This is the first book that I have read by this author, and in this series. This book can definitely be enjoyed as a standalone. Delphinium is still grieving her grandmother as she runs her struggling flower shop. Delphinium has talent in not only creating the perfect bouquets for all occasions but can also smell someone and know their major personality trait. Her elderly friend Henry brings her comfort and financial advice. He also brings his senior friends from the nearby assisted living. They started to take over her back room and refrigerator for poker games and social events. Two very different men come into her life. One is Mason, who she is suspicious of because he has no smell and buys flowers for different women. The other is the director of the assisted living Elliot who smells like violets and is concerned about his residents being at her shop. When her flower business is in dire trouble, the seniors try to help, but is it the help she needs? I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. I found this book delightful. It's amusing, uplifting, and has a sweet romance. I love that Delphinium's real talent is her big, open heart

This is a sweet romance with the hint of magical realism I enjoy but a main character who could be a bit much at times. Delphi is tricky; she's delightful but impulsive and is also one of those characters who the entire book spends every second telling her how wonderful she is and yet she keeps missing that somehow. It gets a bit old and the yo-yo romance had one too many break-ups for me BUT the draw for this read is Delphi's found family of troublemaking seniors who keep escaping from the local assisted living facility to play poker in her flower shop's back room. They make this book as entertaining as it is in my opinion. I will also note I didn't know this was Christian romance when I picked it up but the author keeps that fairly low-key. There are a few passages where it pops up but you can enjoy the story even if that is not your thing (like me).

*I received an e-ARC from NetGalley to provide this review

I received a free copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and Revell; all opinions expressed are exclusively my own.

If I was rating two different parts of this book, the first half would be a solid 3-4 stars. The relationship between the main character and the elderly is entertaining, and the idea of her gift being a form of synesthesia is an interesting premise. She comes across as a likeable person struggling to find her place and save her dream business at the same time. The humor involved with the residents of the nursing home is reminiscent of the humor in the Janet Evanovich books, and the idea of them as Delphinium's found family is adorable.

So far, so good. However, the second part definitely drops into the 2 star territory, and by extension drags the whole story down with it to the point where I had to force myself to finish it. With the introduction of her parents, the main character changes from a person who was attempting to reconcile with her true self as opposed to who she was expected to be into a wayward child who just isn't mature enough to understand how her parents really had her best interests in mind all along. It's roughly the same with the romantic relationship; it seemed cute enough in the beginning, but followed the same pattern. By the end, instead of feeling like Delphinium bloomed, it felt like she withered into a sad, immature child who needed to be led by her parents and new boyfriend.

For sensitive readers, this book contains illness, death of loved ones, and representations of Christianity.

I love a book with quirky characters and this one is full of them. With a name like Delphinium, you're bound to run a florist shop. What Delphinium didn't expect was a bunch of senior citizens wanting to use her shop as a place to play poker. "What am I going to do with a refrigerator full of elderly men?" (location 173). Delphinium's beautiful spirit hears their hearts and she quickly comes to love them and care for them.

The seniors were amazing! They want to see changes at their senior living center and aren't afraid to say it. When they get an idea, they run with it even if the results are very unorthodox. They had me laughing hard. I could just picture them. It was delightful. I loved them. I hope the next book in Moonberry Lake includes them again.

It was interesting learning more about flowers and what they signify. I would love to see Delphinium's bouquets and shop. It sounded magical. This was a fun read. I'd highly recommend it. Thank you to Revell for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher through LibraryThing via NetGalley. The following is my honest review.

4 stars
The Blooming of Delphinium was such a unique read. It wasn't what I was expecting so I had a little trouble getting into it. I'm so glad I persevered because it ended up being cute and enjoyable. The characters, especially the assisted living residents that take over Delphinium's flower shop, are quirky and hilarious. The book delt with serious topics in a lighthearted way. I'd love to follow Delphinium's story in future books.

The Blooming of Delphinium by Holly Varni is the second A Moonberry Lake Novel. It can be read as a standalone for those who have not read On Moonberry Lake. While Delphinium is the main character, there are a number of secondary characters. The senior citizens are quirky and entertaining. It can, though, be difficult to keep them all straight. I thought Delphinium’s gift was unique. I wish her gift had been explained like her grandmother’s synesthesia. The senior’s antics will have you laughing out loud along with their unusual list of demands. I like the closeknit community of Moonberry Lake. I can understand why Delphinium made this charming town her home. There is romance as well. The story also delves into loss and how it affects people. The Blooming of Delphinium is a slow starter, but it picks up when the seniors begin their exploits. I did feel that the story was a tad too long. If the repetitive bits were removed, it would be just the right length. The Blooming of Delphinium is a quirky small-town tale with senior escapades, beautiful bouquets, transportation troubles, an intoxicating scent, a financial plight, an unwanted skunk, and a special romance.

