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The Heirloom Garden
From the USA Today bestselling author of The Summer Cottage
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.
Don't miss bestselling author Viola Shipman's charming new novel, THE WISHING BRIDGE — where an ambitious executive rediscovers the magic of family, friendship, home...and Christmas!
Other books by Viola
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.
Don't miss bestselling author Viola Shipman's charming new novel, THE WISHING BRIDGE — where an ambitious executive rediscovers the magic of family, friendship, home...and Christmas!
Other books by Viola
407 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 2020
About the author
Viola Shipman
22 books2,750 followersI am the USA Today, Publishers Weekly and internationally bestselling author of fifteen books that have been translated into nearly 25 languages. I write fiction under the pen name, Viola Shipman, as a tribute to my working poor Ozarks grandma, whose memory and love inspire my novels and inspired me to become a writer. My novels are a tribute to family and our elders and meant to inspire hope. My grandma used to say, "Life is as short as one blink of God's eye, but we too often forget what matters most in that blink." As a result, my novels remind readers of what matters most in life: Each other.
My new Christmas novel, THE WISHING BRIDGE, publishes November 7 and is available for preorder now. I'm honored that it’s being compared to the holiday works of Kristy Woodson Harvey, Jenny Colgan and Nancy Thayer. It is a beautiful story about why we leave home, why we come home, the magic and meaning of Christmas (and all its ornaments, lights, garland, tinsel, tree skirts, snow globes and villages), the spirit of the American entrepreneur, lost love, and the beautiful story of a father and daughter. We all must cross bridges in our lives. The direction we choose forever alters our course.
There is a line in The Wishing Bridge where the dad asks his daughter, “Why do we always wait until Christmas to return home to show how much we love one another?”
That is the foundational question in my latest holiday novel.
Growing up in the Ozarks, my grandmother’s house was the epicenter – the North Pole – of Christmas to me. She decorated every room, lined her yard with Christmas blow molds and lit anything that didn’t move. But it was more than the decorations: It was the feeling I was safe and loved more than anything else in the world.
That’s hard to replace and recreate once we grow up, move on and begin to lose those we love. However, I’ve learned that sometimes you must stop running from the hurt and celebrate your past while also starting new traditions.
This novel looks at the difficult decisions we must make and how those alter our lives, be it a breakup, moving away from home, or becoming the person you want to be even if that hurts or disappoints those who raise and love us. I took the path less traveled in becoming an author, and that path was a curvy, hilly one filled with potholes and blind turns, and yet it was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life.
The Wishing Bridge takes place in the very real village of Frankenmuth, Michigan, a beautiful Bavarian Christmas wonderland (think Hallmark on steroids!). Frankenmuth is known as Michigan’s Little Bavaria due to its German heritage and architecture. But it really comes alive at Christmas. I absolutely fell in love with Frankenmuth the first time I visited – and also nearly spent my entire IRA at Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland, the world’s largest Christmas store, which inspired Wegner’s Winter Wonderland in the novel. It is a magical place, and Wally Bronner’s unwavering faith, love of family and friends, and belief in the American dream reminded me of my grandparents and touched my soul, making me want to write this novel the first time I set foot in Bronner’s, from its Glockenspiel and dueling chicken restaurants, to the woolen mill, fudge shop and Silent Night chapel.
Speaking of the American dream, I wanted to honor that “idea” in this novel. My grandparents worked and sacrificed to have better lives, and that planted a seed in my soul to pursue my own American dream, which I have done as an author.
The Wishing Bridge is about the choices we make in life – some good, some bad – but realizing that if we have a strong foundation, it is never too late to cross that bridge in our lives to become the people we dreamed we could become.
This is a love story – to family, to friends, to finding love later in life and to Christmas. I was swept away writing this novel, and I hope it touches you as much it touched – and changed – me.
Happy holidays, and I’m so excit
My new Christmas novel, THE WISHING BRIDGE, publishes November 7 and is available for preorder now. I'm honored that it’s being compared to the holiday works of Kristy Woodson Harvey, Jenny Colgan and Nancy Thayer. It is a beautiful story about why we leave home, why we come home, the magic and meaning of Christmas (and all its ornaments, lights, garland, tinsel, tree skirts, snow globes and villages), the spirit of the American entrepreneur, lost love, and the beautiful story of a father and daughter. We all must cross bridges in our lives. The direction we choose forever alters our course.
There is a line in The Wishing Bridge where the dad asks his daughter, “Why do we always wait until Christmas to return home to show how much we love one another?”
That is the foundational question in my latest holiday novel.
Growing up in the Ozarks, my grandmother’s house was the epicenter – the North Pole – of Christmas to me. She decorated every room, lined her yard with Christmas blow molds and lit anything that didn’t move. But it was more than the decorations: It was the feeling I was safe and loved more than anything else in the world.
That’s hard to replace and recreate once we grow up, move on and begin to lose those we love. However, I’ve learned that sometimes you must stop running from the hurt and celebrate your past while also starting new traditions.
This novel looks at the difficult decisions we must make and how those alter our lives, be it a breakup, moving away from home, or becoming the person you want to be even if that hurts or disappoints those who raise and love us. I took the path less traveled in becoming an author, and that path was a curvy, hilly one filled with potholes and blind turns, and yet it was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life.
The Wishing Bridge takes place in the very real village of Frankenmuth, Michigan, a beautiful Bavarian Christmas wonderland (think Hallmark on steroids!). Frankenmuth is known as Michigan’s Little Bavaria due to its German heritage and architecture. But it really comes alive at Christmas. I absolutely fell in love with Frankenmuth the first time I visited – and also nearly spent my entire IRA at Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland, the world’s largest Christmas store, which inspired Wegner’s Winter Wonderland in the novel. It is a magical place, and Wally Bronner’s unwavering faith, love of family and friends, and belief in the American dream reminded me of my grandparents and touched my soul, making me want to write this novel the first time I set foot in Bronner’s, from its Glockenspiel and dueling chicken restaurants, to the woolen mill, fudge shop and Silent Night chapel.
Speaking of the American dream, I wanted to honor that “idea” in this novel. My grandparents worked and sacrificed to have better lives, and that planted a seed in my soul to pursue my own American dream, which I have done as an author.
The Wishing Bridge is about the choices we make in life – some good, some bad – but realizing that if we have a strong foundation, it is never too late to cross that bridge in our lives to become the people we dreamed we could become.
This is a love story – to family, to friends, to finding love later in life and to Christmas. I was swept away writing this novel, and I hope it touches you as much it touched – and changed – me.
Happy holidays, and I’m so excit
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 868 reviews
June 18, 2020
I love flowers, love color and enjoy anything and everything that is a heirloom. Filled with a lovely garden, descriptions of beautiful flowers, this was a lighter toned read. The subjects though were anything but light. An older woman, who shuts herself in her garden after some tragic losses. A young man who has returned with PTSD after serving in the Iraq war. His wife who is trying so hard to keep their family together and their five year old daughter Lily, who is delightful.
It also takes place in Grand Haven, Michigan a place I know well. Was a little taken aback by what the residents call us out of towners from Illinois, which I don't repeat here. Did provide a little chuckle.
A good, warm-hearted, tender story, but it did get a little treacly for my reading taste. Those flowers though made it easy for me to overlook some of my usual preferences.
The narrators were Nan Macnamara and Lauren Enzo. They did pretty well so three stars for the narration.
It also takes place in Grand Haven, Michigan a place I know well. Was a little taken aback by what the residents call us out of towners from Illinois, which I don't repeat here. Did provide a little chuckle.
