anger and quest for vengeance are only making things worse. The result is their entire family is being torn apart. Margaret needs her sister and their friends more than ever right now as they try to help her understand that her anger is only making things worse. Margaret runs through a whole string of emotions as she tries to come to terms with what happened.
Readers who have been with the Blossom Street books from the beginning will remember the surly young woman Alix Townsend once was. She has blossomed under the love of Jordan and is a completely different woman now, though her insecurities about her life are never far from her thoughts. As they are planning their wedding, Alix changes from the happy young woman in love to a severely stressed girl who is terrified about going through with the wedding. A small private ceremony is more her style but Jacqueline and Jordan’s mother are turning the wedding into a circus. The resultant stress nearly tears Alix and Jordan apart until her friends help her come to terms with what the wedding is really about – celebrating the love and marriage of two people who found each other with God’s grace.
Newcomer Colette makes a significant impact on the women of Blossom Street as well. Her entire life at present is a confusing mess of emotions and fears. She mourns her dead husband and feels guilty about her feelings for Christian. At the same time, she is afraid of Christian when she uncovers details on her computer that lead her to believe he is involved in the trafficking of illegal aliens. How could she have any kind of tender feelings for a man committing such a crime? However, she does and every single day she is torn between longing to see him, wishing they could be together and determination to avoid him at all costs because of his crimes. I know I sure found myself hoping she was wrong about him so they could find peace and get together as they are meant to be.
Back on Blossom Street is another great emotional story. Debbie Macomber always makes me cry, a master of bringing out my deepest emotions with heart wrenching stories. She truly gets what makes relationships work between women and we see that wisdom on every single page. Here on Blossom Street, every character feels like a long time friend of mine and I eagerly anticipate catching up on their lives. I hunger for each new story in the series and Back on Blossom Street whets my appetite for Twenty Wishes, next to come.
© Kelley A. Hartsell, June 2008. All rights reserved.
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