This book left me sad. With losing her grandma flower shop and home. The two men were trying to trick her into believing they were not deceiving her. This is a book I wish I had missed

So cute with all the feels. I laughed & cried. The characters were adorable, especially the seniors. This is my first book buy this author and though sometimes it seemed to drag on, other times it was a quick read. Definitely a great story and worth the read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Revell for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I attempted to read book #1 in this series before jumping into this one even though it seemed that the only connection between the two was the place- Moonberry Lake. I quit reading book 1 because I was bored. And I hoped this book wouldn’t bear the same results.

These two books couldn’t be more different! Yay.

I found this book unique, funny, and interesting. The wit of the main character, Delphinium, and the old senior men that wanted to play poker in her flower shop’s freezer had me laughing through the whole thing. Until one of those same men had me crying. Well, that was unexpected.
Seriously though, the senior men and women were a hoot and the stars of this book!


This story kept my attention throughout (which is hard to do). I was pleased with all the patriotic and uplifting messages and the faith and healing and great quotable words it contained.

I felt it could have removed about 10% of the end to shorten it and we could have done without the part that made me cry at about 80%. Sad! 😢

For the humor of the seniors, the faith, and the good vibes for most of it, I give it 4 🌟

I received a complimentary copy of this book & this is my honest opinion ✨

I fell in love with the gorgeous cover and loved the story
Due to health issues cannot write a proper review now even if I enjoyed this book. as it's well plotted, fascinating world building, and entertaining. . I liked the good storytelling
A more extensive review will follow
Recommended.Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Vibrant, beautiful, funny, tender. I laughed and I cried.

Opening quote by Thich Nhat Hanh sets the tone for this charming story! "The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers."

I absolutely love the characters and the fictional town of Moonberry Lake in Minnesota.

From Delphinium Hayes to the seniors from The Gardens Assisted Living Facility, they won my heart. What a hoot they all are. I highly recommend this beautiful story of life, family, flowers, and an eclectic cast of characters!

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

Not having read any books by Holly Varni, I wasn't quite sure what to expect with The Blooming of Delphinium. Wow, I loved it. It is a delightful story that kept my attention from beginning to end. I loved the humor, the sweet romance, and the characters (some of which were a hoot!). All around just thoroughly enjoyed the book! I was given a complimentary copy of the book through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.

A feel good book with humorous parts amidst some heart-tugging chapters.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book.

Loved this book, "The Blooming of Delphinium" by Holly Varni. There is a spark of something between a flower shop owner, Delphinium and the director of a nursing home who is baffled by the residents who are revolting over everything. The seniors from the nursing home are very quirky and on a mission to liven up "the joint" and their lives so escape to Delphinium's flower shop to live how they want to live - the men playing poker shirtless in the refrigerator at the flower shop as well as some helpful older ladies who love helping out in the shop. All of this is going on as Delphinium is on the brink of financial ruin and may lose her shop as well as the safe place the seniors have as a home away from home.

Between the antics of the seniors and the budding romance for Delphinium who can tell a lot about a person from the floral scent they emit, this book keeps you entertained from beginning to the end. I kept laughing at so many parts of this book and I kept wondering what these older folks would get up to as it went on. Through it all, our heroine grows into the person she's meant to be and just might find the romance she's looking for.

This is a faith filled book with so many good, encouraging words pointing the reader to Christ and what we have to look forward to in heaven someday. I was encouraged by this book and hope other readers can find that as well. I liked the faster, entertaining pace of the book and had a hard time putting it down.

Thank you to Revell Fiction and Netgalley for an opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

If you are looking for a heartwarming book that has all the feels, look no further than The Blooming of Delphinium by Holly Varni.

This is the second book in the Moonberry Lake series and can be read as a standalone. For those who read On Moonberry Lake, you will be delighted to see our favourite ornery character, Widgy, appear in this one as well.

The author has once again captured the heart and soul of living in a community with others. Her cast of characters are vibrant, realistic and well-developed. The seniors who “invaded” Delphi’s shop were a hoot. At first, they seemed to be obnoxious as they took over the shop and seemed to disregard Delphi’s feelings. But, as time goes on, you realize that these seniors always have something up their sleeves.

I loved the special ability Delphi had and how it helped her detect a person’s personality just by smelling them. I loved how Delphi “smelled out” her perfect match in the end.

I was disappointed that the faith thread was not carried through in this book. The book hinted that Delphi did not have a relationship with God and that others did, but no one ever followed through to help her find God. To me, that was a missed opportunity.

In the end, though, this book was a delightful read and full of so many surprises and chuckles that I could not put it down. I highly recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through NetGalley for my honest review.

