Where the Last Rose Blooms

November 1, 2021
Fifteen years after Hurricane Katrina, eclectic florist Alice has restructured her life around a single principle: reliability. But a missing mother, botched blind dates, and a faith that continues to leave her feeling unworthy have left her unraveled. More than 150 years earlier, the daughter of a Confederate general is secretly fighting for the abolitionist cause and finds herself in the crosshairs. Both women are broken, and Clark creates a bond between them over generations through the secret language of flowers that helps them find courage amidst the chaos and discover who they truly are. Set in both modern New Orleans and 1860 Charleston, the third in Clark's Heirloom Secrets series, following Paint and Nectar (2021) and The Dress Shop on King Street (2020), shows Clark's growth as a storyteller. She brings deep introspection to this satisfying series conclusion through topics of abandonment, spiritual inadequacy, and reconciliation, creating an enriching message of the past reconnecting with the present. The unexpected shared experiences over time are even more enjoyable across all three titles.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from December 1, 2021

In this satisfying conclusion to the "Heirloom Secrets" series, Clark (The Dress Shop on King Street) deals deftly with sensitive issues including slavery, persistent racism, and mental illness. Rose promises her daughter Ashley that she will love her always, but love alone can't conquer the pain of separation when they are sold to different slave owners. Southern belle Clara is heir to a cotton empire, but Rose's plight leads her to denounce slavery. The pair use coded embroidery messages to aid the Union Army deep in the heart of the Confederacy. In modern-day New Orleans, Alice wants nothing more than to find her mother, who was lost in the chaos of Hurricane Katrina. Searching through family heirlooms, she discovers unusual handicrafts and a heritage of survival against all odds. VERDICT Every character is written as a multifaceted human being without clich�, although readers who haven't read the first two books may be confused. Libraries will want to buy the whole trilogy to satisfy dual time line fans of authors such as Rachel Hauck, Heidi Chiavaroli, and Kristy Cambron.--Christine Barth, Scott Cty. Lib. Syst., IA

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 13, 2021
Clark (Paint and Nectar) completes the Heirloom Secrets series with a suspenseful dual-narrative in which love blossoms across time. In 1861 Charleston, S.C., Clara Adelaide Abels is the 16-year-old heiress to a cotton empire, but she harbors abolitionist sentiments, as her faith tells her that slavery is “an abomination in the eyes of the Lord.” When Clara’s cousins and the dashing Brit Theodore Atwood convince Clara to work as a spy for the abolitionist cause, she recruits Rose, an enslaved embroiderer working in the home of Clara’s family plantation, to assist her, and vows to help Rose find her missing daughter. A century and a half later, in modern-day New Orleans, Alice runs a bouquet shop and is well-versed in the secret language of flowers. When she discovers a box of embroidered floral samplers in an attic, she tries to unravel the hidden code—but what she wants most in the world is to find out what happened to her mother, who disappeared during Hurricane Katrina. While intrigue, danger, and clandestine romance force Clara to find the courage to leave the comforts of her life behind, Clara and Rose’s descendants, including the handsome Sullivan, work with Alice to uncover the mysteries of the past and reveal the fate of her mother. In the end, Alice learns that God was with her even in her darkest hours. Clark offers well-developed female characters who discover they have deep inner strength. This one will keep readers eagerly turning pages. Agent: Karen Solem, Spencerhill & Assoc.