Bouquets & Belonging is the next release in Duckie Macks Heartcraft Market series. A fun low angst body positive story of two men trying to find their way. This book is so cute!! The grumpy/sunshine dynamic really comes through in this incredible love story! "You don't dim my light; you make it burn brighter."
From the blurb:
Marley is a hopeless romantic who loves his job. Flowers make him happy, and he gets great joy out of the delight they bring to others. He has a standing flower shop as well as a regular booth at the Heartcraft Market.
Derek is an overworked businessman. His work consumes his life, both in the office and at home. He doesn’t have time to date and isn’t looking, but when he sees the florist with an infectious smile at a wedding, his interest is piqued.
When the handsome man Marley caught watching him at a recent job shows up at his shop, he’s certain there’s a spark between them. After helping so many couples fall in love, he longs for his own great romance.
Even if Derek wants to pursue the vibrant man, he has no room for someone in his busy schedule. But Marley plants a seed in his life, a glimpse of the beauty he didn’t know he needed.
Can love blossom and help these two find a place where they belong?
Bouquets & Belonging is a grumpy/sunshine romance with a plus-sized MC, body positivity, finding balance, and a love that grows where you water it. The Heartcraft Market series features stand-alone novels that can be enjoyed on their own or read with the series to revisit your favorite characters.
Molly Otto's review:
It's my favorite to date of this series! I've been in love with Marley since we first met him, and wow, does he not disappoint. Then you get his accidental stalker Derek, that one is a fun, unique character that just has you cackling in his cranky, akward glory. These two have a few misteps cause yeah, neither really knows how to communicate when attraction is there. Add O'Malley into the mix, and wow, these three are so perfect for together. Marley is just a beautiful soul who is proud to be who he is, and it just shines bright off of him. Derek is so sweet for him and loves him as he is. It's just a fun read from start to finish.
Rogue's Review:
- Low Angst
- Body positivity
- Slow Burn
If there was a way to distill sunshine into book form, then this is it. I think I smiled from start to finish with this story, from the first page it was utterly joyful. Marley is sunshine personified, he shines out of every page he's in and it was so much fun to see him get his HEA. Derek is perfect for him, and let me tell you for someone who was lost for words at the start, he sure finds them and every one is used well, that man sure has a way with words, each one is gold.
I was originally going to put Grumpy/Sunshine but this isn't really that at all, Derek is just a very hardworking man who's let his work take over his life to the extent that he's completely focused on it to the exclusion of everything else. It's so much fun to see him unbend and never once does he not put Marley first, it's so refreshing and wonderful to see. It's a slow burn for sure, but once that match is lit, hooo boy is there some steam.
From the second Derek sees Marley, right to the end this is just so light and fun, and like Marley, I got the twirlies too at points.
"I was fine. Until I saw this person with dark pink hair dancing with abandon, looking like the most radiant person I’ve ever seen, and needing to find a way to soak up his light.”
Sigh. Derek. I loved this so much, I have read the others in the series but you can totally enjoy this as a standalone if you want.
“You don't dim my light; you make it burn brighter. When you look at me, I feel like a shooting star illuminating the night sky. That there is nothing in my path that I can't blaze through.”
So perfect.
Angel's review:
I loved this book! Marley is the epitome of sunshine, his character radiates warmth and kindness. He's so nice and caring, and he creates bonds with people even though they've just met. His love for plants and flowers really came through in the book, you could tell how passionate he is about his craft, and how much he loves his job.
The dynamic between him and Derek was fun and kept me engaged, Marley is the sunshine to Derek's stormy clouds. I liked that Marley was able to look past the mask that Derek puts on for everyone else and was able to get to know who the man truly is. Their first date was truly romantic, I loved that Duckie put so many details into writing that scene, all those details brought that scene, and that place to life.
When they rescued their kitty cat I couldn't help but smile, the two of them immediately started helping the little kitten, and fell for him instantly. Reading Derek's POV when it came to the kitten was just adorable, you could feel how much he loved the kitten even though they just found him. I loved the name that he picked out, O'Malley suits the little guy perfectly! I thought it was so cute that Derek bought Marley a duck so he could have a permanent reminder of the first date they went on, talk about romantic!
Something that I really enjoyed and appreciated was the fact that Marley is plus sized, and he loves himself and his body the way it is. Even when society makes it seem as though being skinny and dieting is the only way to be happy. I wish I had a story like this with someone like Marley's character when I was younger, the way Marley accepts and loves himself and his body the way it is is so inspiring.
I also enjoyed the little Easter egg when Crow's Nest was mentioned, I love finding easter eggs in Duckie's stories, it makes reading them so fun! I truly loved this book and am so excited to see what comes next in this wonderful series!
Miki.J.'s review:
Oh what an absolute delight of a book this is !!! I just love Marley - he's the sunshiney-est character that I've every come across! His positive outlook to life is so uplifting .....I kinda wish that I was a lost one !! hehehehe And Derek - really is a grumpy workaholic and is truly clueless on how to ask someone on a date (and really not the way he went about it !!! bahahaha). I found this story to be just beautiful - it really did make my heart sing !! And I loved that even though we know there's a plus size character, that wasn't the focus. It was solely about how they felt when they saw each other and when they spent time together - they just clicked. I will add that this was a bit of a slow burn ....but when they do finally connect, oh boy, do they connect !!!! This is quite simply a beautiful and romantic story with no angst or break ups or miscommunications ...... just sunshine and love.....and here come the zoomies - go O'Malley !!!!
Heather's Review:
I love Marley! He can make the biggest grump smile and he does - Derek is the perfect person to unleash his magic on... I love that Derek is both grumpy and clueless and that Marley makes things easier on him. I also love that there's plus sized rep in this book, but it's not done in a hit you over the head way... it's just a sweet, slow burn story that brings the steam without the drama.
This book is a great addition to the Heartcraft Market Series and while they do build on each other, can certainly be read standalone!
Bouquets & Belonging is currently available as an e-book and paperback and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription
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