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 … 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
more
Perfect Summer Read for those who love flowers gardens and seeing generations come together to assist one another. Viola Shipman fans will not be disappointed!
The author showed characters impacted by the world around them and their ways of dealing with those events in a positive way.
I fell in love with each of the main characters, all for different reasons. There was a bit too much of “flower speak” that could get a tad tedious but overall a wonderful story of compassion, growth and the basic human need of belonging…and having military in my family made it more poignant!
What a wonderful book!! An heirloom garden in Michigan is the link that brings a lonely, isolated older woman into a relationship with the family that rents her cottage next door. Iris has been hiding behind a huge fence for many years, mourning the death of her husband in WWII and that of her daughter shortly after from polio. Abby moves in next door with her daughter Lily and her husband who has returned from the Iraq War with serious baggage and who struggles to be the husband and father his family needs. Concern for Lily causes Iris to reach out to Abby and Cory and that intervention provides a lifeline and focus for all of them. Iris begins to teach Cory about gardening and that grounds him in the n0w and helps him connect with Lily. I loved the family connections in the garden from one generation to the next as Lily related stories of who brought a particular flower into the garden.
Once again, Viola Shipman wraps us up in a beautiful story about the capacity of the human heart and the power in its bonds.
“The Heirloom Garden” brings together two women suffering a loss of one kind from two different wars, decades apart. The very fabric of this friendship is described by way of gorgeous flowers found in a most beautiful garden. I can still envision it clearly!
You will think of spring and all it’s powers in renewal!
You will think of your friends and reflect on their place in your life. Viola Shipman always opens your heart with each story. He always teaches a lesson. Stories that make you consider your life are amazing! I want to be a better person because of this story.
I fell madly in love with Iris! And I loved her relationship with her neighbor, Abby.
I’ve always loved Viola Shipman’s novels, but this is by far my favorite now!
Now! If only I had a green thumb!
I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for a fair and hones review.
I just loved this book!
“Everything must hibernate in order to grow anew”
So true in the garden but, do you think this applies to people as well as plants? Do we each have our own personal seasons? Do we hibernate through our own personal winter season in the hopes of being blessed with another spring season in which to bloom again? Do each of us sometimes have winters that last a few years until we bloom again? Until we are renewed?
In The Heirloom Garden, Abby and her husband Cory along with their daughter Lily, rent a cottage along the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. Their landlord Iris, lives in the home next door behind the enormous fence. And behind that fence lies the most magical garden.
Iris’s husband Jonathan was killed at war and her daughter Mary died after suffering a childhood illness. Iris lives a life of isolation and seclusion until she finds herself repeatedly drawn into situations with her new neighbors. As she allows her heart to open up, Iris blooms once again, just as beautifully as her amazing garden!
The story of the heirloom garden is multi-faceted and woven beautifully together! The powerful historical aspects, the descriptive beauty of the gardens, the flowers, the landscape, the lake, and the town in all of its quaint charm! The story of two strong, smart, innovative and independent women. The story of two war vets. The story of two little girls. The story of what makes a family.
A lot of faith, a little mystery, and loads of love.
To say I loved this book would be an understatement! I wanted to wrap myself up in the warmth of this story and I didn’t want it to end. I wept. I wept tears of sadness and tears of happiness. This story deeply touched my heart! I love that Viola / Wade draws stories from the heart and writes from personal history. I believe that’s what makes these books so special! In the acknowledgments they author writes “with every novel, my goal is simple: try to write the best novel I possibly can. To write a unique story that universally connects. ” And… “every book I write is a blessing…” Well, I believe this is Viola’s best novel yet and the blessing is that we all get to read such an amazing story by such an incredible author! Thank You
Iris has decided to rent her house next door to a small family. She has no intention of having anything to do with them. Iris is a recluse and all she needs is her garden. However, life has a way of throwing you curve balls. This little family ends up changing her life.
This story is a wonderful read about healing and love of family and friends. It is full of some of the best characters ever. I fell in love with Iris. She is so beaten down by life but she keeps going strong. She is an extremely smart woman and that always appeals to me. Then there is Abby. She has to be tough to overcome what life has thrown at her. Cory, her husband is broken from his experience in Iraq. He knows he has to pull himself together for his family. But, my all time favorite character is Lilly. She is Abby and Cory’s little girl and she is just amazing.
I love the way the author throws in unique aspects of history. Lots of little tidbits here and there. And the flowers! I really enjoyed just about everything in this novel. This is such a well written story. It is hard to believe I have never read a book by this author.
Don’t miss this one! Grab it today!