A good, warm-hearted, tender story, but it did get a little treacly for my reading taste. Those flowers though made it easy for me to overlook some of my usual preferences.
The narrators were Nan Macnamara and Lauren Enzo. They did pretty well so three stars for the narration.
May 29, 2020
Hopeful and heartwarming. Viola Shipman has once again stolen my heart with her/his beautiful writing. It will never fail to amaze me that Viola Shipman is a pseudonym for a male author, he is quite brilliant at telling a story from the female perspective. The story is told from the alternating points of view of two strong women whose lives have been touched by grief and flowers. Iris lost her husband toWWII and her daughter to polio. After a few unfortunate events she decided to build walls both literally and figuratively to protect herself from the rest of the world. Abby has just moved next door to Iris in this small Michigan town. Her husband has recently returned from Iraq and is no longer the man he used to be. Abby is struggling to balance her new job, her young daughter, and trying to understand her husband. Iris and Abby, though decades apart in age, form a lovely Bond over their love of flowers and hate of war.
I loved both Iris and Abby as characters, but even more than that I loved the bond that Iris formed with Abby and her entire family. It was so so sweet watching Lily (Abby‘s daughter) precocious personality really force Iris to confront some of her issues. This really was a sweet story about connections and family being the one you choose. This really would have been a five-star read for me, but it got a little preachy in parts. Iris was very vocal when it came to her thoughts on government and war as well as her thoughts on women’s treatment in the workplace. And even though I’m in complete agreement with Iris, I didn’t feel as though it flowed naturally into her dialogue, it occasionally felt as though we were being lectured to. In spite of this I thought it was a delightful story and I loved learning all the interesting facts about flowers. The audiobook was narrated by NaN McNamara and Lauren Ezzo who both did a marvelous job of bringing voices to these amazing characters.
This book in emojis 🌷 🌹 🌺 🌸 🌼 🌻
*** Big thank you to Harlequin & Harper Audio for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
I loved both Iris and Abby as characters, but even more than that I loved the bond that Iris formed with Abby and her entire family. It was so so sweet watching Lily (Abby‘s daughter) precocious personality really force Iris to confront some of her issues. This really was a sweet story about connections and family being the one you choose. This really would have been a five-star read for me, but it got a little preachy in parts. Iris was very vocal when it came to her thoughts on government and war as well as her thoughts on women’s treatment in the workplace. And even though I’m in complete agreement with Iris, I didn’t feel as though it flowed naturally into her dialogue, it occasionally felt as though we were being lectured to. In spite of this I thought it was a delightful story and I loved learning all the interesting facts about flowers. The audiobook was narrated by NaN McNamara and Lauren Ezzo who both did a marvelous job of bringing voices to these amazing characters.
This book in emojis 🌷 🌹 🌺 🌸 🌼 🌻
*** Big thank you to Harlequin & Harper Audio for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
April 28, 2020
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com.
THE HEIRLOOM GARDEN: A NOVEL by Viola Shipman is a Women’s fiction novel that is one of the most beautifully written and emotional books that I have had the pleasure to read. This book and characters will be in my mind for a long time to come and it will definitely be one of my favorites this year!
Iris Maynard lives for her beautiful heirloom garden hidden behind a towering fence that keeps everyone out. Having lost her husband in WWII and her daughter to illness, Iris continues on with her heirloom flowers who have always been there for her. She is a talented botanist who shared her gift with the world, until that world turned on her.
Abby Peterson finds the perfect home to rent to be close to her new job. She is hoping this fresh start will be the change her struggling family needs. Traumatized by his service in Iraq, Abby’s husband, Cory is not the man she married and her small daughter is paying the price. She is curious about the high fence separating her property from the house next door and her reclusive landlady.
Iris is drawn to the family next door. Lily, Abby’s daughter is intrigued by the beautiful flowers next door behind the fence and begins to pull Iris into their lives. Iris and Abby realize how much they have in common and slowly each reveals their secrets as they work together in the garden. Iris and Abby have a lot of life yet to live.
This book follows the growing season in Iris’ garden as the timeline of the story. I have to admit that I have a black thumb and could kill a silk plant in my home and yet this book with all its flower and garden facts and allegories pulled me in and I could not put it down. I had watery eyes more times than I care to admit and the tissue box was by my side and yet it is more about the power of family, love and resilience even through the sadness and tragedy than just being a sad book. The author brings not only the characters to vivid life, but also all the beautiful heirloom flowers.
I HIGHLY recommend this beautiful book! I have already downloaded more books by this author and will be looking for every single one in the future.
THE HEIRLOOM GARDEN: A NOVEL by Viola Shipman is a Women’s fiction novel that is one of the most beautifully written and emotional books that I have had the pleasure to read. This book and characters will be in my mind for a long time to come and it will definitely be one of my favorites this year!
Iris Maynard lives for her beautiful heirloom garden hidden behind a towering fence that keeps everyone out. Having lost her husband in WWII and her daughter to illness, Iris continues on with her heirloom flowers who have always been there for her. She is a talented botanist who shared her gift with the world, until that world turned on her.
Abby Peterson finds the perfect home to rent to be close to her new job. She is hoping this fresh start will be the change her struggling family needs. Traumatized by his service in Iraq, Abby’s husband, Cory is not the man she married and her small daughter is paying the price. She is curious about the high fence separating her property from the house next door and her reclusive landlady.
Iris is drawn to the family next door. Lily, Abby’s daughter is intrigued by the beautiful flowers next door behind the fence and begins to pull Iris into their lives. Iris and Abby realize how much they have in common and slowly each reveals their secrets as they work together in the garden. Iris and Abby have a lot of life yet to live.
This book follows the growing season in Iris’ garden as the timeline of the story. I have to admit that I have a black thumb and could kill a silk plant in my home and yet this book with all its flower and garden facts and allegories pulled me in and I could not put it down. I had watery eyes more times than I care to admit and the tissue box was by my side and yet it is more about the power of family, love and resilience even through the sadness and tragedy than just being a sad book. The author brings not only the characters to vivid life, but also all the beautiful heirloom flowers.
I HIGHLY recommend this beautiful book! I have already downloaded more books by this author and will be looking for every single one in the future.
May 4, 2020
We meet two women generations apart who have lost their husbands.
One has a husband who never came home from WWII, and one has a husband who came home but is lost to PTSD.
Iris loves her flowers and her family, but they are now gone including her daughter.
Abby moves into the house next to Iris, has her husband and her daughter, and a job as an engineer since her husband can no longer work or function.
We follow the lives of both characters present day and past.
Gardeners will absolutely LOVE this book.
The flower and gardening information is outstanding and described in such detail you can visualize it.
I also enjoyed how flowers were compared to feelings and life events.
Viola Shipman has given us another heartwarming book filled with positive thoughts and virtual hugs.
The writing is beautiful just like the uplifting story line.
THE HEIRLOOM GARDEN has characters that will warm your heart once you get to know them.
The book was a bit difficult to follow for the first ten percent, but once you got going, it was as marvelous as always. 4/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
One has a husband who never came home from WWII, and one has a husband who came home but is lost to PTSD.
Iris loves her flowers and her family, but they are now gone including her daughter.
Abby moves into the house next to Iris, has her husband and her daughter, and a job as an engineer since her husband can no longer work or function.
We follow the lives of both characters present day and past.
Gardeners will absolutely LOVE this book.
The flower and gardening information is outstanding and described in such detail you can visualize it.
I also enjoyed how flowers were compared to feelings and life events.
