Iris Chance is turning 33. She’s an independent woman, the owner of the Sunflower Coffee and Tea Company in Hidden Falls, Oregon. Hidden Falls boasts clean air, natural beauty, good neighbors. The only problem is that there are zero interesting single men and Iris wants a baby. She’d love the whole package — the love story, the sexy romance with a hero who will sweep her off her feet, but she … doesn’t have time to wait for Mr. Right. He may lose his way and never show up. She decides to start a family with the help of a sperm bank, knowing she’ll have her large family to support and encourage her as a single mom. When the new High School English teacher, Geoff McLeod, walks into her café and into her life he seems perfect. There’s only one problem…
Geoff McLeod never imagined his wife would end their six- year marriage with a text message. Reeling from her betrayal, he moves to Hidden Falls to teach English and Creative Writing. He’s got zero interest in women or dating until he meets Iris Chance, the intriguing woman who bakes the best Morning Glory muffins he’s ever tasted. He can’t imagine starting his day without stopping in on his way to work for coffee and a muffin and to see the sexiest woman who ever donned an apron.
Iris is oldest girl in a family of eleven kids. She’s always been the stand-in mother to her younger siblings. She’s got so used to looking out for other people and listening to their problems that she’s become the confidante and unofficial therapist of half the town. She can see that the new English teacher has some emotional baggage dragging along behind him. He looks like he can use a friend and Iris has never been able to turn away from someone in pain. She’s prepared to be his friend, but she would never get involved with someone who is still officially married.
When her matchmaking mother invites the new English teacher to her birthday party everyone begins to wonder whether this will be a friends to lovers tale.
In this contemporary romantic comedy about a small town girl who longs for a family, but has never entirely trusted she deserved a happy ending, two lonely people learn that sometimes love comes when you least expect it.
A sexy, humorous, contemporary romance, Iris in Bloom is the perfect beach read, or a romance novel to while away a rainy afternoon.
Iris in Bloom is the second book in the Take a Chance series, but the books can be read in any order.
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It’s Always About the Babies!
This is #02 in the Take A Chance Series by Nancy Warren.
HEA with No cliffhangers!
These are about the members on the Chase family. I suggest reading them in order to get the best experience.
Length: 4 hours 54 minutes
Content Warning:
There is mild sexplay.
Story
Iris in Bloom is about, you guessed it, Iris. She is a bakery master, a published author, and a shoulder to cry on for the town.
Iris Geoff
Iris Chance is turning 33 and her baby clock is ticking loud. Being the eldest female child among the Chance siblings, she has always been the secondary mom. The small pool of eligible partners leads her to the fertility clinic. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and she has that in spades with all the Chance clan. Iris is set on her plan, but meeting the hot new English teacher puts her mind into a spin.
Geoff McLeod left L.A. after his wife ended their marriage via text. He came to Hidden Falls for a fresh start. He left his lawyer friend to handle his divorce but is still technically married on paper. His outlook on love was grimm, until he stops at the Sunflower Coffee and Tea Company. That’s when he meets Her, and his whole life changes.
“O Captain! My Captain!”
—Dead Poets Society
Iris in Bloom will inspire lots of nail biting moments that will leave you yelling in your head, or out loud , things like wait, hurry, and listen. Those that were alive in the late 80’s will feel a need to stand on something to recite the above quote. There is the most interesting, yet touching re-gift ever! There is no epilogue which leads me to think that part #3 will start close to where this one ends, hopefully . This is a great edition to the Take A Chance Series, and I can’t wait for more!
Author
Nancy Warren can be very creative. That re-gift was one I’ve never heard of before.
Narrator(s)
Teri Schnaubelt doesn’t disappoint.
Audio Production
Normal speed was fine.
Audiobook obtained at my request and I am voluntarily leaving this unbiased review.
Iris the owner of a coffee & tea house wants a baby but has no special guy in her life. Then she meets a customer and they begin dating. This is my kinda romance, very little sex scenes and it’s not graphic. The friends to lovers romance was sweet. The characters are easy to like. I like this book a lot and i recommend it to the romance lovers.
when Geoff walked into the Coffee Shop he knew he needed to see more of Iris., How to convince her he was serious was the problem.
It is my first time reading this author and I must say this series doesn’t disappoint. I felt like these characters were so relatable so, I highly recommend this book. Thank You. Congrats, to the author.