Holly Varni, who debuted last year with a very sweet contemporary Christian romance, returns us to Moonberry Lake with a delightful heartwarming sequel, The Blooming of Delphinium, which can be read as a standalone.

This exceptional story centers around Delphinium, with a unique gift, the ability to determine a person’s personality by their botanical scent. She is surrounded by a cast of invigorating seniors, who will tug at your heartstrings. They takeover the walk-in cooler and back room of Delphinium’s flower shop, to play poker, stage a protest against the manager of their extended living facility, and engage in matchmaking. One cannot help but fall in love with these endearing seniors, and laugh-out-loud at their antics.

Author Holly Varni, whose writing is awe-inspiring and endearing, reminds us that our older generations, given the opportunity, still have a lot to offer. I was totally captivated throughout this story following Delphinium and her journey, as she dealt with grief, found an endearing unconventional family, and love along the way. The Blooming of Delphinium, a story filled with love and compassion for others, will leave you with lasting exhilarated spirits. This invigorating story is my number one feel-good story of the year!

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell via NetGalley through Interviews & Reviews. I was not obligated to write a favorable review, and all opinions are my own.

Oh my goodness. Read this book!!! I read it in one day and I couldn’t stop laughing. Author Holly Varni writes about the quirkiest, most loveable people ever. Moonberry Lake is a great little town and I need to go there. Now. This is book 2 in the series; do read book 1 as we see some of the same characters and it’s really good too.

But The Blooming of Delphinium has now moved up to the top of my favorites list. Any book that makes me laugh and go awwww……is a winner. Charming, warm, incredible. Get a copy!

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

The Blooming of Delphinium is the second book in the Moonberry Lake series but can absolutely be enjoyed just fine as a standalone as well.

This was such a charming story and quite different than what I was expecting (though I couldn't really say what I was expecting, just that this wasn't quite it!). Delphinium has a rather unique sense of smell--- in that she can smell people in a way that others can't with various floral scents that tell her of their personality. This unique gift of hers definitely intrigued me and kept things interesting in the story. I found in the beginning I wasn't sure where the romance in this story was going to go... but I found it to be a really sweet one. More than anything though, I loved the sense of community that this book gave. Somehow, Delphinium found her flower shop turned into a getaway of sorts for the senior citizens in the community... and what a group this was! The antics they got themselves (and her) into had me laughing out loud throughout the story--- even as it dealt with tougher topics like loss in the midst of it too. I really couldn't help but absolutely fall in love with the unique cast of characters and enjoying every minute spent with them.

**I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

A charming story set in the small Northwoods town of Moonberry Lake, Minnesota. Delphinium's unique gift of identifying a person's 'scent' adds to her talent as a florist. Her shop becomes a haven of sorts to a group of elderly residents who are sneaking out from a retirement home.

"...beautiful things sometimes take time."

This story was a delightful read from beginning to end. Full of insight into people and relationships, with some clean romance and plenty of humor. Loved all of the older people who ended up being as much of a support to 'Delphi' as she was to them. She understands and genuinely cares for them. Finding a place to belong and use one's gifts is an important message here.

"No matter a person's age, they want community."
Loved the wisdom that the older crowd brought to the scenes, especially from Henry. Everyone could benefit from someone like that in their life who cares enough to confront and encourage. A little whiff of faith is added lightly in spots, with mentions of prayer and looking for help.
Forgiving people and not labeling them is underlined in the romance that grows between two opposites. It was sweet and tender with a unique spark between them. The ending was perfect, with a sighworthy moment.

Recommend to anyone who enjoys a character driven tale with inspiration, humor and clean romance. 4.5 stars

From Amazon's synopsis: As far as hidden talents go, Delphinium Hayes is blessed with one of the more unique ones. With the slightest passing whiff, she knows someone's most admirable or weediest characteristic. This peculiar perception never fails to give her an advantage in life--until she meets two men who turn her world upside down.

Mason McCormack has agreed to help her with a group of seniors who have taken over her flower shop as their hangout. But his assistance is not without its price, and Delphinium agrees to compensate him with beautiful bouquets that seem to possess a bit of dating magic.

Elliot Sturgis, director of The Gardens Assisted Living Facility, is determined to discover why a group of his residents keeps sneaking over to Delphinium's shop to play poker in the walk-in refrigerator. He soon finds himself as enchanted by Delphinium as everyone else. But his devotion to following the rules and maintaining order does not endear him to the shop's owner.
There are some other characters who play a part in the warp and woof of the fabric of this novel. One, in particular, throws a monkey wrench into the works and creates such havoc that the main players think they will never recover. I truly enjoyed this book by Holly Varni. She puts together an interesting plot with a lot of entertainment to keep the reader engaged.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and the fragrance of love.

Revell Publishing provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.