Monday, October 08, 2007

Back on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber

One charming street, so many secrets....
Lydia Goetz has an intriguing new tenant. Colette is a grieving young widow who has rented the apartment above her shop. Lydia's opinionated sister, Margaret, insists Colette is hiding something - and she's right. Colette's past is catching up with her fast and so is the enigmatic man who loves her.

Yet Margaret will soon have secrets of her own when her daughter's life is turned upside down by violence. Is vengeance the answer?

Meanwhile, Alix Townsend is about to marry the man she adores. It should be the happiest time of her life - so why is she breaking out in hives?

Why Lydia starts a new knitting class these women forge new friendships and learn the special art of letting go of your past and grabbing hold of your future.

Funny, sad, touching and true - you'll be so glad you're back on Blossom Street.

Sometimes you just need a little sugar!

I don't read any of Debbie Macomber's other books, but a couple of years ago I read the first book in this series, The Shop on Blossom Street, as part of a group read, and it seems now that I read each new book in the series as they come out.

The action centres around Lydia Goetz's knitting and yarn shop, on Blossom Street and the women who come to the shop to participate in knitting classes. This time the ladies are knitting a prayer shawl. One of the characters, Alix Townsend, was featured in an earlier book in the series, where she was a sullen, rebellious teenage. Now, she is happy, and engaged to a youth minister, Jordan Turner. Whilst she has come a long way from the unhappy young girl that she was, things are getting out of control. Jordan's mother Susan and Alix's friend, Jacqueline are determined to provide a dream wedding for Alix and Jordan...even if it isn't the happy couples idea of a dream wedding. Alix is stressed out to the point of second thoughts and it is going to take something major for things to get back on track.

Another member of the class is Colette Blake. Colette a young widow with a huge secret, and as her past catches up with her in the person of her former boss Christian Dempsey. Whilst she has feelings for him, she can't let herself get closer to him than she already has done. I have to confess that I found this strand of the story quite over the top, but I did love Christian's auntie who comes into the story in the latter half of the book.

The other major storyline in the book featured Lydia's sister Margaret, whose daughter suffered a horrendous carjacking attack, and the whole family was left to pick up the pieces and deal with the consequences. Margaret is a kind of extreme character in terms of her reactions, but mostly they were understandable, just taken a step too far.

The fourth member of the group is Suzanne who is the owner of the new florist that has recently opened in the street, but I was left wondering if maybe there was some storyline edited out of the final cut about Suzanne because she was kind of just there!

I am not a knitter at all, so I guess I don't necessarily feel the same affection for the role of the knitting in the story, but as a group of stories about the strength and power of female friendship, then the three books in the series are a fun read and easy enough to read through in one sitting. Macomber left the ending open enough for at least on more knitting book, and I guess I will be reading it if it comes out!

Rating 4/5

Other Blogger's Thoughts:

Passion for the Page

4 comments:

  1. I haven't read this one yet, but I did read the other Blossom Street books and truly enjoyed them. I love the relationships that develop throughout.

    But isn't there a book featuring Suzanne? Suzanne's Garden, I think. I bought it, started reading it, then set it aside and haven't picked it back up yet. I've found DM to be really hit or miss for me, and SG seemed like a miss, but since I only read a couple chapters (if that) I can't say for sure.

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  2. Ah well...if there's a book about Suzanne then that makes more sense!

    Thanks!

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  3. I have heard good reviews of this book by knitters, as well. I just may have to find a copy to read.
    I have never read any of Debbie Macomber's books but I did notice the huge collection of them at the library today.

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  4. I don't know that it makes a huge difference if you're a knitter or not except that maybe you can just relate to that part a little better. I agree it's really about women's relationships. I've loved all of the books and I'm hoping that there are still more in store in the series.

    As for Susannah's Garden, it wasn't one of my faves at all. The women as a group are better written about then going off with just one.

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