Viola Shipman has given us another heartwarming book filled with positive thoughts and virtual hugs.
The writing is beautiful just like the uplifting story line.
THE HEIRLOOM GARDEN has characters that will warm your heart once you get to know them.
The book was a bit difficult to follow for the first ten percent, but once you got going, it was as marvelous as always. 4/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2020
I have several authors who I run, don’t walk, to get the book when it first comes out. Viola Shipman is one of those authors. When I got approved for this book from NetGalley and the publisher, I immediately had to start the book. This book takes me back to my mother-in-law’s house. Another great book by Viola Shipman! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.
May 6, 2020
Viola Shipman has once again shown us all how to overcome diversity, to accept and to understand that kindness and love can heal all types of wounds.
Iris Maynard lost her husband during WWII and her only child, a young daughter a little while later. Unable to bear the heartbreak she felt, she poured herself into her gardens, as an homage to both her husband and daughter, and years later to all those who were dear to her and had died.
As the years progressed, Iris, who became a botanist later in life due to her love of flowers, began to recede from life. Her gardens were her only friends and families. She decided to shut herself off from people by building an enormous fence around her property which consisted of her house, as well as her mother's house which also had a fence so her renters would be unable to see her. She was slowly able, due to technology, basically become a hermit, happily tending her gardens and buying all she needed from her computer and having it delivered. She would never have to let another person into her life again.
Enter Abby, her husband Cory and their daughter Lily who rent Iris' mother's old house on the other side of the fence. Cory, who has just returned from the Iraq War has had an extremely difficult time adjusting to life again after seeing so much death. Refusing to seek help or medication his days revolve around drinking, sleeping and trying to remember to tend to his young daughter Lily. Abby, feeling the walls close in around her family and trying extremely hard to keep them together moved her family so they could hopefully have a fresh start. And Lily, just about the same age as Iris' daughter Mary, is a bundle of curious love.
What they all soon discover is sometimes everyone needs a bit of a push and encouragement, remembering that everybody grieves in different ways. That sometimes a little help can go a very long way. And we all have something to teach each other. As Iris teaches about flowers and love and coping with loss, Cory teaches Iris to take baby steps into entering a world she abandoned many years ago.
The story, with glorious floral prose describing the different flowers from each season tells not only their own story, but the stories of each character. And as the healing begins and continues, fences start to come down and are replaced by friendship and love.
What a heartwarming story on the lessons of the sadness of death, the struggle to become whole again and the illumination of a new life if you'll only take the chance.
Thank you so much to #NetGalley #Harlequin(JustineSha) #The HeirloomGarden #ViolaShipman for the advanced copy.
Iris Maynard lost her husband during WWII and her only child, a young daughter a little while later. Unable to bear the heartbreak she felt, she poured herself into her gardens, as an homage to both her husband and daughter, and years later to all those who were dear to her and had died.
As the years progressed, Iris, who became a botanist later in life due to her love of flowers, began to recede from life. Her gardens were her only friends and families. She decided to shut herself off from people by building an enormous fence around her property which consisted of her house, as well as her mother's house which also had a fence so her renters would be unable to see her. She was slowly able, due to technology, basically become a hermit, happily tending her gardens and buying all she needed from her computer and having it delivered. She would never have to let another person into her life again.
Enter Abby, her husband Cory and their daughter Lily who rent Iris' mother's old house on the other side of the fence. Cory, who has just returned from the Iraq War has had an extremely difficult time adjusting to life again after seeing so much death. Refusing to seek help or medication his days revolve around drinking, sleeping and trying to remember to tend to his young daughter Lily. Abby, feeling the walls close in around her family and trying extremely hard to keep them together moved her family so they could hopefully have a fresh start. And Lily, just about the same age as Iris' daughter Mary, is a bundle of curious love.
What they all soon discover is sometimes everyone needs a bit of a push and encouragement, remembering that everybody grieves in different ways. That sometimes a little help can go a very long way. And we all have something to teach each other. As Iris teaches about flowers and love and coping with loss, Cory teaches Iris to take baby steps into entering a world she abandoned many years ago.
The story, with glorious floral prose describing the different flowers from each season tells not only their own story, but the stories of each character. And as the healing begins and continues, fences start to come down and are replaced by friendship and love.
What a heartwarming story on the lessons of the sadness of death, the struggle to become whole again and the illumination of a new life if you'll only take the chance.
Thank you so much to #NetGalley #Harlequin(JustineSha) #The HeirloomGarden #ViolaShipman for the advanced copy.
February 8, 2020
There is no doubt that this will be one of my favorite books of the year!
Viola Shipman has written a fantastic, heartfelt and loving novel of family, hope fear, sadness and joy.
. The descriptions of the seasons, flowers,and surroundings are just astounding! It makes you believe you are living on Lake Michigan!
We meet Iris, and her new neighbors Lily, Abby and Cory in Michigan.
Iris, now elderly, has no intentions of knowing her new neighbors. The wall has been built both around her home and her heart and she needs to keep people away and out of her life. Too many tragedies!
Her garden blossoms are her family and friends. The love for each and every floret is extreme, but it keeps her "going".
However, the little girl named Lily, is curious and soon not only finds a way in to Iris's garden, but in to her heart.
I love the relationship between these two beautiful souls. Lily learns from Iris and Iris learns from Lily.
"All any of us- whether people or flowers-desire is to feel a part of something bigger, to know our stories won't die."
This is THAT story of true love! Excellent!
Viola Shipman has written a fantastic, heartfelt and loving novel of family, hope fear, sadness and joy.
. The descriptions of the seasons, flowers,and surroundings are just astounding! It makes you believe you are living on Lake Michigan!
We meet Iris, and her new neighbors Lily, Abby and Cory in Michigan.
Iris, now elderly, has no intentions of knowing her new neighbors. The wall has been built both around her home and her heart and she needs to keep people away and out of her life. Too many tragedies!
Her garden blossoms are her family and friends. The love for each and every floret is extreme, but it keeps her "going".
However, the little girl named Lily, is curious and soon not only finds a way in to Iris's garden, but in to her heart.
I love the relationship between these two beautiful souls. Lily learns from Iris and Iris learns from Lily.
"All any of us- whether people or flowers-desire is to feel a part of something bigger, to know our stories won't die."
This is THAT story of true love! Excellent!
June 15, 2020
I really loved this book. It will definitely be in my top ten for 2020. This is the first book I have read or listened to by Viola Shipman and if all her books are like this, then I have sure missed out.
Iris is an older woman who lives in her home, behind her tall fence. She wants nothing to do with her neighbours. Like the fence around her property, there is a fence around her heart. She has bee hurt terribly and wants nothing to do with others. Her only friends are her heirloom flowers. She loves them like family and they are the only things that keep her going. Then the new neighbours move in, Lily, Abby and Cory. Both Iris and Abby had husbands that went to war. One never came home, one came home damaged. As we learn more about both Iris and this family, young Lily finds a way into Iris's garden and eventually, they all find a way into her heart.
