Blooms by Terri Depue follows a young woman's journey of self-discovery. After a burglary attempt at her house, Annie Reed decides to leave Seattle for good and moves to her deceased grandmother's house in the small town of Magnolia Creek, Virginia. She receives a warm welcome to her new home from three kind-hearted women. Winnie, Lillian, and Betty Lou were her grandmother's lifelong friends. While the three women help her adapt to her new home, Annie warms to the idea of starting her own business and meets the new architect in town, Tom Walsh. Soon, she opens a shop inspired by her grandmother's love for flowers. As Annie and Tom's feelings for each other grow, Tom uncovers a secret from his past.

Friendship, faith, and family are three of the core themes in Blooms. This slice-of-life story tugs at your heartstrings from the get-go, and you won't want to put the book down until you've finished reading. Terri Depue's characters feel like people you've known all your life. They are not only likable but also offer hope in a way that is realistic and very comforting. With heart and humor, Depue crafts an engaging narrative, and by the end, you're left with a broad smile on your face. I loved the chemistry between Annie and Tom. However, the scenes featuring Annie with Winnie, Lillian, and Betty Lou were some of my favorite moments from the book. I also enjoyed how Annie reacted to the news about Tom's past. Overall, it was a very rewarding read, and I highly recommend it.

Blooms by Terri Depue begins when a violent incident forces Annie Reed to leave the Pacific Northwest; she relocates to rural Virginia to claim the house and land left to her by her grandmother. In Magnolia Creek, Annie rebuilds her days through gardening, community ties, and steady visits to a local nursing facility, where her flower arrangements become a regular presence. When demand exceeds what her property can supply, Annie opens a flower shop on Main Street, placing her at the center of the town’s daily life. As the business takes shape, Annie forms a relationship with Tom Walsh, an architect new to the area. Their plans are disrupted when information from Tom’s past surfaces, introducing new obligations that place pressure on trust, family, and the future Annie is trying to establish.

Blooms by Terri Depue is a wonderful small-town story based on some unfortunate, rather big choices for its protagonist, Annie. Her love language is flowers, and it's really that devotion to flora that sets the comforting foundation of the plot. Depue breathes life into the aptly named Magnolia Creek through Annie's weekly floral deliveries to Magnolia Lane, church suppers, Main Street businesses, shared meals, and the community of neighbors. It is easy to root for Annie, especially when her relationship with Lillian and the care she shows blossoms in its own way. Depue's prose is measured, well-written, and has the restraint that can only come from the pen of a talented writer. Overall, this is a satisfying read that fills both heart and soul. Very highly recommended.

In Blooms by Terri Depue, Annie had just learned she was no longer employed, and so she went home. Opening her back door, she was almost bowled over by a burglar. When Annie reported the burglary, the police officer advised her to move because her neighbourhood was not safe for a woman living alone. Annie moved to Magnolia Creek to live in the house Grandma Abby had left her. Friends of Annie’s grandmother, Winnie, Betty Lou, and Lillian, introduced themselves and were happy that Annie lived now in Magnolia Creek. The three friends had lived in the town forever and knew everything that was going on in town. Annie delivered flowers to the residents of Magnolia Lane to brighten their days and decided to open a flower shop. Annie hires Tom Walsh, an architect from Los Angeles, to help her and the three friends were over the moon about this development.

I was hooked from the first page of Blooms by Terri Depue, the first in the Magnolia Creek series. There was more than enough time to process the events at a steady pace. The story was suspenseful, and I could not turn the pages fast enough. The events were described in detail, and I could imagine the setting of the small town and the community. I was so intrigued by the plot that I could not put the book down; I was too afraid I would miss something important. My favorite character was Annie. She had the courage to move to a small town to start over. I enjoyed the blossoming romance between Annie and Tom, and I wondered where it would lead. The story was brilliantly written and stayed with me long after I finished reading the book. I cannot wait for the next instalment.