Longing For Lily By Tara Grace Ericson

Longing for Lily

by Tara Grace Ericson

Publisher: Silver Fountain Press

Series: The Bloom Sisters

ISBN: 978-1949896183

I've been so thankful to be on the launch team for this series! Have loved every single book since my introduction to Tara's writing last year. She sent me the ebook version for review and I can't wait to add the paperback to my bookshelf!

Summary:

A rift twelve years in the making, and a second chance to do it right.

Lily Bloom is confident, capable, and better off alone. She experienced true love once, and she thinks she’ll never find it again. Instead, she throws her energy into building her event business at Storybook Barn, helping others take the dive into happily ever after.

Josh Elliot is the life of the party, with a successful photography business and wonderful friends. But there is something missing. He never had a doubt about the woman God made for him, but he failed her twelve years ago. Forever isn’t in the cards for them, but since she started hosting weddings at Bloom’s Farm, he is tortured with the unobtainable love of his life nearly every weekend.

Lily’s wedding venue and Josh’s photography business bring their worlds colliding once again, bringing old wounds to the surface and forcing the question: is what happened twelve years ago going to keep them apart forever? Or can God rescue the pieces of the love they once shared?

My Review:

Ah, this book. While the other books in this series have had strong storylines and have put me on a roller coaster ride, the other ones were like hanging out at the kiddie park and this one is the one with the loop di loops! I think I've given them all 4 stars, so don't get me wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed them. But this one... hits you where it counts my friends.

Once again, we start off with my favorite, mama Laura introducing us to the characters of this story. First is her daughter, Lily. The oldest of the Bloom sisters. She and Josh, who we also see in Laura's intro, have a past. And hello, cougar on the loose. HA! She's a few hears older than him. You go girl!

Ok, so it's a shift to think of the woman being older than the man. It's just not as common in the books we read. I mean, I never thought about it unless it was brought up. And hey, it doesn't bother me since I'm older than my hubby... by 10 month. *wink*

Lily initially seems like the cold, standoff-ish sister. And she kind of is and admits it herself. She just isn't the light hearted kind of person. She's not carefree. It also makes her different from the rest of the siblings who are a bit lighter in essence.

And then there's Josh. Hey there you fine fella with your tattoos, motorcycle, and leather jacket. I suppose I could just stop there with my googly eyes for Josh. He has had a thing for Lily since he was a teenager. I guess when your best friend has a cute sister it's bound to happen. 

Lily has a lot of weight on her shoulders - some new, some not so new. She uses that weight to keep herself focused on her business, but with Josh spending more time at Storybrook Barn, you can see her resolve melting while she tries to fortify it at the same time.

It's easy to feel bad for Josh. He doesn't really know what they past held fully and without Lily willing to talk to him, he just thinks they ended on a bad note. He's got opportunities coming his way and knowing he has to make some tough choices makes you feel even more for the guy!

Now, I have to say, this story actually woke me up in the wee hours of the morning, and I feel like the Holy Spirit gave me some new insight into my past. It was unexpected, but while hard to reflect on, necessary for me understand my actions in a new way. There's a really important thread that runs through this story and I think it's a very powerful one! So thankful to Tara for being intentional when it comes to the flaws we have as Christians.

Who else is ready for Rose's story? Let's see a show of hands because I know mine is flailing around in the air. lol I also want to get to know Andi better! She's been this "in the shadows" sibling throughout the series so I'm looking forward to getting home so we readers can dive into who she is!

About the Author:

Tara Grace Ericson lives in Missouri with her husband and two sons. She studied engineering and worked as an engineer for many years before embracing her creative side to become a full-time author. Her first book, Falling on Main Street, was written mostly from airport waiting areas and bleak hotel rooms as she traveled in her position as a sales engineer. She loves cooking, crocheting, and reading books by the dozen. Her writing partner is usually her black lab - Ruby - and a good cup of coffee or tea. Tara unashamedly watches Hallmark movies all winter long, even though they are predictable and cheesy. She loves a good “happily ever after” with an engaging love story. That’s why Tara focuses on writing clean contemporary romance, with an emphasis on Christian faith and living. She wants to encourage her readers with stories of men and women who live out their faith in tough situations.