Bloggin' 'bout Books: Book Spotlight: The Heirloom Garden by Viola Shipman

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Book Spotlight: The Heirloom Garden by Viola Shipman

10:11 AM

I didn't get a chance to read The Heirloom Garden by Viola Shipman (which is actually a pen name used by Wade Rouse, who writes under his late grandmother's name as a way to honor her) in time for my blog tour stop, so I'm just going to do a little spotlight today. According to the back cover summary, here's what the book is about:

In her inimitable style, Viola Shipman explores the unlikely relationship between two very different women brought together by the pain of war, but bonded by hope, purpose…and flowers.

Iris Maynard lost her husband in World War II, her daughter to illness and, finally, her reason to live. Walled off from the world for decades behind the towering fence surrounding her home, Iris has built a new family…of flowers. Iris propagates her own daylilies and roses while tending to a garden filled with the heirloom starts that keep the memories of her loved ones alive.

When Abby Peterson moves next door with her family—a husband traumatized by his service in the Iraq War and a young daughter searching for stability—Iris is reluctantly yet inevitably drawn into her boisterous neighbor’s life, where, united by loss and a love of flowers, she and Abby tentatively unearth their secrets, and help each other discover how much life they have yet to live.

With delightful illustrations and fascinating detail, Viola Shipman’s heartwarming story will charm readers while resonating with issues that are so relevant today.

Have you read The Heirloom Garden? What did you think?

Thanks to the generous folks at Harlequin (a division of HarperCollins) for sending me an e-ARC of The Heirloom Garden!

16 comments:

Suburban prep01 May, 2020 14:16
I have loved all the prior books by this author.
I hope to be able to find this and read.
I am sure I will enjoy it
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Katherine P01 May, 2020 15:58
I haven't read any books by this author but I have about all of them on my TBR. I love how he chose his pseudonym!
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Sam 01 May, 2020 19:29
I'm fascinated by a guy using a female pen name. I'm sure it's happened a lot before, but it has to be pretty rare compared to the other way around. I love his reason for doing it that way. Until relatively recently, several female crime writers were using male pen names in order to get published and bought - and, sadly, that made sense. Glad to see that's not so common anymore.
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Marg01 May, 2020 23:59
I am keen to read this one!
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Lark 02 May, 2020 10:04
Haven't read this one, but I love that cover. :)
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Megan02 May, 2020 19:40
This one sounds interesting. Such a pretty cover, too!
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Kay05 May, 2020 08:45
OK, first of all, you're reading Ruth Ware's upcoming book!! So jealous! Secondly, I had no idea that this author was using a pen name. Very interesting. Think it's great that he honors his grandmother that way.
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Carole's Random Life11 May, 2020 04:05
I have not read any of this author's work but I love where this pen name came from. This does sound like a great read.
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Carla Loves to Read19 May, 2020 14:33
This was my first book by Viola Shipman and I absolutely loved it. I loved the characters, the setting the plot, the dual timeline, the gardens everything. ONe of my top books in 2020. I was floored when I saw that it was written by a man. If you haven't read it yet, you really need to give it a go Susan.
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Book Spotlight: The Heirloom Garden by Viola Shipman

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