The story is told by both Iris and Abby. There is a dual-timeline as we learn both of their stories. I enjoyed both stories and my heart broke for both of these families. These women are both strong, independent women, but Iris was beaten down by life and the beliefs in the 1940s. The writing was absolutely beautiful. It was descriptive and flowed well. I felt like I could see the beautiful gardens and beach in Michigan. This was a book that will linger with me. It is a heartfelt and loving novel of family, hope, fear, sadness and joy. I definitely recommend this one.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Nan McNamara and Lauren Ezzo. Both narrators did an amazing job with this story. Their expression, pacing and inflection were wonderful and made this an enjoyable story to listen to. Their voices were easily recognized so I knew who was speaking and I came to know the characters and care about what happened to them. I will definitely listen to more books narrated by these talented ladies. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
Iris is an older woman who lives in her home, behind her tall fence. She wants nothing to do with her neighbours. Like the fence around her property, there is a fence around her heart. She has bee hurt terribly and wants nothing to do with others. Her only friends are her heirloom flowers. She loves them like family and they are the only things that keep her going. Then the new neighbours move in, Lily, Abby and Cory. Both Iris and Abby had husbands that went to war. One never came home, one came home damaged. As we learn more about both Iris and this family, young Lily finds a way into Iris's garden and eventually, they all find a way into her heart.
The story is told by both Iris and Abby. There is a dual-timeline as we learn both of their stories. I enjoyed both stories and my heart broke for both of these families. These women are both strong, independent women, but Iris was beaten down by life and the beliefs in the 1940s. The writing was absolutely beautiful. It was descriptive and flowed well. I felt like I could see the beautiful gardens and beach in Michigan. This was a book that will linger with me. It is a heartfelt and loving novel of family, hope, fear, sadness and joy. I definitely recommend this one.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Nan McNamara and Lauren Ezzo. Both narrators did an amazing job with this story. Their expression, pacing and inflection were wonderful and made this an enjoyable story to listen to. Their voices were easily recognized so I knew who was speaking and I came to know the characters and care about what happened to them. I will definitely listen to more books narrated by these talented ladies. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
April 19, 2020
I have enjoyed all of Viola Shipman's novels so far, but this one takes the cake. Each of Viola's novels is set up so that the sections of the story talk about particular items related to the title of the book. (Ex. in The Charm Bracelet, each part of the story was about a particular charm and how it fit in to what was taking place throughout.) In The Heirloom Garden: A Novel, each section is about a flower and how it connects to Iris's past, as well as how it relates to what is currently happening. I'm not much of a gardener, but I enjoyed the descriptions of the various flowers and was able to visualize and appreciate them that much more.
This was a sweet story overall. I liked the bond that formed between Iris and the Petersons. While there were some sappy moments, it was a nice escape from everything else going on in the world. I even got teary-eyed at times. Lily was adorable and reminded me of my daughter. However, it was hard to get a grasp of her age. There was a comment made about it late in the story, but sometimes she was watching shows that were too mature for that age. I also couldn't figure out main character's ages. If they were mentioned, it was in passing but the ages didn't seem to fit their descriptions. I guessed Abby and Cory to be in their early thirties after a while.
The story gave me a lot to think about in terms of what war veterans go through. Even though Iris was a war widow, she still had her own experiences that were along the lines of post-traumatic stress disorder. I couldn't even imagine what she must have been going through and how she stayed strong for as long as she did.
I liked the feel of the seasons and holidays, from a sunny and hot Fourth of July all the way through a snow-filled Christmas. Viola evoked the spirit of each holiday and brought the experiences to life so that I could see them taking place, even though I was reading this in March.
Overall, another touching and heartfelt story that will stick with me whenever I see a beautiful flower.
Movie casting suggestions:
Iris (2003): Jane Alexander
Iris (past): Betty Gilpin
Abby: Alia Shawkat
Cory: Jai Courtney
This was a sweet story overall. I liked the bond that formed between Iris and the Petersons. While there were some sappy moments, it was a nice escape from everything else going on in the world. I even got teary-eyed at times. Lily was adorable and reminded me of my daughter. However, it was hard to get a grasp of her age. There was a comment made about it late in the story, but sometimes she was watching shows that were too mature for that age. I also couldn't figure out main character's ages. If they were mentioned, it was in passing but the ages didn't seem to fit their descriptions. I guessed Abby and Cory to be in their early thirties after a while.
The story gave me a lot to think about in terms of what war veterans go through. Even though Iris was a war widow, she still had her own experiences that were along the lines of post-traumatic stress disorder. I couldn't even imagine what she must have been going through and how she stayed strong for as long as she did.
I liked the feel of the seasons and holidays, from a sunny and hot Fourth of July all the way through a snow-filled Christmas. Viola evoked the spirit of each holiday and brought the experiences to life so that I could see them taking place, even though I was reading this in March.
Overall, another touching and heartfelt story that will stick with me whenever I see a beautiful flower.
Movie casting suggestions:
Iris (2003): Jane Alexander
Iris (past): Betty Gilpin
Abby: Alia Shawkat
Cory: Jai Courtney
May 2, 2020
I received a free electronic copy of this historical novel from Netgalley, Viola Shipman, and Harlequin Books S.A. - GraydonHouseBooks. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend Viola Shipman to friends and family. Her nostalgic peek into the past may bring you to tears, but it's a good cry.
The Heirloom Garden is centered in the small town of Grand Haven, Michigan. Iris's grandparents and parents had built side-by-side Sears and Roebuck's Craftsman homes many many years ago. All three generations of women were avid gardeners, maintaining large yards filled with blooms of every season. Late in the summer of 1944, we visit this small town through the eyes of Iris Maynard, recent widow of First Lieutenant Jonathan Maynard, mother of Jane, a college-degreed botanist, and natural gardener.
We visit Grand Haven, Michigan, and Iris again during the 9/11 Iraqi action in the spring of 2003. In the 1950s Iris lost her daughter to Polio and has since lost her grandparents and parents. Iris is in her 90's and has been for years a complete shut-in. She has her groceries delivered to the gate of her 10-foot fence, pays her bills by computer, and shops online. Most folks in town think she has passed on, as it has been many years since she was seen out and about. Iris still resides in the home built by her father, and occasionally rents out her grandmother's home next door and outside the walls of her personal haven. Over the years she has moved her grandmother's plants into her own garden behind the wall, leaving only what doesn't require labor to maintain at her Grandmother's place.
In the spring of 2003 Iris contacted her realtor and ask that her Grandmother's house be leased out, and as usual, she will let the realtor know whether she approves of the potential renter after the showing. Abby Peterson and her daughter Lily are both enthusiastic about the house. Cory did not come with them, as he had appointments in Detroit concerning his medical needs. The Peterson family need to be in Grand Haven, Michigan for some time, as Abby, a chemical engineer, will be producing a marine paint for a local concern who handles equipment and supplies for boaters on Lake Michigan. Abby's husband - Lily's dad - is a returning Veteran very different from the man who went over to Iraq, that spontaneous, funny, impulsive man they once knew. PTSD has stolen the man they understood, and both Abby and Lily hope the summer out of the city will give him a quiet time to unwind and find peace. Fortunately, Iris approves of them as renters, and the family gets moved in just in time for Lily's summer camps and Abby's job. Cory Peterson has several appointments with the VA which he misses, and he remains isolated in the house, for the most part, drinking beer, watching TV, and sleeping on the sofa. Cory is about as agoraphobic as Iris. Something has to change - but what? What can they do to help him back into the world? And Iris, as well. What can two busy females do to open the eyes and hearts of these shut-ins? Perhaps Iris and Cory just need to understand each other, to help each other to see the world again as it is...
Netgalley
pub date April 28, 2020
Harlequin - Graydon House
Reviewed on April 22, 2020, at Goodreads and Netgalley. Reviewed on April 28, 2020, at AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo, and GooglePlay.
