REVIEW: The Little Flower Shop by Lori Foster

In The Little Flower Shop by Lori Foster, Some people might find being called ‘the flower lady’ a ho-hum thing. But not for Emily Lucretia. She’s proud of her flower shop in pretty little Cemetery, Indiana, and has spent years building it into a success. So what if it’s happened at the cost of having a social life? After her divorce, Emily couldn’t even think of dating again anyway. But for a little while now, handsome Saul Culver, owner of the Pit Stop barbecue restaurant, has caught her eye. Unsure if he feels the same way, it’s not until a prank with a local icon–a mannequin named Kathleen–and a hashtag gets created in Emily’s honor (#theflowerlady) that Saul makes it crystal clear how he feels for her. Emily wants to be on board with it all. But she’s way outside of her comfort zone. With some gentle prompting from her beloved aunt and uncle and a few locals, though, she realizes it’s about time to shake things up in her life.

“Make the most of your days, Emily. If you want Saul, grab him with both hands. Give the social media sites something to talk about.”
Now laughter joined her tears. “I’m not sure Cemetery is ready for your plan.”

Saul is a man who, yes, has a lot on his plate, but he always makes time for family, friends, and loved ones. The person he truly wants to free up time for–for the rest of his life, actually– is perfectly imperfect Emily. She’s a woman who makes everything brighter when she’s nearby. Whether it’s lending a helpful hand, a shoulder to lean on, or simply being a sounding board, she’s Cemetery’s go-to person. And Saul wants to make his feelings known. He just didn’t realize it would be in such a public fashion when Emily begins trending online, getting everyone’s attention locally. With so many changes already going on in his life, Saul doesn’t want to pressure her, but he knows now is the time to lay it all on the line. He only hopes Emily will choose him and not one of the other guys in town vying to capture her heart.

‘Now everything had changed, and getting Emily into his life felt critical, like if it didn’t happen soon, it never would. With certainty, he knew that she was the one.’

One of my favorite writers of small-town romance, Lori Foster took us back to quirky Cemetery, Indiana in The Little Flower Shop, where the locals meant well (even as they snooped into each other’s lives), and love was in the air for two very worthy couples.

‘He believed this all-consuming, turbulent, and tender mash of emotions must be love. Nothing else made sense.’

How fun it was to be back in Cemetery, Indiana–a picturesque small town I wish we could visit in real life. The characters (as with all of Lori Foster’s work) were absolutely lovely. And I adored that we actually got to see *two* new romances blossom while also watching a decades-long relationship flourish through life’s ups and downs. Each couples’ story was unique and fit them to a T: Emily & Saul’s was a slow burn; Gentry & Mila’s was a whirlwind; and Sullivan & Mabel’s was a rock-solid, long-time love–but all were full of passion, respect, and care. And I couldn’t get enough of them.

As I’ve come to expect and appreciate from Foster’s books, she kept things real with all of the cast and didn’t skip over the tough situations they’d overcome–or were still trying to overcome. From Emily having lost her parents at a young age, being raised by her wonderful aunt and uncle, Mabel and Sullivan, to Gentry and Mila each leaving their pasts behind to start over in Cemetery, the hardships helped them all relate to each other on a deep level.

But it wasn’t all heavy subjects as the couples faced down their challenges. Of course, there was the inviting feel that Cemetery itself had thanks to the welcoming townsfolk and all the fun they had cheering each other on. The invention of Emily’s hashtag (#theflowerlady) was a hoot–as was finding out the person who started it all! She might have been chagrined at first, but even Emily got in on it as she finally figured out Saul’s feelings for her were real and let herself enjoy life, family, and friends for a change. I chuckled over her naivety when it came to guys flirting with her. But thankfully Saul persisted. And talk about a bunch of terrific heroes! *swoon* Everyone needs someone like Saul, Gentry, or Sullivan in their lives.

QOTD: Have you ever created your own hashtag or had someone create one about/for you?

Book Info:

Publication: May 9, 2023 | Canary Street Press | Indiana Summers Series #2

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.