If life is too conflicted, too hectic, too complicated… may I suggest visiting Hidden Falls, Oregon. The perfect vehicle for this journey, is Nancy Warren’s 2nd Take A Chance series book, Iris in Bloom. Iris Chance owns and operates The Sunflower Coffee and Tea Company, A café and bakery in Hidden Falls. Her patrons love her coffee, or tea, and her delicious Morning Glory muffins. Iris is an exceptional young woman. She’s intelligent, lovely, hard-working, and extremely caring. Her patrons love her as much as they love her awesome treats. There is one big problem: Iris is single, without a boyfriend… and her biological clock is kin to a runaway locomotive! Iris wants a child… now! Add her caring sisters, and her always observant mother… Iris feels confused, and solitary.
Enter Geoff McLeod, Hidden Falls’ new high school English teacher. Geoff is trying to heal from the dissolution of his past marriage, but his ex-wife’s betrayal still hurts him deeply. Despite his current disregard for all things female, he can not fight his strong attraction to Iris Chance. When both of their defenses begin to crumble, will the result be a fling, or a lifetime romance? Will Iris desire for children be realized?
This story, as with all Take A Chance books, is helped along by the ever-present Chance family members. The always caring Marguerite comes to their aid, as the reader would expect. This story is tender, and loving, and fun, and very compassionate. The story illustrates just how special love can be in our daily lives. Love for our parents, our siblings, our partners, and our children. This book is a wonderful read.
5 stars!
I read all six books in the Take a Chance series in quick succession, so this is a blanket review for the series:
Firstly, Nancy Warren always manages to write characters who are relatable, quirky, individual and likeable. Secondly, she has an innate ability to develop those characters just enough and in just the right ways for us to become totally invested in the outcome of their stories.
This collection of books can be read as stand-alone but is so much more rewarding if read in order. They are sweet, romantic, a little bit steamy and every so difficult to put down. I enjoyed every last one and was so disappointed when I read the last sentence of the last book. Straight to the top of my favourite reads this year!
So romantic!
This is just a very delightful book which makes you excited for the main characters in some scene, wondering what they are trying to prove in others, then finally thinking “Why didn’t you two adults do this in the first place.” I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone who wants to witness great interplay between to characters who have personal challenged. Go for it!
It’s OK…..a generic romance novel
Though you knew where it would end up, it was a pleasant book to enjoy. I do recommend it for easy reading.
Another Chance HEA
Iris is the oldest of the Chance girls and has always been everyone’s listening ear. Her last relationship ended when he went back to his ex. Geoff has just moved into the area. He is a teacher at the high school and in the mist of a divorce. They meet when he comes in to her coffee shop to get drinks & muffins for his first teacher meeting. And let the sparks fly.
I very much enjoyed this book. So wonderful to have a love story without the sickening detailed love scenes.
Iris in Bloom is the second book in the Take a Chance series. Like the first book, this one is a light read with engaging characters. There is minimal drama, but enough tension to keep things moving. Geoff has moved to Hidden Falls to start a new life after his wife informed him she wanted a divorce…in a text message. He’s not interested in a new relationship. He just wants to be a good English teacher and to get himself put back together. Iris’s time clock is ticking. She doesn’t trust men, she has pretty good reasons for that distrust. Without any prospects in sight, she’s beginning to think she needs to take matters into her own hands and start a family of her own.
This is a fun, quick, and cute story. It’s entertaining and easy to read. If you’re looking for a light read that still has a bit of substance you should check out Iris in Bloom.
Loved it.
Cute and classic story of a small town love story.
I enjoyed this book but did not appreciate the formatting. When the story goes to a new time point or scene in the storyline there is no separation from the old scene which can be somewhat confusing as the book is being read. Otherwise the story is good.
Enjoyed the characters and story development
I love this family and the different personalities of the brothers and sisters.
IRIS IN BLOOM is a standalone read in a series. There is a big family, the parents had a few biological children and then they adopted as they came across children that needed a home and to be loved. The children never knew whether they were adopted or not. At 21 they could be told if they wanted to know.
This is a great series as each child, now an adult, gets their story. The stories are as different as the personalities of the adults. You won’t be able to stop once you get involved with this family. It will be more enjoyable if you read the first short story of how the original couple meets and their plans for their future. Then the first child gets their story and it goes from there. I loved this series and wish they had adopted more kids!! They are funny, loving, entertaining and most of all good reads. I highly recommend the whole series.
I was not paid for this review. I am not a writer nor do I know one. I am not kin to this author. I am a reader and this is my opinion, nothing more, nothing less. Read 9/16/14….reviewed here 2/23/19
A well written game story!