The Heirloom Garden is centered in the small town of Grand Haven, Michigan. Iris's grandparents and parents had built side-by-side Sears and Roebuck's Craftsman homes many many years ago. All three generations of women were avid gardeners, maintaining large yards filled with blooms of every season. Late in the summer of 1944, we visit this small town through the eyes of Iris Maynard, recent widow of First Lieutenant Jonathan Maynard, mother of Jane, a college-degreed botanist, and natural gardener.
We visit Grand Haven, Michigan, and Iris again during the 9/11 Iraqi action in the spring of 2003. In the 1950s Iris lost her daughter to Polio and has since lost her grandparents and parents. Iris is in her 90's and has been for years a complete shut-in. She has her groceries delivered to the gate of her 10-foot fence, pays her bills by computer, and shops online. Most folks in town think she has passed on, as it has been many years since she was seen out and about. Iris still resides in the home built by her father, and occasionally rents out her grandmother's home next door and outside the walls of her personal haven. Over the years she has moved her grandmother's plants into her own garden behind the wall, leaving only what doesn't require labor to maintain at her Grandmother's place.
In the spring of 2003 Iris contacted her realtor and ask that her Grandmother's house be leased out, and as usual, she will let the realtor know whether she approves of the potential renter after the showing. Abby Peterson and her daughter Lily are both enthusiastic about the house. Cory did not come with them, as he had appointments in Detroit concerning his medical needs. The Peterson family need to be in Grand Haven, Michigan for some time, as Abby, a chemical engineer, will be producing a marine paint for a local concern who handles equipment and supplies for boaters on Lake Michigan. Abby's husband - Lily's dad - is a returning Veteran very different from the man who went over to Iraq, that spontaneous, funny, impulsive man they once knew. PTSD has stolen the man they understood, and both Abby and Lily hope the summer out of the city will give him a quiet time to unwind and find peace. Fortunately, Iris approves of them as renters, and the family gets moved in just in time for Lily's summer camps and Abby's job. Cory Peterson has several appointments with the VA which he misses, and he remains isolated in the house, for the most part, drinking beer, watching TV, and sleeping on the sofa. Cory is about as agoraphobic as Iris. Something has to change - but what? What can they do to help him back into the world? And Iris, as well. What can two busy females do to open the eyes and hearts of these shut-ins? Perhaps Iris and Cory just need to understand each other, to help each other to see the world again as it is...
Netgalley
pub date April 28, 2020
Harlequin - Graydon House
Reviewed on April 22, 2020, at Goodreads and Netgalley. Reviewed on April 28, 2020, at AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo, and GooglePlay.
July 12, 2021
For the PopSugar reading challenge I needed a book about a passion of mine. As you know, gardening is a huge passion for me, this year more so than in the past. When I saw the title of this book I thought it would be a perfect read for me. Sadly, I should have read the synopsis more closely. What I read was a younger woman and an older one bond both of whom are suffering bond over their love of the flower garden. What the book is about is a woman who endured the suffering a loss of WWII and a family suffering the effects of the Iraq war. The fact is that I’ve grown a bit weary of reading books about WWII written from the romanticized viewpoint of the US and UK and I simply do not read books about the unjustified Iraqi invasion. Period. I’m very sure that readers of Viola Shipman will love and adore this book. It’s very predictable, a bit on the saccharine sweet side but it definitely wasn’t a book for me
June 5, 2020
4.5 rounding up because I was stunned to find out this is written by a man. Normally I don't like this genre, chiclit drives me crazy, but I am an avid life long gardener and loved this. So many touching moments, loved all the garden chatter, and face it, we need something sweet in our world these days... Think he is very gifted writer, never would have dreamed a man penned this, filled with heart and soul, but not sappy, but I came for the garden!
April 20, 2020
This lovely story has two settings - during World War II and modern day. There are two principal characters, Iris Maynard and Abby Peterson. This is delicate story of how two women are affected by war though decades apart. There was no doubt while reading this book that in some way Abby and Iris would connect. It was a delightful journey to see this unfold.
As the title and cover depicts a garden - well, more than one - is involved. Starting with Iris, she used her horticultural skills to create a garden that was hidden behind a very tall fence. When Abby and her family move next door, the solitude Iris experienced for decades would be taken away.
This was a very sad story at times, especially when one woman lost her husband in a war, and another whose husband survived the war, but was traumatized and plagued with PTSD. It is Abby's husband who survived the most recent war, and she is greatly saddened by her husband's emotional state. They have a young daughter who is caught in the middle of uncertain times for the family.
When the little girl begins to spend time with Iris, it does not go smooth at first. This is where the book became compelling. I loved the four people who were significant in this book and watching layers being peeled back was so very touching.
The gardens in this book were also part of the story. The descriptions of the flowers were so real I felt like I could smell or touch them. For a story that is bound to touch many hearts, with a mix of sad and joyful moments, I highly recommend The Heirloom Garden.
Many thanks to Graydon House and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
As the title and cover depicts a garden - well, more than one - is involved. Starting with Iris, she used her horticultural skills to create a garden that was hidden behind a very tall fence. When Abby and her family move next door, the solitude Iris experienced for decades would be taken away.
This was a very sad story at times, especially when one woman lost her husband in a war, and another whose husband survived the war, but was traumatized and plagued with PTSD. It is Abby's husband who survived the most recent war, and she is greatly saddened by her husband's emotional state. They have a young daughter who is caught in the middle of uncertain times for the family.
When the little girl begins to spend time with Iris, it does not go smooth at first. This is where the book became compelling. I loved the four people who were significant in this book and watching layers being peeled back was so very touching.
The gardens in this book were also part of the story. The descriptions of the flowers were so real I felt like I could smell or touch them. For a story that is bound to touch many hearts, with a mix of sad and joyful moments, I highly recommend The Heirloom Garden.
Many thanks to Graydon House and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
February 15, 2020
This is another fantastic book by Viola Shipman. I started it as soon as it showed up in my mailbox, even though I have a stack of books that should have been read first but this is one of my 'go to' authors and I had to read it right away. I am a huge fan of books about Michigan and books that take place on Lake Michigan always tug at my heart because of all the summers that I spent at the Lake growing up. This author describes the area around Lake Michigan so well and so beautifully that it is an integral part of the story - as important as the characters. I loved this book and think it will be one of the "must read" books of Spring, 2020.
The story is told in dual time lines and in different eras.
1944 - Iris lost her husband in WWII and her daughter not too long after that. Her grief caused her to put walls up around her house and around her heart. She doesn't have anything to do with the people in town, has her groceries and garden supplies delivered and is only really alive when she is spending time in her beloved gardens. In her gardens, she re-lives her memories of her grandmother, her mother, her husband and her daughter -- the garden becomes her only family.
2003 - Abby, her husband and their daughter, Lily, move from the Detroit area to Grand Haven for Abby to take a new job. They rent the house next door to Iris (which Iris still owns) but the high fences let them know that Iris has no desire for company or friendly neighbors. Abby is trying to handle everything - her husband has PTSD and is unable to contribute to the family either emotionally or monetarily. Instead he mostly sleeps, drinks and re-lives his memories of war. Lily tries to make the best of things but she is lonely and nervous about starting at a new school with no friends. The two families are slowly drawn together at first through their love for flowers and then through the friendship that they can both bring to each other.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
The story is told in dual time lines and in different eras.
1944 - Iris lost her husband in WWII and her daughter not too long after that. Her grief caused her to put walls up around her house and around her heart. She doesn't have anything to do with the people in town, has her groceries and garden supplies delivered and is only really alive when she is spending time in her beloved gardens. In her gardens, she re-lives her memories of her grandmother, her mother, her husband and her daughter -- the garden becomes her only family.
