THE LITTLE FLOWER SHOP (Indiana Summers 2) by Lori Foster-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 9, 2023

How did her love life become a community affair?

Since her divorce, Emily Lucretia—affectionately known as the flower lady to the people of Cemetery, Indiana—has been focused on her flower shop and taking care of her aging aunt and uncle. Her love life is hardly the centerpiece of her busy days.

Saul Culver, the town’s favorite bachelor and owner of the local barbecue joint, has been interested in Emily for a while. But as much as Emily knows about flowers, she can be a little oblivious to her own appeal. Saul is determined to show her just how special she is.

Saul isn’t the only one trying to get Emily out of her shell. Well-meaning locals have started tagging photos of Emily with #theflowerlady on social media—and now the entire town is involved in finding her Mr. Right. Saul won’t give up easily. He’s finally caught her attention, and he’s determined to convince Emily—and the town—that this is the real deal and not just some passing trend.

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REVIEW: THE LITTLE FLOWER SHOP is the second instalment in Lori Foster’s contemporary, adult INDIANA SUMMERS romance series focusing on the people of Cemetery Indiana. This is thirty-nine year old, restaurant owner Saul Culver, and forty-one year old, divorcee and florist Emily Lucretia’s story line. THE LITTLE FLOWER SHOP can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from third person perspective THE LITTLE FLOWER SHOP follows the building romance and relationship between thirty-nine year old, The Pit Stop restaurant owner Saul Culver, and forty-one year old, divorcee and florist Emily Lucretia. Saul Culver is Cemetery Indiana’s most eligible bachelor but Saul has his sights set on florist Emily Lucretia. A slow seduction of Emily begins to involve a number of locals, and someone is posting Emily’s picture of the town’s social media account but Emily is batting between head and heart as her beloved uncle is injured in a fall, and her heart is lost to our story line hero.

Meanwhile, Emily’s employee Gentry McAdams is working above and beyond at Emily’s shop but Emily suspects someone has captured Gentry’s heart, a young woman who is currently working for the man Emily loves. Mila Nash is trying everything to grab Gentry’s attention but Gentry struggles with demons from the past.

The relationship between Emily and Saul is a friends to lovers; a slow building romance between two people who live and work in Cemetery Indiana, a small town of friendly residents who love and support their local citizens. Saul has lusted after Emily from afar but is determined to seduce the woman with whom he is falling in love. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.

The secondary and supporting characters include Emily’s Aunt Mabel and Uncle Sullivan; Gentry and Mila; Pit Stop waiter Wheeler; Saul’s Godson Beck t-shirt shop owner Lawson Salder; town busybody Betty Cemetery, and Kathleen, who appears everywhere and anywhere.

THE LITTLE FLOWER SHOP is a sweet story of family and friendships, love and happily ever afters. The premise is heartwarming -there is little to no conflict; the romance is tender; the characters are impassioned.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy