Where First Love Blooms

Our Review

Where First Love Blooms is the first book in The LaFleur Family Chronicles series.

Its 1922 and socialite Edith Ballanger is reluctantly preparing for her family’s annual ball.

“Every year the event seemed to grow, and this year was no different. Everyone in the state of Oregon longer for an invitation to the ritzy Ballanger ball, but only the big shots of Portland and the wealthy elites of Driftwood Bay enjoyed the privilege. The newshawks came from the big papers to report on the party, shouting their questions at the guests and snapping pictures.”

Edith is reluctant to spend time with her father and her stepmother Betty who is only seven years older than her. She dislikes Betty’s taste in décor and the way she is in general. She also dislikes how rude she is to the servants.

The only tolerable things about her home are her siblings, the things that remind her of her mother and Clyde. Clyde is her father’s driver and the love of her life.

 Edith faces a tough decision - life as a trophy wife married to Warren, a pompous bore or life with the man she loves, Clyde. The problem is her father disapproves of her feelings for Clyde. He wants her to marry Warren him because he is the right kind of social status. To be with Clyde he would have to run away and leave her family and home behind her. On the night she is due to run away with Clyde her betrays her....

A century later Ada Price has just been fired from her job as a teacher when she receives a letter from her uncle informing her he is ill and asking her if she will come and look after him for a salary. Ada is reluctant because she has horrible memories of her childhood in his house. She went to live there after her parents died when she was five, but her cousins and aunt and uncle never made her feel welcome.

Reluctantly she decides to return to the house, but bad memories aren't the only thing that haunt her. Ada has seen ghosts all her life but this one is different, she can’t help but feel that she has to do something to help her.

Ada also feels a reluctant sympathy for her uncle. Since she has moved back home she has had chance to talk to him and he has told her how much he regrets his treatment of her when she was a child.

During her visits to his room Ada begins to suspect there is more to his illness than meets the eye, a realisation that could put her in danger.

I read Where First Love Blooms within a few hours. It was easy to read and kept me entertained throughout. 

Our Final Rating...

Sat, 24th February 2018