2003 - Abby, her husband and their daughter, Lily, move from the Detroit area to Grand Haven for Abby to take a new job. They rent the house next door to Iris (which Iris still owns) but the high fences let them know that Iris has no desire for company or friendly neighbors. Abby is trying to handle everything - her husband has PTSD and is unable to contribute to the family either emotionally or monetarily. Instead he mostly sleeps, drinks and re-lives his memories of war. Lily tries to make the best of things but she is lonely and nervous about starting at a new school with no friends. The two families are slowly drawn together at first through their love for flowers and then through the friendship that they can both bring to each other.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
February 27, 2020
The Heirloom Garden is a very heartwarming story with so much going on. There is hope, love, sadness, loss, survival, PTSD and empowerment of woman. The characters are real, likable and ones you want to have in your own life.
There is two time lines within the story....1944 with Iris, her husband and young daughter and 2003 with Abby, her husband and young daughter. Iris rents a house to Abby which begins a heartfelt friendship no one expected. They are drawn together through their love for flowers and love of family.
I shed more then a few tears reading this story. So many relatable moments.
The Heirloom Garden will be a wonderful summer, beach read.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author, Viola Shipman, for the opportunity to read and give my honest review about this book.
There is two time lines within the story....1944 with Iris, her husband and young daughter and 2003 with Abby, her husband and young daughter. Iris rents a house to Abby which begins a heartfelt friendship no one expected. They are drawn together through their love for flowers and love of family.
I shed more then a few tears reading this story. So many relatable moments.
The Heirloom Garden will be a wonderful summer, beach read.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author, Viola Shipman, for the opportunity to read and give my honest review about this book.
October 13, 2020
Iris Maynard hat ihre ganze Familie verloren. Ihr Mann starb im Krieg und ihre Tochter an Kinderlähmung. Seitdem lebt sie total abgeschottet von der Umwelt hinter einem riesigen Zaun. Allerdings ist sie eine begnadete Gärtnerin und das lebt sie aus. Sie pflanzt viele Blumen als Erinnerung an ihre Lieben und ihr wunderschöner Garten gibt ihr Trost und Kraft, um ihr Schicksal zu erdulden.
Das Cottage ihrer Großmutter nebenan vermietet sie an eine Familie, die durch die Schönheit ihres Gartens magisch angezogen wird. Abby hat es auch nicht leicht, denn ihr Mann kehrt mit posttraumatischen Störungen aus dem Krieg zurück und ist nicht mehr der selbe, der er war. Tochter Lily schafft es allerdings, Vertrauen zu Iris zu gewinnen und die beiden freunden sich an.
Die Geschichte hat mich bis tief in die Seele berührt. Jeder neue Abschnitt beginnt mit einer Blume und einem Zitat. Passend zur Blume erzählt Iris Geschichten aus ihrem Leben. Viola Shipman hat einen ganz besonderen poetischen Schreibstil, der einem Geborgenheit vermittelt. Sie beschreibt sehr bildhaft die Blumen, ihre Farben und Gerüche, man hat das Gefühl, neben Iris zu stehen und ich habe die Farbenpracht sehr genossen.
Die Handlung an sich ist sehr ruhig und unaufgeregt, aber gerade das hat mir hier sehr gut gefallen. Obwohl die Grundthematik sehr traurig ist, ist die Geschichte richtig schön zu lesen und man kann richtig gut abschalten.
Eine Ahnung davon, vermittelt auch schon das wunderschöne Cover.
Dies war mein erster Roman der Autorin, ich möchte aber unbedingt ihre anderen Werke auch lesen.
Ich vergebe 5 Sterne und werde die Geschichte mit Sicherheit nach einer Weile nochmal lesen, denn ich habe das Gefühl immer wieder neues entdecken zu können.
Das Cottage ihrer Großmutter nebenan vermietet sie an eine Familie, die durch die Schönheit ihres Gartens magisch angezogen wird. Abby hat es auch nicht leicht, denn ihr Mann kehrt mit posttraumatischen Störungen aus dem Krieg zurück und ist nicht mehr der selbe, der er war. Tochter Lily schafft es allerdings, Vertrauen zu Iris zu gewinnen und die beiden freunden sich an.
Die Geschichte hat mich bis tief in die Seele berührt. Jeder neue Abschnitt beginnt mit einer Blume und einem Zitat. Passend zur Blume erzählt Iris Geschichten aus ihrem Leben. Viola Shipman hat einen ganz besonderen poetischen Schreibstil, der einem Geborgenheit vermittelt. Sie beschreibt sehr bildhaft die Blumen, ihre Farben und Gerüche, man hat das Gefühl, neben Iris zu stehen und ich habe die Farbenpracht sehr genossen.
Die Handlung an sich ist sehr ruhig und unaufgeregt, aber gerade das hat mir hier sehr gut gefallen. Obwohl die Grundthematik sehr traurig ist, ist die Geschichte richtig schön zu lesen und man kann richtig gut abschalten.
Eine Ahnung davon, vermittelt auch schon das wunderschöne Cover.
Dies war mein erster Roman der Autorin, ich möchte aber unbedingt ihre anderen Werke auch lesen.
Ich vergebe 5 Sterne und werde die Geschichte mit Sicherheit nach einer Weile nochmal lesen, denn ich habe das Gefühl immer wieder neues entdecken zu können.
April 22, 2020
The Heirloom Garden by Viola Shipman has Iris Maynard living alone in her home alone after the loss of her husband and daughter for the last six decades. She spends her time taking care of her beautiful heirloom garden. Iris then rents the cottage next door to a woman with a husband recently returned from Iraq and an inquisitive little girl. The Peterson’s remind Iris of how her family used to be before her husband died during World War II and her little girl from illness. Abby and Iris become friends. They find they have much in common especially a love of flowers. Can they help each other heal and discover that not one minute of a life should be wasted? The Heirloom Garden is well-written with relatable characters and incidents. Iris Maynard lost the two most precious people in her life. She erected a tall fence around her property and stays behind those walls. Iris has her heirloom garden to keep her company. Each flower holds a special memory. Gardeners will enjoy the beautiful descriptions of the flowers. They are heirloom varieties that include roses, irises, lilies, daylilies, bleeding hearts and so much more. We learn the meaning of each flower (the language of flowers) as well as how they were propagated and how to care for them. Iris’s garden sounded magical (it would also send my allergies into overdrive). I like how each chapter was titled after a different flower which was then featured. The story alternates point-of-view between Iris and Abby. It also goes between past (begins in 1944) and present (2003) to tell each woman’s story. The Heirloom Garden is confusing in the beginning, but, once you get into it, it becomes easier. The pacing is gentle (not slow or fast) which suits the story. Abby Peterson is a chemical engineer who is developing a special marine paint and was hired by a local company. Her husband, Cory came home a different man from Iraq. He spends his days drinking and sleeping. Lily is a curious little girl who is quick to make Iris’s acquaintance. Lily was a delightful addition to the story. She added lightness and humor. The two homes are Sears kit homes (I would love to live in one). The author provided good information on the homes and I enjoyed the vivid word imagery. I like how the two story lines were blended and came together for a special ending. The Heirloom Garden is a heartening story with a cheeky child, a gorgeous garden, paint problems, a gripping grief, special seeds, a worried wife, a dispirited soldier, and marvelous memories.
April 7, 2020
Thanks to #netgalley and #Harlequin for the opportunity to read and review this book #TheHeirloomGarden by Violet Shipman
Pub date 4/28/2020
I love gardening and I love flowers. This story spoke to my heart with the descriptions of the flowers and the stories of the flowers. This book tells the story of Iris, a botanist in the 1940s, and Abby, an engineer in the early 2000s. Abby and her family rent a sound on Lake Michigan's shore from Iris, a woman who hasn't left her property in 40 plus years.
Both women's husbands served in combat, Iris's husband never came home; Abby's husband came home with PTSD.
Their stories, their lives begin to intertwine as Lily, Abby's daughter breaks a little of Iris's shell.
I loved the descriptions the author wrote about the meanings of flowers, and about propagation and care of them
If you love gardens, you will enjoy this lovely story. I definitely recommend
Pub date 4/28/2020
I love gardening and I love flowers. This story spoke to my heart with the descriptions of the flowers and the stories of the flowers. This book tells the story of Iris, a botanist in the 1940s, and Abby, an engineer in the early 2000s. Abby and her family rent a sound on Lake Michigan's shore from Iris, a woman who hasn't left her property in 40 plus years.
Both women's husbands served in combat, Iris's husband never came home; Abby's husband came home with PTSD.
Their stories, their lives begin to intertwine as Lily, Abby's daughter breaks a little of Iris's shell.
I loved the descriptions the author wrote about the meanings of flowers, and about propagation and care of them
If you love gardens, you will enjoy this lovely story. I definitely recommend
August 2, 2020
What an exquisite story! I listened to the audible version with two narrators -- one for Iris and one for Abby -- which made it feel kind of like listening to a radio drama which was fun. The story is so moving -- I cried buckets at the end. Huge heaving sobs. Love the multi-generational aspect -- we get to live in Iris's past as well as her present and the way the author merges her life with Abby's is sheer brilliance. It really speaks to how we blossom in community. Speaking of which, the gardening details are exquisite. Every fiction loving gardener needs to read this book! So many life lessons developed among seeds and soils. Profoundly moving and uplifting.
October 18, 2020
OMG...at first I was thinking this was going to be a boring book. My book club picked it (not something I'd normally read)...but what a surprise that was in-store for me! It was a beautiful story and the further along I got the harder it was to put it down. Coming from a military family I thought it was a great read! I've never just sat and cried after reading a book but here I am full on bawling. #viloashipman wrote an amazing book and I loved the style and detail in the writing! Highly recommend!
April 28, 2020
A moving story about two neighbors that are drawn together. Iris lost her husband in World War ll. Her daughter to illness. She hides away in her garden. The one thing she has left and holds dear. Abby moves in next door to Iris. Abby's husband suffers from the damaging effects of Irag. What these two woman share is understanding, friendship, and of course flowers. Another beautiful and deeply moving story from one of my favorite authors.
Dawnny-BookGypsy
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
Dawnny-BookGypsy
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
July 8, 2020
This is a wonderful story of a woman who lived through losing her family and survives by fencing herself in and tending her garden. Then she meets a family that changes her life again.
It will make you cry but it also will show you ways you can survive losses you never think you will recover from.
If you are a gardener you will love it even more!
It will make you cry but it also will show you ways you can survive losses you never think you will recover from.
If you are a gardener you will love it even more!
May 4, 2020
This book was just what I needed right now - a book that provides hope and this book definitely provides that and so much more.
Full review up on blog: http://alwayswithabook.blogspot.com/2...
Full review up on blog: http://alwayswithabook.blogspot.com/2...
May 26, 2020
I normally really enjoy Shipman’s books. This was just fair for me. It lacked character development and the plot was next to non-existent.
May 23, 2022
A book set in Grand Haven, Michigan!?!?! Would could go wrong? Delightful
April 7, 2020
Thanks to #netgalley and #Harlequin for the opportunity to read and review this book #TheHeirloomGarden by Violet Shipman
Pub date 4/28/2020
I love gardening and I love flowers. This story spoke to my heart with the descriptions of the flowers and the stories of the flowers. This book tells the story of Iris, a botanist in the 1940s, and Abby, an engineer in the early 2000s. Abby and her family rent a sound on Lake Michigan's shore from Iris, a woman who hasn't left her property in 40 plus years.
Both women's husbands served in combat, Iris's husband never came home; Abby's husband came home with PTSD.
Their stories, their lives begin to intertwine as Lily, Abby's daughter breaks a little of Iris's shell.
I loved the descriptions the author wrote about the meanings of flowers, and about propagation and care of them
If you love gardens, you will enjoy this lovely story. I definitely recommend.
Pub date 4/28/2020
I love gardening and I love flowers. This story spoke to my heart with the descriptions of the flowers and the stories of the flowers. This book tells the story of Iris, a botanist in the 1940s, and Abby, an engineer in the early 2000s. Abby and her family rent a sound on Lake Michigan's shore from Iris, a woman who hasn't left her property in 40 plus years.
Both women's husbands served in combat, Iris's husband never came home; Abby's husband came home with PTSD.
Their stories, their lives begin to intertwine as Lily, Abby's daughter breaks a little of Iris's shell.
I loved the descriptions the author wrote about the meanings of flowers, and about propagation and care of them
If you love gardens, you will enjoy this lovely story. I definitely recommend.
June 5, 2020
The Heirloom Garden
Viola Shipman
Personal Note: Like many editorial reviewers I usually only review in the third person, expressing my feelings in only adverbs and adjectives but once in a while an author speaks to my soul and that is exactly what Wade/Viola does for me and I just had to take a minute to express this.
Viola Shipman’s latest, The Heirloom Garden is an exceptional read about loss, hope, of friendship and the healing power gardening. It’s also a fantastic example that a family of the heart sometimes is dearer than blood. Set in the real Michigan town of Grand Haven aka Coast Guard City the author uses real places like the long time Pronto Pup hotdog stand and events like the Grand Haven Musical Fountain alongside his fiction that gives the read a real genuine feel as the reader follows the family on outings and while in their Sears Kit house. The characters are likeable and realistic and each star has their own strengths like Iris’s childlike excitement in her garden, Lily’s old soul personality, Cory’s anguish resulting from his time at war and Abby trying to keep it all together. And it’s all perfectly expressed in a flowing easy to comprehend narrative. Each of the main protagonists are equally exceptional and the real standout in the novel the tribute to our past and present military men and women and a reminder to always thank them for their service. Fans of this master storyteller, women’s fiction, military fiction or just an unforgettable novel will find this unputdownable.
In the spring of 2003 a young family moves next door to their reclusive elderly landlady. The family consists of Cory, a vet just returned from war, his wife Abby an engineer whose new job has brought them to Grand Haven, Michigan and their small daughter Lily. This family needs a new start and Abby hopes this new place will be what they need. What they don’t need is a cantankerous old woman living behind a giant fence next door.
Iris hasn’t left the sanctuary or prison (however you look at it) of her home in decades. She’s experienced the tragic loss of her husband in WWII whose remains are still somewhere in Europe and of her daughter not so many years later stricken with a rare fatal type of polio. She spends her days months and years caring for her heirloom garden the only thing that has kept her sane for all these years. The last thing she needs is the family living in her grandmother’s cottage next door snooping into her life.
What these people don’t realize yet is that they are exactly what the other needs.
Viola Shipman
Personal Note: Like many editorial reviewers I usually only review in the third person, expressing my feelings in only adverbs and adjectives but once in a while an author speaks to my soul and that is exactly what Wade/Viola does for me and I just had to take a minute to express this.
Viola Shipman’s latest, The Heirloom Garden is an exceptional read about loss, hope, of friendship and the healing power gardening. It’s also a fantastic example that a family of the heart sometimes is dearer than blood. Set in the real Michigan town of Grand Haven aka Coast Guard City the author uses real places like the long time Pronto Pup hotdog stand and events like the Grand Haven Musical Fountain alongside his fiction that gives the read a real genuine feel as the reader follows the family on outings and while in their Sears Kit house. The characters are likeable and realistic and each star has their own strengths like Iris’s childlike excitement in her garden, Lily’s old soul personality, Cory’s anguish resulting from his time at war and Abby trying to keep it all together. And it’s all perfectly expressed in a flowing easy to comprehend narrative. Each of the main protagonists are equally exceptional and the real standout in the novel the tribute to our past and present military men and women and a reminder to always thank them for their service. Fans of this master storyteller, women’s fiction, military fiction or just an unforgettable novel will find this unputdownable.
In the spring of 2003 a young family moves next door to their reclusive elderly landlady. The family consists of Cory, a vet just returned from war, his wife Abby an engineer whose new job has brought them to Grand Haven, Michigan and their small daughter Lily. This family needs a new start and Abby hopes this new place will be what they need. What they don’t need is a cantankerous old woman living behind a giant fence next door.
Iris hasn’t left the sanctuary or prison (however you look at it) of her home in decades. She’s experienced the tragic loss of her husband in WWII whose remains are still somewhere in Europe and of her daughter not so many years later stricken with a rare fatal type of polio. She spends her days months and years caring for her heirloom garden the only thing that has kept her sane for all these years. The last thing she needs is the family living in her grandmother’s cottage next door snooping into her life.
What these people don’t realize yet is that they are exactly what the other needs.
June 22, 2020
Thank you to Viola Shipman, MIRA Books and NetGalley for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I read this as a part of the 2020 Spring Reads Blog Tour.
There was a lot about this novel that I was unsure about when I read the synopsis. This isn't my usual book, but I figured I'd give it a try. I'm not someone who usually likes war stories or time pieces. However, this wasn't really anything like that. It was back-and-forth, but in a good way!
This was my first Viola Shipman novel. I never would've thought to read her before, but I'm really glad I did. This intrigues me for future novels by her as the writing was extraordinary. I really enjoyed her point-of-views between characters and that made me enjoy them even more. Iris lost her husband in WWII and her daughter to polio. This is where she built herself inside of her garden and didn't want to talk to anyone. She did this for a long time before she meets Abby. Abby's husband comes back from the Iraq war and is no longer than man he was before he left. Now living next door to each other, these two women have something in common even if Abby didn't lose her husband physically. These two women bond and find a relationship unlike anything I've ever read before.
I loved this story. It was the epitome of a feel-good novel. It was very heartwarming and makes you feel hope that things are actually like that. Abby, Iris, and Abby's daughter, Lily, truly stole my heart. It was special to see that the relationship and friendship between Abby and Iris that bloomed despite their age gap.
The gardening point-of-view in this story is impeccable. I have a "black thumb", but I absolutely loved learning about all of the different types of flowers and plants that Iris and Abby talk about was spectacular.
The reasons why I didn't give this novel a five-star rating were two different things. First, there were some parts of this book that was very righteous and almost "holier-than-thou". I can see why it would be like that, but sometimes it seemed to be too much. Second, this book seemed longer than it should've been. I really enjoyed this story, don't get me wrong, but I feel like it was drug out at some parts.
Overall, Viola Shipman has definitely caught my interest. I would be open to reading her other books as this one had very "feel-good" energy. This could absolutely be one of the top "general fiction" novels of 2020.
There was a lot about this novel that I was unsure about when I read the synopsis. This isn't my usual book, but I figured I'd give it a try. I'm not someone who usually likes war stories or time pieces. However, this wasn't really anything like that. It was back-and-forth, but in a good way!
This was my first Viola Shipman novel. I never would've thought to read her before, but I'm really glad I did. This intrigues me for future novels by her as the writing was extraordinary. I really enjoyed her point-of-views between characters and that made me enjoy them even more. Iris lost her husband in WWII and her daughter to polio. This is where she built herself inside of her garden and didn't want to talk to anyone. She did this for a long time before she meets Abby. Abby's husband comes back from the Iraq war and is no longer than man he was before he left. Now living next door to each other, these two women have something in common even if Abby didn't lose her husband physically. These two women bond and find a relationship unlike anything I've ever read before.
I loved this story. It was the epitome of a feel-good novel. It was very heartwarming and makes you feel hope that things are actually like that. Abby, Iris, and Abby's daughter, Lily, truly stole my heart. It was special to see that the relationship and friendship between Abby and Iris that bloomed despite their age gap.
The gardening point-of-view in this story is impeccable. I have a "black thumb", but I absolutely loved learning about all of the different types of flowers and plants that Iris and Abby talk about was spectacular.
The reasons why I didn't give this novel a five-star rating were two different things. First, there were some parts of this book that was very righteous and almost "holier-than-thou". I can see why it would be like that, but sometimes it seemed to be too much. Second, this book seemed longer than it should've been. I really enjoyed this story, don't get me wrong, but I feel like it was drug out at some parts.
Overall, Viola Shipman has definitely caught my interest. I would be open to reading her other books as this one had very "feel-good" energy. This could absolutely be one of the top "general fiction" novels of 2020.
May 25, 2020
3.5 rounded up.
This heartwarming story deals with the crippling effects of loss, trauma, and guilt. The overall message of how social connections are crucial to healing is very timely (dare I say it?) in 'these uncertain times.'
The characters are well developed and basically good-hearted. They each are suffering with how to make their lives worth living or how to help someone else do so. The charming houses by Lake Michigan make for a picturesque setting that I'd like to rent. :-) The plot is predictable without any curveballs thrown in. So, if you're looking for a pleasant tale about overcoming tragedy, this might be for you.
My biggest complaint with it is the same thing that others have found to be awesome: the formulaic way the author joined the botanical descriptions with the action in the story. There's an abundance of flower descriptions connecting the personal histories of the characters which, at first, is interesting and clever. After a few chapters, it felt like over-explaining.
This heartwarming story deals with the crippling effects of loss, trauma, and guilt. The overall message of how social connections are crucial to healing is very timely (dare I say it?) in 'these uncertain times.'
The characters are well developed and basically good-hearted. They each are suffering with how to make their lives worth living or how to help someone else do so. The charming houses by Lake Michigan make for a picturesque setting that I'd like to rent. :-) The plot is predictable without any curveballs thrown in. So, if you're looking for a pleasant tale about overcoming tragedy, this might be for you.
My biggest complaint with it is the same thing that others have found to be awesome: the formulaic way the author joined the botanical descriptions with the action in the story. There's an abundance of flower descriptions connecting the personal histories of the characters which, at first, is interesting and clever. After a few chapters, it felt like over-explaining.
May 5, 2020
Viola Shipman is one author I watch for new books. I grab the opportunity to get them early without even reading the synopsis. This is a great read, especially in these stuck in the house times. My cousins and I were just talking about all the people planting gardens this year just like the Victory Garden's from the past. Iris and Abby become neighbors. Iris is 80+ years old and has lived isolated from everyone for years. Abby wants to get to know her when she and her husband and young daughter move into the house next door. They can see iris's garden and can't resist trespassing into her walled yard. I love stories that are different generations getting to know each other and Iris is so much like my grandmothers. It's hard to believe that Viola is a man who writes such beautiful women oriented stories. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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